
Dom Lawson
Dom Lawson has been writing for Metal Hammer and Prog for over 14 years and is extremely fond of heavy metal, progressive rock, coffee and snooker. He also contributes to The Guardian, Classic Rock, Bravewords and Blabbermouth and has previously written for Kerrang! magazine in the mid-2000s. From 2014-2016, Dom worked as Editor-At-Large at Metal Hammer, overseeing the front section of the magazine and helping to mould the some of the features that ran in print every month. Outside of his writing duties, Dom has been a longtime radio host for Total Rock, where he currently hosts The Dompilation Tapes, a show dedicated to excellent music from pretty much each and every genre you can think of. Much like his hero, Iron Maiden bassist and founding member Steve Harris, Dom is a lifelong West Ham supporter.
Latest articles by Dom Lawson

Death metal veterans Nile have crafted their best album in nearly 20 years
By Dom Lawson published
No one does death metal quite like Nile. Their 10th album is a ferocious reminder of why

How Ice-T and Body Count returned to the fray to reclaim their throne with Manslaughter
By Dom Lawson published
Ice-T is one of metal’s most influential frontman, and 2014’s Manslaughter album proved it

The story of Machine Head’s Burn My Eyes, the game-changing album that revitalised 90s metal
By Dom Lawson published
On the 30th anniversary of Machine Head’s Burn My Eyes, mainman Robb Flynn looks back on the making of his band’s classic debut

“Energy, invention, badass musicianship”: Beardfish’s Destined Solitaire vinyl edition
By Dom Lawson published
Rikard Sjöblom and co mark their return with first vinyl version of breakthrough fifth album

The Tangent’s Andy Tillison wound up arguing with himself as he created To Follow Polaris
By Dom Lawson published
When circumstance presented the opportunity to face a challenge that had always intrigued him, the prog mastermind embraced it fully. But what will happen when his bandmates return?

“Every eight-minute Yes song could’ve been four two-minute singles!” XTC’s prog credentials
By Dom Lawson published
Emerging in the punk era, they were described as “too clever, “too quirky” and even as “prunk,” but Andy Partridge’s account of the band’s inspiration and motivation makes the truth crystal clear

Orange Goblin have made one of their very best records - and one of the best metal albums of 2024
By Dom Lawson published
Orange Goblin have thrown absolutely everything at their 10th studio album

How Megadeth kicked off the 00s with the blazing Th1rt3en album
By Dom Lawson published
In 2011, Dave Mustaine invited Metal Hammer into his inner sanctum

“We just wanted to be filthy!”: the snarling, savage story of German thrash
By Dom Lawson published
Metallica and Slayer grabbed the headlines, but they couldn’t match Germany’s Kreator, Sodom or Destruction for filthy viciousness

Suicide Silence had a point to prove to the haters, and with No Time To Bleed they proved it
By Dom Lawson published
Suicide Silence’s crushing second album, No Time To Bleed, was released on June 30, 2009

“It felt like the right time to me. And I think Gavin and Richard acknowledged this too." How Porcupine Tree returned with Closure/Continuation
By Dom Lawson published
Never say never. After years of speculation and rumours, Steven Wilson reunited with his former Porcupine Tree bandmates Richard Barbieri and Gavin Harrison for one of the most unexpected musical reformations.

How Nightwish channelled their inner Tim Burton to make the fantastical Imaginaerum movie
By Dom Lawson published
Long before Ghost released Rite Here Rite Now, Nightwish hit the big screen with their Imaginaerum movie

Airbag expand their sonic environment on The Century Of The Self
By Dom Lawson published
Norse notables expand their sonic environment with an effective sideways step

How Iron Maiden made The Final Frontier and silenced rumours they’d reached the end of the road
By Dom Lawson published
In 2010, Metal Hammer joined Iron Maiden on the road in Texas to ask the question: would The Final Frontier really be their last album?

“Our musical identity was at stake”: A fresh look at Gentle Giant’s The Missing Piece
By Dom Lawson published
Underrated gem or confused mess? Gary Green, John Weathers and Kerry Minnear discuss their 1977 album in the light of Steven WIlson’s remix

Are The Chronicles of Father Robin the only band to spend 30 years on their debut album?
By Dom Lawson published
Norwegian supergroup took decades to deliver The Songs & Tales Of Airoea, but they don’t regret it – and they’re even working on a follow-up

“David Bowie was an absolute genuis”: Rick Wakeman’s epic tales of sessions with Bowie, Bolan, Lou Reed and more
By Dom Lawson published
Former Yes keyboard maestro Rick Wakeman has played with rock’s great and good over the years – and he’s got the memories to prove it

How Steve Harris stepped away from Iron Maiden to launch his debut solo album
By Dom Lawson published
In 2012, Steve Harris launched British Lion - the solo project that took 20 years to get off the ground

“It makes the whole God thing seem plausible!” Kavus Torabi’s Guide To Cardiacs
By Dom Lawson published
Gong and Knifeworld guitarist recalls his time in Tim Smith’s band via five of their songs chosen by Prog

Rotting Christ have just crafted their most accessible - and perhaps most magnificent - album yet
By Dom Lawson published
Rotting Christ have written the most immediate hooks of their career without compromising one jot

"Dark Superstition is the moment where Gatecreeper become a more well-rounded and versatile heavy metal band." Gatecreeper confirm their status as one of the most exciting bands in death metal with album three
By Dom Lawson published
Gatecreeper have evolved nicely without compromising their extreme metal roots on the excellent Dark Superstition

From Hell I Rise is Kerry King at his tooth-gnashing, head-banging best
By Dom Lawson published
Slayer might have called it quits in 2019, but From Hell I Rise proves Kerry King still has a lot to say

Kyuss’ Blues For The Red Sun: the inside story of a stoner metal landmark
By Dom Lawson published
How cult stoner rock visionaries Kyuss made 1992’s classic Blues For The Red Sun

"It’s a responsibility but also a privilege to share this same kind of consciousness with new generations of people." The fantastic return of Banco del Mutuo Soccorso
By Dom Lawson published
The story of the Italian prog legends Banco del Mutuo Soccorso return after 25 years with new album Transiberiana
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