LIVE REVIEW

It’s a special night for London’s metal aficionados; Arizona’s old school death metallers Gatecreeper are in town for the first time in five years and not only that, but they’ve brought two of the UK’s finest rising acts.

Descending on an unsuspecting St Albans are three of the most exciting bands in the UK from three very different genres; the spacey synth rock of Zetra, the death metal/hardcore hybrid of Burner and the muscular, groove-laden hardcore-cum-heavy metal of Employed To Serve all bring their musical talents to bear.

A tour package that could not have come soon enough for the fans of heavy music in the UK and Europe, Fit For An Autopsy continued their touring of album number six alongside Ingested, Enterprise Earth, Great American Ghost, and Sentinels. FFAA hadn’t touched UK soil for a long time, was the wait worth it? Of course it was.

The Exchange has long fostered a reputation for giving the emerging scene a platform. But tonight it's hosting one of the bands that raised their current clientele: Johnny Foreigner.

On a mild bank holiday Sunday, there was a distinct buzz around the city of Bristol. Along Gloucester Road each bar was spilling out onto the street, and every genre imaginable was blasting out of open windows and car speakers as the population of Stokes Croft look forward to an additional day of their weekend with no work commitments - able to nurse their hangovers in peace and quiet, looking back on a wild weekend of frivolity.

Behind a blink-and-you'll-miss-it façade lies London's Boston Music Rooms. It's a small, 250 capacity, room that tonight plays host to an unmissable lineup for hardcore aficionados: the nihilistic, punishing END supported by two of the UK's best and brightest underground bands.

Rounding off the UK leg of the tour in support of latest release Fever, Against The Current bring their poppy alt rock to a packed out Electric Ballroom in Camden, whose atmosphere is very much true to its name even before the headliners come on.

Devil Sold His Soul haven't done a headline tour in five years; not only that but prior to last year, hadn't released an album in nine. Finally able to tour that new album, they launched a run of shows in support of it, with tonight's final show landing on the first birthday of latest album Loss.

Wolverhampton may not be everyone's first choice of destination (headliners Svalbard admit it's their first time playing in the city) but KK's Steel Mill, taking its name in part from legendary guitarist KK Downing, has become a well-known name in the Midlands, pulling in names like Cradle of Filth as well as the three bands on tonight's bill.

It’s difficult to detail a greater success story in UK musical extremity than Rolo Tomassi. Originally starting life as somewhat of a curiosity, the band have outgrown their kitschy ways and have emerged as one of the most dynamic, emotive and atmospheric bands on the planet, spearheading the way for the next wave of artists specialising in the seismic and celestial musical punishment in which they have now essentially perfected.

Delayed multiple times, tonight Funeral For A Friend finally make their return to London to celebrate their legacy with upcoming bands that likely wouldn't be here today without them. It's like stepping back in time, with even the playlists between bands harkening back to the early-mid 2000s with My Chemical Romance, Finch and even Bowling For Soup cropping up.

Fourth times the charm for Neck Deep's latest tour as they invite us into the world of Sonderland, a chance to leave the baggage at the door, fans united by a band and album that helped so many through the last two years.