Review: SEPTIC TANK – ‘Rotting Civilization’ [Track Stream]

“Shit out your soul/Day by day/Accepting lies they throw your way…”
The quote above is quite bleak, isn’t it? Well if you were expecting something upbeat and swinging, then ‘Rotting Civilization’ by Septic Tank is definitely not for you! However, if you’re a fan of bleak, pissed off 80’s influenced grind core, then prepare to have your face melted! Septic Tank which features members of Cathedral, Trouble, and Repulsion was originally formed in the 90’s as a way for frontman Lee Dorrian to express his love of bands such as Discharge and Siege. A handful of live shows were played during these times, but it wasn’t until 2013 when Septic Tank finally released a self titled 7′ EP, the only problem, it was only released in Japan and even then it was limited to 900 copies. From that release we got ‘The Slaughter’ an early Celtic Frost sounding track that honestly could have fit on earlier Cathedral albums.

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Live Review : SEPULTURA ‘Machine Messiah’ In London, UK! [Photo Gallery]

Arriving a half hour early to any gig is perhaps not the best idea, especially when it is freezing cold with snow in the air, but I wasn’t the only one keen to get into Londons iconic Koko in Camden town ahead of tonight’s monumental performance. On their headlining tour in support of their record ‘Machine Messiah’ that just so happens to coincide with vocalist Derrick Green marking 20 years with the band, the mighty Brazilian legends Sepultura. There was a decent crowd joining me already and the vocal topic of choice was the Cannibal Corpse gig happening right around the corner, but we were all in agreement that tonight’s line-up of Fit For An Autopsy, Goatwhore and Obscura as supports was far too appealing.

Londons Koko is perhaps one of the most beautiful venues I have been too. Formerly one of the largest theatres outside of Londons West End, the venue itself boasts numerous viewing platforms with many touches celebrating its mixed and magical past as a theatre, cinema and now as a dedicated music venue. Inside the lights were already dim with the stage illuminated red and blue spotlights gleaming across the lower floor. Many fans rushed to the pit barrier to claim their front row spot for the evening and within about 10 minutes the 2000+ capacity venue was already looking full. Continue reading

DESERTFEST LONDON Artist Preview – Full Line-Up Included!

The UK’s premier independent festival Desertfest London returns over the May bank holiday (May 4th-6th) with what can only be described, as unquestionably it’s most biggest and broadest line-up yet!

Now in its 7th year, the festivities will take place across multiple venues in London’s Camden Town including the famous Underworld and breathtaking Roundhouse. With over 70 acts announced across the whole metal spectrum, together with the biggest names in sludge, doom and psych!

Not only that, as par tradition Desertfest will be holding their annual pre-festival party at The Black Heart on May 3rd featuring a full headline set by North Carolina’s A.S.G and London’s own Flash House as support! (Pre-festival tickets here)

Read below for full headliners and bands that are not to be missed! (Full weekend line-up follows article. Weekend and day tickets available here). Continue reading

SAXON Release First Single “THUNDERBOLT” From Upcoming Album And Announce North-American Tour Dates [Video Stream]

“This is part one of the colossal Thunderbolt World tour. We’re going to be touring the whole of 2018 so get your tickets and join the ride. It’s going to be fast and furious, dark and brooding. Monumental riffing and screaming vocals – loud and proud – it’s going to be a Saxon tour, unique in every way!” adds Biff Byford.

Last month we bought you the news that heavy metal legends Saxon had announced not only the upcoming release of their 22nd studio album ‘Thunderbolt’, but also that they will be embarking on Part 1 of a huge European Tour with Part 2 to be announced in early 2018. To kick-start this holiday season we have the electrifying first single “Thunderbolt” with a brand new music video that you can watch below! ‘Thunderbolt’ sees release on February 2nd 2018 via the Militia Guard label (Silver Lining Music) with digital pre-orders live right here! Or if you’d prefer to keep things old-school, you will soon be able to order the physical CD Album in Digipack, a 180 gms coloured vinyl in a Gatefold, Tape Cassette or Special Edition Boxset at the same address!

