When Bloodstock Svengali Vicki Hungerford decreed that Malevolence would be bestowed a coveted special guest slot at next year's festival, there were many of us who were sceptical about the leap of faith that she was taking. After all, it was only yesterday that the Sheffield upstarts were cavorting about at the lower echelons of the Sophie stage.
Read MoreThe singular support band tonight are ALLT, a hard hitting futuristic progressive metalcore band from Sweden. They take to the stage with backlit blue and white lights, and that backlit approach means for most of the set we’re simply left with silhouettes prowling the stage. ALLT are slick, professional and produce some impressive heavy modern metal. They soon get into their groove and take their set by the scruff of the neck, blending technical heaviness with anthemic yet gritty choruses.
Read MoreTo be referred to as ‘The Love Child of Janis Joplin and Robert Plan’ brings with it a weight of expectation that for some bands could be considered too heavy of a burden to bear. For The Damn Truth however, they don’t want to just meet this expectation, they want to blow it out of the water, doing so with their dreamy, crushing and at times emotionally jarring blend of hard rock & Blues.
Read MoreThis show was meant to mark the triumphant return of Mancunian institution Gorilla. Sadly, the British blight of "overrunning engineering works" means that at the 11th hour, it has had to be hastily moved down the road to the iconic FAC251. A cavernous labyrinth of dingy dance floors, it was the former home of Tony Wilson's groundbreaking Factory Records and also the site of a lot of ill-gotten raving by my good self during the '90s. The downstairs space that hosts tonight’s gig is a lot smaller than its intended home, meaning we get an intimate and exceedingly sweaty show. It also provides a rare opportunity to observe three of the most exciting bands on the UK scene in incredibly close quarters.
Read MoreIn my opinion, there is no genre of music that encapsulates pastiche more than that of the 21st century take on Classic Rock. The lack of innovation or desire for change and reliance on nostalgia and cliché leaves it feeling stagnant and ultimately uninspiring. Despite this, there is also an admirable and undoubtable demand for bands of this ilk from fans who want nothing more than to be transported back to a time when the humble guitar was king and simplicity was deemed innovative. Time waits for no one, and whilst the heroes of that bygone age may no longer be able to hold their own in 2023, the next generation of Classic Rock bands are here to pick up the mantle.
Read MoreSpite kick-off the evening and immediately set the scene for the heavy deathcore night ahead. Despite it being an early doors there’s a more than decent sized crowd here for the openers. We’re also not waiting long for a double-kick drum onslaught. They’re a heady mix of brutal hardcore and nu-metal melodies mixed with vicious tech-metal. The guitar tones are meaty, djenty and have that deliciously techy sound.
Read MoreDacara are a 4-piece that prove uneasy to pigeonhole. Their sound is kind of rock with a dance twist and just mereist lashing of goth for good measure. The singer has a good voice (if somewhat lacking in power) and that is complimented nicely by the guitarist’s shouty growl. Every now and again it skirts the edge of commercial euro-rock but then plunges back into the subterranean delights of the underground.
Read MoreWell, this is all very civilised. To celebrate their 40th anniversary of being a band, Europe have taken up residence in the ornate surroundings of the Lyric Theatre within the Lowry complex. Plush seats, a very un-rock & roll interval, and a two hours and 40-minute set, that's not bad for a band that most people would consider to be a one-hit-wonder. I would consider myself rather a Europe devotee, having fallen in love with the band in 1988 when my Scandinavian grandmother inexplicably bought me a copy of “Out of this World”.
Read MoreIt’s an early start and we’re treated to Liverpool's Cut Short. The first thing that strikes you is the satisfyingly angular, stabby, quality of the guitars. They play with melodies that are layered over a backdrop of excellent almost scattery jazz-infused drums. It makes me think they’re trying to strike a delicate balance between the prog and tech-metal, but still need to hit on the perfect mix. The intricate guitar work fully supports this ambitious attempt, and their musicianship is solid and individual performances truly engaging.
Read MoreOutpost tonight is a very different Outpost to last week. It’s rammed for a start, and as far as you can see (which isn’t far, it’s only a small venue) there is a sea of battle jackets, studs and hair. The other week I witnessed some of the old guard that are keeping traditional British heavy metal alive, and tonight I’ve come along to see what the new blood has to offer.
