Serena Cherry
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Articles by Serena Cherry
How a trip to Universal's Halloween Horror Nights got me hooked on Fortnite
When something becomes extremely popular I tend to avoid it at all costs. Game of Thrones? Never seen it. GTA? Never played it. It's not a snooty cultural elitist trait that I take pride in, but something about (seemingly) the whole world saying “you should do this!” makes me dig in my heels and turn the other way. Up until very recently, I had never played Fortnite.
How a trip to Universal's Halloween Horror Nights got me hooked on Fortnite
When something becomes extremely popular I tend to avoid it at all costs. Game of Thrones? Never seen it. GTA? Never played it. It’s not a snooty cultural elitist trait that I take pride in, but something about (seemingly) the whole world saying “you should do this!” makes me dig in my heels and turn the other way. Up until very recently, I had never played Fortnite.
I experienced the new Ozzy Osbourne Haunted House attraction at Universal Studios, and it's far from the lazy cash-in you might have feared
2 hours ago Theme parks, I hear time and time again, are ‘fake,’ designed to elicit an emotional response, or worse, manipulate us. So is all art. Early in life I discovered I had a particular affliction, and that was a proclivity for spending time at theme parks. I only phrase it that way because I understand …
“Being a musician in Latin America is difficult. You end up paying almost three times the standard price for a guitar”: Nervosa’s Prika Amaral on her unconventional playing style and overcoming Brazil’s broken music scene
‘That was how I like to race’ – Wout van Aert sprints to victory from the breakaway on stage 15 of the Vuelta a España An audacious move from Wout van Aert saw him triumph in Córdoba on stage 15 of the Vuelta a España, as he seized an opportunity to jump out of the …
Collectively, we chose a digital future for games – so why doesn’t it feel like our choice at all?
GTA 6. My local game store is closing down. News of its closure was, ruefully, the thing that motivated me to pay one last overdue visit. I picked over its second-hand PS4 games like a vulture, while the last remaining, slightly-mishapen Bowser plushie stared at me with accusatory eyes that seemed to ask: why are you only visiting this place now that it is dying?
After 3 hours, the new Castlevania game I've wanted for 12 years already feels like a classic
Serena Cherry Castlevania Belmont's Curse is a Metroidvania with a capital Vania 'V'. It's the first proper Castlevania game in 12 years, and a proud 2D action graduate of the Symphony of the Night school of design – not only one of the best Metroidvania games , but the one that set the blueprint for hundreds of replicas, establishing the genre.
This gaming chair has RGB lighting and while it didn't make me better at WoW, it did cure my back pain
Asus ROG Courser gaming chair in a desk setup. RGB is not integral to any gaming setup. Ever. Colourful disco lights won’t make you play better or be more comfortable while you (by you, I mean me) lock in for a long session of WoW. So why exactly does the new ASUS ROG Courser gaming chair boast six areas of RGB lighting? Is it necessary? Absolutely not. But if we reduced every gaming chair down to the barest of essentials, we’d probably all be sitting in stark grey office chairs.
7 years ago, the first Elden Ring trailer changed my life
When Elden Ring was first revealed at E3 2019, I had no idea it would become so special to me. I remember cheering with glee when Hidetaka Miyazaki's name first appeared on-screen, then gasping at the name that followed: George R.R. Martin.
7 years ago, the first Elden Ring trailer changed my life
A woman with one eye closed looking directly forward in Elden Ring Tarnished Edition on Nintendo Switch 2. When Elden Ring was first revealed at E3 2019, I had no idea it would become so special to me. I remember cheering with glee when Hidetaka Miyazaki's name first appeared on-screen, then gasping at the name that followed: George R.R. Martin.
I'm grateful Skyrim 'dumbed down' The Elder Scrolls
Skyrim. I'd rather beat every Elden Ring boss on NG+7 than stare at Morrowind's attribute system ever again. While many see the numbers-heavy systems in Morrowind and The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion as alluringly sophisticated, I find them repellently convoluted. Something about the granular detail in their leveling feels like an arduous chore to my brain. It's work. But it's not satisfying work, like defeating a dragon is.
