Our Hollow, Our Home at The Joiners, Southampton

Support: Gone By Tomorrow, Deference, Tonight We Fall
11/02/15

Andover-based youngsters Tonight We Fall (7/10) were the first band to grace the stage, and it is safe to say that they warmed the crowd up well. Despite being ill, vocalist Sam Culverwell was able to impress the crowd with his heavy vocals and energetic stage performance. Although they are teenagers, Tonight We Fall are talented musicians who seem to improve with every performance that they do. Their confidence and ambition is almost infectious and it is clear that they already have a strong fan-base in the Hampshire area.

Deference (8/10), a Southampton-based metal band were next on the stage, and it is safe to say that they opened with a bang. Rob Lea's heavy vocals were incredible and merged well with the fast-paced guitar riffs. Once of the easiest bands to compare them to would be Architects as their musical style is very similar, which was demonstrated during their more melodic songs. Despite not having any released material yet they certainly knew how to entertain a crowd and left everyone wanting more.

The final support act was Gone By Tomorrow (6/10), a five-piece metalcore band from Southampton. With similarities to bands such as Yashin, Asking Alexandria and With One Last Breath they definitely appealed more to the younger fans in the audience. Despite being energetic and entertaining their set was much more slower-paced and gentle compared to the heavier bands on the line-up, which made some of the crowd disengage with their performance. Their mixture of screaming vocals and harmonies worked well, however, there was definitely something missing from their set.

After recently releasing their EP '//Redefine', local metalcore heroes Our Hollow, Our Home (9/10) returned to Southampton for their home show. With a crowd full of family, fans and friends, it was easy to see how popular the five-piece have become since their formation in 2013. Known locally as energetic and hard-working musicians, it is exciting to see their career progress further and their talent become recognised by record labels and publications around the world. One of the most well-received songs was 'If Those Were Guns, Reggie Be Dead', which was played twice during their set: once as a band, and once as an acoustic song for the encore. Every song that was played sounded unique and fresh, and Connor Hallisey's harsh vocals were on top form, merging well with Tobias Young's clean singing. Our Hollow, Our Home engaged well with the crowd and they even brought an inflatable boat with them (called 'H.M.S Heisenberg') for fans to crowdsurf in. It is safe to say that Our Hollow, Our Home are one of the best bands to come out of Southampton, and if you haven't listened to them yet then you are definitely missing out.

www.facebook.com/ourhollowourhome

www.facebook.com/gonebytomorrowuk

www.facebook.com/WeAreDeference

www.facebook.com/tonightwefallofficial

Neck Deep at the Electric Ballroom, Camden (06/02/2015)

Neck Deep

Support: Trophy Eyes, Seaway, Knuckle Puck
06/02/2015

Themed tours are not something that often work well, but ‘The Intercontinental Championships Tour’ worked perfectly. Four pop-punk bands from four different countries, plus hundreds of foam hands and cheesy intro music lead to a ten-date UK tour filled with happy fans and energetic musicians. 

Opening the tour for the last time were Trophy Eyes (7/10), a five-piece Australian punk band. One of the most notable aspects of their performance was their pure energy and passion: it was easy to see how excited they were to be playing on a sold-out stage at the Electric Ballroom. The venue was packed out to the brim and vocalist John knew exactly how to engage with the crowd. Their catchy riffs and hard-hitting vocals made it almost impossible to stand still during their set and they left the stage with fans eagerly awaiting more.

Canadian pop-punk five-piece Seaway (8/10) proved their brilliance before they even arrived onto stage due to their opening song ‘Blame Canada’ from comedy television show South Park. Lead singer Ryan Locke spoke about how humbled they were to play in the UK for the first time and he genuinely seemed astounded at how many people were singing his lyrics back at him. One of the songs that the crowd seemed to engage with the most was ‘Alberta’, a slow paced pop-punk song which was full of angst and well-written lyrics. they informed the audience that they were filming a music video during their set, which seemed to increase the already-full energy levels of the crowd. 

Chicago-based punk-rock five piece Knuckle Puck (7/10) were next on the bill, walking onto stage to Van Halen’s classic hit ‘Jump’. Vocalist John Siorek was full of energy as constantly jumping around the stage and encouraging fans to move along with him. Playing songs such as ‘Your Back Porch’, ‘Stuck' and ‘No Good’, they were able to keep the crowd momentum high. The mixture of screaming and melodic backing vocals worked as well live as it does on their records, creating beautiful harmonies that worked well alongside their emotion-filled lyrical style.

