Catch up on our latest writing.
Iron Maiden's larger than life frontman talks to author John Higgs about magical practice, the hallucinatory mandrake root, how to survive a rough childhood and why William Blake is an artist we should look to for inspiration. All photographs by John McMurtrie
Thou’s new album takes a brutal back-to-basics approach, all under the ruthless glare of frontman Bryan Funck. Dan Franklin speaks to him and guitarist Andy Gibbs about holding their feet to the fire, roughly dispensing with melody and, most surprisingly, The Mighty Boosh. Main picture of Thou live by Mae Cravotta
Two Quietus writers, JR Moores and Alex Maiolo, pay tribute to Steve Albini who died this week, remembering him not only for his innumerable contributions to music, but his humour, his generosity, his self-awareness, and his impact on keeping communities alive. Main photograph by Maria Jefferis
As they prepare to release their second album and embark on their debut UK tour, Canadian improvisational ensemble Earth Ball tell Julian Marszalek about advertising on an old mattress, their unconventional base in a “dirty, weird coal mining town,” and the cooperative joy of instant composition