sat 21/06/2025

New Music Reviews

Napalm Death, O2 Institute, Birmingham review - the Grindcore progenitors hit the spot

Guy Oddy

While it is only right that Birmingham is finally getting well-deserved credit as the well-spring and self-proclaimed Home of Metal, the media coverage of the Midlands’ place in musical history might lead anyone to think that this particular story both began and ended with the mighty Black Sabbath.

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Cage the Elephant, O2 Academy, Glasgow review - old-fashioned rock n' roll from Kentucky sextet

Jonathan Geddes

Matt Shultz was clearly taking no chances. The Cage the Elephant frontman appeared onstage underneath a large umbrella, presumably bought to cope with the day’s deluge of rain. In the ever effervescent Shultz’s hands it was swiftly used as a prop, kickstarting a lively evening of old fashioned rock 'n’ roll.

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Sam Lee, EartH Hackney - capturing the spirit of the moment

Sebastian Scotney

Sam Lee has a strong, richly resonant and recognisable voice – and equally strong beliefs. His album Old Wow has really caught the spirit of moment: it is already being hailed as folk album of the year, even the decade, and last night’s gig at EartH in Hackney, the London leg of the album launch tour, was packed.

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The Murder Capital, QMU, Glasgow review - Dublin outfit find catharsis through pummelling songs

Jonathan Geddes

It might have been 24 hours after Valentine’s Day, but James McGovern still seemed to have a touch of romance in his head. At one stage during the Murder Capital’s bruising set he referenced his floral-patterned shirt as evidence that he was feeling the spirit of the previous day, and perhaps that should not surprise, for the Murder Capital are a band with plenty of heart.

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Album: Lanterns On The Lake - Spook The Herd

Kieron Tyler

Spook The Herd concludes with “A Fitting End”. In a cracked, reflective voice, Hazel Wilde sings: “I want a door to the Nineties…what a fitting ending, what a perfect scene.” By hoping for a portal into the recent past, it seems an attempt is being made to escape into – or even bring back – times when there was less negativity to deal with than today. A form of nostalgia maybe. Or a criticism of where things are now.

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Reissue CDs Weekly: The Honeycombs - Have I The Right? The Complete 60s Albums & Singles

Kieron Tyler

August and September 1964 were golden months for Pye Records. The Kinks hit number one on the British charts in September with “You Really Got Me”, their third single for the label and the group’s first success following two flop 45s.

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theartsdesk on Vinyl 56: Kreator, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Disney, Twin Atlantic, Elton John, Buddy Rich and more

Thomas H Green

Welcome to the biggest plastic reviews party on earth. Now that vinyl is steadily successful as niche musical medium, some have rightly been considering its environmental impact. Perhaps the best overview is given by Kyle Devine’s feature in the Guardian, which is well worth checking (please come back if you do!).

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Album: Pat Metheny – From This Place

Sebastian Scotney

From This Place (Nonesuch) is a complex, meticulously produced and many-layered album which demands concentrated and repeated listening. In many ways, it is all the better for it. Pat Metheny himself has written an essay or “Album Notes” of no fewer than 2,020 words to explain how the concept of the album evolved, as it went through a several-stage process of  conception, recording, arranging, production.

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Angel Olsen, Eventim Apollo review - rock reinvention at its loudest

India Lewis

Angel Olsen’s show at the Eventim Apollo has been much hyped and publicised over the past weeks, an indie chanteuse reinventing herself, recasting herself with a darker, more rocky sound.

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The Hu, O2 Academy, Bristol review - heavy metal meets throat-singing

mark Kidel

There is natural logic in the unholy marriage between heavy metal and Mongolian throat singing.

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