British institution the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and some of Britain’s finest opera singers have recorded an album of tracks from the angriest and most rebellious songbook – Punk. Forty years after the BBC banned God Save The Queen, ‘The Anarchy Arias’ is the first ever album of classic punk tunes …
Read More »Sari Schorr – Borderline, London – 20th March 2017
This was one of the first gigs at the newly refurbished Borderline, and it’s been dramatically updated although there are still a few bits to sort out (like signs to the toilets), but the toilets are now much bigger than the broom cupboard that sufficed before, the bar has moved …
Read More »The Charm The Fury – Sugar Factory, Amsterdam – 20th March 2017
Tonight is the album launch for The Charm The Fury’s new album, The sick, dumb and happy. The venue is the Sugar Factory just opposite Melkweg in the band’s home city of Amsterdam, and a queue of fans had formed well before doors opened. By the time the show got …
Read More »Alunah – Solennial
Solennial is the fourth album from Birmingham based foursome Alunah. If you like your doom metal a bit old style and with a folk slant then this is the album for you. Band Members: Sophie Day – Vocals & Guitar, David Day – Guitar, Daniel Burchmore – Bass, Jake Mason – Drums. The album kicks …
Read More »Obituary – Obituary
After listening to rock/metal for almost forty years, albums that really grab me by the scruff of the neck are few and far between but the self titled tenth album by Tampa Bay death metallers Obituary can be added to the list. The atmosphere they create on this ten track …
Read More »Bereft – Lands
Four piece Bereft release an amazing four track album in the form of ‘Lands’ I just love the myriad of sub genres that Metal throws up, and Blackened Doom is one of my favourites. To be fair it’s possibly nothing new , the two genres …
Read More »Me and that man – Songs of love and death
Me and that Man are Behemoth frontman, Nergal, and John Porter. It’s a radical new sound for Nergal – gone is the heavy black/death metal, and instead you have Nergal doing vocals and John Porter playing guitar (often acoustic) and doing backing vocals, and there’s even Harmonica used. It’s a …
Read More »Interviews: Kikamora and Embodiment, Metal 2 the Masses Bristol
Two weeks ago, four bands in the semi finals of Bristol’s Metal 2 the Masses became six as Kikamora and Embodiment made it through their heat into the next round. I had a chat with both qualifiers recently to find out a bit more about them… Kikamora For people hearing …
Read More »Arch Enemy – As the stages burn
It’s almost exactly three years since Angela Gossow stepped down as vocalist of Arch Enemy and announced her replacement, Alissa White-Gluz. At that point the War Eternal album was already written and recorded with Alissa on vocals. Since then it’s been a long wait for a second album with her …
Read More »Armored Saint – Dublin, 20th March 2017
On a night that I am to write about the Armored Saint’s first ever performance in Dublin it certainly doesn’t help my impartiality to quite literally bump into all of the band a small distance outside the venue. For them to then ask advice on where to grab something to …
Read More »Cheap Trick announce UK tour for June 2017
Iconic US-rockers Cheap Trick have announced a special three date UK tour, with the band visiting London, Manchester and Bristol in June 2017. The Illinois quartet, who originally formed in 1973, will delight fans with their huge back catalogue of rock classics, including hits ‘Surrender’, ‘I Want You To Want …
Read More »Gary Lammin – in-store gigs announced!
Veteran punk and blues guitarist Gary ‘Guitar’ Lammin has announced two London in-store appearances, following the release of his self-titled solo debut last month. Known first and foremost as a punk rocker, who has collaborated with the likes of Joe Strummer, Public Image’s Jah Wobble and Generation X’s Mark Laff, …
Read More »Witterquick – Interview
WITTERQUICK release their blistering new single, Hiding Place, which is the first in a line of singles to be lifted from the band’s eagerly awaited new EP, out this Summer. The video for Hiding Place has just been revealed via Kerrang!.com and the single lands everywhere on Monday 27th March. …
Read More »Bloodstock announce seven new bands
We’re now past the halfway point to BLOODSTOCK with 20 weekends left before the UK’s best metal weekender! Let’s kick that off by announcing seven more bands! Anthemic black metallers WINTERFYLLETH join the main stage fray. Their fifth album ‘The Dark Hereafter’ was released last October by Candlelight Records/Spinefarm. Check …
Read More »Devin Townsend Project – Colston Hall, Bristol, 12/03/17
It’s a shame more gigs don’t pass through the Colston Hall in Bristol. At present the city’s biggest indoor venue, its large main room and excellent acoustics make it far superior to the O2 Academy down the road, yet the glutton of comedians and other performance art events that come …
Read More »Metal 2 The Masses Ireland – Heat 6, 18/03/2017 – Summary & Interviews
Hot on the heels of the Irish rugby team obliterating English dreams at the Aviva stadium, we shuffled down to Fibber Magees to see the next quartet of bands going head to head at Metal 2 the Masses Ireland. Would one of the outfits begin an unbeaten streak tonight on …
Read More »Overkill Release Music Video For ‘Shine On’
Release Music Video For ‘Shine On’ With only three months into 2017, legendary New Jersey thrashers OVERKILL have already released their highly anticipated album ‘The Grinding Wheel’ followed by a lengthy US trek that ended one week ago. The band has released the music video for new track ‘Shine On’ – check it …
Read More »Blaze Bayley – Endure And Survive (Infinite Entanglement, Pt. II)
If it were ever to happen, Blaze Bayley O.B.E has a great ring to it I think. Since singing with Wolfsbane from 1988-94, Iron Maiden from 1994-99 and a solo career from then until the present day, he has doggedly flew the flag for British heavy metal. The title of …
Read More »Michael Schenker Fest Live CD & DVD Box Set
Having witnessed firsthand his continued prowess on stage in early 2016, the release on CD and full gig DVD of Michael Schenker Fest from the Tokyo International Forum takes the experience the German provides to the next level and underlines what is sure to become a legendary show. There have …
Read More »Lita Ford – Islington academy, London – 12th March 2017
Rock Goddess opened the night with a set based around songs from their 80s albums. The band reformed a few years ago with the original lineup, and are yet to release a new album although they do feature a new song tonight, “Back off”, to which they got the crowd …
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