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From Wednesday 01 November 2023

Sadness & Complete Disappointment – ‘GBH’

It’s been a hot minute since Sadness & Complete Disappointment have brought us a nice helping of doom and gloom. The English prophets of everything plaintive have returned after two years with a line-up restructuring and a trio of new tracks that delve deep into self doubt and abject.

Friday 29 September 2023

Grove Street – ‘The Path To Righteousness’

It’s been a long time coming for Grove Street (formerly Grove Street Families). The GTA inspired Southampton crew have danced around the fringes of the scene for years now, but have at last returned to us with a full-length release, moving beyond pastiche into fully fledged metaldom

Wednesday 20 September 2023

Annisokay – ‘Abyss Pt I’

The heavy music scene in Germany is something to behold: there’s a reason they get all the best dates on a European tour. With more artists breaking out into the international stage comes more eyes focused on the scene, and there’s never been a better time for bands both

Sunday 10 September 2023

Kvelertak – ‘Endling’

It’s not all pentagrams and pessimism in the heavy music industry. Certainly Scandinavia does the dark art of metal like no one else, and the punk scene of the Nordic territories has had a significant impact on the rest of the world, with bands like Refused often cited as

Friday 08 September 2023

We Are Sovereign – ‘Step Out Your Comfort Zone’

Oh, the 2000’s, it’s finally your time to shine again. Although the Y2K fashion style was a questionable foray into the wide world of low-rise denim and peep-toe pumps, the explosion of emo, nu metal and scene music will undoubtedly bring a nostalgic tear to many eyes. While the

Wednesday 06 September 2023

Polaris – ‘Fatalism’

As the last notes of ‘All In Vain’ hit with thundering closure, you begin to see how Australian metalcore outfit Polaris have so quickly made themselves a staple of the scene both at home and abroad. However ‘Fatalism’, their third record, is not a celebration of success,

Monday 04 September 2023

Empire State Bastard – ‘Rivers of Heresy’

If idle hands are the devil’s playthings, then Simon Neil is holiest among us. Between his return to pop-rock outfit Marmaduke Duke and teasing the upcoming valium-laced project Tippie Toes, the Biffy Clyro frontman has his plate filled to the brim for the foreseeable future. So naturally,

Wednesday 26 July 2023

LIVE: Spiritbox / Loathe / Brand Of Sacrifice @ The Academy, Dublin

Bands like Spiritbox are a rare treat for Ireland. As far as popular destinations on an EU tour go, it seems to be quite low down on the list, and given the ballooning costs of international touring, it’s an expensive accessory for any group who want to add a

Friday 30 June 2023

LIVE: Download Festival 2023 – Sunday

To quote Anakin Skywalker, “I hate sand”, and the dustbowl that Donington Park has become does nothing for the mood of a tired, surly, dehydrated crowd . Still, with a host of international acts taking the stage today, it would be remiss if the crowd didn’t pull themselves together

LIVE: Download Festival 2023 – Saturday

Dust. That’s the name of the game. On the hottest day of the weekend, with not a drop of rain in site and tens of thousands of people making tracks towards the water and merch lines now fighting for their life, Donington has gone from a verdant green field