It's that special time of year when Metal Storm's users line up in feverish anticipation of the next edition of the Metal Storm Awards... and then the staff members talk about themselves instead. First always comes the staff highlights article, where we in Metal Storm Towers share a few opinions about the year and revisit its ups and downs in miniature. It's a fun (for us) prelude to the big event, so feel free to share your own experiences and tell us why we're wrong, if you haven't already moved on to 2023 altogether.

The Epica-Apocalyptica co-headlining tour seemed like a good moment to catch up with bands that I haven't really kept up with for quite a long while. Even more to the point, they brought Wheel along for the ride, making it a curious mix not only of genres but also of the past and the present. I'll be honest, having seen the other two already a decade and a half ago, it was Wheel that seemed the most exciting of the three to me.

We regularly review full lengths, collaborations, sometimes even live albums. EPs and demos often get love in our Clandestine Cuts series. Heck, we even review a bunch of stuff that isn't metal. But when was the last time you saw a review of a split album? Exactly! We are here to make up for that!

We here at Metal Storm pride ourselves in the metal that we live and breathe, and most importantly, write about. But there's a whole world out there aside from Satan-worshiping black metal and dragon-slaying power metal. Here's what we checked out this month.

What can make someone's day? A good concert. And what can provide someone an unforgettable evening? A concert with Clutch performing.