Iron Maiden Are As Exhilarating As Ever on ‘Senjutsu’
Iron Maiden’s Senjutsu is not without its share of bumps and plenty of familiar scenery, but after more than 40 years, the band are as exhilarating as ever.
Adrien Begrand
Adrien Begrand has been writing for PopMatters since 2002, and has been writing his metal column Blood & Thunder since 2005. A regular contributor to Decibel, Terrorizer, Iron Fist, NPR, and more, he resides in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Follow and interact with him on Twitter and Instagram.
10 Songs That Will Make You Love Rush
Consider this list of ten songs an attempt to coerce a newbie into the vast, rewarding, fun, and often beautiful Rush back catalog.
The 20 Best Metal Albums of 2010
In 2010, the metal world honored the memory of Ronnie James Dio in the coolest possible way: by making it the best year for new music the genre saw in a very long time.
A Hardwired Triumph for Metallica
Metallica has perfected the arena rock experience, creating as immersive and inclusive an atmosphere as possible by performing "in the round".
Ghost’s ‘Prequelle’ Subverts Metal Clichés and It Has a Strong Sense of History
Beneath the catchy melodies and snazzy artwork, Ghost have created one of the cleverest heavy metal records in recent memory with Prequelle.
The Musical Magic of FME
Music, food, art, beer, culture, and staggering northern scenery combine over the course of Labor Day weekend to create an experience like none other.
The Best Metal of 2016
Adrien Begrand celebrates the best heavy metal of the year in all of its thrilling diversity.
Metallica: Hardwired… to Self Destruct
The metal greats' first proper album in eight years shows a renewed commitment to discipline, craftsmanship, and best of all, fun.
The 2016 Saskatchewan Jazz Festival
Ms. Lauryn Hill, Metric, and Hiromi highlighted a diverse opening weekend of the 30th annual festival.
Opeth: Deliverance & Damnation
Thirteen years after their release, two of Opeth's most important albums have been reissued in this essential new package.
The Inimitable Lemmy Kilmister
Lemmy lived an extraordinary life, but best of all he made some of the greatest music in rock 'n' roll history.
DARIUSTX – ‘V. The Angels of Goliad’ (album stream) (premiere)
The Texas-born, LA-based composer offers a rich exploration of Americana on his new album.