Jason Arnopp

Jason Arnopp is a veteran metal scribbler, with a passion for thrash metal, horror movies, vinyl and VHS. He's also the author of scary novels like The Last Days Of Jack Sparks (2016) and Ghoster (2019). Runs two YouTube channels, including Possessed By Metal (opens in new tab). Guess what that one's about, eh?

Articles by: Jason Arnopp

Voivod's discordant, psychedelic sci-fi oddness excels on Synchro Anarchy

By Jason Arnopp published 12 February 22

French-Canadian oddballs Voivod celebrate their fourth decade with the storming Synchro Anarchy

In a world of uncertainty, Saxon's Carpe Diem is reliably certain

By Jason Arnopp published 4 February 22

Carpe Diem is business as usual for British metal institution Saxon, and business is good

The Monster Roars by Magnum: genuinely lovely, with a silky-smooth underbelly

By Jason Arnopp published 15 January 22

Brummie veterans Magnum continue to put songcraft first on The Monster Roars, their best album for some time

Persona Non Grata by Exodus is not an album you'd want to meet in a dark alley

By Jason Arnopp published 21 November 21

Exodus continue to thrash, bang and wallop on 11th album Persona Non Grata

Rob Zombie's horror movies ranked from worst to best

By Jason Arnopp published 19 October 21

Wading through industrial legend Rob Zombie's directorial run of horror movies from the baneful to the gloriously painful

Dio live albums: repackaged but still offering more Heaven than Hell

By Jason Arnopp published 12 February 21

Ronnie James Dio's live albums Evil Or Divine: Live In New York City and Holy Diver Live get taken out for another spin

Manowar: Black Wind, Fire And Steel: The Atlantic Albums 1987-1992

Manowar's Black Wind, Fire And Steel: three albums of the truest metal

By Jason Arnopp published 4 December 20

Black Wind, Fire And Steel: The Atlantic Recordings 1987-1992 is a barebones repacking of Manowar's major label adventure

Pantera: Reinventing The Steel (20th Anniversary)

Pantera celebrate 20 years of Reinventing The Steel with a vibrant new mix

By Jason Arnopp published 30 October 20

Heavy, heavy metal on the 20th anniversary Pantera's Reinventing The Steel

How Carcass twisted grindcore into repulsive new shapes on Symphonies Of Sickness

By Jason Arnopp published 28 September 20

With their second album Symphonies Of Sickness, Carcass put grindcore through the mincer – and made an underground metal classic

U.D.O. And Das Musikkorps Der Bundeswehr: We Are One album review

By Jason Arnopp published 17 July 20

Former Accept vocalist Udo Dirkschneider hooks up with the concert band of the German armed forces on We Are One. Of course he does.

A photograph of Kirk Hammett in front of some creepy skeletons

Metal and horror: a match made in hell

By Jason Arnopp published 25 October 19

As Halloween rolls around, we investigate why metal enjoys such a close relationship with horror, and how they’ve shaped each other in the darkest of ways

The Top 10 essential horror movie soundtracks

By Jason Arnopp published 29 October 16

Every day is Halloween with these 10 essential horror movie sountracks for the discerning metal fan

I was held at gunpoint in the Vatican with Cradle Of Filth

By Jason Arnopp published 28 July 16

Don't expect a warm welcome if you're a Satanic metal band in Vatican City with no photo permits...

King Diamond live review – London Forum

By Jason Arnopp published 14 July 16

Not yet rated

Metal’s regal maverick King Diamond revisits a high point. Check out our live review here...

Flotsam And Jetsam – Flotsam And Jetsam album review

By Jason Arnopp published 19 May 16

Arizona’s thrash stalwarts full just shy of full power

Death Angel – The Evil Divide album review

By Jason Arnopp published 19 May 16

Thrash metal veterans fire up their furnace once more

Crisix: From Blue To Black

By Jason Arnopp published 29 March 16

Catalonian thrashers fail to beat out a memorable tune

Metal Church: XI

By Jason Arnopp published 1 March 16

Metal veterans turn up the dial on their 11th studio album

Saxon

By Jason Arnopp published 1 March 16

Barnsley’s behemoths hit the seaside

Artillery: Penalty By Perception

By Jason Arnopp published 1 March 16

The great Danes unleash their eighth burst of heavy fire

Anthrax: For All Kings

By Jason Arnopp published 2 February 16

NY metal legends bring the weight of history to bear

Exumer: The Raging Tides

By Jason Arnopp published 2 February 16

Teutonic thrashers deliver the death blow with album four

Is Lemmy god?

By Jason Arnopp published 2 February 16

Lemmy was more than a rock star. The Motörhead man transcended his own legacy to become an icon of mythical proportions

Proof that Lemmy was the nicest guy in rock 'n' roll

By Jason Arnopp published 2 February 16

For all the amazing stories that have emerged in his wake, one thing unites them all: the guy was as genuine and decent a man as you could ever meet

10 albums that prove 1986 was the best year for thrash

By Jason Arnopp published 26 January 16

Why the year 1986 is thrash metal's pinnacle