''Metal Hammer'' is a heavy metal music

magazine A magazine is a periodical literature, periodical publication, print or digital, produced on a regular schedule, that contains any of a variety of subject-oriented textual and visual content (media), content forms. Magazines are generally fin ...

and website founded in 1983, published in the United Kingdom by

Future The future is the time after the past and present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the apparent nature of reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that currently ex ...

, with other language editions published by different companies available in numerous other countries. ''Metal Hammer'' features news, reviews and long-form articles covering both major and underground bands in heavy metal, as well as covering rock,

punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...

grunge Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle sound) is an alternative rock Music genre, genre and subculture that emerged during the in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington, particularly in Seattle and Music of Olympia, Washington, O ...

and other alternative music genres.

Publication history

Wilfried F. Rimensberger conceived ''Metal Hammer'' in 1983, taking the idea of a rock magazine publishing in different languages to Jürgen Wigginghaus, publisher of the German magazine ''MusikSzene'', where Rimensberger was chief editor. Wigginghaus helped launch the German edition of ''Metal Hammer'' soon after, while Rimensberger launched the flagship, English language version from London in November 1986, installing Harry Doherty, formerly of ''

Melody Maker ''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. In January 2001, it was merged into "long-standing rival" (and IPC Media sister publicatio ...

'', as editor. The magazine would grow to be published in 11 different languages around the world, including local language editions in Israel, Japan, Serbia, Spain, The Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Hungary and France, also becoming the first Western youth publication in the Soviet Union. ''Metal Hammer'' UK changed owners several times between the early 90s and late 2010s. It was bought by

Dennis Publishing Dennis Publishing Ltd. was a British publisher. It was founded in 1973 by Felix Dennis. Its first publication was a kung-fu magazine. Most of its titles now belong to Future plc. In the 1980s, it became a leading publisher of computer enthusi ...

in 1994, where it remained for six years before being sold to

in 2000. In 2013, start-up publisher TeamRock bought the magazine alongside sister titles ''

Classic Rock Classic rock is a radio format that developed from the album-oriented rock (AOR) format in the early 1980s. In the United States, it comprises rock music ranging generally from the mid-1960s through the early-1990s, primarily focusing on comm ...

'' and '' Prog'', before Future bought all three brands back following the collapse of TeamRock in December 2016. In 2018, Future renamed the Teamrock.com website as ''Louder'', a continuation of the 'parent brand' model for ''Metal Hammer'', ''Classic Rock'' and ''Prog'' that would house all three magazines' respective websites. ''Metal Hammer'' Germany was sold separately to

Axel Springer SE Axel Springer SE () is a European multinational corporation, multinational mass media, mass and online media company, based in Berlin, Germany. The company offers printing and publishing of advertisements, digital classifieds portfolio, marketi ...

in 1999.

Brand extensions

Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards

The Golden Gods Awards were established in 2003 by then-editor Chris Ingham, designed to commemorate the biggest and most exciting names in heavy metal. The annual ceremony, featuring band performances in front of a live crowd, took place from 2003-2018. Over the course of 15 years, the likes of

Ozzy Osbourne John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (born 3 December 1948) is an English singer, songwriter, and media personality. He rose to prominence during the 1970s as the lead singer of the heavy metal music, heavy metal band Black Sabbath, during which per ...

Iron Maiden Iron Maiden are an English Heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris (musician), Steve Harris. Although fluid in the early years of the band, the line-up for most ...

Motörhead Motörhead () were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1975 by bassist and lead vocalist Lemmy Kilmister, guitarist Larry Wallis and drummer Lucas Fox. Kilmister was the primary songwriter and only constant member. The band a ...

, Slipknot,

Tony Iommi Anthony Frank Iommi Jr. (born 19 February 1948) is an English musician. He co-founded the pioneering Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and was the band's guitarist, leader, primary composer, and sole continuous member for over ...

Brian May Sir Brian Harold May (born 19 July 1947) is an English musician, songwriter, record producer, animal welfare activist and astrophysics, astrophysicist. He achieved global fame as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the rock band Queen ...

Dave Mustaine David Scott Mustaine (born September 13, 1961) is an American musician. He is best known as the co-founder, frontman, primary songwriter and sole consistent member of the thrash metal band Megadeth and for his time as the lead guitarist of Met ...

Rob Zombie Robert Bartleh Cummings (born January 12, 1965), known professionally as Rob Zombie, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, filmmaker, and actor. His music and lyrics are notable for their horror and sci-fi themes, and his live show ...

Bill Bailey Mark Robert Bailey (born 13 January 1965), known professionally as Bill Bailey, is an English musician, comedian, actor and television presenter. He is known for his role as Manny in the sitcom '' Black Books'' (2000–2004), and for his regula ...

Chris Jericho Christopher Keith Irvine (born November 9, 1970), better known by the ring name Chris Jericho, is an American-Canadian professional wrestler, rock musician, and actor. As a wrestler, he has been signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) , where he ...

and more either performed or appeared at the awards.

Podcasts and radio shows

''The Metal Hammer Podcast'' was launched in 2009, originally presented by ''Metal Hammer'' staff members James Gill and Terry Bezer and covering weekly news and events from the world of metal, as well as reviews of new albums from prominent artists. It'd go on to be presented by Merlin Alderslade, Stephen Hill and Amit Sharma, before being put on hold in 2013 as ''Metal Hammer'' launched ''The Metal Hammer Radio Show'' on TeamRock's newly founded digital radio station. The radio show continued until 2018, when it was taken off air. In 2016, ''Metal Hammer'' launched a limited ''...In Residence'' series in partnership with

Spotify Spotify (; ) is a List of companies of Sweden, Swedish Music streaming service, audio streaming and media service provider founded on 23 April 2006 by Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon. , it is one of the largest providers of music streaming services ...

, presented by Alderslade, Luke Morton and then-''Metal Hammer'' editor-in-chief, Alexander Milas. The show produced six episodes featuring exclusive interviews with major metal artists, including Iron Maiden and

Bring Me The Horizon Bring Me the Horizon are a British Rock music, rock band, formed in Sheffield, England in 2004. The group currently consists of lead vocalist Oli Sykes, drummer Matt Nicholls, guitarist Lee Malia and bassist Matt Kean (musician), Matt Kean. T ...

. After a five-year hiatus, ''The Metal Hammer Podcast'' returned in 2018, hosted by Alderslade, Morton and Eleanor Goodman, staying on air for four more years before going back on hiatus in 2022.

Magazines in other territories

There are independently owned Greek and Italian ''Metal Hammer'' publications, while Portuguese and Japanese (licensed from the ''Metal Hammer'' UK/Future) editions of the publication were launched in 2019 and 2020 respectively. In Germany, ''Metal Hammer'' is still published by Axel Springer SE.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Future plc 1983 establishments in the United Kingdom Axel Springer SE British heavy metal music Monthly magazines published in the United Kingdom Music magazines published in the United Kingdom Heavy metal publications Magazines established in 1983 Magazines published in London