Metal Hammer’s albums of the year: 2025
From chart-toppers Ghost and Sleep Token to rising stars Lorna Shore and Spiritbox, 2025 has been a massive year for metal
“What came out of a tragedy gave birth to something that was hugely positive in my life.” How the legendary Chris Cornell channelled his grief over a dear friend’s death into making one of the 90s’ most underrated classics
Members of Soundgarden and a fledgling Pearl Jam came together in 1990 to record a tribute to their late friend and emerged with a grunge...
Tokyo’s Lilii Mar Releases Icy Gothic Rock Single “White Glow” on Limited Cassette
A cold shimmer runs through Lilii Mar’s latest release, like Shinjuku neon on December snow—guitars cutting an angular swath, and vocals drifting in with a...
“I’m fascinated to know what people think!” Brian May gifts Queen fans never-before-heard “work in progress” version of Christmas song Not For Sale (Polar Bear)
Brian May teases 2026 re-issue of Queen's second album with broadcast of unreleased song dating back to 1969
The 10 best black metal albums of 2025
Blackbraid, Cradle Of Filth, Deafheaven - black metal continued to dominate in 2025
“We played it for our label and management and they told us it would end our career”: The story of the glam metal classic inspired by an unfaithful exotic dancer
Poison topped the US charts in late 1988 with a power ballad that singer Bret Michaels poured his broken heart into