Viva Remembrance: Past And Future With Katatonia

Of late, Katatonia have been feeling nostalgic. During their recent appearance at Damnation Festival, and while on tour in the UK with Paradise Lost, the Swedish metallers played their 2003 classic ‘Viva Emptiness’ in its entirety.

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

Sweat It Out: American Fangs Set To Take A Chunk Out Of The UK

Talk to American Fangs frontman Gabe Cavazos about playing live for any length of time and one word will quickly become a running theme: sweat.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Wednesday, 04 December 2013

It Gets Worse: Mindless Self Indulgence, Kickstarter And Breaking Bad

There is no way to properly describe Mindless Self Indulgence. Since their debut album, 'Tight', landed back in 1999, the band has come a long way and their eclectic mixture of rock, hip hop, punk, jungle, metal and various other musical nuggets is enough to make almost every other band out there look positively mundane.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Monday, 02 December 2013

Best Of British: Bullet For My Valentine Out To Rule UK Arenas

December’s almost here. The nights are drawing in, and something wicked this way comes. Bullet For My Valentine are preparing to take their phenomenally successful brand of metal out on the road once again, with Asking Alexandria and Young Guns in tow.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Thursday, 28 November 2013

New Beginnings: Gaahl And God Seed

At times controversial, but always more interesting than most in the black metal world, Gaahl and King ov Hell became latter-day legends of Norwegian metal through their years in Gorgoroth.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Wednesday, 27 November 2013

Andy Allo: 'Superconductor', Mixtapes And Working With Prince

Andy Allo, remember the name. The Cameroonian guitarist and vocalist is currently on the road in the UK, bringing her funked out brand of soul to venues following the release of her second album, ‘Superconductor’, at the tail-end of 2012.​

Written by: Jaspreet Kaur Takhi | Date: Monday, 25 November 2013

Carrier: Life, Death And The Dodos

For Meric Long and Logan Kroeber, ‘Carrier’ is more than just another Dodos record. Released in August through Polyvinyl, it’s a solemn collection, one that weds their expert, unusual musicianship with the process of overcoming the death of close friend and collaborator Christopher Reimer.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Thursday, 21 November 2013

Akala: Shakespeare, Protest And Conscious Hip Hop

Rapper. Artist. Poet. Journalist. Activist. Visionary. There are a number of words that can be used to describe London emcee Akala, or the “black Shakespeare” as he calls himself on his track Comedy Tragedy History.

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

Ho Hey: The Lumineers Able To Reflect On A Whirlwind Year

The Lumineers started 2013 with their fair share of hype at their back. Ho Hey, the lead single from their self-titled debut, was everywhere and their tour dates were selling out way in advance.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Tuesday, 19 November 2013

Passing Through: Cult Of Luna, Damnation Festival And Ice Hockey

Swedish post-metal giants Cult of Luna have been at the forefront of heavy music for 15 years now, from their stunning early releases to the titanic majesty of this year’s ‘Vertikal’. When I stumbled across frontman Johannes Persson backstage at Damnation Festival he was absorbed in trying to find out the ice hockey scores from a friend watching back home.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 14 November 2013

Funeral For A Friend, Post-Hardcore And Reissuing 'Between Order And Model'

Since their inception in 2001, Funeral For A Friend’s career has had its share of twists and turns. Releasing a genre-defining classic, ‘Casually Dressed And Deep In Conversation’, as their debut album was always going to be a bit of a grumble to follow, but with their latest record, 'Conduit', they have recaptured former glories.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Tuesday, 12 November 2013

Something Different: Walking Papers Set To Continue Their Whirlwind Start

To say that it's been a bit of a whirlwind ride for Walking Papers since they formed in 2012 would be an understatement. Comprised of the Missionary Position's Jeff Angell and Benjamin Anderson, former Screaming Trees drummer Barrett Martin and Duff McKagan, legendary bassist of Guns N' Roses, the foursome have barely had a moment to spare since plugging in.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Tuesday, 05 November 2013

Tragic Idols: Paradise Lost At 25

Paradise Lost are everywhere. You may not think it, but they are. Over the course of their sprawling, turbulent 25 years as a heavy metal band, the Halifax doom crew have influenced many a band. You could talk Septicflesh or Katatonia. Hell, even HIM and the Gathering draw heavily from Paradise Lost's musical blueprint. 

