Features

Jordan Rudess would have been a classical pianist if he hadn’t discovered this prog icon

By Grant Moon published 7 February 26

Dream Theater genius’ musical world includes Steven Wilson, Van der Graaf Generator, Gentle Giant, Leprous, Rick Rubin and Neil Young

The southern rock legend who quit Lynyrd Skynyrd before they became famous and then rejoined 25 years later

By Paul Rees published 7 February 26

Rickey Medlocke has been involved in not one but two iconic Southern Rock bands

“Lars played me the whole song down the phone. He said, ‘What do you think?’ I said, ‘Are you kidding?!’”: The inside story of the greatest Metallica album Metallica didn’t write

By Chris Chantler published 7 February 26

Hardcore ragers, occult metal classics, Southern rock anthems

The drunken onstage outburst that nearly sparked a riot – and inspired a thrash metal classic

By Dave Ling published 7 February 26

The night one of metal’s most notorious loudmouths got a little too loudmouthed

How living in a rat-infested squat helped turn Green Day into one of the world's biggest bands

By Simon Young published 7 February 26

While West Oakland in the late 80s sounded like a sketchy place to live, it inspired a pop punk classic

The cult album that Evanescence singer Amy Lee wishes she had made – and the one that broke her heart

By Merlin Alderslade published 7 February 26

Weird angels, fallen guitar heroes and singing fruit – this is the soundtrack to Amy Lee’s life

Metal Hammer's tracks of the week: February 6 2026

By Rich Hobson published 6 February 26

Mayhem, Sleep Theory and Green Carnation are among the best new metal songs this week

How Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter became Iron Maiden’s only UK number-one single

By Matt Mills published 6 February 26

Despite a BBC ban, winning a “Worst Original Song” award and being pulled from the band’s setlist, Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter remains one of Iron Maiden’s biggest tunes

Great new prog you must hear from Green Carnation, Magenta, Exploring Birdsong, A.A. Williams and more in Prog's Tracks Of The Week

By Jerry Ewing published 6 February 26

Cool new proggy sounds from Chris Braide & Dean Johnson, HeKz, EchoVerse and more in this week's Tracks Of The Week

If Death is a rabbit and you're on TV as a Womble, you’re probably Mike Batt

By Jo Kendall published 6 February 26

He recalls the chain reaction from the advert that got Elton John signed through missing a Family credit, a fluke Top Of The Pops slot, working with Steeleye Span and Art Garfunkel, to temporarily joining Hawkwind