
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.
Latest articles by Rich Hobson

Metal Hammer's tracks of the week: May 9 2025
By Rich Hobson published
Parkway Drive, Battle Beast and Attack Attack! lead this week's best new metal songs. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Billy Corgan's epic interview with Al Jourgensen
By Rich Hobson published
From trading Ministry songs for drugs and production lessons to inspiring Nine Inch Nails and accidentally spiking Tool with LSD, no stone is left unturned

Judas Priest’s Rob Halford is “gutted” to not be playing Black Sabbath’s final show: “I had no idea it was happening!”
By Matt Mills published
Judas Priest are one of the only veteran metal bands to not be playing Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell concert this summer. Rob Halford explains why.

Metal Hammer's tracks of the week: May 2 2025
By Rich Hobson published
Death Angel, Primus and Loathe lead this week's best new metal songs, plus new music from Shadows Fall, Turnstile, Chthonic and more.

The best new metal bands you need to hear in May 2025
By Rich Hobson published
Meet "denture-core" maniacs Melted Bodies, marine biology-inspired post-black metallers Dawn Of Ouroboros, Lady Gaga-inspired industrial metallers Tayne and melodic hardcore heroes Bloom

Inside the chaos and carnage of Acid Bath - the great lost Louisiana sludge metal band
By Rich Hobson published
Tragedy might have cut Acid Bath's career short in the 90s, but now they're back and bigger than ever

If other Nordic folk bands overtake Wardruna, Einar Selvik doesn’t mind
By Rich Hobson published
Inspired by a bear, a moose and a wolf, new album Birna is extending the band’s “beautiful broken family” as they tell modern tales through ancient instruments

Metal Hammer's tracks of the week: 18 April 2025
By Rich Hobson published
Cryptopsy, Rivers of Nihil and The Devil Wears Prada lead this week's best new metal songs

Burton C. Bell recalls the trials of supporting Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath
By Rich Hobson published
The former Fear Factory frontman did meet Brian May though, so it wasn't all bad

Linkin Park will headline this year's UEFA Champion's League Final
By Rich Hobson published
The band's performance follows previous headliner Lenny Kravitz in 2024

How Joakim Broden became the singer of the biggest power metal band in the world
By Rich Hobson published
Sabaton might not agree with the power metal tag, but they reinvented the genre for the 21st Century

Metal Hammer's tracks of the week: April 11 2025
By Rich Hobson published
From Ghost and Turnstile to Sodom, Left To Suffer, Shadow Of Intent and beyond, these are the best new metal songs this week

The ultimate Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath playlist
By Rich Hobson published
Members of Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Halestorm and more choose the best songs featuring the Prince Of Darkness

"Ozzy and I were like a couple of naughty schoolkids." Zakk Wylde shares his favourite (not so) wholesome memory of hanging out with The Prince Of Darkness
By Rich Hobson published
Sneaking beers on tour in Japan? Heaven forbid

"Five were f***ing horrible."
By Rich Hobson published
"Five were f***ing horrible." Skunk Anansie icon Skin shares what it was like being buddies with David Bowie and Lemmy, and run-ins with 90s boybands

Metal Hammer's tracks of the week: April 4 2025
By Rich Hobson published
Babymetal, Sleep Token and Machine Head lead the best new metal songs this week.

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

The best new metal bands you need to hear in April 2025
By Rich Hobson published
Meet Knocked Loose spin-off spinkickers Church Tongue, Siberian black metallers Grima, Texan metalcore mob Catch Your Breath and Melbourne deathcore brutes Mélancolia

Metallica's Kirk Hammett shares what Motorhead mean to him
By Rich Hobson published
It's no secret the members of Metallica love Motorhead. But Kirk Hammett shares just what the rock'n'roll legends mean to him

Metal Hammer's tracks of the week: March 28 2025
By Rich Hobson published
From big-hitters Evanescence and Linkin Park to underground heroes Imha Tarikat, Employed To Serve and Esprit D'Air, these are the best new metal songs you need to hear this week

Kirk Hammett on his friendship with Jason Momoa
By Rich Hobson published
What do a heavy metal and Hollywood star have to bond over? A lot, it turns out.

Metal Hammer's tracks of the week: March 21 2025
By Rich Hobson published
Lord Of The Lost, Malevolence and The Haunted lead this week's best new metal songs

"Lars Ulrich came barging in. He’s like, ‘Hey, I’m Lars!’ F*** yeah you are!"
By Rich Hobson published
From touring with Iron Maiden and Guns N' Roses to meeting Metallica, Killswitch Engage and Zakk Wylde, 2005 - 2007 was a massive time for Bullet For My Valentine

Every Lacuna Coil album ranked from worst to best
By Dannii Leivers published
We’ve ranked every studio album to bear the Lacuna Coil logo, from In A Reverie to Sleepless Empire

Two Promoters One Pod pulls back the curtain on what it's like organising independent metal festivals
By Rich Hobson published
Created by Damnation organiser Gavin McInally and 2000 Trees/ArcTanGent boss James Scarlett, Two Promoters One Pod shares behind the scenes stories of the music world
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