Following on from Part 1 of their European Tour, the news that American fans have all been waiting for… Saxon will be touring North America with fellow British legends Judas Priest and Black Star Riders as support! The North American tour will begin in Wilkes Barre, PA on March 13 and will visit several major cities including Washington DC, Detroit, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Dallas – coming to an end in San Antonio, TX on May 1. All dates and venues are listed below!

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GO PRIMITVE Announce New Single “A Different Person” And Debut Album Details! [Song + Video Stream]

The latest single from UK rockers Go Primitive is here! “A Different Person” is the second single to be taken from their forthcoming debut album ‘Choices’, which is out February 23rd next year, with pre-orders live now! (Google Play, iTunes and Amazon Music.) After the explosive premiere of “I Want More” which you can watch below, this new single brings more of their adrenaline fuelling energy with heavy tone, catchy melodic choruses and full-on guitar solos that will leave you ‘wanting’ more! The quartet are currently finishing their Headlining Autumn/Winter UK tour, with a date set at the Zephyr Lounge, Leamington Spa on December 8th for a Christmas Extravaganza with supports TrueHeights, November Plot and Shanade Morrow! Purchase your tickets here. And watch this space, as soon to be announced will be a full blown UK tour in support of ‘Choices’ release next year!

On the single, frontman Tomm E. Williams explains “’A Different Person’ is about someone showing their unfavourable true colours, shattering the belief of the kind of person you thought they were”.  Continue reading

TAX THE HEAT Unveil New Single “Money In The Bank” Ahead Of Second Studio Album – Preorders Live Today! [Official Video Stream]

“We are extremely excited to unveil the first single from our new album. ‘Money In The Bank’ combines key elements of what we do best: big riffs, big choruses and filthy guitars. We believe that an album should be seen as a snapshot in time of an artist or band, this album has captured us at a particularly exciting moment.” – Alex Veale

 Modern British rockers Tax The Heat have unveiled their first single “Money In The Bank” ahead of their forthcoming second studio album ‘Change Your Position’. The record is scheduled for release on 9th March 2018 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment and is available to pre-order today! It will be available on CD, Digitally, Limited Edition Gatefold Vinyl and Limited Edition Light Blue Vinyl. Order your copy here and purchase the teaser single “Money In The Bank” here, and catch them live on the final few dates of their UK tour with Black Star Riders!

Inspired by classic 60’s rock n’ roll, Tax The Heats sound harks back to the days of the greats such as The Beatles, The Who and The Kinks whilst remaining equally comparable to modern to contemporary artists such as Queens Of The Stone Age, Jack White and The Black Keys. “Money In The Bank” bridges the gap between old and new and reinvigorates the unrivaled classic sound with a modern alternative twist. As guitarist/vocalist Alex Veale says We love the energy of those ’60s bands. Maximum R&B – that’s the basis for TAX THE HEAT. But we’re taking it somewhere else…creating something that has that raw energy but is also original.” From humble beginnings in 2015, Tax The Heat have become one of the most notable of new British rock acts. Singles taken from debut album ‘Fed To The Lions’ (2016) picked up airplay on Kerrang! Radio, Planet Rock and BBC Introducing. The band also honed their live craft supporting the likes of Cadillac 3, Reef, The Graveltones, Black Star Riders, Masters Of Reality, Virginmarys and Thunder, and festival appearances such as 2000 Trees, Download, Calling and Ramblin’ Man Fair Continue reading

SAXON Announce New Album ‘Thunderbolt’ And UK + European Tour Dates For 2018!

“This is album 22 and it’s called Thunderbolt. It’s a storming, smashing, thundering collection of tracks we’ve been crafting with producer Andy Sneap, and it’s finished ready to be unleashed. Stand clear and fasten your seat belts!” says Biff Byford.

