Features

Bimini: “To walk out onstage in a 40-inch wig, a high-rise thong, and f*cking perform Prodigy feels great”

Ahead of making her Download Festival debut this weekend, Bimini Bon Boulash talks recruiting an all-queer band, why Princess Diana is punk, and how Green Day inspired her old email address…

“It’s my annual retreat away from the nonsense of the world”: Meet the Download superfans

From meeting future soulmates to creating unforgettable memories, Download is a genuinely special place for its devoted festival-goers. We meet the fans whose lives have been forever changed by Donington…

Oli Sykes: “Rock and alternative is in the best place ever. I feel like it’s where it’s meant to be”

With Bring Me The Horizon bringing together their favourite bands for their recent Malta weekender, we grab frontman Oli Sykes for a sit-down in the sun to chat about the state of the scene, emo-futurism, and the next generation…

20 bands you absolutely can’t miss at Download Festival 2022

From As Everything Unfolds and Bimini to Sleep Token and WARGASM, we tip the hottest new acts to track down over the next few days at Donington Park…

Jenna McDougall: “I felt that need to prove to myself that I can create, express and make decisions solely from my instinct”

As Tonight Alive’s Jenna McDougall unveils her new project Hevenshe via lead single No One Will Ever Love You, the vocalist talks going it alone, her attraction to the divine, and making lots more new music…

Holding Absence preview their Download Festival set: “You should never underestimate how profound performing at Donington can be”

The release of The Greatest Mistake Of My Life cemented Holding Absence’s status as one of the UK’s finest young rock bands. As they prepare for the biggest show of their career at Download, Lucas Woodland talks about the magical qualities of Castle Donington, and recalls the life-changing impact of last year’s Pilot…

Cloud Nein: An (irate) audience with ‘legendary’ punks Max Creeps

From announcing their ‘shock’ split back in April to swiftly reuniting and dropping “debut second LP” Nein, it’s been a big year for Max Creeps. As we sit down with co-founders Max Blastic and P.C. Bullshit, however, we find the duo perilously close to calling it quits all over again…

Joyce Manor: “It’s not healthy to start painting yourself into a box… it’s better to just f*cking get on with it”

Joyce Manor have never been a band to spend too long dwelling in the same sound. But on sixth album 40 oz. To Fresno, Barry Johnson found the perfect middle ground between forward-thinking and a bit of reflection. It’s resulted in a record that – in his words – slams…

From mysterious nu-metal to new grunge: Sophie K on the new bands you need to hear now

Kerrang! Radio presenter Sophie K brings the new noise, including Future Palace, BLACKGOLD and We Are Sovereign…

Bleed From Within unlock the secrets of Shrine: “This is us baring all... It’s about connecting with people on that human level”

It’s been a long road to the top of the UK metal mountain for Glaswegian heavyweights Bleed From Within. And, having soldiered to new heights during lockdown, scintillating sixth album Shrine sees them harness a lifetime of lessons learned to deliver their most spectacular statement yet…

Static Dress preview their Download Festival set: “It’s definitely something that you’re gonna come away from happy…”

Following the release of their highly-anticipated debut album Rouge Carpet Disaster, Static Dress are keeping momentum going and looking ahead to a massive weekend at Download Festival. And, as vocalist Olli Appleyard promises, big things await…

In the studio with Meet Me @ The Altar

Meet Me @ The Altar give Kerrang! a sneak peek at the recording of their highly-anticipated debut album – with its “heavily influenced early-’00s sound”…

5 reasons why you need to check out Cage Fight

Cage Fight make angry music for angry people. Here’s why we love them so much…

WARGASM: “We like chaos and blood and nudity and violence”

We joined Milkie Way and Sam Matlock on the road with Neck Deep to feel their intense carnage first-hand, and watch WARGASM continue to stake their claim as one of Britain’s hottest bands…

You Me At Six: Josh Franceschi’s track-by-track guide to Sinners Never Sleep

Josh Franceschi reflects on working with heavy bands, becoming a more serious songwriter, and, um, nachos…

Ghost: The making of one of the greatest rock shows on Earth

We catch up with Ghost mastermind Tobias Forge on the road to find out what goes into making one of the best shows in rock, and why you’ll never see Papa Emeritus eating a sandwich…

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