Articles by Tom O' Boyle

"Riluo’s true success lies in how genuine its emotions feel." Taiwanese symphonic black metallers Laang have channelled a horrendous, life-changing event into one of this year's most compelling albums

By Tom O' Boyle published 21 November 23

Laang frontman Haitao Yang was shot in the head and pronounced dead. He survived, and has channeled his terrifying ordeal into something dark, emotional and deeply compelling

The best metal albums of 2023 so far

By Rich Hobson published 8 November 23

From Metallica to Babymetal, Cattle Decapitation to Sleep Token, these are the best metal albums of the year to date

7 brilliant metal albums you might have missed last month

By Rich Hobson published 16 May 23

Grave Pleasures, As Everything Unfolds and Dodheimsgard are among the albums that might have flown under the radar in April

Best black metal albums of 2022: Watain/Zeal & Ardor/Kaoteon/Abbath/Ibaraki

The 10 best black metal albums of 2022

By Rich Hobson published 16 December 22

From Abbath and Blackbraid to Gaerea and Zeal & Ardor - these are the 10 best black metal albums of 2022

Ozzy Osbourne's stolen original Blizzard Of Ozz gold disc returned by superfan in bizarre twist of fate

By Tom O' Boyle published 25 November 21

Ozzy Osbourne superfan Mark Sandwell reunites the Prince Of Darkness with a long lost stolen golden disc, stolen from the band's camp decades ago

Devin Townsend's fan-picked Bloodstock setlist was a tour of bangers from throughout the ages

By Tom O' Boyle published 14 August 21

Devin Townsend headlined Bloodstock Festival last night, and his fan-picked setlist was a series of delights from a vast and diverse back catalogue

Havok have nailed 21st century thrash with new album V

By Tom O' Boyle published 1 May 20

Denver thrashers Havok new album V is where old school thrash speed meets new school thrash attitude

Me and That Man's New Man, New Songs, Same Sh*t, Vol.1 is a fun celebration of friends, outlaws and Satan

By Tom O' Boyle published 27 March 20

Nergal's Me And That Man heads down Route 666 with a stellar new entourage in New Man, New Songs, Same Sh*t, Vol.1

Insomnium: Stunning scenery, horrible history lessons and burnt bums

By Tom O' Boyle published 28 January 20

When we headed to Finland last year to spend a cosy weekend with melancholic death metallers Insomnium, it was a spiritual awakening like no other

Monzer Darwish's Syrian Metal Is War film review

By Tom O' Boyle published 4 October 19

Six years in the making, Monzer Darwish's debut documentary Syrian Metal Is War gives a voice to the voiceless

High-security prison, interrogation and solitary confinement: The harsh reality of being a metalhead in Iran

By Tom O' Boyle published 12 August 19

Under Iran’s oppressive regime, metal bands are at risk of being arrested, jailed or forced into exile. But they’re determined not to give up on their cause

What happened when Devin Townsend interviewed Steve Vai?

By Tom O' Boyle published 29 September 18

Steve Vai is one of the most influential guitarists in history. So what happened when we got fellow legend and Vai fanboy Devin Townsend to interview him?