I was ready to take a break from Metroidvanias after Silksong, but this beautiful indie rekindled my obsession
MIO: Memories in Orbit screenshot showing a little, nimble robot called Mio meeting a larger machine. The GamesRadar+ Indie Spotlight logo can be seen in the top right-hand corner of the image. . It's 2026, and I'm still licking my wounds from Hollow Knight Silksong, questioning how a game so cute could be so cruel. This is the final straw, I vow. I cannot keep loving these Metroidvanias that do not love me back. Then I hear a gentle knock against the door of defeat in my mind.
I was ready to take a break from Metroidvanias after Silksong, but this beautiful indie rekindled my obsession
Join the conversation Add us as a preferred source on Google It's 2026, and I'm still licking my wounds from Hollow Knight Silksong, questioning how a game so cute could be so cruel. This is the final straw, I vow. I cannot keep loving these Metroidvanias that do not love me back. Then I hear a gentle knock against the door of defeat in my mind. In walks MIO: Memories in Orbit, politely offering to bandage every wound left by the savage games of last year.
Science of Thrills
Nicht nur Rob Bell leidet unter Höhenangst. Fahrgeschäfte in Europa und Amerika spielen mit dieser Angst und kitzeln so das Adrenalin heraus. Der Ingenieur erkundet, welche Effekte große Höhen auf uns Menschen haben. Er lässt sich erklären, welche technischen Kniffe eingesetzt werden, um mit extremer Höhe den maximalen Kick zu erzeugen.
I'm a guitarist and metal obsessive. So why have I only wanted to listen to video game soundtracks this year?
Serena smiling next to the covers for Elden Ring and Hollow Knight. When was the last time a modern metal album made you feel something huge? I mean stopped you dead in your tracks and sent a shiver down your spine while simultaneously bringing tears to your eyes? Sadly, I can’t think of a single metal album released this year that wielded such arresting, heart-stopping power for me. My god, I want it to.
I'm a guitarist and metal obsessive. So why have I only wanted to listen to video game soundtracks this year?
Doctor and Nurse Fired From Hospital After Turning Away Woman in Labor 8 Minutes Before She Gave Birth A doctor and nurse at an Indiana hospital who allegedly turned a woman away while she was actively in labor are no longer employed with the facility, hospital officials announced. “The physician and the nurse directly involved with Mrs. Wells’ care are no longer employed by Franciscan,” Franciscan …
A band with a woman front and centre is finally headlining Download Festival. It's about damn time
Generate Key Takeaways When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Getty Images Today marks the most visceral reaction I’ve ever had to a Download Festival announcement, and I’ve seen my own band's name on that poster. But even that didn’t compare to the victorious feeling of seeing the Download 2026 lineup. I punched the air, screamed “YES!” at the top of my lungs and texted every woman in the music industry I know.
Universal's Five Nights at Freddy's Haunted House is way scarier than the movie
A close-up of Freddy Fazbear during the Five Night's at Freddy's Universal Haunted house. . To think I wasted two hours sitting in the movie theater watching Five Nights at Freddy's, when all I needed was a few minutes inside the Five Nights at Freddy's haunted house at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights instead. Filled with creepy puppets and giant animatronics created by Jim Henson's Creature Shop, the Five Nights at Freddy's haunted house is not just a love letter to the game - but to its fans.
I've been a metal guitarist for almost two decades and not enough people talk about these incredible guitar-shredding albums
Serena Cherry on stage with her guitar. As a metal guitarist, it pains me to say that on some days, I don’t even want to look at my guitar, let alone play it. There are moments when I feel so devoid of inspiration that I question why I ever dedicated so many years of my life to playing this instrument. But when I’m at that low point, there are five metal albums I reach for.
