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

Tony Iommi sat and holding a microphone in 2023

"Anything that comes in the future, I always give it a thought." Tony Iommi suggests he'd be open to writing with Ozzy Osbourne in future and picks out the 'special' Black Sabbath riffs - including Eddie Van Halen's favourite

By Rich Hobson published 5 June 24

It's fair to say Tony Iommi knows a thing or two about brilliant riffs

"Even if Tool were to play six nights a week, every week they'd still offer one of metal's most unique live experiences." Tool's 2024 setlist is a prog metal masterclass with cosmic visuals to match

By Rich Hobson published 3 June 24

Tool return to the UK for the second time this decade for a masterclass in mind-boggling imagery and prog instrumentals

All For Metal/Future Static/END/Whom Gods Destroy

4 brilliant new metal bands you need to hear this month

By Rich Hobson published 1 June 24

From sword'n'sorcery loving power metallers All For Metal to Will Putney's all-star metalcore mob END, these are the bands you need to hear in June 2024

Puscifer/Scene Queen/King 810/Entheos/Crucifiction

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

By Rich Hobson published 31 May 24

Bury Tomorrow, Leprous and Puscifer are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

"A crowd that likes the idea of The Big Rock Show but find Foo Fighters a bit shouty." Nickelback do exactly what Nickelback do at Birmingham's Utilita Arena - and their fans wouldn't have it any other way

By Rich Hobson published 30 May 24

Nickelback prove they're still one of rock's biggest draws on a sold-out UK arena tour

Nightwish/Babymetal/Zeal & Ardor/Defences/Nothing More

The 9 best new metal songs you need to hear right now

By Rich Hobson published 24 May 24

Nightwish, Babymetal with Electric Callboy and Zeal and Ardor are among the best new metal songs this week. Vote for your favourite!

Desertfest 2024 review: sludge, thrash and hair-raising volume at London’s stoner rock gathering

By Matt Mills published 24 May 24

Masters Of Reality, Suicidal Tendencies and Godflesh lead a surprisingly eclectic lineup for the annual desert rock weekender

The best metal albums of 2024 so far

By Rich Hobson published 22 May 24

From legends like Bruce Dickinson, Judas Priest and Kerry King to modern heavy hitters like Knocked Loose, OU and DOOL, these are the metal albums ruling 2024

"If he starts banging his head, we've got a problem." Watch rangers attempt to scare a bear away from a residential area using Black Sabbath classic Iron Man (it did not work)

By Rich Hobson published 22 May 24

In the battle of Black Sabbath vs black bear, there was a clear winner

Body Count/Powerwolf/Charlotte Wessels/Elvellon/Crossfaith

The 14 best new metal songs you need to hear right now

By Rich Hobson published 17 May 24

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

Kittie/Coheed And Cambria/Vulvodynia/Simone Simons/Hanabie

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

By Rich Hobson published 10 May 24

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

"My band is not a solo project. My band is the band I intend to play with until the end of time.” Kerry King admits that yes, he will be playing Slayer songs this summer, but only select cuts

By Rich Hobson published 7 May 24

Curious about the setlist Kerry King's new band will be playing this summer? The thrash metal legend sheds some light

The 20 most metal videogames ever

By Rich Hobson published 4 May 24

Doom, Skyrim, Brutal Legend - we dug through videogame history to pick out the most metal-friendly games of all time

"I was so ****ed they called it punk!" Kerry King reveals the pop punk legends he's excited to see live this summer - even if he doesn't always agree with their genre label

By Rich Hobson published 4 May 24

Kerry King explains why punk hasn't evolved and thrash metal probably won't

Fire From The Gods/Godless/House Of Protection/1349/Heriot

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

By Rich Hobson published 3 May 24

Heriot, Fire From The Gods and All That Remains are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Oxymorrons/Meth/Resolve/No Terror In The Bang

4 brilliant new metal bands you need to hear this month

By Rich Hobson published 1 May 24

From "Melanin Punks" Oxymorrons to viral metalcore breakouts Resolve, French prog metallers No Terror In The Bang and punishing sludge noisemakers Meth, these are the new bands you need to hear in May 2024

"The clock is ticking so we’d better enjoy the ride while we can": Accept's track-by-track guide to their outstanding new album, Humanoid

By Rich Hobson published 27 April 24

Wolf Hoffmann and Mark Tornillo give us a blow-by-blow on the stories and meanings behind every song on Accept's new album Humanoid

"Like a covers band trialling material in a dive bar": Lee Aaron occasionally shines on otherwise patchy covers album Tattoo Me

By Rich Hobson published 26 April 24

Canada's Metal Queen doesn’t quite cover her bases on 16th album Tattoo Me

Think Blur had it bad at Coachella? The Jesus And Mary Chain may as well have been the Spice Girls so far as Roadburn is concerned

By Rich Hobson published 24 April 24

They might be alternative icons, but The Jesus And Mary Chain prove a bit too mainstream for Roadburn Festival

Graphic videos, disturbing lyrics and a bloodsoaked vocalist: Couch Slut's European live debut at Roadburn Festival 2024 is terrifying yet undeniably thrilling and triumphant

By Rich Hobson published 23 April 24

Brooklyn noise merchants Couch Slut made their first trip across the Atlantic to make their European live debut at Roadburn Festival 2024 - and it was utter carnage

"A doom take on trance by way of Radiohead." Chelsea Wolfe bewitches and delights with spellbinding set at Roadburn

By Rich Hobson published 23 April 24

Chelsea Wolfe brings her latest album She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She to life with a stunning main stage set at Roadburn Festival 2024

Clipping. Daveed Diggs Roadburn Festival 2024

"The line between a Clipping. and Slayer gig is tighter than you'd think." Daveed Diggs' alt hip hop group challenge notions of heaviness at Roadburn Festival 2024

By Rich Hobson published 22 April 24

Clipping. show why hip hop's more extreme edges should be more embraced by the alternative scene

"She looks and feels like a next-gen star." Zambia-born Canadian rapper Backxwash looks to evolve beyond her trap metal roots with surprise set at Roadburn Festival 2024

By Rich Hobson published 22 April 24

A surprise last-minute addition to Roadburn Festival 2024, trap metal star Backxwash shows just how far she's come from her Sabbath-sampling roots

Bring Me The Horizon/Sleep Token live collab 2024

"I think he'd like to see a wall of death": Watch side-stage footage of Sleep Token teaming up with a masked Oli Sykes during Bring Me The Horizon's Brisbane show

By Rich Hobson published 21 April 24

Bring Me The Horizon enlisted Sleep Token guitarist IV for guest vocals during a Sempiternal classic live in Brisbane

Every Judas Priest album ranked from worst to best

By Dom Lawson, Rich Hobson published 16 April 24

Judas Priest are the ultimate defenders of the faith: here's how we ranked their incredible, storied back catalogue

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