HAMMER

Future PLC, 121 - 141 Westbourne Terrace, Paddington,

TO DIE IS TO KNOW THAT YOU’RE ALIVE

IT’S BEEN FIVE years since we put Ville

FULL OF WOE

PRESS/VLAD CIOPLEA/NETFLIX © 2022 ‘TIM BURTON DIRECTS The

HEAVY METAL SAVES LIVES

New German documentary series Heavy Metal Saved My Life explores the life-changing impact metal has on its fans

HOW’S YOUR CORPSEPAINT GAME?

Epica’s symphonic metal siren Simone Simons faces the music about joining black metal bands, movie soundtracks and Pastafarianism

JONATHAN HULTÉN

The ex-Tribulation songwriting mastermind takes a soothing stroll down memory lane via jazz, folk and goth rock

TESSERACT

Former tech-metal overlords set their sights on going bigger, proggier and catchier than ever before

ROBB FLYNN

Heroin overdoses, death threats, and a whole heap of dirty plates… Machine Head’s fiery frontman has had a rocky road to the top

JUMPDAFUCKUP SOULFLY

The pressure was on for Soulfly to match their groundbreaking debut. With help from their friends – including rising star Corey Taylor – they surpassed it

MIGHT AS WELL PUT SPICE GIRLS ON THE COVER

…and other bizarre accusations, words of praise and condemnations you had to offer on our massive end-of-year issue.

THE BIG DEBATE

Metallica made a surprise return in November with

TAIPEI HOUSTON

The Bay Area brothers with a metal royalty pedigree are looking to shake up the rock landscape

KÆLAN MIKLA

Bewitching synth-led post-punks inspired by the magic and majesty of Icelandic folklore

SCOWL

Scene-smashing Californians bringing emotional hardcore back with a twist

VAURUVÃ

Brazilian black metal drawing on the natural splendour and culture of the Amazon

IN THE KNOW

What your favourite bands are listening to

HOARD ALMIGHTY

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

AFTER LIFE

Following the dissolution of his lifelong band Him, Ville Valo faced an identity crisis. Now reborn as solo artist VV, he’s got a new heartagram and a bright future

2023:EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Thanks to the Fox God, new album The Other One lands in March. Here’s our wishlist of everything else we want from them

AVENGED SEVENFOLD

Weirdness, wildness and “eye-opening” eclecticism? Bring it on!

METALLICA

A new album, an epic tour… 2023 will be their year

WITHIN TEMPTATION

Cinematic scope and 80s vibes – Holland’s finest are shaking things up

JUDAS PRIEST

The metal gods are changing things up for album number 19

SABATON

This will be the Year To End All Years for the Swedes

BODY COUNT

Ice-T is getting Merciless… with help from Dave Mustaine

BURY TOMORROW

New year, new line-up, massive new ambition

IMMORTAL

The Norse black metal icons return to icy Blashyrkh

IN THIS MOMENT

Maria Brink and co promise postpandemic heaviosity

THE BEST OF THE REST

Just when you thought 2023 couldn’t get any more stacked, we dug deep to find out what other records you should be pumped for this year

THE CLASS OF 2023

From a groundbreaking Muslim metal band to the maverick virtuosos baiting the gatekeepers, these are the bands that will be on everyone’s lips this year

VOICE OF BACEPROT

The young Indonesian trio out to smash barriers in 2023

POLYPHIA

Haters beware: these maverick Texan instrumentalists are out to drag metal into the future

ZETRA

Synth-heavy gothgaze from the enigmatic duo bringing mystery back to music

SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL

The masked modern deathcore standard-bearers cutting a brutal swathe through the chaos of the world

IMHA TARIKAT

Emotional evisceration from black metal’s most intense band

(MELO)DEATH CONQUERS ALL

In Flames have spent 20 years moving away from their melodeath roots, despite blowback from their staunch supporters. So why are they bringing it back now?

KERRY KING

THE HAMMER INTERVIEW

IT'S NOT ALL DOMM AND DOOM AND GLOOM

You might imagine Jonas Renkse is a right moody fella after three decades of writing heartachingly sad music with Katatonia. As it turns out, he knows exactly how to look on the bright side

“IF SOMEONE HAS NO OUTLET THEY’RE GONNA CRACK”

…said Jonathan Davis of his role in Korn, back in 1996. With the band announced for Las Vegas’s Sick New World festival in May, we revisit a classic interview

KATATONIA

Sky Void Of Stars

BEYOND THE BLACK

Beyond The Black

SKÁLD

Huldufólk

WITHIN TEMPTATION / EVANESCENCE

FIRST DIRECT ARENA, LEEDS

PERTURBATOR

ELECTRIC BRIXTON, LONDON

NIGHTWISH

BEAST IN BLACK / TURMION KÄTILÖT

IN FLAMES

AT THE GATES / IMMINENCE / ORBIT CULTURE

AMORPHIS / ELUVEITIE

Folk-tinged melodeath co-headliners weather mixed fortunes

POPPY

WITCH FEVER O2 INSTITUTE, BIRMINGHAM

POWERWOLF

WARKINGS ROUNDHOUSE, LONDON

OPETH

HAMMERSMITH APOLLO, LONDON

THE HU

THE GREAT HALL, CARDIFF

ASHANTI MUTINTA BACKXWASH

The trap metal pioneer talks horror movies, dream collabs and history’s greatest trilogies