Live Review : Damnation Festival on November 4th 2023 (Part II)

Damnation 2023 is immaculately curated. This is not random bands thrown into some form of inconsistent order. Real thought and consideration has actually gone into who follows who. The entire day works as some sort of cathartic emotional journey, taking you from spiritual highs to desolate lows.

Directly following the astonishing Julie Christmas with Downfall of Gaia is a genius move. Whilst there are real differences between the acts, they share a common DNA strand of emotional resonance. It seems weird to pin this on black metal, but Downfall of Gaia is music to make you cry.

Live Review : Damnation Festival on November 4th 2023 (Part I)

We all love to moan. We are British. Finding fault in everything is our national sport. However the truth is, no matter how hard you look, there is very little, if anything, to criticise about this year’s Damnation Festival (The puddle at the end of the drive may well have been a pain but it was clearly outside of Gav and Paul’s jurisdiction). The snag list from last year's inaugural edition at the BEC arena has been conclusively dealt with. There is not a food queue to be seen, chairs are plentiful, and I am still supping the specially commissioned stout well into Saturday night.

Live Review : RockWich Festival on August 27th 2023

Sunday morning and it’s raining, a lot. This doesn’t affect the festival though as it’s indoors, and the lovely people at the venue even put on breakfast for the somewhat soggy campers. Let’s be honest, everything is better with bacon, right? (Veggie options are available!) Being indoors, rain cannot stop play and before we know it it’s lunchtime and the main event is kicking off.

Live Review : RockWich Festival on August 26th 2023

t’s been a couple of years since I last made it to Rockwich, for various reasons. Prior to that it was a regular fixture on my summer festival schedule, for the simple reason that they somehow always managed to get hold of the best new rock bands JUST before they started to take off and hit the big time. The venue is great, a grass pitch for tents, and plenty of hardstanding areas for campervans and general parking, and it’s just 10 minutes off J19 of the M6 so easy to get to.

Live Review : Bloodstock Festival on August 12th 2023

There is a wonderful sweet spot about the Saturday morning of a festival. You have been there enough time to bed in and become familiar with the surroundings, but it is all yet to become a slog. Also, there is the delicious realization that you still have two days to go. Ambrius have the honour of kicking off proceedings on the Sophie stage and prove to be an interesting and enticing mix of power and progressive metals.

Live Review : Bloodstock Festival on August 10th 2023

So after the "help I’m melting" desert-fest of last year, there is a distinct feeling of business as usual about this year’s Bloodstock. Whilst arid festivals are probably an unavoidable truth, this year mother nature very much behaved herself and provided what can only be described as almost perfect festival conditions. Even the drizzle on Sunday morning that seemed intent on embedding itself in actually dissipates before it manages to dampen any spirits.

No Play Festival on August 5th 2023

Fresh off the back of a hugely successful Metal 2 The Masses campaign, No Play Festival offered a chance to capitalise on the revival of the Liverpool Metal Scene. Situated in the shadow of Evertons new Bramley Moore Dock stadium, the Invisible Wind Factory provided a setting for bands from all over the country and beyond to prove their worth across 2 rather contrasting stages.

Live Review : RADAR on July 30th 2023

The final morning of the festival sees us welcomed by local favourites Where Oceans Burn. The band is growing from strength to strength and there are elements of grunge, tech-metal, and groove metal throughout.

Live Review : RADAR on July 29th 2023

We all went hard on the Friday, but that doesn’t stop us getting to the venue nice and early to make arrangements for access and interviews on the Saturday morning. Modern Error are led by the Pinchin twins on vocals and guitar, and are an early treat.

Live Review : RADAR on July 28th 2023

RADAR Festival is only in its third year, but already it’s attracting some massive names in the prog/tech scene. It’s also changed location this year from Guildford to Manchester, and a nightclub to a full-blown venue in O2 Victoria Warehouse. Eager and excited, we get our passes and make our way down to the press area. We eventually find it down in the basement of the adjacent building, and are immediately greeted by some familiar faces.

Bloodstock : 30 Bands Not To Miss - KK's Priest

So how hot off the press are we? We have ditched our long sprawling monologue about how wonderful Helloween are (because they are and that's not up for debate) and we have replaced it with an equally subjective treaty on the wonder of KK Dowling's incarnation of Priest.

