Thrash metal is the common ancestor of all extreme metal in that we wouldn’t have death metal, grindcore, or black metal without it. Back when Venom came on the scene and influenced the likes of Metallica in the early 80’s, everything changed from what the 70’s had worked up, and henceforth did metal become less of a fad and more of a movement that we all identify with today. Bands like Metallica and Slayer are the crème de la crème of the genre, but what about the smaller bands from the second wave that emerged? I took it upon myself to explore the debut albums from bands I’ve enjoyed but never listened to. It’s here I confess that I never gave these albums the time of day because... 

Texas metal quintet POWER TRIP surprises fans this week with a new release, issuing a crushing new live album. Live In Seattle 05.28.18 was issued overnight through Dark Operative and is now streaming in its entirety on all digital platforms.  

“Dragons and fairy tales are only cool if Ronnie James Dio is signing it,” is something you’d probably hear some boomer metalhead say in a bar while bashing everything post-1989. Granted, let’s be honest: rock and nerd-fantasy culture have been crossing over for a while, so that statement would be ignorant. You’re just too closed-minded to accept it. Power metal still gets a bad rap, and its safe-natured approach and anthemic, four-course meal of cheese and tropes can be silly at times no matter how fun it is. But you know what makes the genre cooler and much more fascinating? Throwing some prog into the mix.  

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ice Cream Man creators W. Maxwell Prince and Martín Morazzo launched an online-only series of mini-comics set in the ICM universe. The collection of these stories, Ice Cream Man Presents: Quarantine Comix #1, will be available in print for the first time from Image Comics this September.  

Critically acclaimed, breakout hit series Coffin Bound by Dan Watters (Lucifer) and Dani (The Low, Low Woods) returns with an all-new, high-octane story arc prepared to blow readers’ minds. The new story arc will kick off with Coffin Bound #5, hitting shelves this August from Image Comics.  

This July, readers will get a chance to dive into some of Marvel’s most exciting new titles with brand-new stories for free at participating comic shops! Originally part of May’s Free Comic Book Day, Marvel will be now be releasing two never-before-seen titles for fans to get a first look at some of Marvel’s biggest upcoming events. Each issue will contain two separate extraordinary tales involving the X-Men, Spider-Man, and more by Marvel’s most acclaimed creators!  

Años En Infierno, the devastating fourth LP from Pomona, California guerrillas XIBALBA, is out now through Southern Lord.  

Five decades after the release of their landmark album, Morrison Hotel, The Doors and Z2 Comics announce a brand new graphic novel written by Leah Moore, daughter of the legendary Watchmen scribe Alan Moore, to be released on October 13.  

Oblivion Song #25 by Robert Kirkman (Fire Power, The Walking Dead), Lorenzo De Felici, and colorist Annalisa Leoni will kick off an exciting new story arc of the critically acclaimed series this July from Image/Skybound Entertainment. It boasts both an eye-popping cover by J. Scott Campbell and a special origin story included in the issue drawn by Leoni.  

In honor of Bill & Ted Day, Orion Pictures has released the official teaser trailer and teaser poster for BILL & TED FACE THE MUSIC. The stakes are higher than ever for the time-traveling exploits of William “Bill” S. Preston Esq. (Alex Winter) and Theodore “Ted” Logan (Keanu Reeves).  

Alternative nu-metal group RA are excited to reveal they have signed a deal with the independent record label Wake Up! Music Rocks and will be releasing their first new album in seven years titled INTERCORRUPTED. The album (release date TBA) will feature the original line-up who earlier this year surprised fans with a performance on the Shiprocked festival cruise, their first time playing together in five years. 

On June 26th, Sweden’s Falconer will release their new album, From A Dying Ember, via Metal Blade Records. For a preview of From A Dying Ember, the new single, “Kings and Queens”