
Merlin Alderslade
Merlin moved into his role as Executive Editor of Louder in early 2022, following over ten years working at Metal Hammer. While there, he served as Online Editor and Deputy Editor, before being promoted to Editor in 2016. Before joining Metal Hammer, Merlin worked as Associate Editor at Terrorizer Magazine and has previously written for the likes of Classic Rock, Rock Sound, eFestivals and others. Across his career he has interviewed legends including Ozzy Osbourne, Lemmy, Metallica, Iron Maiden (including getting a trip on Ed Force One courtesy of Bruce Dickinson), Guns N' Roses, KISS, Slipknot, System Of A Down and Meat Loaf. He has also presented and produced the Metal Hammer Podcast, presented the Metal Hammer Radio Show and is probably responsible for 90% of all nu metal-related content making it onto the site.
Latest articles by Merlin Alderslade

Have you seen all this crazy footage from System Of A Down's South American tour?!
By Merlin Alderslade published
Flares, arena-sized circle pits and some of the most passionate singalongs you will ever hear

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

Sleep Token's Even In Arcadia has hit number one on the US Billboard chart and set two crazy new records for rock music
By Merlin Alderslade published
Sleep Token continue to break records and confirm their status as the biggest metal band in a generation

Sharon Osbourne on how The Osbournes show grew too big and ridiculous
By Merlin Alderslade published
When The Osbournes were invited to the White House to meet The President Of The United States, Sharon suspected the show may have got a little out of control

Sleep Token's Even In Arcadia has officially reached number one in the UK album charts
By Merlin Alderslade published
Sleep Token have bagged their first UK number one album!

We rank every Architects album from worst to best
By Merlin Alderslade, Stephen Hill published
One of the UK's greatest ever metal exports has amassed a hell of a catalogue. Here's our guide to every album, in reverse order of greatness

Lacuna Coil's Cristina Scabbia on tech, Depeche Mode and new album Sleepless Empire
By Merlin Alderslade published
Italian gothic metallers Lacuna Coil are showing no signs of slowing down

Photo gallery: we threw a big party for Metal Hammer's 400th issue
By Merlin Alderslade published
This month saw the launch of Metal Hammer's 400th issue - so we released our own beer and threw a party to celebrate

If you're after some catchy as hell nu metal brimming with angst, you need the new Tetrarch album in your life
By Merlin Alderslade published
Atlanta nu metal revivalists Tetrarch stick to the fundamentals

7 bands that defined Incineration Festival 2025
By Merlin Alderslade published
London's premier extreme metal festival descended on Camden Town on Saturday night. These are the bands that ruled most

Ghost's Tobias Forge reached burnout in 2024. This is how Skeletá brought him back to life
By Merlin Alderslade published
After the weight of 15 years of carrying Ghost got too much, Tobias Forge needed something special to get his mojo back. He tells us how it happened

I've never seen a catwalk open up in the middle of a moshpit before - but then I've never seen a band quite like Alt Blk Era
By Merlin Alderslade published
Alt Blk Era had a packed-out Camden Underworld moshing and raving its ass off last night - and you can't help but feel this is just the start

Order an exclusive Slaughter To Prevail Grizzly red splatter vinyl variant from the official Metal Hammer store (it comes with cool pop-up art too!)
By Merlin Alderslade published
Slaughter To Prevail unleash their new studio album Grizzly this summer, and we have a special vinyl variant that you can't get anywhere else

Employed To Serve have made an album of the year contender with Fallen Star
By Merlin Alderslade published
Employed To Serve have dished up their best album yet - and a certified metal album of the year contender

Watch Slayer legend Kerry King make his Wrestlemania debut as he plays Damian Priest to the ring
By Merlin Alderslade published
Kerry King made a special live appearance at Wrestlemania 41 in Las Vegas and it all looked metal as hell

Order your Those Damn Crows x Classic Rock bundle with hand-signed lyric sheet, art print, exclusive t-shirt and Classic Rock cover variant
By Merlin Alderslade published
Those Damn Crows fans, you won't want to miss out on this!

I went to my first ever Tallinn Music Week - here are 6 things I learned (and the best new band I discovered)
By Merlin Alderslade published
From supping honey beer in Middle Earth taverns to watching face-ripping metallic hardcore bands, Tallinn Music Week 2025 had it all

Exclusive Employed To Serve bundle with limited edition t-shirt on sale now
By Merlin Alderslade published
To celebrate incredible new album Fallen Star, we've teamed up with Employed To Serve for this exclusive bundle

Ghost’s Tobias Forge breaks down every track on new album Skeletá
By Merlin Alderslade published
Get to know Ghost’s new album before it drops on April 25

The story of Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith’s forgotten 2010s side project
By Merlin Alderslade published
In 2012, Adrian Smith stepped away from Iron Maiden to indulge in something edgier

Every member of Ghost's Clergy
By Merlin Alderslade last updated
From Papa Emeritus I to IV to Papa V Perpetua, Papa Nihil, Sister Imperator and beyond, here's everything you need to know about Ghost's colourful cast of characters

"I had Nails, Oathbreaker, Power Trip, Billie Eilish and Labrinth on my writing playlist.”
By Matt Mills published
We have a quick catch up with the frontwoman of one of UK metal's most exciting bands

Test your metal knowledge with the all-new Metal Hammer quiz
By Merlin Alderslade published
Are you a true metal warrior or a shameless poseur? Try our new quiz and find out!

"As soon as you hear it it's just, 'Wow'. The simplicity of it and how powerful it is."
By Merlin Alderslade published
Zakk Wylde picks out iconic riffs from Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC and more

Order your exclusive Slaughter To Prevail, Jinjer, Electric Callboy, Bloodywood and Bambie Thug bundles
By Merlin Alderslade published
Metal Hammer has teamed up with the New Heavy Class Of 2025 - Jinjer, Electric Callboy, Slaughter To Prevail, Bambie Thug and Bloodywood - for these special bundles featuring exclusive merch
Get the Louder Newsletter
Select the newsletters you’d like to receive. Then, add your email to sign up.