Articles by Paul Travers

Paul Travers has spent the best part of three decades writing about punk rock, heavy metal, and every associated sub-genre for the UK's biggest rock magazines, including Kerrang! and Metal Hammer.

Articles by: Paul Travers

"The album has a very spooky touch." Epica say they're embracing "dark fantasy" themes on their next album

By Paul Travers published 3 December 24

Symphonic metal heroes Epica offer a peek behind the curtain of their upcoming ninth album

"I’m so glad I still live in a world where Ozzy walks the Earth." The greatest Ozzy Osbourne songs as picked by members of Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Halestorm and more

By Rich Hobson published 17 October 24

To celebrate Ozzy Osbourne's solo induction into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame, we asked some of metal's biggest stars for the ultimate Ozzy playlist

"Alice Cooper said our version of Poison was better than his!" Powerwolf's Falk Maria Schlegel shares his wisdom on Iron Maiden, make-up and meeting his heroes

By Paul Travers published 15 October 24

The werewolf-obsessed keyboardist of Powerwolf also has secret ambitions to be a truck driver

The 20 songs that defined Slayer's career (and the stories behind them)

By Dave Everley published 4 October 24

The ultimate guide to thrash metal titans Slayer - as told through their greatest songs

"It’s not The Beatles, it’s not Metallica, but it wasn’t ever supposed to be." Mushroomhead blew up with nu metal and were rivals with Slipknot, but never got the dues they deserve

By Paul Travers published 19 September 24

Mushroomhead laid the groundwork as metal's ultimate masked maniacs in the mid-90s

"Phil Mogg sings so unusually so it's difficult to copy, but Axl did a fantastic job": Michael Schenker's track-by-track guide to his new album My Years With UFO

By Paul Travers published 12 September 24

Michael Schenker's My Years With UFO features contributions from Axl Rose, Slash, Roger Glover, Joey Tempest and many more

“It might be the most accessible thing they’ve put out, but they’ve hardly turned into a garage rock band”: Leprous ditch the excess baggage on Melodies Of Atonement

By Paul Travers published 30 August 24

Einar Solberg isn’t sure their eighth album is prog, although there’s plenty of evidence to argue otherwise

"Thirteen albums in and still no duffer." Melodic death metal veterans Dark Tranquillity show they're still one of the genre's best on Endtime Signals

By Paul Travers published 15 August 24

One of the pioneers of Gothenburg's legendary melodeath sound, Dark Tranquillity continue to provide remarkable consistency on their thirteenth album

"Let’s hope this supergroup is one that sticks around for a while." Current and former members of Anthrax, Machine Head, Exodus, Shadows Fall and more unite for ripping first Category 7 album

By Paul Travers published 26 July 24

Category 7 put on a hell of a first showing for their debut album

“A highly consistent and often underrated catalogue”: Every Kittie album ranked from worst to best

By Paul Travers published 21 July 24

Off the back of their looooooong-anticipated comeback, revisit the Kittie back-catalogue in reverse-order of brilliance

The 100 Songs That Changed Metal

By Metal Hammer published 18 July 24

From founding fathers like Black Sabbath, Rainbow and Judas Priest to metal's modern leaders such as Ghost, Sleep Token and Spiritbox, these are the songs that have defined a genre

“It’s not a travelogue, but there’s an expansive feel to the songs that’s redolent of broadening horizons”: Devin Townsend’s vinyl Terria reissue

By Paul Travers published 24 June 24

2001 release, inspired by his home nation, put the Canadian back on track after his previous misstep

“I don’t have any qualms about playing it until the day I die.” How Nymphetamine helped Cradle Of Filth become “the Backstreet Boys” of black metal

By Paul Travers published 20 June 24

With help from Leaves Eyes vocalist Liv Kristine and some spiritual interference from Type O Negative, Cradle Of Filth traded black metal for goth on 2004's Nymphetamine

