ALBUM REVIEW: Electric Wizard – Black Magic Rituals and Perversions, Vol. 1


In 2024, Electric Wizard returns with their first album in seven years, Black Magic Rituals and Perversions, Vol. 1 (Spinefarm Records), a live album. Returning with a live album is one thing but this isn’t your ordinary live album. Usually, when one thinks of live albums, you may think of hearing bombastic stage sounds and roaring crowds, but Electric Wizard chose to record to an audience of each other and to the fans with the idea that people would get to hear what a band, trapped in isolation with the thought of possibly never playing again. The result of this album is a crushing presentation of songs that are even more raw, angry, and fist-clenching than before.  Continue reading


FESTIVAL REVIEW: ArcTangent Festival 2024 Live at Fernhill Farm


 

2024 marks ArcTanGent’s 10th anniversary. Taking place across five stages at Fernhill Farm near Bristol, the festival specialises in progressive, largely heavy music. It is Metal-orientated, but the festival’s remit also extends to other styles including Indie and Electronic Music. ATG 2024 sees over 130 bands and artists performing over three “main” days plus a warm-up day.Continue reading


FESTIVAL REVIEW: ArcTangent Festival 2024 Part 2 – Live at Various Venues 


Friday:

On Friday’s early afternoon, Sans Froid arrive at the Elephant stage to dish out their mournful and sombre art rock.Continue reading


FESTIVAL REVIEW: ArcTangent Festival 2024 Part 1 Live at Various Venues 


2024 marks ArcTanGent’s 10th anniversary. Taking place across five stages at Fernhill Farm near Bristol, the festival specialises in progressive, largely heavy music. It is metal-orientated, but the festival’s remit also extends to other styles including indie and electronic music. ATG 2024 sees over 130 bands and artists performing over three “main” days plus a warm-up day.Continue reading


Arctangent Festival 2024 Books Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky, Clown Core, Ihsahn, Electric Wizard, Brontide, Amenra, Julie Christmas, Caspian, and More


To help celebrate the 10th year of the mighty ArcTanGent Festival in 2024, today’s band announcement is very likely it’s biggest ever band announcement in its history. Yes, it is a biggie, and yes it will make you all very happy. New bands added to the already stacked list include Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky, Clown Core, Ihsahn, Electric Wizard, Brontide, Amenra, Julie Christmas, Caspian, Delta Sleep, Show Me The Body, Bo Ninge, and more. Tickets are on sale at the link below. Continue reading


FESTIVAL REVIEW: Damnation Festival and a Night of Salvation 2023 Live at Bowlers Exhibition Centre


 

This year’s Damnation Festival is the second since it has returned to its original home of Manchester after many years at the University of Leeds. The festival had outgrown the confines of its erstwhile venue and now takes place at Manchester’s Bowlers Exhibition Centre across three large stages. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Witchthroat Serpent – Trove Of Oddities At The Devil’s Driveway


 

Trove Of Oddities At The Devil’s Driveway (Heavy Psych Sounds) is the fourth full-length release from France’s Witchthroat Serpent. Recorded in single live takes to analog tape at Brittany’s Kerwax Studio, the record is described as being “slower…darker and more evil” that its predecessors, and “an invocation to Satan”.

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FESTIVAL REVIEW: Download Festival 2022 Part II


My Saturday at Download began over at the main stage where I caught the retro new wave of classic rock act Those Damn Crows, a band who have amassed a significant following in Wales thanks to appearances at the likes of Steelhouse Festival and other rock-oriented affairs. Possibly one of the smallest acts to perform on the main stage this year, the band spared no expense offering a fantastic wake-up call with some unremarkable if solid hard rock tunes. The day’s proceedings then continued firmly in the rocky territory with a southern, slightly heavier twang with Black Label Society, in their first festival appearance on UK soil since 2015, and with less of Zakk Wylde’s expectedly lengthy and tiresome soloing. Don’t get me wrong, Zakk was still doing his usual thing, but with a much-needed addition of percussion, making the moments of instrumental wankery much more palatable than usual.

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FESTIVAL REVIEW: Download Festival 2022 Part I


After a prolonged absence from the British metal scene courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic (save for a scaled-back pilot event in 2021), Leicestershire’s iconic summer rock, punk, and metal weekender, Download Festival returned to Castle Donnington in a maximalist blaze of glory, packing in a full-scale 5-day experience with some familiar favorites, hotly tipped up-and-comers and some of the best international acts that rock and metal scene has to offer.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Friends of Hell – Friends of Hell


There may not be a “classic” doom metal genre, officially (is there really an official subgenre list of heavy metal?), but when I think of the classic doom metal sound, I think of the UK style. Super beefy guitar riffs, slowed down tempo, lyrics about the occult and psychedelics, and of course, clean high end pitched vocals to tie it all together. Friends of Hell does just that on their self-titled debut album (Rise Above). Tas Danazoglou (Satan’s Wrath/ex-Electric Wizard), and vocalist Albert Witchfinder (Opium Warlords/ex-Reverend Bizarre) are the driving force behind this doom machine and seems like that is all that is needed.

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