Download 2026: Our must-see bands

Guilty Pleasures

Every metalhead has them. Those bands, songs, or albums they secretly love but would never admit to it. In this episode, we reveal some of our heavy metal guilty pleasures and dive into the tracks that somehow found their way onto our playlists. From unexpected pop influences to cheesy anthems and controversial favourites, nothing is off limits. Expect laughs, questionable music tastes, and a reminder that sometimes a great song is just a great song no matter how un-metal it might seem. Sam also gives his hot take on Australian metalers Speed's recent UK run.

Our rock and roll hall of fame 2026 picks

Who deserves a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2026? We make our picks and dive into the artists we believe have earned their spot in music history. From legendary metal pioneers to hard rock icons and overlooked favourites, we debate who should get the nod, who’s been snubbed for too long, and which bands truly changed the face of heavy music. Expect passionate arguments, controversial takes, and plenty of love for the artists that shaped the soundtrack of our lives.

Download 2026: Our must-see bands

Download Festival 2026 is going to be massive, so we decided to break it down for our first ever episode. We've taken a look at our top five must-see bands for this year, from iconic heavyweights we know will bring the party to the breakout acts ready to make waves over the weekend, we've picked the sets you absolutely can’t miss. Expect strong opinions, a few disagreements, and plenty of hype as we dive into who’s worth your time and who might surprise you. Whether you’ve got your ticket or you’re just watching from afar, this is our list of the essential acts of the Download weekend.