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Often overlooked in favour of thrash metal’s so-called big four, the mighty Death Angel have always been regulars on the rushonrock turntables and we’re stoked to see the Californian crew on the brink of releasing a sixth studio album.

We’ve been well into Mark Osegueda and his men ever since the Bay Area band’s Frolic Through The Park found its way into our vinyl collection. And if 2008′s Killing Season proved the boys were back then one look at the newly unveiled artwork for September’s Relentless Retribution suggests their finest hour could be on the horizon.

Even the name is classic Death Angel and Osegueda said: “I haven’t been as excited about the cover artwork on any other Death Angel album as I am for this one! It fits the whole theme of the album! Angry and aggressive! Read the rest of this entry »

We don’t get to watch too many DVDs at rushonrock HQ but when we do we enjoy nothing more than a slice of real life live action.

And this month there’s a couple of cracking films out there as the UK’s ultimate rock and roll troubadour goes head to head with a bunch of skater thrash legends.

For the official lowdown on Frank Turner and Suicidal Tendencies on film read on. Read the rest of this entry »

The debate is raging. Is the Download 2010 bill one of the best ever as Castle Donington bids to celebrate its 30th anniversary as a festival venue?

Or have organisers thrown too many eggs into one very expensive basket at the expense of beefing up the bill with quality and consistency from top to bottom? Read the rest of this entry »

@ Newcastle o2 Academy, February 21 2010

Imagine Yes as a polished thrash metal band and this is the sound you would hear. Progressive, intricate, mind-blowing works played with intense pace and a good degree of passion.

Mastodon might have mellowed (relatively speaking) with the much lauded Crack The Skye but at their heart is a rhythm section determined to leave no artistic stone unturned. The controlled power unleashed by drummer Brann Dailor and bass player Troy Sanders is at the heart of this band’s explosive live performance and truly is a marvel to behold. Read the rest of this entry »

Metallica – Nothing Else Matters (Hetfield/Ulrich) b/w Enter Sandman (live) (Hetfield/Ulrich/Hammett), Harvester Of Sorrow (live) (Hetfield/Ulrich) & Nothing Else Matters (demo) (Hetfield/Ulrich)

1992

This was the moment Metallica went truly commercial as the haunting ballad from the black album became a mainstream hit worldwide.

As far removed from the band’s early thrash sound as fans could imagine it divided the Metallica community. And yet Nothing Else Matters is a magnificent example of powerful, poignant metal building on the experimental One from …And Justice For All. Read the rest of this entry »

Valentine’s Day may be all about red roses, big hearts and sloppy kisses but not if you’re a member of HIM or Dommin. We look at two of rock’s chief anti-love protagonists and a whole load of other stuff this week.

There’s the long awaited Best Of from our favourite Scando sleaze kings Backyard Babies (pictured) and the debut solo album from Cradle Of Filth crooner Sarah Jezebel Deva.

Throw in some seriously heavy shit from Rising Records’ label mates Sworn Amongst and With Chaos In Her Wake and there’s plenty to keep the metal heads out there happy. Plus we check out a snappy debut from buzz band Straight Lines – fresh from a triumphant 2009 touring with Kids In Glass Houses, The Automatic and Motorhead. Read the rest of this entry »

Another diverse week of rock releases should provide all those romantics out there with plenty of food for thought ahead of Valentine’s Day but The Who’s latest greatest hits package will be the biggest seller of the week.

We rate the Super Bowl-bound vets alongside new releases from Robin Brock, Edge Of Forever, Titan and Orden Ogan.

And there’s a full review of thrash legends Anthrax‘s repackaged and remastered classic Among the Living, featuring the Live In London DVD Oidivnikufesin (NFV). Read the rest of this entry »

We could have jumped the gun and reviewed the standard version of the new album by thrash legends Slayer but certain bands demand to be heard on heavyweight vinyl.

So we waited. And waited. And waited. Until our 180 gram beast of a record finally arrived with 11 thumping new anthems from Tom, Dave and the boys. 

And was the wait worthwhile? Read on for the official rushonrock verdict on World Painted Blood. Read the rest of this entry »

Testament – Trial By Fire (Skolnick/Peterson/Billy) b/w Nobody’s Fault (Tyler/Whitford) 1988

Taken from the album The New Order, which hit 136 on the Billboard Hot 200 and ultimately broke the band as a commercial prospect, this Testament classic still sounds massive today.

Had there been a big five when it came to thrash metal monsters breaking out of the US in the late 80s then Chuck Billy and his bombastic crew would have made the cut.

As it was the Big Four – Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax – enjoyed even greater success and remained in a superstar club all of their own. But tracks like Trial By Fire prove Testament’s class and those of us who have witnessed the band live in 2009 will testify to the fact that they’re still going strong. Read the rest of this entry »

Porcupine Tree (pictured) head the list of no fewer than nine bands vying for your hard earned cash this week as rushonrock goes into reviews overdrive.

Check out our verdicts on deluxe Venom and deluxe Million Dead, new metal in the shape of Cinders Fall and Last Stop China Town, reborn rock from INME, remodelled rock by Juliette Lewis (now minus her Licks) psychedelic weirdness from Stardeath And White Dwarfs and a fabulous new record by Frank Turner. Take a deep breath… Read the rest of this entry »