The Metal Pigeon
@themetalpigeon.bsky.social
Passionate metal fan turned metal writer @ http://themetalpigeon.com || Co-host of the Mainstream Resistance Podcast (look for MSRcast/MetalGeeks on your favorite podcast app!)
Long bio @ http://bit.ly/2NFFZjU
Long bio @ http://bit.ly/2NFFZjU
Metal Archives is down and I'm having an existential crisis as a result!
December 12, 2025 at 4:18 AM
Metal Archives is down and I'm having an existential crisis as a result!
A quick dash through some of the noteworthy releases to come out in the past few weeks and months, though certainly not complete by any means. Not really reviews, just quick thoughts and impressions on stuff that wowed me and otherwise.
The Obligatory Catching Up Piece - The Metal Pigeon
So in typical Metal Pigeon fashion, I’ve fallen behind on things I planned to publish, a result of my getting distracted by one notion after another and stopping work on one piece to begin work on ano...
www.themetalpigeon.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:14 AM
A quick dash through some of the noteworthy releases to come out in the past few weeks and months, though certainly not complete by any means. Not really reviews, just quick thoughts and impressions on stuff that wowed me and otherwise.
Seeing Judas Priest tonight, could/might/hopefully not be the last time because who knows how long the band is going to keep touring. Definitely going to try to soak it all in and remember this.
October 26, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Seeing Judas Priest tonight, could/might/hopefully not be the last time because who knows how long the band is going to keep touring. Definitely going to try to soak it all in and remember this.
Gutted to hear about this. One of the most incredible extreme metal vocalists ever.
September 16, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Gutted to hear about this. One of the most incredible extreme metal vocalists ever.
This song is still as beautifully melancholic with it's awesome, heavy riffs and impassioned vocals as it was when I first heard it back in 2003. I need a new Finnish band to resurrect this style of Gothic metal again!
youtu.be/HUw8XVo-yeM?...
youtu.be/HUw8XVo-yeM?...
Poisonblack - Escapexstacy - 03 - The State
YouTube video by Teshé Víctor
youtu.be
September 10, 2025 at 9:05 PM
This song is still as beautifully melancholic with it's awesome, heavy riffs and impassioned vocals as it was when I first heard it back in 2003. I need a new Finnish band to resurrect this style of Gothic metal again!
youtu.be/HUw8XVo-yeM?...
youtu.be/HUw8XVo-yeM?...
Stepping back into reviews territory for two long looks at albums that I've been obsessed with this past month, the new Helloween that came out today and Blackbraid from a few weeks ago.
Giants and Monsters For Real: New Helloween and Blackbraid - The Metal Pigeon
Arriving at the near end of a summer release season that was mostly predominated by new albums from lesser known and up and coming artists, two big names in the legendary Helloween and rising black me...
www.themetalpigeon.com
August 29, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Stepping back into reviews territory for two long looks at albums that I've been obsessed with this past month, the new Helloween that came out today and Blackbraid from a few weeks ago.
Saw Bruce Dickinson tonight, it was incredible and his new band are gifted musicians doing justice to the older songs. Bummer that Roy Z chooses not to be a part of this for his own reasons but if this group gets Bruce making new records faster as he indicated in stage tonight, it's better for it.
August 29, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Saw Bruce Dickinson tonight, it was incredible and his new band are gifted musicians doing justice to the older songs. Bummer that Roy Z chooses not to be a part of this for his own reasons but if this group gets Bruce making new records faster as he indicated in stage tonight, it's better for it.
Really awesome conversation with Larry Roberts of Novembers Doom ahead of their Progpower appearance this coming week and their new album soon! Check it outeth!
MSRcast 310: Into the Doom: A Conversation with Larry Roberts of Novembers Doom | Metal Geeks Podcast/MSRcast Metal Podcast
Welcome to MSRcast Episode 310: Into the Doom! In this special extended interview, Cary the Metal Geek and Sean the Metal Pigeon sit down with Larry Roberts of Novembers Doom to dive deep into the ban...
metalgeeks.podbean.com
August 28, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Really awesome conversation with Larry Roberts of Novembers Doom ahead of their Progpower appearance this coming week and their new album soon! Check it outeth!
Reposted by The Metal Pigeon
#Helloween has a brand new album coming out next week and who better to discuss this release than one of the founding members of the band, guitarist #MichaelWeikath! (1/2)
#heavymetal #metalsky #powermetal
#heavymetal #metalsky #powermetal
August 18, 2025 at 1:21 AM
#Helloween has a brand new album coming out next week and who better to discuss this release than one of the founding members of the band, guitarist #MichaelWeikath! (1/2)
#heavymetal #metalsky #powermetal
#heavymetal #metalsky #powermetal
Watching the Wacken livestreams from Friday and it feels like Dimmu Borgir was the best of the night, coming out of seemingly nowhere to deliver their best set that I can remember in ages. Great setlist and they sound spectacular. Where have these guys been? Get on tour dudes!!!
