Gig Review: The Darkness deliver a Titanic knees up in Belfast’s Custom House Square. The work ethic of The Darkness remains the same. They just live to play.The Darkness are still the best fun you can have with your clothes on, or off. Whatever you fancy.

It was a night of unfiltered metal chaos at The Button Factory as French trio Spirit War and Greek powerhouse Andry brought theatrical spectacle and sonic firepower to Dublin. From devil horns and LED gloves to blistering riffs and powerhouse vocals, both acts commanded the stage with relentless energy, leaving the crowd breathless and buzzing for more.

After a 20-year absence, guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen returned to Dublin and lit up The Button Factory with a jaw-dropping display of shred mastery, showmanship, and neoclassical firepower. From Rising Force to Hendrix tributes, this was a night of fretboard fireworks not soon forgotten.

Halestorm and The Raven Age brought serious heat to Malahide Castle in Dublin, warming up the crowd ahead of Iron Maiden’s headline slot.Halestorm, fronted by the powerhouse Lzzy Hale, previewed tracks from their upcoming album Everest and proved why their 2025 UK Arena Tour is a must-see. The Raven Age opened with thunderous precision, delivering a melodic Metal masterclass to an eager crowd.

Iron Maiden lit up Malahide Castle in Dublin on their Run For Your Lives Tour, thrilling 20,000 fans in a legendary night of Heavy Metal mastery. Still the best and simply untouchable.

Australia’s Battlesnake return with Dawn Of The Exultants And The Hunt For The Shepherd, a chaotic, theatrical Heavy Metal journey full of demonic vocals, wild concepts, and genre-bending madness. Imagine Rammstein on acid with a Shakespearean flair—this is full-blown Metal mythology.

Bernie Marsden: Icons is more than a covers album—it’s a loving tribute to blues rock greats like Peter Green, Rory Gallagher, and Jimi Hendrix. From soulful vocals to blistering guitar work, this posthumous release showcases the depth of Marsden’s admiration and musical mastery.

XIII Doors brought fire and finesse to Dublin’s Opium, seizing the spotlight with a thunderous half-hour set that showcased their raw talent and rock-solid chemistry.With tracks from Into The Unknown hitting even harder live, the Irish four-piece proved they’re more than hype—they’re the real deal.

Absolva roar back with Justice, a ferocious seventh album bursting with melodic power, guest firepower, and the grit of true British Metal. Manchester's finest have never sounded more focused—or more deserving of the spotlight.

When Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons hit Dublin’s Opium, they didn’t just play—they detonated. With a setlist packed with Motörhead’s fiercest anthems and powered by decades of pure Metal grit, the former Motörhead guitarist and his clan delivered a night of headbanging chaos, sweat, and unfiltered rock 'n' roll reverence.If you weren’t there, you missed a masterclass in how to keep Lemmy’s legacy roaring.