Metal Hammer Reviews

Opeth's only UK gig of 2026 is an undeniable triumph: review

By Rich Hobson Published 7 August 26

Opeth, Paradise Lost and Katatonia in God's Own Country on Yorkshire Day? It's a match made in heaven

Electric Callboy hit the apex of their dance-metal era with floor-filling new album Tanzneid

By Holly Wright Published 5 August 26

The electronicore six-piece double down on everything that’s made them festival crowd-pleasers

Mongol champions The Hu take after their hard rock heroes on long-awaited new album Hun

By Matt Mills Published 23 July 26

The folk metal horde have been endorsed by Metallica and Iron Maiden – and their third album bears those icons’ influence

Motionless In White finally find their identity on Decades

By Dannii Leivers Published 21 July 26

More than 20 years since starting, Chris Cerulli and co. escape the shadow of their influences and revel in dark humour

System Of A Down's UK return was electric, euphoric and one of the best stadium shows in recent memory

By Merlin Alderslade Published 14 July 26

"Are System Of A Down back?!" one fan on our row remarked. Yes, yes they absolutely are

Bring Me The Horizon's crushing Count Your Blessings show is a reminder of how ferocious they can be

By Cheri Faulkner Published 13 July 26

Bring Me The Horizon roll back the years with their heaviest show in well over a decade

Iron Maiden's first ever festival is a triumph and a true celebration of one of heavy metal's most storied bands

By Merlin Alderslade Published 12 July 26

Metallica are on the form of their lives at London Stadium

By Rich Hobson Published 6 July 26

Metallica return to London Stadium to show exactly how they became metal's biggest band

Metallica bring legendary songs, incredible support acts and big balls to night one of their London takeover

By Matt Mills Published 4 July 26

With Knocked Loose and Gojira opening, heavy metal’s measuring stick put on a 360-degree extravaganza featuring a joyful James Hetfield

Acid Bath make their UK debut with the hottest doom metal

By Rich Hobson Published 29 June 26

Acid Bath's first ever UK gig comes almost 30 years since the band split - and weeks before they play stadiums with System Of A Down

Alexisonfire dominate London co-headliner with Billy Talent as they celebrate 20 years of Crisis

By Matt Mills Published 25 June 26

Billy Talent bring the production values, before Alexisonfire deliver a momentous set featuring time-tested songs, deep cuts and a live debut

Chilean extreme metallers Decessus made a hell of a first impression at Download

By Rich Hobson Published 16 June 26

Decessus - the Chilean death metallers whose vocalist was crowned Miss World Chile - make their UK debut at Download 2026

Arizona extreme metal ragers Gatecreeper play one of Download 2026's most ferocious sets

By Merlin Alderslade Published 15 June 26

Melding blunt force death metal with hardcore grit and some mighty hooks, Gatecreeper slay Download's Dogtooth tent

Bloodywood just showed Download why they're one of the best live bands in modern metal

By Merlin Alderslade Published 15 June 26

A powerful, propulsive set of bouncy metal ragers takes things up a level at Donington

Emily Armstrong just made history with Linkin Park at Download in some style

By Merlin Alderslade Published 15 June 26

Download's most significant set of 2026 ends the festival on a massive high

Architects' chaotic Download set suggests that the festival's second biggest stage needs a rethink

By Emily Swingle Published 14 June 26

A frustrating stop-start affair undermines what should have been a celebratory show

Lowen bring Middle Eastern mysticism and big, crushing riffs to Download 2026

By Merlin Alderslade Published 14 June 26

One of the most exciting bands in British metal put on a special showing for their Download debut

Trivium put on a powerful Download show that might just match that famous 2005 one

By Merlin Alderslade Published 14 June 26

Trivium shrug off some windy restrictions to put on a show worthy of the famous 2005 set that made their name

Guns N' Roses' Download set is a slog , but when they lock in, they still show greatness

By Stephen Hill Published 14 June 26

Shave an hour off this set and we could have had something special