Articles by Matt Mills, Contributing Editor, Metal Hammer

Louder’s resident Gojira obsessive was still at uni when he joined the team in 2017. Since then, Matt’s become a regular in Prog and Metal Hammer, at his happiest when interviewing the most forward-thinking artists heavy music can muster. He’s got bylines in The Guardian, The Telegraph, NME, Guitar and many others, too. When he’s not writing, you’ll probably find him skydiving, scuba diving or coasteering.

Articles by: Matt Mills

“Some of the people I thought were good were actually bad. I felt a lot of betrayal and uncertainty”: Killswitch Engage’s Jesse Leach explains the trauma and anger behind new album This Consequence

By Stephen Hill published 25 January 25

Jesse Leach tried to write “words of wisdom” for Killswitch Engage’s next album, but it ended up containing the angriest songs of their career

Watch Linkin Park’s Emily Armstrong prove her vocal prowess in her first take recording Heavy Is The Crown

By Matt Mills published 24 January 25

The nu metal titans have released the footage to promote an a cappella version of latest album From Zero

Watch Jay Weinberg drum Slipknot songs for the first time since parting ways with the nu metal icons in 2023

By Matt Mills published 24 January 25

The now-Suicidal Tendencies drummer played two Slipknot songs during a recent clinic in Paris

“Three guitars? I don’t get that. I’ll step down!” Iron Maiden fans rejoiced when Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith came back – but one member almost quit because of it

By Matt Mills published 24 January 25

In 1999, longtime Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain threatened to leave the band over the prospect of an extra guitarist

Linkin Park have released an a cappella version of new album From Zero for all your Linkin Park a cappella needs

By Matt Mills published 24 January 25

Love Linkin Park but hate the music? This is the album for you!

Marty Friedman (ex-Megadeth) likens guitar playing to sex: “If you practise at home, you’re going to get good at practising at home. If you go out and do the real thing, you’re going to get good at doing the real thing.”

By Matt Mills published 23 January 25

“Everything that I always say about this can be related to sex in some way,” the legendary guitarist admits

“Everybody thought, ‘Now World War III is gonna come!’” Mille Petrozza reveals which classic Kreator track was inspired by 9/11

By Matt Mills published 23 January 25

Influenced by the confusion and hostility that followed 9/11, Kreator wrote an anarchic thrasher that continued their 2000s comeback

Elon Musk saluting in 2025, and Randy Blythe onstage with Lamb Of God in 2024

“President Trump, please put your ketamine-fuelled pet rocket monkey back in his cage”: Lamb Of God’s Randy Blythe verbally eviscerates Elon Musk following Tesla CEO’s controversial gesture

By Matt Mills published 23 January 25

As Musk denies throwing a Nazi salute at the inauguration of President Donald Trump on Monday, the singer of Lamb Of God puts the “complete ***hole” on blast

10 crazy metal collaborations that took us totally by surprise last year

By Matt Mills published 23 January 25

From ska-punk/metalcore crossovers to industrial threesomes, these team-ups showed metal is more collaborative than ever

Nine Inch Nails announce long-rumoured world tour with UK, Europe and North American dates

By Matt Mills published 22 January 25

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have confirmed they’ll be trotting across the globe from June to September

Orange Goblin superimposed on the Northern Lights

“We have made the collective decision that 2025 will be our last year.” UK metal favourites Orange Goblin to break up after 2025 tour

By Matt Mills published 22 January 25

The London metal crew will play in Europe and the US in spring and summer, and then… that’s all, folks!

“I’m still amazed to this day that no one outside of Birmingham can understand a word I say!” Founding Black Sabbath members to be awarded with Freedom Of The City honour by Birmingham City Council

By Matt Mills published 22 January 25

The original lineup of Osbourne, Iommi, Butler and Ward will join just 50 others in being recognised as Freemen by the City Of Birmingham

Bruce Dickinson onstage with Iron Maiden in 2023

Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson finishes 13th in fencing tournament, watch him compete

By Matt Mills published 21 January 25

The Iron Maiden singer faced off against a three-time Olympic medallist and concluded, “He’s not bad.”

“It was the most explosive diarrhoea you’ve ever seen in your entire life!” The ballad of Heriot’s Debbie Gough and the guitar shop window pooper

By Matt Mills published 21 January 25

We’ve all had rough days at work, but walking up to your shop’s window and seeing it covered in faeces is a new level of nightmarish

James Hetfield of Metallica in 2023 and John Gallagher of Raven in 2024

“They were a gang!” The first band Metallica supported on tour didn’t think the thrashers had a chance in hell of making it big

By Matt Mills published 21 January 25

“‘Do you see them in 10 years being the greatest thing since sliced bread?’ No, not a chance!”

Why does metal love Vikings so much? We interviewed Grand Magus, Wardruna and a college professor to find out

By Paul Travers published 18 January 25

Grand Magus’s JB Christoffersson, Wardruna’s Einar Selvik and mediaeval history lecturer Simon Trafford explain why heavy music can’t get enough of Viking culture

Imperial Triumphant atop the Chrysler Building, with the New York skyline behind them

Watch masked enigmas Imperial Triumphant become the first metal band to play New York’s iconic Chrysler Building

By Matt Mills published 17 January 25

They achieve the feat in the video for disorienting new single Lexington Delirium, which features spoken-word narration from Meshuggah’s Tomas Haake

“Iron Maiden’s tough, because it’s a very different vibe between Killers and Number Of The Beast”: Slayer’s Kerry King names his five perfect metal albums

By Matt Mills published 17 January 25

Classics by Judas Priest, Metallica, Black Sabbath and more all make the cut

Audience raising the sign of the horns at Download Festival in 2016

Desperate to master “the art of growling”? This Dutch university offers degrees in heavy metal music. Seriously.

By Matt Mills published 16 January 25

‘The Metal Factory’ at Summa College in Eindhoven lets pupils study heavy metal vocals, as well as the guitar, bass, drums and keyboard

“Something we did do was throw out the rulebook”: Arch Enemy discuss “chaotic” new album Blood Dynasty

By Stephen Hill published 15 January 25

Band founder Michael Amott spills the secrets of Arch Enemy’s highly anticipated new album