Holding Absence have made it clear that the opening slot on their UK Tour will be reserved for some of the finest up and coming local talent that the UK has to offer. It would be a true once in a lifetime opportunity for these smaller bands to be able to open for a name such as Holding Absence, and this is a model that is both extremely commendable and should be implemented by other bands on the scene.
Read MoreMy first gig of 2023 and truth be told I am really not feeling it tonight. It is a major struggle to leave the house and I take with me some heavy thoughts but I arrive in time for the end of the Unholey set. Unholey are twin sisters Charlotte and Stephanie from Newcastle. I recognise them straightaway. They are the backing singers for Elvana and although they can sing, I have a rational (or irrational depending on your opinion) hatred of Hole, and anything associated with Courtney Love.
Read MoreI have a feeling in the back of my mind that I've seen Control The Storm before, I remember a female singer but I can't remember when or where it was so I can’t remember being particularly impressed by them. However I may have done them a disservice with this memory because when they come on they are very good. They play melodic power metal and they do it really well.
Read MoreSuicide Samurai from Oldham open tonight’s proceedings. They're a new proggy-grungy-metal band on the local scene for only a month or so, and let me tell you they promise good things. There’s plenty of raw energy and emotion in the vocals, which are matched by the skilled musicianship of the entire band. The songs are heavy, yet melodic, with a strong sense of dynamics. When I say grunge I’m not talking about a nostalgia trip,
Read MoreFor all its excursions into stadiums, fields, and aircraft hangar-size mega domes, the small capacity sub-basement club is rock 'n' roll's natural habitat. It’s where it excels, it's where it shows its true colours and it's where it feels most at home. Watching four skinny lads ply their trade on a stage no bigger than a kitchen table feels utterly timeless. These moments don't belong in any linear understanding of the passage of years, and they exist outside of the perceived construct of our time stream.
Read MoreIt’s time for me to hit a new venue, as I’ve never stepped foot in Manchester’s Albert Hall before. We get to the entrance queue, and to say it’s insanely long would be an understatement. Fortunately, I can get in and up the stairs as Northlane start-up with opener ‘Clarity’. They are bouncy and energetic from the start with their futuristic look, lighting and vibe, and are a band that has evolved an awful lot over the years. With the last two albums, “Obsidian” and “Alien”, you can see the greater electronic influence, and opportunity to further afford vocalist Marcus Bridge to establish his soaring clean vocals and raw screams.
Read MoreAustralian Punk-Folk band The Rumjacks were the first band of the evening I managed to catch. They were the perfect band to open for the Dropkick Murphys, paying homage to their iconic celtic folk sound, whilst adding their own twist to this formula. Vocalist Mike Rivkees offered gnarly punk vocals in between providing backing pennywhistle performances to add that folk element to the pretty basic, yet by no means weak punk that was being played behind him.
Read MoreDespite it being a Monday night, the crowd is large and growing even as the doors open at 6:30pm for The Amity Affliction’s return to the UK. This is no surprise as TAA have always been well liked and supported on these shores, with every gig I’ve attended of theirs being packed to the rafters. I make my way up onto the balcony as Californian openers SeeYouSpaceCowboy take to the stage.
Read MoreWell this is all rather a pleasant surprise. Initially, it looked like Fleshgod Apocalypse’s mammoth rescheduled trek across the continent would be yet another of those endeavours that view a UK tour as being a singular London show. Then suddenly and inexplicably, a Manchester appearance appeared unannounced on the schedule and here we are gathered in Rebellion for an unexpected but most welcome post-Christmas treat. Given that the show has only been on the cards for a month and a good proportion of that was the festive celebrations, the turnout, whilst not large, is still rather impressive.
Read MoreIt seems bizarre to say this about a band that has been around for over two decades and has 10 albums to their name, but there is a distinct impression after all these years that Trivium are still having to prove their worth. That great white hope tag that they had thrust upon them in the early noughties has proven to be one hell of an albatross and at the point where they should be settling comfortably into the status of elder statesman, they are still having to dispel the naysayers.
