Metal Hammer Features

How Bad Brains reinvented punk and influenced Slayer, Guns N’ Roses and Dave Grohl

By Rich Hobson published 8 March 26

Bad Brains are one of the most influential US punk bands in history

How Nile drew on desperation and Egyptian mythology to make the album that redefined death metal for the 21st century

By Chris Chantler published 8 March 26

The story of Nile’s monstrous Black Seeds Of Vengeance

The outrageous movie which captured the debauched 80s scene that “made Caligula look tame”

By Phillip Wilding published 7 March 26

Who can forget WASP’s guitarist in a swimming pool with a bottle of vodka and his mom?

The story behind Miss Murder by AFI

By Simon Young published 7 March 26

AFI's 2006 single Miss Murder was even a Top 5 hit in Venezuela

The classic 1983 album that Zakk Wylde says defines metal – and the unlikely pop megastar he loves

By Dayal Patterson published 7 March 26

This is the soundtrack to Black Label Society frontman and Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde’s life

Metal Hammer tracks of the week: March 6, 2026

By Metal Hammer published 6 March 26

Skindred, Sevendust, Blackbraid and more have released scorching new singles – hear them all and vote for your favourite here

How a crazy riot got Slayer banned from a famous Hollywood venue for 25 years

By Stephen Hill published 6 March 26

Slayer were used to controversy, but when they rocked up to play the Hollywood Palladium in 1988, they didn't expect this.

What happened when we joined Kiss on the World Domination Tour with Aerosmith

By Chris Ingham published 6 March 26

“In many ways Kiss has a lot more to do with rappers, both spiritually and aesthetically, than with grunge rock music” - Gene Simmons

"We were like, ‘What if we take speed? Maybe we can play even faster!’ We were definitely better without the drugs." How Europe's biggest thrash band went from getting their mum to sign deals to satanic metal mastery

By Dom Lawson published 5 March 26

"When we heard Venom, all our songs became satanic."

Heavy metal, hard rock, guaranteed sunshine and a setting like no other – Spain’s Rock Imperium is the one amazing festival you can’t afford to miss in 2026

By Classic Rock published 5 March 26

Sponsored by Rock Imperium

Join Iron Maiden, Within Temptation, Sabaton, Anthrax, Testament, H.e.a.t, Queensryche and many more under the blazing Mediterranean sun at Spain’s epic Rock Imperium Festival

The Hara are inspired by Avenged Sevenfold, BMTH and... Robbie Williams?!

By Dannii Leivers published 5 March 26

The Hara found a whole new heavy side for their second album

How Black Sabbath and ‘major death anxiety’ inspired metal’s new fantasy sensation, Castle Rat

By Mischa Pearlman published 5 March 26

How a fantasy doom band became a viral sensation everyone is talking about

Every Sabaton album ranked from worst to best

By Matt Mills published 4 March 26

What’s the most bulletproof entry in the Swedish wardogs’ back-catalogue?

Dream Theater, A7X, Rush: Mike Portnoy takes reader questions

By Paul Travers published 4 March 26

Mike Portnoy is one of metal's most revered drummers - and now he's back home in Dream Theater

Why you should probably go and see Powerwolf this week

By Dave Ling published 4 March 26

German metallers Powerwolf gear up for their biggest ever UK show at Wembley on Saturday, and promise some surprises

"In Russia, when you see a bear, it's not ****ing funny." Alex Terrible is a bear-wrestling, bareknuckle fighting controversy magnet. He's also made Slaughter To Prevail unlikely metal icons

By Steve Appleford last updated 3 March 26

We head Stateside to speak to the man behind the mask as Russian deathcore crew Slaughter To Prevail prepare to unleash their new album

How Alter Bridge rebuilt after the demise of Creed

By Matt Mills published 3 March 26

Velvet Revolver's loss was Alter Bridge's gain when Myles Kenendy helped his bandmates shake off the bad taste of Creed

With Mike Portnoy’s help, Bigelf battled back from tragedy to make Into The Maelstrom

By Stephen Humphries published 3 March 26

Leader Damon Fox’s ambition was to turn his band into “the Radiohead of metal.” But their fourth album, released in 2014, has been their last word to date

How Alter Bridge regrouped, faced the dark side, put their foot on the gas and recorded a brilliant album

By Polly Glass published 3 March 26

With solo projects, other bands and a massive Creed reunion between them, there were whispers that Alter Bridge might be on the way out