For over three decades, Metal Hammer has brought the biggest and the best in the world of metal each and every single month. From exclusive interviews with the biggest bands in our game to celebrating the rise of the new artists taking our genre into its next chapter, we represent heavy music in all its many forms, offering world class features, unbiased reviews and special looks inside the scenes no one else will talk about. Be it heavy metal, punk, hardcore, grunge, alternative, goth, industrial, djent or the stuff so bizarre it defies classification, you'll find it all here and backed by the best writers and photographers in our game. If you like heavy music on any level, welcome to your new favourite magazine.
TRICK OR TREAT!
METAL HAMMER
WINDHAM ‘BRAY WYATT’ ROTUNDA 1987-2023
SABATON GO TO THE MOVIES • The Swedes are bringing the stories behind their epic The War To End All Wars album to the big screen – and helping out some historic institutions in the process
WHO WILL BE THE NEXT METAL QUEEN? • Doro Pesch answers your questions on singing for Motörhead, curries with Dio, and who might one day wear her crown
WHILE SHE SLEEPS • Sheffield’s finest get ready to push their own sonic envelope once more
OL DRAKE • Thrash, more thrash and, erm, classic prog make up the healthy music listening habits of Evile’s vocalist and long-time shredder
DJAMILA AZZOUZ • Ithaca’s unyielding vocal powerhouse weighs in on representation, forgiving yourself and the time she was caught in a hostage situation
THE TASTE OF INK THE USED • The song that helped kick nu metal to the kerb and usher in the commercial rise of emo
BABYMETAL AREN’T BABIES ANYMORE • …and other declarations and observations you had to offer on Babymetal’s return to the cover of Hammer, as well as our features on Immortal, Ghost, Skindred and more!
THE BIG DEBATE • Thirty years since Bruce Dickinson departed Iron Maiden, we spoke to Blaze Bayley about his tenure in the band and how he felt when they reunited with Bruce.
BETTER LOVERS
AS EVERYTHING UNFOLDS
HEALTHYLIVING
IGNEA
WORLD GONE COLD • Electro-infused metalcore from former members of P.O.D., Attack Attack! and Demon Hunter
HOARD ALMIGHTY • Box sets, underground oddities and all the essential merch you need this month
BETTER NOISE
Preaching to the Perverted • The masks. The viral hits. The surprisingly sexy Papas. Ghost have achieved legendary status… but how? We flew to LA in search of answers from Tobias Forge himself
RESIDENTS EVIL • Skulls! Blood! Pugs?! Here’s what happened when Satanic Doo-Wop innovators Twin Temple invited us round for a spooky night at their LA home
There Will Be Blood • Crucifixes and stakes at the ready – horror-punk vampires Creeper have risen from the grave with the year’s most brilliantly over-the-top album, Sanguivore
″MAN, IT'S HOT IN HERE″ • Dangerous medical complaints and exhaustion can’t keep Trivium off the road. And now they’ve invited fans into their dressing room as part of the Pig Pen
DAVE LOMBARDO • Cuban refugee, architect of thrash, restless musical maverick – these are the life and times of the man who gave Slayer their heartbeat
SCREAM IF YOU WANNA GO FASTER • As well as being Svalbard’s magnetic frontwoman, Serena Cherry is a die-hard rollercoaster aficionado. And Hammer is about to spend the day riding the rails with her at Thorpe Park
WITHIN TEMPTATION
BEARTOOTH
GO AHEAD AND DIE
GREEN LUNG
SMALL MERCIES
IN THIS MOMENT • LA’s spectacular metal chameleons go for top-tier status
SOPHIE LLOYD • The UK’s axeslinger extraordinaire takes her place in rock’s firmament
WORLD...