Read MoreThe weather this weekend is pants. It’s cold and windy, there’s still snow on the ground and I am still full of the lurgy kindly donated to me by Gun the other week. But. There’s a party to go to so I pull on the dancing trousers and head up the M6. First of all, things aren’t looking good – the show was due to be at the Alhambra but due to the aforementioned weather there was a burst pipe and a LOT of water there, so the lovely ladies from RPM made some frantic phone calls and managed to source and prepare Johnny’s shed at literally the last minute.
Read MoreWell, this is something I thought I would never see. A full production Volbeat arena show here on these very shores. You see, over on the continent the Danish Bluegrass metallers occupy the premium slot in the market. They slay stadiums and perch atop of festival bills. However, their accent here in the UK has been much more gradual and palatial. Over the years they have slowly but surely moved from academies to Apollo's and now their persistence has led them to the gates of this country's arenas.
Read MoreWell, this is going to be a bit different… I’m under pressure. This review is competing with the wonders of AI, artificial intelligence to be clear. A comment made during the Primordial Radio podcast this week has left me here and I wonder how I get myself into these predicaments. On next week’s podcast (live on Twitch 11am Wednesday 21 December) my claim that AI could not replace a gig review written by a human being will be put to the test. So, this review is going to be packed full of EQ to challenge the rise of machines…
Read MoreThere’s a healthy crowd in early for the upbeat and energetic Cambridge based openers Hollowstar. They go down very well with their fresh modern NWOCR sound full of punchy riffs, catchy choruses and songs that capture your imagination. There’s a nice cover of Skynrd’s ‘Simple Man’ thrown in there ensuring a rousing sing song from those old enough to remember it first time around and the generations since.
Read MoreWhen a band is fronted by the Son/Daughter of a music icon, I immediately have concerns. Is this just a chance for someone to use their parents' status to have a go at music and see what it's like, via worming their way into support slots they seriously don’t deserve? Do they use their marketability to obtain a record deal due to the name associated with their act? No band is safe from this, even tonight's openers Mammoth WVH.
Read MoreThe small venue with the massive attitude serves as a worthy backdrop on this bitterly cold December evening. The L.A. Maybe are perhaps one of those bands you may or may not have heard of, and I confess to being one of them. A couple of You Tube videos later and I can report back being suitably impressed by this American quintet. One video, a beautiful power ballad called ‘When I’m Done’ blew me away. Apparently, the new singer is the old singer who doesn't sing that tune on the video. Would they play that tonight? I’m ready to find out.
Read MoreIt’s certainly more than worth missing the footy for this evening with such a mouth-watering mix of brilliant rock to suitably whet the appetite instead. There’s a long queue outside and for some reason, a near half hour delay in getting those doors open, but not to worry though as a certain Doug Aldrich is busy hanging out at the front posing for pics and chatting with the freezing cold punters, with many in disbelief it’s actually him. Saying that, other various band members from tonight’s line up were also spotted loitering with intent including FM’s Pete Jupp making his way back in doing his best to save money by bringing his own ale in for the chaps to sup after their earlier than usual start.
Read MoreI have a strange relationship with Gin Annie. I absolutely love them, but because they don’t play locally to me that often I tend to forget how much. You know how it is, other good bands come on your radar in the meantime and you’re like “oh yeah, Gin Annie, they’re OK, I’ll bob along in time to watch them” and then when you get there BAM they smack you between the eyes and knock you over. Again. Every bloody time.
Read MoreOne of the joys of this "job" (or should I call it glorified hobby?) is the ability to visit long-lost musical friends that may have slipped down the back of time’s infinite sofa. New Model Army soundtracked my transition from awkward teenager to socially inept adult. They were the background noise for political awakenings, unrequited crushes and harsh break-ups. They were also my bridge between metal and indie.
Read MoreWe’re back at Satan’s Hollow this time on the last Wednesday before December, and we’re going heavy and hard tonight! Before we have the gig, Johann and I dash to the venue to grab an interview with Cage Fight. And what an interview it is! Seriously, it’s one of the most chaotic, unhinged and fun interviews we’ve done yet, so definitely check it out HERE. But you’re here to read about the gig - so let’s get to it!
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