Mad About Rock

Living in the South East of England, I would usually have to go to Brighton or London to see a metal show. So it was an unexpected and pleasant surprise to see that Diamond Head and Saxon, two very influential metal bands, were playing in the small seaside town of Bexhill. Diamond Head has already played at the venue in the past (something not many metal bands can claim!), in 2019, supporting Uriah Heep. Although a relatively small venue, the De La Warr Pavilion is a great venue with brilliant sound, and it was good to see a sizeable turnout for this rare occasion. We need more rock/metal bands to play at this venue, but we have been fortunate to have bands such as Bullet For My Valentine with While She Sleeps and Enter Shikari play in the past, and next near Devin Townsend and Joe Satriani are playing, so let's hope this continues to increase! The powerful Diamond Head  formed in 1976 and played a massive part in the new wave of the British heavy metal movement, and legendary ban...

The new Stencil Mag is now out! This was another big issue for me as I got to do the front cover interview with Joe from Rise Against ! Read the interview here: https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue44/126 I also reviewed Rise Against's new album 'Wolves' - https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue44/154 My other reviews for this issue: The Dollyrots - Whiplash Splash - https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue44/155 Protest The Hero - The Myth https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue44/156 Seether - The Poison https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue44/157 SikTh - The Future In Whose Eyes https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue44/157 Plus something a bit different as I also reviewed MCM Comic Con in London which was cool! You can read all about it here: https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue44/196 So check this all out along with the rest of the interviews (which include Evanescence, Miss May I, CKY), reviews and features! https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue44 Links for ...

Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper Announce Festival Dates Steve Grimmett’s GRIM REAPER have announced five new festival dates starting at Bang Your Head in Germany on July 14, 2017. Normally that wouldn’t be much to write home about but after the past six months, Steve Grimmett has had it’s a minor miracle. As widely reported Steve had to have part of his leg amputated in Ecuador while on the bands South American tour in January after an operation to stem an aggressive infection failed. Since then Steve has been fighting to get back out there starting with these dates: Steve Grimmett: “I'm excited as hell to be returning to the stage, it's what I love to do, but it has to be done in a careful manner. I have to find out what I can and can't do for the time being so there won't be many gigs this year as I still have 18 months recovery to go through with more hospital and rehabilitation appointments and it's still all hard work in front of me but I feel I can...

As seen on Scuzz TV, and taken from their self-titled debut ep, Death Blooms dispense with the pleasantries and show off music muscle with their new music video 'Sick': Hailing from Liverpool and Manchester, the metalcore four-piece burst onto the scene earlier this year with their stunning first music release 'I'm Dead' and a number of live shows which has seen them sharing the stages with the likes of Dope, Skindred, Raging Speedhorn, (Hed)P.E., Anti-Clone and more. Supporters of mental health charity MIND, Death Blooms fresh take on metal with meaning has seen their fan base grow rapidly. Vocalist Paul Barrow humbly recognises this, "We talk to people a lot who've taken the time to listen to our music, and because the lyrics encapsulate what many of us feel on a daily basis, a lot of folk make the connection quickly about mental health and the need for well-being in this fast and furious digital age." Barrow explains the meaning behind ...

The Lords Of Altamont Are Ready To Unleash New Album "The Wild Sounds Of Lords Of Altamont" On Heavy Psych Sounds Let's welcome the L.A combo back and hit the road to rock'n'roll with them 'Savage 4'! Let the turntable roll and the record spin with The Wild Sound of Lords of Altamont, carefully produced at Kitten Robot Studios in the City of Angels by punk rock legend Paul Roessler (former Screamers member) and analog-mastered by Dave Schultz at D2 Mastering Lab! A hammered 4-stroke beat like a twin cylinder engine running on idle, a roaring guitar riff revving up the rpms of the iron-built motorcycle-inspired band, then the fresh and insisting breeze of a Farfisa organ whispering 'let's ride' and a heavy bass greasing up the reliable crank and rods of that authentic rock'n'roll machine, and there goes, ladies and gents, the mighty LORDS OF ALTAMONT combo! Riding hard on backyard-built, loud pipes and rigid frame undestructible ra...