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Monday, 28 October 2013

Dodgy Characters: The Return Of Britpop's Lovable Rogues

With the Britpop era now just a distant, hazy memory, it’s easy to forget that beyond its two most obvious reference points there were many more protagonists – rightly or wrongly labelled with the same tag – that made a considerable contribution to its presence.

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Going Solo: Dregen, The Hellacopters And The New Randy Rhoads

Dregen has had quite a career. As well as being a founding member of both Backyard Babies and the Hellacopters, the Swedish guitar hero has lent his skills to projects as diverse as Infinite Mass and Supershit666, as well as turning out as part of Hanoi Rocks frontman Michael Monroe’s touring and recording band.

Written by: Gemma-Louise Johnson | Date: Friday, 18 October 2013

John Hughes, Light Shows And The Rise Of The 1975

When the 1975's Chocolate hit the airwaves at the start of the year, Matt Healy's distinctive vocals had people sitting up and taking notice. A matter of months later, their self-titled debut landed gently at the summit of the albums chart and sold out signs were hung next to their name at venues across the UK.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Monday, 14 October 2013

Kevin Devine: Kickstarter, Bubblegum And Bulldozer

The music industry that we knew and, sometimes, loved is no more. There’s an internet-shaped divide between traditional structures and musicians who are finding new ways to interact with their fans, new ways to make music on their own terms. One man who’s decided to dip a toe in these relatively uncharted waters is Kevin Devine.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Friday, 11 October 2013

Joey Jordison: Scar The Martyr, Slipknot, Heroes And Humming Into Phones

Slipknot. You say that word almost anywhere, and people will instantly know what you're talking about. Whether it evokes a reaction of scorn, delight, or confusion, the band are on everybody's radar. They are a cultural phenomenon.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Wednesday, 09 October 2013

Too Rare To Die: Panic! At The Disco's New Dynamic

Since the release of their debut, 'A Fever You Can't Sweat Out', in 2005, Panic! At The Disco have been through their fair share of ups and downs. Members have come and gone, addictions have been battled and on October 8 they dropped album number four, the suitably-titled ‘Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die!’.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Tuesday, 08 October 2013

Eden's Curse: The Power Of The Internet And 'Symphony Of Sin'

Depending on your worldview the internet has either been a plague for music, or a gateway into a world of unlimited sonic possibilities. Multinational melodic metal outfit Eden's Curse make a sterling case for the latter. Formed through an internet noticeboard in 2006 and with band members scattered around the globe, their existence and ability to make powerhouse rock records wouldn't be possible without the good old world wide web.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Monday, 30 September 2013

The Black Dahlia Murder: Death Metal For The Masses

Let's face it, record sales aren’t what they used to be. The internet's illicit claws have taken chunks out of the music industry, making a band's lifeblood available to nick at the click of a button. That makes the achievements of the Black Dahlia Murder all the more impressive.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Monday, 23 September 2013

Peace Pact: The Return Of Kids In Glass Houses

Kids In Glass Houses are back, and they’re packing some pop songs. The Cardiff-based five-piece will release ‘Peace’, their fourth full-length, on September 30 and it’s something of a return to pastures old.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Vicky Cryer: Jason Hill, An All Star Cast And A Magic Studio

When US post-punk outfit Louis XIV went their separate ways, frontman Jason Hill enlisted the help of a few famous friends in order to drive forward his latest project, Vicky Cryer.

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Tuesday, 10 September 2013

Watain, The Wild Hunt And Black Metal Damnation

Watain are one of the most enigmatic black metal bands in existence today, professing their allegiance to Satanism and refusing to bow to any attempts to restrict their bloody live shows.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 09 September 2013

O Emperor Out To Conquer The UK

O Emperor are out to broaden their horizons. The Irish five-piece have already found success at home, including an Irish Album of the Year nod for their debut ‘Hither Thither’, but they’re now ready to make a name for themselves in the UK and beyond.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Wednesday, 04 September 2013

Going Solo: Shane Filan, Songwriting And Life Post-Westlife

When Westlife split up in 2012, they left behind 14 number one singles, seven number one albums and over 44 million records sales. As is inevitable with any parting of ways someone was bound to go it alone, and who better than the voice behind the boyband, Shane Filan?

