Brownstock Festival - Morris Farm, Essex - August 29-31 2014 (Live Review)

Photo (Main/Inset): Ben Wilson Photography Brownstock celebrated its 10th anniversary by selling out for the second year on the bounce, with the likes of Dizzee Rascal sitting atop the bill.

Written by: Adam Holden | Date: Thursday, 04 September 2014

Reading Festival - Richfield Avenue, Reading - August 22-24 2014 (Live Review)

Blink 182 (Reading Festival/Jen O'Neill) Inset: Arctic Monkeys (Reading Festival/Alex de Mora) Reading Festival is the highlight of the summer for thousands of people, has been for decades, and the very stature of the event made it more difficult to ignore murmurs circulating around the site that it “isn’t what it used to be”.

Written by: Laura Johnson | Date: Tuesday, 26 August 2014

Freschard - Major Tom's Social Club, Harrogate - August 19 2014 (Live Review)

This gig can be summed up by Clémence​ Freschard’s choice of stage attire: an oversized green jumper. During her set, as part of a tour with long-time collaborator Stanley Brinks, her laid back vocals and unassuming stage presence are complemented by that jumper; she is casual, warm and comfortable. But, that is not to say it’s everyday or lazy. Freschard’s a real French fancy.

Written by: Maisy Ash | Date: Wednesday, 20 August 2014

Bloodstock - Catton Park, Derbyshire - August 7-10 2014 (Live Review)

As the sun and rain partake in battle worthy of a Bathory album cover, beer-riddled rockers swarm around Catton Hall for Bloodstock, a weekend of metal, mud and crustacean impersonators – but more on that later.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Tuesday, 12 August 2014

Machine Head - Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh - July 31 2014 (Live Review)

There are few acceptable ways to describe the heat at Edinburgh's Liquid Rooms on a normal evening. When Pete Doherty plays there and people barely move it's overly clammy, so when Machine Head announced they would be stopping by, a sweatfest became something of a passing concern for those lucky enough to snag tickets.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Monday, 04 August 2014

The Prodigy @ Global Gathering - Long Marston Airfield, Stratford-Upon-Avon - July 26 2014

We came, we raved, we conquered was the official line thrown out by Global Gathering following the weekend’s festivities. And, they weren’t lying.

Written by: Adam Holden | Date: Tuesday, 29 July 2014

2000trees - Upcote Farm, Withington - July 10-12 2014 (Live Review)

Photos (The Bronx, main/Kids In Glass Houses, inset): (c) Matt Williamson 2014. As a cheeky precursor to the main festival, 2000trees throws open its doors to a few lucky ticket holders on the Thursday, and this year the chosen few had the pleasure of watching a selection of festival favourites from recent years as well as some comedy in one of the new stages – The Croft.

Written by: Matt Williamson | Date: Friday, 18 July 2014

Sonisphere - Knebworth Park - July 4-6 2014 (Live Review)

Photo: Deftones (Courtesy of Sonisphere) Sonisphere, that wandering behemoth of a rock festival, made a triumphant return to celebrate 40 years of festivals at Knebworth following a two-year hiatus, bringing with it a huge bill to swat aside the massive expectations of the faithful.

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Friday, 11 July 2014

Black Sabbath @ British Summer Time - Hyde Park, London - July 4 2014 (Live Review)

Of late, it's become commonplace for UK festival-goers to either miss early bands entirely or saunter over in a hungover, zombie-like state and utter a giant 'meh'. This changes today.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Tuesday, 08 July 2014

Glastonbury - Worthy Farm, Pilton - June 27-29 2014 (Live Review)

Glastonbury, what a grand old tradition. The subject of conjecture, column inches and hand-wringing for almost 52 weeks of the year, for one glorious weekend it delivers an experience like no other. Sprawling, bewitching and frequently soaking, its 2014 edition had the usual hype and controversy to overcome. And boy, did it.

Written by: Dave Ball & Lee Johnston | Date: Wednesday, 02 July 2014

Stevie Wonder @ Calling Festival - Clapham Common, London - June 29 2014 (Live Review)

Having been reconfigured for 2014, Calling Festival well and truly picked itself up, dusted itself off and returned with a bang. Following Aerosmith’s headline slot the previous evening, another big gun arrived on Sunday in the form of legendary soul great Stevie Wonder.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Tuesday, 01 July 2014

Aerosmith @ Calling Festival - Clapham Common, London - June 28 2014 (Live Review)

Photos: Gemma Johnson And so it begins. It’s pissing down, naturally, but the downpour can’t dampen an incendiary set from Heaven’s Basement. Onlookers gather by the minute, bouncing with enthusiasm to better known tracks Fire, Fire and I Am Electric, before the band’s raucous frontman Aaron Buchanan enters the crowd for a quick handstand.