Paradise Lost To Release Special Anniversary Edition of 'One Second' Ahead of next year’s 30th anniversary, Paradise Lost, the genre-defining British doom metal are set to release the 20th anniversary edition of their 1997 album ‘One Second’ through Music For Nations on 14th July. Having continually proved themselves to be at the forefront of the UK rock and metal scene, ‘One Second’ proved to be a turning point for the band, where they left behind their harder edge and began experimenting with electronics and keyboards taking on a more gothic direction. 20 years on from its release singles, ‘Say Just Words’ and title track ‘One Second’ are still performed live today. So celebrated from their 14 album catalogue (number 15 due later this year), the band are planning exclusive live performances of the album at selected festivals this year. Vocalist Nick Holmes comments: ‘The album really was a vast departure from Draconian Times and for better or worse the beginning of a very...

Danish behemoths Siamese have officially dropped their Artery Recordings debut full-length, Shameless. The record is the band's seminal work and reinterpretation of contemporary rock. To commemorate the album release, Siamese have also premiered a brand new music video for " Soul and Chemicals ". Take a listen to Siamese new single "Soul and Chemicals" HERE ! iTunes - http://smarturl.it/6br2wq MerchNOW - http://smarturl.it/cowo4h Spotify - http://smarturl.it/nc3gom Siamese gained much acclaim in 2012 with the release of their second album, Breathe:See:Move and were lauded best rock album of the year by GAFFA, Denmark's biggest music magazine. Throughout the next few years, the band went on to tour ten different countries, release their third album in Japan and Europe, and land the #6 spot on the Danish album charts. After much anticipation, they have finally returned with their Artery Recordings full-length debut, Shameless. The album's ...

Coldblack Unleash New Video "Resound"! Danish metalcore quintet Coldblack are prepared to release their new full-length album, Circles. Incorporating synth, melodic vocals, and heavy instrumentation more seamlessly than ever before, the band is ready to unleash the new tracks to captivate fans old and new. As the pinnacle of the band's raw talent and determination to push their boundaries, Circles is bound to impress new listeners and solidify old followers. To accompany the album announcement, Coldblack has also released a brand new music video for "Resound", the title track off the upcoming record. iTunes: http://smarturl.it/tn8kps MerchNOW: http://smarturl.it/88qkni Spotify: http://smarturl.it/9djmrt "Resound" Music Video: https://youtu.be/zzouXJPIoq8 After years of touring and refining their craft, electronic-infused metalcore quintet Coldblack are prepared to release their new full-length, Circles. Incorporating synth, melodi...

photo credit Aline Fournier Samael Reveal Video For New Song "Angel of Wrath"! After playing a very special live set at Inferno and Metalmania Festivals earlier in spring, Swiss black metal pioneers SAMAEL are now ready to reveal a first glimpse into their upcoming album that will crown their 30th band anniversary later this year! The band already played the brand new track "Angel of Wrath" live at the above mentioned festivals, and the response from fans and devotees in front of the stage was amazing! Now SAMAEL are ready to release the first song from their new album to the rest of the world.  Check out the new video below! Founded in 1987 as an old school black metal act that was influenced by the likes of Bathory, fellow countrymen Celtic Frost, and Venom, the brothers Vorph and Xy later developed the band's style further towards a more industrial dark metal sound that found its previous high peak in those legendary albums such as "Pa...

(credit: Will Hutchinson) Mutation Release New Video "Hate" From Upcoming Album "Mutation III: Dark Black" Featuring Devin Townsend, Members of Motörhead & More Out June 30th! MUTATION is a UK-based extreme metal band formed in 2013 by celebrated vocalist / guitarist Ginger Wildheart, one of British rock’s official living legends and the man behind the rock group The Wildhearts. The underground three-piece will release its new album, Mutation III: Dark Black, on June 30 via Undergroove Records. Described as "an aural exorcism of two people's combined life-threatening psychological disorders", the record is the follow-up to MUTATION's 2014 release, Error 500 (Ipecac), hailed as "a cheeky metal madhouse" by Blabbermouth. Now, Metal Injection premieres the band's new video, "Hate", calling the cut "an absolute mosh anthem." Watch MUTATION's "Hate" video here: http://www.metalinjection.net/vid...