August 2, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Watching the Wacken livestreams from Friday and it feels like Dimmu Borgir was the best of the night, coming out of seemingly nowhere to deliver their best set that I can remember in ages. Great setlist and they sound spectacular. Where have these guys been? Get on tour dudes!!!
With ProgPower just around the corner, we invited two festival veterans in Justin and Chris of the Metal Exchange Podcast (@themetalexchange.bsky.social) to come and school us on the ins and outs of North America's premiere prog/power metal fest! Questions are raised and summarily dismissed!
MSRcast 309: Beginner's Guide to ProgPower
Metal Geeks Podcast/MSRcast Metal Podcast · Episode
open.spotify.com
July 26, 2025 at 3:02 PM
With ProgPower just around the corner, we invited two festival veterans in Justin and Chris of the Metal Exchange Podcast (@themetalexchange.bsky.social) to come and school us on the ins and outs of North America's premiere prog/power metal fest! Questions are raised and summarily dismissed!
Shocked at the surreal timing of this, happy he got to play that last show. RIP to a legend.
It is with immeasurable sadness and disbelief that I report Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath and dubbed the Prince of Darkness, has died at 76, his family confirmed on July 22, 2025. metalinjection.net/this-is-just...
OZZY OSBOURNE Dead At 76 - Metal Injection
It is with immeasurable sadness and disbelief, we report this.
metalinjection.net
July 22, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Shocked at the surreal timing of this, happy he got to play that last show. RIP to a legend.
I wish there was a way to detect broken links in my blog, some of the older articles are having issues with YouTube videos going missing or unavailable. I know its just the nature of the internet, but this is a pain in the you know what to have to manually fix.
June 20, 2025 at 2:36 AM
I wish there was a way to detect broken links in my blog, some of the older articles are having issues with YouTube videos going missing or unavailable. I know its just the nature of the internet, but this is a pain in the you know what to have to manually fix.
I deep dive the recent Avantasia album Here Be Dragons, and attempt to understand why it's become the most divisive thing Tobias Sammet has released in donkeys years!
Caught Somewhere In Time: Avantasia's Here Be Dragons - The Metal Pigeon
As a self appointed historian on the career of one Tobias Sammet, I can honestly say that the cumulative reaction to Avantasia’s tenth(!) studio album, Here Be Dragons, matches the divisiveness that w...
www.themetalpigeon.com
March 27, 2025 at 4:09 PM
I deep dive the recent Avantasia album Here Be Dragons, and attempt to understand why it's become the most divisive thing Tobias Sammet has released in donkeys years!
An interview with the soon to be main man behind ProgPower, by two guys who have been going to this festival since way back in the day and know the fest the best! Sorry to age you guys there 🤣 !
It felt like the perfect time to invite our good friend Milton Mendonça to join us to discuss the future of #ProgPowerUSA with him at the helm starting in 2027! We also chat about his history as a promoter and he drops a few exclusive tidbits about the festival. Episode 253 is live!
Link in bio!
Link in bio!
March 7, 2025 at 3:54 AM
An interview with the soon to be main man behind ProgPower, by two guys who have been going to this festival since way back in the day and know the fest the best! Sorry to age you guys there 🤣 !
The first few months of most years are quiet on the release front, but not so with 2025, which has presented the most stacked metal release calendar in memory. It took me a bit, but I think I'm caught up, and I go over some of my thoughts here. Just fyi, Avantasia and Brainstorm will be next update!
Restless and Wild: 2025's First Quarter Blitz - The Metal Pigeon
I have to admit to being slightly taken aback by just how strong the start to this year has been metal-wise. This is because normally, release calendars get off to a slow, lurching start in the first ...
www.themetalpigeon.com
March 6, 2025 at 5:19 AM
The first few months of most years are quiet on the release front, but not so with 2025, which has presented the most stacked metal release calendar in memory. It took me a bit, but I think I'm caught up, and I go over some of my thoughts here. Just fyi, Avantasia and Brainstorm will be next update!
I never thought I'd see Decibel Magazine covering Brainstorm, but happy its happening!
German trad metal stalwarts Brainstorm take us track-by-track through their powerhouse new full length for Reigning Phoenix Music, "Plague of Rats." www.decibelmagazine.com/2025/02/26/t...
Track by Track: Brainstorm –Plague of Rats - Decibel Magazine
German trad metal stalwarts Brainstorm take us track-by-track through their powerhouse new full length for Reigning Phoenix Music, Plague of Rats.
www.decibelmagazine.com
February 28, 2025 at 2:15 AM
I never thought I'd see Decibel Magazine covering Brainstorm, but happy its happening!
I have no idea what everyone is talking about with the Kendrick Lamar halftime show being about Drake. Is there a cliffs notes for that or is it not worth even trying to understand it?
February 10, 2025 at 5:20 AM
I have no idea what everyone is talking about with the Kendrick Lamar halftime show being about Drake. Is there a cliffs notes for that or is it not worth even trying to understand it?
Its here!
