I'm approaching 40. I'm going grey, I ache, I self-medicate with wine, memes and procrastinatory doom scrolling, and I look at the world with a level of doubt that even the Apostle Thomas couldn't comprehend...and his buddy Jesus came back from the dead. Allegedly. I'm on the verge of a mid-life crisis...but...what does that entail? I could invest in a flashy car or, motorbike...but I don't drive so that's pointless. Or have the money. I could take up an absurd hobby like, trying my hand at stand-up comedy or, joining a wrestling school...but that involves social interaction so that's a no-no. No, I think I'll do something that needs doing...and that's kicking myself up the arse to write again. 

Granted, just the other day I DID put a drill through my hand unintentionally, which makes even writing, among other menial day-to-day tasks troublesome, but I'll persevere, and with that randomly macabre anecdote, we come to today's album in question; "Mid Death Crisis" by WEDNESDAY 13. Sure, it was released in April of 2025, but, as I'm seeing them at the Corn Exchange in Newport this very weekend, I thought it'd be a great place to restart. With that being said, let's get our grave on, and check out "Mid Death Crisis"... 

We open with the brief intro "There's No Such Thing As Monsters"...which is just over a minute of perversely pulsing, brooding, creepy electronica, while Wednesday repeats the title in a husky, deep yet hushed drawl. It's foreboding, like you're in a creature feature, or sci-fi horror, and that one-character gives the game away without actually giving you anything, and you know you're in for an ordeal. It's simple, but it's effective in setting a tone very early on. 

First track proper then "Decease And Desist" erupts through your speakers like a battle cry for the undead. It's been no secret that Wednesday has been heavily inspired by all thing's horror throughout his career, and this is a perfect example. An ode to "Return Of The Living Dead", the bleak comedy horror is honoured with a flurry of riffs, references and thunderous rock 'n' roll vitriol, capturing the unrelenting chaos of a zombie swarm. 

"When The Devil Commands" takes things down a notch in terms of ferocity but is no less intense. The dark, chugging bass provides a truly imposing sense of discomfort within the context of the track here, but it's more of a cliche in terms of Satanic lyricism. The brief guitar solo is flash, but this is honestly a pretty repetitive track at its core. I'm not knocking anyone's beliefs here, but this is edgelord shit. The kind of track that would get the blame if some kid shot up another school Stateside. Who am I kidding, if? I meant when. WHEN another kid shoots up another school Stateside.  

Speaking of being unalive, "Rotting Away" is about a definitive a break-up song you could possibly ask for. I mean it could be a breakup song, I'm assuming, it could be...might just be an enemy, equally dramatic. Who has time for enemies these days? I don't. Having enemies takes effort...but then again so do partners...meh. Either way Wednesday really can't wait for some motherfucker to die here, that's for certain, and it's punky, it's gritty and it's personal. I'm going to write Wednesday a birthday card just to be safe. 

The marital issues continue with "In Misery" and my first personal highlight of the album. Leaning very much into the notion of a toxic relationship, the hard rock aesthetics and more melodic nature of the track hark back to the earlier days of "Skeletons" or "Fang Bang", while retaining that gravelly, abrasive nature of Wednesday's delivery, and there is some wonderfully sharp guitar work here too. If you aren't already familiar with Wednesday 13, then imagine the darker side of SOUTH OF SALEM for an example. I know that might sound daft, but you ever know.  

If there is one thing I love, it's a play on words, and "Xanaxtasy" is one such word. Xanax being a prescription drug, used for anxiety, panic attacks and being a sedative at heart, is a very common drug in the US. Case in point, they dosed up Preston Lacy on the set of JACKASS 2.5 just to film a bit where he was dressed as King Kong, stood on a portable toilet, swatting toy aeroplanes. Preston doesn't want to do it guys...just give him some fucking Xanax. Job done. I'm making light of an issue here, and the title leans into addiction and the issues with Big Pharma, and the over-reliance of prescription drugs, as well as mental health as a whole. The track is nonchalant but the message is deep.  

"I Hurt You" returns to the territory of toxic relationships and it's another play on words..."There's no one that hurt's you, the way that I hurt you. You know my touch it's so cruel, the way that I hurt you!"...replace the word hurt with love. It's an honest, damning look into controlling, coercive and manipulative behaviour, but it's played with such an understated sorrow in its tone and instrumentation; the gaslighting is real here and it's really quite the powerful track. 

We close proceedings with "Sick And Violent" and it's a high-octane, rock 'n' roll number full of piss and vinegar designed to make the listener want more, and it works. It's got vocal hooks, a clap-along quality, another slick guitar solo and a catchy simplicity that just spews fun, frantic energy. This album is rounded off nicely. 

With all of that being said, what can we take away from "Mid Death Crisis"? This far into his career, Wednesday 13 hasn't really deviated from his own devious path. Whether it's the early days of FRANKENSTEIN DRAG QUEENS FROM THE PLANET 13, (We could go back further), or whether it was rehashing songs for the horror-punk supergroup MURDERDOLLS, up to present day, Wednesday has always stuck to his guns. Now, I don't care if they are like the crotch gun from "From Dusk Til' Dawn", or whether it's Dean Winchester shooting rounds of rock salt to ward off demons in "Supernatural", Wednesday has his niche, he has his style which he has more than cornered the market on, and he continues to do it well.  He may not age, like the undead, but he's nearly 50...and he continues to give his all, as passionate as ever with not only the love of his craft, but the passion of his horror inspired subject matter, and for that you can't not commend the man. Mid death crisis? Send more paramedics...we would like to keep Wednesday 13 around for a while longer thank you. [7] 

On the 18th and 19th of September, West-Coast Gothic returns to The Alhambra theatre in Morecambe, for another weekend of woefully wonderful Gothic entertainment, courtesy of BATS IN THE ATTIC. The sister event for the annual CORROSION FEST which is held in March, here Bats returns for it's fifth anniversary!

Not only celebrating all-things black and gloomy, but this year we go bride and groomy (I acknowledge how questionably I've worded that, we'll move on), as aside from the weekend line-up of bands, we'll also be celebrating the joint stag and hen do's of Tim & Caroline. Who are these people you may ask? It matters not, come along, have a beer, enjoy some of the Morecambe seaside, enjoy an array of international bands and try to avoid any cockles getting caught in your fishnet garments.

Both nights will have afterparties DJ'd by THE GOTHMARINER and VICTOR HELSING to  keep you vibing like creatures of the night. There will be in-house merch available, as well as stalls set up by each artist to grab your shirts, CD's, vinyl, stickers, you name it. To get you in the mood, I've personally gone through the entire catalogue of this September's line-up, (So many hours) to compile this unofficially official Spotify playlist, for BITA26 hand picking songs from each artist. The playlist link, as well as ticket links will be posted below, but, here is the track listing. We hope to see you at The Alhambra! (Note, DEADLIGHT DANCE had to pull out and were replaced by THE WANING MOON, but it would be rude to not include them as they were originally billed. Extra tunes for you!)

SIDE A
SILENTWAYS - "Crush"
LIMINAL PROJECT - "Liminarite"
THE HOUSE OF USHER - "Equinoxe"
LONG NIGHT - "Sorrow Returns"
VELVET DEAD - "Daybreakers"
BERENIKA - "Lovesong"
SCHRODINGER - "Metal Rain"
DEATHTRIPPERS - "Passion & Fire"
DEADLIGHT DANCE - "Innocent Beginnings"
THE WANING MOON - "Another Bit, Another Bite"
LAST DUSK - "Evocation"
CHRISTINE PLAYS VIOLA - "At Last, I Found You"
MERCIFUL NUNS - "Demons"

SIDE B
SILENTWAYS - "Awaken"
LIMINAL PROJECT - "The Walker"
THE HOUSE OF USHER - "The Lebanon"
LONG NIGHT - "It's All Gone"
VELVET DEAD - "Cassette 666"
BERENIKA - "Lunar Eclipse"
SCHRODINGER - "The End Of The Line"
DEATHTRIPPERS - "She Lives (In A Time Of Her Own)"
DEADLIGHT DANCE - "Monster"
THE WANING MOON - "Midnight To Midnight"
LAST DUSK - "The Broken Altar"
CHRISTINE PLAYS VIOLA - "Slaughter Of The Black Sun"
MERCIFUL NUNS - "Evolution"
DEADLIGHT DANCE - "Blinding Lights" (Bonus)
VELVET DEAD - "Enjoy The Silence" (Bonus)
​

At this time of posting, the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest has already wrapped up in Vienna, with the 25 grand finalists all having performed for your votes. With that being said, I have to extend my congratulations to first-time winners Bulgaria, as DARA brought home the victory with the song “Bangaranga” from CD-1's review, after a hotly contested, down to the wire score with second place Israel, which again, draws more controversy than any song is worth. They are the reason five nations pulled out of the contest this year, yet they continue to be allowed in. Russia takes flak...I call double standards for a supposedly non-political show. But I digress, too much red tape. Redder than Palestinian blood. Can I digress twice in a row? I do. 

Politics aside, it’s only fair that I give CD-2 and the remaining seventeen artists fair representation, and share my thoughts on the good, the bad, and the UK. Let’s at least TRY to stay united by music... as we continue our Eurovision journey, covering Vienna 2026... 

ITALY: SAL DA VINCI - "PER SEMPRE SI"
Salvatore Michael Sorrentino, who isn't in-fact Leonardo's long-lost great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandson, was born in 1969 in New York, who as this years Eurovision Grandpa (Being the oldest competitor) is a long-time singer, song writer and actor. He's even hosted "Pazzi Di Pizza" on Food Network. Is this a recipe for success or am I going to have to go all Gordon Ramsay on his asparagus? I mean I like pineapple on pizza, but this guy uses durian and extra virgin Castrol oil. It's got string elements layered under some funky pop aesthetics, but, less "Uptown Funk" and more Little Italy District Pimp: The Musical. Imagine being sat in a struggling Frankie & Bennies cutting into a cold calzone...this is playing in the background. The song translates as "Forever Yes"...mama mia I hope to god not... [3]

LATVIA: ATVARA - "ENA"
Liene Atvara Sturmane was enrolled into music school by her mother, where she has studied conducting, singing and vocalisation in jazz and pop, which begs the question; what is the excuse for this? It translates as "In The Shade"...but she's hardly a hardy geranium. A slow, harmonic slab of a dreary ballad; it's got some classically inspired operatic high notes, barely lifting an otherwise hushed, heavisome offering. My Latvian score is low...low but fair. [2]

LITHUANIA: LION CECCAH - "SOLO QUIRO MAS"
Tomas Alencikas is what happens when a member of the Blue Man Group gets Lithuanian poisoning. I was afraid if he lost he'd call on Galactus but luckily he surfed his silver-ass into 22nd place. (I wonder who scored less?). Apparently he has a masters and bachelor's degree in music theatre, as well as being big in Lithuania's drag scene, which is funny, because ultimately this song is a bit of a drag, I don't care how you dress it up. It's got soft harmonic vocal sections leading into electronic pop, and the rhythmic beats of the chorus are like a musical representation of neoclassical Rococo stylistics. It means "I only want more"...to which I say, I really don't. [2]

LUXEMBOURG: EVA MARIJA - "MOTHER NATURE"
Without wanting to call her a velociraptor; clever girl. Speaking five languages, she studied song-writing at the Institute Of Contemporary Music Performance in London, which on paper sounds like either FAT BOY SLIM's "Praise You" for the privileged, or upper-class grime to me? In actual fact, it's far less entertaining. In my head now I want to hear Chris Eubank spitting bars...lyrically beat boxing if you will. Instead we've got this innocently pleasant song of self-awareness, self-discovery, personal growth, healing and reconnection. A percussive track with ample folk-pop elements, it channels the likes of RAE MORRIS and FLORENCE WELCH. [6]

MALTA: AIDAN - "BELLA"
Aidan Cassar has been a previous Junior AND Eurovision competitor, not without controversy faced for entering a non-eligible song at one point. Bad boy? Nah he just dresses like Brokeback Malta. Here we have an acoustic-driven, soft jazz, orchestral romantic offering. It's honestly beautifully composed in a, imagine Giacomo Gianniotti was James Bond kind of way. One Bajtra Spritz, not shaken, not stirred, but sensually whipped with the finest Bizzilla topped with a Loquat. Very croon-heavy...imagine Moonraker meets "Moon River" under a full moon while someone moons at you across the bank. I'm calling you out random man in Paris on holiday with my grandparents...we have you and your arse on photo. True story. [4]

MOLDOVA: SATOSHI - "VIVA MOLDOVA"
Vlad Sabajuc here blends traditional pan-pipes and Eastern instrumentation, with modern pop and rap production, fuelled by an almost drum & bass rhythmic underlay, coupled with clap-along percussion. It's lively and up-tempo, with a melodic hook-rich chorus but the general rapped verses are quite monotone in delivery, which is jarring for how genuinely fun this track is. Long live Moldova? I mean it DOES have underground wine cities apparently? 12 points purely for dystopian alcoholics! 1.5 million bottles? Give me a week...[5]

MONTENEGRO: TAMARA ZIVKOVIC - "NOVA ZORA"
A vocalist AND a flautist? You expect SOME level of whimsy. Alas, we get another dance-pop anthem that I expect to get HEAVY remix treatment in European DJ circles. Church-esque gang vocals accompanied by ringing bells, it's got an underlying holy feel to it bridging cultural and generational gaps. It translates as "New Dawn" and I can imagine watching the Sun rise following an all night rave at Budva. Take your own pills, a fiver a bottle of water and sheep tipping is easier than cows. You'll have a decent weekend, trust me, I'm a Welshman. [5]

NORWAY: JONAS LOVV - "YA YA YA"
GUITARS! A welcome dose of indie-rock this is, honestly. If you're a fan of say, THE SHERLOCKS, or for a better example, previous Eurovision winners MANESKIN, then you'll get a kick out of this. It's up-beat, it's got a real sense of swagger, some fantastic groove and bluesy rhythm, coupled with an easily sing-along structure...this is simplistic, fantastic guitar pop. It's such a fun track, honestly, I LOVV this ya?! [8]

