Mad About Rock

  With just 73 days left between now and festival weekend, things are hotting up at BLOODSTOCK HQ, especially on the New Blood front! With the Metal 2 The Masses finals well underway around the country, the winning band in each region is locking in and BLOODSTOCK is excited to share nine more lucky developing bands who’ll be performing on the New Blood stage at Catton Park this August. Winning the Leicester heat and grabbing a Friday slot are the progressive tech/death collective, VOIDWALKER . Familiarise yourself by checking out their 2022 track ‘Tar Stained Lips’ over at their Bandcamp page . The Manchester heat victors, the genre-twisting SQUARE WILD , won Prog Magazine’s ‘Best Unsigned Band’ poll last year. Watch their video for ‘Hounds’ and find out why. Also winning a Friday slot are the East Anglia final top dogs, URIDIUM . If you love your old school classic metal sound, these could be one for you. Check out ‘Fire & Lies’ taken from their debut EP, ‘In For The Kill’. ...

  On June 29th Download Festival and The Heavy Metal Truants will launch the Download 20 Auction to coincide with Download Festival’s 20th anniversary which it celebrates this June. This historic event will see the last 20 years of legendary Download Headliners contributing to a collection of unique and rare memorabilia which will be auctioned off to support four children’s charities. The online auction, which has already been promised special items from Avenged Sevenfold, Bring Me The Horizon, David Coverdale, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Muse & System Of A Down among others, will go live on Thursday 29th June 2023 and remain online for one week. Entries will close on Thursday 6th July 2023 at midnight, UK time. Winners will be announced for each item the following week, with proceeds going to the Heavy Metal Truants four chosen charities: Teenage Cancer Trust, Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy, Childline, and Save The Children. “This is about the rock and metal community coming togeth...

  Northern Irish metal outfit ARCHIVES have today shared a monolithic new single titled Matriarch. The hefty quintet have worked diligently to achieve their aim of producing stout and fierce music, laced with boundless energy and memorable hooks. Pushing mental health awareness is close to the band’s hearts and is a recurring theme in the material that ARCHIVES produce as the band keep it at the forefront of their every purpose. “Matriarch is a song about how human beings process loss & grief in many different forms. In this case hiding away from the reality of losing someone even if it means you may never get to properly say goodbye in order to save your last memory of a loved one being a positive one & not bed ridden. Grief is difficult. The inevitability of someone’s life decaying is something you can only hide away from briefly eventually you have to face the music.” – Vocalist, Adam Holland Watch the official music video right here: The band’s debut album, ‘Decay’ ...

  Global rock phenomenon Guns N’ Roses will headline American Express presents BST Hyde Park for the very first time on Friday 30 June. One of America’s most influential rock groups, Axl Rose, Slash, Duff McKagan, Dizzy Reed, Richard Fortus, Frank Ferrer and Melissa Reese are heading to London for the 10th anniversary of BST Hyde Park. Even more special guests have been announced today for Hyde Park’s ultimate rock show this summer. Joining The Pretenders, The Darkness and Larkin Poe are Dirty Honey, James and the Cold Gun, TheDust Coda, Grade 2, Bad Nerves and The Foxies. Los Angeles-based quartet Dirty Honey hit the ground running in 2019 with their debut single, ‘When I’m Gone’. It became the first song by an unsigned artist to reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart, and their second single ‘Rolling 7s’ followed suit placing in the Top 5. They’ve previously opened for Guns N’ Roses, as well as The Who, Slash and Alter Bridge, and have become a “must-see” at multiple ma...

