
Joe Daly
Hailing from San Diego, California, Joe Daly is an award-winning music journalist with over thirty years experience. Since 2010, Joe has been a regular contributor for Metal Hammer, penning cover features, news stories, album reviews and other content. Joe also writes for Classic Rock, Bass Player, Men’s Health and Outburn magazines. He has served as Music Editor for several online outlets and he has been a contributor for SPIN, the BBC and a frequent guest on several podcasts. When he’s not serenading his neighbours with black metal, Joe enjoys playing hockey, beating on his bass and fawning over his dogs.
Latest articles by Joe Daly

We've ranked every Ghost album from worst to best
By Joe Daly, Merlin Alderslade published
From Papa's very first sermons on Opus Eponymous to the bombastic Skeletá, we rate every Ghost album so far

The man who was asked to replace James Hetfield as singer in Metallica – and turned it down
By Metal Hammer published
In 1983, Metallica almost got a new singer

"Skeletá is Ghost at their most confident, flamboyant and defiant."
By Joe Daly published
Ghost aren't sweating their metal cred with the massive songs of Skeleta

The story of the greatest Metallica live album you’ve never listened to
By Joe Daly published
In 2008, eager to mend fences with fans after the Napster debacle, the biggest band in metal played one of the tiniest shows of their lives

Why Zakk Wylde swapped Black Label Society and metal for southern rock on Book Of Shadows 2
By Joe Daly published
Zakk Wylde’s love of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young knows no bounds

Metal Hammer's 50 best albums of 2024
By Metal Hammer published
From Judas Priest's Invincible Shield to Nightwish's Yesterwynde and Opeth's return to extremity, these are the metal albums that ruled 2024

"Babymetal were written into the script as a placeholder. I didn’t think we’d actually get them!" Heavier Trip director Juuso Laatio on making 2024's most metal movie
By Joe Daly published
Juuso Laatio talks directing Babymetal, 'playing' Wacken and whether we'll ever get that Impaled Rektum album

That time John Fogerty was sued for plagiarising John Fogerty
By Joe Daly last updated
In 1985, John Fogerty was sued for releasing a song that allegedly ripped off another he'd written 15 years earlier – and it was a battle that went all the way to the Supreme Court

The 10 bands that defined Aftershock festival 2024
By Joe Daly published
From metal legends to rising stars, Aftershock was stacked with amazing moments

Iron Maiden bring the Future Past tour to Aftershock - and it's spectacular
By Joe Daly published
Iron Maiden's current world tour touches down in Aftershock for an incredible Saturday night headline set

Judas Priest bring heavy metal heaven to Aftershock with a set that's all killer, no filler
By Joe Daly published
Judas Priest remind Sacramento why they are and always will be Metal Gods

Evanescence give Aftershock one of the most powerful sets of the weekend
By Joe Daly published
Evanescence roll out the hits and some modern anthems in a emotionally resonant set at Aftershock

Architects show Aftershock why they're one of UK metal's greatest success stories
By Joe Daly published
UK metal national treasures Architects bring the bangers to Aftershock

Poppy lights up Aftershock day two
By Joe Daly published
Poppy brings her unique, genre-hopping sounds to the Aftershock party

Slipknot eviscerate Aftershock with one of the heaviest festival headline sets in history
By Joe Daly published
Slipknot's anniversary tour touches down in Aftershock for a savage, unforgettable headline set

It's Lzzy Hale's birthday, but Halestorm's riotous Aftershock set is a present for all
By Joe Daly published
Halestorm confirm their status as one of modern rock's most reliably enjoyable live bands

Slayer's headline set at Aftershock festival is a thrilling, spiritual triumph
By Joe Daly published
Still got it? Slayer never lost it. What a show!

Mastodon: Leviathan interview
By Joe Daly published
Mastodon were already an underground sludge metal sensation in the early 2000s, but Leviathan turned them into a breakout success

“You would see them lift their masks, puke in a bucket and keep going!” Slipknot’s first manager remembers wild 90s Iowa shows
By Matt Mills published
Sophia John reflects on the rabid gigs Slipknot played as they made themselves known in the mid-to-late 90s

The 50 most metal movie moments ever
By Metal Hammer published
From the sinister appearance of Count Orlok to Iron Man rocking out to AC/DC, these are the 50 most metal movie moments ever

Hank Azaria's Top 10 Bruce Springsteen songs
By Joe Daly published
Hank Azaria is the voice of Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum and more on The Simpsons, but his biggest challenge? Getting Bruce Springsteen right

Nu metal veterans P.O.D. take us on a tour of their hometown, San Diego
By Joe Daly published
P.O.D.'s fusion of rap and metal might pre-date nu metal, but the San Diego band still blew up when the genre rose to success. We asked them to take us for a tour of the city they call home
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