Ant May

I spend half my life at gigs or festivals and the other half writing the reviews and editing photos, and somehow find time for a full time job too. Who needs sleep - I've got coffee.

The Lidocaine – On the road to Miero

The Lidocaine is a rock/metal band from Finland.  The band formed in 2007 and in 2009 released their debut album, “Voices and noises of Kiling Koling”.  In 2011 they started work on their second album,  “On the road to Miero” which has just been released in February 2013. Brief comments …

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Skadika – Frozen legends

Skadika are a metal band from Cologne, Germany.  The band was founded in 2005, and after evolving their musical style released their debut album, Winter, in 2010.  In 2012 the lineup changed leaving singer Jule as the only remaining founder member.  Since changing the lineup the band have recorded their …

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Voodoo Vegas – The rise of Jimmy Silver

Bournemouth band Voodoo Vegas formed in 2006, and have spent the last few years touring as much as possible, both within the UK and in continental Europe, playing gigs in German, France, Belgium and Italy.  Last year they launched a PledgeMusic campaign to raise funds to record their debut album.  …

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Unitopia – Covered mirror vol. 1 – smooth as silk

Australian band Unitopia play Prog rock but with other influences.  The band formed in 1996 but it wasn’t until 2005 that they released their debut album – “More than a dream”.  Two more albums have followed since then (“The garden” and “Artificial”), and now we have a new album from …

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My own chaos – My own chaos

My own chaos are a Canadian metal band from Vancouver.  The band was formed in 2008, and this is their debut album.  The album is a concept album.  Vocalist Connis Chaos talking about the album says “The album was written about my divorce and the emotional rollercoaster that goes along …

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Miss lava – Red supergiant

Lisbon based rock band Miss Lava released their debut EP in 2008 and their debut album (Blues for the dangerous miles) in 2009.  Since then they have toured extensively within Portugal and further afield including tours of the UK and the US.  Now they have released their second album – …

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Firstborn – Define our generation

Swedish band Firstborn were only formed in January 2012, but within a couple of short months they were already starting to record their debut album, which saw the light in October 2012 – just ten month since the band formed which is pretty fast work.  The band are inspired by …

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Incassum interview, February 2013

I spoke to Manchester band Incassum outside the Asylum 2 venue in Birmingham where they were playing alongside Rocksector label mates Hanging Doll and Triaxis, and had put in a great performance on stage.  We talked about what band they’d describe themselves as being similar to (Abba apparently), tour dates, …

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Mortillery – Origin of extinction

Mortillery are a thrash metal band from Edmonton in Canada.  Their musical influences include Judas Priest, English Dogs, Warfare, Broken Bones, Iron Maiden, Crucifix, Slayer, W.A.S.P. Motorhead, Municipal Waste and early Metallica.  That “early Metallica” bit gives you a hint what the music is going to be like – as …

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Arkona – Decade of Glory – Live

In early 2012, Russian folk metal band Arkona celebrated their tenth anniverary with a special concert at the P!PLE Concert Hall in Moscow.  To make it really special they were joined by a 9-piece choir, a string quartet and 2 background vocalists.  The concert was recorded and is now being …

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Lovelorn dolls – The House of Wonders

Lovelorn Dolls are a band from Belgium – home of great beer, great chocolate – and some great bands.  The band was formed by Ladyhell and Corpus Christi, and was initially called Lovelorn before becoming Lovelorn Dolls.  Ladyhell was formerly singer of Skeptical Minds from 2002 to 2007 and then …

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Bearded Theory festival

Bearded Theory festival is held each year within the stunning grounds of the iconic Kedleston Hall on the outskirts of Derby nestled between the beautiful villages of Kedleston and Quarndon.  Kedleston Hall and the parkland is owned and managed by the National Trust but the Curzon family remain in residence …

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Crossfaith – Zion EP

Crossfaith is a metalcore/hardcore/electronica band from Osaka, Japan.  Like many Japanese bands, Crossfaith sing in English.  The band was formed in 2006 and released their debut EP (Blueprint of Reconstruction) in 2008. They then released their first studio album “The Artificial Theory for the Dramatic Beauty”  in 2009, and their …

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Buckcherry – Confessions

Los Angeles based rockers Buckcherry are back with their sixth album – Confessions.  Formed in 1997, the band split in 2002 before being reformed in 2005 with singer Josh Todd and guitarist Keith Nelson as the only original members alongside three new recruits.  They released their album “15” a year …

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Mind the gaep – Get ready for tonight

Mind the Gaep are a hard rock band from Frankfurt, Germany.  The band formed in 2006, and have previously released an EP (Rock’n’Roll decadence), with “Get ready for tonight” being their debut album.  The music is heavy guitar-driven rock with plenty of guitar solos. Brief comments on a few tracks.. …

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Vaduz – Better days

Vaduz take their name from the capital city of Liechtenstein.  A strange choice perhaps for a band whose members were all born and raised in Iowa, but apparently it’s a name they chose after seeing it in a travel brochure.  The band formed in 1987 and within a year or …

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Spyon – Sly tactics

Russian band Spyon were formed in 2003 in Petrozavodsk.  Since then they have undergone a number of lineup changes as well as playing plenty of gigs.  In 2006 they recorded a 5 track demo – “Spies and dreamers” which attracted new fans and won them a place at the Vozduh …

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