Articles by Stephen Hill

Since blagging his way onto the Hammer team a decade ago, Stephen has written countless features and reviews for the magazine, usually specialising in punk, hardcore and 90s metal, and still holds out the faint hope of one day getting his beloved U2 into the pages of the mag. He also regularly spouts his opinions on the Metal Hammer Podcast.

Articles by: Stephen Hill

"We want to challenge ourselves": Code Orange are evolving beyond hardcore to grasp at something much bigger

By Stephen Hill published 12 January 24

After up-ending hardcore with 2017's Forever and embracing alt-metal on 2020's Underneath, Code Orange set their sights on conquering the rock world with The Above

"You want to touch people with eclectic taste in music." Synyster Gates talks The Beatles, Avenged Sevenfold's bold new era and the artists taking alternative music forwards

By Stephen Hill published 8 January 24

We have a catch-up with Avenged Sevenfold's fret-ripping guitarist

"Dave Grohl said Arms Wide Open was one of the best songs ever written." Mark Tremonti on Creed, Alter Bridge, singing Sinatra and everything in between

By Stephen Hill published 8 January 24

Mark Tremonti regales us with the life lessons he has learned through a career in music

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

"Beavis and Butt-Head liked it, that was always a big thing!” How Prong got massive for a minute in the 90s with Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck

By Stephen Hill published 23 December 23

Prong became one of the 90s' most unlikely metal success stories...even if the mainstream success didn't last long

"It’s more than sales – it inspired an entire generation of young girls to know they had a place in heavy music." Inside Fallen: the album that turned Evanescence into instant 21st century metal superstars

By Stephen Hill published 22 December 23

No rock band had an explosive a rise in the 2000s as Evanescence. This is the story of their classic debut album

Photos of Metallica, Green Lung, Ghost, Limp Bizkit, Sabaton and Code Orange performing live onstage

Metal Hammer writers name their best gigs of 2023

By Matt Mills published 21 December 23

From the monolithic Metallica to rising stars like Green Lung, these are the greatest shows that Team Hammer saw this year

The 10 best hip-hop albums of 2023

By Stephen Hill published 19 December 23

2023 was another golden year for hip-hop, and here are the 10 essential albums you need to hear

The 10 best indie albums of 2023

By Stephen Hill published 18 December 23

Returning superstars, bright young things and cult heroes ensured that 2023 was a banner year for indie

"Collaborate with Amy Lee? That would be incredible!" Guitar hero Sophie Lloyd on why Evanescence mean so much to her - and to rock music in general

By Stephen Hill published 18 December 23

Sophie Lloyd explains how Evanescence's classic debut album Fallen impacted her as a young music fan

Here are the best new metal bands you need to hear this month

By Merlin Alderslade published 14 December 23

From Skyrim-inspired nu-industrial noise to happy-go-lucky black metal (wait, what?!), here are some of the best new metal bands we've found for you this month

The 50 best metal albums of 2023 - as voted by the readers of Metal Hammer

By Rich Hobson published 13 December 23

From Metallica to Sleep Token, Avenged Sevenfold to Babymetal, these are the best metal albums of 2023 - as voted by you!

Photos of Ozzy Osbourne, Tool, Opeth, Nightwish and System Of A Down live onstage

10 massive metal bands we want new albums from in 2024

By Stephen Hill published 12 December 23

From Ozzy Osbourne to Tool, a host of metal legends look ready to make 2024 a star-studded year

Every The Jesus and Mary Chain album ranked from worst to best

By Stephen Hill published 11 December 23

"Rat Wars is the most personal, cathartic and brutal record of their career." With a little help from Lamb Of God and Godflesh, Health have made an album fit for goth clubs and mosh pits alike

By Stephen Hill published 8 December 23

Health's evolution from underground art noise favourites to modern metal scene mainstays has reached a new peak

Every Napalm Death album ranked from worst to best

By Stephen Hill published 29 November 23

From Scum to Throes Of Joy In The Jaws Of Defeatism, these are the grindcore gods’ 16 albums in reverse-order of brilliance

"There has rarely been a band that has thrived when their backs are so far up against the wall as The Prodigy": Liam Howlett's electronic punks smash out their greatest hits at The People's Palace

By Stephen Hill published 27 November 23

Storming London's Alexandra Palace, The Prodigy prove that they remain one of the world's most incendiary live acts, even without much-missed Firestarter-in-chief Keith Flint

"Between burn-out and a looming crisis, Sabbath somehow hit their greatest high." Which is Black Sabbath's best album? Metal Hammer's writers argue it out

By Merlin Alderslade published 22 November 23

Paranoid? Sabbath Bloody Sabbath? Heaven And Hell? Hammer's top writers duel it out to declare Sabbath's best album ever

"For a long time there was a sense of imposter syndrome, but now we know we’re a force to be reckoned with": While She Sleeps aim to take their rightful place as metalcore icons with new album Self Hell

By Stephen Hill published 16 November 23

After a massive Alexandra Palace headline show in 2023, While She Sleeps set their sights on boundary-pushing sixth album Self Hell

As Everything Unfolds/Healthyliving/Ignea/World Gone Cold

4 brilliant new metal bands you need to hear this month

By Rich Hobson published 14 November 23

Rising metalcore stars As Everything Unfolds, Scottish alt-trio Healthyliving, ambitious Ukrainian prog metallers Ignea and electro-infused metalcore troupe World Gone Cold: these are the bands you need to hear in November 2023

“Though Dave Mustaine might claim he wrote Leper Messiah, he didn’t”: The track-by-track guide to Metallica’s Master Of Puppets

By Stephen Hill published 12 November 23

From Battery to Damage Inc., here’s the story behind every song on Metallica’s game-changing masterpiece

"Lambasting it as 'selling out' directly contradicts its musical integrity and emotional vulnerability. It's all killer, no filler." Metal Hammer's writers battle it out over which is Metallica's best album

By Merlin Alderslade published 11 November 23

They are the band that have defined and redefined heavy metal. But which album is their greatest? Our writers get in the ring

"They were the only band that kicked our ass." Better Loves are the Every Time I Die/Dillinger Escape Plan supergroup you didn't know you needed, but will be so happy to have in your life

By Stephen Hill published 11 November 23

Greg Puciato teaming up with former members of Every Time I Die and Will Putney: Better Lovers are the band hardcore has been waiting for

I've been going to metal gigs for over 25 years. So why are all the craziest crowds now at pop, hip hop and dance shows?

By Stephen Hill published 10 November 23

Metalheads still know how to mosh, but the wildest, hardest-hitting crowds seem to be flocking to other genres. How did this happen?!

Forget Rage Against The Machine and Faith No More: Helmet are nu metal's unsung architects and Left is the best record they've done in nearly 20 years

By Stephen Hill published 9 November 23

After some patchy albums in recent years, Helmet's Left is the best the band have done since their 2004 comeback

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Stephen Hill

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