Rock & Metal’s Hidden Gems continues its deep dive into one of the most inventive bands in modern music as we conclude our two-part spotlight on the Diablo Swing Orchestra. In episode 2, we explore the band’s bold evolution — from their shift in vocal style from operatic grandeur to jazz-infused flair, to the ways their sound continued to expand and defy genre boundaries. We take an in-depth look at their three most recent albums, examining how the Diablo Swing Orchestra refined their ide...

Rock & Metal’s Hidden Gems returns with a brand-new series — and this time, we’re flipping the script. Instead of searching for hidden gem tracks, we’re spotlighting a hidden gem band, diving deep into their music to explore why they deserve far greater recognition and success. For this series, our focus is on the wildly original Diablo Swing Orchestra. In this episode, we introduce who Diablo Swing Orchestra are and explore what makes them one of the most unique and creative bands across...

In this final chapter of our Iron Maiden deep-dive on Rock and Metal’s Hidden Gems, we arrive at the band’s most recent era — one defined by maturity, ambition, and fearless storytelling. We explore the expansive epic that is The Book of Souls and the atmospheric, battle-scarred world of Senjutsu, two albums that highlight Iron Maiden’s continued evolution well into the modern age. We uncover the tracks that showcase Iron Maiden’s enduring creativity and dive deep into those hidden gems that ...

In this episode of Rock and Metal’s Hidden Gems, our Iron Maiden exploration continues into the band’s ambitious mid-2000s era — a period defined by thematic depth, cinematic scope, and bold musical experimentation. We dive into the wartime gravitas of A Matter of Life and Death and the cosmic adventure of The Final Frontier, two albums that showcase Maiden pushing their sound into ever more expansive territory. We shine a light on the hidden gems within these critically acclaimed records, di...

In this episode of Rock and Metal’s Hidden Gems, our Iron Maiden journey reaches a triumphant turning point — the return of Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith. We dive into the revitalized energy and renewed creativity that powered the band’s modern-era resurgence, beginning with the sweeping atmospheres of Brave New World and continuing through the adventurous storytelling of Dance of Death. We explore the tracks that highlight Maiden’s evolution into the 2000s and more importantly, we uncover...

In this episode of Rock and Metal’s Hidden Gems, our Iron Maiden journey enters a bold new chapter — the Blaze Bayley era. We take a fresh, open-minded look at the dark introspection of The X Factor and the forward-looking ambition of Virtual XI, two albums that reveal a distinct and often overlooked side of Maiden’s creative evolution. We dig into the tracks that showcase what Blaze brought to the band and the unique musical direction Maiden explored during this period — songs many casual li...

In this episode of Rock and Metal’s Hidden Gems, our Iron Maiden saga moves into one of the band’s most turbulent eras. We explore the raw, back-to-basics grit of No Prayer for the Dying and the shadow-soaked atmosphere of Fear of the Dark — two albums that marked a dramatic shift from Maiden’s grand ’80s experimentation. We shine a light on the deep cuts and underrated tracks from these albums that reveal the band’s resilience and evolving identity. And, of course, we dive into the seismic m...

In this episode of Rock and Metal’s Hidden Gems, our Iron Maiden journey continues into the band’s bold mid‑80s evolution. We dive into the futuristic soundscapes of Somewhere in Time and the mystical storytelling of Seventh Son of a Seventh Son — two albums that pushed Maiden’s creativity to new heights. From the soaring melodies of Wasted Years to the epic grandeur of The Evil That Men Do, we revisit the tracks that defined this era while uncovering the overlooked gems that deserve a p...

In this episode of Rock and Metal’s Hidden Gems, we continue our deep dive into the legacy of the mighty Iron Maiden. This time, we explore the golden era that defined the band’s sound and introduced us to Bruce Dickinson — The Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind, and Powerslave. Join us as we touch on the monster tracks that shook arenas worldwide — from the haunting power of Hallowed Be Thy Name to the thunderous energy of Aces High — and more importantly uncover the hidden gems that often g...

In this episode, we dive into the epic world of Iron Maiden, one of metal’s most legendary and influential bands. From their early days in London’s gritty club scene to their rise as global icons, we explore the story behind the music — the albums, the anthems, and the moments that defined one of the biggest metal bands on the planet. But we’re not just talking about the hits. We’ll deep dive into Iron Maiden’s hidden gems — those deep cuts that showcase the band’s storytelling, musicianship,...