In the new Stencil Mag (issue 41) I had the pleasure of interviewing the bassist of one of the biggest American modern metal bands around... Paolo Gregoletto of Trivium ! Here is where originally featured in Stencil Mag: https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue41/114 Interview - Paolo from Trivium: How did you first get into playing bass? I was first playing bass when I was eleven years old and me and group of my friends were having lunch at school one day and decided we wanted to play at this yearly festival at school, so we each pretty much picked an instrument and I picked bass and it suited me, and we played things like ‘Dammit’ by Blink 182 and I played For Whom The Bells Tolls (Metallica)…that was pretty much how it started for me. Can you tell us a bit about when you first joined Trivium, as well as what it was like to be an upcoming band in Orlando, Florida? When I joined Trivium…I’m actually from South Florida so we’re about three hours apart and we get together...

So for the latest Stencil Mag I was lucky enough to interview Arya Goggin the drummer from the biggest Reggae Metal band going, Skindred ! This interview was done for and first featured in Issue 41 of Stencil Mag which can be seen in the magazine here: https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue41 Interview can be found here on page:  https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue41/106 Interview with Arya Goggin - Skindred! When did you first get into playing drums? I think it was probably round about the age of six. I was really drawn to it. My parents were getting me lessons and had to stick with them for a year or so before they brought me a drum kit and that happened and here we are which is great. What drummers have really influenced you over the years, and why? My favourite drummer of all time is probably Roger Taylor from Queen – ‘We Will Rock You’ is one of the first drum things that I remember hearing and it was all drums and vocals and I have never heard anything li...

Check out my recent interview with Italian thrash metal act, Thrash Bombz which I done for Dark Art Conspiracy! https://darkartconspiracy.com/2017/02/01/interview-thrash-bombz-italy/ To find out more about Thrash Bombz: https://www.facebook.com/ThrashBombzOfficial http://thrashbombzofficialstore.bigcartel.com Dark Art Conspiracy Links: https://www.instagram.com/darkartconspirac/ https://twitter.com/darkartconspira https://darkartconspiracy.wordpress.com/ http://www.myspace.com/darkartconspiracy https://www.facebook.com/darkartconspiracy https://www.facebook.com/DarkArtConspiracyBrazil http://www.reverbnation.com/label/darkartconspiracy http://soundcloud.com/darkartconspiracy

So this is the last Stencil mag of 2016 and this is a big one for me! It includes one of the best interviews I have ever done with Dan from Real Friends,  as well as my interviews with Textures, Venom Inc and Steve Dickson, director of Mammothfest Brighton. Here are direct links to all the above: Venom Inc Interview:  https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue40/22 Textures Interview:  https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue40/30 Real Friends Interview:  https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue40/22/114 Mammothfest Interview:  https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue40/174 In terms of reviews its that time for best albums of the year and mine went to Opeth! Page: https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue40/222 Other album reviews of mine include: Korn:  https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue40/180 I Prevail:  https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue40/181 Tiebreaker:  https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue40/181 Av...

So the new Stencil Mag has landed! This was a busy issue for me, as it features 14 reviews that I done! I reviewed, Killswitch Engage, Black Stone Cherry, The Word Alive, Yashin, Brian Fallon, Cold Summer, Natural Strangers, Landscapes, Hollow Leg, Tantal, Tragic Earth, One Step From Falling, Holy Pinto & Rise! I also contributed to the Slam Dunk Festival preview, writing about, Mallory Knox, Young Guns, Of Mice & Men & Cancer Bats! And lastly I done a bit of subediting, helping out with the interview intros! Check all this out, plus all the awesome interviews, reviews & other features!! All free!! https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue36 https://www.facebook.com/stencilmagazine/ See my Slam Dunk preview pieces (pg 190):  https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue36/189 My reviews of One Step From Falling & Tragic Earth  https://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue36/203 My reviews of Yashin, Cold Summer, Hollow Leg & Tantal  https://issuu.c...

