The band’s prodigal son, Mike Portnoy, takes your questions on dance music, sausages and recording with Avenged Sevenfold

More than 20 years in, and Avatar have stepped up with their most commercial album yet. Their next move? A support slot with Metallica – if Las Vegas doesn’t kill them first

Martin Barre MCNIDDER & GRACE

Guitarists Adrian and Richie prepare to take their side project on the road with shows in the UK.

Thirty years after its release, Billy Corgan looks back at the making of The Smashing Pumpkins ’ era-defining big, bold, bombastic masterpiece Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness .

Forget the USA – Germany produced one of the most venomous thrash bands of them all. Frontman Mille Petrozza looks back on 40 years of extreme aggression