“We thought we would do a wrestling tour because it would be funny!” Wrexham-based pop-punk heroes Neck Deep (9/10) graced the stage for the final time of this tour, and it is safe to say that they left it with a bang. Opening with ‘Losing Teeth’ they instantly made the crowd putty in their hands: there were mosh pits taking over most of the venue. Ben Barlow’s vocals were on top form and sounded even more powerful live. The happy-go-lucky band impressed crowds with songs such as ‘Damsel In Distress’, ‘Crushing Grief (No Remedy)' and ‘Sweet Nothings’. It is easy to see just how far that Neck Deep have come in just a year: “A year ago we were playing to two hundred people at The Barfly, today we are playing to 1000 people!” Their popularity has not only been increased by social networking websites, but also the hard-work and dedication that they put into each and every live show. One of the most memorable moments of the evening was their acoustic rendition of ballad ‘A Part Of Me’, with Laura Whiteside joining Ben on stage to create a beautiful and harmony-filled performance. Despite the curfew being at 9.45pm, Neck Deep managed to play an impressive seventeen songs and left the crowd feeling satisfied and impressed by such raw and passionate music. They may call themselves generic pop-punk, but their performance was anything but ordinary. 

www.facebook.com/neckdeepuk / www.twitter.com/NeckDeepUK
www.facebook.com/KnucklePuckIL / www.twitter.com/KnucklePuckIL
www.facebook.com/seawayoakville / www.twitter.com/seawayband 

www.facebook.com/trophyeyesmusic / www.twitter.com/trophyeyesmusic 

Headstone Down, In The Absence Of Light, Nervous Endings and Spytfyre at The Firehouse 8/3/14

Southampton-based progressive rock band Spytfyre were the first band on, and they certainly did not disappoint. Instantly grabbing the crowd’s attention with their mellow yet powerful music, they were able to set a high standard of music for the other bands to compete with. Spytfyre’s live performance proved that they are an extremely versatile band: singer Peter Aubrey’s vocals worked well with both fast-paced and slower songs. Their performance of ‘Cry of the Innocent’ worked well with the tone of the concert as it related well with the charity message of the evening. Despite stepping in at the last minute, they managed to keep the crowd entertained and happy.

Hardcore/metal band Nervous Endings made a huge impact with the audience the second that they burst onto stage: their bass-heavy and fast-paced songs instantly made the crowd go crazy. Their energetic and intense performance demonstrated that metal music is still alive and kicking in the South Coast.  Performing songs such as ‘Larcenists in Authority’ and ‘No Lesser Evil’ from their recently released EP, ‘Heavyweight’, it’s easy to see why they are quickly gaining fans across the UK. They certainly made a huge impression on everyone who attended The Firehouse and it’s highly unlikely that this will be the last you hear of them.

The penultimate band, In The Absence Of Light, provided the crowd with incredibly catchy songs and heavy screaming vocals. They interacted with the crowd well, taking full advantage of the intimate venue. Forming in 2007, the Swindon-based metal band have previously toured with Malefice, Exit Ten and Trigger The Bloodshed. The fast-paced thrash-like riffs and impressive guitar solos had the crowd hanging off their every move. The amount of energy put into their live performance was easy to see, and their sound matched their efforts.

Headstone Down are one of the most exciting metal bands in the South, and their performance definitely proved this. The crowd instantly took a shine to them, starting to mosh the exact second that the heavy guitar riffs started. Lead singer Robin Evans impressed Southampton with his aggressive and hard-hitting vocals, putting pure energy into every scream and growl. Keeping with the charity vibe of the evening, they offered
to donate money to charity if a member of the audience came up on stage and head-banged with them, which they did. Headstone Down also proved their professionalism: before the last song there were some technical difficulties, and instead of an awkward silence bassist Joss played a funky bass-line to keep the crowd entertained. Despite their wild and frenzied playing style, they managed to sound both tight and well-rehearsed, proving exactly why they were chosen to headline this impressive metal-filled show.

