# Decibel Magazine

> Digital magazine dedicated to extreme music and entertainment. (iPhone/iPad app by Red Flag Media, Inc..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-magazine/id567760875 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Red Flag Media, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/567760878)
- Category: Music, Magazines & Newspapers
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 2.10/5 from 15 App Store ratings · 25 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 17+
- Requires: iOS 13.0 · 11 MB
- Languages: American English, German (Germany)
- Released: 2012-11-01
- Data updated: 2026-09-06
- Monetization: subscription
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-magazine/id567760875/reviews.md

## What is Decibel Magazine?

Decibel is an extremely extreme music and entertainment magazine based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 2004 by a well-intentioned, somewhat studious (let’s not forget record-collecting) dude, Decibel’s credo was to examine and expose the best extreme music had to offer. We were the new kid on the block, but we knew our noise was louder and nastier than anything out there. To quote ourselves, Decibel was “the new noise.” Since our debut issue (the Dillinger Escape Plan, October 2004), Decibel went from the quiet longhair with the Entombed "Left Hand Path" T-shirt to the Grand Pontificator of all things metal. Now, when we speak, people listen. Maybe they heckle. But, nearly nine years later, Decibel is America’s only monthly metal magazine.
==================================
The magazine offers a yearly (24.99$) and monthly (14.99$) auto-renewable subscription 
- Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase 
- Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period 
- Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase
==================================
This magazine is proudly powered by PressPad.
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: https://presspadapp.com/terms-apps/

## Key features

- Extreme music coverage
- Entertainment features
- Monthly metal magazine
- Digital subscription
- Founded in 2004

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Decibel Magazine subscriptions | $14.99 | per 6 months |
| Decibel Magazine subscriptions | $24.99 | per year |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Top 100 of the '00s' | $5.99 | one-time |
| Top 100 Death Metal Albums | $5.99 | one-time |
| The Top 100 Black Metal Albums of All Time | $5.99 | one-time |
| Top 100 Doom Metal Albums of All Time | $5.99 | one-time |
| Thrash Metal Hall of Fame | $5.99 | one-time |
| Top 100 Old-School Metal Albums of All Time Special Issue | $5.99 | one-time |
| Issue 144 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Issue 147 | $4.99 | one-time |
| 5e5db43465.issue172 | $5.99 | one-time |
| 5e5db43465.issue173 | $5.99 | one-time |
| 5e5db43465.issue174 | $5.99 | one-time |
| 5e5db43465.issue197 | $5.99 | one-time |
| 5e5db43465.issue196 | $5.99 | one-time |
| 5e5db43465.issue192 | $5.99 | one-time |
| 5e5db43465.issue188 | $5.99 | one-time |
| 5e5db43465.issue186 | $5.99 | one-time |
| 5e5db43465.issue185 | $5.99 | one-time |
| 5e5db43465.issue184 | $5.99 | one-time |
| 5e5db43465.issue183 | $5.99 | one-time |
| 5e5db43465.issue182 | $5.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (10 of 25)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/decibel-magazine/id567760875/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Don’t bother

*2021-05-02*

Absolutely awful app won’t work on my iPad and even restoring all my purchases on my iPhone that still won’t come through.

**Developer response:** Sorry to hear you are not digging the new app! You can email support@presspadapp.com for help with restoring your purchases and other tech problems. If you really hate the app, we have another digital subscription option and you can email me for more details tim@decibelmagazine.com

### 1/5 — New update is terrible

*2021-05-01*

Been a Decibel subscriber for years. App always works great. Until I downloaded the latest update. Now it crashes every single time I try and open it. I've rebooted, deleted and downloaded and installed it again. I'm done.

Edit: Tried new and "improved" version. I can now open an issue, but it crashes every time after about a dozen pages. Still a garbage update.

Tried April 15th update. Now won't even download. Gets stuck on "Stopped - Resume ?". Every other magazine app I have works fine, like this one used to before it got ruined. I'm done with it. Deleting and unsubscribing.

**Developer response:** Update! Have you had the opportunity to download the April 15 update? It should be running smoothly. If you are having any problems with the latest version, please email support@presspadapp.com

### 1/5 — New App

*2021-04-25*

I really enjoyed the prior versions of the app. This new one, however, is not my jam. For starters, all my prior purchases were lost and I cannot restore any of them despite clicking the restore option. Second, the app is not user friendly at all. I have a hard time scrolling through issues and finding issues that I’m interested in. It just feels like the sorting interface sacrificed ease-of-access for having the images of the magazine covers. This is annoying and I have a hard time finding anything. Third, the app itself appears to be bare-bones with little support or other features to get help, hence why I’m posting a review instead of contacting customer or tech support. In sum, the new app feels half-baked and is, in my opinion, unusable. I really do hope the app is reverted or greatly improved on as the Decibel does have good content but I cannot consume it like this.

**Developer response:** Hello, sorry for the frustration and the delay in response. If you are still unable to restore purchases, please email support@presspadapp.com. They can help with any tech questions.

If you are still unhappy with the app, we have a couple of other digital solutions, which you can email me about - tim@decibelmagazine.com

Thank you for reading Decibel and for bearing with us as we transition to our new app.

### 2/5 — Great Magazine but tons of App problems

*2021-04-07*

In the past month or so, the App disappeared completely for a few days and came back with a less functional design, then got a second overhaul where only the most recent 16 issues currently available. I no longer have access to the majority of the issues I purchased including all the special editions.

