Editorial

Slayer’s Debut “Show No Mercy” Turns 40

December 4, 2023

There was once a metal world without Slayer, as hard as that is to imagine. That world changed forever with this album. Show No Mercy is a giant’s first loud footstep.

Motörhead’s “Another Perfect Day” Celebrates 40th With Deluxe Reissues

November 2, 2023

In which we revisit Motörhead’s Another Perfect Day for its killer 40th anniversary reissue.

Mercyful Fate’s “Melissa” Turns 40

October 30, 2023

Melissa’s legacy is legion. Join us as we look back on the 40th anniversary of Mercyful Fate‘s earth-shattering debut full-length album.

Justify Your Shitty Taste: Gorgoroth’s “Under the Sign of Hell 2011”

September 18, 2023

In which Neill Jameson stumps hard for Gorgoroth‘s re-recording of their mid-’90s black metal classic in the guise of Under the Sign of Hell 2011.

Black Sabbath’s “Born Again” Turns 40

September 12, 2023

In which we celebrate the strangest album in Black Sabbath’s career and the product of their strangest era. Happy 40th birthday, Born Again!

Metallica’s “Kill ‘Em All” Turns 40

July 25, 2023

Decibel looks back on Metallica‘s Kill ‘Em All, the album that helped birth thrash metal, launched a legendary career, on its 40th anniversary

Reborn in Blasphemy: Revisiting Pavor’s ‘A Pale Debilitating Autumn’ Album Nearly 30 Years Later

February 28, 2023

Deathevokation frontman Götz Vogelsang preforms zombie ritual reviews of lost death metal classics in the latest edition of his semi-regular column Reborn in Blasphemy.

5 Records You Probably Forgot Are Turning 15 in 2023

January 9, 2023

If you remember when these albums came out, it probably hurts to bang your head.

Left To Die’s Gus Rios on ‘Leprosy’ as the Sound of Perseverance

August 24, 2022

Three years on from a suicide attempt, Left To Die drummer Gus Rios discusses living a childhood dream by performing with former Death members.

Neill Jameson on Women’s Rights and America’s Descent Into a Theocratic Nation

July 8, 2022

Krieg frontman and Decibel columnist Neill Jameson discusses the fall of Roe v. Wade and why no one is immune from its impact.

Venomous Concept Vocalist Kevin Sharp on His Own Mental Health Struggles and Continuing the Fight

May 12, 2022

In the wake of Trevor Strnad’s death, former Brutal Truth frontman Kevin Sharp opens up about about his own recent metal health reckoning and steps that saved him.

Fight Fire With Fire: ‘Cocked and Loaded’ vs. ‘Wake Me When It’s Over’

January 20, 2022

It’s a 1989 hair metal showdown with the second albums from L.A. Guns and Faster Pussycat duking it out.

Op Ed: Neill Jameson Spotlights a New Wave of Darkness in American Black Metal

December 28, 2021

In which Krieg’s frontman focuses on Grinning Death’s Head, Calvary, Pan-Amerikan Native Front and the rising new wave of American Black Metal.

Hall of Fame Countdown: Cave In’s “Until Your Heart Stops”

November 25, 2021

On the eve of their Metal & Beer Fest: L.A. full-album performance of the LP, we rank the songs on Cave In’s Until Your Heart Stops from least awesome to most awesome.

Read How John Tardy Discovered His Growl in a Book Excerpt from ‘Turned Inside Out: The Official Story of Obituary’

October 29, 2021

Take an exclusive sneak peek of the first excerpt of Turned Inside Out: The Official Story of Obituary now online; pre-orders available via Decibel Books.

Fight Fire With Fire: ‘Crowbar’ vs. ‘Take as Needed for Pain’

October 28, 2021

It’s the ultimate sludge showdown as we pair off Crowbar‘s self-titled album and Eyehategod‘s Take as Needed for Pain in today’s Fight Fire With Fire.

An Open Letter to Glenn Danzig for Halloween

October 18, 2021

The weather is changing, the leaves are turning, but it’s still been 20 years since any proper Samhain reissues. Our Neill Jameson asks Glenn Dazing, what’s up?

Top 5 Guitar Pedals By Christian Larson (Necrofier)

October 11, 2021

Christian Larson of Necrofier fame steps on his Top 5 Guitar Pedals for black metal. Fans of Dissection, Necrophobic, and Dawn take note!

Fight Fire With Fire: ‘Suicidal Tendencies’ vs. ‘Dirty Rotten EP’

September 30, 2021

Let’s talk crossover. We haven’t dabbled into the genre yet in this column, so what better place to start than with Suicidal Tendencies‘ self-titled 1983 debut and D.R.I.‘s Dirty Rotten EP debut, also from 1983?

“We Were Punishing People”: A Review of Deadguy: Killing Music

September 21, 2021

The seminal sonic slaying of Deadguy gets the documentary treatment just ahead of the classic lineup’s first show in more than a quarter century at Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest.

Five Times Harvcore Records Ruled

September 13, 2021

Revisiting hardcore label Harvcore Records.

Five Heavy Albums that Changed My Life with Ross Hansen of Ingrown

September 2, 2021

Pissed-off ragers Ingrown recently released their debut album Gun, so we got vocalist/guitarist Ross Hansen to tell us what five heavy albums changed his life.

Fight Fire With Fire: ‘Vincebus Eruptum’ vs. ‘Population II’

August 26, 2021

For this Fight Fire With Fire installment, we go proto-metal and pit Blue Cheer and their 1968 debut Vincebus Eruptum, against the more obscure Randy Holden and his Population II.

Justify Your Shitty Taste: Morbid Angel’s ‘Illud Divinum Insanus’

August 5, 2021

Crunching the numbers on Morbid Angel‘s ill-fated Illud Divinum Insanus and defending 54.55 percent of it.