Event Reviews

Tonights show was to be the first ever gig by I am I, the new band founded by former Dragonforce singer, ZP Theart.  Support was Primitai and Achilla. When Achilla came on stage, there weren’t many people in the audience unfortuantely – I suspect the glorious sunshine meant that a …

Glasgow saw a mini invasion of Germanic Teutonic vampires as Stuka Squadron made their first attack on enemy soil here to kick off their mini tour of destruction around the UK and, while it was a disappointing crowd for them to play to (thanks in part to the almost unheard …

When you see the names Meshuggah and Animals as Leaders you know you’re in for an evening of intense, mind-blowing music. Tonight’s show took place at the Concorde 2 in Brighton and with a 600 capacity the show was sold out and filled with people in which I can only …

Tonight’s headliners became the envy of every metal band in Ireland – and beyond – when they managed to secure the opening slot at Machine Head’s forthcoming only two headline dates outside Download. To get themselves fighting fit for the challenge of the brace of shows in Belfast and Dublin, …

Just under two weeks before this metal monster of a quadruple bill rolled into Belfast, the demolition crews moved into the neighbouring Spring and Airbrake (separated only from the Limelight by the width of the rawk ‘n’ roll watering hole that is Katy Daly’s) to gut the place out in …

Metal and Rock returned to the Railway for another night of high volume and high energy mischief, with a triple bill of quite varied bands. First up are Polly, a Nirvana tribute/covers band who kick things off very nicely with a 45 minute set of grunge which is well received. …

I was looking forward to tonight’s gig at Ivory Blacks as I’ve not seen Mair play in ages and I was definitely looking forward to hearing some of the new tracks played live from Blaze’s latest album ‘The King Of  Metal’ that was released in March this year. When I …

Sunday afternoon on the May bank holiday seen me heading through to Ivory Blacks in Glasgow for the second day of Rock For Funds. Tonight’s bill was called the ‘Rock Extravaganza’ a mixture of cover/tribute bands along with local bands and headliners Kyrbgrinder who hail from London I had been …

Primordial haven’t been to Manchester for nearly 18 years, their fans were queuing up round the block of Moho Live. Great news for first support Winterfylleth, as the audience gave them a warm welcome to the stage, coming in with ‘Mam Tor (The Shivering Mountain)’. Winterfylleth have a heavy focus …

Once again I find myself in Camden Underground for yet another sold-out gig. This time round we have Californian metalcore band Of Mice and Men, and their merry crew of support from Crossfaith, With One Last Breath and Bury Tomorrow. Certainly a loud and wild evening was ahead of me, …

Exit State opened the show tonight, and it didn’t take long for Roy Bright and the rest of the guys to win the crowd over. During their 30 minute set playing down to earth hard rock and roll they showed us why they are one of the best up and …

I’ve never been one to believe the weather forecast, so when the local BBC failed to predict a massive storm front breaking over Belfast on an otherwise un-seasonally cold late Spring Saturday evening – well, you just know that they simply haven’t got a clue…. Not that they hadn’t been …

There I was, ’round my local Wetherspoons, quietly minding my own business and reading my Sunday newspaper while enjoying my traditional Ulster Fry when I saw a headline which nearly made me choke on my extra piece of grilled potato bread… “The Vikings Are Coming Back” it proudly proclaimed! The …

Gibraltar based flamenco metal heads, Breed 77, recently returned to the fair city of Manchester as part of their acoustic tour to promote their up and coming acoustic EP entitled “Under the Skin”. Joined by the ultimate The Mariana Hollow, two local supports signed to the mighty Rocksector Records and …

Last Saturday night I was in unfamiliar territory for me, namely Chelsea Football ground.  Why was I there? To attend the launch party for Nico Tamburella’s new album, ‘Mind Cage’.  The venue, ‘Under The Bridge’ is definitely a cool venue for music nights and due to all the photographs of …

I was looking forward to the tonight’s gig at King Tut’s with Paradise Lost, Insomnium and Vreid gracing the stage. Paradise Lost had just released their 13th studio album ‘Tragic Idol‘ that day so was really looking forward to hearing some more of the new tracks live and as well …

After playing in stadiums and arenas, performing alongside a seemingly infinite list of musicians, Marco Mendoza is finally let loose on his own and takes the spotlight for his first ever solo UK tour. The venue isn’t a large one, in fact the Borderline, tucked away neatly in the heart …

As Friday night dawned and another working week came to an end, I headed over to Nambucca for a Freak Circus.  (No, I’m not being harsh, that’s the name of the night.)  I had been looking forward to this gig for a while and as many of my mates would …

Tonight was the first night of Australian band Tracer’s first UK headlining tour.  They were in the UK last late last year supporting Royal Republic, and are now back.  It’s impressive – less than six months ago they were the support band at the Underworld, but now they’re headlining the …

Tonight’s gig was the Dragonforce album launch party and was described as an intimate gig.  They weren’t kidding either – the venue was the Temple room at the HMV Institute, on the top floor of the venue and being a tiny room with a capacity of just 300. Long before …