POLAND: ALICJA - "PRAY"
An instant in-your-face frolic into the inclusion of church bells and gospel gubbins means we're equal parts preachy and performative. I personally don't care for it conceptually, but I won't deny Alicja here has a wonderfully commanding vocal presence; the lady can sing. It does descend into this hip-hop infused urban-sermon which takes away any class the track started with, though it does build into an entertaining crescendo. A metaphor for her own growth, self belief and hope in the form of manifestations, but not even Sheldon's mother gives this 12 points. [3]

PORTUGAL: BANDIDOS DO CANTE - "ROSA"
Imagine a barber-shop quintet without the joviality. The vocal harmony is on point I'll give them that, and the gentle acoustic tones compliment the delicate string sections wonderfully...I won't lie it's a beautifully composed little track, however...it's a frustratingly boring track. Innocent, pleasant and quaint in all of the right ways, but entertaining in all the wrong ones. [2]

ROMANIA: ALEXANDRA CAPITANESCU - "CHOKE ME"
Winner of season 11 of The Voice...you'd think on face value, oh another one of them...we get a lot of entrants from variations of talent shows, BUT, Alexandra is a little different. She's already an under-graduate and aiming for her masters degree in medical physics, all the while delivering arguably the best hard-rock song of this years entire competition. The lady clearly thrives on pressure and performance. It's gritty, with commanding percussion, subtle yet sublime operatic influences, blending artists like HALESTORM with more prominent European symphonic metal peers. Being a rock entry aside, it's not without it's controversies, as it was flagged for romanticising sexual violence and erotic asphyxiation. Bunch of vanilla prudes on these juries I swear...SUFOCA-MA MAMI! [9]

SAN MARINO: SENHIT - "SUPERSTAR"
Senhit Zadik Zadik is a well-established singer in the Italian music scene. Having performed around Europe in theatre productions of BIG shows like "Fame" and "The Lion King", as well as having four albums and an EP under her belt, it makes sense that this is her third time officially representing San Marino. It would have been four but, Covid was a thing. Automatic nil points from lock-down but that's not her fault. Nevertheless she is here, aiming to do better than their football team. It's a fun, bouncy, funk-driven dance-pop track that has subtle elements of DAFT PUNK in places, and honestly its the track JAMELIA wishes she had written for her. It's energetic, bassy in groovy way, and most importantly it's catchy...hell even BOY GEORGE lends his vocals to this, proving that Eurovision is THE culture club. Nothing wrong with this at all. [7]

SERBIA: LAVINA - "KRAJ MENE"
Their name translates as avalanche, which on face value alone prepares you for a force of nature; pummelling and relentless, and as this years most prominently metal performance, it fits. They formed in 2020 and with just the one album, "Odyssey" under their belt, they are still finding their feet, but have toured and are getting their reps in. In terms of stage presence, it's very Anne Rice, and there is a fine line between Lavina and Lestat to be truthful, but I'm all for it. It gives LORD OF THE LOST vibes, bridging hushed, brooding vocals with more intense, physically demanding percussion driven metal. It's passionate, pained and important for diversity. Is Europe as accepting? It's twenty years since LORDI won...who knows...Count Von Count counts the points....one ha ha ha...two ha ha ha...three....it's going to be a long night...[7]

SWEDEN: FELICIA - "MY SYSTEM"
Felicia Agneta Eriksson...has been compared to the likes of CASCADA. Early chav/townie dance vibes, and to be fair you could easily expect this blaring from some Vauxhall Corsa driven wanker's Halfords sound-system, in the Summer, probably trying to sell substances to or if not groom kids. You think you are cool, but you are not. Generic as fuck dance pop with nasally vocals. My system? 404 error, point not found. Ministry Of Sounds like getting fingered in an alley to DJ Sammy on an old Sony Ericsson wearing knock-off Uggs to a paedophile. Because you love him. This is the soundtrack to toxic teenage girl energy. The Lambrini is probably both warm and shoplifted. [5]

SWITZERLAND: VERONICA FUSARO - "ALICE"
SMOKIE once asked, who the fuck is Alice? Well, being from 1977 makes it a cold case which I am now officially reopening with the Bundespolizei to work out if there is any connection here. And judging by the music video, it's a valid question to be honest. It tackles identity within the LGBTQ+A on a postcard please community, focusing on secrecy and longing. The setting of a wedding day hammers home the message of should've would've could've which I believe emphasises the song, but without that visual it does negate a sense of impact. Though I appreciate the fact it tackles issues which even in 2026 many young people are still afraid of for fear of judgement. It's a powerful track in a societal sense, a safe space for women, but musically it's a plodding, indie-rock number that blends latter day ARCTIC MONKEYS with say, THE PRETTY RECKLESS and a subtle doo-wop delivery. Switzerland...playing it safe while being ever so slightly risqué...[6]

UKRAINE: LELEKA - "RIDNYM"
Viktoriia Leleka has bachelors degrees in performing arts, jazz vocals and composition...and to be fair it shows. She co-wrote this song and it's an incredibly emotive, powerful ballad of adversity, progression and defiance which is apropos to the STILL ongoing situation in Ukraine. It means "To The Dear Ones" and the Disney-esque ballad includes heartstrings in its instrumentation. Honestly it's a beautiful track blending orchestral pop with traditionalism, acoustics and soft, sombre vocals.....including THAT note. Her vocal control, escalating in pitch, the operatic crescendo is absolutely perfect and as a SONG contest, Leleka has more than earned her flowers here. This is simply stunning. [8]

UNITED KINGDOM: LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER - "EINS, ZWEI, DREI"
Over the years, as a music review blog space. you may have noticed certain levels of cynicism, sarcasm and patterns of arguably biased content. This is no different. The UK is part of the Big 4 which means we don't have to qualify because of financial and other reasons. Does it mean we deserve to be here? Absolutely not. I mean on face value we've got an energetic, up-beat performance with audience interaction, the techno-pop aesthetic is catchy and in typical British humour it is depreciating, self-aware and sadly self-harming. It tries to be inclusive and immersive but comes across as if not offensive but patronising on a grand stage. I can see where its aiming for forgiveness, it's like look Europe, we love and appreciate you, it's a very post-Brexit song, and it's very on the nose AND tongue in cheek, delivered with the cheeky charm that can only be described as "Park Life" for those who like a bump and a key in a pub toilet. A paracetamol to quench the pain? Mate you want to be on stronger stuff than that. Sam Bartle is a talented musician and engineer...but look mum, no points. [2]

70 years ago, mainstream music was dominated by the birth and growth of rock ‘n’ roll, blues, and country. ELVIS PRESLEY was taking over the world alongside the likes of CHUCK BERRY and LITTLE RICHARD. Old school pop-crooners like FRANK SINATRA and DORIS DAY were household names, while JOHNNY CASH was making country cool. But what about Europe? This was pre-THE BEATLES who, ultimately changed everything...but aside from CLIFF RICHARD, EDITH PIAF and even DOMENICO MODUNGO...European and UK artists just weren’t on that level. Everything was niche, regionally nuanced, with vastly different markets and audiences. Something needed to change...something fresh and new needed to happen; to ignite a spark in the European music industry...and so in 1956...THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST was born. 

In an aim to bring Europe together post-war, encouraging cultural cooperation, to share cultural values and entertainment, and also to experiment with large scale TV broadcasting, seven nations came together at Switzerland’s Teatro Kursaal in Lugano, to showcase both song and sophistication. Evening gowns, tuxedos, orchestras, welcoming diversity like an international cabaret. It was vastly different then, with different rules, voting, judging etc, but boy did it take off. Now...70 years later...The Eurovision Song Contest not only continues, but has become the single largest annual live musical extravaganza in the world, with hundreds of millions of viewers, big budget production for stage and costume design, with over 30 countries regularly competing to win, and the opportunity to host the show. It’s incredibly prestigious. It can be absolutely bonkers, beautifully random, entertaining and intense all in one show. 2026 finds us in Vienna, Austria, thanks to last year's winner JJ...but who will be crowned winner at the Wiener Stadthalle, as we are once again.. UNITED BY MUSIC. 

At the time of writing, Semi-Final 1 has already taken place, so not all artists will be competing at the Grand Final on May 16th...but here are my thoughts on the first 18 entries that make up Disk 1 of the official accompanying album, in alphabetical order. 

ALBANIA: ALIS - "NÂN"
Alis Kallaci is an Albanian X-Factor winner with a piano diploma and had studied pedagogy, so he's got a decent musical background to begin with to his credit. The song was inspired by a dream...saying goodbye mother. Well this is a happy start isn't it! Ok it's not entirely bleak, it's about waiting mothers and faraway children. Distance and missing your loved ones. Quite wholesome, incredibly dramatic, though musically quite dark; it layers soft albeit pained piano flutters, grand, almost monastic gang chorus vocals on the brink of being Biblical, with some powerful percussion. But, if Nan here is mother, is this really Albania or Alabama? [4]

ARMENIA: SIMÓN - "PALOMA RUMBA"
The song immediately starts with what sounds like a group of kids in voice, which makes we worry but it does tie in thematically I'll grant it. Simon Hovhannisyan was born into a family lineage of doctors...any otologists in there anywhere? This dude chose music over medicine! A song about breaking free from the routine, instead choosing the passion of life and the free spirit, as opposed to you know, saving the lives. The children's vocals emphasise that free-spirited nature, amidst a fusion of up-tempo beats, rap elements traditional Eastern Mediterranean instrumentation. Energetic? Yes. Overcrowded and often-times sonically busy? Also yes. Let's play a game of Simon Says shall we? Simon Says...too much. Shut up Simon. Or at least take some annual leave [5]

AUSTRALIA: DELTA GOODREM - "ECLIPSE"
It's been ten years already since Australia made their Eurovision debut marking the 60th anniversary, and to be fair they've always had a decent crack at it with some respectable results, welcomed back again and again. This year shouldn't be any different as the Aussies bring a sense of class and quality to Vienna, courtesy of Delta Goodrem. The actress/singer is multi-award winning performer with 8 million record sales to her name and nine number one's down under, so I think they're looking to place well. It's a traditional ballad entry, with soft piano and sweeping orchestral layers, over some modern symphonic pop production. Delta has powerfully emotive vocals and it's both classy and catchy is equal measure. Grandiose but not pompous and wouldn't be out of place on any golden era Disney soundtracks. Solid stuff. [7]

AZERBAIJAN: JIVA - "JUST GO"
Jamila Hashimova was the winner of season 3 of The Voice in Azerbaijan, and the Moscow-born performer is known for her love of blending pop with dance and R&B in both Russian and English. There isn't a lot really to be said about this one...it's another stereotypical ballad entry with a slow, brooding almost James Bond inspired soundscape, as her smooth harmony rich vocals carry well, but, it's not the most exciting track. Not quite as depressing as ADELE but it's of that ilk. [2]

BELGIUM: ESSYLA - "DANCING ON THE ICE"
Alice Van Eesbeeck was a finalist on season 9 of The Voice in Belgium (That's a recurring theme here) and has a variety of musical influences. Honing her craft as a backing singer for more established artists she started laying the foundations for her own solo musical adventure but it's been a relatively slow start. This song got to number 39 in the Belgian charts...I mean, if your own countryfolk aren't THAT fussed then, it's not exactly encouraging for the rest of us. But she's quirky, I'll give her that...like Essyla is a stylised version of her name Alice, backwards. Dancing on ice isn't quirky though...it's dangerous...like entering a generic, BILLIE EILISH-inspired light techno-pop song to a voting audience of literally millions. It' got ample hooks but, so does my coat rack. [4]

BULGARIA: DARA - "BANGARANGA"
I had to do a double-take for a split second then, as I was almost convinced the dude that hosts Mock The Week was in the business of SKRILLEX covers. Now I kind of wish he was. Darina Nikolaeva Yotova was once third place in Bulgaria's version of The X-Factor, and here we find her dabbling in a weird mesh of traditional wind instrumentation and R&B/hip hop beats. It's on the verge of being a split personality disorder, and it only JUST works. [2]

CROATIA: LELEK - "ANDROMEDA"
​LELEK are an all-female folk-pop ensemble formed in 2024, and were actually runners-up at last years national selection, so they're aiming for redemption in Vienna. I know there are suggested or implied rules against politicism on the show, I'm unsure of where religion sits at the table. On the floor on it's knees one would assume. A track dealing with persecution, but I truly don't know enough about the Ottoman empire...though it's apropos in today's socio-political climate and could stir up some controversy. I love that about this song. It's powerful in it's message against generational trauma, resisting assimilation and the real issues with religious conflict...thought's and prayers are about as useful as nil points and while visually it has about as much subtlety as a drone strike, I do like this. [6]

CYRPUS: ANTIGONI - "JALLA"
Antigoni Buxton...daughter of Tonia Buxton. Drinker of Buxton mineral water? Possibly? Did you know Buxton in England is 1000 feet above sea level? Making it the UK's highest market town? Fascinating stuff you learn when you're bored. The track starts off alright, but becomes this Eastern Mediterranean Temu SHAKIRA type effort. Latina hips don't lie...Love Island rejects do. He did get to number 72 in the UK charts once. Forget "Jalla"...one guy one jar was more popular! [3]

CZECHIA: DANIEL ZIZKA - "CROSSROADS"
Born in Prague, from a young age Daniel Zizka was drawn to music and recording at just ten years old, and decided that he wanted to officially pursue music professionally, recording his first tracks at just 15. "Crossroads" is a relatively brief track but while the journey is short, the destination is worth it, as with his blend of hushed, subdued vocals, with some incredibly emotive, soaring nigh notes, it gives strong THOM YORKE and JEFF BUCKLEY vibes. It may very well impress the judges...just as it has irritated my neighbours dogs. [5]