As well as it being a fantastic evening showcasing musical talent, it was also a successful night for charity. With a staggering £305 being raised for Warchild, the proceeds of this concert will go towards transforming the lives of tens of thousands of children. Tonight was proof that metal music and concert-goers can help to change the world.

Check out Spytfyre here: https://www.facebook.com/spytfyreband 
Check out Nervous Endings here: https://www.facebook.com/NERVOUSENDINGSUK 
Check out In The Absence Of Light here: https://www.facebook.com/ITAOL 
Check out Headstone Down here: https://www.facebook.com/Headstonedown 

CeCe, Natalie Ross and Jamie Lenman at The Boileroom Guildford (Independent Venue Week) 31/1/14

Independent Venue Week is a series of concerts which bring together music fans from around the UK to celebrate unique and independent venues. When many small concert venues are at risk of closure, it’s a fantastic idea to celebrate independent venues and everything that they do for the music scene.

Nineteen-year-old CeCe was first to grace the stage at The Boileroom, silencing the crowd with her delicate and unique voice. Combined with her melodic guitar playing, she performed an intimate and intriguing set with left the audience begging for more. Her performance of ‘Little Bit Longer’ was raw and passionate,
matching the lyrics perfectly. Her cover of Chris Isaak’s ‘Wicked Game’ allowed the audience to get involved, and there is no doubt that CeCe gained many more fans tonight.

Describing her style as ‘1940s/50s inspire quirky pop’, Natalie Ross provided a set full of upbeat sing-along tracks and powerful vocals. Her charismatic interactions with the audience allowed the crowd to feel comfortable enough to sing and
dance along with the vintage-style song. ‘Holes In My Tights’ was a definite crowd-favourite and proved that there is nothing wrong with happy-go-lucky songs. Natalie’s cover of ‘Cry Me A River’ was both smooth and unique, bringing an updated sound to a classic song. If you haven’t heard any of her music before, listen to ‘Walking through the Streets of Our Love’ and you will discover how infectiously catchy her music is – you’ll be hooked!


After recently releasing his first solo album, ‘Muscle Memory’, Jamie Lenman proved tonight that he was back with a bang. He commended the first two acts, warning the audience that he only had two fun songs and that the rest are just about his feelings. Opening with ‘Shotgun House’, it was instantly obvious that even without his backing band Jamie was able to perform an unforgettable set. The crowd went crazy over recent single ‘Pretty Please’, with the audience sounding even louder than Jamie. Performing other new songs, such as ‘I Ain’t Your
Boy’ and ‘Little Lives’, he proved that his music sounds even more unique and enjoyable live. Jamie’s wife also joined him on stage, and their melodic voices harmonised perfectly together. Ending their set with a cover of ‘Jack of Diamonds’, a traditional folk song, Jamie and his wife provided the audience with an incredibly diverse and enjoyable show.

Photographs by Rob Campion Photography: https://www.facebook.com/RobCampionPhotography 
Check out CeCe here: https://www.facebook.com/CeCeMusicOfficial 
Check out Natalie Ross here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Natalie-Ross/ 
Check out Jamie Lenman here: https://www.facebook.com/jamielenman 

Our Hollow, Our Home, In Hearts Wake, Landscapes and The Amity Affliction at The Cellar Southampton 8/9/13

Southampton-based band Our Hollow, Our Home opened up the first night of this metalcore-filled tour in the United Kingdom. It’s rare that the first band on at a concert get a good reception, however, the local group managed to quickly engage the crowd with their catchy riffs and energetic stage presence. Formed in 2012 by some of the former members of Deadlines, Our Hollow, Our Home’s melodic songs make them both memorable and enjoyable to watch perform. Their most recent single ‘Rest Assured’ was well-received by the audience. Connor Hallisey’s screaming vocals sounded strong live, and mixed with Tobias Young’s harmonious backing vocals, they were able to create a sound that pleases fans all across the metalcore genre. Despite missing one of their members, guitarist Josh White, they were able to perform an unforgettable set and it’s obvious that they have got a strong Hampshire fan base. They seemed very grateful to be on the stage alongside the huge bands on the line-up and reminded the crowd to support their local scene, making them both humble and a great live band to watch.

