The voice that launched a generation.  I was born into the cassette tape era; I discovered Iron Maiden at “Powerslave” and worked my way...

What is the Metal that made you? Not necessarily the greatest Heavy albums of all time, or even your personal favorites, but the songs...

Many, many years ago, on a distant shore (specifically, the Pacific Northwest), Metal Church was born. Four decades, four recorded...

By Rich Catino and Jack Mangan The 80s was the golden era of Heavy Metal, much of it by today's standards now considered in the Hard Rock...

The music that matters most to us in our formative years often helps us to figure out who we are, who we want to be, who we’re going to...

Even masterpieces can have imperfections. Sometimes those flaws contrast the overall brilliance, paradoxically elevating the greatness of...

The Signs were everywhere in 1990. A certain strain of Heavy Metal had become commercialized and commodified to ascend the Pop charts,...

By: Rich Catino “Hair”, Glam Metal’s last stand before hard rock music changed as grunge, alternative, and later in the 90s/early2000’s...

Now listen up. Their sophomore album may have released in September 1983, but Motley Crue’s dominant era truly began in 1984. That’s when...

I’d like to talk to you today about someone who is very shy, quiet, and timid. . . Just kidding. As soon as he hit the scene in 1989,...

Most bands suck. It’s a fact. Very few produce even one great studio album, let alone back-to-back masterpieces. Some of the greats have...

It’s the return of Metal trash-talk! Here are the rules of the game: Single out an absolute masterpiece of an album, a timeless release...

by Rich Catino Hopefully you have, or will, read the first part to this topic here at the Metal Hall titled Don’t Call It Hair Metal:...

AC/DC started the Metal 80s with tragedy and triumph. Tragedy in February of 1980, with the shocking loss of their lead singer, Bon...

The older kids spoke with reverence for their recent hits: “Breaking the Law,” “Livin’ After Midnight,” “Hellion/Electric Eye,” “Heading...

by Rich Catino Note: Thanks to fellow Metal Hall writer Jack Mangan for your input and suggestions, and guitarist Jack Frost (Seven...

The mid-1980s. Traditional Heavy Metal was firmly established at this point, still expanding in strength and reach, becoming well-defined...

1, 2, 3, 4. Anyone with functioning limbs (and lungs and digits, where applicable) can master an instrument. True musicianship nirvana is...

* The one with some general predictions about future music access and formats. Records, 8-tracks, reel-to-reels, tapes, CDs, mp3s,...

* Can we turn down the house lights? All right, raise up your phones. . . Gen X and older, you can raise your lighters. It’s time to...