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

"Oh my god, there was so much talk: ‘I bet there’s a real rivalry going on!'" How Within Temptation and Tarja Turunen formed the ultimate symphonic metal tag team for blockbuster single Paradise (What About Us?)

By Rich Hobson published 8 November 24

Two symphonic metal icons united for this powerhouse 2013 single. Sharon and Tarja tell us how it all came together

The Gloom In The Corner/Sgáile/Black Satelite/Divided

4 brilliant new metal bands you need to hear this month

By Rich Hobson published 8 November 24

From The Gloom In The Corner's cinematic metalcore to Sgáile's mountain-inspired doom, industrial goth of Black Satellite and brutal Belgian post-metallers Divided, these are the brilliant new bands you need to hear in November 2024

Massive Wagons: Earth To Grace cover art

"A combination of earnestness and cheeky humour that is infectious and joyous": Massive Wagons conjure up more magic on Earth To Grace

By Rich Hobson published 7 November 24

Lancashire rockers Massive Wagons still going strong on album seven

"If myself and Dave Mustaine could have co-existed, Megadeth would have been a very different band." Kerry King on riffs, venomous housepets and which bands he'd join given the chance

By Rich Hobson published 7 November 24

Thrash metal icon Kerry King answers fan questions and discusses which legendary bands he'd love to tour with

"There’s a lot of swearing in Hindi, which won’t run well with our parents." Indian nu metallers Bloodywood talk their "surprising" new album, THAT Monkey Man scene and why they're not expecting a call from Linkin Park any time soon

By Rich Hobson published 4 November 24

We catch up with New Delhi's finest Bloodywood in the studio

"It's always Halloween around here." Forget Wembley; a sold out Halloween show in Manchester proves Creeper are still Britain's best cult band

By Rich Hobson published 1 November 24

Wembley might have had pyro and dancers, but a roaring crowd in Manchester proves Creeper don't need big production to put on a massive show

Senna/Sicksense/The Halo Effect/Arimea/Raging Speedhorn

The 12 best new metal songs this week

By Rich Hobson published 1 November 24

Powerflo, The Halo Effect and Raging Speedhorn are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

IDLES/Bob Vylan/Amyl And The Sniffers/Against Me!/Meryl Streek

The 10 best punk albums of the last decade

By Rich Hobson published 31 October 24

Never mind the bollocks - here's the greatest punk albums that have raged against austerity, Trump and so much more

"I saw it at the movies when I was 11 and it blew my mind." Ice Nine Kills' Spencer Charnas names the greatest horror movie of all time

By Rich Hobson published 31 October 24

Fresh from Ice Nine Kills' collaboration with Terrifier, Spencer Charnas names the horror movie GOAT - and gives an update on The Silver Scream 3

Terrifier 3/Maxxxine/Alien: Romulus/The Substance

10 movies that prove 2024 has been a brilliant year for horror

By Rich Hobson published 30 October 24

From the sadistic brutality of Art The Clown in Terrifier 3 to the stomach-turning dysmorphia of The Substance, 2024 has been a great year for all things horror

Order this exclusive Poppy bundle featuring a limited edition t-shirt and Metal Hammer cover

By Rich Hobson published 29 October 24

You can't get this bundle anywhere else!

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

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Rich Hobson

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