Hot&heavy

Although vintage British psychedelia is viewed by many these days as an Alice In Wonderland-style enchanted garden full of beatific flower children innocently gathering flowers or chasing butterflies, there was always a more visceral element to the scene. Pointedly free of such fripperies as scarlet tunic-wearing gnomes, phenomenal cats and talismanic bicycles, the power trio format that was popularised by the likes of Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience spawned a host of imitators. As the Sixties drew to a close and pop evolved slowly but inexorably into rock, psychedelia gave way to a sound that was harder, leaner, heavier, louder.

There's truly enough warmth and good vibes to go around on Red Hot Chili Peppers' 12th full-length, Unlimited Love. Not only did the band re-form their seminal lineup, welcoming guitarist John Frusciante back into the fold after a decade-long absence, but they also reunited with longtime production guru Rick Rubin, who was swapped out for Danger Mouse on their last album, 2016's The Getaway. With the gang back together, there's a palpable joy born from the energy of four buddies just having fun in the studio.

Get your leathers on and your head banging for this superlative collection of 'New Wave Of British Heavy Metal' anthems. The heavy, heavy sound of 1979 onwards into the 80s was incredibly influential, inspiring the biggest metal bands in the world - to play loud and fast. Heads down, see you in the pit!

Although vintage British psychedelia is viewed by many these days as an Alice In Wonderland-style enchanted garden full of beatific flower children innocently gathering flowers or chasing butterflies, there was always a more visceral element to the scene. Pointedly free of such fripperies as scarlet tunic-wearing gnomes, phenomenal cats and talismanic bicycles, the power trio format that was popularised by the likes of Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience spawned a host of imitators. As the Sixties drew to a close and pop evolved slowly but inexorably into rock, psychedelia gave way to a sound that was harder, leaner, heavier, louder.