Articles by Catherine Morris

Articles by: Catherine Morris

"Is this the ultimate Epica record?" Simone Simons et al show they can do grandiose metal with their eyes closed on Aspiral

By Catherine Morris published 10 April 25

Simone Simons et al show they can do grandiose metal with their eyes closed on Aspiral

"Type O Negative will always be in the Olympus, and we’ll always love Paradise Lost." How Our Truth cemented Lacuna Coil as 21st Century goth metal heavyweights

By Catherine Morris published 17 October 24

Riding high after 2002's Komalies, Lacuna Coil established themselves as breakout stars - with a little help from Ozzfest, Middle Eastern melodies and a movie about werewolves and vampires

"High drama, hard-hitting heaviness and gentle, spine-tingling beauty." Visions Of Atlantis have proven that 'pirate metal' is much more than a silly gimmick with the epic Pirates II - Armada

By Catherine Morris published 9 July 24

Epic symphonic metal meets swashbuckling adventurousness on Visions Of Atlantis' latest album

"Bridear are writing their own book of heavy metal." Japan's heroes offer a unique spin on power metal with Born Again

By Catherine Morris published 26 June 24

Working with producer Fredrik Nordström, Bridear's fifth album highlights how the Japanese band are tackling trad metal

"The transition into what we’re doing now has been very strange.” How Halestorm, Slash and Ghost's Mary On A Cross unexpectedly helped Blackbriar become symphonic metal's new hopes

By Catherine Morris published 20 March 24

With a DIY ethos and a surprising selection of influences, Dutch mob Blackbriar might become the next big thing in symphonic metal

"You’ll find out over the next couple of years what it means when Beartooth headline": Caleb Shomo on idolising David Draiman, duetting with Papa Roach and whether he'd reunite with Attack Attack!

By Catherine Morris published 13 January 24

Beartooth frontman Caleb Shomo answers your questions on the most rock'n'roll song of all time, what it was like meeting David Draiman and Papa Roach and whether Beartooth are ready to headline festivals

"Phantom of the Opera is one of the reasons I’m a singer. It was like lightning from the sky." Tarja Turunen: My Life In 10 Songs

By Catherine Morris published 9 January 24

From her genre-defining work with Nightwish to establishing herself as a solo artist and embracing classical, these are the songs that have defined Tarja Turunen's incredible career

The 50 best metal albums of 2023 - as voted by the readers of Metal Hammer

By Rich Hobson published 13 December 23

From Metallica to Sleep Token, Avenged Sevenfold to Babymetal, these are the best metal albums of 2023 - as voted by you!

As Everything Unfolds/Healthyliving/Ignea/World Gone Cold

4 brilliant new metal bands you need to hear this month

By Rich Hobson published 14 November 23

Rising metalcore stars As Everything Unfolds, Scottish alt-trio Healthyliving, ambitious Ukrainian prog metallers Ignea and electro-infused metalcore troupe World Gone Cold: these are the bands you need to hear in November 2023

The best metal albums of 2023 so far

By Rich Hobson published 8 November 23

From Metallica to Babymetal, Cattle Decapitation to Sleep Token, these are the best metal albums of the year to date

Bleed Out is undoubtedly Within Temptation's heaviest record to date. It may also be their best

By Catherine Morris published 20 October 23

Ambitious, socially-charged and brimming with big riffs and gorgeous melodies, Bleed Out shows that Within Temptation continue to mature majestically

The 50 best metal albums of the 2000s

By Merlin Alderslade published 28 July 23

From nu metal classics by Slipknot, Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit to metal legends like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest bouncing back in style, these are the albums that defined the 2000s

Hanabie's colourful, genre-mashing Reborn Superstar! has confirmed the arrival of Japan's next great crossover metal stars

By Catherine Morris published 27 July 23

Mixing a tongue-in-cheek kawaii image with pummelling metalcore, propulsive edm and hyper-pop, Hanabie's new album is unlike anything else you'll hear this year

Type O Negative, Lacuna Coil and Paradise Lost

A beginner’s guide to goth metal in 5 albums

By Metal Hammer published 22 May 23

The beating black heart of goth metal summed up in five essential albums

Brilliant new bands you need to hear right now

By Alec Chillingworth published 6 April 23

Black metal covers of Justin Bieber, gothic post-punk revival and Linkin Park style nu metal from the former guitarist of letlive. - make sure you check out these brilliant new bands this month

Nightwish's Floor Jansen: 10 records that changed my life

By Catherine Morris published 5 April 23

From The Gathering and Evergrey to Alanis Morisette and Queen, Floor Jansen picks the albums that changed her life

Beyond The Black: how a former pop star could be symphonic metal's next megastar

By Catherine Morris published 28 March 23

Jennifer Haben was a pop star and a magician's assistant, but with Beyond The Black she's realising her true passion

Ville Valo: "I’m happy my dad still has a calling in porn. One of us has to."

By Catherine Morris published 7 March 23

Ville Valo answers your questions on sex shops, signing autographs for Cyndi Lauper and romancing sheep

Lovebites' Judgement Day: Japan's rising stars "perfect the power metal recipe"

By Catherine Morris published 23 February 23

Japanese power metal heroes Lovebites resurrect the sounds of classic heavy metal on new album Judgement Day.

5 bands every metal fan is going to be talking about in 2023

By Catherine Morris, Rich Hobson, Matt Mills, Stephen Hill, Dave Everley published 9 February 23

From a groundbreaking Muslim metal band to maverick virtuosos baiting the gatekeepers, these are the bands that will be on everyone’s lips this year

The top 20 best Nightwish songs ranked

By Catherine Morris published 3 February 23

From Nemo and Élan to Greatest Show On Earth and Ghost Love Score, these are the best songs by symphonic metal icons Nightwish - as chosen by you

Devin Townsend: "I don't enjoy suffering by my own hand if I can prevent it"

By Catherine Morris published 18 January 23

Devin Townsend gets deep on burnout, addiction and working to become a better person

Every HIM album ranked from worst to best

By Catherine Morris published 13 January 23

With Ville Valo’s brand new solo album Neon Noir out now, we look back at his original band HIM

Beyond The Black: Beyond The Black album cover

Beyond The Black’s Beyond The Black album: symphonic metal heroes make their grand statement of intent

By Catherine Morris published 9 January 23

Album review: Germany’s symphonic metallers Beyond The Black balance grandiosity and melody on their self-titled new album

Here are all the songs Nightwish have never played live

By Catherine Morris published 4 January 23

Symphonic metal giants Nightwish have recorded around 117 songs, with only 34 never seeing the light of day

Catherine Morris

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