Latest articles by Catherine Morris
"Is this the ultimate Epica record?"
Simone Simons et al show they can do grandiose metal with their eyes closed on Aspiral
How Our Truth cemented Lacuna Coil as 21st Century goth metal heavyweights
Riding high after 2002's Komalies, Lacuna Coil established themselves as breakout stars - with a little help from Ozzfest, Middle Eastern melodies and a movie about werewolves and vampires
Visions Of Atlantis have proven that 'pirate metal' is more than a silly gimmick with the epic Pirates II - Armada
Epic symphonic metal meets swashbuckling adventurousness on Visions Of Atlantis' latest album
Bridear Born Again Metal Hammer album review
Working with producer Fredrik Nordström, Bridear's fifth album highlights how the Japanese band are tackling trad metal
"The transition into what we’re doing now has been very strange.” How Halestorm, Slash and Ghost's Mary On A Cross unexpectedly helped Blackbriar become symphonic metal's new hopes
With a DIY ethos and a surprising selection of influences, Dutch mob Blackbriar might become the next big thing in symphonic metal
"You’ll find out over the next couple of years what it means when Beartooth headline": Caleb Shomo on idolising David Draiman, duetting with Papa Roach and whether he'd reunite with Attack Attack!
Beartooth frontman Caleb Shomo answers your questions on the most rock'n'roll song of all time, what it was like meeting David Draiman and Papa Roach and whether Beartooth are ready to headline festivals
"Phantom of the Opera is one of the reasons I’m a singer. It was like lightning from the sky." Tarja Turunen: My Life In 10 Songs
From her genre-defining work with Nightwish to establishing herself as a solo artist and embracing classical, these are the songs that have defined Tarja Turunen's incredible career
The 50 best metal albums of 2023 - as voted by the readers of Metal Hammer
From Metallica to Sleep Token, Avenged Sevenfold to Babymetal, these are the best metal albums of 2023 - as voted by you!
4 brilliant new metal bands you need to hear this month
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
The best metal albums of 2023 so far
From Metallica to Babymetal, Cattle Decapitation to Sleep Token, these are the best metal albums of the year to date
Bleed Out is undoubtedly Within Temptation's heaviest record to date. It may also be their best
Ambitious, socially-charged and brimming with big riffs and gorgeous melodies, Bleed Out shows that Within Temptation continue to mature majestically
The 50 best metal albums of the 2000s
From nu metal classics by Slipknot, Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit to metal legends like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest bouncing back in style, these are the albums that defined the 2000s
Hanabie's colourful, genre-mashing Reborn Superstar! has confirmed the arrival of Japan's next great crossover metal stars
Mixing a tongue-in-cheek kawaii image with pummelling metalcore, propulsive edm and hyper-pop, Hanabie's new album is unlike anything else you'll hear this year
A beginner’s guide to goth metal in 5 albums
The beating black heart of goth metal summed up in five essential albums
Brilliant new bands you need to hear right now
Black metal covers of Justin Bieber, gothic post-punk revival and Linkin Park style nu metal from the former guitarist of letlive. - make sure you check out these brilliant new bands this month
Nightwish's Floor Jansen: 10 records that changed my life
From The Gathering and Evergrey to Alanis Morisette and Queen, Floor Jansen picks the albums that changed her life
Beyond The Black: how a former pop star could be symphonic metal's next megastar
Jennifer Haben was a pop star and a magician's assistant, but with Beyond The Black she's realising her true passion
Ville Valo: "I’m happy my dad still has a calling in porn. One of us has to."
Ville Valo answers your questions on sex shops, signing autographs for Cyndi Lauper and romancing sheep
Lovebites' Judgement Day: Japan's rising stars "perfect the power metal recipe"
Japanese power metal heroes Lovebites resurrect the sounds of classic heavy metal on new album Judgement Day.
5 bands every metal fan is going to be talking about in 2023
From a groundbreaking Muslim metal band to maverick virtuosos baiting the gatekeepers, these are the bands that will be on everyone’s lips this year
The top 20 best Nightwish songs ranked
From Nemo and Élan to Greatest Show On Earth and Ghost Love Score, these are the best songs by symphonic metal icons Nightwish - as chosen by you
Devin Townsend: "I don't enjoy suffering by my own hand if I can prevent it"
Devin Townsend gets deep on burnout, addiction and working to become a better person
Every HIM album ranked from worst to best
With Ville Valo’s brand new solo album Neon Noir out now, we look back at his original band HIM
