THE YEAR THAT...
After two years of confusion, grief and delays, it was time for metal to shit or get out of the kitchen. And shit we did. All over the mainstream. Metallica and Ghost went viral on TikTok, My Chemical Romance turned Milton Keynes into a gridlocked recreation of Hot Topic, Slipknot clambered up global album charts and Rammstein… well, Rammstein filed a restraining order against one of the biggest ticket resale sites, released a career-highlight record with Zeit, and, in a show of solidarity with their queer fans, revealed they’d all had erotic escapades with men. Bloody lads.
Rock and metal invaded people’s homes whether they liked it or not. Want to watch Taika Waititi spunk away Marvel’s money in the new Thor film? Soundtracked by GN’R. That new Jonas Åkerlund series, Clark? Scored by Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt, and featuring cameos from members of Nifelheim, Watain, Ghost, and the much-missed Hank Von Hell. Meanwhile, 10-year-old British vocalist Harper wowed judges on America’s Got Talent by screaming along to Spiritbox’s Holy Roller.