MASSIVE RESPECT FOR HEVY DEVY
And other glorious statements you’ve decided to offer us PARKWAY DRIVEN
ALL HAIL THE NEW FLESH
Great to see a different mix of artists on the cover for January
Metal Hammer. I’m not even a massive Devin fan but respect what he has done and Parkway and Myrkur both bring something different. King Diamond is a legend! Keep it up!
Matt James (email)
We started the year with a bang and we ain’t looking back. Er, apart from this issue, ’cause it’s an 80s special. Cough.
LONG LIVE THE KING
King Diamond back on the cover of Metal Hammer? I never thought I’d see the day. More respect to the true icons of metal, please! How about a Kreator or Testament cover next? Metal Hammer needs more thrash!
David Neville (email)
Well Dave, we’ll certainly keep that in mind. And with Slayer now done and dusted, maybe there’s a space opening up in the Big 4? Who would you all have slide in there? Still blows my mind that the band I used to watch kick the shit out of The Underworld in Camden is now headlining Wembley fucking Arena and making it onto the cover of
Metal Hammer. All hail Parkway! They so deserve it too!
Claudia Brown (Facebook)
We agree, Claudia! Hooray for Parkway! Hooray for everyone! Just bloody hooray!
BIG TIME PLAYERS
With no metal bands really crossing into the mainstream in the 2010s, is this going to be the decade where we find out once and for all if metal can stay relevant on the big stage? What happens if it can’t?!
Genna Gardner (Facebook)
Metal is and will always be fine – the underground is where it thrives the most and nothing will change that. That said, if we were able to have a disgustingly heavy band gatecrash the Brits every now and again, we’re not saying we’d moan about it…
MÖTLEY BÖÖ
Honestly it depresses me to think of Vince Neil wheezing his way around a bunch of tired old hits one more time. Why can’t bands just let things lie? I am sick of everyone always pissing over their own legacies.
Clay Reeves (Facebook)
We can’t say we were surprised that legendary guardians of indecency Mötley Crüe decided to backtrack on their own promises. You don’t actually have to go see them, though.
MÖTLEY WÖÖ
People need to lay off Mötley Crüe doing this reunion thing. It’s their fucking band, it’s their life
and legacy, if people want to go and watch them, it’s totally their choice. I’m going to see them in Buffalo and anyone that has a problem with that can kiss my glam ass!
Jane Henderson (Facebook)
Alright Jane, chill out. You do you. We hope you have a lovely time
POPPY STAR
Isn’t is about time Metal Hammer
gave some love to Poppy? She uses metal influences in her music, she has a black metal logo and even wears corpsepaint on her EP covers. I know she’s a ‘pop star’, but I think she’s awesome. And she got Lotus Eater opening for her! How amazing is that?!
Liam Mitchels (email)
Yeah, we’ve been keeping an eye on that Poppy lass. She’s one collab with Rob Halford away from going Full Metal on us, and we are, as the kids said for about 10 minutes, ‘here for it’.
LAND OF THE RISING FUN
The Japanese scene needs more attention. Bands like Lovebites, Bridear, Band-maid, Yuzukingdom and idol groups like Necronomidol, Babymetal, Passcode, etc are awesome and worth a listen. Unless, of course, you’re a grumpy, closedminded elitist who thinks metal is only the aggressive dying pigs/goats vocals. The song Psychopomp by Necronomidol is a great piece of art. João Agostinho (Facebook)
Crumbs, you really like those Japanese bands, eh? Luckily, we think they’re pretty cool, too – we recently ran pieces on both Necronomidol and the mighty Iron Bunny. They have a robot. He’s cool.
MAKING THE GHOST OF IT
Ghost were amazing in the earlier days: solid underground following, heavier sound. Now they’re more radio-friendly and everyone bloody listens to them! Everyone’s grandparents know exactly who Ghost are.
Tom Davies (Facebook)
We just all checked and none of our grandparents know who Ghost are. Although Merl’s nan said she’s very excited to see those new Cattle Decapitation tracks “open up that fucking pit” when they next tour.