PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal

A little over three years since Relentless Retribution and veteran US thrash giants Death Angel are back with their seventh album, The Dream Calls for Blood. And in a word it is SUPERB.

Tonight’s gig – unbeknownst in advance – turned out to be something of a victory for live music here in Belfast.  Despite its history as the premier rock venue in the city, the Limelight (now with the suffix ‘2’ to signify the fact that it is the smaller of the …

Pearl Jam’s latest studio album, ‘Lightning Bolt’ is almost upon us. With their previous album, ‘Backspacer’, having been released four years ago, the longest gap between albums in their 23 year history, Pearl Jam are now ready to make a new statement. I have been listening to this album several …

Twenty five years of existence as a band is a hell of an achievement in the world of heavy metal. Many bands have come and gone, many have tried to adapt and conquer, many have failed, yet Paradise Lost, a band of many faces has prevailed. 2013 marks the quadranscentennial …

Photos of Darkest Era supporting Gloryhammer at the Garage in London on 1st October 2013

Photos of Dendera supporting Gloryhammer at the Garage in London on 1st October 2013

Photos of Death Valley Knights supporting Gloryhammer at the Garage in London on 1st October 2013

Tonight’s gig at the Garage was headlined by Gloryhammer, with supports coming from Dendera and Darkest era (who have been the supports on the whole UK tour) plus a local support band, Death Valley Knights. Death Valley Knights opened the night with a very good set.  When a 4 band …

The Diamond Rock Club, buried deep in the County Antrim hills, seems to be the venue of choice for Glaswegian troupe Attica Rage to end up their tours, as this is the second such occasion they’ve chosen the best li’l rock club on the island of Ireland to host their …

In March this year Joe Bonamassa played four special shows in four nights in London.  Each night was at a different venue and with a completely different setlist.  Each night had a different theme – the Shepherds Bush Empire show was the Blues night, the Hammersmith Apollo show was the …

Flying Colors, the group formed by Mike Portnoy, Steve Morse, Neal Morse, Casey McPherson and David Larue released their debut album in March last year, and for me it was one of the albums of the year – stunningly good stuff.  Later that year they toured Europe, and reports I …

I suspect many of the people reading this review weren’t even born when Leslie West played one of the biggest shows of his career, when in 1969 he played the legendary Woodstock festival as part of the band Mountain.  So he’s been around for a long time, but he’s not …

Some photos of Gloryhammer at the garage in London last week.

Photos of Tyr supporting Finntroll at the Robin 2 in Bilston on Friday night.

Some photos of Skalmold at the Robin 2 in Bilston on Friday night.

Some photos of Finntroll at the Robin 2 in Bilston on Friday night.

Just one month after the release of their third album – Spirit, Finnish Glam Rock band Reckless Love came over to the UK for a 9 date UK tour. The opening night conveniently (for me) being at Manchester Academy 3. Support came in the form of Australian born Laura Wilde …

Having released their excellent debut album in May – and despite vocalist Lyla D’Souza expecting her first child around the time of release – London quintet Kill For Eden aren’t hanging around with this hard-hitting triptych of an EP. The three songs are fiery and intense, filled with true rock …

In the 1990’s, if you were in a death metal band, you were well-off if you could claim Florida, New York, or Chicago as your hometown. Each locale had something distinct to offer – NY had it’s slam “NYDM”, Florida had bands who pushed the genre to greater extremes like …

Jesse Damon is a renowned artist as a solo singer, songwriter, and guitarist foremost, but has also been the front man for the hugely popular melodic hard rock act Silent Rage since the band’s inception back in the mid 80’s. Silent Rage had four critically acclaimed albums released, including the …