LIVE REVIEW

Oklahoma City’s bleakest sludge wranglers Chat Pile are back for a sold out show in Bristol ahead of their appearance at this year’s Outbreak festival. Joined by anxiety inducing experimental Chicago outfit meth. and powerfully noisy London duo Modern Technology for one of the most punishing shows of the year.

It wouldn't be Slam Dunk without a bit of rain, but this year things got taken to another level. In the midst of mud, torrential rain and the occasional spots of sun, the first big alt festival of the year had its second day and played host to bands of all shapes and sizes across the alt spectrum. It would be a day filled with album sets, festival debuts and, perhaps most notable of all, the final festival appearance of legendary UK group You Me At Six.

The goths have converged on one location and seized control of the country’s most iconic venue to witness the last breaths of the VV era with a sold out evening full of Love Metal as Ville Valo closes out his globe trotting solo expedition in grand fashion.

On the first actually glorious day of the year in Newcastle, three bands that sound like three different types of musical chaos took to the second room of The Cluny. This was Pupil Slicers first ever headline tour and to celebrate, they were playing their 2023 record Blossom in full. Joining them were the frankly indefinable Irish rabble God Alone and the Swiss chaotic hardcore punk group Coilguns.

Midwest screamo powerhouse Frail Body performed their new album Artificial Bouquet in full during their first ever UK tour. With support coming from Chalk Hands and As Living Arrows, here's what their London date entailed.

As Pierce The Veil return from a six-year hiatus, all eyes are upon them as they embark on their first UK arena headline tour.

As Pendulum embark on their UK tour that feels more like a celebration from a band realising their own worth, fans gather to be blown away by the band’s impressive audio and visual soundscape.

Original Metalcore and mathcore legends Botch grace the U.K. on their reunion/finale tour for the first of three nights in Bristol. Bringing along Seattle noise merchants Great Falls and Stevenage anarcho-punk quartet Bad Breeding as support.

As Everything Unfolds embarked on their headline tour last month, a triumphant parade of the progress made for a band that have jumped from strength to strength. In support of independent venues, this very much feels like an evening belonging to As Everything Unfolds, one of wholesome and humble realisation.

Last we took to the south west for an evening of music in it's most provocative form.

Bury Tomorrow had one of their most blisteringly successful years to date in 2023, garnering fans both new and old with their latest album ‘The Seventh Sun’. This evening is an extension of this, a celebration of accomplishment given all three bands on this bill have over a decade in existence and have had to fight and traverse the music scene for every inch of their careers to date.

Many will be waking up to a sore neck come Tuesday morning following Frozen Soul's headline London show as tonight's reception for the Texas Powerhouses was anything but frosty.