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

"I thought David Bowie would call me a thieving Irish toerag!": The epic track-by-track guide to Therapy?'s Troublegum in their own words

By Rich Hobson published 7 February 24

Inspired by everyone from Ministry and Metallica to The Pixies and Husker Du, Therapy?'s second album turned them into alt. metal stars

The 11 best new metal songs you need to hear this week

By Rich Hobson published 2 February 24

The Halo Effect, Job For A Cowboy and Erra are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Trivax/Fuming Mouth/To Kill Achilles/Hyperia

4 brilliant new metal bands you need to hear this month

By Rich Hobson published 1 February 24

From Middle Eastern black metallers Trivax to crusty death metal from Fuming Mouth, Dundee post-hardcore troupe To Kill Achilles and Canadian thrashers Hyperia, these are the new bands you need to hear in February 2024

Vote for the best Korn song ever

By Rich Hobson published 31 January 24

30 years since Korn brought nu metal to life with their self-titled debut, we need you to help us crown the band's greatest song

"Everybody freaked out about how beautiful Debbie Harry was, but more focus should’ve been on how great that band were." Paradise Lost's Nick Holmes picks the 10 songs that changed his life

By Rich Hobson published 27 January 24

Paradise Lost, Host and Bloodbath frontman Nick Holmes picks the songs that have soundtracked his musical journey

Bruce Dickinson/Poppy/Ice-T/Hanabie/Ministry

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

By Rich Hobson published 26 January 24

Bruce Dickinson, Bad Omens and Ministry are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

"Get me 100 gallons of whipped cream, fill the bath with tequila and don't forget the goats": Watch Lemmy's gloriously weird appearance in an insurance ad

By Rich Hobson published 26 January 24

Lemmy never shied away from paying gigs, but his appearance in an old AXA commercial might be one of his most wonderfully weird

"We cannot thank you enough for joining us on our journey." Evanescence's Bring Me To Life reaches one billion streams on Spotify

By Rich Hobson published 25 January 24

Evanescence's breakthrough nu metal hit Bring Me To Life is the latest metal song to enter Spotify's Billion Club

"I kinda don't recognise myself." Corey Taylor addresses mental health concerns after cancelling North American tour dates

By Rich Hobson published 25 January 24

Corey Taylor has released a video responding to fans asking why the Slipknot frontman was still committing to solo shows in Asia after cancelling his upcoming North American tour

"We've had sex a lot to HIM": Atreyu's Brandon Saller shares the 10 records that changed his life

By Rich Hobson published 24 January 24

From Misfits to HIM, In Flames to Traveling Wilburys, Atreyu vocalist Brandon Saller picks out the ten records that changed his life

Judas Priest/Chelsea Wolfe/Vltimas/Tvinna/Ihsahn

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

By Rich Hobson published 19 January 24

Judas Priest, Invent Animate and Chelsea Wolfe are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Bad Omens and Sleep Token superimposed over fans

"Even if you listen to a band every day, go to every show and follow their every move, they are not your friends." From Bad Omens to Sleep Token, it's time to talk about toxic fandom in metal

By Rich Hobson published 19 January 24

Fandom is an integral part of rock and metal culture, but with the internet giving us access to every aspect of a musician's life, is it any wonder members of various big metal bands are ditching social media entirely?

"Hopefully we get more horny metal songs in 2024": Inspired by Bat Out Of Hell and the theatricality of Ziggy Stardust, Creeper have proved Sleep Token aren't the only band bringing sex appeal back to metal

By Rich Hobson published 16 January 24

Creeper's Sanguivore is a gloriously OTT vision of the vampire-goth-rock opera inspired by Meat Loaf/Jim Steinman and classic vampire horror movies

Enslaved/Leaves' Eyes/Ryujin/Exit Eden/Gradience

The best new metal songs you need to hear this week

By Rich Hobson published 12 January 24

Enslaved, Amaranthe and Fit For A King are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

"Billy Corgan helped me through some personal struggles and has been a close friend." How Myrkur is balancing loss, motherhood and humanity

By Rich Hobson published 11 January 24

Myrkur switched folk and black metal for shimmering art prog with 2023's Spine - but the record also took inspiration from Amalie Bruun's own journey through motherhood, the pandemic and beyond

"There used to be loads of bands like U2 and Bob Dylan who were all about politics, but apparently that’s not really the thing anymore." Within Temptation's Sharon Den Adel on nu metal, tennis and the importance of caring

By Rich Hobson published 7 January 24

We catch up with Sharon Den Adel for a quick chat - but a lot of ground was covered

Bring Me The Horizon/Bob Vylan/Lucifer/Alterium/October Noir

The 8 best new metal songs you need to hear right now

By Rich Hobson published 6 January 24

Bring Me The Horizon, Bob Vylan and Lucifer ensure 2024 is off to a great start for brilliant new metal songs. Plus, vote for your favourite!

"We had a wicked circle-pit with Jason Momoa, Dave Grohl and Mike Clark": Rob Trujillo talks 72 Seasons, celebrity mosh pits and what comes next for Metallica

By Rich Hobson published 5 January 24

Metallica bassist Rob Trujillo reflects on all things 72 Seasons, from the enormous M72 tour to the lack of ballads and how soon the band will hit the studio

"I just wanted to kill everybody in the room!" How Warning revitalised Skindred's career, gave us the iconic Newport Helicopter and confirmed them as British metal's greatest party band

By Rich Hobson published 4 January 24

Skindred were on shaky ground come 2011. Then frontman Benji hooked up with Papa Roach's Jacoby Shaddix and wrote an absolute banger

Asinhell/Body Void/Creak/Celestial Sanctuary

4 brilliant new metal bands you need to hear this month

By Rich Hobson published 3 January 24

From Newcastle nu-metalcore bruisers Creak to Asinhell, the death metal project from Volbeat's frontman, Cavalera-endorsed death metallers Celestial Sanctuary and New England industrial doomsters Body Void, these are the bands you need to hear in January 2024

Metal Hammer's 50 best albums of 2023 (and the stories behind them)

By Rich Hobson published 27 December 23

Sleep Token, Creeper, Within Temptation: 2023 has been a massive year for metal, and these 50 records represent the very best the year has had to offer