LIVE: Viagra Boys @ Troxy

What was in fact a secondary venue choice – thanks to O2 Academy Brixton temporarily closing its doors – became the perfect home for Swedish post-punk band Viagra Boys. The grandiose hall with antique walls, high ceilings and a detailed decor finish provided a setting fit for →

GALLERY: Sleep Token, Northlane @ Eventim Apollo, London

M(h)aol – ‘Attachment Styles’

M(h)aol, in a very short time, have been able to leave their mark as one of the more unique voices in the scene. Born partly out of the rising modern Irish punk tradition, the quintet have stood out through a truly raw sound and pointed lyrics, moreso →

LIVE: Sleep Token, Northlane @ Eventim Apollo, London

Tonight almost didn’t happen…  For anyone unaware, mysterious genre-bending band Sleep Token had been building towards their Brixton Academy moment for a quite some time – something countless bands and artists strive to reach – after announcing a headline UK run towards the end of 2022. After →

GALLERY: L.S. Dunes, Kayleigh Goldsworthy @ Electric Ballroom, London

Dream State – ‘Untethered’

Everything went wrong. After the release of their debut album Dream State slowly fell apart. This left songwriter Aled Evans alone with a choice; rebuild the band, or give up. Here’s the thing; getting anywhere in the music world is difficult, and being the songwriter in a →

Emarosa – ‘Sting’

Following on from a breakout 2019 album which saw a surprising shift in style, ER White and Bradley Walden’s revamped Emarosa have gone from strength to strength, and while a change in style is always a controversial decision, this upheaval was a rather exciting new display from a band →

New Found Glory – ‘Make The Most of It’

From producing pop-punk classics to paying tribute to silver-screen moments to dropping festive cuts, New Found Glory’s career has certainly been decorative and varied. They’re now adding an acoustic album to their bow in the form of ‘Make The Most Of It’. Split between seven new songs and seven →

LIVE: Clutch / Green Lung / Tigercub @ The Roundhouse, London

It’s the week before Christmas and all through the Roundhouse, quite a lot of people are stirring actually as Brighton three-piece Tigercub are about to open up a night of rock for those who have made it here despite the rail strikes and lingering wintery weather. The stage setup →

LIVE: Boston Manor @ The Forum, Tunbridge Wells

It’s always a little bit special when a band travels beyond the usual major cities, venturing to smaller venues in smaller towns; the anticipation always feels that much more tangible when local fans can avoid long train rides and be tucked up in bed by 11pm after proving what →

Live: Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes @ The Underworld

The Underworld is the heart of the alternative music scene in London, and for good reason. As you clamber down the steps into the depths of its basement, you can’t help but appreciate the worn walls and dim lighting – a place fitting for punk rock. Frank →

GALLERY: Silverstein, Comeback Kid, Senses Fail @ Electric Ballroom, London

LIVE: Silverstein / Comeback Kid / Senses Fail / Koyo @ Electric Ballroom, London

Sunday evening gigs are always tricky for the majority of music lovers who work the 9-5 grind. Add in dark skies by the mid-afternoon and sub-zero temperatures and you might expect people to choose to stay at home with a mug of hot chocolate rather than trek to Camden →

Circa Survive – ‘Two Dreams’

Everything seems to be going so well; you’re drifting along, but you don’t realise it’s all unravelling around you. Your relationship comes to pieces, leaving you with a broken heart and a handful of memories. More than seventeen years after their debut album, Circa Survive have called →

††† (Crosses) – ‘Permanent.Radiant’

December is here, the nights have closed in, and Crosses have returned from their torpor. This dark atmospheric electro-rock project is the fusion of producer and multi-instrumentalist Shaun Lopez and Deftones front man Chino Moreno’s considerable vocal talents. After drip-feeding a series of new singles they are →

Win a very special Jamie Lenman item and limited edition vinyl

It’s no secret that we love Jamie Lenman here at Punktastic. We’ve swooned over his albums, we’ve lost our minds at his shows, we’ve collaborated and designed merchandise together, and now we’re joining forces once more for something pretty darn special. Celebrating the release of Lenman’s brand new album →

LIVE: Electric Callboy @ Chalk, Brighton

While the wind and rain had been battering the south coast for much of the day, the adverse weather hadn’t stopped a swathe of gig goers turning up in costume – from big wigs to all manner of brightly coloured clothing – for the final sold-out night of Electric →

GALLERY: Electric Callboy, Annisokay @ Chalk, Brighton

Justin Courtney Pierre – ‘Permanent Midnight’

What if you could look into someone’s soul? What would you see? After Motion City Soundtrack called it a day, Justin Courtney Pierre was at a loose end. He still had things to say, and as singer-songwriter, he had the means to do so. Back in 2018 →

Other Half – ‘Soft Action’

The dreaded sophomore slump is a real thing. Will a band’s follow-up album hit as heavy as their debut release? Will they be able to build on the foundations of songs that made their name? For Norwich natives Other Half, the answer is a resounding yes. ‘Soft Action’ not →