Written by: Gemma Johnson | Date: Tuesday, 01 July 2014

Hellfest - Clisson, France - June 20-22 2014 (Live Review)

Ever since its monumental, game-changing motherlode of a line-up was announced last year, Hellfest was always going to be a bit special. For those who actually managed to snap up tickets, a weekend of sun, sweat and baguettes was in store at the annual French metal meeting.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Thursday, 26 June 2014

Dolly Parton - Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff - June 24 2014 (Live Review)

Anyone who’s ever picked their way through the gleeful wreckage of a Saturday night out in Cardiff can tell you this is a city that enjoys a pink cowboy hat. And, judging by tonight’s evidence, Dolly Parton is either Nashville’s answer to the Pied Piper or the newly queen of St Mary Street.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Wednesday, 25 June 2014

Metal Hammer Golden Gods - IndigO2, London - June 16, 2014 (Live Review)

Download, as we all know, is knackering. The Donington festival packs too much beer and brutality into three days for part-timers to handle but, for the the hardiest of souls, the Metal Hammer Golden Gods offer a chance to keep the party going.

Written by: Dani Hewitt | Date: Thursday, 19 June 2014

Download Festival - Donington Park, Derby - June 13-15, 2014 (Live Review)

Photo (main, inset): Andrew Whitton/Download 2014 Ah, Download Festival. That annual mid-June gathering where heads bang, ears ring and overpriced beer is chugged by the gallon. Held within the hallowed confines of Donington Park, the bash has long since established itself as one of the pivotal points on the UK festival circuit. This year, even with promoters tightening the rules on circle pits, moshing and general silliness, the faithful turned out in full force and fine voice.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Tuesday, 17 June 2014

Nick Oliveri - Brudenell Social Club, Leeds - June 11, 2014 (Live Review)

By his own admission, Nick Oliveri can’t “sing too good or fingerpick the guitar too pretty”. But, as a small but noisy crowd at Leeds’ Brudenell Social Club discovers, he can most certainly “scream my head off and play ‘til I bleed.”

Written by: Daniel Lynch | Date: Thursday, 12 June 2014

Lorde - O2 Academy Brixton, London - June 6, 2014 (Live Review)

Photo: Garth Badger The roar, when it comes, is deafening. Striding on stage at Brixton Academy and lit by a solitary spotlight, Ella Yelich-O’Connor, all of 17, is confronted by pandemonium. Her fans just won’t stop screaming, punctuating the halting opening of Glory and Gore with bursts of uncoordinated noise.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Monday, 09 June 2014

Sharon Van Etten - KOKO, London - June 5, 2014 (Live Review)

Photo: Dusdin Condren Coming soon to a merch table near you: Sharon Van Etten brand tissues. Stood stage left, she smiles at the front couple of rows after revealing her scheme, continuing the easy repartee that has been a constant feature of her set. Then, with advance warning, she turns to her piano and, shoulders rolling, delivers I Know, a solemn parting shot that perfectly encapsulates a wonderfully poised show.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Friday, 06 June 2014

Wednesday 13 - Rock City, Nottingham - May 31, 2014 (Live Review)

Photo: Maureen Montgomery Try to picture Rob Zombie playing 20 songs on a banjo. If that’s a bit of a stretch, try Marilyn Manson crooning The Beautiful People to a backdrop of acoustic guitars and hapless whistling. Whatever way you cut it, it’d be a bit odd, wouldn’t it?

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Monday, 02 June 2014

Nine Inch Nails - Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff - May 21 2014 (Live Review)

Judging by the number of ‘Wave Goodbye’ tour shirts dotted among the crowd, there are plenty here who had, on a superficial level at least, consigned Nine Inch Nails to their past.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Thursday, 22 May 2014

Prince - Phones 4U Arena, Manchester - May 16 2014 (Live Review)

It was August 7, 2007 at London’s O2 Arena when I saw Prince play for the first time, as part of his memorable 21 night residency in the capital, and the love affair is yet to hit a rough patch.

Written by: Jaspreet Kaur Takhi | Date: Monday, 19 May 2014

McBusted - Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield - May 4 2014 (Live Review)

Busted broke up, and it was a big deal. It really was. You can laugh it up now, but as an eight-year-old kid, it was fucking horrendous. It was like having the dissolution of your parents' marriage played out on the telly...if your parents were really, really good looking. The band's reformation (minus Charlie Simpson) and coalition with McFly, then, was something of a miracle. Finally, a generation could witness a band they grew up with live.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Thursday, 08 May 2014

Korn - O2 Academy Brixton, London - May 2 2014 (Live Review)

There are bands who, no matter how much they tour or how many times you see them, will never fail to spark interest. Korn are one such band.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Tuesday, 06 May 2014

Live At Leeds - May 2-5 2014 (Live Review)

In recent years, Live at Leeds has cultivated a reputation for attracting some of the UK’s top up and coming acts, as well as plenty of established bands, to stages across the city for a bank holiday feast. It can be seen as a stepping stone to be taken before breaking through into the upper echelons of the music business and is duly held in high esteem by fans, musicians and critics alike.