Byron Bay in Australia seems like a hot-spot for impressive metal bands recently, as it is home to bands such as Parkway Drive and 50 Lions. Adding to the thriving metal scene there is In Hearts Wake, who formed in 2006. Opening their killer set with ‘The Unknown (Strength)’, their brutal metalcore sound made the crowd instantly descend into mosh pits and throwdown pits. Near the end of the set the spotlight and vocal duties descended onto bassist Kyle Erich for a beautifully slow rendition of ‘Inertia’, which prompted many fans to get their lighters up and sway their arms in the air. The blue stage lights added to the mellow atmosphere and despite it being very different from their usual heavy sound, it was very well-received by the audience and it proved that as musicians they are all very versatile and talented. Ending their seven song set with ‘Departure (Death)’, In Hearts Wake definitely gained many more fans during their impressive performance.

Modern hardcore punk band Landscapes kept the fast-paced vibe going with their rebellious and angst-filled songs. The Somerset-based band were full of energy and it reflected well onto the crowd. The drumming was particularly impressive and it worked extremely well with the bass-filled songs on their short but sweet set. The technical guitaring was another strong point for Landscapes, especially the catchy riffs which kept the crowd wanting more. The crowd was full of people hardcore dancing along to the rhythm of the songs and enjoying themselves listening to the original hardcore punk sound which filled the venue. The heavy vocals merged well with the strong breakdowns and the lyrics were both heart-felt and impressively performed.

Headlining band The Amity Affliction are one of the biggest Australian metalcore bands around at the moment, and their show tonight in Southampton definitely proved why. The crowd anticipation before the Brisbane-based quartet arrived on stage was almost overwhelming and they were definitely worth the wait. Opening their set with their latest single ‘Greens Avenue’, the crowd were instantly engrossed into The Amity Affliction’s stellar performance. Lead singer Joel Birch’s harsh vocals filled The Cellar perfectly. The contrast between his and bassist Ahren Stringer’s clean vocals created a perfect harmony that is only found in metalcore music.  ‘Anchors’ was definitely a crowd favourite and Ahren’s clean vocals were particularly strong during this song. During ‘I Hate Hartly’ a fan climbed on stage and screamed the vocals to the whole of the final verse, proving how much The Amity Affliction respect their fans (it also probably helped that he was really good at screaming). One of the strangest parts of the set was definitely the cover that The Amity Affliction chose to perform: ‘Born To Die’ by Lana Del Ray. Although it seems like an unlikely song for an Australian metal band to cover, surprisingly they were able to perform it with ease and it honestly sounded incredible. Joel screamed the verse and Ahren sang the chorus and it worked well; the crowd definitely loved it. Joel even joked that Lana Del Ray refuses to let them release it as a single. Members of the crowd got up on stage with the band, and unlike most concerts, the band loved it. They complimented how involved the audience were getting with the performance and Joel even let some very persistent fans scream and sing into the microphone during the songs. For their encore they chose to perform possibly one of their most popular songs, ‘Open Letter’. Almost every fan was singing along and when The Amity Affliction left the stage it was easy to see that everyone had an incredible evening. If I had to recommend that you only see one metalcore band this year, it should definitely be The Amity Affliction. 

Check out Our Hollow, Our Home here: https://www.facebook.com/ourhollowourhome/
Check out In Hearts Wake here: https://www.facebook.com/inheartswake/ Check out Landscapes here: https://www.facebook.com/LANDSCAPESUK 
Check out The Amity Affliction here: https://www.facebook.com/theamityafflictionofficial/ 

Dance Gavin Dance at Takedown Festival 11/5/13

Post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance are well renowned for their line-up changes, but they have definitely found a great new lead singer in the form of Tilian Pearson. The crowd hesitation before Dance Gavin Dance started their performance was immediately wiped away when Tilian started singing ‘Tree Village’; his voice sounded incredible and full of emotion. It takes a lot for a new lead singer to perform songs that they haven’t written, but Tillian was able to sing them in a unique yet familiar way. Their new song ‘The Robot With Human Hair Part 4’ gained a great crowd reaction, proving that there is a lot of excitement for their upcoming album release ‘Acceptance Speech’ later this year. Dance Gavin Dance gave one of the best performances at Takedown Festival and proved that they’re still here and stronger than ever.

