Seven albums in two years, all funded by his fans. Is Ginger Wildheart an example of the future of the music industry? I don’t know, but I’m definitely not complaining about it. Those of us who are on the wagon have already got our hands on the most recent Pledge funded Ginger album, Albion, which see’s him returning to the studio with the band he has been touring with for the last few years.
Killswitch Engage and Trivium w/ Miss May I and Battlecross at the O2 Academy Glasgow, 4/2/2014
Package tours are becoming more and more common, but few this year are likely to elicit the response that the announcement of Trivium and Killswitch Engage taking to the road together did. These two metal titans have been on redemptive paths in the last few years. Killswitch reuniting with Jesse Leach and remembering how to kick ass (although I was actually a Howard fan) and Trivium slowly rebuilding their damaged reputation and fighting back up to the top of the metal ladder (which they should have been on top of a long time ago.)
Against Me – Transgender Dysphoria Blues
“No more troubled sleep, there’s a brave new world raging inside of me.” Sometimes music transcends it’s genre. It becomes a hell of a lot more important than words on a lyric sheet or notes in a song. I think it’s fair to say that the latest Against Me album Transgender Dysphoria Blues could be placed into that category. Telling the story of a women trapped inside the body of a man it follows lead singer Laura Jane Grace’s decision to come out as a transgender woman, it is a piece of music that tells much more than just the story hidden away within the songs.
Skindred w/ SOiL and Viza. 27th January 2014 at Glasgow O2 ABC.
The fact that Skindred aren’t the biggest band in the world right now is a tragedy. However, it is reassuring to look out over the Glasgow ABC and see that while it isn’t sold out, they have pulled one of the biggest crowds I’ve seen them play to outside of festival bills. Maybe the message is finally getting out there about these incredible performers.
Continue reading “Skindred w/ SOiL and Viza. 27th January 2014 at Glasgow O2 ABC.”
Victorian Trout Conspiracy Interview
This article originally appeared in today’s Daily Record (22/1/2014) however was slightly cut so I figured I’d post the whole thing up here for anyone who was interested. Enjoy!
The Breadalbane Arms in Aberfeldy has probably not played home to too many great musical moments. However, for Edinburgh based ska band Victorian Trout Conspiracy it will live in their memories as the place they were joined on stage by Brit award winning singer songwriter Ed Sheeran.
Bruce Springsteen – High Hopes
Bruce Springsteen is a man who should need no introduction, back with his eighteenth studio album High Hopes The Boss has taken the unusual decision of forgoing the normal writing process and instead releasing a selection of reworked tracks and some covers. He’s joined, as usual, by The E Street Band but also be a few new additions including one Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine) who has been playing with the great man live.
Skull Fist – Chasing the Dream
If you call your band Skull Fist you should really have a certain obligation towards your audience. That band needs to play music as ridiculously brutal as the name, but with just that touch of cheese. It’s a name that shouldn’t take itself too seriously, sadly Chasing The Dream fails to hit those goals.
Bastions – Bedfellows: The Bastard Son
British hardcore gang Bastions are two albums into their career and appear to provide something different from the gang of Gallows inspired bands currently on the market. Rather than being obsessed with being fast and brutal, this is a group that infuse their hardcore with emotion, in a style that is very similar to the likes of Touche Amore (although featuring less melody) and Converge. Their latest release is an EP by the name of Bedfellows: The Bastard Son.
Download Announcement… I’ve lost count on how many it is.
As I’m an equal opportunities festival man, I shall be continuing to talk about the Download line-up. It’s currently much more fleshed out than the Soni line-up and yesterday we got a nice bumper batch of bands to add to an already very strong group, even if I still think the headliners are pretty weak. So here’s my round up of what I think.
Continue reading “Download Announcement… I’ve lost count on how many it is.”
Dripback – Inhaling the Ashes
Opening by roaring “come on you cunts” is a great way to get anyone’s attention, following that up with a collection of six angry angry songs is a good way to make sure people stick around . That’s exactly what Dripback do on their EP, Inhaling the Ashes.
Ramblings About Wrestling 