Latest articles by Stephen Hill
Reading Festival 2023 showed that when Matty Healy tones down his nonsense, The 1975 remain a top tier live band
Low on controversy and high on great songs, this is the kind of 1975 set we need in our lives
"The closest metal scene was two hours away. We couldn't just go and see a show." From being an outsider to playing Sepultura songs with Max Cavalera, these are the life lessons of Gojira's Joe Duplantier
Joe Duplantier is one of metal's most thoughtful and widely respected figures. This is what he's learned through a career in music
"The songs have a vibe of, Get the f**k off me, and quit telling me what I should be doing": Why XO is the most perfect representation of Elliott Smith's brooding, beautiful genius
Released on August 25, 1998, Elliott Smith's XO is a treasure-trove of brilliance from a true cult artist
A beginner's guide to deathcore in five essential albums
Think deathcore is a bit one-note? Think again. Here are five albums that perfectly chart its evolution over the past two decades
"I was considered an enemy": In the face of misogyny, sexism, corporate bullying, betrayal and abuse, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is the joyous, defiant, fierce and fearless sound of an artist refusing to shut up and sing
A salute to the power and majesty of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill as its 25th anniversary approaches
10 hard rock and heavy metal music videos that got banned for the dumbest reasons
Classic songs by Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Slipknot have all been taken off the airwaves with the most frivolous excuses
“We were going to take the world by any means necessary”: How Slipknot’s Wait And Bleed punished the mainstream and became the essential nu metal song
Wait And Bleed was just a demo in dire need of a chorus in 1998. One year later, it was a cornerstone of Slipknot’s stunning debut album and on track to become a megahit.
"I remember driving round listening to Jane Doe by Converge and being so inspired": How members of Biffy Clyro, Oceansize and Slayer teamed up to make one of 2023's most extreme metal debuts
How Biffy Clyro members Simon Neil and Mike Vennart joined forces to make one of 2023's most extreme metal debuts
"Metal was getting heavier and heavier again. I had this idea..." How Metalocalypse finally brought heavy metal back to the TV screen
With the likes of Beavis and Butt-head and Headbanger's Ball disappearing from TV, metal needed some new representation on the small screen. Enter a goofy, animated extreme metal band named Dethklok
10 metal riffs that look easy but are incredibly difficult to play
From Metallica to Slipknot, Sylosis frontman and guitar virtuoso Josh Middleton picks 10 heavy riffs that are far harder than they sound
10 terrible thrash metal albums with one classic song
Metallica, Megadeth and Exodus all have some clangers in their catalogue – but at least these songs saved them from being total write-offs
10 heavy metal TV shows that need to come back
Headbangers Ball, Raw Power and Metalocalypse blasted heavy, nasty music into everybody’s living rooms – and we need them back
“They pelted the s**t out of them!”: The night Iron Maiden were egged by Sharon Osbourne and friends live on stage
In 2005, Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath co-headlined Ozzfest for what should have been a dream festival tour. It became infamous for one of the most public spats in metal history
The 50 best metal albums of the 2000s
From nu metal classics by Slipknot, Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit to metal legends like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest bouncing back in style, these are the albums that defined the 2000s
A beginner’s guide to Metal Blade Records in five essential albums
From the ferocity of Slayer to Amon Amarth’s viking melodeath, Metal Blade Records are masters of getting in on the ground floor with the next big thing
"It feels like we're poised to take the reins." We got Wargasm, Loathe, Heriot, Ithaca and Blackgold together to discuss why British metal is entering a new golden age
British metal is more exciting, diverse and vibrant than ever, so we got five of the scene's leading young figures to talk about why it's finally coming of age
10 times metal bands re-recorded their classic songs – and it actually went well
Re-recording your greatest hits is rarely a good idea. Such superstars as Iron Maiden, Anthrax and Tool absolutely nailed it though.
10 terrible Britpop albums with one classic song
There were some era-defining records made during the Britpop boom, but some stinkers too. Here's ten terrible efforts that were saved by one song.
"If Bruce Springsteen saw Slipknot live, he'd be into it." A conversation with Slipknot drummer and one-time E-Street member, Jay Weinberg
Jay Weinberg talks drumming with Bruce Springsteen, how Motorhead bridged punk and metal, and replacing Joey Jordison in Slipknot
10 up-and-coming British metal bands that every self-respecting metalhead needs to know
The birthplace of heavy metal is still leading the pack – and bands like Conjurer, Sleep Token and Employed To Serve prove it
10 terrible grunge albums with one classic song
Grunge brought us some classic albums, but a lot of stinkers, too. Luckily, these poor efforts were all saved by one brilliant song
Five new bands you need to hear if you love Faith No More
Sure, there's never been another band quite like Faith No More, but these newcomers take their distinctive, unpredictable energy and run with it
4 brilliant new bands you need to hear this month
From the brutal hardcore of Jesus Piece to Distant's sci-fi deathcore, Fvnerals' nihilistic drone-metal and Punk Rock Factory's fun covers, you need to check out these brilliant new bands
