Tag Archives: Review

This evening’s gig – featuring the somewhat ironically named LA punks The Bronx and Florida-based grinders Torche – was originally scheduled to be two separate affairs, with the two bands playing in neighbouring venues within the same complex.  However, the promoters – and, co-incidentally, the venue owners – quickly managed …

Graveyard Johnnys a Punk/Psychobilly trio from Chepstow formed in 2008. With a self-funded EP, ‘Streetblock and City Lights’ and debut album ‘Songs From Better Days’ already under their belts. A few line-up changes along the way, they released their latest offering ‘Dead Transmission’ via Bomber Music on the 11th May …

Enniskillen’s Charlie’s Bar is fast becoming the location to find the finest in rock based music in the local and surrounding area.  It is constantly been utilised by many promoters who bring in a variety of musical acts to cater to a vast array of people. On this occasion, Penny …

There is something morbidly fascinating about goregrind.  It’s a musical sub-genre which often inhabits the darker, more taboo elements of the human psyche, addressing lyrical issues which many, more mainstream, artists only dare to skirt around with the comparative finesse of a housewife cleaning her most precious porcelain compared to …

It’s the middle of May and spring is supposed to have sprung with summer allegedly around the corner – but, guess what?  It’s feckin’ freezin’ and it’s sheeting it down – so, there’s nothing else to do but forsake the backyard barbecue for another weekend, plunge out into the night …

The Dynamic Aussie Duo strikes again! Right from the word go The Graveltones second album ‘Love Lies Dying‘ hits you like a rampaging rhino that tramples all over you, backs up, and for good measure, tramples all over you again and again to make sure the job is done! That …

“The Fleece is a better venue but I felt this gig would be more fun.” Jeffery Johns, affectionately known as Big Jeff, is in attendance tonight at the Marble Factory, having turned down the chance to see Russian Circles down the road at one of Bristol’s more established venues. Something of a …

When the line-up for this, the fourth of the five opening heats in the first ever Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses competition to be held in li’l ol’ Norn Iron was announced, it was generally considered that it would be by far the tightest yet… and so it proves to …

In the latter half of 2012, Northern Ireland heavyweights Sinocence emerged from what can be best described as a period of transition – one characterized by personal issues for certain members of the band, coupled with a (at the time relatively) recent line-up change – to produce the first volume …

For any artist, the launch of a new work is a special occasion.  For Norn Iron’s premier heavyweights, Sinocence, the unveiling of their new EP – the second instalment in their ‘No Gods, No Masters’ triptych – called for that something a little extra special.  And so the band assembled …

The rock and metal community, perhaps more than any other in the field of music, always has been known for its generosity of spirit and support for worthy causes.  For the community in Northern Ireland, few are more special or better supported than Blaze’s Appeal, which raises funds for the …

After less than the recommended mandatory amount of sleep (well, it is a festival after all – and a journalist’s work doesn’t stop when the last band takes their curtain call), Team PM were up at the crack of dawn of the second day of HRH AOR for a busy …

Once again, Team PlanetMosh joined the thousands of Hard Rock Hell faithful – and a fair few newcomers to boot – for the epic trek to the crook of the Llŷn Peninsula for another weekend of hard rockin’ action.  This year’s format, of course, was a little different to previous ones, …

Knock Out Kaine, a four piece Rock band from Lincoln, released their second album ‘Rise of the Electric Jester’ on 2nd March, with an album launch show in their hometown of Lincoln. The first night of their UK tour (see poster and any additional dates here) took place at The Salutation …

The second heat of the inaugural Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses competition to be held in this little corner of the planet we call Mosh promised to be a diverse affair, reflecting the broad church of the local metal scene – and, so it proved to be! Openers Cavehill seem …

Hometown gigs, for any band – but especially those who have reached a certain international standing – are always a mixture of anticipation, excitement and nervousness for all concerned, for both the artist and their audience.  Especially more so when the band in question is premiering new material – most …

Sometimes you walk into a gig not really knowing what to expect – and tonight was just one of those occasions.  Mainly because, if I’m honest, I’m not a big fan of bands which could be perceived as “superstar vehicles”, especially as many of them are just that – vanity …

The King Lot are a Scottish Hard Rock trio who have impressed me greatly over the short space of time I have known them. Last year saw the band performing with several top acts such as The Answer, Beasto Blanco, Vain, H.E.A.T. and Supercharger. I managed to witness the band’s …

The freight train that is Bloodstock’s annual ‘Metal 2 The Masses’ battle of the bands rolled into Northern Ireland for the first time this past weekend, with four bands with distinctly differing styles engaged in mortal combat for a place in the semi-finals later in the Spring. With the running …

School night gigs in Belfast – possibly in common with most other locales – are notoriously difficult to fill, unless of course they involve a “big name” touring band.  But, increasingly, Thursday nights seem to be becoming the “new Friday” and so a healthy crowd of 70 or so grinders …