Branded Content Download superfans pick their perfect festival playlist Three of Download’s biggest fans pick the songs they’re most psyched to hear at this year’s festival – from headliners to rising stars…
The Cover Story Black Veil Brides: “I’ve always been obsessed with revenge, in a way that’s maybe not particularly healthy” Having grown up as the figure of derision amongst certain rock fans, Andy Biersack could quite rightly have a chip on his shoulder. But rather than seek to get back at those who doubted him, he’s spent his life in Black Veil Brides proving them wrong as loudly as possible. It’s this vindication that has brought our anti-hero to album number seven, and why he’ll continue to win on his own terms…
Features “It’s never too late to be the person you want to be”: How The Menzingers embraced the possible present It’s been an undeniably eventful few years for The Menzingers. As they announce their upcoming eighth album Everything I Ever Saw, Greg Barnett unpacks how marriage, divorce and fatherhood fuelled their immediate songwriting and why, 20 years in, the best is still ahead of them…
Features Who are YUNGBLUD’s fans? How does YUNGBLUD manage to bring people together and split opinion at the same time? We head to his sold-out arena show in Manchester to find out…
Features “We’re here to feed the pipeline and give visibility to artists”: How LOUD WOMEN are changing grassroots music From a one-off gig in London to a continent-stretching movement, LOUD WOMEN are creating a seismic shift in how marginalised artists are supported in their early careers. We catch up with founder Cassie Fox to get the lowdown on how 2026 will be their biggest and most global year yet…
Features “It’s the light at the end of all the hardships”: Inside Sleeping With Sirens’ hopeful new album Four years on from 2022’s Complete Collapse, Sleeping With Sirens are back with new album An Ending In Itself. Promising that it’s very much been worth the wait, vocalist Kellin Quinn talks doing what SWS do best, why he’ll always push forward no matter what, and the surprising importance of journaling…
Features The Amity Affliction: “This is the first album where I feel like we made it back” As The Amity Affliction release their ninth studio album House Of Cards, their first without founding member Ahren Stringer, we meet frontman Joel Birch to reflect on the Queensland heavyweights’ journey to this point, the personal battles he’s overcome and still fighting, and why he’s re-found his confidence as an artist…
Features Roman Candle: “I didn’t want to leave any room for interpretation – I’m angry, and you’re going to know exactly why” From Las Vegas’ overlooked hardcore scene to turning personal trauma into catharsis, Roman Candle vocalist Piper Ferrari opens up about fighting demons and finding clarity on their debut album, Unadulterated.
Features “Throughout all the anguish and uncertainty, we were certain about our bond and the songs”: How The XCERTS found a new way to overcome the odds It’s been an impossibly hard couple of years for The XCERTS. As they announce new album i think i want to go home now, Murray Macleod unpacks the painful fuel behind the band’s stunning songwriting, the idea of the ‘tortured artist’, and why getting in a room together and “making a racket” will always serve them best…
Features Portrayal Of Guilt: “Maybe religion is at the back of my mind torturing me, and then it all comes out when I write lyrics” Austin trio Portrayal Of Guilt have been responsible for some of the most thrillingly visceral music of recent years. As they prepare to unleash fourth album …Beginning Of The End, frontman Matt King explains how his own origin story has led to the terrifying heaviness of the band’s 21st century noise...
Features “It’s about processing emotions, but also connecting with others”: Inside the powerfully candid pop-rock of Tally Spear Coupling distorted guitars with alt.pop, Tally Spear has honed her sound brilliantly over the past six years. She tells Kerrang! how she uses music to help process emotions, and why she’s been able to build up her confidence both online and on the road…
Features “Vengeance is better than sadness. Sometimes, anger is going to get you through tough times”: How Bodysnatcher made the most brutal album of the year so far Addiction, abuse and car crashes: it’s fair to say Bodysnatcher’s members know what tragedy looks like. Egged on by producer Will Putney and driven by fury, the Florida mob’s raging fourth album, Hell Is Here, Hell Is Home, is precision-tooled to see them explode out of the deathcore underground…
Features “I got to the top and felt lost. I had to rebalance. This is my revenge”: How Joel Hokka is resharpening his blade after Blind Channel One year ago, Joel Hokka announced he was out of Finnish enormo-rockers Blind Channel. Returning with his own band, HOKKA, and a dark-tinged debut, he tells K! why he had to break out, how he’s been forced to grow up, and how it’s only made him stronger.
Features In pictures: Skindred get The K! Pit shaking to its core Homegrown heroes Skindred hit The K! Pit for one of the most joyous sets we’ve ever put on, bringing their arena-sized anthems to a handful of the most diehard ragga-metal warriors…
Features “This is the most I’ve grown as a person between albums. It’s a blank slate, a rebirth”: Why Waterparks risked it all on JINX As Waterparks drop new rager PROWLER and announce their long-awaited, brilliant sixth album JINX, mastermind Awsten Knight reflects on scrapping their previous LP, the “life-consuming” nature of creativity, and why the only competition in this industry is himself…
The Cover Story Enter Shikari: “We have to lose the idea of the self and become much more focused on wholeness and oneness” Enter Shikari have dropped their eighth album, Lose Your Self, from outta nowhere. Ahead of its grand unveiling, we met up with mastermind Rou Reynolds for an impassioned and wide-ranging conversation about the fuel that drives the record, and how it all stems from the same power-hungry source. Strap in, there’s a lot to unravel…
