Simon Neil leads a back on top Biffy ...

A choir on one of Germany’s Big Four thrash bands’ new album? “We always did our own thing.”

THE ESSENTIAL NEW ROCK TRACKS YOU NEED TO HEAR THIS MONTH AND THE BANDS TO HAVE ON YOUR RADAR

Metallica ’s 1984 began with a gear heist and a cancelled UK tour; it ended with them being heavy metal’s Next Big Thing. Then came Master Of Puppets. This is the inside story of the making of that album and the two year whirlwind that took four “alcoholica” outcasts from the El Cerrito garage to the big time.

Marcus Mumford hasn’t had running water at his West Country home for a couple of days when we meet. He’s considering checking into a budget hotel just to get a proper wash. “We’ve had storms. There’s

The German metallers gear up for their biggest ever UK show, and promise some surprises.