Black Peaks – Bossk – Gold Key: Live at The Underworld


It’s a sell-out. This won’t come as any surprise to those who have followed the rapid, upward trajectory of Brighton’s Black Peaks but this is, as they say, a bit of a “moment” for a band that many have got justifiably excited about. This current tour, a showcase for their second album, the widely admired All That Divides (Rise Records), will see the band traverse the UK, but this stop off in the capital, on the same day that Marmozets are playing up the road and Crossfaith playing down the road still has touts asking (and getting) silly amounts of money outside the tube station is proof positive that this band have engineered more than a little bit of excitement about them.Continue reading


Cancer Bats – The Spark That Moves


How do you put to bed any doubts about your band? Come hurtling out the traps with an opener as neck-snappingly, riff-chunkingly awesome as ‘Gatekeeper’, and follow it up with a slew of hits steeped in the ultimate Black’s (Flag and Sabbath).Continue reading


All Pigs Must Die – Hostage Animal


You must respect any band that lives up to their moniker. Imagine being an impressionable metallic youth raiding the local record store and picking up albums from acts known as Poison and Slaughter. Seems metal enough, but then you get home only to realize the swindle and that those tapes were as hard as the Pillsbury Doughboy. When you listen to Hostage Animal (Southern Lord) by All Pigs Must Die, you don’t have that problem. Continue reading


Goldfinger – The Knife


Goldfinger has returned with their first new material for nine years. Titled The Knife, (Rise Records), their newest opus is an interesting listen for old fans and casual listeners alike. It’s a bit of a mash-up of pop-punk, Ska, and Rock n’ Roll. It’s a lighthearted fun album to listen to; a very California sounding record that evokes beach and waves and even a hint of Sharknado! Goldfinger’s The Knife is poppish; meaning, it’s very easy to listen to. Continue reading