The Cover Story

Poppy: “People are always trying to get ahead as opposed to living, it takes a lot of work to fight to be in the present”

In recent years, enigmatic alt. superstar Poppy has been peeling back the layers to show more sides of herself. Now, on raging new EP Stagger, she lays bare her experiences for all listeners to learn from…

Stray From The Path: “The pandemic made people aware of their position in the machine... Everyone is weaponised now”

Bad times call for good music. After a pandemic spent watching the planet descend into the abyss, Stray From The Path are back with Euthanasia, raging against corporations, corruption and cops… and that’s just for starters.

WILLOW: “I feel like the biggest pressure is the pressure to just be authentic”

From her hair-whipping debut to excellent fifth album <COPINGMECHANISM>, 21-year-old Willow Smith has become quite the rock star. And in embracing her love of metal, finding new ways to work in the studio, and training “really hard” on her vocals, it’s clear that she’s still only just getting started…

Ville Valo: “It’s a continuation of what I’ve done in the past and what might happen next”

Half a decade on from the end of gothic rock heroes HIM, frontman Ville Valo is gearing up to release his debut solo album. And in Neon Noir, not only did the Finnish icon find a reason to keep going during the pandemic, it also sees Ville still very much enjoying his dreamy journey into the dark side…

Ozzy Osbourne: “If I drop dead now, at least I can’t say that I’ve had a dull career”

Having made an unexpected return to the stage and with a new album around the corner, all eyes are on the godfather of heavy metal. Casting his eyes over life, death and music, we sit down with a contemplative Ozzy Osbourne, who simply cannot be stopped…

blackbear: “A rock star used to be sex, drugs and rock’n’roll, and now it’s mental health, appreciation and patience”

Growing up with a father addicted to heroin, Mat Musto (aka blackbear) found comfort and escape in music. Originally losing himself in the alternative scene, he soon found a career in R&B, but is now revisiting his punk roots and confronting his past on new album In Loving Memory.

The Chats: “There’s a lot of people out there who can get f*cked”

Despite their name, The Chats are men of few words, letting their high-octane, scuzzed-up punk do the talking. On a sweltering summer’s day, we caught up with the Aussie beer lovers at their blistering K! Pit show to find a band resolutely not giving a shit, and loving it.

The Interrupters: “I started singing as an act of rebellion – it made me feel like I could take my power back”

When lockdown hit and bands were forced to face a new reality, Aimee Interrupter was confronted with an old one. Reckoning with the trauma of her past, The Interrupters’ vocalist faced her demons head-on after years of turning away, coming out the other side to create the most introspectively powerful album of their career. Trigger warning: Physical and emotional abuse.

Vended: “It’s about world domination and being the biggest band in the f*cking world”

From a basement in Iowa to their upcoming UK debut at Bloodstock, a lot has happened to Vended in two years. Now as they sit on the precipice of taking that next step toward world domination, we meet frontman Griffin Taylor and drummer Simon Crahan to find out why they could actually be the future of heavy…

Pale Waves: “If you try to be someone else you’re just going to f*ck up”

Reinvention isn’t unfamiliar to Pale Waves. Spending half a decade on the road, the Mancunian mob have been carefully and deliberately distilling their sound and aesthetic into its purest form. Now with new record Unwanted showcasing their new direction, we find the British rockers revelling in the self-discovery...

Ithaca: “This is about divine feminine power”

Having channelled all-out fury into The Language Of Injury, homegrown heavy heroes Ithaca found themselves on a path of rediscovery during lockdown. Pouring their emotions and experiences into new album They Fear Us, we find a band coming to terms with their pasts and finally finding the motivation to heal…

Slipknot: “After all these years, we’re still fans of each other”

Just when you thought it was safe to go outside again, Slipknot have announced their return with seventh album The End, So Far. In a world-exclusive interview, Corey Taylor dissects the band’s new heaviness, how the record is connected to Vol. 3, and why they’re finally getting in touch with their emotions…

beabadoobee: “Beatopia offers hope that everything’s gonna be okay – I am living proof that it gets better”

Sometimes you just need to escape, and as a child, beabadoobee found solace in her make-believe land of Beatopia. Fourteen years later, she’s not only reconnecting with her past for inspiration, but providing comfort for a new generation of fans who feel like they don’t belong…

Parkway Drive: “This feels like rising from the ashes… it’s a new beginning for us”

From fractured relationships to the world crumbling around them, Parkway Drive were pushed to breaking point on new album Darker Still. Now, having conquered their issues head-on, the Byron Bay metal heroes are once again ready to take over…

The Kerrang! Awards 2022: “It’s an exciting time for heavy f*ckin’ music!”

Last week, the Kerrang! Awards returned to deliver 14 coveted trophies to the scene’s best and brightest stars. More than just a massive drunken party, though, the evening was a vital reminder that – from politics to pushing boundaries – the future is in very good hands…

Conjurer: “Already, this band has come further than any of us thought was possible…”

No-one was more startled than Conjurer themselves by their dizzying ascent onto metal’s world stage. Yet, having taken stock over lockdown, and come to terms with the departure of drummer Jan Krause, the Midlands mob have returned with staggering second album Páthos to reaffirm their reputation as one of the UK’s most uncompromisingly brilliant bands...

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