Alice Pattillo

Add a touch of magic to your copy

Journalist. Editor. Word Witch.

NCTJ accredited magazine journalist, editor and freelance writer specialising in the weird, the wonderful and the macabre. From heavy metal and feminism to horror, history, folklore, cults and creating calm with crystals, my knowledge and passions lie within subjects that are both morbid and magical. 

I studied English Literature (and Cultural Criticism) as an undergraduate before earning my Masters in Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University and currently work as a Bookazines editor for Future Publishing, creating one-off niche magazines covering a range of subjects. My previous roles include staff writer for Creative Bloq and ImagineFX magazine, production editor for Guitar World and online editor of Metal Hammer.

Thanks to my curious nature (and diagnosed ADHD), I've studied a wide range of subjects and taken on many guises – I've also worked as a make-up artist, studied complementary therapies, hairdressing, yoga and gym instruction.

My Most Read Work

Woman & Home •

Struggle to switch off? Candle gazing meditation could help – here's how to start

Flame gazing can be a wonderful way to find stillness. A dancing flame has a hypnotic effect on the mind, something yogis have known for centuries. Known as 'tratak sadhana' in yoga, candle gazing is a focus meditation. This is a type of meditation that involves focusing, or gazing, on an object or sensation, and can bring your awareness to the present moment.Flames have also been used as a scrying tool for divination. Notice, as you gaze at your flame, does anything come immediately to mind? Do...
Woman & Home •

Crystal scrying: a simple way to tune into your intuition

Scrying, also known as 'seeing', is the act of peering at something, often an object with a reflective surface, smoke, fire or glowing coals, in a trance-like state until you are able to see images, interpreted as visions of prophecy.Crystal gazing is perhaps the most popular and well-known form of scrying, and is often performed using a crystal ball or an obsidian mirror. Learn how you can use any form of polished crystal for divination purposes, using this simple scrying technique and a little...
Den of Geek •

The Winchesters: How Jeffrey Dean Morgan Inspired Drake Rodger's Performance

But while Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s John Winchester might have been a crucial player, and impeccably portrayed by the actor, he was also pretty hated by fans of the show. After the death of his wife, he tumbled headfirst into a world of violence and darkness, being shown to regularly abandon his boys in search of his wife’s demonic killer, leaving them to fend for themselves and worry continuously about their own father’s safety. John moved them from town to town with no hope of settling, making fri
Den of Geek •

The Scariest 90s Kids’ TV Shows

Based on the hit book series by R L Stine that was a staple on every 90s kids bedroom shelf, Goosebumps saw the books come to life on your super small screened gigantic box of a television set. The episodes are truly mini horror movies, albeit with terrible special effects. Although it is hotly debated which ones are the most terrifying, frontrunners include ‘Welcome To Dead House’, where a family is lured to a town populated by undead folks who plan to kill them, ‘The Mask’ where the mask in qu
louder •

How heavy music saved me from my ADHD brain

Earlier this year, Distillers frontwoman and all-round badass Brody Dalle revealed on her Instagram that she’s been on medication for her inattentive ADHD for four years. Hearing that the woman who was my teenage hero also suffers from the same developmental condition that caused me such feelings of isolation, frustration and anxiety growing up was poignant. Even now, at 31, it made me feel validated, and I realised that she music she created may have spoken to me for a reason.

It’s incredible
louder •

Hellhammer: the tortured black metal outcasts who created a monster

The early 80s marked a huge leap forward for metal. In the UK, the grassroots NWOBHM scene was taking root in pubs and clubs across the country, launching future superstars like Iron Maiden. Bands and fans were hungry for music that was harder, heavier and rawer than anything that had come before.

Things were very different in Switzerland, where there was barely a scene to speak of. One young Swiss metal fan, Thomas Gabriel Fischer, was looking longingly at everything happening in UK and wonder
louder •

Top 10 essential sci-fi films to watch during lockdown

Since their formation in 2015, Georgia heavy metal powerhouse Irist have gone from strength to strength.

Channeling an eclectic variety of influences from the muddy likes of Alice in Chains, The Melvins and Soundgarden to technical metalcore of Converge and The Dillinger Escape Plan into their hard hitting sound, the fivesome have created something that's truly unique – and somewhat resembles a melodic marriage of Will Haven and High On Fire.

With the band having just launched their Nuclear Bl
louder •

The beginners guide to heavy metal yoga: 11 yoga poses to get you started

With gyms and swimming pools closed, job uncertainty, working from home and a global health crisis, we must try harder than even to maintain our mental and physical health.

Working from home, work closures and self-isolation can have a massive affect on mental health, not to mention the looming dread of a pandemic.

One way to get moving, stretching AND keep on top of the mental stress is yoga.

An ancient practice, yoga is a holistic form of exercise – meaning it encompasses the entire body as
louder •

16 must-see metal rockumentaries to stream right now

With many countries on lockdown and a growing toll of gig and festival casualties, it's advisable to self-isolate and minimise any activities that could put you in contact with, well... other humans.

To some, this might sound like a dream come true. Two weeks of unadulterated bliss. No pressure to leave your safe, cosy little cocoon of germ-free bliss.

But to others – those who thrive off of socialising, extroverts and anyone who had a gig or festival planned in the next couple months – it can
louder •

10 Reasons why 70,000 Tons Of Metal is the ultimate metalhead vacation

It's been just over a week since the annual 70,000 Tons Of Metal heavy metal cruise docked back at Fort Lauderdale Florida after four absolutely mind-blowing days (and nights) of high octane heavy metal (courtesy of Devin Townsend, Emperor, At The Gates, Possessed and many more) aboard the gigantic Independence of the Seas.