DENMARK: SØREN TORPEGAARD LUND - "FØR VI GÅR HJEM"
Another tale of early interest in the arts here. Born in Gudme, he attended a music and theatre boarding school from a young age and has always had a deep interest in performance and being on stage. It's a restrained, light electronic pop track that has a simplistic beat and rhythm, while the vocals are for the most part smooth, with the odd dash of passion, and it's something fans of say, CHARLIE PUTH or YEARS & YEARS would appreciate...but it's not breath-taking. It got to number 4 in the charts in Denmark...respectable enough. The song means "Before We Go Home"...it's not a holiday you dopey bastard you're trying to win a competition here! This isn't a day trip to bloody Staatsoper! [4]

ESTONIA: VANILLA NINJA - "TOO EPIC TO BE TRUE"
This all-girl rock group already represented Switzerland in 2005?!?! Damn those ninja's are sneaky! Borders mean nothing! We ARE united by music after-all...embrace thy neighbour and all that. I jest. Apparently very popular in Estonia, where they have an ice-cream brand named after them. I would happily get brain freeze for this lot. A really catchy, up-beat pop-rock song with a synth driven, energetic bounce, that reminds of early THE VERONICAS. This is honestly my personal highlight of CD 1 and I will certainly be checking out more of their back catalogue. Absolute tune. [9]

FINLAND: LINDA LAMPENIUS & PETE PARKKONEN - "LIEKINHEITIN"
So, Linda Lampenius is an ACCOMPLISHED classic concert violinist. Born to parents who were composers and in theatre production, she's grown up in and been surrounded by this here whole life. She picked it up EARLY. A multi-genre influenced professional that has toured the world over with years of experience...this lady could represent her country on her own...but they've got Finnish Spiderman on vocals. I jest, Pete Parkkonen appeared on Finland's Pop Idol and has topped the Finnish charts, and has plenty of charisma and presence that compliments Linda. The song translates as "Flamethrower"...and it's a fiery song of the juxtaposition of a hot and cold relationship. It's dramatic, it's passionate, and that crescendo? I need a cold shower after that one. One of the bookies favourites...I don't need an excuse to fly back to Finland in 2027 but...I absolutely would for Eurovision. [9]

FRANCE: MONROE - "REGARDE!"
Monroe Vata Rigby was born to Mormon parents in the US, in Salt Lake City, Utah. While growing up there she discovered a love for church choirs and thus developed an appreciation for classical compositions. Her mum actually emigrated from the Congo before settling...and I have to say part of me wishes this was some passionately gospel inspired BEETHOVEN and UM BONGO crossover jingle. Is that racist? None of this says French in any capacity by the way. I digress. It's an operatic number, more of what would be perceived as typical Eurovision fodder, but she's got a great voice. Quite cinematic in scope...like a boss fight in something like Final Fantasy or Bloodborne. [4]

GEORGIA: BZIKEBI - "ON REPLAY"
The name that I can't pronounce means "Wasps" so they're already potentially annoying bastards in two languages. They actually once won the Junior Eurovison Song Contest but, just like wasps harassing your pint in a beer garden, they keep coming back until you ultimately let them drown and get a fresh Heineken. Your life is worth a fiver don't test me. In the junior competition they made up a language, how that's allowed I have no idea, but luckily (I think) they perform normally here. Sultry R&B/Dance piece, unimaginative chorus, some traditional albeit subtle oompa vibes...no replay, only skip. [3]

GERMANY: SARAH ENGELS - "FIRE"
Deutschland Sucht Den Superstar...because HEAVEN FORBID German's just say "Pop Idol". A former runner-up, Sarah Engels utilises decent dance-pop hooks with more of that popular Latino flare, for a song of empowerment and feminist independence. While for the most part generic as a composition, it's a catchy pop track and has radio potential, and Sarah even said on her Instagram that this is the biggest opportunity of her career, so I genuinely wish her well. Everyone deserves a chance and a lucky break, it clearly means a lot to her, so go get it. Just don't set the sprinklers off. Or the smoke alarm. Or play with matches. Extinguishers at the ready. [5]

GREECE: AKYLAS - "FERTO"
Akylas Mytilinaios looks like Seth Rollins dressed up as JAMIROQUAI which, to be fair if you've ever watched WWE that's a fairly standard affair. Dude's got a bigger wardrobe than his wife. A man of several talents; despite dropping out of secondary school he took theatre classes, graduated from culinary school and has done stints singing on cruise ships to earn a living and hone his craft. I've never been on a cruise...but I wouldn't expect this unless it was one of Chris Jericho's. Apparently he became Tik Tok famous in Greece doing ukulele covers...nothing screams Greek like a ukulele. Baglamas please...and easy on the olive oil! The song means portable, which in ways ties into the music video of 16-bit pixelated game stylistics, like an old Game Boy, but portable also means you can pick it up and fuck it off away from me. It blends up-beat techno/dance with essentially Nintendo-core, but switches into some piano ballad fill, resulting in an off-kilter, awkward composition. A mish-mash of ideas...and I think the only person equipped to score this one would be James Rolfe, The Angry Video Game Nerd. I'm actually going to message him with this song and video and get back to you if he gets back to me. [3]

ISRAEL: NOAM BETTAN - "MICHELLE"
Winner of season 12 of Israel's Rising Star...the son of French parents, he swapped the military for music, but he still bombs in the studio like Israel bomb the Gaza strip. There is so much controversy surrounding Israel entering the contest, not just this year but for several, yet they continue to score well. Conspiracy and propaganda over quality and principle. I know they try to avoid political issues for what is essentially a song contest, but they get away with it while Russia are lambasted for the same issues, I.E Ukraine. The hypocrisy is real, as is the fear of repercussion it would appear. Nil points from both myself and Palestine. I don't care who Michelle is, she isn't getting a green card, or benefits. Or my vote. Get in the bin. [0]

And off we go with another heritage cash-in box set, another excavation through the archives, this one too has exhumated the ROADRUNNER sessions of SUFFOCATION, with the subtlety of an excavation into the lunacy of death metal in the 90's. This one comes in three CDs, twenty-six total tracks, ceaseless pounding by original personnel Guy Marchais (Guitar) and Josh Barohn (Bass) unsatisfied with the toll inflicted by CANNIBAL CORPSE.

[Editor: Why do I have a feeling Matt is about to GIVE Jesus a reason to weep?]



Disc 1: "Effigy Of The Forgotten" (1991)

This is the album that every alleged death metal aficionado said they bought at time of release (If they did, it would’ve certainly cracked the top ten?) Recorded with the iconic Morrisound sound in Florida—it was basically the 'Abbey Road' of death metal but with a whiff of stale beer and a whole lot of blast beats.

The band of Suffocation had a producer named Scott Burns who was utterly powerless against making a bad sound in 1991, but that was certainly a real boon for the band. Not surprisingly, this lives up to its expectations in every way, at least in terms of sound, that lists nine lousy tracks but sounds like a concrete mixer undergoing some sort of identity crisis. It launches with "Liege Of Inveracity" that came at a level of subtlety akin to that of a colonoscopy, but the self-named track certainly indicated that these were some heavy metal enthusiasts aware that metal was more than enough for a club fight, but were not mere bludgeoners of any sort. There were the fabled breakdowns that were crushing akin to a city bus, but required all the necessary speed changes that were needed for a whole bunch of mental cases with home computers, to become utterly shell-shocked over it, but got the swift epiphany of 'wait a minute, we can. .. . uh. .. .'

Disc 2: "Breeding The Spawn" (1993)

"The second album is synonymous with 'Pillow Fight Production Value Done Underwater Edie.' Even this specific music group has admitted that this CD was somehow cheated in terms of the mix. This means the record label fucked us. But the music is in there somewhere.

"Beginning Of Sorrow", "Marital Decimation" (Because nothing says "Death metal" like adult spousal abuse spelled out in detail)—but you’ll never be able to listen to it past the warm fuzz of cotton batting.
The Empire Strikes Back as a Suffocation CD would be as if it’d been shot through frosted glass!
However, for the die-hard fan & masochist, obviously for the purposes of comprehending what the hullabaloo is about in respect of everyone going round the bend because this new release finally, you know, contains some music.

Disc 3: "Pierced From Within" (1995)

Suffocation returned to Scott Burns and Morrisound with the flair of a prodigal son, and Burns remembered how to turn the dials. "Pierced From Within", "Thrones Of Blood", "Depths Of Depravity" and even the titles of the songs tend to lean towards the particularly grim Renaissance landscape. The album is a kiss-off, and the band has even gone the distance and retreated the "Breeding The Spawn"; that is one way to rectify the problem of the first bloke who spoiled the stew.

Speaking of this band, METAL HAMMER wrote  ”Effectively ground zero for the entire “brutal death metal genre", which is a statement that is simultaneously true and hilarious, like describing a baseball bat as reductionist. This collection shows the importance of Suffocation. The death metal groups all over the world, each as a member of the brutality death metal band since 1991, owe gratitude to the band for the realization that extreme metal music could be made heavier by becoming heavier with rhythmic violence.

Do you need this if you own these albums? Only if you’re a die-hard fan of interviews by David Gehlke or if you need to feel the validation of having the “Official” re-releases.

This would definitely be a great introduction for someone who is a newcomer to this type of music and has a desire to learn as to why this band and this type of music is ‘ground-breaking’ and ‘seminal’. Moreover, any type of band that has a career spanning several decades with periods being broken up and reuniting, that has managed to gain a certain level of respect from people likely did a few things correctly either as a skill set that made their speakers suffer. Words: Matt Denny.

Score: 6/10 (Lost points for the lack of bonus tracks)


​

Comparison is the thief of joy...this is a saying that rings true in not only all art forms, but all walks of life in general, and the more we assume and expect of one another, sadly it’s an ever-unavoidable trait we all become more guilty of as time goes by. Let's take professional wrestling as but ONE example; the tribalism online between WWE and AEW fans can be comical...but it’s all pro-wrestling...just fucking enjoy it! There is something for everyone!  

Be it Darby Allin’s Jackass-inspired stunt bouts, Joe Hendry’s joyful sing-along charm, Toni Storm’s unashamedly, sexually dramatic art-noir cinematic persona, or Goth-Mami metalcore Queen Rhea Ripley! You can enjoy what you enjoy, without having to compare it to its “competition”! You’re allowed to enjoy BOTH! Not that that’s going to matter, while influencer Uncle Dave Meltzer is shitting out biased star ratings, like a game of Mario Party with chronic diarrhoea. A misguided, mainstream malcontent if you will. I digress... 

Here however...with regards to comparison, we fall into a slightly more nuanced category...it’s more of an in-joke truth be told, and it might not even be the intention of the artist, but it’s a game now amongst me and my peers. We are talking about the band FLOVER, and the inevitable game of HIM-Bingo. It’s a simple game of spot the copyright grey area, or at the very least, pass the plagiarism as opposed to the parcel.  

Some of you may remember the last time I covered Flover, ironically during VV’s initial UK solo run in 2023, promoting “Neon Noir”, they had released “Love’s Poetry & Dead Melodies”. It was the usual cross-referencing task of likening the song to a HIM connection, even down to a song title, riff or chord sequence, becoming a fun in-car game on tour. Now, in 2025, the Euro-national ensemble who have never played a gig together, return with “Love Archives, Vol.1” ...and the game has already begun before we even hear a single note of music. 

The very title is a spin on HIM’s “Love Metal Archives Vol. 1” DVD compilation from 2005, where it acted as a sort of visual accompaniment/alternative to “And Love Said No”. It housed all of the band's music videos spanning their first four albums with some behind the scenes stuff, live and deep cuts etc... blatant isn’t the word here. The cover art? While it APPEARS they’ve used some generic Roman/Greek statue bust for the image, it could be argued it’s an attempted tribute to “Venus Doom”, with the image being likened to the statue of Venus Di Milo, but the hair doesn’t match. Yes, I image searched Greek and Roman statues to compare the hair cut on a piece of marble. It’s probably AI. Techniti noimosyni...aye technically nonsense.  

All that aside, we begin with opening track “Red Vinyl” and it’s an interesting one lyrically. Vocalist Fabio sings of this woman of alluring darkness, living in the shadows, seemingly presenting herself in the aforementioned material, with eyes like stained-glass windows. The idea of seduction and temptation as a test of faith, with the idea being the quest for love, not lust, as vinyl, better known as PVC accounts for some wonderfully slutty outfits. Love Metal? More like Love Honey! Am I right? Or she could literally be a red LP that he wants to stick his pin in to make sweet music. We don’t do subtlety here. Instrumentally it’s a generally slow methodical piece, with some trademark Linde guitar vibrato here and there, over chugging riffs, plodding percussion and sprinkles of synth. It’s fine. Fun fact; Love Honey is offering 20% student discounts with online vouchers! What are you studying in university? Biology? Sure. Moving on. 

Follow up track “Love Becomes Her” has this very sparkly, jovial piano intro, but the bulk of the track is a little bit messy. The guitars are all lost in the mix here, lacking any sense of clarity or definition, while Fabio’s semi-hushed vocals channel “Screamworks...” era Ville Valo, even down to certain inflections, inhalations and overall delivery. It works for tribute and cover bands; the intention IS to copy the singer...you’re very openly saying look, we’re doing this band, come and enjoy this bands catalogue...here it’s like, Ville would be more inclined to put a restraining order on you before anything else. Bit like my friend Rob in Nottingham...but that’s a different story.  

All the while then “Flower In My Hand” is for the most part, a decent, up-tempo little track with melody and some catchy vocal hooks, even if some of the synths sound like a tweaked “Vampire Heart” intro...that is until from out of the blue, we have this really needless Basso Profondo vocal fill, ripping off “Venus Doom” for no other reason than they could, adding nothing of any value to the track. The flower in question must be Atropa Belladonna, because this has killed me off. This is so instrumentally HIM on multiple fronts...ask them their favourite HIM song...they’ll just say “Yes”. 