**Developer response:** Hello, sorry for the inconvenience as we resolved problems with our app. Have you been able to restore all of your purchases? If not, please email support@presspadapp.com. Thank you for your patience!

### 1/5 — The app keeps getting worse

*2021-04-07*

Restore purchases doesn’t work and now less mags show. C’mon this is frustrating. So basically I lost all of my purchases throughout the years of being a dedicated subscriber. Considering dropping my subscription if this app keeps getting worse.

**Developer response:** Hello, we apologize for the frustration and inconvenience. Have you been able to restore all of your purchases? If not, please email support@presspadapp.com

### 1/5 — What happened?

*2021-03-20*

The app updated and now I can’t read the magazine that I pay $25 a year for. I guess I need to cancel my subscription since I can’t actually use what I’m paying for. Pretty ridiculous

**Developer response:** Hello, we are sorry that the last version of the app did not work well. Have you updated to our April 15 version? If you continue to have problems, email support@presspadapp.com

### 1/5 — Not currently working

*2021-03-17*

Not currently working. All that comes up is a screen without any icons or menus to choose from. I have about 16 digital issues I bought that I can’t access now. I hope they get it fixed soon

**Developer response:** Hello, we updated our app on April 15. Have you been able to restore your purchases? If not, contact support@presspadapp.com

### 2/5 — This app is a bummer

*2021-02-15*

I pay for this app and it’s basically unusable. It constantly reverts to the cover, doesn’t zoom enough and crashes. 

Decibel, it’s been a month. What’s up? When can I read my metal fix again??

**Developer response:** Hello, sorry for the frustration regarding our last version! Have you downloaded the April 15 version and restored your purchases? Any tech issues, email support@presspadapp.com

### 2/5 — 2021 update is unusable

*2021-02-11*

****Update: thanks for the nice message. I'm glad it's being worked on. The download and data deletion issues seem to be resolved. I hope the new app gets back to feature parity as I do of course still need my Decibel fix but miss the navigation and pick up where you left off functions. Wishing you guys much success this year! ****I've been reading Decibel on iPad for years and it worked pretty well. The new update is totally broken. Issues won't download, the few that have downloaded delete themselves and it crashes frequently. When is it did work at a basic level the interface is a huge step back. There is no way to skip ahead by page and the app starts at posts one each time you reopen an issue. Brutal, and not in a good way

**Developer response:** Hello, we wanted to let you know that we launched a new app in April, in case you haven’t tried it yet. If you need any tech help email support@presspadapp.com - thanks for bearing with us!

### 1/5 — 2021 App Update is ATROCIOUS

*2021-02-09*

I’ve been reading Decibel on iPad for a few years now, and up until the newest update, I had very few issues with it. Sure, there was the occasional crash or failed download, but in general it always worked fine. Flash forward to today, and I opened the app to see that it has been completely reworked, and the new version is absolutely unusable. The download speeds (if you are lucky enough to even get the issues to download at all) are 2 to 3 times slower than they were before. The app has inexplicably deleted my downloaded issues multiple times, with me needing to re-download and hope that the app doesn’t crash. If you manage to download an issue and actually open it successfully, you’ll notice that the new interface has removed every single useful feature from the previous version. Gone is the ability to quickly skip to other sections of the issue, export or share, and even fit each page to the window. It behaves more like an image previewer than a magazine app. I don’t know what the thought process was behind reworking this already functioning app, but it blows my mind that this is the accepted result. PLEASE fix this app or re-release the older version. This is unusable garbage.

UPDATE: Thanks to the powers that be for responding to this review! I’m glad to see you guys are working on addressing these issues and I look forward to trying the fixes out in the future. I’ll be sure to update my review when that time comes!

**Developer response:** Update! We launched a new app in April, in case you have not downloaded it yet. If you need any help restoring purchases, email support@presspadapp.com. We are hoping you like this update better than the last!

## Frequently asked questions about Decibel Magazine

### What is Decibel Magazine about?

Decibel Magazine is a digital publication focused on extreme music and entertainment. It was founded in 2004 to explore and showcase the best in extreme music genres, particularly metal.

### How much does a Decibel Magazine subscription cost?

Decibel Magazine offers two auto-renewable subscription options: $14.99 per month with a 1-month free trial, and $24.99 per year with a 1-month free trial.

### Can I cancel my Decibel Magazine subscription?

Yes, you can manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal at least 24 hours before the end of the current period by going to your Account Settings after purchase.

### What devices can I read Decibel Magazine on?

Decibel Magazine is available on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices, as indicated by its platform compatibility.

### How often is Decibel Magazine updated?

The app was last updated on May 13, 2021, with version 100.9.0. While the description mentions it's America's only monthly metal magazine, the app's update frequency is not explicitly detailed beyond the last update date.

### What is the age rating for Decibel Magazine?

Decibel Magazine has an age rating of 17+, suggesting mature content suitable for older audiences.

### What do users think of Decibel Magazine?

User sentiment for Decibel Magazine appears mixed, with an average rating of 2.1 stars from 15 ratings. Specific user feedback on likes and dislikes is not detailed in the provided data.

### Is Decibel Magazine free to download?

Yes, Decibel Magazine is free to download. However, access to its content requires a paid subscription, with monthly and yearly options available.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 100.9.0 — 2021-05-13

improved deeplink response time

### 100.8.0 — 2021-05-11

bugfixes and improvements

### 100.7.0 — 2021-05-08

bugfixes and improvements

### 100.6.0 — 2021-04-16

crashfixes and improvements

### 100.3.0 — 2021-04-06

improvements and bugfixes

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-06.*
