Articles by Merlin Alderslade, Executive Editor, Louder

Louder Together we're Louder

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 is also probably responsible for 90% of all nu metal-related content making it onto the site.

Articles by: Merlin Alderslade

Metallica in 1986 and, in an inset pic, Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1973

Why Lynyrd Skynyrd are one of Metallica's most important influences

By Merlin Alderslade published 6 March 23

From James Hetfield's love of Free Bird to a Lynyrd Skynyrd riff sneaking its way into a Metallica classic, the Four Horsemen have plenty to thank the Southern rock legends for

Here are the 20 longest-charting albums in the history of the Billboard 200

By Simon Young published 3 March 23

Pink Floyd, Metallica, AC/DC and Nirvana classics are just some of the albums to have spent hundreds of weeks in the charts

Guns N' Roses to headline Glastonbury 2023: Arctic Monkeys, Blondie, Royal Blood, Måneskin, Nova Twins and many more also announced

By Merlin Alderslade published 3 March 23

Glastonbury Festival has announced its huge 2023 lineup, featuring headliners Guns N' Roses and Arctic Monkeys joining the previously announced Elton John

Madonna, Lady Gaga with James Hetfield and Oli Sykes with Ed Sheeran

10 times pop stars went metal

By Merlin Alderslade published 2 March 23

From Lizzo channelling Rammstein to the likes of Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus collaborating with Metallica, pop stars have embraced metal more often than you might think

Metallica group shot and 72 Seasons album artwork

Here's everything we know about Metallica’s new album 72 Seasons so far

By Simon Young published 1 March 23

From latest single If Darkness Had a Son to the details of that striking cover, here’s all the essential info you need on Metallica’s new album 72 Seasons

Watch the trippy video for brand new Metallica single If Darkness Had A Son

By Merlin Alderslade published 1 March 23

Metallica have unveiled the latest single from upcoming new album 72 seasons

Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon cover art

Abbey Road and Pink Floyd launch exclusive Dark Side merch collection

By Jerry Ewing published 1 March 23

Pink Floyd's seminal 1973 album The Dark Side Of The Moon celebrates its 50th anniversary this month

Ghost's Tobias Forge: “You have these blockbuster horror films that would never be considered for an Oscar...that is the stigma that metal and rock still has"

By Merlin Alderslade published 1 March 23

Ghost mainman Tobias Forge has discussed the state of metal in a new interview alongside Def Leppard legend Joe Elliot

Lizzo's covered Rammstein again - this time complete with a full live band, headbangs and booty shakes

By Merlin Alderslade published 1 March 23

Watch Lizzo perform a fully beefed-up version of her viral Rammstein Du Hast cover at a show in Berlin last night

Ozzy Osbourne reveals the awkward moment he met Whitney Houston: "She’s gonna come over and tell me I’m a c***"

By Merlin Alderslade published 28 February 23

Ozzy Osbourne was terrified he'd done something to annoy the legendary singer during a chance meeting on Dancing With The Stars

How Metallica's James Hetfield helped Ghost become the biggest metal band of the decade

By Merlin Alderslade published 28 February 23

The Metallica frontman and his bandmates have been huge supporters of Tobias Forge's spooky crew since the early days

Sleep Token, Knocked Loose, Rina Sawayama amongst 80 new names added to Reading and Leeds festival

By Merlin Alderslade published 28 February 23

Reading and Leeds have added dozens and dozens of new names to this year's lineup

Every Eminem album ranked from worst to best

By Stephen Hill published 27 February 23

Marshall Mathers may be the biggest rap star of all time, but how does his discography stack up so far?

Beth Roars watching Ghost sing Mary On A Cross

"Almost Joker-esque": watch this vocal coach react to Ghost's Mary On A Cross after hearing it for the first time

By Merlin Alderslade published 24 February 23

Beth Roars, a Perthshire-based vocal coach with over a decade's experience in the industry, has never seen anything quite like Ghost before

Listen to Trivium's Matt Heafy and guitar virtuoso Sophie Lloyd team up for heavy metal anthem Fall Of Man

By Merlin Alderslade published 24 February 23

Guitarist Sophie Lloyd has collaborated with Trivium frontman Matt Heafy for this classic slice of heavy metal thunder

Someone’s turned a classic Alex Jones meltdown into an emotional Midwest emo banger

By Liz Scarlett published 23 February 23

Far-right, conspiracy-loving radio host Alex Jones gets the emo riff treatment, and it gives his rant a whole new poignancy

This rare, behind-the-scenes footage of Limp Bizkit's Nookie shows why it remains nu metal's most chaotic video

By Merlin Alderslade published 23 February 23

We even get to see Fred Durst in full-on 'director mode'

A Bob Dylan fan accidentally bought tickets to see UK pop star Dylan, so she covered Knockin' On Heaven's Door just for him

By Merlin Alderslade published 22 February 23

Watch UK pop starlet Dylan dedicate Knockin' On Heaven's Door to Andy Day, who had accidentally bought tickets to her show thinking he was seeing Bob Dylan

Killswitch Engage's Adam D and former singer Howard Jones are working on a new project together: "it's happening"

By Merlin Alderslade published 22 February 23

It looks like Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz is writing again with the band's former frontman, Howard Jones

Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda together

Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda discusses the emotional impact of losing Chester Bennington: "there's points where I felt angry"

By Merlin Alderslade published 22 February 23

Shinoda opens up on the loss of of his much-missed Linkin Park bandmate

Max Cavalera weighs in on Pantera reunion: "I don't really think it's Pantera without the brothers"

By Merlin Alderslade published 21 February 23

Living metal legend Max Cavalera has mixed feelings on the controversial Pantera reunion

Brian May with Metallica's James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Lars Ulrich

Brian May suggests Queen's Stone Cold Crazy could be the "birth of thrash metal"

By Merlin Alderslade published 20 February 23

The legendary Queen guitarist says people have pointed to Stone Cold Crazy as the song that inspired thrash

Sleep Token confirm brand new album Take Me Back To Eden, release new single Vore

By Merlin Alderslade published 16 February 23

Sleep Token's brand new studio album is coming this May - listen to scintillating new single Vore now

Nuno Bettencourt playing onstage with Rihanna

Rock fans are stoked that Nuno Bettencourt got some TV time with Rihanna at the Super Bowl (for about three seconds)

By Merlin Alderslade published 14 February 23

Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt has been performing with pop megastar Rihanna for well over a decade

"We lost another legend of hip hop music and culture": music world pays tribute to De La Soul's Trugoy

By Merlin Alderslade published 13 February 23

Dave 'Trugoy' Jolicoeur, one third of legendary hip hop trio De La Soul, has died aged 54

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