Periphery and Plini at 02 Ritz Manchester
Having blown everyone away with the release of Periphery IV: Hail Stan earlier this year, Periphery arrived in Manchester and put on an excellent show for a sold out audience
ALTERNATIVE MUSIC REVIEWS
Stray From The Path – Internal Atomics
Political rabble rousers Stray From The Path return with their 9th album Internal Atomics. The hardcore four-piece from Long Island have come along way since their beginnings at the turn of the millennium, and this latest release sees them hit new heights.
Album review: ‘Nothing Left To Love’ by Counterparts
Counterparts new record has finally landed; another serving of in your face, aggressive hardcore tunes. 'Nothing Left To Love' is there sixth outing, and sees the band harnessing unashamedly their signature sound, with only mild deviations.
MSRY – Loss
Oxford isn’t just about boat races and inspector Morse, it has a music scene too, with hardcore quartet MSRY travelling the cobbled streets with their latest EP, “Loss”. Following on from the previous year’s “Safety First” EP, getting the guys in the Guardians best new music of 2019 and played on Iggy Pop’s BBC Radio 6 show.
The Fever 333 @ Leeds University Stylus
Fever 333 live at Leeds University Stylus was an interesting night, that's for sure. The decision to not have an opening act left a vacuum of time between doors and the band taking the stage, as the sold-out room slowly filled. There was a distinct goodness in the air, however. I'd got myself on a sort of balcony, overlooking the ground below that I knew would later become a massive pit.
Creeping Death – Wretched Illusions
Growing from the fertile metal pastures of Texas, Creeping Death are the latest arrivals in a burgeoning old school death metal scene. This is their debut full length album, after 2018s excellent Specter of War EP. This album does not do anything brand new, it doesn’t break any new ground. It does death metal, mixed with a sprinkling of hardcore, and it does it very well.
Gloryhammer, Beast In Black and Windrose @ Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
Gloryhammer at Nottingham Rescue Rooms was an eye-opening gig experience. With support from Beast In Black and Italian metal act Windrose, it was a stacked bill for sure.
Alter Bridge – ‘Walk The Sky’ album review
Alter Bridge have established themselves in recent years as one of the most formiddable forces in rock. With frontman Myles Kennedy's soaring vocals that even landed him as vocalist for Slash, coupled with grungy and intricate guitars, there's a certain something Alter Bridge have got that other bands lack. The big question is, have they carried it on only new album 'Walk The Sky', which follows my own personal favourite AB full length 'The Last Hero'
Dream State – Primrose Path
Dream State's debut record 'Primrose Path' presents the band harnessing a very cinematic rock sound, grand arrangements creating a cacophony of sound and emotion. Opener 'Made Up Smile' exemplifies this sound, building up to crazy and catchy climactic choruses, and even sprinkling some wonderful little screams in there.
Can’t Swim – Foreign Language
New Jerseys Can’t Swim are back with six-track EP, Foreign Language released via Pure Noise Records. Foreign Language is my first foray into the music of Can’t Swim, I hear previous records Fail You Again and This Too Won’t Pass exploded their fan base around the U.S.
Issues – ‘Beautiful Oblivion’
Issues haven't completely shed the skin that is metalcore on new record 'Beautiful Oblivion', but they've certainly moisturised it with some extra glossy melodies that make the record more accessible to people outside of the scene
Issues and Lotus Eater live at Cwlb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
After a long, hard week in work there is nothing better than letting your hair down with some amazing live music and Issues and Lotus Eater did not disappoint us as we witnessed one of the best gigs of the year.
Swedish Death Candy- Are You Nervous?
London-based Swedish Death Candy feel like a band I should have discovered some time ago. The band make their own brand of fuzz drenched desert rock that is, on paper, certainly within my wheelhouse. The band released a self titled debut back in 2017 which, by their own admission, was very much a live/ jam based record. For their new album, Are You Nervous?, the band took a different approach. Songs were brought in more fully formed and arrangements focused in on. The effort certainly seems to have paid off.
Live review: Trash Boat, Capstan, Doll Skin and Woes @ Leeds University Stylus
Knowing full well I was set for a loaded night of pop punk, at times with a sprig of hardcore added in, I decided the only worthy shirt for the gig was my As It Is one. Then, in classic broke pop punk fashion, I used the day ticket from my bus journey earlier to get to Leeds, thus not spending extra cash on the train. 20 chicken nuggets down, I strolled to the venue, prepared for a night of mosh pit observing/avoiding.
Tides From Nebula – From Voodoo To Zen
This is the fifth full length release from Polish instrumental post rock trio Tides From Nebula. It sees the band delving into cinematic landscapes of swirling synthesizers and hypnotic rhythms. Instrumental music can be a very tricky thing to pull off, especially one based in such a minimalist sub-genre as post-rock. The ability to keep the listeners attention without a central focal point like a vocalist is challenge enough, without throwing the baby of traditional song structures out with the bath water.