FleshtivalsAuthor : Stewart Lucas10 August 2023Bloodstock, 2023, KK's PriestComment

Bloodstock : 30 Bands Not To Miss - Zeal & Ardor

Let's leave the downright extraordinary to last. Our final entry, our final band you cannot miss is one that is rewriting heavy metals DNA before our very eyes. Zeal & Ardor sound like nothing else you will hear this weekend.

FleshtivalsAuthor : Stewart Lucas10 August 2023Zeal And Ardor, Bloodstock, 2023Comment

Bloodstock : 30 Bands Not To Miss - In Flames

There are few bands that have been as chameleon-like as Swedes In Flames. During their lengthy career, they have been many things to many people. Melodic Death Metal, Groove Metal, Metalcore, Alternative Rock, you name it they have dabbled in it. What is extraordinary about them is that they have done all those various genres impeccably well.

FleshtivalsAuthor : Stewart Lucas9 August 2023Bloodstock 2023In Flames, Bloodstock, 2023Comment

Bloodstock : 30 Bands Not To Miss - Sacred Reich

It’s amazing the specific memories we store from our childhoods. I can remember the cover of “Surf Nicaragua” intricately in all its simplistic glory even though I never bought the damn thing. It stared out at me from the pages of Kerrang and made me decide that I was a die-hard Sacred Reich fan even though I had never heard a darn note of their music.

FleshtivalsAuthor : Stewart Lucas8 August 2023Bloodstock 2023Sacred Reich, Bloodstock, 2023Comment

Bloodstock : 30 Bands Not To Miss - Triptykon

I’ve been pretty fanboy gushing over our three headliners, but if I am honest I am much more excited about the trio of special guests that will grace the stage immediately before them. Celtic Frost were a big deal and remain quintessentially influential.

FleshtivalsAuthor : Stewart Lucas7 August 2023Bloodstock Festival 2023Triptykon, Celtic Frost, Bloodstock, 2023Comment

Bloodstock : 30 Bands Not To Miss - Witchsorrow

If there is one act who deserve their placing at this year's festival then it is Hampshire's finest Witchsorrow. For 15 years they have diligently and without much fanfare produced some of the finest doom metal you will come across.

FleshtivalsAuthor : Stewart Lucas6 August 2023Bloodstock Festival 2023Witchsorrow, Bloodstock, 2023Comment

Bloodstock : 30 Bands Not To Miss - SKYND

Thursday night is party night at Bloodstock Manor and nothing says party more than ethereal Australian industrial-goths singing about serial killers. Okay, it's not the much-requested Vengaboys but with their mix of evocative visuals and ice-cold delivery, SKYND are sure to enthral the masses.

FleshtivalsAuthor : Stewart Lucas4 August 2023Bloodstock Festival 2023SKYND, Bloodstock, 2023Comment

Bloodstock : 30 Bands Not To Miss - Urne

If you made me narrow it down and tell you the one band that you should not miss at this year's Bloodstock I would with complete certainty answer Urne. They are the most exciting new band that this country has produced in absolute ages. They exist in every genre of metal and in none. They don't just leap perceived boundaries; they see them as inconsequential and irrelevant.

FleshtivalsAuthor : Stewart Lucas3 August 2023Bloodstock Festival 2023Urne, Bloodstock, 2023Comment

Bloodstock : 30 Bands Not To Miss - Killswitch Engage

Let's have another headliner and it's a band making their Bloodstock debut. It's difficult to find anybody who doesn't have a soft spot for these Massachusetts marauders. Stalwarts of the new wave of American heavy metal, next year they will celebrate 25 years of existence.

FleshtivalsAuthor : Stewart Lucas2 August 2023Bloodstock Festival 2023Killswitch Engage, Bloodstock, 2023Comment

Bloodstock : 30 Bands Not To Miss - Ugly Kid Joe

Do you know what the sing-along moment of Bloodstock 2023 will be? It won’t be ‘My Last Serenade’, nor will it be ‘Symphony Of Destruction’, ‘Eagle Fly Free’ or ‘Roots Bloody Roots’. It will be, by a country mile, the point where twenty thousand voices merge as one to scream along with ‘Everything About You’.

FleshtivalsAuthor : Stewart Lucas1 August 2023`Bloodstock Festival 2023Bloodstock, 2023, Ugly Kid JoeComment