Sabaton: The Great War review – rage against the war machine
With pounding drums and demonic choirs, the Swedish power metal band deliver a dark, fascinating history lesson on the first world war
Rammstein review – pure panto from German shock rockers
The taboo-busting band are on fine form in a pyrotechnic extravaganza that sees bandmates blasting each other with fire
Metallica review – masterclass in heaviness brings down the heavens
The thrash titans seem to control the weather during this dramatic, cathartic show of absolute power
Download festival review – fire, fury and hymns to the dark side
Headliners Slipknot and Def Leppard lead the way on a long weekend of big riffs and shouting
Baroness: Gold & Grey review – ambitious rockers go beyond metal
The Philadephia-based quartet have found a new sense of purpose on this more psychedelic fifth album
Download festival review – Slayer cast dark spells with ferocious swan song set
British hard rock festival brings angst, anger and a lot of black lipstick to western Sydney’s peaceful parklands
Behemoth review – jolts of brutality from modern metal’s kings of darkness
Through fire and smoke, Adam ‘Nergal’ Darski and his roaring feral hell-bangers churn up elation and menace to prove the devil still has the best tunes
Parkway Drive review – uplifting rock rises from the fires of grief
Pouring the pain of grief into heavy rock, the Australian group earn chanting adoration from their audience
Bring Me the Horizon: Amo review – ‘It ain’t heavy metal, but that’s alright’
Some of the songs will alienate BMtH’s fanbase but there’s a sense of experimentation alongside the lush orchestration
Def Leppard review – metal legends revisit a riff-laden classic
The British hard-rock favourites play their 1987 album Hysteria in full in a show that demonstrates their scintillating craft
Bring Me the Horizon review – boyband headbangers help vent teenage angst
Ahead of their forthcoming sixth album, the Sheffield pop-metal band provide catharsis but stop short of being true spokesmen for a troubled generation
Architects: Holy Hell review – addressing tragedy with gravity and defiance
The metal band’s moving first album since the death of founder Tom Searle has a heartfelt and anthemic feel
Slayer review – thrash legends unleash a barrage of malevolence
The LA four-piece’s final world tour delivers a furious rush of excitement in a celebratory sweep through 37 years of mayhem
Behemoth: I Loved You at Your Darkest review – Wagnerian satanic metal
Polish band’s 11th album is a romp that could appeal to more than hardcore metalheads
Deafheaven review – mixed-up metalheads gallop to the end of the world
The San Francisco band pull in dream-pop, post-rock and more for this fearsome, beautiful show