Although London can provide any experience you could possibly imagine, sometimes you just want to walk into a packed music venue and get pummelled by heavy songs for a few hours. The next time that urge consumes you, book a ticket for the nearest Svalbard (8/10) show and get involved. With two shows remaining on their tour with Comeback Kid, and even more Read more…
Brixton Academy has been one of the greatest venues in London for decades. A staggering number of history’s greatest musicians have taken the stage in full view of an audience guaranteed a great view thanks to the gently sloping floor, and smashed their shows out of the park. Babymetal (10/10) are one of the best live groups out there in 2019, and their set in London this week served to Read more…
The night before this show, Phil Anselmo and the Illegals laid waste to the Underworld with a set primarily composed of Pantera covers. Their audience spent the entire night moshing like maniacs while singing along to some of the most legendary metal songs of all time. Bleeding Through (10/10), however, inspired even more insanity – on a Sunday night, no Read more…
Phil Anselmo is one of metal’s ultimate icons, a consistently controversial, divisive, and confrontational figurehead whose signature vocals have propelled entire albums into the history books. The fact that Phil Anselmo is even standing today is a testament to his bloody-minded resilience, his refusal to lie down and let the world roll over him – even as it does its best to suffocate his will to continue. There’s no denying that he’s made mistakes along the way – but on the eve of Anselmo’s 51st birthday, the Underworld crowd made it clear that they were ready to Read more…
Some records demand that you crank them up to such ridiculous extremes that your neighbours are practically guaranteed to come round and try to fight you – and Mastodon’s entire back catalogue fits into that volume-dependent category. Since my neighbours are actually pretty nice people, but also sadly fail to appreciate sludgy prog, I’ve not been inclined to inflict the likes of Blood Mountain, Crack the Skye, and Emperor of Sand upon them. For that reason, Mastodon’s main appeal for me up to this point has been based on professional curiosity, rather than Read more…
Although attractiveness is subjective, ArcTanGent happens to be situated in an official Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – and if you visit it and look around, you’d probably agree with the government’s judgment for once. As for the music you can expect to experience at the UK’s most respected prog, math, and post-everything festival, it may serve a very specific niche, but the fans who love the styles in question tend to Read more…
2000 Trees 2018 was easily one of the best festivals I’ve ever been to. Year after year, the Trees team have consistently worked to build and improve on everything they’ve achieved – and by this point, 2000 Trees has a practically unrivalled reputation amongst fans of British underground music.
This past weekend, one of the UK music scene’s greatest institutions exceeded all expectations Read more…
Last night, Koko hosted one of the shows of the year.
In recent years, Press To MECO (85%) have earned much respect thanks to their ability to pen complex yet accessible rock songs. They’re one of the best bands to do so since Reuben – and they made the most of this opening slot, throwing new beatdown-boasting song A Quick Fix among established tunes such as Manipulate and Affinity. Press To MECO are a joy to listen to, a band with a voice of their own, and ones to watch in 2018 Read more…
The House of Vans is a unique place. Half music venue, half skate park, it’s exactly where you would expect to discover cultural components that only fit far outside the box. Dorje, naturally, fit right in. Read more…
As Animals As Leaders’ only UK show of 2017, this gig was literally one of a kind. As is becoming my custom at Koko, I set up camp near the ceiling and prepared for a bird’s eye view of a very special show.
Nick Johnston (95%) was the only act on this bill I hadn’t seen live before, although having reviewed his previous two albums Remarkably Human and Atomic Mind and chatted to him at length about the former for this interview, I knew to expect great things Read more…