After the success of the off-Broadway play Rock of Ages came word that they’d be making a film version. The trailer for the Tom Cruise and Russell Brand-starring flick has leaked and wow, does it look awful. The movie, directed by Adam Shankman (Hairspray, which should give you an idea of where this is going) takes the’80s hair metal Sunset Strip backdrop of the play and wallows in cliche after cliche. Alec Baldwin, as manager of the Bourbon Room (not to be confused with the Whiskey a Go Go – see what they did there?), looks ridiculous as a long-haired club manager. It looks like there’s going to be plenty of choreographed dancing, not just on the stage, and then there’s the music. It’s not like “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and “Pour Some Sugar On Me” are classics that can’t be messed with, but the songs just sound like they’re being sung by a bored glee club. In all, it might be campy fun, but more likely, it’s going to be a gaudy mess that makes Rock Star look like The Godfather by comparison.

Burning Witches unveil “Inquisition” video; new album arriving in August
Swiss heavy metal outfit Burning Witches have announced their sixth studio album, Inquisition, is scheduled to arrive on August 22, 2025 via Napalm Records. The group unveiled a video for the title track to coincide with the announcement. Produced by Damir Eskic and...

Helloween share “This Is Tokyo” video; new album arriving in August
German metal legends Helloween have announced their new album, Giants & Monsters, scheduled to arrive in August. The album’s first single, “This Is Tokyo,” is out now along with a Japan-inspired music video. Giants & Monsters follows their 2021 self-titled...

blessthefall share new single “mallxcore;” announce first album in 7 years
Arizona metalcore band blessthefall have announced their long-awaited new album, Gallows, set for release on September 5 via Rise Records. Marking their first full-length in seven years. To celebrate, the band has dropped a new single, “mallxcore." The album will...

New & Noteworthy: Songs of Last Releases – 5/30/2025
New & Noteworthy is Metal Insider’s weekly column highlighting some of the newest rock and metal releases coming out each week. This final New Music Friday of May will see new music from the likes of Garbage, The Haunted, Rivers Of Nihil and Wolves At The Gate, as...

New & Noteworthy: Origins of Releases – 5/23/2025
New & Noteworthy is Metal Insider’s weekly column highlighting some of the newest rock and metal releases coming out each week. This week will see new music from the likes of Skunk Anansie, …and Oceans, Age of Apocalypes and Witchcraft, as well as cover and...

New & Noteworthy: Will You Haunt Me, With Releases – 5/16/2025
New & Noteworthy is Metal Insider’s weekly column highlighting some of the newest rock and metal releases coming out each week. Among the many outstanding works hitting shelves this week are new releases from the likes of Bury Tomorrow, Pelican and Steve Von Till,...
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