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.

Ashes of Ares (ex-Iced Earth) share “From Hell He Rides” video
Ashes of Ares, the metal duo project featuring former Iced Earth members Matt Barlow and Freddie Vidales, have released a video for their new single "From Hell He Rides." Inspired by Marvel's Ghost Rider, the track is the second single taken from their upcoming album...

Arjen Lucassen announces apocalyptic solo album ‘Songs No One Will Hear’
Arjen Anthony Lucassen has announced his first solo album in over a decade, Songs No One Will Hear, scheduled to arrive on September 12, 2025, via InsideOutMusic. Thirteen years after Lost In The New Real, Lucassen returns with a concept album that imagines humanity’s...

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...

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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