Creeping around the dark corner into what feels like a witches cave, this vespertine exhibition of siren songstresses is just getting revved up and already the venue is filling out. The merchandise is set up in its usual space facing the bar, patrons peeking over their shoulders to marvel at the display of artwork as they wait in line for a beer.
Read MoreThere’s a notable and eager queue outside the venue as they patiently wait for the doors to open on The Ghost Inside headlining in Manchester once again. The whole bill tonight is a mixture of variations on hardcore and metalcore, and for each band there are elements that set them apart from their peers stylistically and visually.
Read MoreNostalgia is a potent force. It’s your own personal Time Machine, allowing us to revisit the sounds and the essence of our past exploits. It also has highly redemptive and restorative powers. It allows the whitewashing of career indiscretions and focuses on the highs, while simultaneously burying the lows. Queensryche are case in point, as the 80’s morphed into the 90’s they seemed poised to join Maiden and Metallica in the really big league of metallic heavy weights. “Operation Mindcrime “had position them as the thinking person’s metal band and follow-up “Empire” increased tenfold their commercial clout, thrusting them into arena status. For a short smidgen of time they had the Midas touch and could do no wrong. Then grunge happened.
Read MoreBlackpool’s favourite rock n roll rabble-rousers Takeaway Thieves return to their spiritual home, to celebrate the launch of their long-awaited second album “Diamond Point”. The Waterloo’s Sunday Service feels like an apt way to kick off this next stage of the Takeaway Thieves career as we all come together to worship at the altar of good-time rock n’ roll in the company of some of its greatest disciples…
Read MoreIt’s a crisp evening in Manchester, and the crowd are eager as they queue outside Rebellion with hopes of setting sail on a voyage led by symphonic-pirate-metallers Visions of Atlantis. The headlining band are fundamentally known for their captivating symphonic metal inspired by tales of the sea, and have been selling out venue after venue on this tour with their nautical nights of symphonic-metal dynamism. It’s another full-house tonight and the place is buzzing with anticipation, a palpable sense of musical narrative adventure hanging in the air.
Read MoreSwedish melodic death metal, that most geographically defined of subgenres. It arose in the mid-90s when our music was at its lowest ebb. Grunge, "alt-metal” and the early spectre of nu-metal have swept away the more traditional confines of our world. Metallica seemingly had turned their back on everything they had built and had started wearing eyeliner and trying to sound like Alice in Chains and a Bruce-less Iron Maiden couldn’t even get themselves arrested.
Read MoreIt’s a Thursday night in Blackpool, the weekend is almost within touching distance and what better way to bring a busy week to a close than to spend an evening in a great venue with an equally fantastic band providing some delicious rock n soul goodness. And no, that’s no typo, I did mean to type rock and soul; for that’s what Xander and the Peace Pirates deliver; music to provide a balm to the heart and mind and all points in between.
Read MoreEmbarking on an evening of dark bewitchment, Rebellion Manchester hosts four enthralling metal bands with Romanian rockers Bucovina at the helm. The essence of the night is Folk Metal, with mystical melodics taking centrestage, charming medieval quirks, and the undeniable stench of the Scandinavian metal spirit, blackening the night.
Read MoreLet's be honest with ourselves, in a band as cool as Guns n’ Roses (and there was a good chunk of time in the late 80’s when they were as cool as fuck) Duff McKagan was the really cool one. When we were miming in the mirror to our bootlegged copy of “Appetite for Destruction” he was the one we wanted to be. Whilst the others came from the lineage of glam metal, Duff with his short hair and snarl was 100% punk. He brought the aggro, he brought the attitude, he was the linchpin that stopped Guns n’ Roses from being yet another Los Angeles vanity project.
Read MoreWhilst on the face of it this tour may come across as a bit of a hodgepodge of a package, there is a defining factor that links all three acts. That is highly charismatic front men. James Bruner, Luke Spiller and Barns Courtney may all exist in their own distinct musical universes, but they share a compelling magnetism that is absolutely captivating. When each of them are on the stage they are like attention hoovers wielding a gravitational pull that sucks all the interest towards them. They all have the innate ability to hold an audience in their hands and it is that allure that makes this evening so fascinating.
