Opinion

This past weekend, PlanetMosh once again was delighted to be associated with the wonderful event that is Blazefest, a fundraising bash inspired by a wonderful little boy who has, in his short life, succeeded in bringing together rockers and metallers on an annual basis to raise money for the work …

It’s a Monday night in Belfast and the legions are gathering, their faces painted black and white and their armour made of leather and/or PVC.  Which can mean only one thing:  Cradle Of Filth have returned to the city after a 15-year gap, on the final night of their latest …

The third heat of this year’s Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses competition in Belfast brought with it one of those thankfully all too frequent, and horrible clashes, which sometimes can plague any scene, the local metallians – and, by default, your PM team, having to split themselves in two, at …

Saturday morning at Camp Hard Rock Hell dawned crisp and bright, with the day going on to prove to be warmest of the weekend.  And so, as the sun made its first appearance, and after a morning of hanging around the press area waiting on bands not turning up for …

We’ve reached the Semi Final stages of Metal 2 The Masses Ireland and tonight at Fibber Magees in the post Paddy’s Day turmoil, five bands are making their case to play at this year’s final in May. The first two slots in the auspicious final will be filled tonight, one …

After an early night due to travelling and working the day before, I woke up on the Friday of Hammerfest feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day. Determined to catch everyone, the first band of the day were Stone Broken. The room was still only half full, perhaps …

The night was opened by support band Damn Dice, a 5-piece outfit based in London, to a woefully small crowd. After a short intro they went into their first song – I didn’t catch the title but it was quite fast with good harmony vocals and reminded me a bit …

Thanks to a mizzle which had blown in from the Irish Sea overnight, the first full day at Camp Hard Rock Hell dawns damp underfoot, as the faithful thousands wake from their late slumbers and prepare for the entertainment coming their way across the three stages. Having travelled from about …

I arrived in a (surprisingly) sunny Pwllheli in North Wales way ahead of schedule 1pm on the Thursday. This time last year, poor Hammerfest fell victim to a horrendous downpour – flooding the site from day 1. After checking in and exchanging pleasantries with my caravan-mates for the weekend, I …

Despite its remote location – in the crook of north Wales’ Llŷn Peninsula, between Snowdonia and the Irish Sea – Hard Rock Hell is undoubtedly one of the UK’s favourite festivals, often booking out a year in advance… and even before a single band is announced!  That was evinced yet …

On an unusually mild, bright early Spring evening in our wee neck of the woods off I set to what, according to the poster promises to be a great night of good old fashioned rock n roll.. As the lights go down, the opening band Massive Wagons take to the …

It’s Saturday night and for the third consecutive week, I find myself at Fibber Magees on Dublin’s Parnell St. for the last heat of this year’s Metal 2 The Masses Ireland showcase. With 5 bands going toe to toe on the stage, could this heat be the magnificent seventh? Opening …

For the first time in my life I actually got off the train at Wolverhampton rather than just passing through on the way back from Birmingham! The violent hailstorm and grey miserable skies did little to dampen my spirits as I was there to see two Finnish rock bands Reckless …

Tonight’s gig was the first full Avantasia gig in the UK.  It’s hard to believe it’s taken so long – the band have been going for 15 years and recently released their seventh album, but apart from a set at Bloodstock festival a couple of years ago they haven’t played …

I first came across Anti-Nowhere League (ANL) five years ago when I was in Glasgow for a few days. I had a look to see if there were any gigs on, saw that they were playing, watched the video to So What and thought well so what, they’ll be a …

I was set the awesome challenge of compiling a top 20 Female Fronted bands list. I hate the term Female Fronted so this is gonna be my inspirational female vocalists in metal top 20 playlist ! Firstly, I brainstormed and thought where the hell do I start with this? There are so …

First up tonight was Ricky Warwick and the Fighting Hearts, who took to the stage in front of a half empty venue (a lot of SLF fans chose to drink at the nearby pub rather than watch the support act).  Ricky Warwick has changed his look dramatically – when I …

It had been quite some time since yours truly last descended the steps into the hallowed Mandela Hall…  almost exactly 18 months in fact.  And, as I stood outside the chilly Sunday night air awaiting my photographer, I could not help but note the eclectic nature of the hundreds of …

Another year, another Badass Bash at the Snooty Fox in Wakefield. An excellent venue for live music with a punchy p.a system cranking out some great live music from 18 bands hand picked once again by event organiser Martin Short. At a spritely 62yrs young he also compered the event …

It’s a cold March Saturday night at Fibber Magees in Dublin and that can only mean one thing; it’s time for the penultimate Metal 2 The Masses Ireland heat where 4 bands are set to play their hearts out for places in this year’s semi final on the road to …