Another day in 013’s summer of terrific bands has arrived. The Green Room is a modest sized venue, lending itself well to playing host to bands that bring atmospheric sounds, as well as being a bit more intimate than your regular main stage.Continue reading
Category Archives: Concert Reviews: Europe
Blood Red Throne & Flayed Disciple Live @ Elektrowerkz London, UK
The notoriously hazardous Norwegians are back to London to headline what could easily be described an evening in the name of pure extremity. Blood Red Throne always leave their marks in every stage they hit and savage with their powerful blend of bold and in your face death metal and plenty of fire and blood…. Emblematically… although their (in)famous and dangerous mosh pits do seem to exhume both elements in abundance at every show.Continue reading
Hellfest 2013 Report
Turning in another formidable line up which featured some very safe bets, attendance-wise, on the main stages but a fantastic representation of extreme music with a clutch of acclaimed Doom, Stoner, Death and Black Metal acts on the Temple, Altar and Valley stages France’s premier metal event Hellfest showed once again the blueprint many U.K. festivals would do well to follow. When it comes to carefully staggering stage times with two adjacent main stages and the two tents containing three other stages, the only excuse for missing any of the action is purely because of the exhaustion of rushing between catching so many scintillating sounds. The headline acts may have been fairly average yet at least the appearance of Danish rockers Volbeat in a coveted headliner role was a bold move even though the band is clearly unready to occupy such a position.Continue reading
Anathema & Antimatter Live @ Boerderij Zoetermeer, The Netherlands
The Boerderij in Zoetermeer was host to a very special acoustic evening with Antimatter and Anathema. These two bands are closely intertwined, as former bass player and songwriter for Anathema Duncan Patterson was one of the founding members of Antimatter. Anathema’s Daniel Cavanagh also appeared on Antimatter’s fourth studio album Leaving Eden.Continue reading
Download Festival 2013 Report
And so it begins: one of the most awaited music festival in the planet comes to its eleventh edition in 2013 with a three day line-up to die for. Three headliners that could not have been a better fit to define Download‘s grandeur: Iowa mighty potency Slipknot, legendary Iron Maiden and über majestic Rammstein made Download 2013 one to certainly remember for good. The weather, as tradition calls, had no mercy for the first two days: nevertheless the mood of the thrilled crowd is rising as each band takes its turn in spoiling a demanding audience with all diversions of traditional rock and metal. Sunday the sun finally remembers to grace the county of Leicestershire with the arrival of Hellyeah and their southern fire. Three days of pure metal and rock bliss: from the Finnish battle pride that Turisas bring back to a familiar ground, to the Swedish freedom rock of Free Fall, to Alice In Chains most awaited come back and Satyricon touch of eerie black metal, Download is, once again, the festival for the true hungry souls. As the days unfold and the campground fills with well equipped die-hard fans and their colourful tents, the atmosphere become simply irresistible.Continue reading
Audrey Horne, The Mercy House & Sahg Live @ NQ Live Manchester, UK
Following the acclaim Audrey Horne have received following the release of current album Youngblood it’s a shame that more punters haven’t chosen to venture down to NQ Live for this promising triple bill. Continue reading
Red Fang, The Sword & Komatsu Live @ Effenaar Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Unfortunately, initial headliners Clutch reported having family problems, and were forced to cancel for tonight. The remaining three bands, Komatsu, The Sword, and Red Fang, were given extra stage time, and while Clutch was sorely missed, these bands’ shows more than made up for their absence.Continue reading
Orange Goblin & Bliksem Live @ ECI Cultuurfabriek Roermond, The Netherlands
Orange Goblin are a band that really know how to start a party. After 16 years, they do not show any kind of fatigue. On the evening of one of the most hot and muggy days in Holland, it was a relief to enter the venue—which has air conditioning. The first thing I noticed was the small amount of people in the venue; surprising, for I expected the venue to be crowded. Nevertheless, it turned out to be a very personal and energetic show.Continue reading
Ghost & Selim Lemouchi Live @ Tivoli Utrecht, The Netherlands
Tonight at Tivoli Oudegracht in Utrecht we get treated to one of the more controversial bands in the current heavy scene, namely Ghost (b.c.). The anonymous band are known for their Blue Oyster Cult-y sound with more of a danceable disco feel in the bass, their satanic lyrics and their exceptional show theatrics. They’re also known for not disappointing sound-wise and doing near perfect renditions of their recorded work, and tonight proves no exception. Opening for them is the much-anticipated new project of Selim Lemouchi, ex Devil’s Blood, named Selim Lemouchi & His Enemies, which doesn’t disappoint, but expectations were very high and not quite met because of the muddy sound.Continue reading
Black Pyramid & Toner Low Live @ 013, Tilburg, The Netherlands
Well, looks like Summer has arrived in the Netherlands at last. Even better, it’s brought some heavy-rifftastic bands along for the ride. 013’s Stage01 is playing host to Black Pyramid and Dutch locals Toner Low.Continue reading