Features

Sløtface: “There’s so many things that are sh*tty. Being happy and showing joy are the most punk things you can do”

Sløtface are back and bigger than ever. Literally. What was once a typical band is now a collective of creatives. And with a brand-new adventurous album landing imminently, Haley Shea tells us more on the journey to its fruition – from unpacking internalised misogyny to how embracing your not-so-guilty pleasure can set you free…

Heriot: “I want us to bring a new style of metal, with the same values we started with, making heavy, abrasive, immersive music”

Heriot are already a jewel in the crown of British heavy music. It’s why, for the quartet’s debut Kerrang! cover, we brought them to an actual castle. On the eve of release of their highly-anticipated Devoured By The Mouth Of Hell LP, the Swindon stars reflect on the solid foundations they’ve built so far, and why they’ll continue to reign for years to come…

From Alanis Morissette to Sylvia Rivera: The icons who inspired Pale Waves’ Heather Baron-Gracie

Pale Waves singer Heather Baron-Gracie tells us about the poets, activists and music icons that inspire her…

In pictures: Riot Fest 2024

From L.S. Dunes and Lamb Of God to GEL and GWAR, here’s what went down at Chicago’s legendary annual takeover of all things punk, metal and alternative…

In pictures: Slayer return to the stage at Riot Fest for their first show since 2019

Yesterday (September 22), Tom Araya, Kerry King, Gary Holt and Paul Bostaph hit the stage at Chicago’s Douglass Park for the first Slayer show in half a decade. This is what it looked like.

The Black Dahlia Murder: “The grief is always there. You can sit and brew on it, or you keep going and do something new”

Following the death of Trevor Strnad in 2022, there was a real chance that The Black Dahlia Murder would call it a day. Rather than shattering the Michigan melodic death metallers, however, that tragedy bound the surviving members closer together, and spurred them to make 10th album Servitude a crushing statement of their will to endure…

“I don’t want to seem like I’m riding my own coat-tails”: Inside Shavo Odadjian’s new band, Seven Hours After Violet

Shavo Odadjian’s new band Seven Hours After Violet have just released their latest single, Alive. We caught up with the System Of A Down bassist to get the skinny on his new outfit, lucky numbers, and embracing the chance to get creative…

Black Veil Brides are back and bigger than ever – only in the new issue of Kerrang!

An event 20 years in the making, Black Veil Brides are about to top the bill at Wembley Arena. In the new issue of Kerrang!, Andy Biersack reflects on what it took to get here, what we can expect from the show, and what the future might hold…

“We believe in inclusion and equality for everyone”: Inside the true punk power of Decolonise Fest

Following a brief pandemic-induced hiatus, Decolonise Fest came roaring back to life last week, championing alt. music’s best and brightest underground acts. We head down to speak to the organisers, fans and artists to find out why the event is so important for the scene and the community that surrounds it…

High Vis: “You can’t judge someone because of the privileges they’ve been given. It’s how you deal with those privileges”

On the cusp of releasing their third album Guided Tour, hardcore favourites High Vis are riding a justified wave of success right now. In a rare moment on home turf, Graham Sayle is taking stock of the grit and graft it took for five working class lads to get here and why it’s finally paying off…

Remembering Michelle Kerr: “Bands stuck by her because of the person she was, and because of her passion for the music”

The world of heavy music lost one of its brightest lights on September 14, with the passing of legendary and much-loved publicist Michelle Kerr. K! photographer Paul Harries looks back on a decades-long friendship that took them from bonding over epochal outfits like Sepultura and Type O Negative to collaborating on career-defining work with the mighty Slipknot, and beyond…

“I don’t want to mess up this perfect opportunity. I really want to help people”: Inside Vended’s debut album

Therapy, panic attacks and anthems: Griffin Taylor talks us through Vended’s raging debut album…

“I’ve been a rapper for all of this time, wanting to do rock”: How Native James finally realised his vision

Growing up in the grime scene, Native James always knew he was destined for more, but didn’t know how to make it happen. Now his fusion of spitting bars and angry guitars has finally become a reality and he’s coming out swinging…

“We were all talking about owning tridents in case of burglary”: Inside Mastodon and Lamb Of God’s Triton-tastic collab

Brann Dailor and Randy Blythe talk us through the storming new collaborative Mastodon and Lamb Of God banger, Floods Of Triton…

From a sunburnt blink-182 to Brian Molko’s angel wings: Scarlet Page on 30 years of capturing our favourite musicians

Who is your favourite artist? Scarlet Page has probably photographed them. Over the last three decades she’s been behind the lens at festivals, gigs, and backstage with the great and the good of rock music and beyond. In celebration of her work, she’s putting on a special exhibition, showcasing some of her most iconic shots…

Delilah Bon: “Before, I felt like I was screaming on my own. Now people are screaming with me”

The title of her album came from a troll on Twitter. But Delilah Bon is taking the misconception that she’s an Evil, Hate Filled Female and using it to cultivate a fanbase who feel safe, welcome, and most importantly empowered at her shows…

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