ALBUM REVIEW: Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons – Kings of the Asylum


 

Two band names, three studio albums, one EP, a live album, and a change of vocalists. A lot has happened in the last few years for Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons. From beginning life as a side project for the former Motörhead guitarist, performing covers under the somewhat less than attention-grabbing moniker of Phil Campbell’s All Starr Band, the band announced a much-needed name change the following year and the improvement was both noticeable and immediate.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Out of Love – So Far, So Good


Less than one minute into the opening track ‘S.L.U.M.P.’, we are cast back to the heady days of the late nineties. Brit Rock is still around, though making way to a new breed of cats as the melodic punk of the US is becoming a strong bed-fellow with the slightly quirkier variant from the other side of the Atlantic, and bands like Ash, the multiple off-shoots from The Wildhearts, and more are spawning and bursting out and creating a scene. It was a fertile time of fun and creativity as the last vestiges of cardigans and sixth-form grunge cottoned onto the fun and febrile feel of a Cool Britannia.

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FESTIVAL PREVIEW: Bloodstock Open Air 2021 Kicks Off Today


 

Bloodstock Open Air (BOA) 2021 here! The festival kicks off today after much planning with sdafety and security in mind, considering the current state of the world. With weekend passes selling out, there might still be a few day tickets left, but check in advance before heading there. Starting today, August 11th -15th at Catton Park, the main stage headliners are Devin Townsend (Friday), Kreator (Saturday), and Judas Priest (Sunday). The festival will also feature sets from Skindred, Paradise Lost, Bury Tomorrow, Diamond Head, Therapy?, Jinjer, Vio-lence, Saxon, The Wildhearts, Gloryhammer, Dark Tranquillity, Bleed From Within, Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons, Memoriam, Ramage Inc., Green Lung, Conjurer, Orange Goblin, The Night Flight Orchestra, Raging Speedhorn, Unleash The Archers, Sylosis, Winterfylleth, Hacktivist, The Crawling, Raised By Owls, Acid Reign, Svalbard, Soen, Blasphemer, Pist, Sharks In Your Mouth, Seidrblot, Noctem, Mother Vulture, Bloodshot Dawn, Evile, and many more. Get your tickets at the link below!

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Bloodstock 2021 Weekend Passes Sell Out, More Bands Added to The Bill


 

Bloodstock Open Air (BOA) 2021 is approaching at just 3 weeks away and news is ramping up! Weekend passes have sold out, but day tickets are still avaialble but selling out fast. The fest has added a gang of new bands, the Metal to The Massess bands, and much more! The fest takes place from 11-15,August, 2021 at Catton Park! The main stage headliners are Devin Townsend (Friday), Kreator (Saturday), and Judas Priest (Sunday). The festival will also feature sets from Skindred, Paradise Lost, Bury Tomorrow, Diamond Head, Therapy?, Jinjer, Vio-lence, Saxon, The Wildhearts, Gloryhammer, Dark Tranquillity, Bleed From Within, Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons, Memoriam, Ramage Inc., Green Lung, Conjurer, Orange Goblin, The Night Flight Orchestra, Raging Speedhorn, Unleash The Archers, Sylosis, Winterfylleth, Hacktivist, The Crawling, Raised By Owls, Acid Reign, Svalbard, Soen, Blasphemer, Pist, Sharks In Your Mouth, Seidrblot, Noctem, Mother Vulture, Bloodshot Dawn, Evile, and many more. Get your tickets at the link below!

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Cradle of Filth, Onslaught, Beholder, Ward XVI,and More Booked for Bloodstock 2021


Bloodstock Open Air (BOA) 2021 is a go and is about two and half months out at 85 days until the fest. In addition to adding a stacked extra night on Wednesday, the fest has announced some additions. Replacing Dimmu Borgir, who have vowed to return in 2022, Cradle of Filth joins the madness. Hot on the heels of their stellar livestream even, this promises to be huge. For the Wednesday bill, joining the fest are Onslaught, Beholder, Ward XVI, as well as Raised By Owls, RAISED and Anakim, both move across to a Wednesday slot, from their previously announced Thursday.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Massive Wagons – House of Noise


Massive Wagons‘ fifth album House of Noise (Earache Records) delivers unabashedly old fashioned Rock n Roll with lashings of riffs, hooks, and humour that will put a smile on anyone’s face. It builds on their fourth album, and Earache debut, Full Nelson by doing more of the same, but bigger and better. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix.

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KISS, Biffy Clyro, System Of A Down and More Booked for Download Festival 2021


Download Festival will return for 2021, featuring headliners KISS, Biffy Clyro, and System Of A Down and many more bands including A Day To Remember, Mastodon, Control The Storm, Gender Roles, Jamie Lenman, Myles Kennedy & Company, Deftones, Korn, The Distillers, Steel Panther, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, The Darkness, Black Veil Brides, Creeper, Alestorm and The Pretty Reckless. Seventy-three bands in all have been announced! Tickets go on sale on August 7th at 9 AM GMT. More bands have yet to be announced. The three-day festival takes place on 4-6 June 2021 at the spiritual home of rock in Donington Park, Leicestershire. Tickets will go on sale at this link here. Continue reading


PODCAST: #Episode 108 – Carol Hodge on “Savage Purge”


Ghost Cult Magazine’s Duncan Evans caught up with singer/songwriter and all-around badass Carol Hodge (solo artist/Steve from Crass/The Wildhearts) to discuss her new album Savage Purge (review here). Carol was in high spirits, despite illness, and chatted all about her new album, her creative process, the deeper meaning behind the title, lyricism, and much more! You can order her album at this link here, and listen to their chat right now!

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Mastodon, Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes, Alter Bridge, The Darkness, Sepultura and More Added to Download UK


A bunch of new bands have already been added to the bill on this year’s Download UK Festival. The new acts include Alter Bridge, Bowling For Soup, The Darkness, The Distillers, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Mastodon, Funeral For A Friend, The Menzingers, Employed To Serve, 3 Doors Down, Milk Teeth, Motionless In White, Holding Absence, Lacuna Coil, Loathe, Sepultura, Amaranthe, Cemetery Sun, Fire From The Gods, Gender Roles, Haken, Hatari, Heavy Lungs, Higher Power, JJ Wilde, Kill The Lights, Modern Error, Northlane, Press Club, Polyphia| The Raven Age, Renounced, Shvpes, Sleep Token, SULLII, The Glorious Sons, The Hara, The Skints, Tempt, Twin Temple, Thy Art Is Murder, Wage War, and Will Haven! Also announced are the Day And Stage Splits, WWE NXT UK returns, and Kerrang! Radio Hosts the Finding Fresh Blood contest for a chance to perform on The Avalanche Stage. 2020 Download headliners Iron Maiden (Legacy Of The Beast Tour), Kiss and System Of A Down this summer and takes place on 12 – 14 June 2020 at the spiritual home of rock in Donington Park, Leicestershire. Continue reading