
Chris Chantler
Chris has been writing about heavy metal since 2000, specialising in true/cult/epic/power/trad/NWOBHM and doom metal at now-defunct extreme music magazine Terrorizer. Since joining the Metal Hammer famileh in 2010 he developed a parallel career in kids' TV, winning a Writer's Guild of Great Britain Award for BBC1 series Little Howard's Big Question as well as writing episodes of Danger Mouse, Horrible Histories, Dennis & Gnasher Unleashed and The Furchester Hotel. His hobbies include drumming (slowly), exploring ancient woodland and watching ancient sitcoms.
Latest articles by Chris Chantler

10 bands proving that NWOBHM is alive and kicking
By Chris Chantler published
Think the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal died off after the 80s? Think again

How Keith Moon-loving, kimono-wearing multi-instrumentalist Steel Beans became Tenacious D’s favourite new band
By Chris Chantler published
Jeremy DeBardi is Steel Beans' drummer, guitarist and singer... all at the same time. And Tenacious D love him so much they invited him on tour

11 metal songs inspired by Dungeons & Dragons
By Chris Chantler published
From Clutch to Probot, here’s an orc’s nest of D&D-indebted bangers to soundtrack your next campaign

A beginner’s guide to goth metal in 5 albums
By Metal Hammer published
The beating black heart of goth metal summed up in five essential albums

7 killer metal albums you might have missed this month
By Rich Hobson published
From Kruelty and Demonstealer to Ad Infinitum, nothing,nowhere. and Lana Del Rabies, don't sleep on these brilliant new metal albums

The epic story of metal’s love affair with Dungeons & Dragons
By Chris Chantler published
From a love of fantasy to being targeted in the Satanic Panic, all the way to Stranger Things, heavy metal and Dungeons & Dragons have a shared history that goes back decades

Piece Of Mind at 40: inside Iron Maiden's first true fantasy epic
By Chris Chantler published
After 1982's chart-topping Number Of The Beast, the pressure was on for Iron Maiden - and Piece Of Mind proved their ambition was unparalleled

Obituary’s Dying Of Everything: death metal icons show the kids how it should be done
By Chris Chantler published
Album review: death metal OGs Obituary deliver their strongest album in decades with Dying Of Everything

The 10 best metal Christmas songs ever
By Chris Chantler published
From Rob Halford and Korn to Ronnie James Dio and Nightwish, this is all the proof you need that Christmas can rock

The 10 best black metal albums of 2022
By Rich Hobson published
From Abbath and Blackbraid to Gaerea and Zeal & Ardor - these are the 10 best black metal albums of 2022

The 10 best power metal albums of 2022
By Rich Hobson published
From Sabaton and Blind Guardian to Wind Rose and Bridear, these are the 10 best power metal albums of 2022

Candlemass' Sweet Evil Sun: down-to-earth doom for the diehards
By Chris Chantler published
Candlemass' new album Sweet Evil Sun sees the Swedes stay the course for Sabbath worship - but their luck may have run out

The 50 greatest horror movies of all time
By Merlin Alderslade last updated
From gruesome slashers and iconic monsters to terrifying spirits and beyond, these are the 50 films that have defined horror over the last century

10 iconic TV and movie goth icons
By Chris Chantler published
With Netflix’s new Wednesday Addams series arriving next month, we celebrate the greatest on-screen goth icons

A history of every single Eddie from every Iron Maiden single and album
By Chris Chantler published
Charting the evolution of Iron Maiden's mascot Eddie through every single and album released by the band

When Dani Filth met Hellraiser’s Doug ‘Pinhead’ Bradley
By Chris Chantler last updated
We put Cradle Of Filth frontman Dani Filth and Hellraiser star Doug Bradely in a room together to talk horror, metal and skeletons under floorboards

Strigoi’s Viscera: dark, dank death-doom nirvana from Paradise Lost guitarist
By Chris Chantler published
Album review: Paradise Lost’s Gregor Mackintosh takes a trip to the even darker side on Strigoi’s second album Viscera

5 new bands you need to hear this month
By Metal Hammer published
From a death metal supergroup to alt-metal’s next heroes, these are the bands you should be at the top of your New Music playlist

The 10 Weirdest Concert Locations Ever
By Chris Chantler last updated
Watch what happens when a tour schedule veers wildly off the beaten path

The 10 best metal covers of classic goth songs
By Chris Chantler last updated
From Metallica covering Killing Joke to Deftones tackling The Cure, here are metal’s 10 greatest versions of goth classics

The top 10 farewell tours that weren’t
By Chris Chantler, Briony Edwards last updated
As Motley Crue announce their return, we ask: what is it with farewell tours that aren't?

We picked our fantasy cast for the Ozzy biopic so Hollywood doesn't have to
By Chris Chantler last updated
There’s an Ozzy biopic on the way – and we know who we want to star in it

The Top 10 best James Hetfield guest appearances
By Chris Chantler last updated
Metallica’s James Hetfield isn’t above a little moonlighting with everyone from Danzig to the cast of South Park
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