Opeth

It might be the Swedes’ crowning achievement, but the recording was marred by personal conflict

THE HAMMER INTERVIEW

O2 ARENA, LONDON

There are gig venues, and then there’s York Minster, where symphonic metal band Plague Of Angels are playing a show backed by an enormous pipe organ. Unless a bunch of irate Christians get their way

VARIOUS CAMDEN VENUES, LONDON

So says Kirk Hammett, guitarist with, er, Metallica. What does he do instead? Well, there’s a new book about guitars on the shelves and a solo album on the horizon