I've been a metal guitarist for almost two decades and not enough people talk about these incredible guitar-shredding albums
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I love Elden Ring Nightreign but I'm not sure if it's good for my mental health
Elden Ring Nightreign screenshot of two players interacting. I'm not good enough. Every time my pathetic, crawling Elden Ring Nightreign character is revived, those words ring through my brain: I'm. Not. Good Enough. When I see another player dashing over to save my fading character, two emotions swirl within me like oil and vinegar, refusing to mix. I feel grateful for their aid, yet deeply ashamed that I require it so often. I know I'm the weak link in this boss fight. We all do.
Fallout and Five Nights at Freddy's attractions set for Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights 2025
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy Microsoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
“A lot of players don’t bother to learn how to fix their guitars - but it’s a necessary part of technique”: Cradle of Filth’s Donny Burbage hated guitar until he got bored of playing video games - and became a tech’ing shredder | Flipboard
The Trump-Musk alliance is a win for dictators everywhere This is all incredibly dangerous and the U.S. government should not allow it. One night in September 2022, the Ukrainian military launched a drone …
"You cannot underestimate the impact of seeing a woman blaze a trail right before your eyes." Why Arch Enemy’s Angela Gossow means so much to me – and to women in the metal scene
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"You cannot underestimate the impact of seeing a woman blaze a trail right before your eyes." Why Arch Enemy’s Angela Gossow means so much to me - and to women in the metal scene
Rewind back to 2002 and picture me as a kid in a Slipknot hoodie, holding the latest issue of Metal Hammer in my hands. That April’s magazine came with a free compilation album, pretty standard at the time. I placed the CD into my boombox and soaked in the new noise on offer. Then, a certain song made me sit up straight, eyes wide with excitement.
Where Are the Women in Bands at Metal Festivals?
Serena Cherry is the guitarist of British metal/post-hardcore band Svalbard. Follow Serena on Twitter and Svalbard on Facebook. I am dead against positive discrimination. At the end of the day it is still discrimination. There’s nothing worse than being asked to play a festival BECAUSE you are a woman. I am an artist, not a “female artist,” and I am not here to fulfill a quota.
On the Hot Topic of Pornogrind...
Serena Cherry is the guitarist of British metal/post-hardcore band Svalbard. Follow Serena on Twitter and Svalbard on Facebook. It’s Christmas. Your uncle, who owns a couple of Black Sabbath albums, hears that you now play in a metal band. His eyes light up. “Wow, cool! What type of metal do you play?” He asks. “Pornogrind.” Porno. Grind. How have these two words combined into a submetal genre? Porn is something that sexually stimulates. The word porno has connotations of, well… getting off.
Seven Sun-Repelling Products You Need In Your Beauty Rotation
Stay safe with this selection of broad-spectrum products that will keep your skin feeling forever young.
Svalbard's Serena Cherry on Underground Metal's Enduring Gender Bias
Serena Cherry is the guitarist/vocalist of English metal band Svalbard. Recently Decibel asked her to write a guest editorial about her experiences as a woman in the underground metal scene. You’ve spent 15 years teaching yourself how to play guitar. Seven years touring with your band. Two years working on your latest album. The debut video from your new album finally goes up online. It’s a culmination of years of hard work and determination.
OOZING WOUND INTERVIEW: “YOU’VE GOT TO BE A LITTLE DIAMOND DAVE, YOU CAN’T BE GLENN DANZIG ALL THE TIME”
On tour in the UK right now, Chicago thrashers OOZING WOUND like to take their metal seriously, but it still oozes fun “This music is fun and we don’t try to over think it,” states Zack Weil, one third of Chicago’s raddest, anti-bullshit thrash band Oozing Wound. “Most bands don’t understand how cheesy they are, but we do understand how cheesy we are on a base level. You’ve got to be a little Diamond Dave, you can’t be all Glenn Danzig all the time.
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