Daughtry began as a commercial proposition and became something considerably more honest. When Chris Daughtry placed fourth on the fifth season of American Idol in 2006 (has it really been 20 years since I saw him live at a small club in London very soon after his exit in support of his self-titled debut!), and … Continue reading Album Review: Daughtry – Shock to the System (Deluxe Edition)
Author: Rick
I’m a married father of 2 humans, a rescue cat and a royal python. Not nearly enough tattoos or piercings, enjoys reading, Marmite and lots of coffee.
Festival Review: Uprising 2026
For those who have never made the pilgrimage, it is tempting to describe Uprising simply as a metal festival. But that reductive label does a disservice to something that has, year after year, evolved into something far more nuanced, community-focused, and gloriously independent than the word “festival” tends to conjure. This is not a corporation … Continue reading Festival Review: Uprising 2026
Album Review: Monolord – Neverending
The Gothenburg trio of Thomas Jäger, Mika Häkki, and Esben Willems have, over the course of six albums, established themselves as one of the most vital forces in modern doom, and with Neverending - their sixth full-length and latest for Relapse Records - they have delivered something genuinely surprising. Because this time, Monolord have changed … Continue reading Album Review: Monolord – Neverending
Album Review: Elvenking – Rites of Disclosure
The Reader of the Runes trilogy spanned three full studio albums - Divination, Rapture, and the recent Luna - representing a defining creative chapter for the Italian folk-metal veterans Elvenking. Rites of Disclosure is the epilogue: a carefully assembled collection of standalone digital singles that never found a physical home, two brand-new compositions, and a … Continue reading Album Review: Elvenking – Rites of Disclosure
Album Review: Crippled Black Phoenix – Sceaduhelm
Twenty years into their evolution, Crippled Black Phoenix have never been a band content with standing still, and with Sceaduhelm, they've created perhaps their most severe and emotionally exposed statement yet. This is an album that doesn't shout for attention; it demands you lean in close and listen to what lingers after the noise fades. … Continue reading Album Review: Crippled Black Phoenix – Sceaduhelm
Gig Review: Hellripper / Schizophrenia / Devastator – The Saltbox, Nottingham (3rd April 2026)
Three bands at the start of their collective tours joined forces for a night of unforgettable mayhem. The start of the bank holiday made everywhere feel deserted, that was until the doors of the Saltbox in Nottingham opened, at which point it felt as if the entire city had poured into the venue. This was … Continue reading Gig Review: Hellripper / Schizophrenia / Devastator – The Saltbox, Nottingham (3rd April 2026)