  With only two weeks to go until the mighty Download Festival, the sold out 20th anniversary celebration has unleashed its District X line up, as well as announcing special collaborations for this year. Boasting secret band sets, live podcasts, late night DJ sets and a comedy line up on the Wednesday night, the special four-day edition is set to be jam-packed. Taking place on 8-11 June 2023 at the hallowed grounds of Donington Park, Download will be headlined by Bring Me The Horizon, Slipknot and Metallica, who will perform two headline sets with no repeat songs. All tickets are now sold out, but you can find out more info here: www.downloadfestival.co.uk. This year District X will be better than ever, with a fantastic line-up of secret band sets (to be announced on the day), live podcasts and DJ sets from the likes of The Blackout, Wargasm, Zoe London, Nova Twins x On Wednesdays We Wear Black, Daniel P Carter, Alyx Holcombe and many more. Festivities will begin on the Wednesday ...

  Sheffield, UK - Monday May 22nd, Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe proved once again why they are two of the most iconic and celebrated rock legends of all time, delivering an unforgettable performance to a packed house at Bramall Lane Sheffield. The bands took to the stage and gave it their all, delivering hit after hit to the adoring crowd. The energy was electric, and fans were on their feet from start to finish. Joe Elliott said “Well, it finally arrived. We were so looking forward to bringing The World Tour with Motley Crue back to our home turf and what a spectacular night it was!! We knew after how well the Stadiums went down last year in North America and earlier this year in South and CentralAmerica that our UK & Europeans fans were going to really enjoy this show. But last night in Sheffield, where it all started many years ago, exceeded even our expectations! If the reaction we had last night at Bramall Lane is any indication, this UK / European leg of The World Tour is...

  CIVIL VILLAINS continue their climb with the release of their hugely fascinating debut album, Motion Sick, out Friday 26th May. The Brit alt-rockers have also dropped their intriguing new single and video, Cornerstore - https://youtu.be/e9X4a9B4v00 Since their formation in 2016, Londoners CIVIL VILLAINS have always had a differing approach from many other artists. Drawing influence from Queens Of The Stone age, Refused, and Fugazi, through to David Bowie and Tom Waits, the alternative trio express a sound that twists genres, and frequently pushes the envelope. Creating a live show that has seen the alt rockers share stages with Listener, Poly-Math, Bellevue Days, Kid Kapichi, and many others, CIVIL VILLAINS also have a strong DIY ethos and unbridled dedication to their art, as demonstrated by their ability to arrange two North American tours (which included headline shows in Toronto and Cambridge, MA), festival performances in Quebec City and New York City, and dates in Seattle...

  The brilliant PORTALS Festival which takes place next weekend in London on Saturday May 27th and Sunday May 28th, have released their stage times and clash finders. Headliner slots come from And So I Watch You From Afar and Mono and sub headliners Bossk, Nordic Giants, Maybeshewill and Jambinai. Festival partners come from: Pins & Knuckles merch, Arts Council England, Signature Brew, Shuk catering and Orange. A full list of bands and stage times below: SATURDAY HALL STAGE And So I Watch You From Afar 9.45pm-11pm Bossk 7.45pm-8.45pm Bo Ningen 6pm-6.50pm '68 4.25pm-5.10pm Bicurious 3pm-3.30pm Hundred Year Old Man 1.50pm-2.15pm THEATRE STAGE Nordic Giants 11.05pm-12.00am A.A. Williams 8.50pm-9.40pm AK/DK 6.55pm-7.40pm Human Pyramids 5.15pm-5.55pm Axes 3.40pm-4.20pm Astrosaur 2.25pm-2.55pm Ogives Big Band 1.15pm-1.45pm BAR STAGE Big Lad 12.05am-1am Straight Girl 10.45pm-11.25pm A Burial At Sea 8.55pm-9.35pm Lakes 6.55pm-7.35pm El Moono 5.15pm-5.55pm The Broken Islands 3.40pm-4.15...

