
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 writers name the albums they’d listen to during a zombie apocalypse
By Metal Hammer published
As 28 Years Later lurches its way towards box office success, we suggest the rock and metal albums that would best soundtrack a zombie killing spree

Metal Hammer's tracks of the week: June 20 2025
By Rich Hobson published
Biohazard, Omnium Gatherum and Beyond The Black are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

10 classic rock and metal tunes you (probably) forgot were released as movie tie-ins
By Rich Hobson published
From U2 in a Batman movie to Korn in Tomb Raider and Slayer in Dracula, these songs have outshone the movies they were first featured in

8 things we learned at Download Festival 2025
By Rich Hobson published
From Spiritbox and President to Cradle Of Filth, Anaal Nathrakh and erm, The Vengaboys, these are the bands that ruled and defined Download Festival 2025

Korn have finally headlined Download - and it was an absolute triumph
By Rich Hobson published
Metal legends Korn have finally taken the spot they deserve - and to the surprise of no one, they absolutely smashed it

Sleep Token prove their doubters wrong during spellbinding Download headline set
By Rich Hobson published
Sleep Token confirm their status as the biggest thing to hit metal in a generation

"This is a band reaching the apex of their powers."
By Rich Hobson published
Within Temptation have a hard task trying to draw Weezer's crowd away, but those who have turned up have been treated to something special

Metal Hammer's tracks of the week: June 13 2025
By Rich Hobson published
Orbit Culture, Helloween and Burning Witches lead a hefty line-up for this week's best new metal songs

What it was like at Mystic Festival 2025
By Rich Hobson published
From watching Hatebreed cover Slayer in the rain to spectacular sets from King Diamond, Witch Club Satan, Sepultura and more, this is what it was like at Mystic Festival 2025

The 10 best Sleep Token songs ever
By Rich Hobson, Merlin Alderslade published
From obscure masked metal curios to Download headliners and record-breaking streams, Sleep Token are the biggest thing to hit metal in a generation. Here are their 10 best songs so far

"Apparently, pretending to play guitar on a public path is a criminal offence."
By Rich Hobson last updated
UK metalcore mob Malevolence have found the hill they'll die on - falling foul of a nature charity formed in the Victorian era

Does a new-look Katatonia mean a bold new era? Of course not, but Nightmares As Extensions Of The Waking State is a gloomily gorgeous listen all the same
By Rich Hobson published
The first Katatonia album without Anders Nyström is just about what you'd expect, but it's still very, very good

The story behind Coheed And Cambria's The Suffering
By Rich Hobson last updated
Good Apollo Vol. One... might've reinvented Coheed And Cambria as prog metal stars, but The Suffering was pure power pop bliss

"Future festival headliners without a doubt."
By Rich Hobson published
Babymetal celebrated 15 years with a massive metal celebration in front of 20,000 fans at London's O2 Arena.

"It took Bring Me The Horizon 10 years to get into arenas. Sleep Token did it in less than five." Inside the rise of Sleep Token, by those who were there
By Rich Hobson published
Sleep Token have become the biggest metal band of their generation. We spoke to the people who witnessed and assisted their meteoric rise

Brilliant new metal bands you need to hear in June 2025
By Rich Hobson published
From heavygaze hard-hitters Love Is Noise and Blasphemer-sporting black metallers Ruim to Calgary goths Poltergeist and nu-gen punk Bex, these are the bands you need to hear in June 2025

Metal Hammer's tracks of the week: May 30
By Rich Hobson published
From Lord Of The Lost and Babymetal to Avatar, Hanabie and Halestorm, these are the best new metal songs this week

Svalbard's Serena Cherry answers your questions
By Rich Hobson published
Which Pokémon would her bands be? How did she learn guitar? Why doesn't she play more power metal? These are the questions you asked Svalbard's Serena Cherry

Metal Hammer's tracks of the week: May 23 2025
By Rich Hobson published
Electric Callboy, Blackbraid, Malevolence and many others have devastated our eardrums with new tunes this week. Hear them all and vote for your favourite here.

"Intense. Beautiful. Devastating." Seven bands who defined Desertfest London 2025
By Liz Scarlett published
Desertfest 2025 took over five venues in Camden, north London at the weekend, and crushed our tiny brains into jellied chunks

10 songs we need to hear at Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's farewell gig
By Rich Hobson published
Back To The Beginning is set to be the world's biggest celebration of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. We're hoping these songs will be part of it

Jonathan Davis is raising money for a dog shelter
By Rich Hobson last updated
Remember when Hammer interviewed Rob Halford with a bunch of kittens? Here's Jonathan Davis talking about how much he loves dogs

Metal Hammer's tracks of the week: May 16 2025
By Rich Hobson published
Lorna Shore, Within Temptation and President are among the best new metal songs this week.
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