Proving my point even further... “Lovve”...like you’re going to slip a double V in there without anyone noticing? With the soft piano intro and the actual chorus including the words “The sacrament of love” …you’re not even trying now lads. Speaking of... “Butterfly Song”. After twenty years it’s like something Ville would write on a set-list to save time. It’s an MP3 or WAV file name. It’s also boring. “Lovve” DOES have an Ellin Spring remix which, as an instrumental piece of throwback 80’s synth-wave, is genuinely far better than anything that was officially put on the “SWRMXS” release, but that’s about the highest praise you’re going to get here. 

Overall...as an audio experience, it’s not a TERRIBLE record by any means. It houses an obvious feeling of familiarity as the HIM tropes do take you back to happier, simpler times...but those HIM influences and tropes that made FLOVER initially stand out have now become the darkly romantic equivalent of STEEL PANTHER. It was fun at first...but now it’s like, guys...we get it. The joke wore thin for Steel Panther but at least they ARE a parody band...Flover aren’t even a band really...they are a project aimed at a certain circle of fans...but it’s less a “Circle Of Fear”, more a circle-jerk over a ritualistic Heartagram. “Love Archives Vol.1” doesn’t feel like a hidden treasure...it’s more like finding your Dad’s dusty home-made porn stash in the attic, and wishing you’d found Captain Howdy... honestly, what possesses them to keep this up? [5] - Words: Gavin Griffiths

We all saw this one coming. Lemmy's been dead since 2015, and the tribute album industrial complex doesn't wait for any corpse to grow cold. At least they had the decency to wait nearly a decade. That's practically respectful by music industry standards—though one imagines the wait had more to do with lawyers and licensing than any kind of tasteful mourning period. The man died on December 28, and his death was made public on the 29th. Seventeen memorial playlists were already up on the web by the 30th. We grieve at the speed of fibre optics now.

"Killed By Deaf" does exactly what it says on the tin: fourteen bands cover MOTÖRHEAD songs slightly faster and slightly worse than Motörhead themselves, which is a bit of an achievement considering that Motörhead's entire aesthetic was "What if we just played louder until something broke?" The title's joke is about as subtle as a hammer to the temple—which, as it so happens, is also song nine, covered by THE CASUALTIES with about as much subtlety as said hammer. The cover art features a punk Iron Pig skull. Lemmy's own face was half-skull by the end of it anyway, all those moles and that craggy brilliance, pickled in Jack Daniel's and frozen forever like some sort of alcoholic Han Solo.
 
It's a veritable who's who of bands your cool uncle saw in basements in 1987, with some younger bands who are there presumably so that this doesn't seem like a complete nostalgia cash-grab. Though let's be real: it completely is, and there's something sort of endearing about how blatant that is. At least they're not attempting to position this as some sort of boundary-pushing art statement.

PENNYWISE – "Ace Of Spades": They kick it off with the most obvious choice possible, both disappointing and inevitable. It's like starting a punk tribute to THE RAMONES with "Blitzkrieg Bop"—you have to, but seriously, really? You can practically hear them going, "How can we make the most overplayed Motörhead song EVEN MORE overplayed?" Mission accomplished, guys. Jim Lindberg's vocals are fine. The guitars are fine. It's all right. Professional, high-energy, and totally predictable. You've heard this song ten thousand times. Now you've heard it ten thousand and one. Progress!

RANCID – "Sex & Death": Thank Christ they didn't attempt "Ace Of Spades" too. Tim Armstrong's voice, that sweet sandpaper-gargling-nails growl, actually suits Motörhead's nihilistic romanticism quite well. There's some poetry in a band that wrote "Ruby Soho" covering a song called "Sex & Death" - the whole emotional spectrum of punk rock summed up in two song titles. They play it fast, loose, and dirty, which is exactly how one should play Motörhead. No complaints to be had here, which is a pity really since half the fun is in the complaining.

THE BRONX – "Over The Top": The Bronx attack this one like it personally insulted their mothers, burned down their childhood homes, and kicked their dogs. It's aggressive to the point of almost being violent, which makes sense for a song that's basically about running into battle and probably dying in some horrific way. Matt Caughthran wails like a man possessed, and the whole thing has this near-out-of-control chaos that suggests the recording session involved at least one broken microphone and some bruised knuckles. This is what the album should sound like—dangerous, unhinged, teetering on the verge of falling over the edge at any given moment. Lemmy would've nodded in approval before telling them they were doing it too slow.

LAGWAGON – "Rock 'N' Roll": Melodic hardcore guys covering Motörhead is a strange choice, and Joey Cape's vocals are more polished than Lemmy's ever were, even when Lemmy was born. But here's the thing: it works. The harmonies are tighter, the production's shinier, and somehow still has that essential Motörhead fuck-you-ness to it. Did we need Lagwagon to tell us that "Rock 'N' Roll" would be an awesome punk song? No. But did they sound like they cared, rather than just cashing a paycheck? Yes. That means something in this cold, dead world.

FEAR – "The Chase Is Better Than The Catch": Lee Ving is approximately one million years old and still sounds like he could gnaw through a steel chain. FEAR doing Motörhead is a no-brainer—they're both bands that trade in ugliness and honesty, never prettying things for the guests. This is raw, ugly, and fantastic. It's also probably the track on here that most resembles the original, which either indicates FEAR knew what they were doing or couldn't be bothered to reinvent the wheel. Either way: effective.

GBH – "Bomber": UK82 legends covering one of the most indefatigable tracks in the Motörhead catalogue. This is a little too on-the-nose. It's akin to asking SLAYER to cover a VENOM song—yeah, of course, it's gonna be a natural fit. Colin Abrahall's bark is different from Lemmy's growl, but they're speaking the same language: pure, undiluted aggression with a hint of working-class rage. The guitar is thicker than a London fog, and the whole record sounds like it was recorded in a bunker during an ongoing air raid. Probably wasn't, but that's what it sounds like.

MURPHY'S LAW – "Stay Clean": New York hardcore guys doing a song about life on the road, staying out of trouble, and predictably managing to do neither. Jimmy G sounds appropriately grizzled here, and there's something odd and poignant about hearing a bunch of guys who sure as hell didn't stay clean sing about trying to stay clean. The irony is so thick you could cut it with a dirty knife you found behind CBGB. Wait, CBGB's gone too. Everything ends. Cheers!

SLAUGHTERHOUSE – "Love Me Like A Reptile": Here's where they throw the new band a bone. Slaughterhouse are the obligatory "up-and-comers"; in there so someone can point out that this album isn't a collection of old punks reliving the glories. And you know what? They do themselves proud. They play it fast and dirty, and they don't have the years of road grime and liver damage that made Motörhead sound like Motörhead, but they do have enthusiasm. Lemmy loved underdogs. This is appropriate. It's also the one you'll probably skip, but that's not their fault.

THE CASUALTIES – "The Hammer": Street punk lifers doing a track that sounds exactly like you'd hope The Casualties covering Motörhead would. It's fine. It exists. They play the notes. The hammer falls. We all take one step closer to death. Next!

ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE – "Born To Raise Hell": Another British punk institution tackling a latter-day Motörhead track that nobody remembers is actually great. The ANL have always had a foot in punk and a foot in metal anyway, so this is territory they are well-suited to cover. They sound angry and grizzled, which is their default mode and also the correct way to do it. It's probably the best song on the second half of the album, which is not saying much because we're all getting a bit tired by now. Fourteen songs is excessive. Twelve would've been perfect. But nobody asked me.

LOVE CANAL – "Voices In The Sky": A deep cut! At last! But let's be honest, on a Motörhead tribute album, anything other than "Ace Of Spades" or "Overkill" is a deep cut to everyone. Love Canal inject a bit of the psychedelic into this one, which is odd and almost works. It doesn't, quite, but points for trying something different in the back third of an album that's starting to run together into one endless wall of distortion.

SOLDIERS OF DESTRUCTION – "Overkill": And here's the other required inclusion. You can't do a Motörhead tribute without "Overkill." It's physically impossible. The universe wouldn't allow it. They play it fast—as you have to—and it's exactly adequate. That's the theme of this album's second half: exactly adequate. We're all tired. The bands are tired. You're tired reading this. Lemmy's still dead. Let's just move on.

WISDOM IN CHAINS – "Iron Fist": Pennsylvania hardcore guys doing the title track to one of the grimier Motörhead albums. It's fast, it's angry, and it sounds like it was recorded in somebody's garage, which it very possibly was. The production on the latter half of this album is noticeably worse than the first half, which either adds to the punk points or means they ran out of funds. Could be both. Probably is both.

MOTÖRHEAD & THE DAMNED – "Neat, Neat, Neat": And here's the real reason to buy this thing if you're a completist: a heretofore unreleased 2002 recording of Lemmy sitting in with The Damned to bash out their 1977 classic. It's the only non-Motörhead track on the record, so it's either a real treat or a cynical move to get completists to open their wallets.
Probably both. Definitely both. Lemmy would've approved.

The song itself is exactly what you'd want: sloppy, fast, and celebratory in that particular way that older punks get when they remember they're not dead yet. You can hear the years from 1977 to 2002, all that deterioration and survival, but you can hear that spark that made either band matter in the first place. It's the greatest song on the record by default because it's actual Lemmy, and also because "Neat Neat Neat" is a perfect song that's virtually impossible to screw up.

The fact that it's here at all is a small miracle of archival digging and probably several lawyers negotiating for months. The fact that it's been held back for over two decades and released on a tribute album in 2025 is either respectful timing or calculated marketing. Again: both. Always both.
 
Motörhead was a punk band who were incorrectly identified as metal because they had long hair and Marshall stacks. That's a fact. That's always been a fact. Lemmy himself stated it a thousand times in interviews. The punks accepted them. The metalheads accepted them. Lemmy accepted the Jack Daniel's and cigarettes and continued with his life.

Yet this tribute album is less a revelation and more a reminder that we all already knew this. The punk-metal divide dissolved decades ago, in large part because of bands like Motörhead who didn't give a shit about genre gatekeeping in the first place. Thrash metal happened. Crossover happened. D-beat happened. Crust happened. Now your average crust punk and your average thrash fan are wearing the same Motörhead back patch and are probably dating one another.

So why this album? Why does it even need to exist? Honestly? Because we're angry. Because Lemmy's dead and we miss him. Because an entire generation of musicians who grew up worshipping at the altar of loud, fast, and don't-give-a-fuck want to say thank you the best way they know how: by playing loud, fast, and not giving a fuck. Is this a cash grab? Yes. Is it also sincere? Also yes. Those two things can coexist. Welcome to late capitalism, where even our grief is commodified but sometimes the feelings are genuine anyway.
 
Did we need Lagwagon to tell us "Rock 'N' Roll" works as a punk song? Did we need FEAR to tell us "The Chase Is Better Than The Catch" slaps? No. Not ever. We knew. We've always known. But do they do a good job anyway? Yes. Most of the bands here clearly gave a shit, which is more than you can say about a lot of tribute albums where half the bands sound like they recorded their songs during a lunch break and couldn't be bothered. Will it alter your life? No. Nothing's gonna alter your life at this point. You're too old, you're too exhausted, and you've heard too much music. Everything sounds like something else that you heard twenty years ago.

​Will it make you miss Lemmy? Yes. Every time you hear that opening riff to "Ace Of Spades" or "Overkill", you're going to remember that there was this guy—this impossibly worn, impossibly cool guy—who just didn't give a damn about anything except playing loud music and speaking the truth. And now he's gone. And we're all still here, getting older and deafening, playing the same songs louder because that's all we know how to do. Is it depressing? You bet your ass it is.

Will you probably put it on at a party anyway and have a perfectly good time? Yeah, probably. You'll crack open whatever poison is your beverage of choice, you'll turn it up too loud, you'll bother the neighbors, and for forty-seven minutes you'll remember what it was like to be young and angry and think that loud guitars could save your life. They couldn't, of course. Nothing's gonna save you. We're all circling the drain, some of us just making a bigger racket about it. But for those forty-seven minutes? You'll be alive. And that'll have to do.

FINAL SCORE: 6.5/10
It's fine. It exists. Lemmy's still dead. We're all going to die someday too. Might as well crank it up while we're here. The first half is a solid 7, the second half a 6, the bonus Damned track bumps it up a peg, and the whole thing is probably better than it has any right to be but not quite good enough to really matter. It's a tribute album. It does tribute album things. Your expectations should be appropriately set.

Play it loud. Lemmy would've wanted it that way. Then go listen to the real Motörhead albums, because they're better.

RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: Being reminded of your own mortality, hearing the same songs played in slightly different manners, supporting the retirement funds of older punk rockers, pretending that you're still dangerous, Jack Daniel's, not hearing your tinnitus, the complete pointlessness of life coupled with loud guitars.

NOT RECOMMENDED IF: You have intact self-preservation instincts, you require tribute albums to have a purpose other than "We liked this band", you're looking for innovation or surprises, you think silence is golden. WORDS: Matt Denny.

So back in September, I covered the BATS IN THE ATTIC weekend up in rainy-old Morecambe, and thoroughly enjoyed two nights of Gothic, post-punk, dark-wave, new wave, old-school, skipped-school and too cool for school alternative bands, all coming together under the vague but vehemently celebrated Gothic umbrella. One of these bands, quite frankly have barely LEFT school by the looks of them, but when I tell you that they were one of THE highlights of the weekend, you may just rub your eyes in disbelief and smudge your Maybelline. Yes, today we’re going to be revisiting SOCIAL YOUTH CULT... 

The nostalgic, Newcastle Upon Tyne based force majeure (Consisting of vocalist/guitarist Shaun Greer, guitarist Holly Moore, bassist Jack Stephenson and drummer / vocalist Alex Thibaut) impressed everybody as a live band, especially the older bands playing the weekend, with their raw, authentic modern day take on traditional post-punk. Honestly it was like a time capsule; a fleeting glance at the dawn of darkness, when the very concept of alternative music in any capacity was less than a glint in even Franz Waxman’s eye. Since then, bassist Jack’s been in touch via email, and has very kindly sent over their upcoming debut album “The Lighthouse”. With it being released on Sunday, November 2nd at the Whitby Weekend, let’s check it out, and shine some shade on one of the scenes most promising post-punk prospects. Now having said all that, as we press play..."I bid you velcome"... 

