The Cover Story

Creeper: “It’s harder to take left turns the more you do it… this had to be darker and more grandiose”

Since their 2014 formation, Southampton goth-punk heroes Creeper have been the undefeated masters of defying fan expectations. And third album Sanguivore – the band’s “big vampire record” – is no exception. Allow the newly-christened William von Ghould to reveal all…

Better Lovers: “This is so much more than a side-gig. This is a fire that burns inside of us”

From their explosive shared energy to an endearingly “childlike” love for making music, supergroup Better Lovers have all the drive and hunger of a brand-new band. Before they embark on their first UK headline tour, Jordan Buckley and Greg Puciato reflect on the circumstances that brought them to this point – and their unstoppable future…

Poppy: “Every day I wake up, I want to push myself to do something that I haven’t done the day before”

Not simply unafraid of polarising art, but actually very much in favour of it, Poppy has always done things her own uniquely fascinating way. And on fifth album Zig, she’s succeeded in doing things “different in a way that I’ve never done before” – from incorporating her dance background for the first time, to reaching new levels of vulnerability in her lyrics…

Corey Taylor: “You either take advantage of what you’ve got going on now, embrace it and live in that moment, or you watch it fade away”

Author. Presenter. Musician. Plus actor. There’s nothing Corey Taylor can’t do, and with new solo album CMF2 he’s fully seized the opportunity to flex his creative muscles. Meeting The Great Big Mouth in London, we get into his ’70s-inspired process, how it differs to Slipknot, and what his younger self would make of it all…

Baroness: “Music can take our hurts and allow us to springboard back into the brightness, to enjoy life with all the more dimension and contrast”

Sixth album Stone marks the beginning of a bold new era for prog-metal aristocrats Baroness. As frontman John Dyer Baizley explains, leaving behind the shifting shades of their ‘colour wheel’ series has changed focus to making monumental sounds that will stand proud long after their creators are just dust in the wind…

Taking Back Sunday: “With each record we’ve been able to see that we’re not alone”

After a seven-year wait, emo torchbearers Taking Back Sunday are back with eighth album 152. In a world-exclusive first interview about their new era, we find the longtime friends not only taking time to reflect on their past, but using it as fuel to move forward and become the greatest version of the band they know they can be…

Hot Milk: “This is a family that we’re building. I genuinely feel connected to our fans”

Five years in the making, Hot Milk are finally releasing their debut album. Even with a string of global tours and headline shows under their studded belts, we find a band coming to terms with their status as the UK’s fastest rising stars, who are still just doing it for the love of music and their newfound family…

Holding Absence: “Music is and always has been my life – it’s the only thing that’s ever understood me”

Ahead of Holding Absence’s new album, Lucas Woodland is in the midst of a revelation. Using music to confront his perceived weaknesses, we meet the “very emotional person” on a journey of self-discovery, digging deeper than ever before, finding a new beauty in life and the confidence to be the person he believes he can be…

The Armed: “This was always supposed to be magical and bizarre, but never just f*cking pretend”

After years as the slipperiest enigma in alternative music, The Armed are finally setting the story straight. Well, kinda. Strapping ourselves to the anarchic collective as they kick off celebrations for fifth LP Perfect Saviors, K! finds there’s still no easy way out once you’ve fallen into their intoxicating tangle of politics and philosophy, muscle and mayhem…

Skindred: “We’re not hailed like a lot of bands, but it’s supposed to be like this. We’re the alternative”

Despite a stellar discography and consistently brilliant live show, Skindred have often been taken for granted by rock fans in their 25 years as a band. But no more. On the eve of the release of their fantastic eighth album Smile, the Newport heroes cast their minds back over their journey so far – and reveal why they’re hungrier than ever for the future…

Beartooth: “Life is about loving the process, loving all the different seasons and the ups and downs”

Ten years in the making, Beartooth’s fifth album finds Caleb Shomo coming face-to-face with something that’s eluded him all this time: self-love. Having always used music as an outlet for his pain and depression, today we find a man at peace with himself, having finally escaped the depths and ready to breach the surface…

The Dirty Nil: “We despise and cackle at the carnival game that is the music industry”

The Dirty Nil are through playing games. After a period of mismanagement and being forced to jump through industry hoops with no actual benefit, they’ve rediscovered what really matters: rock’n’roll. With a newfound lust for loudness, the Canadian punks are back doing things on their own terms and will fight any deity who gets in their way…

Svalbard: “I can’t imagine not using the band as a way to express my eternal hell”

For years Svalbard have carved a name for themselves with their biting, brutalising sociopolitical attacks. Now, on The Weight Of The Mask, Serena Cherry is looking inward, exploring her deep, dark battles with depression with unflinching honesty, coming out the other side their most pained, personal and powerful record yet…

Spiritbox: “We’re still figuring out what we are, and I don’t even know if I want to find out”

Two whirlwind years since debut album Eternal Blue, Spiritbox are rolling into the UK stronger than ever with a sold-out tour ahead of them. Barely taking time to breathe, Courtney LaPlante is finally taking time to reflect on their stratospheric rise, the lessons they’ve learned, and why their evolution has only just begun…

Jesus Piece: “Our music calls to something dark in people. It pulls out that primal side”

Jesus Piece’s Aaron Heard only truly understood hardcore once he’d thrown himself headlong into its visceral, violent live arena. In the aftermath of their soul-shuddering set at Outbreak, he explains how the focus and ferocity that accompanied new album …So Unknown is taking that cathartic carnage to another level.

Bob Vylan, Witch Fever and High Vis are propelling punk into a vital new era

Next month, 2000trees will bring together everyone from rock veterans to breakout stars for the ultimate celebration of the scene. Ahead of the festival, and to applaud just how incredible UK punk is right now, Bob Vylan, Witch Fever and High Vis come together to put the world to rights…

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