Written by: Daniel Lynch | Date: Tuesday, 06 May 2014

Clutch - The Forum, London - May 1 2014 (Live Review)

The tube strike grinds London to an arduous standstill while rain lashes from the sky, beards becoming moistened by the filthy British 'spring-time'. It’s not close to stopping Clutch, though, and the Maryland rock 'n' roll kings are playing to a packed house at the Forum in Kentish Town.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Tuesday, 06 May 2014

Magnum - Assembly Rooms, Leamington Spa - April 25 2014 (Live Review)

Photos: Thomas Hastings Coming on like a young Geddy Lee, Neonfly singer Willy Norton certainly knows how to entertain. The London-based five-piece look like they’ve been doing this for years and that should come as no surprise, for this isn’t the first time they’ve toured with Magnum.

Written by: Gemma Johnson | Date: Tuesday, 29 April 2014

Devildriver - The Garage, Glasgow - April 6 2014 (Live Review)

Had you been walking down Sauchiehall Street on this cold Sunday afternoon wondering what the queues were for, the mass of DevilDriver t-shirts would soon have given the game away. With their 2013 album 'Winter Kills' out long enough to not only be learned verbatim, but to be a favourite for many fans, the Californian metallers are In Glasgow to remind everyone exactly why they loyally return year after year.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Wednesday, 09 April 2014

Five Finger Death Punch - O2 Academy, Glasgow - April 3 2014 (Live Review)

When a tour has taken you all over the shop, the least you can expect is to end it on a high. After countless dates in a numerous countries, it's in Glasgow on a dreary April night where this particular run must come to a close. Luckily, just as Five Finger Death Punch are well versed in anarchic live shows, Glaswegians are more than happy to reciprocate.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Monday, 07 April 2014

Heaven's Basement - Electric Ballroom, London - March 27 2014 (Live Review)

It's always satisfying to see a good band get a good crowd. In a world drowning in corporate shit and public figures who would turn the stomach of Holden Caulfield, seeing Camden High Street swarming with Heaven's Basement fans warms the soul in such chilly early spring weather.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Monday, 31 March 2014

Editors - Roundhouse, London - March 18 2014 (Live Review)

Editors occupy quite a niche bracket these days. Almost 10 years and four albums on from 2005′s dark disco debut, ‘The Back Room,’ this promising guitar band have not sky-rocketed to Arctic Monkeys-level fame but have maintained a loyal and enthusiastic fan base, managing to sell out two nights at the exquisite Roundhouse in Camden.

Written by: Ryan Crittenden | Date: Monday, 24 March 2014

Steel Panther - Engine Shed, Lincoln - March 14 2014

Usually a city well-renowned for its copious amount of swans and a better-than-you-think-university-thank-you-Inbetweeners, Lincoln has seldom seen such a majestic display of bulge and biceps. But that's what it's getting; Steel Panther are in town on the first date of a sold-out UK jaunt, and the masses have arrived clad in spandex, make-up and horrifyingly realistic wigs.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Monday, 17 March 2014

Dan Bettridge - Norwegian Church, Cardiff - March 5 2014 (Live Review)

Heading out on your first tour is a daunting enough task as it is, but the spectacular venues picked for Dan Bettridge's maiden foray into a full set of live dates makes it all the more challenging.

Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Tuesday, 11 March 2014

Radkey - 100 Club, London - March 5 2014 (Live Review)

These days, you really have to sell yourself to the media in order to make a decent fist of this music lark. Even then, most bands are never going to make their fortune. It's a vicious business, one that can spit out all but the instant success stories.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Thursday, 06 March 2014

Crowbar - The Garage, London - March 4 2014 (Live Review)

It's 25 years since Crowbar first dipped toes in the murky waters of sludge metal, and on this evidence, Kirk Windstein and his New Orleans wrecking crew will be around for a while yet.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Wednesday, 05 March 2014

Deadly Circus Fire - Barfly, London - February 27 2014 (Live Review)

Having witnessed Deadly Circus Fire support Aliases at a venue with only four paying customers – yes, really – a couple of years back, it perhaps isn’t too much to expect a better turnout this time around.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Monday, 03 March 2014

Polica - Troxy, London - February 12 2014 (Live Review)

Poliça, who played London’s Troxy as the last venue on the European leg of their Shulamith tour, are only in their third year together.

