No Guilty Pleasures #1: Alice Cooper's 'Muscle Of Love'

In part one of No Guilty Pleasures, a new feature celebrating records maligned by the masses, Alec Chillingworth takes a look at Alice Cooper at their most Spinal Tap on ‘Muscle Of Love’.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Monday, 22 September 2014

Go Somewhere And Then Come Back: Adam Duritz On Counting Crows' 'Somewhere Under Wonderland'

They may have crafted a wonderful catalogue of material and been an exceptional touring outfit for over two decades, but Counting Crows have always struggled to match the critical acclaim afforded to their 1993 debut, 'August And Everything After'. Until now.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Friday, 19 September 2014

Sing With Me: Slash And His Frontmen

He may be a global icon and the leading guitar hero of his generation, but you have to feel a bit sorry for Slash. Why, you ask? Well, although he's able to unleash rock ‘n' roll gold from his fingertips, he hates singing. Hates it. Over the years, this has meant that collaborating with pesky vocalists has been an occupational necessity.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Wednesday, 17 September 2014

Fast And Heavy: Wrongstock Set To Take Over The Underworld

“Mostly it's death metal, grindcore, hardcore. Basically it's all fucking fast and fucking heavy.” - A charming quote from the Camden Underworld's Facebook page.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Tuesday, 16 September 2014

Noise Not Music #7: YOB, Earth, Lussuria And More

Photo: YOB/James Rexroad ​Welcome to the latest edition of Noise Not Music on Stereoboard, the finest repository for all your extreme musical needs. From black metal, to drone, to grindcore, to power electronics, this column welcomes music usually forced to survive far out in the musical wilderness. Listeners of a more circumspect nature are advised read on with caution…

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Friday, 12 September 2014

Winter Is Coming: The Metal Gigs Still Left To Savour In 2014

This year has been – no hyperbole intended – one of the healthiest for heavy metal this side of the millennium. A slew of bands have released career-bests and there are still more on the horizon as Bay Area heavyweights Machine Head and gods of the genre Slipknot are both due to unleash new creations in the next few months. October, meanwhile, will be dominated by the latest effort from renowned genius/puppet enthusiast Devin Townsend.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Monday, 08 September 2014

Portmeirion State Of Mind: The Stereoboard Festival No.6 Setlist

They don’t make ‘em like Festival No.6 anywhere else. It will again set up shop in the picturesque, delicately surreal surroundings of Portmeirion for a weekend of tunes, talks and art pop ups between September 5 and 7, helping to bring the curtain down on the festival season in typically idiosyncratic style.

Written by: Gavin Rees | Date: Thursday, 04 September 2014

Last Hurrah: The Stereoboard Bestival Setlist

Festival season is nearing its end, leaving behind it a few million crushed paper cups, a bit of rain, some sun and a boatload of memories. Think of Bestival as the play-offs; late in the day but packed with excitement.

Written by: Matt Williams | Date: Tuesday, 02 September 2014

Many Happy Returns To...'The Stooges'

In the early ‘70s, American critics latched onto a term that would later define one of the most divisive, viscerally exciting periods in popular music history. Credit the term to Creem magazine’s Dave Marsh, credit it to whoever you like; punk rock was new, ferocious and boasted a hard edge that stood at odds with the excesses of arena rock.

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Friday, 29 August 2014

Ten Not Out: Brownstock Set To Hit Double Figures

Celebrating its 10th staging, Brownstock will return to Morris farm, Essex, this weekend. The event has continued to evolve and develop in the last decade, moving from a friends and family affair to cementing its place in an already congested festival calendar.

Written by: Adam Holden | Date: Thursday, 28 August 2014

Big Time: The Stereoboard Reading & Leeds Setlist

If Glastonbury is your serene mate who likes hemp shirts, then Reading and Leeds are the friends who drag you into a basement rock club and demand your co-operation in pitting to Rollin’ at 4am. Basically, there aren’t many weekends on the calendar that stand out quite like it.

Written by: Matt Williams | Date: Monday, 18 August 2014

Brutal Art: The Year Of Triptykon

In terms of end of year polls, most bands may as well give up and peddle out a Greatest Hits album – Triptykon have got this one in the bag. Since its release in April, the second effort from Tom G Warrior's blackened Swiss crew - 'Melana Chasmata' – has spread its misery through the ears of all who dared listen, revealing not a single weak point in the process.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Friday, 15 August 2014

Valley Life: Breathe In The Silence's Merthyr Rock Playlist

“It's an awesome event and to have such massive bands playing in the valleys of south Wales just shows what can be done,” Adam Williams, frontman of Breathe In The Silence, said. His band will take to the stage at Merthyr Rock on Sunday, helping to open proceedings prior to the arrival of Taking Back Sunday, Reel Big Fish, Anti-Flag and local favourites the Blackout.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Friday, 15 August 2014

VIDEO PREMIERE: The Limited Make Their Debut With Nightmare

The Limited have revisited some painful mistakes on Nightmare, their debut single.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Wednesday, 13 August 2014

Play The Hits: Stereoboard's V Festival Setlist

V Festival returns this weekend, with the pop-rock behemoth once again set to ride roughshod over Hylands Park in Essex and Weston Park, Staffordshire for three days of huge names, big hits and, doubtless, some neon face paint too.

Written by: Gavin Rees | Date: Tuesday, 12 August 2014

Summer Beacon: The Stereoboard Green Man Setlist

Just about every festival claims to have the best line-up of the summer. It’s a given. But such seemingly idle chatter carries extra weight when you’re talking about this year’s Green Man.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Monday, 11 August 2014

Post-Rock Of Ages: The Return Of ArcTanGent

With just three weeks to ago until ArcTanGent returns to Fernhill Farm near Bristol for its second year, it’s officially time to start getting excited. With a line-up catering directly for fans of post-rock, math rock and the many tertiary genres that surround the pair, there is no doubting the fact that the festival is here to provide for an audience that otherwise would have to make do with piecemeal offerings from the rest of the circuit. It’s truly alternative event, then, and one that also fits perfectly into Bristol’s rich vein of music history.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 07 August 2014

Musical Mojo: The Hypnotic World Of Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers

When it comes to sculpting timeless tunes, few can match Thomas Earl Petty and his band. Whether it be the spitting rock ‘n' roll of their early years, latter day country laments or, most recently, psychedelic blues jams, the calibre of their craftsmanship rarely fails to dazzle. A new album - 'Hypnotic Eye' - has just been released to rave reviews and has reinforced just why Petty is so widely fêted.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Wednesday, 06 August 2014

Noise Not Music #6: Russell Haswell & Pain Jerk, Martyrdöd, Liturgy And More

It’s been a busy month for your resident noise correspondent. Listening to the Russell Haswell & Pain Jerk album nearly sent me insane, then seeing Haswell bend time and space in Dalston with Kevin Drumm actually did send me insane for a bit if I’m not mistaken. Thankfully, the recovery is well underway and your latest update on all things ear-bleedingly unpleasant is here…

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Tuesday, 05 August 2014

Heavy As Hell: Stereoboard's Bloodstock Setlist

For some people, dark chocolate just isn't enough. They need dark chocolate dipped in black coffee and sprinkled with a layer of tar...or maybe just some more dark chocolate, if they actually want to eat it. These mavericks are the extreme of the extreme; the sort of folk who would rather carve out their ears with a spoon than see Linkin Park.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Monday, 04 August 2014