As the smoky coloured lights dipped on stage presenting shadows of each band member, it was in this moment that Inhaler are born rockstars in their own right.
Metalcore is, for the most part, a creatively moribund genre. As with all scenes, it’s not without its trailblazers and its cult diamonds in the rough, but ultimately it’s a form of music that’s swapped intensity for formulas, and sincerity for tropes. Dying Wish are a metalcore band. But they’ve got no resemblance to the kinds of band that have just been mentioned. This is metalcore circa 2002: vital, visceral and venomous. A sound that’s pleasingly retro, without ever feeling dated. And it’s great.
Trivium are undoubtedly one of the greatest metal acts to come out of the 21st century. For the last 18 years they’ve been churning out great record after great record like it’s nobody’s business, and with such a quick turnaround for their last record, does 'In The Court Of The Dragon' further cement Trivium’s future place in the metal hall of fame?
Bring Me The Horizon at The O2 offered a thrilling glimpse into a glitchy technological cyber future of live music.
Sunday 26th September at The Parish in Huddersfield marked the final date of Blood Youth’s whistle-stop tour of the United Kingdom, with support coming from Death Blooms we headed down to the show. Read what we thought here!
The All Time Low boys returned back to Brixton where they belong. Find out what went down at the show here.
There’s a lot to unpack around 'Visions of Another Hell'. It's Blood Youth's final record with long-time vocalist Kaya Tarsus who has now left the band, handing the torch to his successor, before the album is even released. Does this mean Blood Youth's latest effort is doomed to failure with one of its key components no longer part of it, or does it lend even more weight to a collection of tracks that are truly trapped like a moment in time?
Los Angeles alternative rock band Badflower are back, staring straight in the face of a sophomore album slump and categorically saying “no” with the utmost emotionally raw conviction. The band's latest LP, 'This is How The World Ends', serves as the follow-up to 'Ok, I’m Sick' back in 2019, a debut album that dealt with challengingly dark subject matters in suitably comfortable, alt-rock attacking style. There is certainly a continuation of thought provoking themes on their latest record, as Badflower break down the barriers and banish the concept of taboo topics, with an urgent, blood pumping rush.
Back in London town to bring some nostalgic indie anthems of the late noughties and beyond, Leeds very own The Pigeon Detectives brought a celebratory, crowd-pleasing performance to the O2 Forum in Kentish Town. One which took the roof of the Forum in fun-filled, frantic fashion, full of staple Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging meets Gavin and Stacey era indie anthems that still stand up as iconic tunes to this day, plus some newer material too.
Making their unexpected live return at this year's Reading & Leeds Festival as a last-minute booking to fill the Main Stage West two days prior to their Saturday mid-afternoon slot, Surrey pop-rockers You Me At Six were no late arrival, but rather the headlining act at the O2 Forum Kentish Town on the band's first full UK tour back since ‘Back Again’ world tour and the groups deserved Gunnersville Festival headliner slot back in 2019, in a world where live music never got stopped in its tracks.