Rich Hobson

Rich Hobson

News Editor for Metal Hammer and a freelance contributor to 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

Face Yourself/Luna Kills/Abduction/Seven Sisters
The best new metal bands you need to hear in November 2025

By Rich Hobson Published

Deathcore newcomers Face Yourself, NWOBHM revivalists Seven Sisters, bone-faced black metallers Abduction and videogame inspired alt metallers Luna Kills, these are the new metal bands you need to hear in November 2025

Bands & Artists
Kreator/Plague Of Angels/Electric Callboy/Equilibrium/Forlorn
Metal Hammer's tracks of the week: October 31 2025

By Rich Hobson Published

Kreator, Electric Callboy and Kim Dracula are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Tracks & Singles
Soil Press 2001
The story behind Soil's nu metal era anthem Halo

By Rich Hobson Published

Unimpressed with black metal's headline-grabbing theatrics, Soil embraced their roots to make an all-time classic

Bands & Artists
Chino Moreno performing with Deftones in 2024
"You don’t go to therapy once and they tell you how to not feel a certain way." Deftones' Chino Moreno explains why his sobriety is a work in progress

By Rich Hobson Published

The Deftones vocalist has been sober for three years

8 Comments
Bands & Artists
Kirk Hammett onstage in 2023, and Lemmy Kilmister holding his bass in 2010
We asked Metallica’s Kirk Hammett to name the best Motörhead song and this is what he told us

By Matt Mills Published

“Lemmy opens up his voice and starts singing, my mind exploded!”

Bands & Artists
Rob Halford and Ozzy Osbourne side-by-side in 2010
Ozzy Osbourne was a big fan of Judas Priest’s War Pigs cover, according to Rob Halford

By Matt Mills Published

The Metal God says that The Prince Of Darkness “really loved” his band’s take on Black Sabbath’s classic

Bands & Artists
Ghost posing for a photograph in 2014
Ghost’s Tobias Forge on the anthem that turned his band from cult sensations into bona fide stars

By Metal Hammer Published

Square Hammer opened Ghost’s 2016’s Popestar EP and cracked US radio for the Swedish occultists

Bands & Artists
Bruce Dickinson in the video for Tears Of The Dragon
“I had no idea it would be such a catastrophic event in people’s lives!" How leaving Iron Maiden, A Nightmare On Elm Street and the acoustic album that never was led Bruce Dickinson to write Tears Of The Dragon

By Rich Hobson Published

Tasked with kicking his solo career off for real, Bruce Dickinson produced one of the 90s' greatest metal power ballads

Bands & Artists
Bad Omens/Poppy/Puscifer/Beyond The Black/Sable Hills
Metal Hammer's tracks of the week: October 24 2025

By Rich Hobson Published

Puscifer, Bad Omens and Poppy are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Tracks & Singles
Foo Fighters smiling backstage
Foo Fighters release new song and announce 2026 tour with Queens Of The Stone Age

By Rich Hobson Published

Foo Fighters will be back on the road in 2026!

Tracks & Singles
Set It Off/The Pretty Wild/Cavalera/The Veer Union/Cage Fight
Metal Hammer's Tracks Of The Week: October 17 2025

By Rich Hobson Published

Gaerea, Cavalera Conspiracy and Despised Icon are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Tracks & Singles
Joey Jordison press pic Vimic
The story of Joey Jordison's post-Slipknot bands Vimic and Sinsaenum

By Rich Hobson Published

Four years on from the passing of Joey Jordison, two of his bands are returning to active duty: but in very different ways

Bands & Artists
Korn in 1998
In a haze of substance use and record label conflicts, Korn made the defining anthem of nu metal’s heyday

By Rich Hobson Published

The chaotic story of Freak On A Leash, in singer Jonathan Davis’ own words

Albums
Spinal Tap Press 2025
An audience with Spinal Tap legend David St. Hubbins

By Rich Hobson Published

Spinal Tap singer/guitarist David St. Hubbins on beefing with Metallica, hanging with Ronnie James Dio and why they could never be Slipknot

Bands & Artists
Type O Negative posing against a black background
"The more the value goes up, the more they're gonna hound us." An iconic 90s metal band are in talks about a possible tribute show in honour of their much missed frontman

By Rich Hobson Last updated

And there are some... interesting choices on who could lead the tribute

Bands & Artists
Nickelback Chad Kroeger
Watch Nickelback's Chad Kroeger serenade Sammy Hagar with Metallica's Enter Sandman for his birthday

By Rich Hobson Published

Sammy Hagar's birthday bash featured performances from Jerry Cantrell, Chad Kroeger and Belinda Carlisle

Live Performances
Eloy Casagrande in his 2024 Slipknot mask
"We are cooking." New Slipknot music is on the way

By Rich Hobson Published

A follow-up to 2022's The End, So Far could be just around the corner

Albums
Castle Rat in costume posing in a forest
Introducing Castle Rat, your new favourite medieval-themed doom-rocking New Yorkers

By Rich Hobson Published

All hail The Rat Queen!

Bands & Artists
Milkie Way against a pink background
"Lady Gaga passes this bottle of Jameson to me." Milkie Way makes us a playlist

By Rich Hobson Published

What links Black Sabbath, Tina Turner, The Cramps, Lady Gaga and David Bowie? The excellent music taste of one Milkie Way

Bands & Artists
Jet Jaguar/Ice Nine Kills/Rob Zombie/Pinkshift/Crystal Lake
Metal Hammer's Tracks Of The Week: October 10 2025

By Rich Hobson Published

Rob Zombie, Black Label Society and Ice Nine Kills are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Tracks & Singles
Iron Maiden 1990
It's time to talk about Iron Maiden's "worst" album

By Rich Hobson Published

There's no clear consensus on the "worst" Iron Maiden album - but this one definitely isn't it, OK?

Albums
Celavi/Avatar/Lamb Of God/Lord Of The Lost/Defences
The 12 best new metal songs you need to hear right now

By Rich Hobson Published

Megadeth, Lamb Of God and Avatar are among the best new metal songs this week. Plus, vote for your favourite!

Tracks & Singles
Iron Maiden 50th anniversary Hammer t-shirt bundle
Order your exclusive Iron Maiden bundle featuring an Eddie T-shirt you won't find in shops

By Rich Hobson Published

The bundle also comes with an alternate Metal Hammer cover

Bands & Artists
Iggor Cavalera wearing sunglasses and standing against a multi coloured wall
"In Brazil, it was all about Samba." Five minutes with Iggor Cavalera

By Rich Hobson Published

Hammer chats with global metal icon - and all-round metal legend - Iggor Cavalera

Bands & Artists
Chepang/Slung/Static Dress/Idle Heirs
4 brilliant new metal bands you need to hear in October 2025

By Rich Hobson Published

From Chepang's philosophical grindcore to Slung's sleek doomgaze, screamo revivalists Static Dress and chaotic metalcore mob Idle Heirs, these are the bands you need to hear in October 2025

Bands & Artists
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