Latest articles by Merlin Alderslade
Mike Portnoy responds to rumours he was in the frame to join Rush following the death of Neil Peart
As much as the idea of Mike Portnoy drumming with Rush would be a prog fan's dream, Portnoy had a very respectful attitude to the idea
The classic 90s album that changed the life of Epica's Simone Simons
She's a household name in her home country, and it was the voice of a fellow metal icon who helped her on her journey
What the 2026 Grammys got right about rock and metal this year - and what they got very wrong
As is so often the case, the rock and metal representation at this year's Grammys was a mix of deserved recognition and total clangers
Kelly Osbourne reveals why the Osbourne family are "closer than ever" following Ozzy's death
Ozzy not being here any more still feels as raw and surreal as ever
Ghost frontman Tobias Forge reveals what the band have in common with Lady Gaga
The singer also sheds more light on the issues his masks have given him over the years
From Ben Stiller to WWE: the story behind Limp Bizkit's classic Chocolate Starfish album
For just a moment, this was the record that officially made metal the biggest genre in the world
Reliving Metallica's Napster lawsuit - and Lars' extremely awkward comedy sketch video
This was certainly a time of change in the music industry
Ex-Velvet Revolver member claims they could have been as big as Guns N' Roses
This band of rock icons were a big deal in the 2000s - but could they have been even bigger?
The 80s pop culture icon that bizarrely tried to join Metallica
This week, wrestling icon Hulk Hogan passed away aged 71. We revisit one of the strangest stories involving the Hulkster, which included the world's biggest metal band
What happened when Ozzy Osbourne bumped into Peter Gabriel in a lift in New York
When these two music giants bumped into each other, one of them was a little overawed by the whole thing
When Korn teamed up with rap royalty to make one of the funniest metal videos ever
What happens when nu metal legends team up with hip hop icons? Music video gold
Iron Maiden respond to that jaw-dropping 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple scene
If you've seen the film, you know it has one of the most surprising and bonkers heavy metal needle drops ever
Seven classic metal albums you forgot came out in 2016
From some French metal titans reaching a new peak to incredible bands we wish were still making records, here are some albums that blew our tiny minds ten years ago
Reliving the absolute insanity of Daphne & Celeste at Reading Festival 2000
In 2000, one of the strangest festival bookings in history unsurprisingly ended in chaos
How Unholy Confessions made Avenged Sevenfold - and why they don't dig it that much
How Avenged Sevenfold embraced heavy metal and wrote the song that took them to the next level
WWE's Drew McIntyre reveals what's on his workout mix - and the role music plays in his life
Listening to heavy music and lifting heavy stuff apparently go hand in hand. Who knew?!
How Metallica's crazy team-up with Lady Gaga almost ended in total chaos
One of the most unlikely collaborations in Grammys history was also one of the most cursed, but they pulled it out of the bag
How Metallica wrote the power ballad that saved Miley Cyrus - and that Elton John adored
James Hetfield wasn't sure about letting his Metallica bandmates hear Nothing Else Matters. Thank goodness he did
A study suggested that men who play guitar in extreme metal bands do it to impress other men
Time to smash those preconceptions about playing guitar to show off to girls, lads
How Shania Twain, Christina Aguilera's songwriters and an iconic tie launched Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne's first single drew cynicism from quarters of the rock world, but it didn't stop her becoming absolutely massive
The 10 best metalcore albums of 2025
From legends coming back strong to young artists pushing the genre forward, it's been a standout year for metalcore - and here's the proof
The 50 best metal songs of 2025
Sleep Token, Ghost, Babymetal - these are the songs you picked as the finest 2025 had to offer
Metal Hammer staff pick the best metal concerts of 2025
The Hammer team name their greatest gigs of the year, from stadium extravaganzas to sweaty basement dust-ups
