The 'terrible' metal albums (that aren't nearly as bad as people make out) From Iron Maiden to Metallica, Slayer to Guns N' Roses, these are the 'dud' albums that deserve a second look Metal Hammer · Aug 31
“The downpicking approach was inspired by competition between Dave and I. Like, ‘Here’s a riff… Wait, you can’t play that. Hahaha!’” How James Hetfield wrangled Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax for metal’s biggest reunion James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett explain the origins of the Big 4 shows – which united Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax on one historic bill Guitar World · Jun 16
“A proactive step to position these iconic brands for long-term success”: Dean Guitars owner files for bankruptcy Armadillo Distribution Enterprises and Concordia LLC have jointly filed for a court-supervised reorganization as they look to safeguard their future Guitar World · Jun 11
“We weren’t after our version of Iron Maiden’s Eddie, but it needed to be striking.” The story behind Slayer's grim Reign In Blood album artwork Slayer intended to make pop fans "ill" with their grotesque representation of hell. It worked… Metal Hammer · Apr 11
"The LAPD chased down some of the miscreants and beat them to the ground with their nightsticks." How one of the worst riots in the history of music got a legendary metal band banned from a major Hollywood venue Slayer were used to controversy, but when they rocked up to play the Hollywood Palladium in 1988, they didn't expect this. Metal Hammer · Mar 6
"It didn’t hurt or anything. It was just ****ing scary.” We threw one of metal's most promising bands off a bridge Endorsed by Gojira, Lamb Of God and Kerry King, Alien Weaponry are one of metal's most promising young bands Metal Hammer · Feb 28
“I thought it was frat boy stuff...it's my least favourite record of our history.” The story of thrash metal legends Slayer 'going nu metal' and regretting it almost immediately (and why that album is much better than you remember) When Slayer began to dabble with contemporary influences in the 90s, it didn't end well for them Metal Hammer · Nov 26, 2025
According to Glenn Hughes and Slayer's Kerry King, the rock and metal talent pool is drying up Former Deep Purple man Glenn Hughes and Slayer's Kerry King can't name any new rock or metal artists that excite them Metal Hammer · Nov 23, 2025
Slayer’s Kerry King prefers Metallica over Megadeth because “Metallica has a singer” “Sorry, Dave!” Metal Hammer · Nov 4, 2025
“We thought, ‘Wow, that’s really cool – this was the guy that did all those crazy, terrible things’”: How Slayer made Angel Of Death – the fastest, freakiest and most controversial song in thrash metal history The opening song from 1986’s Reign In Blood affirmed Slayer as thrash metal’s scariest scare-mongers Metal Hammer · Oct 23, 2025
Watch Slayer charge through Hell Awaits during the fieriest rehearsal video you’ll probably ever see Lots of metal bands want to tear the house down – Slayer are doing their damnedest to burn it down Metal Hammer · Sep 30, 2025
“I remember looking up at this big billboard that said, ‘God loves you all.’ I thought, ‘He sure as hell doesn’t like me right now!’”: The prophetic Slayer song that marked the end of one of thrash metal’s greatest songwriting partnerships Released on 9/11, this Slayer classic could not have been more timely Metal Hammer · Sep 13, 2025
“She's got that thing that I could never do – I have to cheat”: Billy Corgan reveals the technique Kiki Wong can do on guitar that’s beyond him Wong was handpicked by Corgan and co. from over 10,000 applicants to join the Smashing Pumpkins, and it's safe to say she's been a powerhouse addition to the lineup Guitar World · Aug 6, 2025
"People thought we were Nazi sympathisers, and nothing could be further from the truth." The highs, lows, controversies and epic comebacks of Slayer How one Mercyful Fate-worshipping little band from California changed the face of metal forever Metal Hammer · Jul 28, 2025
Metal Hammer · Jul 7, 2025 9 moments that made me cheer, laugh, despair and cry like a baby at Black Sabbath's epic Back To The Beginning show Filing down the biggest heavy metal show ever to pick out some key moments was hard - but I did it anyway
The Guardian - UK · Jul 4, 2025 Slayer review – spectacle, gore, mayhem and some of metal’s greatest songs The thrash legends’ first UK gig in six years is a lean and unforgivingly mean set – no breathers, no ballads, only teeth-rattling bangers
Guitar World · Jun 26, 2025 “Even though Stevie Ray Vaughan wasn’t playing heavy metal, he had the elements of the style through pure skill alone”: Blues-inspired but metal-trained, he had a top 5 album at 16 – with no spiky guitars in sight. Meet Alien Weaponry’s Lewis de Jong The New Zealand metallers have supported Kerry King, have Lamb of God guesting on their record, and a sound that celebrates their Māori heritage that de Jong says is all about the riff
Metal Hammer · Jun 26, 2025 “It’s an invisible bond that can’t be broken”: Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne are on the cover of the new Metal Hammer We talk to all four members of Sabbath ahead of their final show, taking place in the city where they started heavy metal
Guitar World · Jun 17, 2025 “Most of these dudes don’t fall quite as far as I did. They don’t develop a meth habit and end up shoveling dog s**t for $6 an hour”: Gary Holt on his thrash metal redemption story, balancing Exodus and Slayer – and why even Hetfield cheats on downpicking Exodus and Slayer mainstay Gary Holt reveals what compelled him to finally roll up his sleeves and unflinchingly tell his life story
MusicRadar · Jun 4, 2025 “The people I’ve met, the stories I’ve heard and the places I’ve wound up in has been an absolute odyssey”: Exhibition featuring life-sized photos of 100 legendary artists' guitars to open in London Scale will feature 1:1 front-and-back portraits of guitars belonging to Paul McCartney, Tom Morello, Dave Grohl, Kerry King, Brian May, Joan Jett and more – and it'll tell the stories behind them
Metal Hammer · May 9, 2025 “I don’t know how anyone can be in that band for more than a couple hours”: The story of Slayer guitarist Kerry King’s short but whirlwind stint in Megadeth King played guitar for Megadeth’s first five shows in 1984 – but the partnership was never going to last
Metal Hammer · May 7, 2025 WWE wrestler Penta has a new entrance theme featuring Tool’s Adam Jones on guitar The juggernaut pro-wrestling company has also collaborated with metal legends Machine Head, Slayer’s Kerry King and Living Colour in recent weeks
Metal Hammer · Apr 28, 2025 Slayer’s Kerry King admits he isn’t close with Tom Araya: “He’s not the guy I started the band with” King says that Slayer’s singer/bassist is “a very different person” compared to when they started the band together in 1981
Metal Hammer · Apr 24, 2025 "It's gonna be killer. What we're doing is cool." Kerry King has picked the Black Sabbath song that Slayer will cover at Sabbath's Back To The Beginning show, and says it's an "honour' for Slayer to pay tribute to the Godfathers of Metal Kerry King is more than a little excited at the prospect of Slayer honouring Black Sabbath at Villa Park on July 5
Metal Hammer · Apr 21, 2025 Watch Slayer legend Kerry King make his Wrestlemania debut as he plays Damian Priest to the ring for the most metal WWE entrance ever Kerry King made a special live appearance at Wrestlemania 41 in Las Vegas and it all looked metal as hell