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

“We just wanted to find authentic, heavier, evil-sounding music”: Mikael Åkerfeldt explains how Opeth rediscovered death metal on new single §1

By Matt Mills published 3 August 24

Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt has growled on a new song for the first time since 2008. This is his explanation why.

"When they do hit, they hit hard, but other songs feel disappointingly rote and cliché": Black Smoke Trigger fall short on debut album Horizons

By Rich Hobson published 1 August 24

New Zealand's Black Smoke Trigger have released their hard-hitting if at times hollow debut

"If people thought last season was big and wild, just wait." Jamie Campbell Bower teases 'gnarly' new season of Stranger Things, reveals bands he’s using to get back into character as Vecna

By Rich Hobson published 31 July 24

Jamie Campbell Bower - aka Stranger Things big bad Vecna - and drummer Kyle Adams talk new band BloodMagic, influences and the most important band in rock and metal right now

"Linkin Park's Faint helped me get over my stage fright."The Hu's Enkhsaikhan 'Enkush' Batjargal picks the 10 songs that changed his life

By Rich Hobson published 30 July 24

The Hu's morin khuur player Enkush Batjargal shares the songs that inspired him to lead the Mongolian metal revolution

Jerry Cantrell/Powerwolf/Izzy Reign/Grand Magus/Ad Infinitum

The 16 best new metal songs you need to hear right now

By Rich Hobson published 26 July 24

Jerry Cantrell, Powerwolf and Ad Infinitum are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Gaerea/Fever 333/Arka'n Asrafokor/Simone Simons/Hexvessel

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

By Rich Hobson published 19 July 24

Fever 333, Simone Simons and Zeal & Ardor are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

"Flogging dead donkeys on an album that could have put him back in the saddle": Paul Di'Anno's Warhorse come up lame on occasionally triumphant debut

By Rich Hobson published 18 July 24

Former Iron Maiden frontman Paul Di'Anno rides again

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

MTVoid/Going Off/Tvinna/They Came From Visions

4 brilliant new metal bands you need to hear this month

By Rich Hobson published 12 July 24

From Justin Chancellor's alt-metal side project MTVoid to Ukrainian black metallers They Came From Visions, German folk metal heroes Tvinna and hardcore mob Going Off, these are the bands you need to hear in July 2024

Wargasm/Ice Nine Kills/Charlotte Wessels/Mushroomhead/High Parasite

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

By Rich Hobson published 12 July 24

Suicidal Tendencies, Mushroomhead and Ice Nine Kills are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Cypress Hill London Symphony Orchestra Royal Albert Hall

"We need to make this happen again." Cypress Hill make hip hop history with the London Symphony Orchestra (and a former member of Fear Factory) at the Royal Albert Hall

By Rich Hobson published 11 July 24

What started as a gag on The Simpsons becomes a part of music history as hip hop legends Cypress Hill celebrate their 1993 breakthrough Black Saunday with a full orchestra

10 songs we want Sepultura to play before they retire

By Rich Hobson published 9 July 24

Sepultura might be retiring after 40 years, but we hope these 10 deep cuts make their way back into regular rotation before they go

Defiled/Orden Ogan/Band-Maid/Calva Louise/Lowen

The 11 best new metal songs you need to hear right now

By Rich Hobson published 5 July 24

Swallow The Sun, Band-Maid and Orden Ogan are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

L.A. Edwards embrace heartland rock on Pie Town, but sometimes it's just too slick

By Rich Hobson published 5 July 24

Country boys L.A. Edwards go Hollywood via New Jersey on fifth album Pie Town

"I wouldn’t want to be a kid today". 23 years since P.O.D. released anti-gun violence anthem Youth Of The Nation, the song is depressingly more relevant than ever

By Rich Hobson published 4 July 24

Inspired by gun violence in schools, P.O.D.'s 2001 top 40 hit Youth Of The Nation has only grown more relevant over time

"Maybe Kerry King gets in and Slayer doesn’t." Kerry King gives his take on the state of metal in 2024, and how he feels about metal not being properly acknowledged by the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame

By Rich Hobson published 4 July 24

Kerry King isn't worried about the state of metal in 2024, so nor should you be

"I felt like I'd been cleansed." Comedian Frank Skinner says seeing this legendary metal guitarist was "like a fabulous meditative experience"

By Rich Hobson published 2 July 24

Birmingham comedian Frank Skinner shares how seeing a legendary guitarist helped him forget life's problems - and the time he upset Eric Clapton

"Good God!" Watch pro-shot footage of Metallica performing Ride The Lightning in Copenhagen

By Rich Hobson published 2 July 24

The M72 world tour thunders on but Metallica took Ride The Lightning back to where it began 40 years ago

"An epic journey from light to darkness and back." Wintersun finally confirm release date and details of Time II, the Chinese Democracy of extreme metal

By Rich Hobson published 2 July 24

The decade-long wait for the second part of 2012's Time is finally over

Blackgold/Skye Dahl/Tribulation/To The Grave/Alt Blk Era

The 13 best new metal songs you need to hear this week

By Rich Hobson published 28 June 24

Tom Morello, Tribulation and Beast In Black are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

"Foo Fighters aren't just putting on a show, they're putting on the biggest rock'n'roll celebration on the planet." With a three-hour, 27 song setlist plus a hometown Geezer Butler appearance, Foo Fighters end their UK tour on an almighty high

By Rich Hobson published 28 June 24

Dave Grohl and co. close out their Everything Or Nothing At All UK tour in the Home Of Metal - Birmingham

“We could release a hang-drum odyssey with seagull noises and somebody would still say it sounds like Tool!” Wheel have no time for outdated comparisons

By Rich Hobson published 27 June 24

James Lascelles explains why the Anglo-Finnish band’s third album, Charismatic Leaders, takes on big issues but doesn’t try to offer world-changing solutions

"Justin Timberlake sees us and starts singing Alive": P.O.D. were way ahead of the nu-metal curve but others get the plaudits

By Rich Hobson published 27 June 24

P.O.D.'s Sonny Sandoval on growing up, the joys of collaboration and Justin Timberlake

Sickness, soaring ticket prices and setlist changes: not even the curse of Co-Op Live can stop Pearl Jam at their chaotic but ultimately triumphant Manchester show

By Rich Hobson published 26 June 24

Eddie Vedder might be stricken with illness, but a vocal crowd help make Pearl Jam's Manchester show a success against the odds

Ghost/Oceans Of Slumber/Powerwolf/Fever 333/Harper

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

By Rich Hobson published 21 June 24

Ghost, Oceans Of Slumber and Powerwolf are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

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Rich Hobson

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