Live Review : Malevolence + Pain Of Truth + Rough Justice @ O2 Academy, Liverpool on February 12th 2024

Despite releasing their debut album, “Reign of Suffering”, almost 11 years ago, Malevolence have been on something of a meteoric rise over the past couple of years. I was first made aware of them during the 2021 Download Pilot event, in which they were positioned as one of the first couple of bands on the opening day of the event. For me, this was one of those sets that go down in Download Folklore. Malevolence and their trademark dose of sheer brutality provided the perfect antidote for those 10,000 lucky souls in attendance, who had been devoid of any form of live music for the best part of 18 months.

Live Review : Dirty Honey + The Heavy North @ Academy 2, Manchester on February 8th 2024

Liverpool’s The Heavy North are a little crowded on the Academy 2 stage tonight. Squeezed in front of Dirty Honey’s drum riser, they are shoulder-to-shoulder and it’s a good job they’ve not brought any cats as there’s no space to swing them. Drums, 3 guitars, bass and keyboards make for a full sound but also a very full stage.

Live Review : Baest + Pist + Beyond Salvation @ Rebellion, Manchester on February 7th 2024

Most musical sub-genres have the lifespan of a Mayfly. They bloom and wither before the ink is even dry on the requisite hyperbole. Death metal has had a counterintuitive evolution. Born 40 years ago it completely bucks the trend by managing to go around in infinite circles of regeneration. Currently, it feels more vital and fuller of life (pun very much intended) than it ever has. Baest are one of those new generation of death metal acts who are deftly managing to remain steadfastly authentic but also bring a dimension of light and shade to the music. Basically death metal long ago stopped being an underground phenomenon and has now become one of the primary movers that are shaping modern metal.

Live Review : Evil Scarecrow + INTHEWHALE @ Rebellion,Manchester on February 3rd 2024

Within the ranks of our very particular community, Evil Scarecrow have ascended to the lofty position of national treasure. This distinctly odd and ramshackle act has not only carved out a niche in our collective hearts but they have managed to transcend genres and tribal barriers. Tonight's audience is pulled from all over metal’s multicoloured subdivisions. We stand united by one thing, a desire to dance and embrace the silliness in a world that is becoming darker by the day.

Live Review : Stone Broken + A'Priori @ The Waterloo Music Bar, Blackpool on February 1st 2024

At the start of last year, I’d never seen A’Priori play live; by the time twelve months had rolled around I had seen them numerous times, and they ended 2023 as the band I had seen the most during the year. And whether filling a support slot, appearing on a festival bill or headlining their own shows, the one thing that is blindingly clear, is that regardless of the venue or event, A’Priori are a ferociously entertaining and excitingly dynamic live proposition. Something they proved once again tonight.

Live Review : Ginger Wildheart + Ben Marsden & Carol Hodge + Baz Francis @ The Ferret, Preston on January 27th 2024

It’s a rare hometown gig tonight as Ginger hits Preston’s The Ferret. Only the second gig reviewed by ROCKFLESH in the town in the last twelve months, with gigs on the horizon in the coming months from Fury, Spike and Acid Reign to name but a few, hopefully that trend is set to be reversed in 2024. And with a capacity of only a couple of hundred in The Ferret, the first Preston gig of the year promises to be an opportunity to witness one of the mainstays of the scene for over three decades, up close and personal.

Live Review : Bat Sabbath + Margarita Witch Cult @ Rebellion, Manchester on January 27th 2024

There are cover bands and then there is Bat Sabbath, the crazed Sabbath-obsessed alter egos of Canadian hardcore heroes Cancer Bats. Initially intended as a daft way of blowing off steam, their commemoration of the inventors of metal has morphed into its very own thing. This evening Rebellion is packed to the rafters with a mix of Cancer Bat devotees and those looking to throw themselves around stupidly to the songs that started this whole blooming endeavour.

Live Review : Buckcherry + The Treatment + Rubikon @ The Waterloo Music Bar, Blackpool on January 24th 2024

It’s January, it’s cold, it’s miserable and the temptation is to just stay indoors and hibernate. So what better way to combat those mid-winter blues than with a three band sold out rock n’ roll show?

Openers Rubikon deal in a dense, throbbing, swampy sound that certainly makes an immediate impact. Somewhat constrained by the restricted stage areas, they make the absolute most of both the time and space afforded them.

Live Review : Lawnmower Deth + Ward XVI + Solitary @ Rebellion, Manchester on December 16th 2023

And so, we descend into my final gig of the year and what a year it has been… And my life being one of extremes, I have gone from Wednesday night at WARGASM on my ownsome to being out tonight with a vast swathe of people from Primordial Radio’s #PRFam. Well, I might not be a fan of Christmas but what better way to spend the festive period than with your mates, watching live music. The place is full of Santa hats and Christmas jumpers and even I, the Grinch, put on my Millie Manders and the Shutup Christmas jumper. But I’m more enamoured by the access all areas pass I’ve been given at (that’s a first, though I did not use it to its maximum potential).

Live Review : Decapitated + Obscura + Inferi +The Materia @ Club Academy, Manchester on December 15th 2023

To the uninitiated ear all death metal must sound the same. However for connoisseurs this is a genre with a infinite multitude of different shades and textures. We have four bands on offer this evening, four bands all operating in distinctly different universes within death metal forever evolving superstructure.

Live Review : Wargasm + Dropout kings + Harpy @ O2 Ritz, Manchester on December 13th 2023

It doesn’t take too long as Harpy’s set gets underway for the whole venue to be filled with smoke and that mixed with red atmospheric lighting means it’s hard to make out what is happening on stage. What I can see is she is a girl after my own heart, absolutely rocking the long black hair, liquid eyeliner and PVC outfit. Described as industrial/ goth pop, her soaring vocals remind me a little of Cassyette with musical undertones not dissimilar to A Perfect Circle, and a strong message in songs such as ‘Swallow’, which is about turning pain into power when you suffer abuse at the hands of another.

