Live Review : Sleep Token + Northlane @ Albert Hall, Manchester on January 19th 2023

It’s time for me to hit a new venue, as I’ve never stepped foot in Manchester’s Albert Hall before. We get to the entrance queue, and to say it’s insanely long would be an understatement. Fortunately, I can get in and up the stairs as Northlane start-up with opener ‘Clarity’. They are bouncy and energetic from the start with their futuristic look, lighting and vibe, and are a band that has evolved an awful lot over the years. With the last two albums, “Obsidian” and “Alien”, you can see the greater electronic influence, and opportunity to further afford vocalist Marcus Bridge to establish his soaring clean vocals and raw screams.

Live Review : Architects + Malevolence + Sleep Token @ First Direct Arena, Leeds on May 2nd 2022

It’s time for ROCKFLESH to hit another arena, and this time myself and Ryan (complete with escort to and from the photopit) have the pleasure of scooting across to Leeds for a May Bank Holiday Monday treat! Armed with my 2 pints cup of cider I make my way into the standing area for openers Malevolence. I’ve noticed loads of their tees in the crowd, so it’s no surprise then that there’s a great buzz about the place, and a soon to be vicious pit opens up before the band have even made it on stage.

Live Review : InVisions + Blind Summit + Clashmute @ The Bread Shed, Manchester on December 18th 2021

Clashmute are a last-minute addition to the bill following Ghost Iris having to pull out of the remaining dates of the tour due to a positive COVID-19 test (gutting as I was very much looking forward to seeing those guys perform their new album). They kick off proceedings with their aggressive hardcore-tinged brand of Killswitch Engage style Metal.

Live Review : Download Pilot @ Donington Park on June 18-20th 2021

Ok lets cut to the chase, last weekend’s Download Pilot (or Diddy Download as every bugger and their aunt are calling it) was probably the most pleasant experience I have had in the eighteen years I have been making an annual pilgrimage to Donington Park. Let’s put all the emotion aside of this being the first one back and concentrate on what worked, which frankly was its size.

Live Review : Sleep Token + Exploring Birdsong @ The Arts Club, Liverpool on January 27th 2020

The Arts Club in Liverpool often feels like a miniature amphitheater, what with its steeply stepped forum and decorated auditorium, so it seems a fitting venue for such a theatrical band as Sleep Token to bring their mysterious act to bear.

Local act Exploring Birdsong are an intriguing addition to the prog scene. The late 2019 release of their EP “The Thing With Feathers” has pushed them more explicitly into the limelight, and support slots of this stature will only serve them well.