LIVE: Pallbearer / Tuskar @ The Underworld, Camden

Success is a funny thing, especially in the music world. Some bands explode in popularity overnight, then burn out as quickly as they came. Some take years to establish a fan base, their recognition only coming long after they’ve split. Little Rock’s Pallbearer are a rarity in that their

Dale Crover: ” We’ll have official Melvins adult diapers for sale at the merch booth.”

LIVE: Desertfest 2018: Sunday

Sunday sees us being primarily two things – too fucking hot, and too fucking tired. It’s a long trek to the Roundhouse, but one that’s worth it to catch Swedish doomsters Monolord. The massive backdrop of latest album ‘Rust’ gives a clue as to what the set list will

LIVE: Desertfest 2018: Saturday

Saturday kicks off with The Dev full to the brim, latecomers disappointed when they realise they won’t even get a glimpse of Falmouth two piece Monolithian. Those who stay are treated to the infectious bounce of a massive ‘Mantis Rider’, the dreamy drift of ‘Nyarlathotep’ and Shannon Green’s pummelling

2000trees Festival Preview: Conjurer – ‘It’s much better playing 2000trees than the Arse & Trumpet in Barnstable’

Over the last decade, 2000trees festival has steadily expanded in both size and scope of line up to become one of the most diverse weekends of independent and underground music of the British festival calendar. 2018’s slate of bands is no exception, ranging from the electronica infused high-energy rock

Napalm Death – ‘Coded Smears And More Uncommon Slurs’

Stamps. Beer mats. Foreign coins. Bottle Caps. Pokémon. First editions of novels. The disembodied souls of those who have wronged you. There’s something that satisfies about the act of collecting, whether it’s the act of hunting things down, accumulating them or the closure of the complete assembly. That instinct is

LIVE: Desertfest 2018: Friday

First band of the festival, and the Underworld is suitably heaving with ready revellers. There’s a fair few ‘Old Man’ bands knocking around (Gloom, Hundred Year Old etc) and we’re treated to Suffolk swaggerers Old Man Lizard’s deep stoner grooves. Noodly guitars and big, swinging bass power through, shifting

Blaspherion – ‘Restus Corpus’

When most people picture Rio de Janeiro, they probably think of flawless beaches, joyful people dancing in brightly coloured carnival costumes, or massive statues of Jesus. They probably don’t think of  blistering old-school death metal. But, if four piece Blaspherion have anything to say about it with their debut

LIVE: Earthless @ Islington Assembly Hall

In the broad spectrum of things, there are two kinds of bands. The first kind find their niche, their signature sound, and settle into it for the long haul, happy to keep sailing the same sonic seas. The second kind constantly seek to innovate, to mix things up, and

Spider Kitten – ‘Concise & Sinister’

There’s a trick many lazy reviewers use to describe an artist as ‘The UK’s answer to…’ whichever intercontinental band they’re drawing an (often tenuous) comparison to. While such a device is obviously old hat at best, it’s definitely warranted when it comes to Spider Kitten – ‘The UK’s answer