At MetalMania Live, we don’t just play metal—we celebrate it in its rawest, most electrifying form. Every track you hear on our station is a live version, capturing the energy, intensity, and unfiltered power that only comes from a live stage performance. From crushing riffs to soaring vocals, we bring you metal as it was meant to be experienced: live.
Here’s the latest in heavy metal news, tours, and live shows, with a focus on the New Jersey and Philadelphia scene:
Major Tour Announcements Rocking 2026
Evanescence has officially announced a 2026 world tour, and it’s shaping up to be one of the year’s biggest events in rock and metal. The tour will feature support from Spiritbox, Poppy, and Nova Twins, promising nights packed with the theatrical intensity and thunderous live performances that Evanescence is known for. While dates are still rolling out, fans should prepare for a global live experience full of spine-tingling live renditions of hits like Bring Me To Life and My Immortal.
Meanwhile, Megadeth is heading north with their 2026 Canadian tour, sharing the stage with Anthrax and Exodus. True thrash enthusiasts know these live shows are not just concerts—they’re live metal masterclasses, with every note played in its fiercest, unrelenting live form.
Judas Priest also just announced the initial dates for their Faithkeepers Tour 2026, promising blazing live guitar solos, iconic vocals, and the electrifying crowd energy that only comes from seeing these metal legends live.
And for classic rock fans, Guns N’ Roses is back on the world stage with a 2026 World Tour and the release of two brand-new songs, guaranteed to hit the setlist as hard-hitting live versions that capture the raw essence of Axl, Slash, and the crew.
Band Milestones and Farewell Tours
The Swedish death metal icons The Crown have announced a series of farewell live shows throughout 2026. These final performances will be a celebration of their brutal, high-octane live energy that fans worldwide have cherished for decades. If you’ve ever wanted to see their death metal mastery in full force, these shows will deliver it live and unfiltered.
Local Live Events – NJ & PA Metal Scene
For fans in New Jersey and the greater Philadelphia area, there are several must-see live events coming up:
- Show No Mercy (Slayer Tribute) – Celebrate Slayer’s legacy with Ironhead and other local metal acts at Gametime Sportzbar, Westville, NJ on Saturday, December 6, 2025. Every riff, every scream, every blast beat performed live.
- Fire From The Gods – “The Human Tour” – Catch their intense live performance at The Foundry at The Fillmore, Philadelphia on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. Their live sound is fierce, full of raw power, and impossible to experience on a studio recording.
- Opeth – Progressive metal maestros bring their intricate, atmospheric live sound to The Fillmore, Philadelphia on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Don’t miss the live reinterpretation of their iconic tracks that only Opeth can deliver.
- Queensrÿche – Witness the legendary progressive heavy metal band at Parx Racing, Bensalem, PA on Friday, January 16, 2026. Experience the live versions of their classic hits with electrifying energy and precision.
General Metal News – Live Edition
Even when bands make headlines, MetalMania Live focuses on the live performance aspect:
- Limp Bizkit recently returned to the stage for their first show since the passing of bassist Sam Rivers, now featuring a new live bassist. Every song delivered the band’s signature live intensity, ensuring fans felt the emotion and energy firsthand.
- Gojira pulled off an unforgettable live stunt at their Paris show, sending a massive inflatable whale over the crowd during Flying Whales. This is exactly the kind of live spectacle we celebrate—music and showmanship merging into one electrifying experience.
- Metallica has been making waves off-stage too, with their All Within My Hands foundation helping young people secure trade jobs. Yet, it’s their live performances, full of the raw energy and epic crowd interaction, that remind us why they are a metal institution.
At MetalMania Live, we don’t just report on metal—we live it, breathe it, and play it. Every song, every set, every note on our station is a live version, delivering the true concert experience straight to your speakers. From NJ basements to Philly arenas, from the world stage to local bars, we bring you the sound of live metal like nowhere else.
Stay tuned, stay loud, and keep it live.