Opinion

I spoke to Olavi from Amon Amarth at Download this year about new album Jomsviking, the upcoming tour with Testament and Grand Magus and taking the audience off to Valhalla mid-set…    

I was lucky enough to speak to all four members of The Franklys after their set at Download Festival this year, talking about how they came together, plans for the debut album and why it’s not okay to like ABBA, apparently…  

I spoke to Sally Ann and Chris from Buck & Evans at Download Festival this year discussing their upcoming album, their incredible rise to fame and where their distinct sound actually comes from…    

I spoke to John from Monster Truck at this year’s Download Festival, discussing their set earlier on in the day, supporting Nickelback in the autumn and what their biggest influence is…    

I spoke to Halestorm’s Josh Smith at Download Festival this year about their experiences during the Rock am Ring storms, how they keep on going and who the best fans in the world are…  

I had a chat with Dan Jacobs following Atreyu’s set at Download Festival this year about the comeback, why the three year hiatus was needed and whether it gets old having a drummer on lead vocals….  

I got to speak to Oli and Aaron from RavenEye at Download Festival this year about their set on Friday, current affairs within the band and who has treated them the best on tour…    

I had a chat with Tony Foresta from Municipal Waste about returning to the UK, why their songs are always so short and THAT Donald Trump-inspired t-shirt…    

I spoke to Aryn and John from Scorpion Child at Download Festival this year about new album Acid Roulette, plans for the rest of the year and how their set on the Encore Stage went earlier that day. Presumably in the rain…    

I spoke to Mike Miley from Rival Sons at Download Festival this year about new album Hollow Bones, what they did when Rock Am Ring got cancelled and why they love playing at Donington so much…    

I had a chat with Avatar drummer John Alfredsson about new album Feathers and Flesh, the challenges in writing a concept album and Frank Zappa, amongst other things….    

I spoke to John Cooper of Skillet at Download Festival this year about all manner of things from the band name to new record Unleashed to an insight into having a faith when immersed in a secular music world loaded with imagery of Satan…    

I spoke to John from Raging Speedhorn at Download Festival this year about their first album in nine years, why they used PledgeMusic to get the record released and album artworks containing metal monkeys, giant willies and Jesus. Yep, you read that right….  

I had a chat with Thom and Curtis from Counting Days about their rise and rise to prominence, how they were adjusting to their newest member and what it’s like to balance out a band when they all have full-time jobs…  

I had a chat with Conor and Will from British upstarts As Lions at Download Festival this year about their debut set earlier on the in day, plans for the rest of the year and the unique feat their frontman is a part of this year…         …

I had a chat with David Sanchez of US thrashers Havok at Download Festival this year, discussing touring with Megadeth, the benefits of using PledgeMusic to make an album and an inside account into the race for the White House…  

The opening act tonight is Scottish band The King Lot.  Sometimes they play a full electric set, but tonight they’re doing an acoustic set.  A three-piece, you have two guitarists and a drummer (tonight playing a cajon).  All three of them also do vocals, and when the three of them …

Gigs staged in the shadow of a festival often can be hit and miss affairs.  And with a lot of the Northern Ireland metallians returning from D(r)ownload turning left virtually as soon as they docked and heading straight down the motorway to Dublin for Slayer and Anthrax, you could have …

Not long before Sixx A.M were due to play, along with a few other photographers, I headed to the main stage where we were met by Lawmower Deth and their special guest – Kim Wilde.  We were then escorted onto the stage (to the puzzlement of the crowd) to get …

Royal Republic (7) are the perfect Lemmy stage opening band for the weekend – fun, energetic and with a Volbeat-esque vibe to boot, they’re able to get things going in the best way possible. Finishing song Full Steam Space Machine is a particular highlight and the band look certain to …