Opinion

With the buzz from last weekend’s electrifying night still raising hairs on the back of the neck, we descend on Fibber Magees for the second heat of Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses Ireland. Tonight’s showcase features (once again) 5 acts from different ends of the metallic spectrum who are all …

Tonight’s gig might as well be at the Freeze as opposed to the Fleece – the cold snap is finally upon us and biting savagely. Critics might say this is the reason why Venom Prison (8) attract a a sizeable portion of the crowd tonight as punters hop inside to get warm, …

Tonight’s gig was completely sold out which is good to see especially since it’s midweek and it’s only a couple of months since the band played Wolverhampton civic hall a couple of miles away supporting Judas Priest, and fans had been queueing in the freezing cold outside the venue early.  …

Tonight’s gig had a very early start – 6pm doors with the first band on stage at 6.15pm.  Sadly being a weeknight then this inevitably meant most people didn’t arrive in time to see the first band.  Opening act Imperial Age therefore played to a tiny number of people which …

On Christmas Day in 1975, a young man from London by the name of Stephen Percival Harris decided to form his own band. That band was Iron Maiden. Four decades, sixteen studio albums, numerous critically acclaimed tours and one specialist beer later, he must wonder what he’d let himself in …

A cold damp January Saturday evening in Dublin can only mean one thing. It’s that time of year again; Metal 2 The Masses Ireland; that time when the hibernating beasts of the Irish metal scene awake from their winter slumber and begin the new quest to sally forth on a …

Northern Ireland-born Black Star Riders frontman Ricky Warwick certainly believes in keeping busy.  In 2015 he released no less than three PledgeMusic-funded solo albums, and toured virtually non-stop in support of BSR’s own second album, ‘The Killer Instinct’.  In between this, he also undertook a UK tour with band mate, …

A little more than three months after he last graced this same stage – then accompanied by his Black Star Riders bandmate Damon Johnson – Ricky Warwick returned to one of his favourite haunts for this special New Year show.  In fact, Warwick had forsaken the somewhat sunnier climes of …

Matty James & The Irregulars It was a busy Saturday night in December when Matty James brought his band Matty James & The Irregulars to Tiger Lounge, Manchester for the final night of his first UK tour with a full band. What had been a very rainy day in Manchester …

Winter Rocks 2015 – Corporation, Sheffield A very windy day in December heralded the second ever Winter Rocks Festival at Corporation, Sheffield . After a successful event in 2014. There was a bit of a queue when I arrived and the event didn’t kick off at 12.15 with Skarlett Riot …

I spoke to Gorka Elso, keyboard player with Diabulus in Musica just before their London show supporting Leaves Eyes.  Hear what he had to say about work on their next album and more..  

I spoke to Liv Kristine from Leaves Eyes just before the band played London to talk about their latest album, the tour, and the Liv Kristine solo shows (the only UK date being London on 20th December).  

For most people, celebrating the festive time of year quite often starts and ends with work related staff outings. Not for me though, this rocker saw in the silly season at Rock City Nottingham for the manic craziness that was the Lawnmower Deth Xmas party. Those of a hardened nature …

Tonight was my third time seeing Nightwish on this tour, and having seen how good they are at the moment I was really looking forward to seeing this, the last date on their European tour, and the first time they’ve brought their full show over to the UK.  It’s probably …

Some people would go to any lengths for a great party… and, by this, I don’t just mean those of us who regularly board the Beer Bus for the regular trips to the best little rock club in the country:  no, I mean some of the determined folk who have …

It’s staggering how different gigs can be from one night to next. On Sunday, people were still queueing round the corner for The Darkness a full 30-45 minutes after doors opened. Fifteen minutes before entry here and there’s barely fifty in line. Interestingly, it’s much the same audience demographic; from the …

Deciding to drive into Glasgow city centre on the last Friday night before Christmas probably wasn’t my best idea ever.  As I circled the blocks for what seemed like forever before finally squeezing my tiny car into half a space behind a Ferrari who’s arse of a driver apparently needs …

Kris caught up with the Legendary musician/producer Logan Mader before he hit the stage with his new band Once Human.  We talk the origins of Once Human, and what he missed most that tempted him back onto the stage!

Tonight was a night I was so excited about, Fear Factory celebrating 20 years since the release of Demanufacture. I was 8 years old when this album came out, I was lucky enough to be raised on a diet of copious amounts of metal very early on; as I got …

It’s two weeks before Christmas, and the dreaded party season is in full swing.  Bars in the centre of Belfast – in common with those in most towns and cities – are filled with what in these parts refer, rather disdainfully, to as “oncers”:  those people who only get out …