Check out Dance Gavin Dance here: https://www.facebook.com/DanceGavinDance

Tesseract at Takedown Festival 11/5/13

Progressive metal band Tesseract are renowned for putting on an incredible live show, and at Takedown Festival they did just that. Ashe O’Hara’s vocals are possibly some of the best in the progressive metal scene, giving chills to the crowd. His astounding voice merges well with the highly impressive technical guitar riffs found in all of Tesseract’s songs. Despite playing a short set which consisted of about four songs, Tesseract managed to get the crowd going and performed an unforgettable set.

Check out Tesseract here: https://www.facebook.com/tesseractband

We Are Fiction at Takedown Festival 11/5/13

Peterborough rock band We Are Fiction were the second band on the Big Deal Clothing Stage at Takedown Festival, and they definitely set the atmosphere of the day right. Phil Barker’s vocals are amazing and merge well with the harmonic backing vocals of Marc Kucharski. We Are Fiction’s songs are the perfect mix of mellow rock and harsh screaming vocals, making them a band accessible to rock fans across the spectrum. ‘Sail On’ was especially well received by the crowd and it was a great ending to an incredibly strong and impressive performance. With their songs appearing on Scuzz and Kerrang, We Are Fiction are growing in fans rapidly, and if you haven’t checked them out yet then you’re missing out!

Check out We Are Fiction here: https://www.facebook.com/wearefiction

Empress, Crossfaith and Bring Me The Horizon at Portsmouth Pyramids 4/5/13

Progressive rock band Empress were the first band to grace the stage in Portsmouth, and despite being relatively unheard of, they performed a strong set which left the crowd wanting more. The progressive rock vibe presented in their music differed greatly from Bring Me The Horizon’s iconic sound, but Ollie Loring’s screaming and singing vocals sounded impressive and filled the venue well. The guitar riffs were especially impressive, making it no wonder that they’re going from strength to strength supporting many rock and metal bands this year.

Crossfaith are renowned for being an eccentric electronica band from Japan, and their live show definitely further enhances this image. The energy emerging from Crossfaith is almost contagious, and whether you’re a fan or not, there’s no denying that they put on a great live show. Their latest party hit ‘Jagerbomb’ sounded great live, and their cover of ‘Omen’ by The Prodigy got the crowd moving well. If you want to see a band with the crazy attitude of Dir En Grey, but with more technical music, then Crossfaith are the band for you.

Love them or hate them, Bring Me The Horizon are one of the biggest rock/metal bands around at the moment. Their album ‘Sempiternal’ showed their progression in both lyric-wise and in a musical direction, so there’s no surprise that there were huge expectations for their live show. Bring Me The Horizon further proved their progression in their live show, with Oli Sykes’ vocals sounding even better than on recording. Playing both old and new songs, Bring Me The Horizon proved the doubters wrong and played one of the best shows of the year. Highlights of their set included ‘Chelsea Smile’, ‘And The Snakes Start To Sing’ and ‘Blessed With A Curse’. Ending their incredible performance with ‘Sleepwalking’, Oli and co. proved that Bring Me The Horizon are a band who will continue to get better and better as their career continues.

Check out Empress here: https://www.facebook.com/Empressband
Check out Crossfaith here: https://www.facebook.com/crossfaithofficial
Check out Bring Me The Horizon here: https://www.facebook.com/bmthofficial

The Blacklist Saints, The Final Chapter and InMe at Vault Rugby 22/2/13

The Blacklist Saints were the first band on stage, and with their strong riffs and rock ‘n’ roll vibe, they were a great way to start the evening. They seemed at ease on stage and interacted with the crowd well. Despite only forming in 2012, they were enjoyable to listen to and put on a good set.

Next up were The Final Chapter, an extremely energetic metal band from Rugby. Their cover of Drowning Pool’s song ‘Bodies’ went down extremely well and they definitely got the crowd warmed up for InMe. They also played ‘As The City Burns’, which is a new song from their EP which features very heavy riffs. Despite being young, The Final Chapter definitely know how to entertain an audience and they’re another addition to the great metal bands which come from the Midlands.

Playing their first show of 2013, InMe proved that they were back and even better than ever. They played hits such as ‘Reverie Shores’, ‘Saccharine Arcadia’ and ‘Here’s Hoping’, which meant both old and new fans could enjoy their set. Dave McPherson’s vocals are incredible, and the whole band are impressive musicians. InMe interacted with the crowd extremely well, with Dave even admitting that he had to search the internet to try to remember the lyrics to ‘Firefly’. Ending their set with ‘The Chase’, InMe are definitely one of the best bands to ever play in Rugby.

