Steven Wilson returned to his progressive rock roots in 2025 with an epic two-track concept album and a wow-factor tour. Somehow, he even managed to find the time to remix Pink Floyd and a whole host of other rock and pop icons, too.

Marillion guitarist Steve Rothery embraced his more electronic side this year with Bioscope, his soundscape project with Tangerine Dream’s Thorsten Quaeschning. But he’s not ditching the day job: work is well underway on Marillion’s next studio album, and there’s his long-awaited collaboration with a certain Mr Hackett still to come.

SINCE FOUNDING BIG Wreck in the early Nineties, Ian Thornley has filled his band’s songbook with arena-conquering melodies, Led Zeppelin-hailing heft and some of the most super-heroically knuckle-bust

With solo projects, other bands and a massive Creed reunion between them, there were whispers that Alter Bridge might be on the way out. Instead they regrouped, faced the dark side of our times, put their foot on the gas and recorded a brilliant new album.

YOU CAN LOOK at Dave Mustaine’s career in two ways: as a revenge tour or as a story of perpetual redemption. If Mustaine’s life, which is earmarked by iconic records like 1986’s Peace Sells… But Who’s

Some years ago, Colin Matthews – a lifelong Londoner – bought himself a composing retreat on the Somerset/ Dorset borders and half-seriously confessed to fears that the view of cows from his windows ‘