Articles by: Emma Cownley

The first image from Evil Dead Rise, out 2023

Evil Dead Rise review: a quintessential Evil Dead experience filled with fresh, unexpected twists

By Emma Cownley published 14 April 23

The latest Evil Dead reboot is a resounding, bloody success

Hellraiser character Pinhead leering into the camera

Pain, perversity and Pinhead: the twisted story of cult horror classic Hellraiser

By Emma Cownley published 4 December 22

Twisted, nightmarish and transgressive, Hellraiser is a horror movie like no other

Jack Skellington, Beetlejuice and Batman

Every Tim Burton filmed ranked from worst to best

By Emma Cownley published 16 November 22

Goths, assemble! With Beetlejuice 2 in development and Netflix’s Addams Family spin-off just around the corner, we’ve ranked every Tim Burton film so far

Every Halloween film ranked from worst to best

By Emma Cownley published 28 October 22

Our definitive ranking of all 13 Halloween films - including this year's controversial Halloween Ends

The 50 greatest horror movies of all time

By Merlin Alderslade last updated 31 October 22

From gruesome slashers and iconic monsters to terrifying spirits and beyond, these are the 50 films that have defined horror over the last century

“Corey Taylor knows his horror”: an interview with Hellraiser's original Pinhead, Doug Bradley

By Emma Cownley published 22 October 22

From Hellraiser being a baptism of fire for director Clive Barker to one member of Slipknot 'borrowing' his look, Doug Bradley reflects on an incredible legacy

10 killer metal songs inspired by the Hellraiser movies

By Emma Cownley published 17 October 22

What’s your pleasure, sir? If it’s Hellraiser-themed metal, then you’re in luck

Every Evil Dead movie ranked from worst to best

By Emma Cownley published 30 September 22

“Hail to the king, baby!” – we put the Evil Dead movies in order of grooviness

Torture, bondage and snuff movies: the twisted story behind Nine Inch Nails’ Broken EP

By Emma Cownley published 22 September 22

On September 22, 1992, Nine Inch Nails released the Broken EP – Trent Reznor’s snarling, perverse ‘f**k you’ to his record label

Lucifer unleashed! The Satanic history of the Parental Advisory label

By Emma Cownley published 15 July 21

In the 1980s, Satanic Panic swept through America – and heavy metal got caught in the crosshairs. We go deep on the story of the Parental Advisory label

Hail to the king, baby! Why metal is obsessed with The Evil Dead

By Emma Cownley published 31 October 20

Few horror movies have had such an impact on metal as gore-splattered classic The Evil Dead

10 insanely brilliant ‘metalsploitation’ horror movies everyone should see

By Emma Cownley published 23 October 20

Halloween is approaching, so dive into the gloriously cheesy world of ‘metalsploitation’ movies

We spoke to the metal-loving Satanic High Priestess running for Sheriff in New Hampshire

By Emma Cownley published 24 September 20

Metalhead sheriff-in-waiting Aria DiMezzo is proof the world would be a better place if more elected officials were Satanists

Metallica’s cover artist on what it’s like to illustrate one of the biggest bands on the planet

By Emma Cownley last updated 10 September 20

The artist behind Metallica’s S&M2 posters and Metal Hammer’s latest cover art stops by to talk wolves, Pushead, and what it’s like to work for Lars

ASMR for metalheads is a thing, and it’s brilliant

By Emma Cownley published 7 September 20

Sit back, relax and let the weird and wonderful world of metal ASMR soothe your weary mind

Forget Dirt – Facelift is Alice In Chains’ most influential album

By Emma Cownley published 22 August 20

Alice In Chains changed the sound of rock and metal with their debut album Facelift. It’s time they got credit for it

11 of the weirdest metal subgenres

By Emma Cownley last updated 23 April 20

From dinosaur metal to the aural equivalent to a snuff film, things are gonna get weird…

Dragon boots and blood-stained armour: meet the woman who dresses Kiss

By Emma Cownley last updated 25 March 20

Hannah Kinkade, head of costume for Kiss, tells us what it’s like to dress the Hottest Band In The World

A heavy metal history of stage make-up: Why costume is the ultimate marketing tool

By Emma Cownley last updated 21 September 22

From Alice Cooper to Gorgoroth and Gwar, here’s how makeup and costume have been successfully used to create iconic characters, build brands, and carve out entire genres

12 songs Marilyn Manson covered that you probably haven't heard

By Emma Cownley published 11 February 20

Marilyn Manson’s back catalogue is littered with dozens of hidden covers you’ve (probably) never heard. Here’s 12 of the best and where you can find them

Will 'female-fronted metal' finally die in 2020?

By Emma Cownley published 3 January 20

Now is a better time than ever to let go of outdated gender labels in metal