“ARE WE GONNA SEE LAMB OF GOD IN THE HIP HOP HALL OF FAME?”
And other monthly musings from the Metal Hammer family
FANGS A LOT
Absolutely loved last month’s horror issue. Never thought I’d get to see Wednesday 13 in the same interview as the actual Jason Voorhees. Can you get Phil Anselmo interviewing Freddy Krueger next year? Ta. Alice Harbron (email) Glad you dug it, Alice. It wasn’t the first spooky-themed Hammer issue we’ve done (remember Korn Goes Stranger Things in 2016?), but we went all-out this time, and as you know, all the best horror franchises include a sequel or two.
ROCKY HORROR
I listen to a popular classic rock station and their criteria of ‘rock’ can sometimes be very loose. Which bands being classified as ‘rock’ really annoy you? Mine are Meatloaf and Rod Stewart.
Gary Donaldson (Hammer Readers Group) We had Meatloaf down to the Metal Hammer office once. He talked about Slipknot and Beethoven and didn’t like being in lifts for too long. What a time to be alive. Sorry, what was the question, Gary?
THINGS THAT SHOULD
NOT BE
From last month’s issue: “The Thing… one of John Carpenter’s most understated tracks.” Carpenter didn’t compose the score for The Thing. It was, famously, Ennio Morricone! Jonathan Crane (email) You’re quite right, pal: while John Carpenter did create some of the music used in the film itself, the main score and accompanying soundtrack was of course Ennio. We’re banishing the whole team to a remote Antarctic base as punishment for this unforgivable horror clanger. Actually, we might just send Luke.
HALL OF PAIN
Do I care about the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame? I care that people like Janet Jackson are being considered. Are we ever gonna see Lamb of God being nominated for the Hip Hop Hall of Fame?
Get your act right, HOF.
Brett Hartley (Facebook) We’re not really against non‘rock specific’ artists going into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. After all, music is a broad spectrum and the evolution of rock music is complex. That said, we should all agree at least that any rock hall of fame without Maiden in is absolute flaps.
BLOW YOUR RELOAD
If Metallica could’ve taken the best songs from Load and Reload and put them all on one record, it would be a really good record.
Dwayne St John (Facebook) Dwayne mate, 2010 wants its take back. (Seriously though, our Merl will go to bat for all things Metallica 90s, so don’t get him started. You should hear his thoughts on Garage Inc…)
’KNOT THE ONE
So we’re getting a new Slipknot album next year. Am I the only
one who thought The Gray Chapter was a bit average? We need the fire back! More anger!
Fay Palmer (email) We thought it was pretty solid actually, but fire and anger are our middle names so we’re fine with that (NB: they’re not our middle names. We don’t have any. We’re a magazine.)
MOTLEY CRU
The Crusade by Trivium is a great album. The music is technical and tight. The vocals are strong. People don’t like it because it isn’t a carbon copy of Ascendancy.
This album has way more of a Megadeth feel than Metallica!
Simon Gilbank (Facebook) What did we just say about 2010 takes? Maybe The Crusade does get a bit of a panning, but when the band themselves are the first to admit it was a misstep, you know it’s probably a welldeserved panning. Pan away, everyone, pan away.
DEF JAM
Def Leppard for Download festival again?! Why don’t we just give them the Sunday residency forever. Ridiculous.
Kyle Nash (email) A) you also have Slipknot, who haven’t headlined since 2015 and B) you also have, like, Tool?! As in Tool that haven’t even played the UK in over a decade? That Tool? Come on! And anyway, if belting out Pour Some Sugar On Me half-cut on a Sunday night doesn’t do it for you, there will be plenty of other bands to feast your ears on…