Music

After a long slog, a ballad made stars of REO Speedwagon - and their die-hard fans didn't like it

By Malcolm Dome published 22 April 26

In the 1970s, REO Speedwagon were the Midwest rock band everyone was rooting for - until they actually had a hit

How Oathbreaker made one of the 21st century's best metal albums - and then disappeared

By Stephen Hill published 21 April 26

Oathbreaker seemed destined for greatness after the release of the superb Rheia. Then the band went on a near-ten-year hiatus. But why?

A salute to Axe's forgotten blue-collar gruntrock party classic, Offering

By Ken McIntyre published 21 April 26

Revisiting one of melodic rock's greatest long-lost albums

Big Big Train's Greg Spawton picks the soundtrack of his life

By Polly Glass published 21 April 26

Big Big Train co-founder Gregory Spawton picks his records, artists and gigs of lasting significance

The mysterious disappearance of the UK's answer to Korn

By Stephen Hill published 20 April 26

Pulkas were beloved in the UK metal press and signed to one of underground metal's most illustrious labels - so what happened?

Every The Smashing Pumpkins album ranked from worst to best

By Simon Young published 20 April 26

The collected studio works of Billy Corgan and company rated and ranked, from the so-so to the smashing

Classic Rock's Tracks Of The Week: April 20, 2026

By Polly Glass published 20 April 26

Eight songs you need to hear right now, from Skindred, The Karma Effect, Billy Talent and more

“I said, ‘For once, can we all get behind the concepts?’” How TesseracT made Sonder

By Alex Lynham published 20 April 26

Taking advantage of a steadied line-up, their 2018 release featured a new approach, plus sonic textures built from recordings sent in by supporters

The story of the album that almost killed Metallica

By Stephen Hill published 20 April 26

Metallica almost destroyed themselves making 2003's St. Anger

How Thin Lizzy saved their career by recording an album of Deep Purple covers

By Fraser Lewry published 20 April 26

It's late 1972, and Thin Lizzy are about to lose their record contract - then along comes an offer they can't afford to refuse