It is cold, mid-December in Scotland and our breath hangs fogging slightly in the air as we discuss all things 'Sanguivore II: Mistress Of Death' with Will Gould. Later tonight, Creeper will take to the stage for their set as support for Ice Nine Kills, and Gould is leaning against a table, his beanie hat pulled low in a bid to help fight off the biting chill. But he is buzzing and chatting with a grin to Bring The Noise UK, eyes bright, ahead of showtime.

From the vampirish pomp and theatre of Creeper in their Sanguivore era to the horror theatrics and guitars and gore mash up of Ice Nine Kills - what’s not to love about this show in Glasgow.

If you want a rock show that rips your throat out, sets your hair on fire, and then hands you a tissue canon to pick the pieces up afterwards then Halestorm at the Hydro delivered exactly that.

Halestorm drummer Arejay Hale is all infectious smiles and visibly excited energy as he meets with Bring The Noise UK. We are chatting backstage at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow as we chew the fat together and break down his band's brand new record, the art of song writing and also imagine giving a Halestorm classic the full Rage Against the Machine treatment.

Our writer Eric Mackinnon reminisces on his Download experiences and looks ahead to next year's festival.

It was a glorious, swaggering metal event that feels like being punched in the chest by a rock ’n’ roll freight train made entirely of riffs and gags

The Sickness 25th Anniversary tour headed to Glasgow with Megadeth and Disturbed taking over the Glasgow venue.

This was a nostalgia filled night in Edinburgh.

Eivør Pálsdóttir has a voice like an avalanche dressed in a spider web, and a gaze that doesn’t just meet yours but reaches out and grips you by both ears, with an anchor in your soul. We’re backstage at Download Festival, ahead of her much anticipated set to headline the Dogtooth stage. She’s just arrived - thirty minutes ago, to be precise - but already, the storm is stirring inside her.

We’re backstage at Download Festival, and under the warm glow of a glorious sun, spirits are high and riffs are even higher. For Eric Bass - Shinedown’s bassist, producer, and creative linchpin - festival sets are more than just a gig. They’re a proving ground.