Event Reviews

  September 29th 2012 was an important day for fans of nwobhm music  as the Denim And Leather festival staged 5 bands whose musical styles fit the bill. Gaskin, Praying Mantis, Weapon and Stampede were playing when the movement began in the late 70’s/early 80’s but opening band Agincourt, although …

For one night only, Dublin Metal Events (DME) turned The Pint into a den of debauchery for Dying Fetus’ Womb to Waste tour. DME have always been able to deliver the goods when it comes to getting some of the most sought after bands to play in Dublin; so it …

Saturday night at Wembley arena was the scene for one of the most impressive nights of music the venue has seen. The event had advertised a whole host of stars – Doug Aldrich, Nicko McBrain, Phil Campbell, Tim Ripper Owens, Billy Duffy, Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert, Corey Taylor, Glenn Hughes, …

Very soon after the doors opened, the first band took to the stage – “Sound storm” from Italy.  Despite having a male singer and a female singer, it quickly became clear that the female singer was going to play little part in the performance.  To be honest apart from some …

Ensiferum are currently on tour at the minute with special guests Amoral and Profane Omen. Ensiferum are promoting their newest release ‘Unsung Heroes’. Back again to the dark and dingy Moho Live in Manchester City Center, although it does have complete new decor. The venue is filling up nicely. There is a buzz …

September bank holiday weekend in Glasgow was, for a change, fairly clement when it’s usually drab and dreich as we say up here.  Not only were we cheered by the weather, we were also treated to a killer set from not just the headliners of the night, Halestorm, but also …

Sunday night saw a large gathering at the historic Royal Albert Hall for Superjam, presented by The Sunflower Jam (http://www.thesunflowerjam.com/) and what a night this would turn out to be!  Not only for the immensity of the line-up but also for the very cause we were all there to support; …

Sunday 16th September was the fourth heat of Molten Magazine’s Battle of the bands. The fourth stage of the competition was held in The Pint, Dublin. In each heat four bands will battle to win prizes and opportunities that most people would sell their mother for. Prizes for the winners …

They say the music business is about who you know and not what you know and on this occasion that rang true as I happened to know the right person to get me in and to him I am very grateful. Jake Bugg is a name if you have not …

What is the collective noun for a group of guitarists? In this case, may we proffer forth the description ‘an audience’ – as nearly every other person assembled for this Belfast stop-off on Firewind’s ten date UK and Ireland tour appeared to be a six-string slinger from one local metal …

Fibber’s monthly massacre was the first endeavour by new Rock and Roll promotions to provide the people of Dublin with a fun metal gig.  Hosted by Dan Keogh (Vile Regression) and Lar Bowler (Two Tales of Woe) it was a great night with a decent turnout to go on top …

The night started very early – doors at 6pm instead of the usual 7pm, with Motherload going on stage at 6.30. As a result they took to the stage in an almost empty venue with maybe a dozen or so fans there. It’s a shame asearly starts on a weeknight …

It’s not often you can say “I remember seeing this band when they were just starting out” but on Saturday night in Glasgow I was lucky to be one of those people as Brighton metallers Furyon came to town with local guys Mair and Audiodriver in support. I had the …

Your humble PM scribe feels like he has been living in the brilliantly named Voodoo for the best part of a week, as this is my third gig in as many days in the Belfast city centre venue. Industrial thrashers The Obscene Machine must feel the same way, as it …

This evening’s weekly dose of Saturday metal gave two out of the four local bands attending next month’s Highway To Hell III a chance to run through their paces, albeit in front of a much more partisan crowd than they undoubtedly will face in Glasgow… Opening proceedings for the duo …

When the census did its rounds last year, I filled in the section marked ‘Religion’ with two very simple words – Heavy Metal. For that’s what metal is… a lifestyle choice, at times a religious experience. And, so it is that, for the second time in a little over 24 …

Despite summer trying, vainly, to make a last ditch attempt to make its disappointing presence felt inside, and the counter-attraction of equally disappointing live football in the adjoining bar, an extremely healthy crowd sequestered itself in the darkened environs of metal’s spiritual Belfast home for this weekly early-evening triple header. …

School night gigs in this part of the world have a reputation for being poorly attended, even when four quality acts come together on a superb value-for-money bill. Having said that, by the end of this evening there is a respectable enough crowd gathered to support the first of two …

Pop-metal seems to be the new thing, these days. Softer metal bands that are meant to appeal to a wider audience are becoming ever more common, (The City Divided, Dead By April). Therefore, the fact that Italian metal masters Evershine are grasping this genre with both hands, and grasping it …

For the general public, Saturday August 25th in Dublin was all about gawking at the flagships but for the metal lover, Saturday was all about CARNAGEFEST 2012. So, while the rest of Dublin was down by George’s Dock, admiring the flagships and (let’s be honest) the sailors there was one …