
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: October 4 2024
By Rich Hobson published
Lacuna Coil, Coheed And Cambria and Soilwork are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Sabaton throw down the gauntlet as the world's biggest power metal band with The Tour To End All Tours
By Rich Hobson published
Sabaton's massive metal concert movie The Tour To End All Tours is a must see when it hits cinemas in October

Shavo Odadjian has "plenty of ammunition" for the next System Of A Down album
By Rich Hobson published
Seven Hours After Violet might have brought Shavo Odadjian back to metal after 20 years, but he's never stopped writing for System Of A Down

Metal Hammer's tracks of the week: September 27 2024
By Rich Hobson published
Serj Tankian, The Black Dahlia Murder and Amaranthe are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Trivium were asked to egg Iron Maiden at Ozzfest 2005. They declined and started wearing Iron Maiden shirts onstage.
By Matt Mills published
A feud between the Osbournes and Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson came to a head during Ozzfest 2005. Trivium, who paid 30 grand to join the tour, steered clear and started supporting their heavy metal heroes

Metal Hammer's Tracks Of The Week: September 20 2024
By Rich Hobson published
Wardruna, Body Count and Nightwish are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

"No offence Oasis, but that's how it's done." Moby's Manchester show is a cheeky, triumphant celebration of EDM
By Rich Hobson published
13 years since his last international tour, Moby is back in the UK and celebrating his landmark 1999 chart-topper Play

Metal Hammer's tracks of the week: September 13 2024
By Rich Hobson published
Mastodon, Within Temptation and Nightwish are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Opeth name the greatest death metal band of all time
By Rich Hobson published
From inverted crosses in flowerbeds to failing to blow Morbid Angel off-stage and petty larceny, Opeth talk their journey through death metal

Mastodon and Lamb Of God talk teaming up, Floods Of Triton and whether Ashes Of The Leviathan will go overseas
By Rich Hobson published
We talk to Brann and Randy about their epic new collaboration Floods Of Triton - and whether there's more to come

Four brilliant new bands you need to hear in September 2024
By Rich Hobson published
From Folterkammer's femme-dom black metal to Belushi Speed Ball's 'pizza thrash', Dermabrasion's occulty goth rock and the bizarre alt. metal of Battlesnake, these are the bands you need to hear in September 2024

Kerry King has already started work on album two
By Rich Hobson published
The Slayer guitarist also doesn't rule out doing smaller releases around tours going forward

Mike Shinoda addresses Linkin Park reunion backlash
By Rich Hobson published
If it features Linkin Park members, sounds like Linkin Park and carries on Linkin Park's legacy, you can probably just call it Linkin Park

Metal Hammer's tracks of the week: September 6 2024
By Rich Hobson published
Linkin Park, Opeth and Spiritboxare among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

The chaotic story of iconic rasta-punks Bad Brains
By Rich Hobson published
Bad Brains were radical, explosive, controversial and an influence on everyone from Slayer to Foo Fighters and Fever 333

Metal Hammer's tracks of the week: August 30 2024
By Rich Hobson published
Gojira, Zeal & Ardor and Charlotte Wessels are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Meet Arka’n Asrafokor, Togo's first heavy metal band
By Rich Hobson published
Arka’n Asrafokor have had to travel 24 hours by bus just to be able to play gigs. Now, they're starting to get the recognition they deserve

Why Stranger Things' Jamie Campbell Bower started an experimental metal band called BloodMagic
By Rich Hobson published
BloodMagic might only have one single out thus far, but they've got big plans going forward

Metal Hammer's Tracks Of The Week: August 23 2024
By Rich Hobson published
Chat Pile, Oceans Of Slumber and Unto Others are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

4 brilliant new metal bands you need to hear in August 2024
By Rich Hobson published
From NWOBHM-revivalists Tailgunner to existential post-metallers Kollapse, Austrian folk-tinged black metal heroes Perchta and UK hopefuls Defects, these are the new metal bands you need to hear in August 2024

Cassyette picks the 10 records that have changed her life
By Rich Hobson published
Nu gen queen Cassyette talks us through the songs and bands that soundtracked her life so far - from Bring Me To Life to Bring Me The Horizon

Kerry King names the band who could replace Slayer in the Big Four
By Matt Mills published
Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax and who?

Avant-garde metallers Zeal & Ardor have unleashed their adventurous side on the excellent Greif
By Rich Hobson published
Zeal & Ardor stop just short of totally ripping up the rulebook, but fourth album Greif is a bold step forwards all the same
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