Saor - Amidst the Ruins
Atmospheric Folk/Black Metal
#wmr #BlackMetal #BlackMetalSky #FolkMetal #FolkMetalSky #MetalSky #HeavyMetal #Metal #Music #Release
Atmospheric Folk/Black Metal
#wmr #BlackMetal #BlackMetalSky #FolkMetal #FolkMetalSky #MetalSky #HeavyMetal #Metal #Music #Release
February 7, 2025 at 6:04 AM
Its here!
And it's done, the final part of The Best of 2024 feature focusing on the albums! Also be sure to check out the new MSRcast episode for our yearly rewind where we discuss our lists at length. Now time to listen to whatever the hell else I want to!
www.themetalpigeon.com/2025/01/03/t...
www.themetalpigeon.com/2025/01/03/t...
The Metal Pigeon’s Best of 2024 // Part Two: The Albums - The Metal Pigeon
Here I go again, as David Coverdale once sagely sang, back with part two of The Metal Pigeon’s Best of 2024 feature, focusing on the best albums of the year (a tidy ten selections for you newcomers). ...
www.themetalpigeon.com
January 4, 2025 at 2:28 PM
And it's done, the final part of The Best of 2024 feature focusing on the albums! Also be sure to check out the new MSRcast episode for our yearly rewind where we discuss our lists at length. Now time to listen to whatever the hell else I want to!
www.themetalpigeon.com/2025/01/03/t...
www.themetalpigeon.com/2025/01/03/t...
That time of year again, no not Christmas ffs, its time for The Metal Pigeon's Best of feature, first with Part One focusing on the best songs of the 2024. Set aside your presents, this is the real gift!
www.themetalpigeon.com/2024/12/25/t...
www.themetalpigeon.com/2024/12/25/t...
The Metal Pigeon’s Best of 2024 // Part One: The Songs - The Metal Pigeon
Another year nearly done, and another look back at the metal that served as its soundtrack, this list being part one of a two-part Best of 2024 feature, focusing first on what are the ten best songs o...
www.themetalpigeon.com
December 25, 2024 at 3:40 PM
That time of year again, no not Christmas ffs, its time for The Metal Pigeon's Best of feature, first with Part One focusing on the best songs of the 2024. Set aside your presents, this is the real gift!
www.themetalpigeon.com/2024/12/25/t...
www.themetalpigeon.com/2024/12/25/t...
Dimebag of course, even Burton and Rikki (I suppose).... but the Jeff Young and Alissa White-Gluz choices have me wondering just how serious the Metal Hall of Fame is trying to be. All of their inductions on a yearly basis have had some questionable selections when this should be easy to start.
DIMEBAG, ALISSA WHITE-GLUZ, RIKKI ROCKETT, BURTON C. BELL, Others To Be Inducted Into 'Metal Hall Of Fame' blabbermouth.net/news/dimebag...
DIMEBAG, ALISSA WHITE-GLUZ, RIKKI ROCKETT, BURTON C. BELL, Others To Be Inducted Into 'Metal Hall Of Fame'
The Metal Hall Of Fame announced today a partial list of musicians who will be inducted in 2025. The annual Metal Hall Of Fame charity gala, which will take place Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at the Gr...
blabbermouth.net
December 13, 2024 at 3:25 AM
Dimebag of course, even Burton and Rikki (I suppose).... but the Jeff Young and Alissa White-Gluz choices have me wondering just how serious the Metal Hall of Fame is trying to be. All of their inductions on a yearly basis have had some questionable selections when this should be easy to start.
New episode out now, covering the last bits of the year before we start diving into year end best of list preparations! Also available wherever you listen to podcasts if you'd rather not Spotify.
open.spotify.com/episode/1IfC...
open.spotify.com/episode/1IfC...
MSRcast 301: Unraveling Metal
open.spotify.com
December 11, 2024 at 4:05 PM
New episode out now, covering the last bits of the year before we start diving into year end best of list preparations! Also available wherever you listen to podcasts if you'd rather not Spotify.
open.spotify.com/episode/1IfC...
open.spotify.com/episode/1IfC...
Good solid pick for a replacement drummer, good to go with someone Steve already knows and can likely vouch for being a good dude. At this stage, Maiden don't need a rotating cast at drummer, just one solid dude who can handle the shows. Up the irons Nicko, what a career, glad I saw him many times.
IRON MAIDEN Announces New Drummer: 'A Name Familiar To Many Of Our Fans' blabbermouth.net/news/iron-ma...
IRON MAIDEN Announces New Drummer: 'A Name Familiar To Many Of Our Fans'
British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN have announced their new touring drummer. Stepping in as the replacement for Nicko McBrain will be Simon Dawson, a former session drummer and MAIDEN bassist Ste...
blabbermouth.net
December 8, 2024 at 6:56 PM
Good solid pick for a replacement drummer, good to go with someone Steve already knows and can likely vouch for being a good dude. At this stage, Maiden don't need a rotating cast at drummer, just one solid dude who can handle the shows. Up the irons Nicko, what a career, glad I saw him many times.