Hellfest comes to the UK…sorta!!
'kin Hellfest has just been announced
Review: Capdown, Random Hand, Have Nots live at Concorde 2, Brighton, 31st July 2011
Words and Photos: Antony Roberts
Arriving at Concorde 2 it was a seriously, seriously hot day. Brighton seafront was rammed with daytrippers and parking was somewhat fraught with difficulty. After finally finding a parking place I arrived late and had missed the first support band. For those who haven't been to the Concorde 2 it was previously a victorian tearoom built in the 1800's directly facing the seafront. What this means with all the windows is it acts like a giant greenhouse and summer gigs can get ohhh so hot. It's like going to a gig in a greenhouse that has been, well, in the sun all day.
Review: High Voltage Day 2 Neurosis, Black Spiders, Graveyard, MSG, Gentleman’s Pistols
High Voltage Day 2
Words: A Harvey
Photos: Antony Roberts
Following another rather late arrival day 2 of this year's High Voltage kicked off for me with Gentleman's Pistols. Their bluesy rock tones provided the perfect start to the blistering midday sun. If you haven't checked out their new album yet head to Rise Above Records and purchase forthwith!! These guys have toured heavily over the last year (and continue to) headlining their own gigs as well as supporting every decent rock, stoner or doom band to hit our shores. This continuous roadtrip is obvious in the live show as they are now a seriously tight unit without losing the freeflow that would becoming sterile in delivery.
Review: High Voltage Day 1, Judas Priest, Grand Magus, Slash, Skin, Queensryche, Rival Sons
High Voltage Festival Day 1
Words: A. Harvey
Photos: Antony Roberts
6 things that ruled about High Voltage
1. NEUROSIS NEUROSIS NEUROSIS
2. It stayed sunny all weekend, unlike the downpours of Donington and Knebworth it made for an amazing dry weekend
3. Grand Magus being back in the UK again and playing a blinder of a set
4. They allowed the public to bring SLR's in onsite - more festivals should do this it makes it easier for smaller sites like us to cover them and get some shots. Serious Kudos to the organisers for this.
5. Judas Priest playing a 22 song set
6. Did we mention Neurosis?
Review: Blut aus Nord – 777-Sects – 2011
Review by G. Lukes
France sometimes gets a bad rap. Sure, it has its drawbacks; but how about we forgive and forget? Let’s not dwell on the likes of Napoleon, Arsene Wenger, the Renault adverts with Nicole and Papa, William the Conqueror or the nation‘s general propensity for arrogance. I suggest we remember the good things, like fine cuisine, Gérard Depardieu, Parkour, René from “’Allo ‘Allo!” and, of course, the thriving black metal scene.
The Norwegians may have held a monopoly on black metal throughout the nineties, but the French have blazed a trail through the scene over the last ten years. From the abstruse turbulence of Deathspell Omega and the blistering malice of Antaeus to the shoe gazing, quixotic sound of Alcest, the nation has moved on from the primordial buzz of early Les Legions Noire and forged a reputation as one of the most enterprising nations in the genre.
Review: Mogwai at De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill 22nd July 2011
Mogwai at the De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill, 22nd July 2011
Words and Photos by Antony Roberts
The De La What many of you may be asking? Where's Bexhill and why are Mogwai playing there? For those of you none the wiser, Bexhill is on the South coast of England between Hastings and Brighton. It's more famous for it's large population of old people than staging events by behemoths of post rock. It had little going for it for years, but about 10 years ago the De La Warr Pavilion successfully applied for lottery money and has put it to good use with some serious renovation work and a new sound system. Slowly but surely it's starting to draw in large names; Tricky, Beardyman, Heritage Orchestra, Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan have all played in recent years. Early next year a certain ex-singer of Black Flag you may be familiar with is doing spoken word there. It's a very small venue for the size of bands it's getting, so definitely worth a venture if you're able to get to it.
Review: Black Breath at The Hydrant, Brighton 11th July 2011
Black Breath/The Mire/No Coast/Chronos at Brighton Hydrant, Monday 11 July 2011.
Words: G. Lukes
Photos: Gemma Shaw (http://gloomylightsphotography.co.uk/)
Have you ever seen John Carpenter’s “The Fog“? The movie depicted the town of Antonio Bay being invaded by the ghosts of dead sailors. Leprous cadavers assaulted a seaside resort on their centenary, terrorising the residents and raining death on their parade. Now, I can’t claim to have been there on that particular night, but I imagine the horror must have been somewhat akin to what it felt like the day Seattle’s Black Breath hit Brighton town, sullying the sunny coast with their murky brand of crossover, vomiting pestilence on your ice-cream and leaving a big steaming turd on your deckchair.
Sonisphere Review Day 3 and Mastodon BRING IT!
Sonisphere 2011 Review Day 3
Words: Nage
Photos: Antony Roberts
Day 3 for us started with Black Tide on the Saturn stage. I wasn't familiar with them prior to this and they started with a competent cover of Hit The Lights which was enough to make me stick around to check out their own material.
Sonisphere Review Day 2 – Watain bring the performance of a lifetime
Words: Nage
Photos: Antony Roberts
Day 2 for us started with Richard Cheese and Lounge Against The Machine. Lounge style covers of favourite (and not so favourite songs) seemed a good start to ease the morning in.
Sonisphere Review Day 1, the Big 4 become the Big 2 1/4
Words: Nage
Photos: Antony Roberts
Nage: I'd like to point out our photographer wasn't happy and didn't want his photos using but with no photo pass, and no-one else we needed something! We're a young site, just 3 months old but with 1000 hits a week and rising we had to provide something!