There’s nothing better than a Friday night gig and a few beers with friends to look forward after a hard week at work and it’s certainly enhanced if the bands are guaranteed solid gold-plated British hard rock in a venue that’s perfectly sized to get up close and personal. Words: …

The Big 3-0 tour sees Gun, FM and Dan Reed Network join forces to celebrate the thirtieth anniversaries of the ‘Taking On The World’, ‘Tough It Out’ and ‘Slam’ albums. Words and Pictures: Trudi Knight The headline slot is rotating, with the running order announced on the day of each …

Spirits are high at London’s O2 Arena as local Metallers The Raven Age pave the way for two of America’s biggest and best in Alter Bridge and Shinedown. Last minute replacements for originally scheduled openers Sevendust, they don’t let the occasion get to them and kick off the evening in …

“We live in dark times and hope is crushed; but cast aside despair people – we are men in tight costumes and we are ready to fight. We are The Darkness, and we bring you light.” That wasn’t the intro the band used tonight, but it should have been. Words …

Tonight Devin Townsend is back at the Roundhouse for the first time since his ‘Retinal Circus’ show in 2012. This time it’s latest album ‘Empath’ that’s the focus, arguably his most ambitious project to date. Words and Pictures: Trudi Knight The promotion states: “Devin has decided to see what would …

When you find yourself before absolute rock’n’roll royalty, with a group that can be defined as ‘super’ in every acception of the term, you realise that you are experiencing a totally different league altogether. Words: Dany Jones Pictures: Steve Ritchie With a pedigree as kingly as Black Sabbath, Def Leppard, …

The momentum behind US rockers Halestorm has been building for some time and has finally reached arena headlining stage in Europe, with them topping a three band bill in big halls for the first time. Words: Ian Sutherland Pictures: Mark Holloway halestorm, Lzzy Hale and her bandmates are all for …

Another night at the iconic London Kentish Town Forum and another sold out show that will go down in history as a moment of utter epicness. Periphery/Astronoid/Plini Words: Dany Jones Pictures: Aggie Anthimidou ASTRONOID Astronoid are a four-piece, blackgaze, post Metal commune of musical rebels from Massachussets, fronted by Brett …

Having popped their Irish cherry guesting with Metallica last summer, Sweden’s Ghost make a swift return to the Emerald Isle with The Ultimate Tour Named Death. Words: Brian Boyle Pictures: Olga Kuzmenko Getting the nights hijinks underway was Sweden’s doomsters Tribulation. Being first on in a three band line up …

Marillion first played the Royal Albert Hall in 2017, appearing with a string quartet, another first. It was intimate and inspiring, and the DVD is essential viewing, perfectly replicating the sense of occasion and how to get the most out of this venue. Marillion – With Friends from the Orchestra …