Dom Lawson

Dom Lawson

Writer

Dom Lawson has been writing for Metal Hammer and Prog for over 14 years and is extremely fond of heavy metal, progressive rock, coffee and snooker. He also contributes to The Guardian, Classic Rock, Bravewords and Blabbermouth and has previously written for Kerrang! magazine in the mid-2000s. From 2014-2016, Dom worked as Editor-At-Large at Metal Hammer, overseeing the front section of the magazine and helping to mould the some of the features that ran in print every month. Outside of his writing duties, Dom has been a longtime radio host for Total Rock, where he currently hosts The Dompilation Tapes, a show dedicated to excellent music from pretty much each and every genre you can think of. Much like his hero, Iron Maiden bassist and founding member Steve Harris, Dom is a lifelong West Ham supporter.

Articles by: Dom Lawson

Beardfish – Destined Solitaire

“The perfect doorway into a world of energy, invention, badass musicianship and great songwriting”: Beardfish’s 15th anniversary edition of Destined Solitaire

By Dom Lawson published

Rikard Sjöblom and co mark their return with first vinyl version of breakthrough fifth album

Andy Tilllison studio portrait

"While I made the album alone, the bassist and drummer fell out with each other": The Tangent's Andy Tillison wound up arguing with himself as he created To Follow Polaris

By Dom Lawson published

When circumstance presented the opportunity to face a challenge that had always intrigued him, the prog mastermind embraced it fully. But what will happen when his bandmates return?

XTC

“I loved Yes – but for me every eight-minute Yes song could have been four two-minute singles!” It might have taken a while to admit it, but XTC know they were prog

By Dom Lawson published

Emerging in the punk era, they were described as “too clever, “too quirky” and even as “prunk,” but Andy Partridge’s account of the band’s inspiration and motivation makes the truth crystal clear

Orange Goblin

"Science, Not Fiction is a formidable show of strength from one of the greatest bands ever to do it." Almost 30 years in, Orange Goblin have made one of their very best records - and one of the best metal albums of 2024

By Dom Lawson published

Orange Goblin have thrown absolutely everything at their 10th studio album

Megadeth posing for a photograph in 2011

“Nu metal? No guitar solos! Everyone played with their pants down round their ankles… It was a bleak period, but we came through it”: how Megadeth kicked off the 2010s with the blazing Th1rt3en album

By Dom Lawson published

In 2011, Dave Mustaine invited Metal Hammer into his inner sanctum

Destruction holding guitars

“Americans tried to write songs and harmonies. We didn’t care about that. We just wanted to be filthy!”: the snarling, savage story of German thrash

By Dom Lawson published

Metallica and Slayer grabbed the headlines, but they couldn’t match Germany’s Kreator, Sodom or Destruction for filthy viciousness

Suicide Silence against a chain link fence in 2009

“Deathcore? None of those bands can do what we do”: Suicide Silence had a point to prove to the haters, and with No Time To Bleed they rammed it home

By Dom Lawson published

Suicide Silence’s crushing second album, No Time To Bleed, was released on June 30, 2009

Porcupine Tree

“It felt like the right time to me. And I think Gavin and Richard acknowledged this too." How Porcupine Tree returned with Closure/Continuation

By Dom Lawson published

Never say never. After years of speculation and rumours, Steven Wilson reunited with his former Porcupine Tree bandmates Richard Barbieri and Gavin Harrison for one of the most unexpected musical reformations.

Nightwish on the set of the Imaginaerium movie

“I thought the music industry was a circus but it’s nothing compared to the movie industry”: how Nightwish channelled their inner Tim Burton to make the fantastical Imaginaerum movie

By Dom Lawson published

Long before Ghost released Rite Here Rite Now, Nightwish hit the big screen with their Imaginaerum movie

Airbag - The Century Of The Self

“These songs slot neatly into the catalogue – but this is a very different record from its predecessors, if only in sonic terms”: Airbag’s The Century Of The Self

By Dom Lawson published

Norse notables expand their sonic environment with an effective sideways step

Iron Maiden against a space-style background

“People are gonna think it’s either the last album or that we’re Trekkies”: how Iron Maiden made The Final Frontier and silenced rumours they’d reached the end of the road

By Dom Lawson published

In 2010, Metal Hammer joined Iron Maiden on the road in Texas to ask the question: would The Final Frontier really be their last album?

