Reviews

When it comes to all things alternative in the UK, there’s really nothing bigger or better than Download Festival. It’s got it all – the Gods of Rock, up-and-coming bands, and everything from the WWE NXT to sideshows in between. If you fancy yourself as a bit of a heavy music fan, this is the pilgrimage that you absolutely have to make at some point in your lifetime. We were at this year’s event and it did not disappoint.

Most consider the festival season a bit of a none starter if they didn't get the chance to make it to Slam Dunk. Travelling through three major UK locations each year during the May bank holiday music lovers in their hordes religiously flock to the event. With a few big changes to the stage arrangements this year, along with a duel headline setup, we took a trip down to this year's event in Leeds to see what all of the fuss was about.

After a turbulent year for the Swedish giants the Clergy are definitely back in ceremony for their fourth full length effort ‘Prequelle’. Be prepared to revel and worship at the altar of Ghost.

Australian trio Columbus return with ‘A Hot Take On Heart Break’ - the follow up to their 2016 debut release ‘Spring Forever’ - and this album appears to be a massive left turn in their musical direction.

Fresh faced, young upstarts Layover are here with their debut EP 'Your Laughter Never Leaves', chock full of catchy hooks, big choruses and sad lyrics that will give any listener a well needed injection of emo/punk nostalgia.

Rock icons Nickelback hit UK shores for their Feed The Machine tour this month, joined by special guests Seether. We took a trip to the Birmingham leg of the tour to see Kroeger and co perform tracks spanning their impressive back catalogue, all the while providing a reminder of the strength of their music’s natural magnetism.

The Dali Thundering Concept are looking to take the progressive metal world by storm with their second full length album ‘Savages’. They have taken the experience they have gained since the release of ‘Eyes Wide Opium’ and honed their skills to devastating effect.

Nottingham based rockers Eva Plays Dead have just released their EP The Fix and it’s definitely a fix of something! Plugging away in the independent scene is never easy, but this EP is something of a resurgence for a band who’ve played with the likes of Alien Ant Farm, Skindred and Devilskin, amongst others.

Reigning Days bring the rock with the release of their new record Eclipse, recently dropped via Marshall Records - is this debut album going to be groundbreaking or leave fans wanting more?

The boys from Byron Bay return with their sixth full length studio full-length 'Reverence', and have prepared an album that moves them even further away from their humble metalcore beginnings than their previous outing ‘Ire’.