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Tuesday, 27 August 2013

Festival Buzz: Rejuvenated Editors Set For Reading And Leeds

Festivals can be something of a hard sell, on both sides of the barricade, but every so often something clicks. In 2012 that was the case for Editors.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Thursday, 22 August 2013

Reckless Love: 'Spirit', Hopeless Romantics And Skulls

Olli Herman is preaching the Reckless Love message: “We’re saving the world one town at a time, and we’re here to provide the best soundtrack to the best part of your life.”

Written by: Gemma-Louise Johnson | Date: Wednesday, 21 August 2013

Winter Is Coming: Dez Fafara On DevilDriver, Covers And That Voice

So, Dez Fafara. The man is a beast. DevilDriver’s tattooed, muscle-bound frontman looks like he could crush metallers half his age under his little finger. The band’s brutal sixth album, ‘Winter Kills’, lands on August 26 and we thought it only right to grill him on his unique voice, co-headline tours, covers and the band’s constant evolution.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Monday, 19 August 2013

Ten Years On: Yellowcard Revisit 'Ocean Avenue'

Ten years is a long time in the music industry. Over such a period a band can change completely, developing or fizzling out. Tours are undertaken, albums made, line-ups changed. But certain parts of a band's history always remain. Back in 2003, Yellowcard released ‘Ocean Avenue’, a record that changed everything and set them on the road to pop-punk stardom.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Friday, 16 August 2013

The Violet May: Stepping Out Of The Shadows

Some shadows are longer than others. The one cast by Arctic Monkeys over the Sheffield music scene is somewhat all-consuming, with Alex Turner and his indie heroes still the talk of the town seven years on from their debut.

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

Jettblack: Black Gold, War Of The Worlds And Rock 'N' Roll

From support slots with Whitesnake, album collaborations with Thin Lizzy, a leading role in a theatre production and a new album, there’s certainly more to Jettblack’s Will Stapleton than straight-up rock ‘n’ roll.

Written by: Gemma-Louise Johnson | Date: Wednesday, 07 August 2013

Scouting For Girls: The Hit Parade

Scouting For Girls dropped their 'Greatest Hits' collection on July 29 and are now gearing up to take their pop nuggets on a long UK tour, including a stop at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall.

Written by: Sam Jones | Date: Thursday, 01 August 2013

Collaborations, Family And Folk: Stereoboard Chats To Heidi Talbot

Heidi Talbot is pretty busy. The singer-songwriter, who hails from Co Kildare, has been performing as a solo act for many years following her stint with the Irish-American collective Cherish the Ladies, and turned out for two sets at the Cambridge Folk Festival this year. 

Written by: James Ball | Date: Wednesday, 31 July 2013

Made Whole: SOiL Get Back To Their Roots

SOiL have been around the block a few times. It’s been almost 12 years since they dropped the hugely successful ‘Scars’ and they're now gearing up to release a record that’s a kindred spirit of their biggest success to date. ‘Whole’ will arrive on August 19 and is the first album since 2004’s ‘Redefine’ to feature the vocals of founding member Ryan McCombs.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Wednesday, 17 July 2013

Taking The Heroic Dose: Stereoboard Chats With These Monsters

These Monsters finally returned in 2013 with the Stereoboard-approved ‘Heroic Dose’, and to celebrate we got hold of frontman Sam Pryor for a chat about the band’s long absence, their plans for the future and the Leeds music scene.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Friday, 12 July 2013

Hope, Redemption And Peace: Stephen Kellogg And Blunderstone Rookery

Songwriters have always found comfort in a plucked string or reflective lyric. It's their thing. On 'Blunderstone Rookery', which gets its UK release on August 12, Stephen Kellogg has continued the tradition, pressing a difficult year onto 12 inches of wax and exploring loss, change and personal responsibility along the way.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Thursday, 11 July 2013

Dead Cool: The Dirty Rivers Talk Singles And Live Shows

The Dirty Rivers are the latest band to swagger from Liverpool's music scene, blending a punk attitude with influences from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and the Verve.

