rock/metal
Live: Trivium, Savage Messiah & As Lions, York Barbican – 29.3.16
As Lions prove unfazed by the lack of people inside the Barbican by the time they take to the stage, of what seems like a smaller version of Leeds Arena, the Barbican is the perfect fit for a Trivium tour not yet set for the big leagues of arena performances. The Fall is currently the …
Not Forgotten: Caravan – In the Land of Grey and Pink
Along with Soft Machine, Caravan are perhaps the definitive Canterbury Scene progressive rock act. Less jazzy than their more famous neighbours, Caravan weren’t as heavy handed as their more critically lauded peers, but what they did have was a much firmer grasp of pop dynamics and nowhere was this more obvious than their 1971 album, …
Album Review: White Denim – Stiff
I’m not sure when it first occurred to me, but I’ve now spent many years coming to terms with the fact that I have a problem with rock and roll. Or at least rock and roll in the context of the phrase ‘That’s so rock and roll!’. You see, when used in that context, it …
Not Forgotten: 10cc – The Original Soundtrack
By early 1975, 10cc had extricated themselves from an unfavourable recording contract under which their first two albums had been released. This resulted in The Original Soundtrack being a confluence of the experimental pop of their first two albums, with a boost of confidence and a sense of freedom. 10cc were always group that were …
Not Forgotten: Neil Young – After the Gold Rush
Always knowingly wilful, Neil Young has never been an easy musician to pin down. Having cut his teeth with Buffalo Springfield, his solo career started off with a solid enough debut of relatively standard singer-songwriter fare, a style he almost immeadiately ditched in favour of hooking up with half of garage band The Rockets, renaming …
Live Review: The Neighbourhood, O2 Ritz Manchester – 20.3.16
After dropping their new album Wiped Out! Last year, this is the first chance to fully exhibit the album to the UK fanbase and the wonderfully picturesque O2 Ritz in Manchester is the setting for one of the final shows on the tour for The Neighbourhood. The smoke filled stage plays right into the opening …
Album Reivew: American Head Charge – Tango Unbrella
A decade after their last full length release “The Feeding” the reformed and recalibrated American Head Charge are back with long awaited new album Tango Umbrella the follow up to 2013’s Shoot EP. AHC always seemed to be a little left field, their chaotic but melodious alt-metal definitely stood out amongst their peers, whilst tracks …
Album Review: Amon Amarth – Jomsviking
Pillaging its way through your speakers comes Amon Amarth’s latest album Jomsviking, written by big beardy blokes for big beardy blokes. While their past two efforts were still of reasonably good quality the Swedish death metallers have struggled to recapture the form shown on 2008’s Twilight of the Thunder God. However, with their latest release …
Album Review: Matt Berry – Matt Berry and The Maypoles Live
A quick perusal of the artwork of Matt Berry and the Maypoles Live, with it’s Acid Jazz label styled in the manner of the old Philips logo, a back cover which consists of the tracklisting and photos of the individual members of The Maypoles playing live and the inside of the CD booklet consisting of …
Album Review: Luxury Hobo – Big Boy Bloater
The throaty roar of Big Boy Bloater signals his returns with a new album – Luxury Hobo. Specifically, you are straight into the driving Hammond organ rhythm of “Devils, Not Angels”, which sounds like Billy Preston covering Led Zeppelin’s Rock and Roll. “This ain’t the girl that you been looking for” he growls, while the …