"A supremely assured return from a band who are intent on creating something fresh, new and exciting." Kittie have completed one of modern metal's great comebacks with Fire

By Paul Travers published 17 June 24

Twenty five years on from nu metal breakthrough Spit, Fire proves that Kittie are a vital modern metal band with plenty left to say

"They've gone beyond novelty value to become their own unique entity." Apocalyptica have made another stirring album of orchestral Metallica covers - and they've even made St Anger sound epic

By Paul Travers published 4 June 24

Almost thirty years on from their first Metallica covers record, Apocalyptica have come full circle

“Instrumentation and structures are engrossing… A deep delve into Nordic mythology and soundscaping which absolutely bleeds passion and integrity”: Kati Rán’s Sála

By Paul Travers published 31 May 24

Dutch artist presents a folk masterpiece years in the making with help from Kristian ‘Gaahl’ Espedal, Mitch Harris and others

"Imagine a tour with Bon Jovi reuniting with Richie Sambora and the reunited Skid Row as an opener?" Sebastian Bach talks feuding with Jon Bon Jovi, Chris Jericho, Ronnie Radke and just about everyone else

By Paul Travers published 30 May 24

Sebastian Bach pulls no punches answering your questions on everything from celebrity feuds to Skid Row regrets and hopes for the future

"You really can’t exhort The Man to ‘Suck my *****’ without the spectre of Eric Cartman demanding that you respect his authority": Peter Tagtgren's electro-metal side project Pain embrace sardonic gothic fun on I Am

By Paul Travers published 15 May 24

Hypocrisy frontman Peter Tägtgren takes a break from singing about aliens and conspiracies to indulge electro-goth dancefloor fillers with side project Pain

“I got phone calls from my friends saying, ‘What the fck is up with that sht?!’” Listen to the Slayer cover of Born To Be Wild that Slayer really don’t like

By Paul Travers published 5 May 24

In 2002, thrash metal deities Slayer covered a Steppenwolf classic. Then Kerry King disowned it and Jeff Hanneman got bullied by his mates.

"What is this band about? I’m not sure. I like that it’s a mystery to me.” Meet five excellent young bands inspired by Tool

By Dannii Leivers published 17 April 24

Hawxx, Ou, Mountain Caller, Wheel and Every Hell are channelling current Metal Hammer cover stars Tool in a variety of weird and wonderful ways

"Few bands can compete for sheer atmosphere and elegiac beauty": Doom metal legends My Dying Bride stay the course on gorgeous - if a little predictable - new album A Mortal Binding

By Paul Travers published 16 April 24

Doom metal legends My Dying Bride are still as gloriously miserable as ever on their fourteenth studio album, A Mortal Binding

"I wrote this thing that sounded like a mix of W.A.S.P. and Youth Gone Wild by Skid Row": prog metal veterans Evergrey are looking on the bright side of life for new album Theories Of Emptiness

By Paul Travers published 14 April 24

Over 30 years and 14 albums into their career, Swedish prog metallers Evergrey are looking ahead with new album Theories Of Emptiness

Floor Jansen of Nightwish onstage in 2022

Every cover song by Nightwish ranked from worst to best

By Paul Travers published 10 April 24

Finland’s symphonic metal leaders have officially released 10 covers across their career. Here they are in reverse-order of majesty.

"The major metal magazines slaughtered Emperor's early albums." How black metal icon Ihsahn ditched corpsepaint and church burnings to become a prog master

By Paul Travers published 4 April 24

Growing up, it was expected that Vegard Sverre Tveitan would take over the family farm. But when he rebranded himself as Ihsahn he became a pioneer of black metal, before ditching it all for prog

"I didn't think it would be over and done with so quick." Sebastian Bach says he and Skid Row owe it to the fans to reunite

By Rich Hobson published 31 March 24

Skid Row are again singerless after the departure of Erik Grönwall, but former vocalist Sebastian Bach thinks he has the perfect replacement - himself

Paul Travers

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