Mad About Rock

  Welsh hard hitters, HOUSE OF HOSTS, are rising fast. The band have just released their scorching new single and video, 'Pedestal' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yjDs_qCmLg The track is lifted from their forthcoming EP, 'Reckoning', out on Friday 26th September. With this in mind, we exclusively caught up with the band and asked them to give the tracks that have greatly inspired their sound: Daniel Foley-Griffiths (vocals) Track Choice: Five Finger Death Punch - Wrong Side Of Heaven, Righteous Side Of Hell. "The double album was beautifully constructed in a way that not only harnesses the pure rage and drive of the screams but balances out with the contrast of melodic choruses and harmony. For me it demonstrates perfectly that you can both be heavy and sinister but also delicate and tranquil." Beth Goodwin (drums) Track Choice: Avenged Sevenfold - Unholy Confessions "The Rev plays incredible melodic and syncopated drums that emphasise and com...

  With only a couple of weeks to go, BLOODSTOCK’s here to update you on lots of non-band-related delights at this year’s event, including a diverse range of traders, food stalls, drinks, on-site entertainment, and other facilities at next month’s glorious celebration of heavy metal. Not to mention a bargain deal on this year’s festival t-shirt and info on 2023’s charity partners. First up, BLOODSTOCK is very aware of the cost of living squeeze, so is pleased to confirm that the price of the 2023 event t-shirt has been frozen at £25. Head to the merch stand in the main arena over the festival to snap it up! You can also find a range of new merch online now here including super-soft dressing gowns, drinking horns, umbrellas, and the S’tan plush toy/bobblehead! Whether you’re vegan, veggie, meat-eating, or seeking something gluten-free or halal, BLOODSTOCK has a wide range of food available onsite. Here’s just a few options… burgers, pizza, tacos, burritos, gyoza, waffles, crepes, to...

  With just 46 days to go to BLOODSTOCK, the countdown is ON! Tonight, Tuesday 27th June, sees festival directors Adam Gregory and Vicky Hungerford doing a Live Q&A via the festival’s Facebook and Instagram channels, answering punters' questions about this year’s event. Tune in at 7pm to get all the latest updates and maybe even win some prizes! The Metal 2 The Masses finals are nearly complete and another nine bands, the cream of the crop in each region, win a slot on 2023’s New Blood stage. Grabbing a Friday slot are Essex’s winners ARMS TO OBLIVION . Check out ‘Tequila Blues’ from the Ipswich groove metallers’ latest EP, ‘Defciylion’. Also appearing Friday are Bristol’s MOON REAPER UK , whose blackened death/doom sound is showcased via ‘Overlord’ , which was shot live at their M2TM semi final. Saturday’s bill will feature County Durham’s SWARMS whose fat riffs and heavy breakdowns won over the Newcastle heat’s masses. Watch for yourself via ‘Copperhead’ shot during their...

  BLOODSTOCK festival is thrilled to already be looking ahead and announcing a swathe of awesome bands for the 2023 event, which is set to take place on 10th-13th August 2022 at Catton Park, Derbyshire. Metalcore pioneers KILLSWITCH ENGAGE are set to headline the Ronnie James Dio main stage on Friday, their first ever appearance at the festival. Meanwhile, thrash legends MEGADETH will close out proceedings in spectacular style on Sunday night. Other confirmed main stage bands include DEVILDRIVER, FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY, KNOCKED LOOSE, DECAPITATED and GATECREEPER. Over on the Sophie Lancaster Stage, ZEAL & ARDOR will headline one day (tbd) and expect to also see sets from KING 810 and UNTO OTHERS. Stay tuned for more 2023 surprises soon. In surprise news at this year's event, Bay Area metal squad MACHINE HEAD thrilled fans over on the Sophie Lancaster stage when they played a surprise set; their very first festival show in 10 years! Internet chatter had prevailed all week as BLOOD...

LIGHT THE TORCH (formerly known as DEVIL YOU KNOW) have released another webisode in which iconic frontman Howard Jones discusses the lyrics on their upcoming new album Revival. Watch the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xns9DVypnGo Revival is available for pre-order now: nuclearblast.com/lightthetorch-revival The Los Angeles, CA trio — the aforementioned Jones, Francesco Artusato [guitar], and Ryan Wombacher [bass] — drew from five years together as DEVIL YOU KNOW to forge a wholly distinct path. Amidst myriad struggles, they returned from the brink under a new name. "2016 was a really tough year for us as a band, both personally and professionally," explains Jones. "While going through some lineup changes, we were also battling some issues with the use of our band name. At the same time, I was trying to deal with the loss of my oldest brother, which really hit me hard. During that time, we just bonded like never before. We all meshed becau...

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 tv is an excellent medium to discover and appreciate new emerging and heavyweight metal acts within the UK and around the world, and is something we are in need of, as there's not a lot of shows around like this! Discussed in this latest episode is the thriving metal scene from extreme metal and UK festivals, including Damnation Festival and Temples Festival, and of course previews of the international bands that are due to grace our ears at Mammothfest 2015! They also mention worthy bands that help create the amazing metal scene we have such as: Killswitch Engage, Mask of Judas, Sam Bell Guitar (Mask of Judas), Valis Ablaze, Taken by the Tide, Derelict Dream, Benighted, Cancerous Womb, Abhorrent Decimation, PRIMITIVE MAN, Sea Bastard, Converge, Will Haven, SYN:DROM, Scarred, Damned Spring Fragrantia, Stormcast, Cyclamen, Psycroptic and more! All this is delivered in a sincere, down to earth and passionate manner from founder and creator of Mammothfest, the lege...

Check out the latest issue of Stencil featuring my reviews of Stone Sour, Arcane Roots & The Front Bottoms plus loads of other great reviews and of course interviews with the likes of Killswitch Engage, Stone Stour & more! See it all here:  http://issuu.com/stencilmag/docs/issue19 Carina