Check out The Blacklist Saints here: https://www.facebook.com/theblacklistsaints
Check out The Final Chapter here: https://www.facebook.com/thefinalchapterofficial
Check out InMe here: http://www.facebook.com/inmeofficial

Hey Vanity, Mallory Knox and Don Broco at The Joiners in Southampton 20/2/13

“We’re Hey Vanity from Essex and it’s a pleasure to be in you, Southampton!” Rock band Hey Vanity definitely captured the audience’s attention, especially with their up-beat cover of ‘Hey Ya’ by Outkast. They also played a song called ‘Terry Tibbs’, which was inspired by the popular television show Fonejacker. Hey Vanity interacted with the crowd well and put on a pleasant performance in Southampton. 

Mallory Knox definitely exceeded everyone’s expectations, and the band sounded even better live than on CD. Mikey Chapman’s vocals were astounding and there were some beautiful harmonies from the rest of the band. The energy that the band put into their performance was amazing, and it was easily apparent that Mallory Knox felt comfortable and happy on stage. Playing songs such as ‘Lighthouse’ and ‘Wake Up’, they definitely got the crowd warmed up for Don Broco.  

Opening with the title track to their latest album, ‘Priorities’, Don Broco instantly made the crowd go wild. Rob Damiani has an incredible stage presence and an incredible vocal range. Don Broco’s setlist was varied, and included lots of songs from their latest album, but also older songs, such as ‘Beautiful Morning’ and ‘I’m Good’. ‘Thug Workout’ was definitely a crowd favourite, and despite their music style changing since then, it was a highlight of the set for many. Simon Delaney is an amazing guitarist and all of the band are very energetic whilst performing on stage. Ending their set with ‘Fancy Dress’, Don Broco definitely rocked Southampton tonight, and they’re one of the hottest rock bands for 2013! 

Check out Hey Vanity here: http://www.facebook.com/heyvanityuk/
Check out Mallory Knox here: http://www.facebook.com/malloryknoxuk/
Check out Don Broco here: http://www.facebook.com/donbroco/

Photography by Rob Campion

The Vestals, Turbogeist and Pure Love at Joiners Southampton 19/2/13

Rock band The Vestals were a great opening band to a fantastic night of live music in Southampton. With mellow riffs and powerful vocals, The Vestals performed an enjoyable yet short set. The crowd particularly seemed to enjoy a song called ‘Mrs Halloween’, which had an incredibly catchy chorus.

Turbogeist strode on stage carrying beer, calling themselves “broken-geist” due to their lead singer’s arm being in a sling. Despite his injuries, Jimmy is a powerful frontman and was still extremely energetic, giving an amazing performance. It was the power-pop band’s first time in Southampton, but they definitely left a strong impression on the crowd. Their song ‘Alien Girl’ was well-received by the audience and had a great bass line.

There’s no denying that Frank Carter is one of the best frontmen around, and tonight was no exception to this. Despite Pure Love being slightly calmer than Gallows, Frank still delivered an impressively energetic performance, proving that he always puts 100% effort into his shows. This show was definitely one to remember, as part-way through the band moved all of their equipment into the crowd and started playing in the middle of the audience. Frank and Jim probably spent more time crowd surfing than actually on stage, but despite this, the band still sounded amazing. ‘Bury My Bones’ received a great reception from the crowd, and their cover of ‘Teenage Kicks’, originally by The Undertones, was remarkable and unique. Frank’s interaction with the crowd was great, full of ‘banter’ and jokes. The atmosphere at a Pure Love show is incredible, as well as the music, so it’s definitely a win-win situation if you go to see them!

Check out The Vestals here: http://www.facebook.com/thevestals
Check out Turbogeist here:  http://www.facebook.com/Turbogeist
Check out Pure Love here:  http://www.facebook.com/therealpurelove

Palms and Pelicans, Coburg’s Widow and The Chapman Family at Joiners Southampton 16/2/13

Mattéa McKinnon’s raw and powerful vocals definitely made Palms and Pelicans stand out as one of the most memorable support acts that I have seen this year. The harmonies that they used were brilliant, and the songs were full of emotion and passion.

