Rich Hobson

Rich Hobson

Writer for Metal Hammer, Classic Rock and Louder, Rich has never met a feature he didn't fancy, which is just as well when it comes to covering everything rock, punk and metal for both print and online. Passionate about seeing the spread of metal on a global scale, Rich has spent the last decade seeking out emerging acts from around the world, covering everyone from Alien Weaponry and The Hu to Kaoteon, Nine Treasures and Jinjer, whilst also re-examining rock and metal history with bands like Faith No More, Sepultura and Ozzy Osbourne, alongside legendary events like Rock in Rio and the 1991 Clash Of The Titans tour. 

Articles by: Rich Hobson

Bring Me The Horizon/Lacuna Coil/Fever 333/Code Orange/Crypta

The 12 best new metal songs you need to hear right now

By Rich Hobson published

Bring Me The Horizon, Lacuna Coil and Fever 333 are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Sleep Token

Sleep Token just sold out 10,000 capacity Wembley Arena in under 10 minutes

By Rich Hobson published

Sleep Token's rapid ascent shows no signs of slowing as they continue to sell out massive shows and invade the charts

Elegant Weapons group shot

Elegant Weapons: "We’re going to do what we can to carry the torch"

By Rich Hobson published

Judas Priest’s Richie Faulkner has teamed up with members of Pantera and Rainbow in Elegant Weapons, and you best believe they'll carry on when those bands retire

Iron Maiden at Download 2022

Here are all the songs Iron Maiden have never played live

By Dave Everley, Rich Hobson, Merlin Alderslade published

Iron Maiden just played Alexander The Great live for the first time ever. But there are still 48 Maiden songs that have never been given an airing

GBH and SLayer

10 raging metal covers of classic 80s aggro-punk songs

By Rich Hobson published

The Exploited, Discharge, GBH and more get the covers treatment from Slayer and Ice-T, Mr Bungle, Napalm Death and Metallica

Halestorm/Sophie Lloyd/Immortal/Creeper/Sirenia

The 10 best new metal songs you need to hear right now

By Rich Hobson published

Halestorm, Sophie Lloyd and Immortal are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Metallica live 2023

Watch Metallica dust off I Disappear live for 80,000 French metal fans

By Rich Hobson published

Metallica unveil pro-shot footage of them playing live rarity I Disappear at Stade de France

Corrosion Of Conformity onstage

The Story Behind The Song: Corrosion Of Conformity’s Vote With A Bullet

By Rich Hobson published

Pepper Keenan’s furious call-to-arms was the song that transformed Corrosion Of Conformity from hardcore bruisers into stoner metal revolutionaries

Ghost and Tina Turner

Ghost’s Tobias Forge pays tribute to Tina Turner: “I always thought she was a fantastic artist”

By Metal Hammer published

Ghost’s Tobias Forge salutes Tina Turner a week after releasing a cover of the iconic singer’s 80s hit We Don’t Need Another Hero

Portrait of Pixies, Frank Black; Kim Deal; David Lovering; Joey Santiago, Werchter Festival, Torhout, Belgium, 6th July 1991

How Trompe le Monde proved that like most meaningful things, Pixies were simply before their time

By Rich Hobson published

Released the day before Nevermind, Pixies' fourth album helped set a blueprint for alternative music to come – not that they ever really got the credit for it

A montage of Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Metallica

Revisiting the seven weeks in 1991 that changed music history forever

By Rich Hobson published

The 80s weren’t dead and the 90s hadn’t really begun. This is the story of how seven weeks of summer in 1991 belonged to rock (and not just grunge)

Sleep Token

"Sleep Token fully delivered on their promises": metal fans review new album Take Me Back To Eden

By Rich Hobson published

We asked metal fans to weigh in on Sleep Token's new album Take Me Back To Eden - and here's what they thought

Punk bands GBH, Discharge and The Exploited

Anarchy in the UK: the chaotic story of the 80s punk scene that changed metal forever

By Rich Hobson published

Riots, teargas and slamdancing – how The Exploited, Discharge and GBH inspired Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer and more

Sleep Token

Have your say on Sleep Token's new album Take Me Back To Eden

By Rich Hobson published

Sleep Token have become a truly viral sensation on Take Me Back To Eden - but we want to know your thoughts on the album

Rammstein

Rammstein pull out rarities in first show of 2023

By Rich Hobson published

Rammstein are back on tour, but their first show of 2023 held a few setlist surprises - including a live debut

Ghost/Within Temptation/Corey Taylor/Sleep Token/Nita Strauss

The 10 best new metal songs you need to hear right now

By Rich Hobson published

Ghost, Within Temptation and Sleep Token are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Ghost

Does the Ghost puzzle game hold the secret to Papa Emeritus IV's future?

By Rich Hobson published

Ghost's online point-and-click adventure Escape The Ministry develops the band's rich mythos

Ghost: Phantomime EP cover

Ghost’s Phantomime covers EP is yet another mad journey through Tobias Forge’s head

By Rich Hobson published

Tobias Forge tackles on Iron Maiden, Tina Turner and Genesis on new covers EP

Axl Rose/Gene Simmons/Corey Taylor/Blackie Lawless/Dave Mustaine

10 metal musicians who hate backing tracks and 6 who don’t have a problem with them

By Rich Hobson published

From Kiss and W.A.S.P. to Iron Maiden, Slipknot and Megadeth, metal is divided over the use of backing tracks live

Metal albums of April 2023

7 brilliant metal albums you might have missed last month

By Rich Hobson published

Grave Pleasures, As Everything Unfolds and Dodheimsgard are among the albums that might have flown under the radar in April

Avenged Sevenfold/Devildriver/Sevendust/Sicksense/Lake Malice

The 10 best new metal songs you need to hear right now

By Rich Hobson published

Avenged Sevenfold, Sevendust and Devildriver are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Lord Of The Lost

"It's all Steve Harris's fault!": Everything you need to know about Germany's Eurovision entry Lord Of The Lost

By Rich Hobson published

They've met the King of England, supported Iron Maiden and tried to send butt-plugs to the Pope: meet Germany's 2023 Eurovision contestants Lord Of The Lost

Rob Halford and a disco ball

Judas Priest's Rob Halford: "when disco came along, the entire industry turned its back on metal"

By Merlin Alderslade published

Judas Priest legend Rob Halford has seen plenty of trends come and go...but metal has never died

Heriot

Heriot's Debbie Gough: 10 records that changed my life

By Rich Hobson last updated

How Lamb Of God, Hayley Williams and Cancer Bats helped inspire one of metal's most exciting new artists - Heriot's Debbie Gough

The Hu/3 Teeth/Poppy/Voyager/Anjel

The 10 best new metal songs you need to hear this week

By Rich Hobson published

The Hu, Poppy and Voyager are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favoruite!

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