Issue #391 (Mastodon): Magazine + Exclusive T-Shirt For Cheap

We reflect on the impact of this whale-tastic concept album as it turns 20. Not only did it become the band’s breakthrough, it took them out of the underground and aligned them with the New Wave Of American Heavy Metal. 

Elsewhere in the issue, Nightwish reveal the full story of their epic new album, Yesterwynde. We speak to Tuomas Holopainen and Floor Jansen about the last few turbulent years of the band, why their new music is full of hope, and the reasons behind taking a break from touring. And as Slayer gear up for their comeback shows in the States, we revisit the thrash titans’ 20 greatest songs and the stories behind them. 

Zeal & Ardor give us a crash-course in anarchy and arse-flashing in their Swiss hometown of Basel, and we hang out with Mimi Barks to chat about her beginnings in the debauched German club scene and becoming London’s doom trap queen. We hit the studio with Anthrax as they work on their 12th album, UK hotshots Graphic Nature explain how they’re finding catharsis through heaviness, and masked marauders Mushroomhead remember their brush with superstardom. 

Nothing More look back on the making of their breakthrough anthem, This Is The Time (Ballast), ‘pissed-core’ Swedes Thrown discuss their sudden rise, and Kittie vocalist Morgan Lander answers YOUR questions on nu metal, Ozzfest and cats. Monster Magnet’s Space Lord Dave Wyndorf imparts his life lessons, noise post-rock maverick Julie Christmas invites us into her record collection, and Crypta’s Fernanda Lira talks about her King Diamond tattoo, her love of Beyoncé, and why it’s cool to be a poser. All this, plus all the essential live and album reviews from the world of metal.