Since the 1970’s Saxon have been pioneers of the British Heavy Metal wave with over 20 electrifying studio albums firmly under their belt. Now they are set to release their latest studio album ‘Thunderbolt’ on February 2nd 2018 via the Militia Guard label (Silver Lining Music), following the critically acclaimed release of ‘Battering Ram’ in 2015. The new album ‘Thunderbolt’ will feature stunning original artwork by the long time Saxon collaborator Paul Raymond Gregory (well known for producing epic Tolkien-inspired fantasy artworks for the likes of Dio, Molly Hatchet, Motörhead and Blind Guardian) and pre-orders go live on December 1st. To appease fans old and new ‘Thunderbolt’ will be available as a CD Digipack Album, 180 gms coloured vinyl in a Gatefold, Special Edition Boxset, Tape Cassette and Digital Download.

Three weeks after release day, heavy metal titans Saxon has announced that they will embark on the first phase of the ferocious Thunderbolt 2018 European Tour, joined by fellow English rockers Diamond Head. Performing alongside on scheduled UK dates will be metal trio Rock Goddess, with very special guests Magnum performing exclusively on the Hull UK date only! Presale for all shows is on Wednesday, November 8 at 10:00am with general on sale Friday, November 10 at 10:00am. Purchase your tickets here Continue reading

AS LIONS Announce Winners Of ‘Nine Lives’ Comp For Upcoming Headline UK Tour [Tour Dates + Offical Tour Playlist Stream]

[On As Lions] “We had a mission statement to each other and to the music. And that was to create the biggest, baddest hard rock we could, and on an almost cinematic scale.” – recalls Austin Dickson.

Fresh from their hugely successful European Tour supporting hard-rock titans Alter Bridge this past October, UK rockers As Lions return to home turf for their headline tour with alternative rockers Greyhaven. In conjunction with their label Eleven Seven, the ‘Nine Lives’ competition was launched to find 9 local bands to open up each show at their home venue, on each stage of the tour – 9 dates, 9 towns, 9 bands. After 100’s of entries the lucky winners have just been revealed. Here’s who will be joining As Lions and Greyhaven on the road: Continue reading

MAMMOTHFEST 2017 – Brighton, UK [Picture Gallery]

What the f**k just happened? Picture the scene: you’re walking along Brighton’s not-so sunny seafront, gulls are flying overhead looking for slim-pickings from unsuspecting tourists, and the usual retirees and students are basking along the pebbled beach without a single care in the world. Walking down the promenade, you are confronted by a sea of black t-shirts, all grinning and hyped up with an eager anticipation that feels infectious. All of a sudden you hear a colossal roar of distortion and demonic growls gurgling from deep within. Everyone in close vicinity turns and pauses in panic, children look to their parents, passers by freeze with bewilderment… “What is that?” they shriek… we reply, “The Mammoth has been unleashed!”

And what a beast it was! The team at Mammothfest produced an unbelievable feat across the weekend of Oct 6th-8th. Securing not just one, but four UK exclusives to delight metal-heads from across the country which included controversial Greek metallers Rotting Christ, avante-guard extreme titans Fleshgod Apocalypse, the uncompromising Noweigian true black metallers Tsjuder and post-metal doom act Amenra. Based in the UKs own traditional seaside town of Brighton at The Arch, over 50 bands glorified metal heads from around the country and a far, across 2 dedicated live stages. Founded in 2009, Mammothfest has fast become a household name and has played host to some formidable acts including Venom Inc, Textures, Onslaught, Entombed, Psycroptic, Breed 77 and Sylosis with the ambition of becoming “the largest rock and metal open air festival in the south”. Continue reading

UK Metal Pioneers PARADISE LOST Set To Release New Material!

In a world where it bands come and go, some like the blip on a screen, and others hanging around for a few years before devolving into either obscurity, notoriety or death, news about a long existing group that not only stays relevant but manages to transmogrify their existing sound into new territories ALWAYS gets us excited with bated anticipation.  We’ve been officially put on notice by stalwart metal label Nuclear Blast that Paradise Lost, Continue reading