Written by: Tom Seymour | Date: Thursday, 20 February 2014

Behemoth & Cradle Of Filth - The Forum, London - February 10 2014 (Live Review)

Try and think of the most evil, decadent thing you can. Chances are, you won’t manage to match the supremely satanic bill put on at the Forum tonight - Behemoth and Cradle Of Filth are in town. May the power of Christ compel you indeed.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Wednesday, 12 February 2014

Darlia - Louisiana, Bristol - January 29 2014 (Live Review)

Bristol’s Louisiana is the perfect setting to appreciate Darlia’s punk-fuelled grunge racket. The three young men on stage are edgy and a little nervous, but only until the first chord is strummed and the first drum skin struck.

Written by: Charlie Hurt | Date: Tuesday, 11 February 2014

Thy Art Is Murder - The Underworld, London - February 7 2014 (Live Review)

How do you go about opening for one of the most formidable, shit-hot up and coming metal bands on the planet? I'm not entirely sure, and neither are Aegaeon as they take to the stage at The Underworld, with Thy Art Is Murder heading a formidable bill.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Monday, 10 February 2014

Frank Turner - Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff - February 6 2014 (Live Review)

Towards the end of his set, Frank Turner asks the crowd at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena if they recall Bar Tantra, the venue for his first solo show in the city almost a decade ago. It’s safe to say that very few of the thousands gathered for the start of his maiden arena tour remember the place, and safer still to assume that even fewer were present.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Friday, 07 February 2014

Killswitch Engage & Trivium - O2 Academy Brixton, London - February 2 2014 (Live Review)

As a legion of Killswitch Engage and Trivium fans mill around outside Brixton Academy, ignoring the cries of touts, it’s hard not to smile at the enormity of the situation. Two of the most important, viscerally exciting metal bands to emerge this side of the millennium. A sold-out, iconic venue. Yes. It’s all very...yes.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Tuesday, 04 February 2014

Lamb Of God - O2 Academy Brixton, London - January 18 2014 (Live Review)

There’s nothing but a sea of black. No, this isn't a leather-clad tribute to Project Mayhem – although Fight Club is kinda metal, right? - these are Lamb Of God's people. As Ted Maul would say: “The metalheads? They've been here all day.”

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Monday, 20 January 2014

Jamie Lenman - King Tut's, Glasgow - December 6 2013 (Live Review)

One of the most influential figures in underground UK rock throughout the early 2000s as frontman of Reuben, Jamie Lenman made his return with the album 'Muscle Memory' in November. Given his time on the sidelines, it was safe to assume that he would be a little rusty upon returning.

Written by: Jonathan Rimmer | Date: Monday, 06 January 2014

Wooden Shjips - Audio, Brighton - December 9 2013 (Live Review)

Hot on the heels of their brilliant psychedelic drone rock album ‘Back To Land’, Portland-based Wooden Shjips set off on a nine-date American tour before hitting Europe in December. The small UK and Ireland leg of the trek began in the modest surroundings of Brighton’s Audio nightclub, just a stone’s throw from the city’s famous pier and ferris wheel.

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Friday, 13 December 2013

Papa Roach - Barrowland, Glasgow - December 8 2013 (Live Review)

Scottish fans have been waiting patiently for Papa Roach to once again cross their fine borders and Glasgow’s Barrowland was rammed for the Sacramento band’s return, which brought with it plenty of old fashioned swagger and an abundance of electronic experimentation.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Friday, 13 December 2013

Airbourne - O2 Academy, Bristol - December 10 2013 (Live Review)

Hauling big riffs, soaring leads and howling vocals, Aussie rockers Airbourne touched down at Bristol's O2 Academy, bringing with them Cambridge rockers the Treatment and riff monsters Orange Goblin, and promptly left a packed room hoping that their hearing would get back to normal before Christmas.

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Thursday, 12 December 2013

Black Star Riders - O2 Academy, Leeds - December 8 2013 (Live Review)

Darkness descended on the O2 Academy as five figures appeared on stage. The audience collectively inhaled, waiting for the hammer to fall. And it fell with a crash as Black Star Riders hurled themselves into the title track of their debut album, ‘All Hell Breaks Loose’. What you see is what you get with this band - it’s polished, powerful and everything that can possibly be classic about rock.

Written by: Daniel Lynch | Date: Monday, 09 December 2013

Avenged Sevenfold - Phones 4U Arena, Manchester - November 30 2013 (Live Review)

Avenged Sevenfold have had a pretty good year, and to dispute the fact would be to fly in the face of reason. Between selling out Wembley Arena and being confirmed as headliners for Download Festival’s 2014 edition, they also put rock music back at the top of the charts worldwide with ‘Hail To The King’. At Manchester’s Phones 4 U Arena, they wrote another successful chapter.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Friday, 06 December 2013

Touche Amore - The Fleece, Bristol - December 4 2013 (Live Review)

There’s nothing particularly new or revelatory in the idea of a hardcore show as a cathartic release, but in Touché Amoré we may have a band that can make it an artform.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Thursday, 05 December 2013