The album opens with “Venus”, and while it lacks the smoothness of a lady's shaving product, it cuts just as close with its darkly foreboding bassline and methodical yet intense percussion. You can hear a lot of the influence from KILLING JOKE in the instrumentation alone here as it relentlessly chugs along, almost bullying the listener into acknowledgement. It plateaus early with riff repetition, with only Shaun’s occasional vocal spikes giving this more than a one-dimensional character, but it’s hypnotic in its own right, and it’s the aura that carries this song. With Venus being the Roman goddess of love and victory, lyrically this is up there with the most vampiric, Poe-influenced, one night stand anti-ballads I’ve possibly heard. It’s like, taking a walk of shame through a graveyard; dressed to kill but feeling like death warmed up, yet still smirking at the quality of the head (stones). It’s likely deeper than that but...facial value. 

Follow up track “Close To Nothing” somewhat tackles mental health issues...the weight of the world, societal and romantic defeatism, and hanging on by a thread. Lyrics like “Artery beating, moments fleeting, I’m so tired of this thing in my chest” channel a sense of emotional fatigue; they’ve weighed up the pros and cons, and suicide is not off the table. There’s reference to overdose, and it’s a deeply pained track delivered in a manner that would make BAUHAUS proud. It’s slow, it’s hurt and it’s a wonderfully delivered acceptance of sadness. 

Next up we have “The Man In The Photo”, and while Chad Kroeger isn’t available to look at this for us, we’ll try not to laugh at it ourselves. Tying this back into BAUHAUS, this could easily be a nod to “Dracula”, as in Bram Stoker’s novel, Jonathan Harker is greeted at the castle by a grey-haired individual with, long, sharp fingernails, and seeing as vampires in general have no reflection, it’s safe to assume that, daguerreotype cameras of the time, which like old mirrors, used silver, would render an image of the vampire non-existent. It fits conceptually.  

Lines like “He hurt his head but not too much” could refer to Harker’s mental breakdown or his attempt of twatting the Count with a shovel in his coffin. Regardless, it’s a slow, methodical song with deep bass and a plodding delivery and is an incredibly nuanced way of suggesting you read “Dracula”. I’m not going to lie I would have much rather have read that in school than “Of Mice And Men” or “Why The Whales Came”. I’d rather watch “Nosferatu” in braille wearing oven mitts but there you go... 

Closing title track “The Lighthouse”, could be a nod to Scottish and Irish coastal folklore, with Celtic spirits such as the selkie, but there are many ghost tales of babies appearing before lighthouse keepers, amidst storms or tragedies. A harbinger of doomed fate, or a curse, it’s a classic maritime haunting trope...coupled with the fact that there’s a lighthouse in Whitby, where Bram Stoker took inspiration for “Dracula”, as his ship, The Demeter, ran ashore there, and it’s all tied in nicely within its own conceptional nuance. Musically...there’s little to no change. 

Ultimately, we find ourselves in a position where we of course must praise SOCIAL YOUTH CULT. The sounds and styles they’ve recreated here are over forty years old, and despite the modern music landscape evolving as it does with technology and trends, they’ve truly nailed that authentic, original sound of Goth’s formative years. Modern indie bands like IST IST and NAUT utilise elements of post-punk, vocally for example, but are polished, they write hooks, there’s an element of catchy song writing to their craft...this is SOCIAL YOUTH CULT's only concern.  

I’m going to sound ungrateful here, but while I absolutely applaud the commitment to the style and sound of those early proto-Goth days, which let’s all agree, the band have nailed, it never stopped bands like JOY DIVISION releasing tracks like “Love Will Tear Us Apart”...for example.  

As on point as your sound, proficiency and delivery are, for a stylistic throwback, you could have at least put ONE slightly more energetic or accessible track in there. Old-school folk get it, don’t get me wrong, it’s applauded and appreciated, but you can’t really rely on old folk...old folk tend to die sooner. You need to at least try to cater for fledgling bats who are discovering post-punk, Goth and alternative options. New generations need that gateway-Goth. 

The fact that they are as young and fresh as they are and are delivering songs of this nature and quality within such a truthfully dated genre, they have my utmost praise and respect, but for a youth cult, they’ve seemed to have overlooked their peers in favour of their pensioners. “The Lighthouse” may be a signal, a beacon of hope for modern day Gothic music, but a lighthouse is only useful when there are ships in the vicinity. As genuinely good, as authentic as they are, live at least...they need to find a way to incorporate and further encourage a younger audience. Shaun, Holly, Jack and Alex might appreciate early post-punk, and I’m with them, …yet while in principle they bring a youthful presence to such a niche genre, none of the eight tracks here truly excite.  

“The Lighthouse” will perk up old ears, for the nostalgia, but they’ve pigeonholed themselves as almost a novelty. They can coast along, be it East or West, but for a young band, they’re shackled with their own dedication to heritage. As a debut album, it’s impactful from the viewpoint of that nostalgic quality, it does grab your attention, there’s no denying that, however, they run the risk of becoming a stagnant gimmick, with life imitating art as opposed to the saying.  

Do I want them to sacrifice their core values as a band? Absolutely not...do I want them to reach further than an old-school audience and help maintain the longevity, and continuity of post-punk and beyond? Of course! And here’s the dilemma. Goth’s might be the visual embodiment of depression 90% of the time...but we like something to dance to as well when the mood takes us. “The Lighthouse” highlights a lot of things, sub-culturally, but Goth needs a spotlight for a new generation, and as decent as this album is, it’ll live in the shadows so long as SOCIAL YOUTH CULT prioritise the past sonically. I really wanted to enjoy this album...I really did; but I’m not from Jonestown and not fully sold on this cult quite yet. I’ll stick to my actual wine, not the grape Kool-Aid for now. [5] - Words: Gavin Griffiths

ANDREW PERER wrote this book on Kevin Shields and MY BLOODY VALENTINE, and I'll be bloody damned — it's actually pretty good. And you're already asking yourself: "Why in the name of all that is holy would I want to read about some Irish dude getting a guitar so he can sound like a Boeing 747 sobbing into a pillow?" Ah, but calm your pint, buddy, because it appears that this isn't some hack Wikipedia cribbage scribbled between benders.

​Perer's been digging on this ground for decades, searching out everyone from one-time band members to sound guys still cringing at the word "reverb." He's found the lunatics who heard Shields warping his guitar into sounds that kept grown men in their shoes for hours, so "shoegaze," but I still envision it sounding like a lads' support group for dudes with wonky ankles.

Some of them are being told here for the first time, and you get the sense that it's because no sane human being had the endurance to follow half of Shields' orbit. Let's be honest: MY BLOODY VALENTINE's career is what a band would do with time travel but only reversed to leapfrog over deadlines.

Three albums. Forty years. I have heard buskers in Camden shell out that many albums in the time it takes to miss paying rent. But the three that they did release? Each one falls like a brick through your lounge window at 3 a.m. — frightening, inconsiderate, but somehow lovely when moonlight reflects off the splinters. "Loveless" (1991), the album everyone says is God sneezing slowly, is handled with the reverence it is given.

Perer not only buffs Shields' halo, but introduces us to the fellow and his cash-burning record company like a pyromaniacal accountant, scaring Island Records and engineers who likely still drink bourbon for breakfast. The book dispels the urban myth and presents us with the chaos for what it really was: half-genius and half-sheer and complete madness. "Loveless" isn’t the only era covered. Andrew Perer also chronicles the long, strange quiet period.

The "Are they dead or abducted by aliens?" decade, when Kevin Shields supposedly was working, maybe, or maybe just hiding in a cabinet with fifty guitars and a fear of sunlight. And he charts Shields' fill-in activities: production, remixing, inserting himself into Sofia Coppola soundtracks as some sort of musical vampire. Creeping around, messing about, returning with something that makes you wonder whether the guitar is an instrument or a weapon.

What I adore is that the book does not give anyone a free ride. It's not a gushy fan epistle. There are the breakdowns, tantrums of brilliance, the utter perversity of a band that created the most ground-breaking album of the '90s and then more or less coasted for a decade like they'd simply popped out to pick up some milk.

If you care about music history, this is a no-brainer.

If you merely wish to discover how one obstinate Irish boy rewired the way we hear sound, music, and guitars which can emulate dying engines, then this book is well worth your time. But if "shoegaze" to you is all about crashing around drunk and staring at the ground, then maybe hold the colouring book.".

Good book, good author. I still don't get it, why it would take twenty years to write three records, but now that I've read this, I nearly respect the sheer obstinacy of it. But then I spent three months putting in a shelf. Shields spent twenty years learning to tune a guitar. Maybe we're not quite so different, then. Words: Matt Denny.

The Brooklyn Hardcore legends known as BIOHAZARD are back with "Divided We Fall", their first studio album in over a decade, out October 17th via BLKIIBLK. 

Originally formed in 1987, and having had various personnel changes over the years, Biohazard has reunited the original line-up, creating an album that delivers a blistering statement of unity in chaos. Bobby Hambel (guitars) had this to say about the album:

"We are really excited to finally have the classic BIOHAZARD line-up back together in the studio. This album has been a long time coming, and the record is straight from our hearts - we can’t wait for everybody to hear it, and to head out and play these new songs live. See you out there!”

Now, in all transparency, I wasn't the biggest fan of them after their 1994 album, "State Of The World Address". Not for any other reason than my musical palette shrank as I dove into Death Metal; an egregious error on my part as diversity is the slice of life, and one that has since been rectified. With that in mind, don't ever limit yourself to one genre, it's extremely one dimensional, especially when you consider how much music is out there for us to experience. 

Anyway, as I sit here listening to "Divided We Fall", I can't help but notice that these guys, despite pushing 60 years of age, are just as vicious in their music as they were back in the day. I can't help but think that this is partially due to having the classic line-up back together, but also that there's a lot to be angry about in this day and age. We all are truly divided, both sides thinking that they're superior to the other, and both of them being completely wrong in that assumption. So yeah, "Divided We Fall" is exactly what's gonna happen if this country can't get its shit together!

Evan Seinfeld is still a badass, and having him back, he re-joined in 2022, has been a shot in the arm of this band. The way he writes and performs is absolutely essential to this band's sound, though that could be said about any of these guys, but for me, it centres on what Evan brings to the table. But enough ass kissing, let's talk about the standout tracks!

"Divided We Fall" opens up with “Fuck The System”, a statement that I completely agree with. Our current system in the US is irreparably broken, and we need songs like this to remind us that this shit is NOT ok. The Hardcore riffs are heavy, and in them I hear a bit of EARTH CRISIS, who are legends of the Syracuse Straight Edge Hardcore scene. While I do hear that band in there, this track is undeniably Biohazard, from the vocals to the overall tone and performance. 

Following that is “Forsaken”, another absolute banger of a track. This one also has all the hallmarks of classic era Biohazard, it's heavy, angry, and exactly what I want to hear from this genre. There's a sick lead break before what I'd consider to be the break down, which goes hard as fuck! Killer tune from start to finish!

“Tear Down The Walls” is pretty far down in the track list, but is no less a banger than any of the previous songs on this album. There's plenty of crushing Hardcore riffs, gang vocals, and positive messages hidden within the lyrics. Biohazard doesn't want you to take anything laying down, and they deliver that message as only they can. 

“Death Of Me” is another track that I find myself going back to over and over again. There's the obligatory sounds that one would expect from the band, riffs, heaviness, and the attitude that is a huge part of the genre itself. I believe that many of you will grasp onto this track like I have. 

Other standout tracks include “War Inside Me”, “S.I.T.F.O.A”, and “Warriors”.

Is Biohazard breaking the mold? No, but no one wants them to either. Fans expect a certain sound and direction from these old-school Hardcore legends, and they deliver it with all of the power and edge that they've exhibited throughout their career. So dig in now because the record is out and ready for your ears! Words: Tom Hanno.

ORBIT CULTURE is a band that's on the fast track to mass appeal, especially over the last 2 years or so. They hail from Sweden, a land rich in Metal history, and they carry that torch with reverence to the past, but while also standing firmly in the present. 

”This record represents change, a new beginning...”, says Orbit Culture guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, Niklas Karlsson. “It brings up a lot of good and bad emotions but it’s a big change for the better. It feels like a rebirth...”

Karlsson was inspired by a steady diet of METALLICA, GOJIRA and STATIC-X, all of which can be heard within the music on the band's newest, and possibly best album to date, "Death Above Life", released on October 3rd, 2025. I also hear influences from bands like IN FLAMES. 

“Inferna” kicks off the festivities in grand fashion! This track almost reaches the 7 minute mark, which can be tough for some listeners, but it never feels bloated or boring, making for an enjoyable listening experience. 

“Bloodhound” starts off with a riff that is as heavy as Thor's mighty hammer. Which is a fact that continues throughout the verse sections, but when he growls “You fucked it up, you fucking asshole”, that's when you really feel the power of this track. Then the band matches it with some groove heavy riffs, some nifty electronic elements, and killer vocal performances. This is one heavy track, serving as a perfect example of what Orbit Culture is all about. 

For a bit of back story, Orbit Culture had done an arena tour with SLIPKNOT in early 2024, which helped to open the band’s eyes to bigger possibilities. “If we never did the Slipknot shows, for instance...” says Niklas. “I would never have written a song like ‘Bloodhound’ on the new album. Just watching them every night, there was an intensity and furious rage that we got to see closely, first-hand, it pushed us...”.

“The Tales Of War” begins with a bit of orchestration, setting the mood for what is to follow perfectly. When the riff kicks in it also kicks your ASS, utilizing intricacy and groove in order to get your asses into the pit as soon as you hear it. This is one of those tracks that I feel is indicative of all the cool elements that this band has at their disposal.