Written by: Gavin Rees | Date: Wednesday, 10 July 2013

Pretty Battle Scars: Laura Jansen Sets Her Sights On The UK

Laura Jansen might be a new name to listeners in the UK, but the enigmatic Dutch-American songstress has already achieved success in the States and Europe.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Wednesday, 10 July 2013

Churches, DIY And Web TV: Stereoboard Talks To Your Favorite Enemies

Your Favorite Enemies like to do things their way. From buying an old Catholic church to turn into a studio, to producing a web TV show, to self-releasing records and making their own merch, they're into everything and have built a devoted following as a result.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Thursday, 27 June 2013

Police Escorts And Festival Vibes: Stereoboard Catches Up With Andy C

If you know your drum and bass then you’ll know the mighty Andy C, the three-deck maestro and head of RAM Records. An unbeatable force in a club, he’s also proved himself to be the number one name for festival drum and bass too.

Written by: Elliott Batte | Date: Friday, 21 June 2013

Halcyon Nights: Stereoboard Talks Lyrics, Cohabiting And House Shows With Glitches

Glitches will soon be demanding plenty of your attention. The Whitechapel-based trio make dreamy pop music that straddles the worlds of indie and electronica, and have been generating plenty of buzz in the last few months.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Express Yourself: Stereoboard Talks Singles, Beats And Politics With Enter Shikari (Interview)

Enter Shikari are one of the UK's most consistently challenging bands. Hopping from genre to genre with wilful abandon, they have pumped out three full-lengths since their debut, 'Take to the Skies', landed in 2007.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Britpop, Outsiders And Big Fun: Stereoboard Catches Up With Taffy (Interview)

Taffy are about to make a sizable dent. The Japanese four-piece will release their second full-length, the Britpop-infused 'Lixiviate', on June 17, with its sugary melodies and fuzzed-out guitars the perfect soundtrack to the discerning indie fan's summer.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Friday, 07 June 2013

Pop Music Football And Girls: Stereoboard Chats to Parlour Flames (Interview)

The departure of Paul “Bonehead” Arthurs from Oasis in 1999, during the recording of their fourth album ‘Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants’, came at a time when their world dominance was wavering, with subsequent albums failing to achieve the global success of earlier offerings ‘Definitely Maybe’ and ‘(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?’.

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Tuesday, 04 June 2013

Barbra Streisand Talks About Her New Show ’Barbra Streisand Live’ (Interview)

Barbra Streisand will bring her spectacular stage show to the UK this summer for TWO exclusive engagements at the O2 Arena. Check out what the multi-award winning singer, songwriter had to say about her new show in the short Q&A session below.

Written by: Jon Stickler | Date: Sunday, 02 June 2013

Staring Out From The Darkness: Leprous Interviewed

Leprous guitarist Oystein S. Landsverk took some time out to speak to Stereoboard about his group’s latest record, the excellent ‘Coal’...

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Tuesday, 28 May 2013

Stereoboard Chat To Black Star Riders About Debut Album ’All Hell Breaks Loose’ & Their Autumn Tour

All hell has officially broken loose as Black Star Rider’s debut album was released ending the speculation over how successfully the band would move on from being Thin Lizzy. Reviewing for Stereoboard, I was perhaps harsh on a few of the songs as it seems that while some songs on the album are immediately striking, others are certainly growers. In this final part of Stereoboard’s interview with front man Ricky Warwick and guitarists Scott Gorham and Damon Johnson (read part one here), the band discuss the writing and recording process, the relationships within the band and what fans can expect from the tour.

Written by: Daniel Lynch | Date: Tuesday, 28 May 2013

Stereoboard Talk To Black Star Riders About The Transition From Thin Lizzy & The New Debut Album

Black Star Riders release their debut album on Monday entitled ‘All Hell Breaks Loose.’ This first of a two-part interview with front man, Ricky Warwick and guitarists Scott Gorham and Damon Johnson will explore the transition from being Thin Lizzy to becoming the Black Star Riders, the new name and their reaction to fans’ opinions.

Written by: Daniel Lynch | Date: Friday, 24 May 2013

Stereoboard Talk To Mark Gardener About Ride, Solo Work, Collaborations And Football (Interview)

Mark Gardener shot to fame as part of the 90’s ‘shoegaze’ scene with Oxford band Ride and enjoyed success with some landmark albums of the genre, most notably debut offering ‘Nowhere’ and follow up ‘Going Blank Again’, the latter featuring the classic ‘Leave Them All Behind’.

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Tuesday, 21 May 2013