Event Reviews

Despite summer trying, vainly, to make a last ditch attempt to make its disappointing presence felt inside, and the counter-attraction of equally disappointing live football in the adjoining bar, an extremely healthy crowd sequestered itself in the darkened environs of metal’s spiritual Belfast home for this weekly early-evening triple header. …

School night gigs in this part of the world have a reputation for being poorly attended, even when four quality acts come together on a superb value-for-money bill. Having said that, by the end of this evening there is a respectable enough crowd gathered to support the first of two …

Pop-metal seems to be the new thing, these days. Softer metal bands that are meant to appeal to a wider audience are becoming ever more common, (The City Divided, Dead By April). Therefore, the fact that Italian metal masters Evershine are grasping this genre with both hands, and grasping it …

For the general public, Saturday August 25th in Dublin was all about gawking at the flagships but for the metal lover, Saturday was all about CARNAGEFEST 2012. So, while the rest of Dublin was down by George’s Dock, admiring the flagships and (let’s be honest) the sailors there was one …

Another year, organised, enjoyed and packed away. For me personally, this year’s line-up wasn’t as good as some of the previous years but it’s obvious that it was pretty darn epic for a lot of people by the fact that this year was officially the busiest BOA on record with …

This evening’s gig truly could be described as a night for the ages, with the veteran guardians of the Northern Irish metal scene joining forces with the movement’s young titans to fight off all comers and prove just why this particular corner of the world is a domain to be …

Tonight at the Borderline was the launch party for the new album from Kobra and the lotus, as well as being the last night of their UK tour. First up was Hornet, a young London rock band.  They went down well with the crowd and put in a very good …

The setting for this evening’s unofficial ‘homecoming’ – and Thin Lizzy’s first outdoor festival gig in Belfast – is a man made auditorium, close by the River Lagan, with apartment blocks to the front and side of the stage, the density of which looms over the normally imposing edifice of …

There’s been something of a trend this year, with some of the top metal bands popping over to Belfast to play exclusive one-off headline shows will pounding their way across Europe’s festival circuit. Machine Head and Lamb Of God respectively sandwiched Download into triumphant appearances at Download, and this time …

Refused - Manchester Academy, 14th August 2012

Bangor’s Railway Institute opened it’s doors once again to receive North Wales Metal’s latest Rock and Roll train, in what was billed as a triple header but unfortunately now down to two. Openers for the evening were local lads Run Down, who I hadn’t seen live for a while. The …

                    I wonder if Lips and Robb Reiner, the 2 founding members of Canadian metal legends Anvil were aware that their Bloodstock appearance was just 9 days away from being  30 years since they played at a UK outdoor festival? I …

Review of The Scorpions - Wacken Open Air Festival 04/08/12

Wacken 2012 Overview

Wacken 2012 review – Day 3 Saturday

Wacken 2012 review – Day 2 Friday

Wacken 2012 review - Day 1 Thursday

It’s always great to see a local venue rammed to the rafters on a week night – and even more satisfying when it’s in support of some of the best in local talent, and not because it’s some visiting ‘big name’ band. That’s why this particular night starts off on …

Heavy metal is supposed to played loud and proud not wrapped in cotton wool: but, unfortunately, the long awaited first visit to this part of the world by the Floridian power titans (one of three dates as part of their build up to Bloodstock) was plagued by an absolutely atrocious …

Tonight’s original line up of Fire in the Empire, No Mans Legion and Deceiver has changed so much in the two weeks leading up to the gig that unfortunately on the night only No Mans Legion [7/10] actually turn up to play their own EP launch. With doors held back …