Event Reviews

Have you ever gone to gig where one band started the headline set and another finished it?  Well, that’s what happened – more or less – this past Saturday evening, when Million Dollar Reload played their last ever gig (coincidentally at one of their favourite venues), and midset transmogrified into …

Formed in the mid-Ulster area in late 2011, upstarts Donum Dei have spent the intervening period ripping up stages across Northern Ireland and establishing themselves as perhaps the singularly most impressive young thrash act in this part of the world, going from copycat Metallica wannabes faster than some of their …

After a hearty breakfast it was time to slap on the sun cream after being fried alive on the first day of Bloodstock and head off once more for more metal. First call of the day was not the beer tent but to the New Blood stage at the ungodly …

Sunday is always a bitter/sweet day at Bloodstock for me as on the plus side you have another day of metal but on the minus side when the day is over you have to wait another year for the next one. First band of the day on the Sophie Lancaster …

Another year another Bloodstock and 2015 was one of the best I have attended to say the least. All 4 stages threw up some incredible performances although 2 out of the 3 main stage headliners were below par for me. I headed off from my hotel in Tamworth early so …

With most true-blooded Belfast metal fans away across the schuk for Bloodstock, there was a somewhat understandably disappointing turn out for this rare live invasion by Armagh pagans Waylander. Openers Whitby Bay seem something of an anomaly, it must be admitted.  Drummer/vocalist Patrick Moran looks like he would be more …

Many bands love Glasgow. Aesthetic Perfection is no exception. Last year they were rocking The Classic Grand together with Faderhead, and they were back again, this year – to the Audio club. While people were slowly gathering in Audio, the first opening act, a local band called Advance started their …

The dawning of August can mean only one thing in these parts – the annual celebration of all that is best about the Irish metal scene (and, on this occasion, that from slightly further afield) that is the latest instalment of the Monsters Of Rot one-day festival of madness, mayhem …

It had been a busy weekend for PM’s Northern Ireland team, having already caught 12 bands over the previous 48 hours, including our annual pilgrimage to the depths of Fermanagh countryside for the annual Monsters Of Rot extreme metal extravaganza.  But, the pace was showing no sign of relenting as …

The underground Wigan Rock and Metal venue, The Boulevard has had it’s fair share of fantastic gigs from many great original and tribute bands since I started going nearly 3 years ago, But last night could not prepare me for what was in store. Rocking up the stage in the …

It may be the last day of July, but already it is a typical Belfast “summer” evening – the temperature is plummeting into the lower reaches of single figures and the rain isn’t taking its time to belt it down as the PM team duck from the adjacent pub and …

Now in it’s fifth year, the Steelhouse Festival is one of the UK’s more remote festivals.  Although only four miles from the nearest town, Ebbw Vale, Hafod-Y-Dafal Farm’s mountain top location means it is not the most accessible – especially in a weekend dominated, in both the build up to …

First of all an apology and correction, if you have read yesterday’s review you will need to know that actually Garage Days are Austrian and Fireforce are Belgian so your man from Nick Hellefort was correct, they WERE “ze Germans”! After yesterday’s full metal onslaught I approached today with some …

Saturday dawned bright and sunny and off I went for the second day. Special mention as well at this point to the sponsors of the acoustic stage all weekend, Metal Nation Radio. Not cos they were really nice guys who worked damn hard all weekend to broadcast live from the event …

Massive Wagons/Skam – The Yorkshire House, Lancaster: 17th July 2015 The Seventh night of the Out of Our Rocka’s tour (usually two of ‘Off Yer Rocka’ bands Massive Wagons, Skam, Texas Flood and Pig Iron with local support) saw Massive Wagons and Skam playing The Yorkshire House in Lancaster, conveniently …

Saturday at Ivory Blacks in Glasgow was a four band show, leading up to the debut headline gig from Dyorlich. First up on the night was three piece Psycho-Logic.  They were on very early and because of that the crowd hadn’t really filled out yet, but that didn’t stop them …

What do we know about SOS Festival then? Sponsored by Rocksector records and organised by them and Chris Appleton (founder member of Fury UK and now playing with Absolva amongst other things) who also compered it, it’s now in its 8th year and showcases some of the label’s talent, along …

Belfast had been in virtual lockdown for the long weekend which marked the cornerstone of Northern Ireland’s marching season, the Twelfth.  Bars, restaurants and shops kept their doors firmly shut for most of the duration, leaving those who dared to venture into the practically abandoned city centre with little to …

AC/DC – Glasgow, Dublin and London 2015 Review AC/DC must surely rank as one of the greatest bands of all time! Formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young with Dave Evans initially on vocals, followed by Bon Scott from 1974 until his untimely death in 1980, and for the …