In the metal world there are a few magazines competing for your hard-earned money. Metal Hammer is one of those magazines that obviously don't get the recognition it deserves, it's not as famous as Kerrang or Revolver but I feel it's much better for me in some ways. For one thing the people contributing to this magazine know metal, they love metal and have the same kind of passion I have about it that it makes it impossible not to like it! Ever since their first issue in 1986 they've been dedicated to it and they still love it as much today. I like what they bring as information and how they say things, the format of over 130 pages, and the extras you get each month.
Okay, the price seems pretty high but I can assure you it has the best metal coverage of any magazine and has good humor which makes it a fun reading. I'd rather pay more like I currently do instead of reading a second rate metal magazine. Besides each month you get a CD of new songs from artists which are interesting to hear , and sometimes you get more like an Iron Maiden sticker book, a poster, it's always cool to get it gives you extra value for your money. Each time I pick up the new issue and love what's in it, I don't like everything they have in their magazine but every genre has a place in it and that's probably the best thing about it. They have excellent articles that are always interesting, the tattoo section, classic album covers, a monthly question pool result, ask Jurgen!, and I like how they have an interview section. Of course there is also an album ratings section and they rate DVD's and Books as well, just anything metal. They also have a feature which has a musician explain how a specific album changed his life, for example Kerry King of Slayer explains the impact of Iron Maiden's Killers on him. The newsletters and e-mails the magazine gets each month are great to read and come from people who love metal just as much as you do (or should since you are reading this!).
I find it quite similar to Classic Rock magazine and that's because they're sister publication so there are obviously going to be similarities. This one however focuses on a little heavier stuff and there is excellent coverage of the classic bands like Iron Maiden, Metallica, KISS and Dio, as well as newer stuff like Rammstein, HIM, Five Finger Death Punch and DragonForce, plus underground and unknow bands. It's an interesting mix and never fails. If you're looking for a metal magazine worth your money you should get their latest issue right now whatever it is, read it and decide whether or not it's worth the price of admission each month. To me the only magazine that rivals it today is Classic Rock. This would make a perfect gift for the obsessed metal fan!
i like this magazine because its an europeon magazine and it has alot of interesting information about bands there you never even knew exsists. i love the HIM articles and the articles on bands that you want to hear about here in the united states but its difficult to. i think this is a great magazine and its worth the money.
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What you do is you subscribe to two magazines. One is the UK edition of Metal Hammer and the other is its sister mag Classic Rock. And there you go, no more needs to be said.
Well OK if you insist.
Metal Hammer started back in the mid 80's to service the HUUUUUGGGGEEEEE groundswell of hard rock and heavy metal bands exploding all over the place at that time. The NWOBHM was spluttering to an inglorious end but it had kicked the metal community in the collective posterior and sent shockwaves of heavy guitar rippling around the world. The whole thing kicked off in Germany (one of the bedrock nations of loud rock music don't ya know) and pretty soon editions were springing up all over the European continent Greece, Holland and most importantly for the English speaking world Metal Hammer. At certain points in it's career it has come out fortnightly but it has been monthly since.... oh god I was reading it back then but I can't put a date on it off the top of my head.... the late 80's anyway.
As my tag line indicates Metal Hammer tends to be targeted towards the younger audience. I guess back in the day it was competing against Circus and Hit Parader (and you have to wonder why anybody would have read those had they known of the existence of Metal Hammer.... but there was never a US edition for some reason). Of course like all magazines it changes it's format from time to time but for many years now there has been a free cover mount disc on almost every darn issue, in fact sometimes two, and at times the free item has actually been a DVD. Some cheeky sods actually the on-sell these items right here on Amazon just type in Metal Hammer presents into the Amazon search engine.
Anyhow, with its combination of quality writing, free items, reviews and views Metal Hammer is certainly one of the premier English language hard music monthly magazines forget Kerrang for the most part, they were metal but ran for the hills in '93 and fell hook line and sinker for the alternative scene lame. Hammers global distribution seems to be matched by... well only Classic Rock and perhaps Revolver (which I can't comment on as I've never read it). Other English language magazines you may want to try would be Power Play and if the lighter end of the spectrum is more your bag perhaps Fireworks magazine (both from the UK) and two magazines I've yet to try Revolver and BW&BK. Oh and if you are reading this review in five years time please note that things can change!
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I really did cancel my subscription to Metal Edge and Revolver. Expensive here in the states, but you do get either a CD (or two) or DVD each month. WELL worth the money!!
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From across the Atlantic comes this excellent source for all things metal!! Full of great articles, pictures and reviews. Worth every penny.
I purchased the large print Reader's Digest for my Mother and her roomate who are in a care home. They are both avid readers.
