The band celebrated their album Comfort in Sound amongst other tracks from their discography.

In this case, you might not remember everything about this album, but the most evocative parts will change how you think about shoegaze. Very much an album that’s more than the sum of its parts.

Throughout their career, Stray From The Path have approached their music as they’ve approached their left-wing politics - no-nonsense, in your face, and minimal fuss. So it comes to pass with their surprise new album 'Clockworked', which coincided with their announcement that they will be breaking up as a band at the end of 2025.

Following the broad cultural nostalgia for all things 90s, it isn’t surprising that grungy, showgazy alt-rock is making a comeback. One of the earliest pioneers of this niche is Superheaven. Reuniting after a six-year hiatus in 2022, they’re releasing their first full-length in a decade – 'Superheaven'.

The album represents a triumphant return to form, especially after the lukewarm response to 2021’s 'You’re Welcome'. While that record leaned toward a somewhat confused mishmash of sounds, 'Big Ole' sees the band rediscovering the perfect fusion of pop-punk and metalcore that made their earlier work so beloved.

We caught the band on their first run of shows since their covid-induced hiatus.

Where previous effort, 'Proper Dose', saw the band experimenting with a number of different sounds, 'I Want to Disappear' could be viewed as a hard-reboot. Six years ago, the band were experimenting with indie-rock, and borrowing from Brit-pop. It seems that lead singer Parker Canon has-at least for now-shelved his inner Liam Gallagher, in order to return to the band’s roots.

Much like The Early November's 2012 album 'In Currents', this self-titled record is very much a grower. There’s undoubtedly excellent songwriting here, but it lacks the immediacy of some of their earlier work. However, as an exercise in establishing the band among the scene’s elder statesmen, this is definitely a success.

In essence, everything you could want from a nu-metal album is covered on P.O.D.'s new record 'Veritas': DJ scratches, check; rapping, check; low-register growling, check.

A career spanning set and a great night in Manchester was had by all in attendance.