Magazine

Slipknot, Stone Sour…Foo Fighters?! COREY TAYLOR fronts the ridiculously immense new issue of Metal Hammer, giving us an exclusive look into the life of one of metal’s modern heroes and one of the most prominent, outspoken and, at times, controversial figures of our world. We travel to LA to find out how the iconic frontman, author, stand-up comedian and collaborator extraordinaire is coping with his celebrity status, why the new STONE SOUR album is set to be the biggest musical challenge of his musical career, and the future of SLIPKNOT. And what the hell is he up to with DAVE GROHL?!

We’re also packing the AMAZING FREE MORTAD DEBUT ALBUM! Fronted by the brilliant Somi Arian, they look set to be one of the real success stories of 2012, and we’re delighted to be able to bring you what we reckon will become seen as one of the finest debuts of the year – free with the mag!

Also in the new issue – which, by the way, features some freakin’ schweet FREE STICKERS, including LAMB OF GOD, GHOST, FAITH NO MORE, CANCER BATS and…erm… COURAGE WOLF, and an immense FREE DOUBLE-SIDED SLAYER/DESTROYERS OF THE FAITH POSTER – we get the remarkable truth behind LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe’s bid to become the next President of the US-fuckin’-A (a campaign we can definitely get behind), and we grill KORN frontman Jonathan Davis ahead of the nu metal legends’ UK tour on why they decided to take the biggest risk of their career and go all dubstep on us. The cheeky devils.

Prog metal is bigger and better than it’s ever been, which is why we speak not only with DREAM THEATER icon James LaBrie about some of the albums that helped influence and shape his incredible career, but also call on OPETH frontman and general legend Mikael Åkerfeldt to rally behind the vinyl cause, explaining why one of music’s oldest and most reliable forms is still one of the best.

What’s more metal than Vikings? Nothing, that’s what. In our awesome VIKING METAL SPECIAL we look at the history and evolution of one of heavy metal’s most loved (and, let’s be honest, muddled) subgenres, speaking with everyone from TURISAS and AMON AMARTH to VARG and ENSIFERUM. It’s a beast.

Want more? Fine. Ahead of our huge DESTROYERS OF THE FAITH tour, which is just around the corner, FYI, we chat to extreme metal icon and innovator TOM G. WARRIOR on why it’s shaping up to be the most extreme tour of the year, as well as find out the skinny on why fellow underground heroes ORANGE GOBLIN have decided to release the album of their career after a decade and a half in the game.

Experimental oddballs EVERY TIME I DIE reveal why they refuse to conform to musical boundaries on the eve of the release of their explosive new album (seriously, it’s immense), and we get modern hardcore heroes THIS IS HELL to face off against scene legends BIOHAZARD, step inside the dark and surprising world of FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM icon Carl McCoy, and give you the ultimate lowdown on everything you need to know about Swedish power metal heroes and legends-in-the-making, SABATON!

Crossover legends CORROSION OF CONFORMITY are back with a brand new album, and tell Subterranea why they feel as vital and inspired as ever, and are joined in this month’s Underground Bible by the likes of TERRORIZER, GHOST, ALCEST, LOCK-UP and a special look at the rise, fall and rise of DESERT ROCK – as underlined by the Metal Hammer-sponsored Desertfest in April! Be there or be less heavy.

We’re packing some cracking reviews this month as well, including a look at MASTODON’s incredible new live show as their Hunter tour reaches the UK. Also reviewed are new albums from the likes of SOULFLY, VAN HALEN, EVERY TIME I DIE, BLEEDING THROUGH, CALIBAN, ANVIL and the new OZZY OSBOURNE movie.

If you haven’t got your copy yet, you need to sort your shit out. Get on it.