  Rock icons The Used have released their highly anticipated tenth studio album, Toxic Positivity via Hassle Records/Big Noise. Over 20 years into their career, Toxic Positivity is everything fans have come to know and love from The Used – straightforward, in-your-face, destructive, and vulnerable all at once. Working together with longtime friend and collaborator John Feldmann to produce the album, Toxic Positivity is filled with The Used’s signature sound, earworm hooks and erratic riffs. Fans can stream Toxic Positivity now at https://theused.ffm.to/toxicpositivity Described as a “day-in-the-life journey of a depressed, anxiety-ridden person” by vocalist Bert McCracken, the tell-all record shares the highs and lows of depression and addiction through a cohesive body of work, speaking to the ever-changing headspace that he was experiencing at the time of writing. “This record is quite tough for me to listen to,” he adds, “because it’s a reflection of times in my life that have ...

  Friday 19th May 2023 — We’re now only one week away from the Heavy Music Awards 2023 that will take place at the historic and iconic OVO Arena Wembley in a huge venue upgrade, marking a fantastic year for rock and metal music. Renowned for showcasing the diverse global icons of heavy music at the annual event, this year will welcome unique and special performances from some of the most exciting names in the scene. With a location upgrade to OVO Arena Wembley, the celebrated venue will recognise the growing impact of heavy music, highlighting both breakthrough artists and stalwarts of the scene. The awards take place on Friday 26th May. Final tickets are available to purchase here . With four nomination nods for the HMAs 2023 — including Best International Live Artist and Best Album - Lzzy and Joe of the ferocious Halestorm will be playing an intimate ‘unplugged’ show at the awards, joined by inimitable Machine Gun Kelly guitarist Sophie Lloyd. Further talent set to take the stag...

  “Of The Abyss” sets an engaging groove to headbang along with. The pulsing use of rhythm stands out, with an ebb and flow to the lyrics and percussion that crashes like the thunder of waves. This song sets up the groove early and knocks you over with the might of the ocean, calling on the elder gods to bring you up for air. A fun groovy track to show the power behind this EP. Get the track at the links below: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/balrogath/of-the-abyss https://balrogath.bandcamp.com/track/of-the-abyss https://open.spotify.com/track/49ZMrtUtgePXiZGplz5Jpz?si=fidYOhNSR3igCEqomb1ZtA “We Bring Calamity” Balrogath Self Released Digital only Aug 3, 2023 Brooding and melodic with a fiery modern energy, “We Bring Calamity” kicks in the gates with the first single “Calamity.” Playful rhythms and soaring leads that will get buried in your head for days followed by powerful vocals tearing the sonic landscape to shreds make this track stand out as a powerful starting place for t...

  Sex Pistols are making their debut single available in coloured vinyl for the first time, a limited edition classic for collectors. Their era defining opening statement as a title and a song, ‘Anarchy In The UK’ was the band’s very first single, released on November 26, 1976. It is one of the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. The single was the only track issued under the band’s deal with the EMI label, before they were dropped after the controversial Bill Grundy show appearance. This small run of just 4576 physical records is a reissued piece of music history, the song that originated the filth and fury - a must-have for any fan of the Sex Pistols or rock in general. Following the success of the ‘God Save The Queen’ 7” vinyl releases in 2022 (which is the top selling physical single of the year and finally took the track to Number 1 on the Official Vinyl Singles Chart, 45 years to the day after it was kept off the top spot), the band’s other key s...

  Leeds based post-hardcore newcomers, EXTS have today announced their debut EP ‘The Fragile Space Between’ which is set for release on 23rd June 2023. On top of the news, EXTS have shared a brand-new single titled ‘Memories’ which will feature on the EP. ‘Memories’ is a fresh take on the post-hardcore genre but also has a certain nod towards the nostalgia of the early 2000s, which was the era that shaped the band’s sound. “The track’s about dropping the pretence and owning the truth. Tragedy strikes everyone at some point and we make good and bad decisions in those moments. Life loves to throw us curveballs from time to time & finding a way to keep positive, when it feels like there’s no break in the clouds, it is tough. The whole EP is about overcoming adversity & “Memories” is no different. Lyrically it nods to the old cliche “what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger”, especially in those defining moments in time.” - Vocalist, Jack Flynn. Watch the official music video rig...

