Music, Metal

GWAR, with Clutch - O2 ABC, Glasgow, Tue 14 Jun

The differences between GWAR and Clutch might be as obvious as they are many, but there was no doubt that the bearded southern destroyers were capable of holding their own with this one. This hour-long set further cemented Clutch's status as a…

Earth, with Sabbath Assembly - Stereo, Glasgow, Tuesday 5 Apr 2011

Sabbath Assembly’s Process Church-inspired occult rock seems appropriate amidst the beards gathered within the confines of Stereo. Lead by Wooden Wand and Jex Thoth frontwoman and conjurer Jessica Toth -- their celebration of both Jesus and Satan evokes…

Foo Fighters – Wasting Light

Growling, heavy, punky goodness from the constantly entertaining Foos

(Roswell/RCA) It’s impossible to talk about a ‘return to form’ when it comes to the Foo Fighters, they’re one of rock’s most consistently steady and constantly entertaining acts. They’ve never had a genuine down-turn. Dave Grohl’s (almost) outgrown…

Rob Zombie - O2 Academy, Glasgow, Sun 20 Feb, 2011

Shock rocker Rob Zombie slays Glasgow with support from Skindred

Roll up roll up the Rob Zombie circus sideshow is in town, it’s been over a decade since the ‘Superbeast’ defiled the UK and all the ragged deadites are howling in anticipation. But before the master of ceremonies grants us with his presence Skindred…

Shock rocker and horror film director Rob Zombie - full interview transcript

Musician and director's first UK tour for 12 years

HN:This is your first UK tour for 12 years. Why it’s taken so long? RZ: Basically it’s taken me a pretty long time to get back to anywhere, I haven’t been outside of the US for a long time, basically the thing that’s got in the way of my world wide…

Rob Zombie returns to the stage after 12 years

Master of schlock rock and horror movies set for UK tour

Schlock rock and horror movies go full circle as Rob Zombie returns to the stage after 12 years, finds Henry Northmore

DevilDriver - Beast

Enough gratifying moments here to see past the raw gristle of ‘rusty chainsaw’ music

(Roadrunner Records) DevilDriver are, for lack of a better phrase, purveyors of what could be called ‘rusty chainsaw’ music. It grinds and grunts at frenzied pace, and when it’s on a bit of downtime, it’s still pretty lethal. Beast may be a cringing…

Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Songs From a Zulu Farm

(Wrasse Records) It’s debateable whether the ubiquity of the Ladysmith Black Mambazo sound (once it had graced the baked beans advert which took them into the mainstream) came at the expense of a specialist audience whose expectations might keep them…

Helmet - The Cathouse, Glasgow, Friday 17 Dec 2010

The weight and ingenuity of metal without the cheese and pretension

The outbreak of onstage mild hysteria at the Cathouse tonight can be attributed to a number of things – although the support band playing the first song of the American quartet’s encore is never entirely explained. Mostly, the technical gremlins along…

Deftones - Perfect mix of power and intensity

O2 Academy, Glasgow, Fri 12 Nov 2010

The expansive prog-metal of Coheed & Cambria were always going to be the ideal warm-up for Deftones. Claudio Sanchez’s vocals may be a bit hard for some to take (it can take on a whiny quality in the higher registers) but the heavy instrumental jams and…

Marnie Stern - Marnie Stern

(Souterrain Transmissions) If, come some dull or unfathomable morning, you seek death by blissful, virtuosic metal-pop, then look no further than Marnie Stern: she’ll brutalise your every organ with hyper-melodic axe-mastery and alt-rock. The opening…

Biffy Clyro play secret acoustic gig to 200 at Ross Bandstand, Edinburgh

Intimate acoustic gig from melodic rock trio

There’s an audible intake of breath as Biffy Clyro stroll onto the Bulmer's-sponsored mini-stage opposite the Ross Bandstand. Around 200 lucky competition winners have been granted an audience with a band who regularly command the attention of thousands…

Slash interview - Full transcript

Born in Stoke on Trent, Saul Hudson became Slash after a move to LA at the age of 11. Now one of the world’s most iconic guitarists who gave us the timeless riffs from ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, ‘Paradise City’ and ‘Sweet Child of Mine’. After leaving…

Ozzy Osbourne - Scream

Rock/ Metal Ozzy Osbourne Scream (Columbia) ‘I’m a rock star,’ growls Ozzy at the start of this, his tenth solo album. Well, not really, Ozzy, you’re primarily a global reality television celebrity, something you’re actually better at these days.

Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage

(12A) 106min Despite massive success during the Canadian trio’s 35-year career, ‘The world’s most popular cult band’ have always existed alongside the mainstream, never in it. It could be argued that the showy musicianship and lyrical subject matter…

Soulfly

Studio 24, Edinburgh, Wed 19 May

Since quitting/being thrown out of Sepultura back in 1996 (it’s all still a bit murky), Max Cavalera has been anything but idol, there’s been the short-lived Nailbomb, recent reunion with brother Max for Cavalera Conspiracy and collaborations with…

Picture gallery: Kiss

SECC, Glasgow Sun 9th May 2010

Tonight's opening declaration - "You wanted the best, you got the best, the hottest band in the world: KISS!" - can be taken very literally, as the bands Sonic Boom Tour landed in Glasgow amid an inferno of 40ft high bellowing flames and exploding…

Ratt - Infestation

Infestation (Roadrunner) It’d be so easy to dismiss Ratt as 80s hair metal also rans. But if you actually take the time to listen to Infestation you’ll soon realise why Ratt are still making records, and damn great records at that. There’s no…

Taking Dawn - Time to Burn

(Roadrunner) Powering straight outta Las Vegas, Taking Dawn obviously grew up supping down the most hedonistic of rock cocktails Sin City has to offer. Big riffs, big shout-out-loud choruses all brewed from the DNA of the likes of Skid Row, GN’R and…

Slayer embark on 2010 UK tour - here's why you need to see them

1: They’re finally here … we hope This Barrowland date was originally slated for November 2009, then the beginning of April, and finally the mighty Slayer should be with us this May. And the reason for this delay? Vocalist/bassist Tom Araya had to…

Exposure: Esben and the Witch

Those of a fragile disposition are advised to look away now. Brighton horror-folk sorcerers Esben and the Witch – Daniel (axe, electronics), Rachel (lungs, bass), Thomas (axe, synth) – are rapidly advancing. They’re coming to get you, Glasgow You…

Slash among latest additions to Download 2010 festival bill

Former Guns’n’Rose/Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash (making his solo Donnington debut) leads the announcement of 30 new bands for this year’s Download festival. Also joining him on the metal and rock festival bill are As I Lay Dying, Atreyu, Breed 77…

Five reasons to go see: Airbourne

1: They supply the ultimate party soundtrack ‘Hard hitting, sweat soaked, fist-thumping rock’n’roll,’ explains guitarist David Roads, ‘just very loud and very hard, foot-stomping kind of music for a good time.’ 2: They sound a bit like AC/DC ‘It…

Steel Panther, Saxon and Dilinger Escape Plan added to Download 2010 bill

A further 22 names have been announced by rock and metal festival Download to perform on the 2010 bill. Steel Panther, HIM, Saxon, Airbourne, Coheed & Cambria, 36 Crazyfists, Dilinger Escape Plan, Dommin, Taking Dawn, Unearth, Cinderella, A Day To…

Aerosmith and Rage Against the Machine join Download 2010 bill

The final two headliners for this year’s Download festival have been confirmed with Rage Against the Machine and Aerosmith joining the previously announced AC/DC to head the hard rock and metal festival. The organisers also state vocalist Steve Tyler…