Michael Monroe - Rescue Rooms, Nottingham - December 1 2013 (Live Review)

Michael Monroe is back. This show falls smack-bang in the middle of his Horns And Halos tour, just a couple of years removed from his last festive jaunt around the UK.

Written by: Gemma Johnson | Date: Tuesday, 03 December 2013

Mindless Self Indulgence - KOKO, London - November 29 2013 (Live Review)

This bill is something of a weird one. Headliners Mindless Self Indulgence are the undisputed kings of carnal madness, blending rap, metal, punk, rock, hip hop and all manner of oddities into something that looks awful in theory but, in reality, is pretty bloody good.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Tuesday, 03 December 2013

Marshall Ultimate Band Contest - Marshall Theatre, Milton Keynes - November 23, 2013 (Live Review)

Standing in the presence of The Dark Lord (also known as Alexander Milas, editor of Metal Hammer) is a little unnerving. Mighty in stature and even mightier in his knowledge of all things rock and metal, he is perhaps the ultimate judge for this contest so far.

Written by: Anna Ghislena | Date: Tuesday, 26 November 2013

Stereophonics - Brighton Centre - November 21, 2013 (Live Review)

Since the release of their eighth album, ‘Graffiti On The Train’, earlier this year, Stereophonics have been racking up the airmiles. Following numerous summer festival stops and long-haul jaunts to Japan and Australia, the Welsh rockers returned to the UK for a string of arena shows, including a trio in Cardiff and a stop at London’s O2 Arena.

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Monday, 25 November 2013

Panic! At The Disco - The Forum, London - November 21 2013 (Live Review)

It’s a little weird seeing Panic! At The Disco headline such a modest venue. Tonight, the Forum holds over 2,000 baying audience members within its long sold-out walls but still – this band feels massive. Having racked up millions of album sales worldwide since their debut, 'A Fever You Can't Sweat Out', landed back in 2005, the pop-rock giants are back on British shores once more and hordes of freezing, devoted fans have duly been queueing up all day.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Friday, 22 November 2013

Karnivool - The Garage, Glasgow - November 16 2013 (Live Review)

Though they are the current kings of the Australian rock scene, it’s difficult to gauge exactly where Karnivool stand in international terms. The jump from Glasgow's cosy King Tut's venue, which they played a few years ago, to infamous nightclub The Garage, would suggest that the five-piece's stock has risen. They are starting to demonstrate the commanding qualities that could see them build up a real following on these shores.

Written by: Jonathan Rimmer | Date: Wednesday, 20 November 2013

30 Seconds To Mars - Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff - November 14 2013 (Live Review)

Thirty Seconds To Mars arrived before a capacity crowd at the Motorpoint Arena and from the opening note it was clear that the trio know how to put on a show, mixing theatricality with a slate of crowd-pleasers that continues to grow.

Written by: Kerry Thomas | Date: Tuesday, 19 November 2013

Satyricon - O2 Academy Islington, London - November 14 2013 (Live Review)

Satyricon are a bit of an odd one. Too furiously visceral for mainstream rock listeners yet too 'polished' for extreme metal elitists, they've tinkered on the borders of both for the majority of their career. Following the release of their superb, self-titled eighth record earlier this year, the seldom-travelled black metal behemoths arrived to crush the Islington Academy.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Tuesday, 19 November 2013

The National - Alexandra Palace, London - November 13 2013 (Live Review)

Halfway through the National’s first London gig on their Trouble Will Find Me tour, the screens flanking the stage hone in on the words Matt Berninger has written on the palm of his hand.

Written by: Tom Seymour | Date: Monday, 18 November 2013

The Darkness - Electric Ballroom, London - November 13 2013 (Live Review)

Darklings, the ever-faithful, ever-fluctuating fanbase of the Darkness, are strewn across the streets of Camden on this chilly winter's night. Having been chewed up and spat out by the evil British press, it’s easy to assume that the band's popularity is at a something of a low ebb. It’s not.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Friday, 15 November 2013

Kodaline - O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, London - November 10 2013 (Live Review)

Kodaline haven’t quite achieved household name status just yet, but it’s more than likely that you’ve heard their songs, either through regular radio play, an episode of Grey’s Anatomy or even as the background music to Google’s Zeitgeist 2012 video.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Thursday, 14 November 2013

Frightened Rabbit - O2 Academy Brixton, London - November 8 2013 (Live Review)

Striding onstage with his bandmates, to a huge ovation from a lively sold-out crowd, Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchison said: “Being a pessimistic Scotsman, you think: ‘Fuck me, I will never get to headline Brixton Academy.’”