Read MoreApocalyptica have spent over 25 years refusing to be typecast. Starting life as a classical style Metallica tribute act, their 1996 debut “Plays Metallica by Four Cellos” remains one of the most stunningly unique albums ever released. A further eight albums over a nearly 30-year career has seen them bring in a drummer and vocalist, write their own material and firmly break out of the mould of novelty cover act. All of which makes the decision to record a second Metallica cover album and tour it with a set list made up of exclusively Metallica covers both baffling and bold.
Read MoreHarbinger top the bill in what is otherwise a showcase of local talent for this all-dayer at Rebellion. There’s a mix of styles on display, but at the core if it all is metal, and some unique and fresh takes on various sub-genres at that. It’s an early start, and we’re told the venue has plenty of footfall from the mid-afternoon doors until the evening when we land at the venue.
Read MoreHaving an addiction to live music is not a cheap pursuit. Club gigs are now coming in at around twenty quid and to see a more “name act” in either an Academy, Apollo or various O2 establishments is probably going to set you back the best part of fifty notes. If you are parting with that much hard currency for a night out, you want dependability. You want to be reassured that you will have a good time and are getting adequate bang for your buck. Cannibal Corpse are nothing but dependable.
Read MoreIf Kyuss are Stoner Rock's Beatles (universally revered, rather pretentious, and no longer with us) then that makes Monster Magnet its Stones. There was always something a bit more organic, primal and downright sexy about Dave Wyndorff's crew that made them stand out from the other purveyors of mind-expanding space rock. Tonight is the start of a jaunt to celebrate 35 years of psychedelic riffs and cosmic baselines.
Read MoreIf ever there was a band made of teflon, you would probably call it Tyketto. For over 30 years the lineup changes have come and gone, the fashion for their kind of music has circled around, and the great and good have risen past them only to fall by the wayside. Yet through it all this band remains solid, powerful, uplifting and entertaining. If there have been Issues they just slide away like a freshly-fried egg in a well-seasoned pan. Tonight they are back in Manchester for the umpteenth time, bringing both a local(ish) lad and a not-often-seen band as support.
Read MoreTonight the inaugural UK deathcore tour organised by promoter Dead Species rolls into Manchester after starting off in Newcastle last week. As a Brucey bonus Draconian Reign have been added to the roster after having to miss the first date due to illness within the band. First to take to the stage are Bournemouth’s To Obey A Tyrant.
Read MoreAfter eight years of Rockflesh.com contravening grammatical structures, it is only inevitable that there will be repetition and repeat offenders. Whilst there is a myriad of acts that this here website has covered twice or thrice, there is only a handful of musical vendors that we have caught up with in numerous locations and on numerous occasions. A particular frequent flyer is those ubiquitous test-tube breed hard rockers, The Dead Daisies. There was a point before the pandemic when they seemed to be everywhere and had taken up squatters' rights in this country.
Read MoreIt feels like an age since the always impressive Northlane got across to us headlining, and this time they’ve brought a killer lineup in the form of Novelists and ten56. It’s a bill packed full of unique and dynamic takes on metal sub-genres – each with a distinct and immediately recognisable style and unmistakable technicality.
Read MoreThe Ferret is making a very welcome habit of putting on the highest quality rock and metal gigs of late, bringing in a fascinating and eclectic mix of bands to their stage and invigorating the Preston scene at the same time. And tonight, is no exception, pulling off something of a coup hosting An Evening with These Wicked Rivers, for their first ever visit to the city.
Read MoreThere was a time in the early 2000s where Ill Niño were everywhere. Ripping up the tent at Download. Appearing on the Roadrunner Road Rage tour with Spineshank and Chimaira. Even singing about your favourite stripey jumpered horror icon on the epic soundtrack to Freddy vs Jason. To the nu metal kids of the time, these guys were massive, and tonight more than two decades later, Ill Niño take to the stage again in Manchester.
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