Opinion

I was lucky enough to speak to Thobbe and Chris from Sabaton after their set at Download about their last album, playing with fire and little furry creatures.  

I caught up with the boys from UK upstarts Monuments to discuss playing Download, the next 6-12 months and get the name of their new album horrifically wrong.  

I was lucky enough to catch up with Corey from Trivium at Download Festival to talk about THAT 2005 Donington set, working with David Draiman and Paolo’s internet-famous cat…  

I spoke to Heart in Hand at Download to chat about their mysterious new album, their upcoming tour and other random pieces of information. Please note that standing in height order was completely coincidental.

I caught up with UK metallers Malevolence at Download to discuss their new album, their upcoming tour and stump them with a fan question.

I chatted to Fozzy’s Rich Ward at Download Festival about the new album, their initial parody act and Chris Jericho’s former career.

After their delayed arrival at the site and signing, session I caught up with Phil from the Temperance Movement during Friday evening for a quick chat about everything relating to the band including their astonishing rise to fame.

I caught up with Kehn, Brad and Kyle from They Say Fall at Download this year to talk the Red Bull Studio competition and how it feels to have taken to the stage at the biggest rock festival in the UK.    

The sun may be beating down outside, and Belfast threatening to enjoy some some of (quite possibly foreshortened) summer, but that doesn’t stop the hardiest of the city’s black clad metallians gathering (not quite in their masses) and heading indoors to the sanctity of the equally darkened Slimer for another …

While circuses may fascinate many – either in terms of the tongue-in-cheek grotesquery of the ‘carny’ or the slapstick farce of clowns chucking water over each other – personally I’ve never quite seen the attraction.  They’re often facile and meaningless – and those which inflict needless cruelty on animals just …

For those of a superstitious mien, Friday the 13th is not exactly a lucky talisman – and so it proves, at least partially, for the organizers of this charity fundraiser gig (in aid of the hugely-underfunded Belfast Rape Crisis Centre) as, despite huge advance marketing and PR campaigns, other mitigating …

I recently spoke to singer Elin Larsson, and guitarist Dorian Sorriaux from Blues Pills, a band that’s been making a name for themselves since they released their debut EP late last year.  The band are set to release their debut album in late July.  Hear what they had to say …

.@louelladeville_ @planetmosh review of Absolva .@soundcontrolmcr .@babylonfireuk .@asylumcityzoo .@ChrisAppleton88 .@AbsolvaDanBate .@Rocksector What better way to end a fifteen date UK tour than by coming home! Local lads Chris Appleton and Martin McNee along with bandmate Dan Bate from Absolva did just that at Sound Control Manchester. With new album Anthems To …

When Northern Ireland metallians Conjuring Fate last year decided to call it a day, it was quite a shock for the scene in this part of the world as, after eight years together, the band’s ascendancy had appeared to on the upward slope.  However, the ‘break’ turned out to be …

Irishman Colm Gray had the honour of opening the main stage today.  The planned world false beard attempt was postponed till later in the day so there would be more people around as the mud meant turnout was low this early.  Playing to a small crowd he went down well.  …

True deceivers got things started on the main stage.  With a mix of guitar, fiddle and vocals they were a good start to the day, but I was more interested in heading over to one of the other stages. Over in Tornado Town, East Town Pirates were putting in a …

Tonight was No Sinner’s last UK date on their current tour.  Having played the Black Heart in Camden as their only UK date when they were last in Europe, tonight sees them at the larger Upstairs venue at the Garage. The night kicked off with two support acts – The …

I spoke to Michael Amott and Alissa White-Gluz recently about the recent lineup change and about their new album, War Eternal. After over ten years, Angela has left Arch Enemy.  What was the bands reaction when she told you she wanted to leave? Michael:  We saw it coming actually so …

PM. Ken, congratulations on the new album “Eternity”; it has been receiving some very positive reviews: When did you feel you had the making of something special? “Thanks, David. Yes, we’re very happy with the response! I knew from the first reunion gigs that the band sounded as competent and …

This year saw Bearded Theory festival moving to a new home after being at Kedleston Hall for years, it’s moved to Catton Hall, between Burton on Trent and Lichfield, and familiar to some fans as the home of Bloodstock festival.  Sadly despite the previous weekend enjoying scorching hot sunshine, this …