THE BAND OF THE DECADE

ALRIGHT, SO GOJIRA have actually been smashing the

MEET THE BAND

ELEANOR GOODMAN DEPUTY EDITOR El is Hammer’s Gojira

POPPY STANDS AND DELIVERS

CHRIS GARRISON PHOTOGRAPHY SHE REMAINS A divisive figure in

FROM POISON TO VENOM

A new photobook by music photographer James Sharrock captures the first 10 years of Bullet For My Valentine and their rise to global fame

10 THINGS WE LEARNED THIS MONTH

What’s been blowing our tiny brains OUR PODCAST

WHO HAS THE BEST NICKNAME IN METAL?

While She Sleeps just dropped their killer fifth album, Sleeps Society, and frontman Loz Taylor is all set to face your questions

STEVE VON TILL

The guitarist and co-vocalist of post-metal pioneers Neurosis has a record collection that’s as diverse and mind-bending as you’d expect

GEORGE ‘CORPSEGRINDER’ FISHER

The Cannibal Corpse frontman on horror films, headbanging and, er, claw machines

SPIRITBOX

These genre-splicing Canadians set the internet ablaze – now they’re getting ready to take over with their debut full-length

HYPERDRIVE! DEVIN TOWNSEND & ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN

Originally a Ziltoid deep-cut, Hyperdrive! became a much-loved euphoric anthem with the addition of Anneke on vocals – and would also pave the way for a wonderful partnership

MUTTER IS OVERRATED

Plus other ridiculous opinions, curious queries and fiery takes you fired at us this month

THE BIG DEBATE

When Metal Hammer veteran and walking Iron Maiden encyclopedia Dom Lawson ranked Maiden’s albums, it was like a grenade had been tossed into our Facebook comments sections

GYZE

These Japanese folk metallers are bringing the sound of the Imperial Court to metal

LA MORTE VIENE DALLO SPAZIO

Journey into the unknown with these cosmic Italian space rockers

SANGUISUGABOGG

Ridiculous band name, ridiculous lyrics – killer twisted death metal

BORSTAL

Ex-Dimmu drummer brings the fury on new hardcore punk project

AD INFINITUM

Opulent symphonic metal that mines a decadent past for inspiration

HOARD ALMIGHTY

Box sets, underground oddities and all the essential merch you need this month

GOJIRA ARE THE BAND OF THE DECADE...

…but the Duplantier brothers were never made for superstardom. They’re metal’s quintessential anti-rockstars. And yet, no band has done more to redefine this genre

THE 50 GREATEST GULT BANDS

“History is written by the winners” goes the old saying, and that’s no less true in metal than it is in the real world. For every Metallica, Black Sabbath, Slipknot or Ghost, there are thousands – no, make that tens of thousands – of fantastic bands who have been cruelly snubbed by fortune

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE

Black Sabbath’s first two albums might have patented metal, but Master Of Reality perfected it. Beyond the war concerns, weed smoking and world-beating ambition, it spawned a thousand metal sub-genres

SYNTHWAVE IS DEAD

Or at least that’s what Perturbator, aka James Kent, has concluded. New album Lustful Sacraments sees him move into post-punk territory, away from the scene he helped create

EVILE WERE MEANT TO BE THRASH'S NEXT SUPERSTARS

…but after leading the UK revival of the 00s, guitarist Ol Drake quit and the band stalled. Now they’re back, with a new – but familiar – singer

15 MOMENTS THAT DEFINED AVENGED

As Avenged Sevenfold’s debut album hits the big 2-0, we relive the triumphs and the tragedies that took the Orange County metalcore crew from school band to arena megastars

GOJIRA

Gojira take their place in metal’s upper echelons

BIG | BRAVE

Big | Brave: stark and mysterious Vital SOUTHERN

DORDEDUH

Dordeduh engage in some blue sky thinking Har

EVILE

Evile take a few more leaves out of

SMALL MERCIES

Where EP is short for ‘Epic Potential’

GRAVE MIASMA

Grave Miasma have a hunch their gods are

MYLES KENNEDY

Myles Kennedy finds his comfort zone The Ides

PAYSAGE D’HIVER

Paysage D’Hiver: black metal’s Bigfoot strikes again Geister

WORLD SERVICE

Heavy metal uprisings from around the globe

POP EVIL

Pop Evil keep looking for their main stage

TETRARCH

Tetrarch have captured the spirit of nu metal

RESURRECTIONS

Unearthing the latest metal reissues

WARDRUNA

RIKSSCENEN, OSLO

BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME

PRIVATE VENUE, WINSTON-SALEM, NC

THE OCEAN

PIER2, BREMEN

IHSAHN

NOTODDEN TEATER, NOTODDEN

LAJON WITHERSPOON SEVENDUST

The Sevendust frontman talks starstruck memories, solo ventures and staying positive