Written by: Ryan Crittenden | Date: Monday, 11 November 2013

Damnation Festival - Leeds University - November 2 2013 (Live Review)

With a move to four stages and the event’s most impressive bill to date making the build-up to Damnation 2013 one of genuine fervour, it could be said that the pressure was on the annual Leeds-based event more than ever this year.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 07 November 2013

Paradise Lost - Roundhouse, London - November 3 2013 (Live Review)

If any band deserves a party, it's Paradise Lost. Having risen from the depths of the death metal underground with their monumental 'Gothic' album back in 1991, the self proclaimed 'Yorkshire Puddings' have since embarked on a musical rollercoaster ride violent enough to earn a spot at Alton Towers.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Tuesday, 05 November 2013

HIM - KOKO, London - October 31 2013 (Live Review)

Camden is full of weirdos on any given night of the year. But, with tonight being All Hallows Eve’, well, it's all gone a bit mental. A drunk woman runs around dressed as a pumpkin a la Angus, Thongs And Perfect Snogging, a man in a superb Clockwork Orange get-up struggles with an ATM near McDonald’s. A couple of elderly gents eat face on a bench, but the fake blood creates the creepy illusion of face actually being eaten. Basically, it’s a lot like the backdrop to a Romero flick with a dash of Poe for good measure – the perfect setting for a HIM show.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Monday, 04 November 2013

Arctic Monkeys - Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff - October 29 2013 (Live Review)

It's fair to say that it's been a pretty good year for Arctic Monkeys. Having followed up a triumphant headlining performance at Glastonbury with ‘AM’, their fifth consecutive #1 album, the Sheffield giants rolled into the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff and thrilled a sold out crowd.

Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Wednesday, 30 October 2013

AlunaGeorge - O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, London - October 24 2013 (Live Review)

George Reid glides onstage, a faint, unmoving smile on his face, his Mac-pop cool in full check. He’s followed by Aluna Francis, pretending to ride a pony. She canters to the centre of the stage, dramatically climbs off her imaginary steed, and slaps it on the arse.

Written by: Tom Seymour | Date: Monday, 28 October 2013

Relentless Live - Old Billingsgate Market - October 19 2013 (Live Review)

With an audience of competition winners filled up with enough energy drink to make piss leak from their eyeballs, Relentless Live certainly had all the trappings of an interesting night. Headlined by Professor Green, Zane Lowe and Pure Love and staged at the venerable Old Billingsgate Market, there was also small chance of anyone complaining of it having a one-sided bill.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Friday, 25 October 2013

Everything Everything - Institute, Birmingham - October 18 2013 (Live Review)

It’s always an exciting time when a band embarks on a tour that will become known as The One Just Before They Got Massively Famous.

Written by: Emma Dodds | Date: Thursday, 24 October 2013

Swn Festival - Cardiff - October 17-20 2013 (Live Review)

Now in its seventh year, Cardiff’s Sŵn Festival has become one of the leading new music events on the scene. A city festival in the classic sense, the 2013 bill was diverse, frequently thrilling and rapturously received. Spanning intimate bars, church spaces, a hotel suite and some of the city’s most celebrated live music venues, it transformed a wet weekend into one to savour.

Written by: Dave Ball, Huw Baines and Craig Thomas | Date: Wednesday, 23 October 2013

MGMT - Civic Hall, Wolverhampton - October 13 2013 (Live Review)

Essentially, the cosmic noise peddled by MGMT is made by Andrew VanWynGarden (the one who sings) and Benjamin Goldwasser (the one with the keyboards). 

Written by: Jaspreet Kaur Takhi | Date: Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Alter Bridge – Capital FM Arena, Nottingham – October 16 2013 (Live Review)

Alter Bridge are a bit of an odd one. Since their ill-received debut album in 2004, the band have started writing better tunes and risen through the ranks of rock 'n' roll's elite, taking their progressive-tinged rawk machine across the globe. Their fourth album, 'Fortress', scored them a #6 slot on the UK album charts. They sold out Wembley Arena a couple of years back, and are heading back there on this tour. So why on earth are Alter Bridge not headlining festivals by now?

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Monday, 21 October 2013

Children Of Bodom - Shepherd's Bush Empire, London - October 15 2013 (Live Review)

It's cold, it's miserable and there's an old Jamaican dude selling drugs around the corner. Just another Tuesday night in Shepherd's Bush, you might think. But tonight, something wicked lurks on the horizon. A clan of leather-clad warriors swarm around the Empire, staking their claim for an evening with Children Of Bodom.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Friday, 18 October 2013

Fat Freddy's Drop - Colston Hall, Bristol - October 2 2013 (Live Review)

There was a buzz in the air, a real sense of good time ahead. Bristol's Colston Hall was sold out for the evening in anticipation of the arrival of Fat Freddy’s Drop.

Written by: Charlie Hurt | Date: Thursday, 10 October 2013

Drenge - East Village Arts Club, Liverpool - October 7 2013 (Live Review)

Throughout the summer, Drenge have hopped between the biggest festivals going, pausing only to unveil their self-titled debut and a wide-ranging UK tour. Landing in the north west, they took over the newly refurbished East Village Arts Club in Liverpool.