“Inside The Waves” pulls in an influence that hit me hard when I realized what I was hearing, as I'm a huge fan of this band and their now deceased original singer … the one, the only, Wayne Static and Static-X. This influence is subtle, but it is most definitely there nonetheless. You wouldn't know it by listening to it, but … [Editor: Then...how did you know???]

 “For me, that was going into a LINKIN PARK phase...” Karlsson freely admits. “I wanted to write something that was easy and singalong friendly. Of course, it’s not written for the masses, because if I tried to do that, I would fail miserably!”

“Hydra” crushes from its intro, and will steam hammer its way into a lot of playlists, mine included. This one has the heaviest vibe thus far, and not because it's fast or complicated, but instead because of the undeniable power of the main riff. “Hydra” is in the Top 3 as far as my picks for the best of the best in Death Above Life.

Other standouts tracks include “Nerve” and “Death Above Life”.

I listened to this album for about the thousandth time while at work today, and didn't stop banging my head the whole time, all while customers looked at me like I was weird for that and for mouthing the lyrics like I was in the band.

In other words, I recommend that you go check out this album immediately! It's full of everything that the modern metal head loves, and I feel it will become a staple in your daily listening habits. Words: Tom Hanno.

Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big telly. Choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electric tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol and dental care. Choose fixed-interest mortgage payments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching bags. Choose a three piece suite on hire purchase in a range of fucking materials. Select DIY and asking yourself who the fuck you are on a Sunday morning. Select sitting on that couch, scowling at soul-destroying mind-numbing game shows, stuffing your mouth with fucking rubbish food. Select to waste away at the end of it all, pissing away your final few in some sad hovel, nothing but an embarrassment to the self-centred, fucked-up little brats you brought into the world to take your place. Select your future. Select life. But why in the world would I want to do something like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose something else. And the why? There is no why. Who needs why?

GLASGOW KISS, "Down In Flames", is like gettin' yer heid bashed in the head with a bottle and kissed again by the same cunt who bashed it in there. No genre box for this one, no thanks to HALESTORM, no thanks to NIGHTWISH, no thanks to all their bollocks. This is no longer nice symphonic trash, this is riffs crawl oot the amp like septic in the pipes, Charlotte's screamin' voice like an angel got booted oot heaven for smokin' tabs in the loos. Daniel playing like he's got his guitars set alight, Sveinung slicing strings like he's flaying a rat, John Erik's bass thudding like the neighbour banging on yer door at 5am bawlin' ye still owe him fags, Frode on drums banging harder than the polis when they eventually kick the door in. The whole of them frightens ye like a bad trip ye cannae get yerself oot of, only ye dinnae want tae.

It ain't classy stadium effluvia, it's dirty, dripping, teeth-rattlin' metal still smolderin', wee pools of loveliness concealed in the muck. A chorus'll carry ye along, aye, then deposit ye belly-first once again in the sewer with the verse. That's the dance: highs that scorch yer lungs, lows that shake the bone.

Charlotte’s the one that fucks wi’ ye most -- she’ll croon ye soft, then suddenly she’s bitin’ chunks oot yer ear. One minute ye’re floatin’ in daylight, next minute ye’re choking in midnight smoke. Ye cannae trust her, and that’s exactly why ye cannae turn her aff.

This album’s postcards fae the abyss: wee moments of joy scribbled on the back of broken glass. They recorded it across random holes, clubs, anywhere they could plug in, stitched it together wi’ spit, sweat, and maybe a wee bit o’ blood. And it works -- it’s jagged, it’s cracked, but it’s alive, pumpin’ like a vein wi’ fresh gear.

When it's done ye're shakin', tryin' tae work oot what the fuck occurred. And ye'll dae it again, 'cos ye haven't got a choice. That's addiction. That's GLASGOW KISS.

Rating: 9 oot o' 10 Glasgow Kisses. Spare the last yin for the walk hame.

Translations (Scottish → English):
Cunt = Person (derogatory/familiar depending on context)
Tabs = Cigarettes
Fags = Also cigarettes. Words: Matt Denny.

"Down In Flames" is released December 12th, via ECLIPSE RECORDS

My nephew, he comes to me the other day, he says "Uncle, you gotta hear this music, it's called heavy metal." So I says to him, "What's heavy about metal? We got plenty heavy metal in the warehouse - lead pipes, steel beams, that sorta thing." But he shows me this... this compact disc thing from these Canadian broads called KITTIE.

Now, I don't know nothing about no kittens. I got three cats at the social club, they're good for keeping the rats away. But these KITTIE girls? They make more noise than when Tony "The Hammer" accidentally drove the Cadillac through Mrs. Benedetto's storefront!

This "Spit XXV" - and what's with all these Roman numerals? Are we trying to impress the Pope here? It's got four songs on it. Four! Back in my day, you paid for an album, you got twelve, maybe fifteen tracks. These kids today, they're running some kinda racket, but I respect the hustle.

The first song, "Brackish XXV",  I looked up "brackish" in my dictionary (The one I use to press flowers for my wife's funeral arrangements business). It means salty water. You know what else is salty? My cousin Rocco after he lost fifty grand at the track. But these girls, they're screaming about brackish this and brackish that, and I gotta tell ya - it's growing on me like a fungus.

Then there's "Charlotte XXV",  Now, Charlotte, that was my first wife's sister's name. Beautiful woman, terrible cook. Could burn water. But this Charlotte song? It's got what my nephew calls "aggressive energy". Sounds like when my crew found out somebody was skimming from the poker games. Very passionate, very loud, very... how you say... therapeutic.

"Do You Think I'm A Whore XXV",  Hey, I'm a family man! I don't ask these kinda questions! But the music, it's like when Paulie gets really worked up about the garbage routes. All that intensity, all that... what's the word... angst. These girls got more fight in them than a bag full of wildcats.

And the title track, "Spit XXV", now this one, this one I understand. Spitting. That's universal language, you know? You spit when you're disgusted, you spit when you're angry, you spit when somebody disrespects the family. These Canadian girls, they get it.

The producer, this Garth Richardson fella - sounds like a nice Irish boy - he did the original back in 1999. That's the same year I opened my third pizzeria! Good year for business. He comes back 25 years later to work with these girls again. That's loyalty. That's respect. That's what we call "doing business the right way".

Now, I don't understand why they gotta scream so much. When I got something to say, I just lean in close and whisper. Much more effective, believe me. But these girls, they got what we call in the business "presence". When they walk in a room - or in this case, when their music plays - everybody knows they're there.

My verdict? Listen, I still don't know what the hell a "nu-metal" is (Sounds like some kinda modern art garbage to me), but these Kittie girls? They remind me of my late wife - small, sweet-looking, but don't cross them or they'll tear your throat out.
Four cannoli out of five. Would recommend to anyone who needs music for, intimidation purposes.

So, picture this: it’s half nine on a Thursday night, rain coming down in that relentless sideways way it does when the gods are taking the piss, and I’m parked outside some cul-de-sac in Leith, trying to wrestle a busted washing machine out the back of the van. My hands are numb, my back’s a write-off, and I’ve got Classic Rock Radio spitting adverts for stairlifts and Viagra when my phone buzzes.

It's my mate Gary — the guy who thinks that doom metal is a school subject that you can learn at school — and he tells me (I say tell, when Gary tells you something, it’s basically a demand), "Stick on the new FRAYLE, mate. It'll shift the weather in your head." So I did. And he was right.

The second "Heretics & Lullabies" starts, and the world crawls along. "Walking Wounded" starts — heavy crawling guitars like a motor warming up in a cemetery. Gwyn Strang's vocals don't sing; they haunt. They wriggle beneath your skin and nestle near your ribcage. The harmonies enfold one another like smoke, and the entire thing seems too delicate to be, but heavy enough to break asphalt.

"Summertime Sadness" — may well be a LANA DEL REY cover song, but they’ve turned it into some velvet-trimmed funeral dirge. It's the tune that makes you think of all the awful things you did when you were in love, but you want to hit replay so you can relive it anyway.

And then "Boo" hits. Like they opened the doors on the van and let the ghosts out to dance. The riffs sway, the vocals drift and break down, and there's this odd, sensual pull at it all — like listening to terror sing sweet nothings.

Later on the album, FRAYLE start to really experiment. "Demons" has this creeping sense of horror that makes you remember doom is not necessarily about velocity — it's about heft. And "Souvenirs Of Your Betrayal"? That's a tear-fest. That's heartbreak concretized, a glacial autopsy of trust with a distortion pedal thrumming in the distance. Gwyn's vocals here are blade and cut.

“Glass Blown Heart” does what it says on the tin — fragile but deadly sharp. The mix from Aaron Chaparian deserves real credit: there’s air in the sound, but no relief. Everything feels close, too close, like you’re locked in a room with the band as the amps hum and breathe around you.

By the final song, "Hymn For The Living", it's pure transcendence. Doom metal for the last mass on the last day. The smashing drums are surf on steel, and the vocals drift like incense up through stained glass. "Heretic" ties it all together — hook-prone, epic, and in-your-face. It's one standing exposed amongst the ashes and unbroken.

And "Only Just Once". The ballad. Sad, soft, heartbreaking. It's like the band are leading your hand out with the lights fading. You feel each straw of fatigue, each rasp, each drizzle of disillusion. When it is finished, there is this silence that has been well-won — like you've witnessed something you shouldn't have witnessed, but you're glad you've done so, anyway.

FRAYLE are not some doom band. They've built a cathedral out of distortion, misery, and desire — and managed to set it alight. "Heretics & Lullabies" is simultaneously old and new, sadistic and calming. It's their best, and come on. It's got to be a contender for album of the year.

A solid 9.5/10, bordering on a spiritual experience if you’ve ever worked night shifts, lost something precious, or just needed a reason to keep the van engine running while the world falls apart outside. In another life, I might be a roadie and not a man in a van, but now, halted on the edge of town, with FRAYLE drifting through the speakers and rain tapering off, I reckon that's alright. Words: Matt Denny.

Woke up this morning, made myself a cup of coffee, and began checking emails... where I found the upcoming TESTAMENT album, "Para Bellum". I immediately unzipped it, pushed play, and was blown away by the extreme power of the first track, "For The Love Of Pain", which may as well be Extreme Metal with Thrash leanings. If the rest of the album is this good, then Testament just put themselves at the tippy top of the Thrash Metal pile. 

The album title was taken from the Latin phrase “Si vis pacem, para bellum”, which translates to “If you want peace, prepare for war”. So if you're going to war, maybe use "Para Bellum" as your soundtrack. [Editor: Let's not encourage war perhaps, David Draiman got justifiably rinsed for personally signing missiles]. After about 2 weeks of steady listening, "Para Bellum" comes across as a heavy AOTY contender for me, and I feel that many others will have similar thoughts on it. 

Chuck sounds so fucking good, like, did this dude even age at all? Even at 63 years old, he attacks the mic like it owes him money, a lot of money, and in the process he sounds hungry for more. This album feels like it has the late 80s/early 90s vocals but with the intensity that Chuck displayed on albums like "Low" and "Demonic". There's times when he's bordering on Black Metal, especially on the first track, which we're gonna talk about soon. 

Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick, do I even need to elaborate further? These two are icons of Thrash Metal guitar playing, and they have done nothing but get better over the years, culminating in this, their most brutal album in years! The riffs are brutal, the leads are memorable and melodic, and all the pieces fit together tightly. 

The bass playing of Steve DiGiorio is what it always is... out-fucking-standing!!! As a bassist myself, I always pay attention to what he's doing, because he's an immensely skilled bassist, no matter how many strings are on it. His playing with DEATH opened me up to the fact that Metal can be played on a fretless bass, a trick that many now apply, but no one does it like Steve does it. He's your favourite bassists favourite bassist, and nails it every fucking time. 

Then we have Chris Dovas on drums, and he's equally as incredible a player. With him onboard, this band is firing on all cylinders. Chris has touches of Louie Clemente, Dave Lombardo, and Gene Hoglan, yet attacks these songs with his own style and sound.

Now we're gonna jump right in and talk about the standout tracks on "Para Bellum"!!

"For The Love Of Pain” is my #1 pick in this record, and a perfect one to begin the record. It starts off with a quick drum piece that gives us a taste of what Chris can do, and what he does gives off a bit of a vibe that could be lightly compared to JUDAS PRIEST’s “Painkiller”. This all happens before the guitars kick in, but when they do, all bets are off because you're about to experience the magic that is Testament. This track is very heavy, the guitars are at Mach-speed in certain sections, and in others they're some of the best Thrash riffs that I've heard in recent times. However, for me personally, it's Chuck's vocals that are the highlight of this tune, and it's truly mind-blowing that he can still be this heavy in his early 60s.

One of my top 3 tracks is, ironically, the 3rd one on "Para Bellum". “Shadow People” is a lesson in Thrash mastery, with all of the hallmarks of old school Testament, and an excellent use of, dare I say it, melody, a word that can sometimes persuade hardcore headbangers to run in the opposite direction. But don't you do it, otherwise you'll be missing out on an incredibly good song. 

“Meant To Be” comes to the delight of many of us life-long Testament fans, as its inclusion is the first time they've done a “ballad” in many years. It's also a lesson in diversity, as it encompasses all of the different facets of their earlier ballads, think of their song “Return To Serenity” as a reference for that statement. The entire song is truly incredible to me, so make sure you don't skip it as you check out this record. 

“I love how the song takes off at the end and just doesn’t look back”, explains Peterson. “It's different, but it fits. It’s like a breath of fresh air". This also marks another novel moment for the band using true, orchestrated strings performed by world renowned cellist Dave Eggar.

“Witch Hunt” kicks off with a fast guitar part, one that borders on Death or even Extreme Metal, but once that ends, we get a riff that sounds like it would have fit right in on their album "Low", which, if you haven't heard it, is a must hear release. They had James Murphy on guitar for it, and if you know anything about Metal music, then you know his name. This song is another example of Testament reaching into their past for inspiration, yet fully committing to their present day sound, which produces wonderful results. 