Gig ReviewAuthor : Samantha18 December 2023O2 RitzWargasm, Dropout Kings, Harpy, O2 Ritz, Manchester, 2023, Live Review, Samantha Harwood, Darren BirchComment

Live Review : Don Broco + Trash Boat + Ocean Grove @ O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester on December 13th 2023

All the bands tonight share something in common – they are very difficult to pigeonhole. No doubt it is that eclectic nature that has led to them being found on the same bill. Headliners Don Broco have embraced that sometimes poisoned chalice of being unashamedly unique and genre non-specific, in turn they’ve risen to heights that we could only dream of when first seeing them debut their video for ‘Hold On’ on ScuzzTV over ten years ago.

Gig ReviewAuthor : Matt Fraser15 December 2023O2 WarehouseDon Broco, Trash Boat, Ocean Grove, O2 Victoria WarehouseComment

Live Review : The Darkness + Bad Nerves @ New Century Hall, Manchester on December 12th 2023

If we are honest with ourselves, the early noughties were rather a bleak and monochrome time for rock. Radiohead were being self-consciously awkward, the Strokes were plying an insipid brand of faux-rebellion that is only possible when you are the trust fund kids of Wall Street billionaires and The White Stripes were busy whitewashing the blues of all of its cultural heritage. Then into that world appeared The Darkness, a vivid Technicolor explosion in a valley of greyscale. Like all good explosions, they burnt bright and died young. A brief extravagant glimpse into a parallel dimension of lurid colour and tight spandex.

Live Review : Fit For A King + Emmure + Thrown + The Gloom In The Corner @ Club Academy, Manchester on December 11th 2023

Manchester Club Academy is already pretty damn busy as we enter the venue soon after doors for the excitingly packed bill of tonight’s Fit for a King headliner. It’s clear to see that there’s a mix of fans for all the bands tonight, even if their takes on the sub-genres target slightly different markers, and the anticipation builds and builds as we wait near the barrier for our opening act of the night.

Live Review : Urne + Mountain Caller + Tribe Of Ghosts @ Satan's Hollow, Manchester on December 10th 2023

Urne have had such an impact in the last few years, that is hard to reconcile the fact that this is their first major UK headline run. Covid (as with most things) takes a lot of the blame as their phenomenal debut "Serpent and Spirit” emerged at a time when touring wasn't really an option. This comprehensive jaunt around the aisles is nominally in support of their deeply personal (and rather cracking) sophomore effort “A Feast of Sorrow” but really, it's an opportunity for the band to prove to all and sundry that they deserve the hype that has been heaped upon them.

Live Review : Therapy? + Bokassa @ Academy 2, Manchester on December 8th 2023

Out on a Friday night? Near Christmas? Yep, but I’m not going any closer to central Manchester than Oxford Road. I’m not mad (and I don’t want to get sent to Whamhalla)! We arrive just after tonight’s support band Bokassa have walked on-stage. It is quiet, much quieter than expected, so I’m guessing everyone is still in the pub or making their way over for our headliners. I’ve heard of Bokassa but am not sure I have heard them.

Live Review : Wolfsbane + The Spangles + Spunk Volcano And The Eruptions @ Waterloo Music Bar, Blackpool on December 7th 2023

So what could drag me out on a trip to the seaside on a cold, wet filthy night? The chance to spend the evening at The Waterloo Bar in Blackpool watching the original lineup of Wolfsbane of course! These rock stalwarts are back on their Tough as Steel tour and playing at the Waterloo Bar tonight.

The first of three bands, Spunk Volcano And The Eruptions kicked off proceedings at 7.15 pm prompt. I know very little about these, as the band enters the stage with a very definite punk attitude in tow. Then emerging from stage left, the main man Spunk Volcano himself, a very tall robust imposing chap resplendent in a spiky leather jacket and balaclava with safety pins complete with an orange Mohican on the top!

Live Review : Gorgoroth + Aeternus + Impalement + Aran Angmar @ Rebellion, Manchester on December 5th 2023

We are entering an interesting timeframe where bands that we consider rebellious upstarts and proponents of new blood are now celebrating landmark anniversaries. Gorgoroth are marking 31 years of hellish existence, not bad for a band that exists primarily to stick two-fingers up at the musical mainstream. To ensure that they are not supping bloodwine alone they have brought with them an impressive 3 bands undercard.

Live Review : The Bites + Deshine @ The Jacaranda, Liverpool on December 4th 2023

I arrive at the Jacaranda in a bad mood. It’s been the day from hell at work, the weather is terrible and the last thing I feel like doing on a grim dreary Monday is heading to an unknown venue to watch an unknown band from California. However, there’s a real buzz going around about The Bites at the moment. Rumour has it that they are on the verge of being the next big thing in rock, but rumour and truth are not always perfectly synchronised. So when, a couple of days after they went down really well at Winter Rocks Festival, they came to Liverpool to play a tiny cellar venue in front of maybe 20 people I dragged myself down to watch, even if moaned about it all the way there.

Live Review: Tyketto + This House We Built @ The Waterloo Music Bar, Blackpool on December 3rd 2023

It’s very busy early doors at the Waterloo, seemingly with much of tonight’s Sold-Out crowd having already claimed a premium spot long before openers, the unusually monikered This House We Built, have played a single note. I must confess to being unfamiliar with this Yorkshire four piece before tonight’s gig, so wasn’t sure what to expect, but whatever those expectations might have been they would have been unexpectedly (and pleasantly) confounded by tonight’s performance.