Read MoreThe evolution and onward development of our music is such that it has diversified to an extent that there are portions of it that whilst still operating within its confines, sound nothing like its governing parameters. Tonight’s opening acts are cases in point. Both live within the envelope of extreme/heavy music, feature within the publications that ally to that world, play the festivals and events that serve that world, and support (as it is tonight) bands that firmly sit within that world. However, neither Slow Crush nor GGGOLDD dwell within any definable definition of metal.
Read MoreGiven I’d never heard of L.A. Edwards until April 2022, this is the third time seeing them play Manchester since then. Previously it has been with The White Buffalo at the O2 Ritz so tonight we are changing it up a bit. This show is sold out and when I arrive the place is quite empty but gradually fills up as they work their way through their 9 song setlist. The crowd are a mix of ages but definitely, and no real surprise, skewed more male than female and mostly middle aged (or should I say my age as another march around the sun looms), but treating themselves to this night of rock n’ roll.
Read MoreManchester has become a veritable post-metal paradise. Alongside its own burgeoning scene, we’ve got Alcest tonight, Cult of Luna passing through on Thursday and Damnation festival taking up residency in under three weeks, bringing with them Nordic Giants, Maybeshewill, and the emotionally wrought juggernaut that is Amenra (if you haven't done so, get your tickets now). However, if I'm honest I will be struggling to find 45 minutes more scintillating and mind-blowing than the ones I get to spend with tonight's opening act, The Devils Trade.
Read MoreFirst visit to Outpost for me and it’s a nice little venue. Front of house is a bar (with a decent selection of craft beers if that’s your Thing) and the gig room is at the back. My heart sank a little as the stage is just another bit of the floor; note to self: wear platform boots next time!
The Dead King Company started the night off for us, and they are a young trio who play stripped back indie rock. The drummer was a bit manic and they played well, with a little banter between songs.
Read MoreTonight is a rather odd mix of fan bases. It is obvious from the off that a large proportion of the audience have come to see German’s Annisokay on the back of their impressive stint supporting Electric Callboy last year. However, there is also an almost equal proportion who are here for reformed metal core also-rans Shields, who have decided to put aside their differences and make another attempt at trying to make it. All this means that the only unknown element here this evening are Norwegian openers Fixation.
Read MoreOver on the continent, this billing makes perfect sense. You see Pain may be a side project of Hypocrisy main man Peter Tägtgren but its success in mainland Europe has in many ways eclipsed that of his day job. Over here it is a different story and whilst folk metallers Ensiferum are billed as a “very special guest” on UK soil this has become very much a double header and there are far more Ensiferum shirts to be seen upon entering the building.
Read MoreUntil tonight I didn’t know a lot about Burning Witches. I knew they were all female, and I knew most of them were very tall as I once shared a lift with them (don’t ask!) but in terms of their musical output? Nada. In my head they looked a bit like Vixen so I was kind of expecting some lightweight froth rock. Nope. These girls have come to us from the Doro School of Rock.
Read MoreEBGBs is tonight packed wall to wall with enthusiastic metal fans here to eagerly celebrate the release of “The Deaf Choir” by tonight’s headliners Devils Henchmen. I believe it may be a sold out affair, and rightly so. The night promised to showcase some of the best and brightest rising stars of the Merseyside Metal scene and it did not disappoint.
Read MoreBrudenell Social Club is an institution, known across the nation as one of the remaining best independent venues for alternative music in the country. I've not been to a gig here for a few years now, but that feeling of familiar comfort mixed with excitement immediately hits as I walk through the door. It's been a crazy hot and sunny day, which made the matinee performance sweaty enough but, if anything, this evening it's a more intense heady mixture of humidity and anticipation.
Read MoreMunicipal Waste could quite easily have taken the easy route. They could have stuck a couple of identikit, but inferior, thrash revivalists on their undercard and jobs a good un. But not only is there a real desire to provide, in these troubled times, real value for money but Municipal Waste are more than happy to be given a run for their money each and every night of the UK tour.
Read More