Written by: Lee Johnston | Date: Thursday, 10 October 2013

Ufomammut - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds - October 2 2013 (Live Review)

One of the finest heavy bands on the planet in recent years, Italian trio Ufomammut have been ploughing their distinctive psych sludge furrow under the radar for a good few years, so it’s pleasing to see them on tour to celebrate all that they have accomplished thus far.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Wednesday, 09 October 2013

Bury Tomorrow - Islington Academy, London - October 4 2013 (Live Review)

Sweat. Violence. Weird-looking people. All three of these elements are key attributes for a successful metal show, and here they're all present and correct. Having sold out the majority of the tour well in advance (a stupendous feat for a British band so early in their career), Bury Tomorrow are to blame.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Tuesday, 08 October 2013

Wheatus - The Horn, St Albans - September 25 2013 (Live Review)

Hands up if you know Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus? Of course you do. According to Brendan B. Brown, the band’s frontman and sole surviving original member, it has been in the charts no less than five times since its release in 2000.

Written by: Anna Ghislena | Date: Monday, 30 September 2013

Liam Fray - O2 Academy Liverpool - September 19 2013 (Live Review)

Following the success of his last acoustic tour, Liam Fray, frontman of the Courteeners, kicked off another jaunt by tackling a full house at Liverpool’s O2 Academy.  

Written by: Lee Johnston | Date: Wednesday, 25 September 2013

The 1975 - O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire - September 20 2013 (Live Review)

Stepping into the iconic Shepherd's Bush Empire prior to the 1975’s highly-anticipated London date was like stepping into a time machine and being whisked back to the ‘80s. In this case, we’re talking Level 42, Talking Heads and bands whose music has stood the test of time.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Tuesday, 24 September 2013

The Black Dahlia Murder - O2 Academy Islington - September 20 2013 (Live Review)

Sparkling in the September sunshine, Islington is the spitting image of a Grand Theft Auto mission. Pedestrians shuffle about at an annoyingly slow pace, inadequate drivers threaten to flatten all who dare to venture near the the curb, and has that guy got a gun in his pocket? Nope, he's just happy to see me. It's the perfect setting for this particular musical bloodbath.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Tuesday, 24 September 2013

Thirty Seconds To Mars - iTunes Festival, Camden Roundhouse - September 18 2013

Ah, the Camden Roundhouse. Since its conversion from an engine shed to an arts space in the mid-’60s, this legendary venue has hosted everyone from Led Zeppelin to Lady Gaga, Opeth to James Blunt, Devin Townsend to Foo Fighters. It's a monument to music, and with the recent inception of the iTunes Festival lucky punters can now catch their heroes in its intimate confines throughout the month of September. On this particular occasion, Jared Leto and Thirty Seconds To Mars were treading the boards.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Friday, 20 September 2013

Festival No.6 - Portmeirion, North Wales - September 13-15 2013 (Live Review)

Festival No. 6 has the kind of wow factor most events can only dream of. With picturesque Portmeirion as a backdrop, it creates an enchanting dreamland of settings to float around: the village, woodlands, sunset viewpoint, estuary beaches, main arena field and castle grounds. It all adds up to an eclectic, exciting and fun festival and the organisers should be proud of their achievements in only their second year.

Written by: Andy Rea, founder of 2000trees Festival | Date: Friday, 20 September 2013

Attica Rage - Bogiez, Cardiff - September 13 2013 (Live Review)

Scotland's Attica Rage hark back to an era when leather jackets were a way of life, not just a fashion accessory.

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Thursday, 19 September 2013

Bestival - Robin Hill Country Park, Isle Of Wight - September 5-8 2013 (Live Review)

The last hurrah of the summer? The most underrated festival in the UK? Whatever you want to label Bestival as, you can be sure that you’ll have one hell of a time exploring the concoction of spectacular visuals and great artists assembled by festival curators Josie and Rob Da Bank.

Written by: Ryan Crittenden | Date: Monday, 16 September 2013

ArcTanGent - Fernhill Farm, Somerset - August 29-31 2013 (Live Review)

When ArcTanGent was originally announced last year there was widespread excitement in the UK’s vibrant underground music scene, especially from those familiar with its sister festival, 2000trees.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 05 September 2013

Alkaline Trio - O2 Academy Islington, London - August 29 2013 (Live Review)

If, in the near future, you’re tasked with organising a 10th birthday party, lay aside the balloon animals and hire Alkaline Trio instead. That’s just what the folks at the 02 Academy Islington did, and the whole thing worked out pretty damn well.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Friday, 30 August 2013

Fall Out Boy - O2 Academy Glasgow - August 24 2013 (Live Review)