Gentle Giant

“The cape-wielding progressive rock behemoth was not in vogue… there was an effort to make it simpler, but our musical identity was still at stake”: Gentle Giant take a fresh look at The Missing Piece

By Dom Lawson published

Underrated gem or confused mess? Gary Green, John Weathers and Kerry Minnear discuss their 1977 album in the light of Steven WIlson’s remix

The Chronicles Of Father Robin

“We’ve got an application form for the Guinness Book Of World Records”: Are The Chronicles of Father Robin the only band to have spent 30 years on their debut album?

By Dom Lawson published

Norwegian supergroup took decades to deliver The Songs & Tales Of Airoea, but they don’t regret it – and they’re even working on a follow-up

Rick Wakeman seated next to a globe in 1972

“David Bowie was an absolute genius. I learned more from him than from anybody I’ve ever worked with.” Rick Wakeman’s epic tales of sessions with Bowie, Bolan, Lou Reed and more

By Dom Lawson published

Former Yes keyboard maestro Rick Wakeman has played with rock’s great and good over the years – and he’s got the memories to prove it

Steve Harris in British Lion

“Whenever you make an album you’re baring your soul. People will shoot you down. You’ve just gotta bulldoze through it”: how Steve Harris stepped away from Iron Maiden with his debut solo album

By Dom Lawson published

In 2012, Steve Harris launched British Lion - the solo project that took 20 years to get off the ground

Kavus Torabi and Cardiacs

“Surely it’s the greatest psychedelic rock song ever recorded… It makes the whole God thing seem plausible!” Kavus Torabi’s Guide To Cardiacs

By Dom Lawson published

Gong and Knifeworld guitarist recalls his time in Tim Smith’s band via five of their songs chosen by Prog

Rotting Christ

"These songs are so good that even a band called Rotting Christ should be able to capitalise." With Pro Xristou, Greece's premier extreme metal band have just crafted their most accessible - and perhaps most magnificent - album yet

By Dom Lawson published

Rotting Christ have written the most immediate hooks of their career without compromising one jot

Gatecreeper

"Dark Superstition is the moment where Gatecreeper become a more well-rounded and versatile heavy metal band." Gatecreeper confirm their status as one of the most exciting bands in death metal with album three

By Dom Lawson published

Gatecreeper have evolved nicely without compromising their extreme metal roots on the excellent Dark Superstition

Kerry King 2024

"The most aggressive thing Kerry King has produced since God Hates Us All": Kerry King's solo debut From Hell I Rise sees the thrash legend at his tooth-gnashing, head-banging best

By Dom Lawson published

Slayer might have called it quits in 2019, but From Hell I Rise proves Kerry King still has a lot to say

Kyuss in 1992

“We didn’t want to be some huge rock’n’roll band. We wanted to make music for the people”: the inside story of Kyuss’ Blues For The Red Sun, the classic album that changed the course of stoner rock

By Dom Lawson published

How cult stoner rock visionaries Kyuss made 1992’s classic Blues For The Red Sun

Banco del Mutuo Soccorso

"It’s a responsibility but also a privilege to share this same kind of consciousness with new generations of people." The fantastic return of Banco del Mutuo Soccorso

By Dom Lawson published

The story of the Italian prog legends Banco del Mutuo Soccorso return after 25 years with new album Transiberiana

Sebastian Bach: Child Within The Man cover art

"An unapologetic celebration of what he does best": Sebastian Bach appears ageless on the bombastic and sonically monstrous Child Within The Man

By Dom Lawson published

An impressively explosive return from one of metal's biggest fans, Sebastian Bach

Ihsahn and Radiohead

“They’re not interested in pleasing their label or fans – just themselves. That’s what I try to do too”: Ihsahn and his wife want you to listen to Radiohead

By Dom Lawson published

When people were just beginning to see that the Emperor man was a progressive musician, he’d long been all over Thom Yorke’s artistic bravery

Storm Corrosion

“Nothing was too crazy. Nothing was too outrageous. Once we had a beautiful part, we thought we should make it evil and disturbing”: Powered by red wine and bored with prog metal, Steven Wilson and Mikael Åkerfeldt made Storm Corrosion their way

By Dom Lawson published

Porcupine Tree and Opeth leaders’ 2012 collaboration wasn't what many people thought it would be – instead it was something more experimental which they described as “organic pagan minimalism”

Motorhead in 2008

“They couldn’t get the chicken feathers and blood cleaned up quick enough”: the epic story of Motorhead in the 21st century

By Dom Lawson published

How Motörhead’s late 90s and early 2000s three-piece line-up more than lived up to past glories