Articles by Rich Hobson

Writer for Metal Hammer, Classic Rock and Louder, Rich has never met a feature he didn't fancy, which is just as well when it comes to covering everything rock, punk and metal for both print and online. Passionate about seeing the spread of metal on a global scale, Rich has spent the last decade seeking out emerging acts from around the world, covering everyone from Alien Weaponry and The Hu to Kaoteon, Nine Treasures and Jinjer, whilst also re-examining rock and metal history with bands like Faith No More, Sepultura and Ozzy Osbourne, alongside legendary events like Rock in Rio and the 1991 Clash Of The Titans tour.

Articles by: Rich Hobson

Spiritbox/Linkin Park/Cradle Of Filth/Jinjer/Bambie Thug

The 13 best new metal songs you need to hear right now

By Rich Hobson published 25 October 24

Linkin Park, Jinjer and Cradle Of FIlth are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

"2025 is shaping up nicely." Tool are hosting their own tropical getaway festival with Primus, Mastodon, Coheed And Cambria and more

By Rich Hobson published 25 October 24

Tool Live In The Sand will take place at the Hard Rock Hotel in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic from March 7 - 9 2025

“Lacuna Coil only seem to grow bolder and more extreme with age." Triumphs, setbacks and singalongs as goth metal heroes celebrate a three-decade career in Wolverhampton

By Rich Hobson published 24 October 24

Lacuna Coil might've started out in goth metal but three decades on its only a small part of their magnificent sonic offering as they return to the UK for a headline tour

Shavo Odadjian reflects on System Of A Down being ‘nu metal’: “I never liked being compared to anyone”

By Matt Mills published 22 October 24

“When they put us in a group, I would always be like, ‘We’re not nu metal, we’re our own thing!’ Now I’m older and wiser…”

"In Flames changed my life." We got Bridear's Kimi to make us a mixtape and it's stacked with classic anthems, J-metal rarities and video game bangers

By Rich Hobson published 21 October 24

Kimi, frontwoman of Japanese power metallers Bridear, makes us a mixtape composed of songs that have shaped her life

Benji Webbe/Arch Enemy/Slaughter To Prevail/Bloodywood/Wargasm

The 15 best new metal songs you need to hear right now

By Rich Hobson published 18 October 24

Arch Enemy, Slaughter To Prevail and Bloodywood are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

"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

"When I listen to him it's like: Why am I even playing?” Paul Gilbert reveals the guitarist who blows his mind as he unveils the soundtrack of his life

By Rich Hobson published 17 October 24

Mr. Big guitarist and solo artist Paul Gilbert picks his records, artists and of lasting significance

Bloodstock announces 13 bands - including an ultra-rare performance from Max Cavalera's Nailbomb - for 2025 and weekend tickets sell out

By Rich Hobson published 15 October 24

August's Bloodstock line-up just got even bigger with the likes of Ministry, Nailbomb and Fear Factory joining the bill

"These shows are very special to me, because they’re rare." Why Daron Malakian has resurrected Scars On Broadway

By Rich Hobson published 10 October 24

After their first show in five years, System Of A Down's Daron Malakian admits Scars On Broadway already have their third album ready and waiting

"The intensity and that whole, 'playing a bit faster than we are able to' type of approach, makes this such a gem." Dark Tranqullity/Halo Effect vocalist Mikael Stanne picks the greatest death metal album of all time

By Rich Hobson published 8 October 24

Mikael Stanne picks the ten death metal albums that put him on the path to making melodeath history

4 brilliant new metal bands you need to hear this month

By Rich Hobson published 7 October 24

From Finnish supergroup Crownshift to crossover brutes Drain, doomgazers Iress and nu metal revivalists Profiler, these are the bands you need to hear in October 2024

Watch power metal heroes Powerwolf burn their own keyboardist at the stake as part of their massive new arena show

By Rich Hobson published 7 October 24

Watch Powerwolf burn keyboardist Falk Maria Schlegel at the stake in Hamburg

"It’s time to blow the candle before it burns from both ends." Finnish former Eurovision entrants Blind Channel announce hiatus

By Rich Hobson published 7 October 24

New five-part documentary series Blind Channel: After Dark Side charts the Finnish band's trials and travails over the past three years

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

Wind Rose/Alt Blk Era/Lacuna Coil/Coheed And Cambria/Bunuel

The 10 best new metal songs you need to hear right now

By Rich Hobson published 4 October 24

Lacuna Coil, Coheed And Cambria and Soilwork are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

"An absolute masterclass in heavy metal maximalism." Sabaton throw down the gauntlet as the world's biggest power metal band with The Tour To End All Tours movie

By Rich Hobson published 2 October 24

Sabaton's massive metal concert movie The Tour To End All Tours is a must see when it hits cinemas in October

"I have 10 to 12 albums of riffs." Shavo Odadjian has "plenty of ammunition" for a new System Of A Down album

By Rich Hobson published 1 October 24

Seven Hours After Violet might have brought Shavo Odadjian back to metal after 20 years, but he's never stopped writing for System Of A Down

Dogma/The Black Dahlia Murder/Serj Tankian/Gore./Amaranthe

The 15 best new metal songs you need to hear right now

By Rich Hobson published 27 September 24

Serj Tankian, The Black Dahlia Murder and Amaranthe are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Trivium and Iron Maiden performing live in 2005

“We paid $30,000 to get bullied like we were in high school!” Trivium were asked to egg Iron Maiden at Ozzfest 2005. They declined and started wearing Iron Maiden shirts onstage

By Matt Mills published 26 September 24

A feud between the Osbournes and Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson came to a head during Ozzfest 2005. Trivium, who paid 30 grand to join the tour, steered clear and started supporting their heavy metal heroes

Body Count/Nightwish/Wardruna/Charlotte Wessels/Imperial Triumphant

The 15 best new metal songs you need to hear right now

By Rich Hobson published 20 September 24

Wardruna, Body Count and Nightwish are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

"No offence Oasis, but that's how it's done." Moby's Manchester show is a cheeky, gorgeous and ultimately triumphant celebration of dance music

By Rich Hobson published 20 September 24

13 years since his last international tour, Moby is back in the UK and celebrating his landmark 1999 chart-topper Play

Mastodon/Within Temptation/Black Label Society/Jinjer/House Of Protection

The 12 best new metal songs you need to hear right now

By Rich Hobson published 13 September 24

Mastodon, Within Temptation and Nightwish are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

"He's the king of death metal." Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt and Fredrik Akesson name the greatest death metal band of all time, and discuss their own journey through the genre

By Rich Hobson published 13 September 24

From inverted crosses in flowerbeds to failing to blow Morbid Angel off-stage and petty larceny, Opeth talk their journey through death metal

"Will we bring the tour overseas? We’re exploring options..." Lamb Of God's Randy Blythe and Mastodon's Brann Dailor talk their new collab single, their history together and what the future may hold

By Rich Hobson published 12 September 24

We talk to Brann and Randy about their epic new collaboration Floods Of Triton - and whether there's more to come

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