The 48 hours between Pete Wentz's denials and Fall Out Boy's reunion earlier this year sent the internet into a flurry that, even by the its own high standards, was pretty spectacular. With such levels of anticipation, it came as no surprise that their one-off Glasgow Academy date, sandwiched between sets at Leeds and Reading, sold out in no time at all.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Thursday, 29 August 2013

Green Man - Glanusk Estate, Brecon Beacons - August 15-18 2013 (Live Review)

After 10 years of steady growth, the 2013 edition of Green Man Festival was the biggest and best yet. Its setting alone makes it something special every year, residing as it does at the Glanusk Estate in Wales' Brecon Beacons. It's not every weekend you get to be at a music festival based in an area of outstanding natural beauty. 

Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Thursday, 29 August 2013

Leeds Festival - Bramham Park, Leeds - August 23-25 (Live Review)

Leeds Festival. The young, upstart sibling of Reading reared its hungover head once again last weekend, returning with a line-up that was stronger than a horse's hind leg. Rain hammered down, tents were ripped from their pegs and a certain reviewer spent part of the weekend with two cans of John Smith's duct taped to his hands. It was a good ‘un.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Wednesday, 28 August 2013

The Riverside Swing Cartel - Porter's, Cardiff - August 23 2013 (Live Review)

Here's a question for you. What do you get when you cross members of Paolo Nutini's band with Charlotte Church and a few hardy survivors from Cardiff's ska-punk scene? Well, it turns out that you get a bloody good time.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Wednesday, 28 August 2013

Gallows - The Boileroom, Guildford - August 21 2013 (Live Review)

When Gallows, the UK’s best punk band for a decade, come to town, you’d better be ready. Joining Palm Reader, a hugely promising new metalcore act, at the Boileroom in sleepy Guildford for a Reading and Leeds warm-up show, their arrival results in something of a heavy music lovers’ summit.

Written by: Owen Sheppard | Date: Friday, 23 August 2013

Torche - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds - August 18 2013 (Live Review)

Known for their melding of jaw-dropping downtuned stoner rock riffs with extremely accessible pop hooks, Torche are a band in a million. They do what they do so well that it makes it hard for anyone else to even attempt something similar.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Friday, 23 August 2013

Boomtown Fair - Matterley Estate, Winchester - August 8-11 2013 (Live Review)

Most taglines are slightly hyperbolic. Not so in the case of Boomtown Fair. It’s dubbed “the maddest city in the country” and, well, that’s pretty much accurate.

Written by: Adam Holden | Date: Friday, 16 August 2013

Bloodstock Festival - Catton Hall, Derby - August 9-11 2013 (Live Review)

Arriving at Bloodstock for the second time, it's again easy to see why the festival is the highlight of the summer for many metalheads. Based in the Derbyshire countryside, the 10,000-capacity event is better organised than many of the larger festivals on the UK calendar.

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Wednesday, 14 August 2013

The Menzingers - Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff - August 9 2013 (Live Review)

The Menzingers currently occupy a lovely spot in the music world. They're strangers to the average man on the street, but the Pennsylvanian punks just sold out another UK tour off the back of their 2012 collection, 'On The Impossible Past', and were greeted by raucous singalongs at every turn.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Tuesday, 13 August 2013

Killswitch Engage - Garage, London - August 4 2013 (Live Review)

This gig should have been a crowning moment for Killswitch Engage. Having returned to action with original vocalist Jesse Leach, it seemed that the band's well-deserved headline slot at Hevy Fest was another step towards grander things. Alas, Hevy was then downgraded to a single day event at Brixton Academy. A bit of a blow, but still, so far, so good. Brixton's a colossal deal for most bands, especially ones within the heavier realms of music. It's not too shabby, let's put it that way.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Thursday, 08 August 2013

Ludovico Einaudi - Barbican Centre, London - July 31 2013 (Live Review)

The sounds and musical creations of Ludovico Einaudi may not be familiar to everyone, but whether it’s “the music off that advert you saw” or the poignant soundtrack to a film like This Is England, this master’s work has permeated far beyond the realm of classical music.

Written by: Ryan Crittenden | Date: Monday, 05 August 2013

Tomorrowland - Boom, Belgium - July 26-28 2013 (Live Review)

The latest chapter of Tomorrowland is now complete, and the electronic fairytale was just as mind-blowing as everyone expected it to be.

Written by: Adam Holden | Date: Friday, 02 August 2013

Steelhouse Festival - Ebbw Vale, South Wales - July 27-28 2013 (Live Review)

Following some of the hottest weather to hit the UK in years, hopes were high for a sun-soaked weekend on top of a mountain in Wales to celebrate the best that classic rock music has to offer. We got to celebrate the best of classic rock music, that's for sure. As for the sun-soaked weekend, though... 

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Thursday, 01 August 2013