Coburg’s Widow are a great indie rock and roll band with lots of energy and catchy riffs. The guitaring was incredible and Jason Kaye’s vocals were enjoyable to listen to. Energetic and enthusiastic, Coburg’s Widow have a good stage presence and they’re a great live band.

Describing themselves as ‘noisy Northern English angst rock’, The Chapman Family stole the show tonight at the Joiners. With melodic guitaring and strong riffs, their set was passionate and it was almost impossible to keep your eyes off the stage. Sounding like they’re influenced by 80s rock, but with a slightly heavier twist, The Chapman Family received a great reception from the audience and it was definitely not like anything crowd had heard or seen before. With their unique songs and passionate performances, The Chapman Family definitely deserve to become more well-known, and I’d definitely recommend that you give their music a listen and catch them at a show near you soon.

Check out Palms and Pelicans here: http://www.facebook.com/palmsandpelicans
Check out Coburg’s Widow here: http://www.facebook.com/coburgswidow/
Check out The Chapman Family here: http://www.facebook.com/TheChapmanFamily

Desolator, The Florentine Camerata, Seprevation and Flayed Disciple at the Firehouse Southampton 1/2/13

Thrash/speed metal band Desolator from Southampton were first on stage for this great night of live metal music. Inspired by Exodus and Megadeth, Desolator’s heavy bass lines and strong riffs were enjoyable to listen to. Desolator are currently writing their debut album, which will be out later this year.

The Florentine Camerata impressed the Southampton crowd from the moment they got on stage and started playing their groove death metal. Their guitarists were particularly impressive, and Gav Oxley’s heavy vocals worked perfectly with the riffs.

“We are Seprevation from Bristol, and we’ve come here to play some death fucking metal!” With their fast metal riffs and strong stage presence, Seprevation definitely received a great crowd reception.  They played a really strong setlist, including an incredible cover of ‘The Trooper’ by Iron Maiden.

Playing their first ever headline slot, Flayed Disciple rocked the Firehouse with brutal heavy metal. All of the band members are impressive musicians, and the heavy vocals of Tim Whyte were remarkable. Their cover of Slayer’s ‘Angel of Death’ was brutally heavy, and started a huge mosh pit, proving that the crowd loved it. This definitely won’t be the last that you hear about Flayed Disciple, they deserve to be huge!

Check out Desolator here: http://www.facebook.com/Desolatorthrash
Check out The Florentine Camerata here: http://www.facebook.com/theflorentinecamerata
Check out Seprevation here: http://www.facebook.com/Seprevation
Check out Flayed Disciple here: http://www.facebook.com/flayeddiscipleband

Red Button Exit, Sinuism, Gehtika and KaiDeka at the Firehouse Southampton 25/1/13

The first band on stage was Red Button Exit, a metalcore band from London. They were extremely energetic and lead singer Joe James had strong vocals which filled up the venue. With hard-hitting riffs and fresh-sounding metalcore music, they were an impressive live band and a great start to an evening of live metal music.

Sinuism, a metal band formed in 2009, were next on stage. Their heavy vocals and even heavier riffs were greeted by the Southampton crowd with lots of headbanging and movement. ‘Asphyxiate’, an apparent crowd favourite, was described by lead singer Chris as ‘about being strangled whilst you sleep’. The crowd reacted well and they definitely gained a lot of fans from their show tonight.

Midland metal band Gehtika were next on stage, opening their set with dramatic music to get the crowd going. Wearing heavy face paint they definitely looked the part, and they seemed genuinely happy to be performing tonight in Southampton. The guitaring was particularly impressive and they are definitely an amazing live band.

The final band to take the stage was KaiDeka, a metal/nu thrash band from Falmouth. Due to their incredibly heavy riffs they sounded inspired by Lamb of God, and I’d definitely recommend them if you are a fan of that style of music. KaiDeka were also very energetic, and the Southampton crowd seemed to love them. Metal music at its finest.

Check out Red Button Exit here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Red-Button-Exit/
Check out Sinuism here: https://www.facebook.com/Sinuism
Check out Gehtika here: http://www.facebook.com/gehtika
Check out KaiDeka here: http://www.facebook.com/KaiDekA