If I were pressed to pick one word that represented 2025, it would be ‘busy’. The MetalTalk team have covered over 1,000 articles in 2025, and their enthusiasm and commitment to the scene are something I am always amazed by and proud to support. Here are my personal recollections of a hectic, but highly fun, 2025.
2025 kicked off with a lengthy interview with Karl Wilcox. The Tank and Diamond Head drummer was recovering after a quadruple bypass, and the desire and passion to get out there playing again was a joy to see. His recovery was complete when he hit the stage with Tank at the Cart & Horses in June, and it was such a thrill to be there to witness the evening.
That Tank show was three months to the day since MetalTalk founder Steve Göldby passed away. This hit hard in the team and for me personally. Steve was always supportive of the team, and I am so glad we had that somewhat boozy evening in Southend. Thanks to Johnny Churchill for getting me home.
Steve’s funeral was a fitting send-off to a true icon, and I am sad that he did not have many more years with the wonderful Hay Ley. Below is the video we watched during the service.
I was also sad about the passing of Kevin Riddles. Kev had got Kevin Riddles’ Baphomet up and running and was enjoying the resurgence of one of the founders of NWOBHM. I found him totally captivating when interviewing him for our 2021 announcement, and, with support from his wife Julie, he had some great stories to tell of those early days. Of course, his dog urinating on Ronnie James Dio’s new boots was a laugh.
I did try to get into that Baphomet show, but the venue was so rammed they were operating a one-in-one-out policy, and the queue outside was huge. I was so glad that they managed to get shows under their belts, and it’s great to see the final tribute shows coming in 2026.
Finally, I must mention the passing of Paul Mario Day, the first vocalist in Iron Maiden. I had the privilege of covering his day at the Cart & Horses pre-COVID with Andy Rawll, and it is a day ingrained in my memory.
Thanks to the help of Chop Pitman, I was proud to make the video for his last song, Unwanted Guest. I know that Paul and his wife saw the film, and I hope it gave them some comfort in those final days.
In an age where music streaming seems to promote music as almost disposable, that we have seen some bands that MetalTalk have covered break the Top 40 Album charts is awesome to see.
The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) uses its “album equivalent sales” metric to estimate streaming consumption alongside digital and physical sales. You can see two Bing Crosby Christmas albums on the Top 40 chart this week. One was released in 1962 and one in 2024. If I had a feeling that this algorithm is not fit for purpose and had concerns about double-counting, then this only strengthens that.
The financial rewards from streaming do not reflect the challenges and risks that musicians have when writing, recording and touring. I was very impressed with the attitude and commitment of Ward XVI to complete their tour without a drummer after an illness. The shows were excellent, and I would love to see this band hit bigger venues in 2026.
My Albums of 2025
There was plenty of new music I enjoyed in 2025, and notable releases I covered include the Bangalore Choir return with On Target Part II, Soul Sign’s Desert Fire was awesome, Blacklist Union’s Slay The Dragon certainly slayed me, while Walking On Water by Luke Morley was an exceptional set of rocking tunes.
For my best of 2025, it would be Absolva pushing hard with Justice, but I have to doff my cap to Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen for the awesome Black Light / White Noise. It’s not just because I got to speak with Adrian twice this year that it is my album of the year.
Memorable Gigs
There are two shows that stood out for me this year, amongst a huge list of awesome evenings. Firstly, covering Iron Maiden at Malahide Castle, Dublin, in June was special. It was a spectacular day in the company of my MetalTalk brother Brian Boyle, and those early morning sing-alongs in Eddie’s Dive Bar after the show will live long in the memory.
If there was one gigging moment that showed the power of emotion in listening to proper music, it would be the Savatage show at O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire.
After leaving the photo pit, I went to the balcony to watch the rest of the set unfold. There was one point where an older gentleman, who looked to be at the show alone, was so lost in the moment during the video appearance of Jon Oliva for the song Believe, the tears were streaming down his face as he leaned forward in his seat singing along.
He looks so engrossed in the moment, like he was reliving a moment from the first time the band were around, that his attempts to film the moment were lost as the camera was pointing at the chair in front. It was goosebump-inducing to watch.
The Gibson Garage
The Gibson Garage is a great place to visit. We have had the pleasure of visiting a few times this year to interview musicians, which is always a wonderful experience. I interviewed Lee Bartram, Head of Commercial, Marketing & Cultural Influence EU, and his insights into how Gibson sees itself in the wider community were wonderful to hear.
My top visit to the Gibson Garage in 2025 must be the August visit to spend a couple of hours with Tony Iommi and the odd glass of Champagne. Very civilised, and Tony was such great fun.
For the team at MetalTalk, I have nothing but the utmost respect. It is a thriving environment, and everyone is supportive. With over fifty gigs covered in November alone, it has been a busy year. Big thanks go to Ian Sutherland, who juggles these arrangements with calm and a safe head.
The festival coverage was super this year, too. A big thanks to the teams who covered these, especially to sub-editor Lucy Dunnet, who was very busy at Bloodstock.
Looking Ahead
With the challenges of AI, it is going to be tough for publishers out there. The scope for grabbing work, and not just words, that are subject to copyright, is pushing the theme of fair use past its limits. But we will be battling on.
To our readers, I give a big thank you for your support and encouragement throughout the year. I hope we have kept you entertained and informed, and I look forward to hearing more from you in 2026.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge the support of the smaller venues around the country. With rising running costs and little support from local councils, it is getting tougher to keep things afloat.
I love the Cart & Horses. We will be back there on 8 January 2026 for Lords Of NWOBHM. If you fancy a beer, come give me a nudge at the bar.
We are MetalTalk and we publish rock ‘n’ roll. RIP Steve Göldby.