This behemoth of a festival has become a choice destination – a heavy metal mecca, if you will – for metalheads worldwide, with many sailors naming it as the sole festival t
louder •

Rob Zombie: Sid Haig knew 3 From Hell would be the last film he'd ever do

It's been 16 years since we were introduced Rob Zombie's demented Firefly family in his homage to 70s b-movie slashers, House of 1000 Corpses, and 14 trips around the sun since we witnessed their apparent demise in the form of a brutal police shoot out at the end of Devil's Rejects.

But you can't kill pure evil – Michael Myers (opens in new tab) taught us that – and this month saw the home release of Zombie's highly anticipated third Firefly flick, 3 From Hell.

It seemed almost as though fate
louder •

Dirt at 28: Why Alice in Chains' second album remains their magnum opus

Alice In Chains' debut offering, Facelift, helped to catapult a nascent Seattle scene into the mainstream. By 1991, and the releases of Nirvana's Nevermind, Pearl Jam's Ten and Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger, the whole world had been introduced to this brand new genre: grunge, and it had taken on a life of its own.

But everything was just about to get darker – a whole lot darker – with AIC's sophomore record, Dirt.

Our online editor reveals why the devastating beauty of this nihilistic album gra
louder •

Hail Satan?: Why the new documentary might have you converting to Satanism

From Coven, Black Sabbath, Kiss and Venom to Motley Crue, Watain and even Slipknot, the devil has inspired some of the greatest rock and metal acts. Throwing the horns is just as synonymous with metal as electric guitars, right?

But, although we metalheads might worship the music, surely we aren’t all actual Satan worshippers too? Penny Lane’s new documentary, Hail Satan?, puts forward a pretty convincing argument that we might be. Except not in the way you might think.

Penny’s film attempts t
louder •

Why Alice In Chains' Unplugged is the best live album ever made

On April 10, 1996, pioneering Seattle grunge metallers Alice In Chains re-emerged after a two and a half year long live show hiatus (the band didn't tour in support of 1995's Alice In Chains) to play the legendary acoustic television series MTV Unplugged.

The stage lit with giant white candles purchased from Seattle's Pike Place market by vocalist Layne Staley (no way that would pass health and safety nowadays), the concert would go down in pop culture history as one of the most significant MTV
louder •

Why Alice In Chains' Unplugged is the best live album ever made

On April 10, 1996, pioneering Seattle grunge metallers Alice In Chains re-emerged after a two and a half year long live show hiatus (the band didn't tour in support of 1995's Alice In Chains) to play the legendary acoustic television series MTV Unplugged.

The stage lit with giant white candles purchased from Seattle's Pike Place market by vocalist Layne Staley (no way that would pass health and safety nowadays), the concert would go down in pop culture history as one of the most significant MTV
louder •

We went to a true black metal festival set in a historic Norwegian fortress and here's what we learned

What's the perfect setting for a black metal festival? Other than the deepest darkest depths of hell, we're pretty convinced the quintessential BM venue lies within the gates of Fredriksten Festning (opens in new tab), Norway (of course).

Situated in Halden, a border town at the southern most point of Norway and resting right on the edge of the Norwegian/Swedish border, this post-medieval fortress holds four centuries of Nordic history within its walls – a suitably spooky backdrop for the most
louder •

10 reasons why you need to go to Copenhell festival

You've no doubt heard of Hellfest, Wacken Open Air, Grasspop Metal Meeting, Brutal Assault and Metaldays – but have you heard of Denmark's Copenhell?

The festival, held in Copenhagen every year, is a huge celebration of metal and metal culture incorporating every aspect of our beloved genre into four epic days of hell on earth. It's so good, you'll want to sent up camp the whole year round.

This year's line-up included Slipknot, Tool, Scorpions, Lamb of God and Rob Zombie, among more niche act
louder •

20 Reasons Why Goth Will Never Die

It's been 10 years since the very first World Goth Day – the annual celebration "where the goth scene gets to celebrate its own being, and an opportunity to make its presence known to the rest of the world," and Goth shows no signs of stopping.

But why does the subculture that revels in all things macabre and morbid remain so popular over three decades since it first emerged from its deep, dark grave?

Aside from being named after a healing antidote to all things, ever (because they can, obviou
Creative Bloq •

18 artists changing the face of horror

Horror and gothic art won't lose its appeal as long as society maintains its fascination with death. For some artists, the macabre provides a release from internalised fear. For others, it's a playful way to seek a reaction from their viewers.

Whatever the motive, managing to capture a truly frightening scene, and present the viewer with a disturbing yet beautiful image, is a real skill.

In honour of Halloween, we take a look at great contemporary artists who focus on dark fantasy themes, with

Tacocat's Emily Nokes Talks The X-Files, The Powerpuff Girls And Stage Anxiety: BUST Interview

Frontwoman Emily Nokes of our favorite modern riot grrrl band, Tacocat, chats about the evolution of feminist influences on new album, Lost Time.


Is there a person on Earth who wouldn’t have endless love for a band named Tacocat? From their gloriously rainbow-haired frontwoman Emily Nokes, to the catchy '60s styled punk pop tracks and fun and fancy-free music videos, it’s refreshing to see such a twee aesthetic for a feminist band, especially when it’s paired with a smart, sassy attitude.
Creative Bloq •

Can it pay to work for free?

It's common these days, to prove yourself through unpaid work. Sometimes this can mean work experience within a company, other times it can be an unpaid commission or two. While this can be great for your design portfolio (opens in new tab), it's important to be able to identify such assignments that are opportunities that can lead to employment, earnings and exposure – and when you're simply being taken advantage of.

When it comes to commissions and unpaid work, 2000 AD artist Tom Foster says,