Top Stories
Stories in Beat that you'll love, handpicked by our team.
'Aurora' – Portal to the Other Side. Top Story - July 2026.
The 2020s have seen the progressive rock band Yes on a trajectory where they refuse to give up on creative endeavors in the studio. 2021's The Quest got the ball rolling on an ongoing studio album workflow after several years of not having recorded a new studio album. In 2023, Mirror to the Sky , for many, one-upped that album and even seemed to win over some skeptics. And now, in 2026, the vibe that this reviewer has picked up across the Yes fandom is that the band's latest album, Aurora, has continued this trend. Capping off a trilogy in the band's eyes, this is an impressive effort from lead vocalist Jon Davison, keyboardist Geoff Downes, guitarist (and producer) Steve Howe, drummer Jay Schellen, and bassist Billy Sherwood. It also continues their collaboration with mixer/engineer Curtis Schwartz and orchestral arranger Paul K. Joyce. And the album cover was done not just by Roger Dean, but also his daughter Freyja Dean. Talent does not fall far from the tree. All of this together brings one into an amazing world this album can bring to mind.
By Steven Shinder3 months ago in Beat
Why does Finland love heavy metal?. Top Story - July 2026.
Welcome to Finland Explained’s first edition, where we focus on understanding Finland through its many faces. Today, I am trying to understand a new aspect of Finland, new to me, at least: Finnish metal music. Be aware that I am not a metal music expert. I am not even a metal fan; although I have to confess a few of these bands surprised me. I am only curious, perhaps as curious as you are reading this article. It all started after a friend of mine who lives on the other side of the world (hello, Oriana!) spoke so enthusiastically about Finnish metal bands —she’s a big fan!— I felt this was something worth exploring if I want to understand how one of the quietest countries in the world happens to be one of the loudest.
By Susan Fourtané 3 months ago in Beat
10 Ethereal Tracks That Leave You Haunted. Top Story - June 2026.
Midwestern girls see the dark side of Americana. Abandoned gas stations, tattered American flags, greasy diners, overgrown graveyards--that's the side of small town life that you don't see in Hallmark movies, and it often feels like bedroom pop artists are the only ones who understand. These artists compose eerie, ghostly arrangements that make you think of spirits rising out of the church graveyard and flying over an empty town before they disappear.
By Kaitlin Shanks3 months ago in Beat
10 Years of Gawk. Top Story - June 2026.
10 Years of Gawk The Album 2025 saw big milestones for the Vundaboys; not only did they drop arguably their best record to date, Surgery and Pleasure, but it saw the ten year anniversary of the album that’s home to some of the most infectious music on Earth: Gawk.
By Zack Graham4 months ago in Beat
The Soundtrack Of Success: What My Collective Vocal Media Top Stories Sound Like . Top Story - June 2026.
Just to ignite some more creativity, both with the existence of music and my passion for freelance writing and creativity; a cool and comforting thought was to compile a playlist - a soundtrack of songs that reflect the meaning of each article that has won a Top Story Award for me on Vocal Media from 2021 until today. And of course this is to inspire people to write if they are writers, and/or to achieve their goals in other areas of life. Persistence certainly pays, even if it feels like your work is not being recognised. There are no inflated egos here, only humility.
By Justine Crowley4 months ago in Beat
It's gonna be gay. Top Story - April 2026.
Going back to my roots with a playlist-- and this time, the theme is "It's gonna be May but make it punny." Which is a twist on a twist really, since the Backstreet Boys certainly never intended for their love song to herald the coming of May.
By Ruza Aldin5 months ago in Beat
They’re Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Haa turns 60. Top Story - March 2026.
There was a one-hit wonder recording in 1966 titled "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!"The song made it to number 3 on Billboard's top 100 chart, but in today’s cancel culture might be considered inappropriate.
By Cheryl E Preston7 months ago in Beat
Rock Outgrew Gene Simmons. Top Story - March 2026.
“And they claim that it's music." — Sampled in Public Enemy’s “Contract on the World Love Jam” Gene Simmons cannot seem to hold his tongue. Just weeks after being named a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, an award he did not deserve, the bassist from KISS made headlines again, showing how rock stars sometimes age into caricatures. Ironically, the aging rock legend was complaining about rap artists being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
By Carl J. Petersen7 months ago in Beat
The Rivers of Babylon. Top Story - March 2026.
The iconic disco group Boney M from the 1970s left an indelible mark on the music world with their infectious beats and unforgettable melodies. Formed in West Germany, the group's vibrant sound, blending Caribbean rhythms with European pop sensibilities, quickly catapulted them to international stardom.
By Rasma Raisters7 months ago in Beat