Mammothfest, the UK's fastest growing independent festival will descend on Brighton again. The festival is held across 3 days (30.09.16 - 02.10.16) and has already dropped jaws across the nation by revealing all its headlining acts in the later part of last year. Textures, Venom Inc., Conan & Eastern Front are all confirmed as bill toppers. On top of that, the festival then confirmed Bast, Black Moth, Conjurer, The Infernal Sea and Sworn Amongst as a further wave of acts confirmed to perform. NOW the Brighton based fest are back to drop some more announcements! "We feel it's time to crack out another wave of announcements" comments Steve Dickson, Mammothfest Director. "Sales of Early Bird weekend tickets and accommodation options have been extremely encouraging in light of our previous announcements and as we pull in to 2016 - Ash, Rich and I feel that now is the time to show a little more!". Joining the line up is: FRIDAY 30.09.16 @ The Green Door S...

Check out issue 34 of Stencil Mag released 30/11/15 featuring my interview with the creator of Mammothfest UK, Steve Dickson and the success & future of the festival! Plus my reviews of Fightstar, Trivium, Last Of A Dying Breed, Cane Hill, Vanna, The Echo & The Always & Omega Diatribe, as well as my album of the year feature, which went to Disturbed! It features tonnes of great interviews including cover band, Def Leppard & much more! http://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue34/

Murder Mile are a thrash hardcore crossover band from the UK, who have recently released their vexed new EP, titled Murder Mile Hard Core, which sums up the offering brilliantly.. Opening track, ‘Brass Knuckles’ is a heavy slab of old school hardcore with modern thrash elements! It packs a punch with its colossal speed, belligerent screams, top class riffage and shredding solo, to add extra depth, showcasing their blend of angry at the world metal in style! ‘Burn The Hag’ offers no respite in this brutal assault of dark catchy riffs – although the tempo is slower than first offering it is still hot as hell metal. ‘Deathwish’ has a melodic more mellow intro, but this doesn’t last long! It features effective gang chants, in what is the most infectious track so far with many a head banging moment! ‘Devils’ displays some well-crafted instrumental sections, especially with tuneful riffs and breakdowns in this manic frenzied short lived explosion! So we come to the ...

Rome Will Burn are still newcomers, but this electronic alternative pop duo from Arizona, consisting of Alyssa Suede and Manifesto are certainly making an impression with their recently released self titled EP.. First song and latest single, 'Chameleon' radiantly opens with complementary electronic and synth sounds to match the repetitive yet effective vocals. It has brilliant rhythms and melody, and the use of strong language, gives it a slightly harder pop edge. This will easily hide in your mind and is adaptable for listeners, as they achieve what they set out too, with their electronic pop with a difference! 'These Three Words' has a more fragile air to it, with stand out emotive vocals that resonant wonderfully, with sweet sappy lyrics to fit the context, showing they can diversify more-so, and with charming results. 'Waging Romance' has a dramatic more serious feel to, but is very strong and infectiously catchy, making it a must hear, and featu...

Alternative rockers, Mars Royal from Indiana are looking to grow on their expanding fan-base, and with new single, "Berserker", and a new EP due for release late spring/early summer 2016, now is a crucial time for the band. The intro to, "Berserker" gains your attention with isolated drumming, before distorted guitars kick in, and is quickly accompanied by the full swing of vibrant instruments. The vocals jump in at a fast pace and possess plenty of positivity, in both delivery and lyrically. As although the title could well suggest this single is some brutal insane creation, it is quite the musical opposite, which makes a surprising contradiction, being rather chilled out with hopeful inspiring energy, and having an almost indie feel good vibe, which the majority should enjoy. Mars Royal have a interesting and refreshing sound they have produced through their array of influences, so it will be good to see what musical journey they embark upon on their upcom...