  Tapping firmly into their ragga-reggae-sunshine roots, Skindred bounce into the summer with their brand new single ‘L.O.V.E (Smile Please)’, a slice of uplifting positivity designed to get your feet moving and your face beaming with the biggest smile of the year! A pop-rock smash featuring a skankin’ beat, parping horns, a singalong chorus and Caribbean-by-way-of-Newport vibes from irrepressible frontman Benji Webbe, ‘L.O.V.E (Smile Please)’ is the PERFECT soundtrack for party-lovers, festival-goers, gym-bunnies, beach-bums, tree-huggers, and all round feel-good-people having celebrations across the nations. The video – directed by Steve Clarke – is a vibrant, puppet-filled extravaganza, with technicolour cartoon vibes, championing the diversity and inclusivity that sees EVERYONE as welcome and part of Skindred’s tribe. Taken from the band’s forthcoming album Smile, ‘L.O.V.E (Smile Please)’ got its first public airing last summer via Skindred’s incredible main stage performan...

  Brighton, UK punk rock powerhouse HARKER have released a new single titled “Out The Window.” Watch the video: https://youtu.be/JqUZ-CbDfFU . Video by Sam Luck / @luckysamphoto Recorded by Tim Greaves at Southsea Sound Stream on DSPs Spotify Apple Music The track is inspired by the persistent existential angst of the impending climate crisis, ‘Out The Window ’is a furious, yet thoughtful modern protest anthem. Harker fits perfectly into the cultural zeitgeist, fusing elements of the post-punk revival with vintage power-pop hooks. Capturing the despair of a generation left to deal with the problem on their own, this is one of the most urgent punk songs to emerge from the UK this year. Live dates: 24th June - Booze Cruise, Hamburg (Germany) 30th June - Prince Albert, Brighton (UK) 8th July - Right To Roam, Bolton (UK) 15th July - Guildhall, Portsmouth (UK) * Supporting Authority Zero 28th October - One For The Road Festival, York (UK) BAND WEBSTORE: http://hrkr.co.uk/shop Harker o...

  THE HEARTLAND COLLECTIVE return with an adrenaline-inducing new single, Gun To My Head. This killer cut is out now and is backed by an utterly stunning video - https://youtu.be/vzmGZ7UzeLc THE HEARTLAND COLLECTIVE is a project that explores the darker elements of life and emotions, and embracing the light within both, fuses and echoes these elements in its enthralling sound. Created and headed by songwriter and producer Mick Johnson, and launched in 2018, this captivating venture soon recorded the debut single, I Just Don’t Know , which keenly pulled in swift attention and praise. Released at the start of 2019, I Just Don’t Know was widely embraced with radio stations across the global offering support, and the inclusion of a spot on the legendary Rodney Bingheimer's Show on SiriusXM. THE HEARTLAND COLLECTIVE’s previous single, My Deepest Darkest Friend , managed to garner over 30,000 streams and made Spotify’s Release Radar with its accompanying video also being critically acc...

  Tonight, LORD OF THE LOST will finally bring their glamorous party of glam rock and metal to Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool, as they perform the title track of their successful current album, Blood & Glitter. LORD OF THE LOST will play as 21st out of the 26 candidates. Watch the worldwide broadcast of the ESC finals and vote for Germany’s first ever rock/metal Eurovision Song Contest representatives, LORD OF THE LOST! Voting starts after the last performance of the show tonight and lasts only a couple of minutes - exact details will be announced during the show and here: https://www.esc.vote/ . Voting is limited to a maximum 20 votes per device. So far, 2023 has been an extremely noteworthy year in the story of LORD OF THE LOST, and now the five-piece are poised as a likely top 10 candidate at Eurovision Song Contest 2023 – making a childhood dream come true. The genre-fusing dark rock band hit #1 on the Official German Album Charts, have won over mainstream medi...