“Room 117” is another one that's in my Top 3. This is mainly due to how infectious the riffs are, seriously, I challenge you to not move during this one … you won't be able to sit still though, so get ready for a sore neck. The verses and the chorus are insanely catchy, but it's the section that starts off with the lyrics, “I'm feeling lonely, I'm feeling helpless” that is my favourite part of this track. I loved that the guitars started the melody by employing a Thrashy riff that ended up following the vocal melody perfectly. It's heavy, catchy, and will stick in your head for hours after listening.

Chuck recently told "The Metal Voice"…

“I’m just happy and looking forward to the fans to listen to it, check it out because to me, this record sounds current...” he said. “It sounds modern. It doesn’t sound like a band that’s been 40 years around rehashing the same riffs, going through the same motion, taking the easy route out.”

He's right, because this record is straight fire from start to finish, no filler tracks, no weak anything. So get ready to snap your necks while headbanging violently to "Para Bellum", out via NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS on October 10th, 2025.

Score: 8/10 - Words: Tom Hanno.

"Chameleon", the long-overdue monument to TOYAH, Britain's patron saint of DayGlo war-paint, anarchist jazz hands, and gloriously over-the-top posturing. A box set so brazen it tries to condense 45 years of musical shapeshifting into one package, and challenges you to take it seriously in the process.

Across three discs, a Blu-Ray, and a veneer of promotional gloss that could laminate a small country, "Chameleon" will stop at nothing to make the point that Toyah is not so much a pop star as a walking, wailing work of art with a back catalogue that won't lie down or go quietly.

​They start with the singles. Even the strangest monsters must get to unleash their courtship calls. "I Want To Be Free", "It's A Mystery", "Thunder In The Mountains", records suspended in a hairspray capsule since 1981. They glitter, they thunder, they shriek their eye-lined facts across the decades, still somehow broadcasting from some dystopian panto somewhere nearby.

CD2 is where things get deep. The solo years/The Fripp experiments. Songs that sound like KATE BUSH took a side-street and wound up in a cyberpunk squat. A mood-whiplash experience: lust, terror, cosmic navel-gazing, and something very like spoken-word therapy over a Yamaha keyboard in agitated distress.

And then, of course, CD3, the "rarities and collaborations", or the aural equivalent of digging around your strange aunties attic and finding a VHS labelled FOR THE COUNCIL OF THE FUTURE. There’s a track recorded with Blood Donor (mercifully not as gory as it sounds), some Fripp-y ephemera that wheezes like sentient steam, and a track from a radio drama called "Children Of The Circus", which frankly raises more questions than I’m equipped to answer. By the time "Blue Pearl" whirls around, you’re not sure if Toyah’s an artist or a portal to a parallel dimension powered by shoulder pads and existential dread.
The Blu-Ray has 12 promo clips posing the question, "What if Ziggy Stardust was trapped in a BBC broom cupboard with a fog machine and just, leaned in?" There is also a newly edited version of "Brave New World", to remind us that Toyah's type of madness is, 100% organic.

And don't miss the sprawling 48-page book: half-archive, half-scrapbook, half-mad fantasy. It's punctuated by quotes from Shirley Manson (GARBAGE) and Saffron (REPUBLICA), who do their best to elaborate on Toyah's impact in straight human language. It's a glossy hymn to the woman who brought eccentricity into fashion and each gig look like some kind of celestial catwalk with the occasional electrical hiccup.

"Chameleon" does exactly what it says on the tin: it morphs, it scorches, it bewilders. It's a third act revisited, a rebirth, and a rebellion all in one. And like Toyah herself, it won't remain still and quiet, even though the box it comes in is devoid of embossed letters (cowards).

​Recommended for: eyeliner enthusiasts, time travel buffs, and the sound of post-punk fairies banging pots and pans in a glittering apocalypse. Words: Matt Denny.

The new VICIOUS RUMOURS offering has struck me in the same way as that one night in Tunbridge Wells, where I Woke up in a stranger’s bed, wearing one sock and a scratch on my neck I couldn’t explain. I didn’t plan it. I don’t even think I enjoyed it. But it had me grinning like an idiot the whole drive home, bruises and all. But, I digress...

For forty-six years they’ve been out there, dragging their gear from stage to stage, sweating on the faithful, building the kind of stamina you don’t get from going easy. You hear it in the opening minutes and it felt as if I still had that cheeky finger in my prison wallet from THAT night.

Geoff Thorpe’s guitar playing makes every riff feels like it’s got one hand on your hip, steering you somewhere you’ve never been. The new guy, Chalice has a voice that, by the time you realize what’s happening, you’re in it, and you’re not leaving.

Denver Cooper, that bastard could out play Beelzebub’s cock. The solos burn hot, curl into the air, and hang there long enough to make you squirm. The rhythm section Larry Howe and Robin Utbult keep things as tight as gnats vajayjay.

“Bloodbath” doesn’t waste time. It’s a slap, a bite, and a laugh in your face all at once. “Dogs Of War” is pure midnight mischief — the kind of track you put on when you know you’re not going to sleep until the sun’s up. “Crack The Sky In Half” is the song that convinces you to stay the night, even though you know you’ll regret it.

“The Devil's Asylum” is the moment right before you cross the line. You can still turn around, but you won’t. Every note’s a shove in the small of your back, daring you to step over.

They recorded this whole thing in a few weeks, and it’s got that fresh, dangerous heat of something that hasn’t cooled down yet and has no safe words.

If you’ve ever found yourself in the middle of something filthy and thought, oh God, I shouldn’t be here, but stayed anyway, you’re going to like this album.

​This album is worthy of going full on D.V.D.A. [Editor: Matt, I had to Google that and have questions...]

Words: Matt Denny.

There comes a time when we must pause and honour not only the mountaintop triumphs, but every bit of the journey in between. "Watching The Sky", is a four-disc tribute to THE BANGLES, those Los Angeles daughters who would dream beyond the constrictive limits of what society would have them think was possible for women in rock and roll.

​When Susanna Hoffs and the Peterson sisters, Vicki and Debbi, first sat down together in the early 1980s, they were a part of a movement that history would name the Paisley Underground. However, they were part of something greater: a soft revolution that declared, in the gentle power of jangly guitars and breezy harmonies, that creativity is not female, that talent is not limited, and that the human spirit will always manage to sing.

In tracks such as "Getting Out Of Hand" and "Call On Me", we don't hear the state-of-the-art perfection of their subsequent commercial peak, but something more precious, the raw ambition of young performers denied a platform. These bonus cuts are a reminder that every dream first has to be dreamed in darkness before it can shine in the light.

Their inaugural record in 1984, "All Over The Place", provides the background for this collection with the visionary declaration of "Hero Takes A Fall". Here was a group that understood, maybe instinctively, that heroism does not translate to never falling but getting up every time we fall. The cross between 1960s-style melodies and power-pop sensibilities on the record yielded something new, a sound at once retro and new, familiar and dissonant.

With "Different Light" The Bangles truly arrived in their promised land. "Manic Monday", that gift of mercy from Prince himself, had been their burning bush; almost a sudden flash of divine musical intervention announcing to the world that these four women would not, could not be ignored. When they told us to "Walk Like An Egyptian", millions obeyed, dancing to a beat that transverses cultural boundaries and united people in the simple joy of music.

The use of live cuts and extended versions on these albums illuminates the extent of The Bangles' abilities. The live medley of "Walking Down Your Street" and "James" demonstrates how they can take studio productions and make them breathing, living things that reached directly into the hearts of their audience.

Their final studio album, "Everything", completes this set with the fiery passion of their enduring ballad. "Eternal Flame" wasn't merely a song, a prayer, even, a musing on love's unending power beyond the fleeting nature of all things on this planet. When Susanna Hoffs sang those words, she spoke for every heart that ever loved with all its might, ever dared to hope against hope, ever believed some things are everlasting indeed.

The wealth of this collection, with John Earls' thoughtful essay to boot, is both celebration and education. We learn of Michael Steele's addition in 1983, her career from THE RUNAWAYS to complete the classic line-up. We witness the in-fighting leading to their breakup in 1989, a reminder that even the most sing-alike voices can occasionally get out of tune.

But what most comes to the forefront in these four discs is recognition of what THE BANGLES did in their brief lifespan. In an industry that too often pushed women onto the periphery, they claimed centre stage. In a universe that demanded they sacrifice commercial success or artistic integrity, they made such choices appear false dilemmas.

The B-sides and oddities scattered about on these discs, “What I Meant To Say", the transcendent dub version of "Hazy Shade Of Winter", remind us that art must be allowed beyond the confines of radio-friendly constructions. The Bangles understood that every song, whether destined for the charts or consigned as a bonus track, held within it the seed of human expression.

As I reflect on this record, I am reminded that action in any field, civil rights, music, human evolution, occurs not due to sweeping action, but due to the cumulative strength of individual acts of courage. Each time The Bangles took the stage, each time they harmonized together with each other in that perfect harmony, each time they defied being belittled by an industry that discounted their efforts, they rang a bell for justice and equality that still rings.

"Watching The Sky" is more than a box set, it is a document of dreams realized, of extended vacations taken, of harmony achieved both musically and socially. By keeping these recordings alive for centuries to come, we ensure that the fire The Bangles lit will continue to burn, inspiring new dreamers to pick up their instruments and add their voices to the great chorus of human expression.

The reach of music history is great, but it curves toward justice. The Bangles helped warp it, one flawless harmony at a time. This anthology is tribute and invitation alike, a remembering of what was done and an incitement to artists yet to come to keep coming, to keep singing, to keep singing about how beauty can move us, how love can overcome even the most deeply rooted of divisions.

Finally, The Bangles didn't merely gaze upward into the sky, instead, they reached up, grasped it in their hands, and sent us all a piece of heaven. This box set ensures their place in history will never dwindle, a beacon for all bold enough to imagine a world in which music knows no bounds and genius has no limits.

Score 9/10. Not in deficiency, but in reverence. For even the flame that burns eternal leaves room for the sky above it. And the sky, is vast. Words: Matt Denny.

She looks like the person who slept at Comic Con and woke up in a bondage shop, and her new album "Encores" is even more bizarre. Imagine classical music shoved headfirst into a shredder of industrial depravity.

She's fast, yes, but it's speed with a dash of fear added. There is art in her fingers, she'd probably be able to restring a violin balancing scalpels, but the result is this blur wherein Paganini's spirit is chuckling or suing. Half the time I'm not even certain if I'm astonished or just sick.

Thirty songs. Thirty-six minutes. "Encores" is not an album in the traditional sense. It's a seizure. This is...for whatever reason...THE GREAT KAT...

"Paganini’s Caprice No. 9": She murders Paganini so fast, he skipped rolling in his grave and went straight to pole-dancing on it. "Sarasate’s Malaguena": A Spanish dance, now performed by someone who sounds like they’ve never even danced socially. Or had friends.

"Leather Britches Guitar": This sounds more like pleather pants rubbing up against one another as someone cries in a Hot Topic dressing room and less like leather britches. "Santa Lucia Guitar": What is more cliché for the tearful Italian serenade than a woman crying over the violin as if screaming for help from the back of a speeding car.

"Cumberland Gap Guitar": – A folk tune. And nothing captures the spirit of Appalachian mountain folk like a Juilliard grad in fishnets screaming at ghosts. "Pizzazz": The only thing this track pizzazzes is my migraine.

"Paganini’s Caprice No. 14":  At this point, Kat isn’t covering Paganini, she’s just speed-dating his corpse. "Pizzicato by Delibes": Delibes wrote this to sound light and cheerful. Kat plays it like she's auditioning for the slasher film with a busted lawnmower.

"Joplin's The Entertainer": Consider a stripper emerging to this, but she trips immediately, breaks her teeth, and keeps dancing. "Minute Waltz": Chopin wrote it to be performed in a minute. Kat finishes it before you can say, "This was a mistake."

"Shredssissimo":  Not a word, not a style, but a cry for help. "Nessun Dorma": Puccini's master aria of victory. Kat brings it down to the whine of a dying microwave.

"Dixie": She dares to play "Dixie." Considering this album already has enough sins against humanity. "The Flight of the Bumblebee": – Rimsky-Korsakov gave us buzzing chaos. Kat gives us a wasp sting inside your ear canal.

"Blue Danube Waltz": Strauss wanted waltzing elegance. Kat delivers the soundtrack to a drunk uncle vomiting into a wedding cake. "Caprice No. 24": Paganini’s most famous piece. Kat treats it like an ex-boyfriend she found on Tinder: fast, messy, and ultimately regrettable.

By the end, I wasn’t clapping “Encore". I was calling the emergency services.

Score: Paganini’s ghost just called. He wants his dignity back. Words: Matt Denny.

SUN DON'T SHINE has a new EP being dispatched by CORPSE PAINT RECORDS called "Coming Down", and my copy just showed up a few days ago. If you don't know who this band is, then may I suggest that you keep reading to find out? You'll stay? EXCEPTIONAL NEWS! Let's forget ahead then, shall we?

Sun Don't Shine started life as EYE AM, and is composed of Kenny Hickey, (Who you'll know from TYPE-O-NEGATIVE and SILVERTOMB), and he will be supplying vocals and guitars. Kirk Windstein of CROWBAR and the Stoner Metal supergroup known as DOWN will be doing the same. Then we have the one and only Johnny Kelly of Type-O-Negative, Silvertomb, PATRIARCHS IN BLACK, etc on Drums, and Todd Strange from Crowbar / Down laying down what James Hetfield once called “The four string mother fucker”.

These guys all have excellent resumés, right? With that fact firmly in mind, you are already aware that these musicians are going to deliver upon the promise that their careers imply. "Coming Down" has a total of four tracks, which is far too short in my opinion, but let's talk about each of them now.

