Sum 41 are one of the most recognisable punk-related rock bands of all time. Their back story is famously riddled with everything from near-death experiences in war-torn countries to a certain uncomfortably public divorce, not to mention frontman Deryck Whibley’s descent into 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…
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…
I’m not normally a big fan of live records. With so many literally moving parts, and an almost endless list of things that can go wrong, a truly awesome live recording is a rare thing. With 25Live@25, Skunk Anansie have cherry-picked no fewer than 25 gems from across their entire career, and assembled them into a compilation structured as if it were a single live set.
Of course, Skunk Anansie have something of a reputation for great live shows – and so this collection’s quality is Read more…
Working under the Beartooth banner, Caleb Shomo has always been up for a fight. His opponent comes cloaked in shadow, has no concrete physical form, and has claimed far too many victims. Its name is depression, the Disease referred to by Read more…
Some bands are born special. I first came across Black Peaks (then known collectively as Shrine) back in 2014, within a year or so of their initial formation, and it was obvious even then that these guys would go on to achieve big things. Fast-forward past their Closer To The Sun EP, 2016’s beautifully batshit debut album Statues, massive amounts of touring, and more than a few Read more…
After a decade of slogging away as one of the most hated pop-punk bands of all time, Good Charlotte went on hiatus and returned with 2016’s Youth Authority. It was a decent effort, and recognised as such, a promising sign of lessons learnt and extra miles run while sweating blood in the name of self-improvement. At their best, Good Charlotte stood up for the world’s downtrodden misfits – and that positive stance is likely why Read more…
Thrice have always thrived on diverse creative approaches. Their on-record history has already taken in a set of post-hardcore classics (The Artist In The Ambulance), experimental compositional sorcery (Vheissu), and the all-encompassing masterwork The Alchemy Index. Since the latter epic saw the light of day, Thrice have never quite managed to Read more…
Here in the UK, two underground festivals stand far above the rest. Every July, 2000 Trees hosts a wealth of alternative bands whose music collectively tends towards the more commercial end of the non-mainstream spectrum, while a month or so later, ArcTanGent ushers about 5,000 people into its grounds for three days of niche acts – especially those fond of Read more…
In 2018, humility has increasingly become a core value embraced and emphasised by guitar-based bands. Cool, calm, and collected confidence reigns supreme over arrogance and obnoxiousness, while mature self-assurance gets prioritised over forceful attempts to prove one’s worth. The Dirty Nil refuse to conform to that particular trend – and while nonconformity is obviously one of rock and roll’s most fundamental values, and they’re far from the first set of rockers to Read more…