1. “Coming Down” was the first and only track that I had heard before pre-ordering this black splatter on clear vinyl, limited to 100 copies. What I love about this one is that you can hear their other projects in it, which is solely due to the fact that these guys have a certain identity within their playing styles. There's a strong melody that flows throughout, and the vocal performances are outstanding as well. I was aware that Kenny could sing, but he exceeded my expectations with his performances across all four tracks. However, it's the guitar work that grabs me the most, with killer riffs and well written leads that are memorable and powerful. I also love the way the riffs and the vocals compliment each other. About 3 minutes in I picked up a PALLBEARER vibe, which is another band that I highly suggest to everyone with working ears. 

2. “Dreams Always Die With The Sun” is an excellent track, full of melody and Kenny's incredible vocal approach, which adds an almost ethereal and atmospheric quality to the proceedings. There's a riff that leads into the chorus that is reminiscent of Type-O-Negative, but on subsequent listens I have found that there's a massive "Odd Fellows Rest"-era Crowbar sound to it as well. I'm just noticing it, but Kirk is putting in a great backing vocal in the chorus. I didn't catch that it was him at first, because I expected to hear his raspy, Crowbar voice, but he's sounding phenomenal right here nonetheless; the way that they trade off singing the song title is the icing on an already delicious musical cake. 

3. “The Promise Song” kicks off with a bouncing and energetic riff that is super cool. When the vocals kick in, I started thinking that this song has a Chris Cornell and SOUNDGARDEN vibe. The track shifts and takes on a different feel, yet that Soundgarden sound persists and I'm totally here for it. The band is still able to keep their uniqueness, and I'm telling you what, this is one hell of a track. Again, the guitars and the lead breaks are perfectly executed and fit the overall tone very well.

4. “Cryptomnesia” is the last track, yet it is on par with the others in terms of song-writing, performances, and retaining their sound. Kenny and Kirk do some vocal back and forth that I found extremely enjoyable; I'm so impressed in how their voices compliment each other. The acoustic bit at the end reminded me of DAVID BOWIE, which was a huge, but really cool surprise. When the needle lifted at the end of this song, I knew that I'd be starting the record over several times. A fact that has carried on for several days at this point. 

If you hadn't noticed, I haven't brought up the drums and bass guitar much, but don't let that fool you into thinking that they aren't worth mentioning. Johnny is one of the most solid drummers out there, and he adds fills and flourishes where they're needed, putting out a performance that is exactly what these songs need. 

Lastly, we have the powerful and tasteful playing of Todd Strange. His bass tone is enormous yet not overpowering, and the notes that he chooses to play are interesting and support what birth the drums and the guitars are doing. There's so many spots where my bass player brain just melts and thinks about how fantastic what he's doing is. 

In closing, none of these tracks are carbon copies of their other bands, with this, and all of these tracks having their own identity, creating a new brand so to speak. It's crazy to me that I'm having a hard time picking a favourite track, but if forced to do so, I would go with “Dreams Always Die With The Sun”, there's just something extra special about that one that really stuck with me.

So go to YouTube, or wherever you listen to music and stream the tracks. Or, and even better yet, lay some money down on the vinyl if you can, then kick back and let these stellar songs work their way into your subconscious.

10 Out Of Mother Fucking 10! Words: Tom Hanno.

Death rattles aren't practiced this close to the actual thing. KALAMITY KILLS' self-titled reprimands its own arrival. Veins push against skin, teeth grind, it flails across broken stone, like a revenant too arrogant to perish before the gates of the cemetery. Its coming is dark. Beauty is absent, no comforting aroma of perspiration, but rather the unmistakable odour of rot. This is an involuntary reaction to your own death, and knowing our final destination is eternally dust.

"Anthem" is stripped bare less as a song and more as the closing grip of strangulation. Luzier's drums are crushing, like dirt on a coffin; each strike a second you can't get away from. The album is a procession of anguish. "Dearest Enemy (Pressure)" is venomous to the point of choking rather than strangled. "Dark Secrets" seeps into your core, gorging on grief which no shepherd can brush away. Guitars go awry, their shrieks falling into white sound. "Burn" rages like a funeral pyre, and the GPS matter-of-factly tells you to remain in the fire, since rescue is not possible, and rerouting is not an option.

"What's On Your Mind? (Pure Energy)" sheds the shallow smile to expose gnarled teeth. Kiarely Castillo warbles in zombie-like cadaverous voices, distorting nostalgia into something feral and unyielding, with memory rotting like rusty highway signs buried under a shroud of obscurity.

"Hellfire Honey" wields irony as dagger in the teeth, slaying belief and defying altars, brick by rotted brick. "Sinners Welcome" continues to drive the nails of the coffin deeper, until there are nothing but splinters.

"I Still Believe" emerged from a superficial grave, plodding under an indifferent sky. [Editor: My bias towards 'The Lost Boys' dictates that this song slaps. TIM CAPELLO! you sexy saxophone wielding warrior of wank-banks!] The final "Amen" breathes like a dying star, and silently devours everything. The GPS utters the self-evident truth

Kalamity Kills haven’t merely produced an album, it’s a voice defiantly screaming into the void, fully aware the void won’t respond. It leaves deliberate scars, deep reminders of our own insignificance. By the end, you’re left tasting eternity's bitter flavour: small, inconsequential, and already forgotten.

Final Score: 8/10. Not by fault, there aren't many that are worth mentioning, but because numbers don't mean anything, like mileposts on an endless desert. Words: Matt Denny.

"On May 1st...I thought that was IT...I was at PEACE with this being my last show. But little did I know...when I got into that room with the guys, everything changed. It wasn't just about saying goodbye; it was about being reborn with music. And, we had two rehearsals, and the show...and from the moment we started playing music together, I realised this was just the BEGINNING. How to disappear, and never be found? That's a great question...let's find out..." - NIKKI SMASH

The very first aspect that draws your attention when you experience "The Art Of Disconnect" is not the music itself, but rather the overwhelming presence of the crime scene surrounding it. This scene is as unyielding and raw as a live performance can possibly become. You find yourself confronted with a stage marked by bootleg stains, suggesting a chaotic past, with the lighting intentionally dimmed to levels reminiscent of those found in an interrogation room, creating a chilling atmosphere.
The band's name looms in the air like an unsettling admonishment, echoing the title of a missing persons alert for Madeline McCann: HOW TO DISAPPEAR AND NEVER BE FOUND. It's absolutely crucial to understand that this is beyond a mere confession; rather, it works as a highly powerful testimonial that counts.
Listening to this live album is like flipping through case files past midnight, every song another recorded interview, another blacked-out paragraph, another witness who claims to have seen but can't quite get it right.
It commences with a composition entitled "Enthusiasm And Fumes", which possesses an energy and presence that could almost be mistaken for an alibi—it's subdued, assured, and has an aura that seems almost rehearsed. The lines on guitar charge forward, reminiscent of suspect testimony that can't quite be trusted, while vocals envelop you in a way reminiscent of how a cloud of cigarette smoke suffuses a room when you have that uncomfortable sensation that the detective is openly lying through his teeth. By the point that the band runs through the song "Blueprint For A Breakdown", a malevolent chill has permeated.
Within the context of their creative world, the theme of disappearance manifests itself as both a profound tragedy and a grotesquely twisted form of artistic expression. And that's where The Art Of Disconnect's brilliant trick lies: it's not a concert that you listen to; rather, it plays out like a procedural thriller. You don't applaud between numbers in appreciation but painstakingly keep notes in the margins of your mind, circling particular words and phrases that could potentially have a deeper relationship.
With this novel event, the audience become the jury while the band become suspects. And then there are the songs, the evidence in this complex trial. Some numbers clearly have a guilty appearance while some could provide a reprieve; but both of these remain bathed in an insurmountable level of doubt and uncertainty.
By the closer “Deadhead”, you realise the title was never about stagecraft at all. It was a manifesto. To disappear and never be found isn’t just the band’s name, it’s their verdict.
If NIKKI SMASH hadn't been intercepted in the act of making his audio or video recording of his last crime, then he most likely would have gone completely out of sight and would have never been discovered or found again.

When the gavel finally came down, the number written on the record was 8.5 out of 10. Not justice. Not closure. Just a verdict that feels temporary, like any good mystery, one that's infuriating in all the right, terrible ways. Words: Matt Denny.

"The Art Of Disconnect" Is Available Digitally October 24th. Physical Pre-Orders Open Now.

LIVING COLOUR’s guitar virtuoso VERNON REID launches his fourth solo album "Hoodoo Telemetry". [Editor: Cold open much!] This record feels less like an album and more of a public execution of anyone foolish enough to think they can play guitar. I put it on, and suddenly every clumsy note I’ve ever hit comes rushing back, mocking me, so I launched my guitar at the wall.

"Door Of No Return" sets the tone immediately. There’s no warm-up, no mercy. Vernon cuts straight into the strings, leaving scorch marks across the air. He isn’t playing; he’s dismantling, and MY guitar is now dismantled courtesy of the wall.

Then comes "The Haunting". The title is too neat, but the music earns it. The track breathes in smoke and exhales fire. Every note carries memory and menace. I can’t turn it off, though it makes me want to set fire to my own, now fully shattered guitar and walk away.

"Bronx Paradox" is chaos held together by sheer willpower. Brass stabs, glitching rhythms, guitars carving through the mess, it shouldn’t work, but he bends it into shape. Meanwhile, I’m stuck wrestling an instrument that refuses to obey me.

By "Black Fathom Five", the bitterness has taken over. It’s heavy, drowning and it’s smothering. Vernon yet again absorbs his guitar until you can’t tell where one ends and the other begins. I’ve never managed anything close.

"Hoodoo Telemetry" doesn’t offer comfort or answers. It just offers a mirror, and for me, that reflection is ugly and shows an obsession with a craft I can’t master, sharpened by the sound of someone who already has.

There’s no point giving it a number. This isn’t a scorecard. It’s a reminder that Vernon Reid is untouchable. I’m still staring at the embers of my own guitar in the fire.

Vernon has stated that this album’s "Like a piece of my all-over-the-place mind". That’s one fucked up mind and a stupidly talented one at that. 

Words: Matt Denny. 

Well tickle my prostate and light the fuse, "Some Kind of Alchemy" isn’t just a reunion. Sure, if your idea of reunion involves chainsaws and parole violations; OTHERWISE didn't come back, they came back with a crowbar and a grin that'd make a mortician nervous..

I’m not here to hold your dainty little hands mouth breathers, or wax poetic about "Emotional journeys" and all that daytime TV horseshit. I’m not your therapist, and I certainly won’t explain the emotional depth of this music as if it’s some college dissertation.

This EP was fermented in a Nevada back alley with blood, sweat, bourbon, and a dash of righteous indignation. If you want subtlety? Go read a Hallmark card. This is six songs of gasoline and a match. And it's got me strutting around in circles, throwing confetti and middle fingers.

"Some Kind of Alchemy" starts off with an intro that gives you that greasy, bone-deep chill, like you just walked into a war-zone wearing a clown nose. It's raw, it's sharp, and it smells of napalm and cheap aftershave.

They've dragged original drummer Dave McMahan back into the fold like a long-lost cousin from the wrong side of the apocalypse, and it shows. There's this primal stomp to the whole EP, or just a biker gang doing tribal rituals behind a strip mall. You choose

The choruses are big enough to swallow a tour bus. Adrian Patrick belts every word like it might be his last breath before the gas ignites. And his brother Ryan’s guitar is the sound of desert ghosts whispering through the amps. If you’re still blinking,  congratulations, you’re probably not devoid of breath just yet.

Speaking of alchemy, this thing is a transmutation. It's pain into power. Trauma into triumph. A pair of Vegas-born brothers who’ve been chewed up by the industry and spit back out with gold records and gritted teeth, now digging their heels into the dirt and screaming, “Try again, motherfucker!”

If you want something slick, polished, or safe, go find a STEREOPHONICS CD and cry into your pumpkin latte. But if you're looking for blood-soaked riffs, battle-scarred vocals, and a band that’ll grind your bones into confetti, Some Kind of Alchemy is the sermon you’ve been waiting on.

This is family-hating, cop-baiting, drive-faster music and it sounds just like your ex lighting a cigarette off your burning house.

​Score: 8/10 Barbequed road kills not so fresh off of Route 95... Words: Matt Denny.

"It Can’t Rain All The Time" (especially in Scotland) is a title wrapped in an enigma,  trapped in a rumour and sealed by a whisper.

SILVER DOLLAR ROOM haven’t made an easy listen. They’ve built a shrine out of damp stone and broken glass, then dared you to kneel on it. Every track hurts, and that’s the point. This isn’t comfort—it’s a reminder that the rain never really stops. Subjects such as male suicide, destructive relationships, class divide, addiction, poverty, wealth, and greed make this a record that’s lyrically jarring but delivered in RADIOHEAD, SMASHING PUMPKINS, MANIC STREET PREACHERS, and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS type fuzz.

At the heart of the album is "Monsters". This track tackles the harsh reality of the Rochdale Scandal in which calling schoolgirls liars was easier than doing actual police work.

John Keenan’s tearing his throat raw spitting venom at the filth who let Rochdale burn. Every riff’s another brick lobbed through their office windows, every drum hit’s another skull cracked against the kerb. FUCK THEIR EXCUSES, FUCK THEIR FAKE APOLOGIES!. It’s a boot in the teeth of authority, screaming YOU KNEW, AND YOU DID FUCK ALL!
You don’t listen to this album, you survive it. You crawl from underneath it bruised, bleeding, but laughing because at least someone’s still got the balls to scream while the rest of the world nods off. SILVER DOLLAR ROOM aren’t here to be liked, they’re here to haunt you. "It Can’t Rain All The Time" is the sound of the storm breaking your windows in, and if you’re not soaked and shivering by the end, you weren’t listening.

Score: [7.5] — Louder than the lies, but not yet loud enough to bury them... Words: Matt Denny.

The album "It Can't Rain All The Time" is released independently on September 13th