(Andy Synn is here to guide you on a journey… into the woodland realm) There are lots of different factors one can use to analyse, criticise, and appraise a band… ambition, execution, innovation, intention. But the one that’s more important than any of them – in my opinion, at least – is passion. And make […]
The post AN NCS PREMIERE (AND REVIEW): EVEALE – ENTER THE WOODLAND REALM appeared first on NO CLEAN SINGING.
Ricky Warwick and his band The Fighting Hearts materialise at Brighton Concorde as part of their tour to promote their latest album Blood Ties. Support comes from Terrorvision singer Tony Wright.
Words: Mark Kelly
Photography: Robert Sutton
Ricky Warwick’s name being attached to any project has, over the years, become a guarantee of musical quality, and his current album Blood Ties is no exception, being a slab of rip-roaring classic rock featuring a sizeable dollop of essence of Thin Lizzy. Ricky and the Fighting Hearts’ walk-on music is Edwin Starr’s War, a sadly apt tune for the times that we live in.
However, we came here to rock, and that is what the band do from the get-go, with a storming version of Rise And Grind from Blood Ties. Ricky does not ignore his past by any means, though, and as early as the second song, we get The Almighty’s Jonestown Mind.
Over the years, Ricky seems to have worked with just about everybody who’s anybody. Celebrating Sinking, for example, written with Therapy?’s Andy Cairns. Delving a little way into the past again, we also get The Black Star Riders’ Another State Of Grace, which unsurprisingly features some very Lizzy-esque dual lead guitar.
Meanwhile, Three Sides To Every Story, from Ricky’s Tattoos & Alibis album, provides some food for thought, the three sides being “yours, mine and the truth.”
There is no doubt that Ricky Warwick is a very busy and indeed prolific artist. Blood Ties was released in March 2025, but the band play Fire And Vengeance, the title track of a new album due to be released in September.
Does this man never rest? In addition to his work with The Fighting Hearts, he will be playing with The Almighty during the summer, on the bill for Iron Maiden’s 50th anniversary bash at Knebworth in July, together with the Maid Of Stone festival a week later.
Ricky does, however, have time to impart some wisdom to us. He tells us that writing songs is a bit like keeping a diary. This is before playing Angels Of Desolation, which could well be about drinking.
Ricky has been dry for several years now, as has guitarist Ben Christo. To be fair, both of them are excellent adverts for giving up the demon drink.
Schwaben Redoubt is a standout song in the set, and is also one of the most untypical Ricky Warwick songs. It is about the futility of war and sounds like a heavy rock version of The Pogues. The song is beyond excellent, both in substance and sentiment, and somebody should sit Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump (and that Netanyahu guy too) down and make them listen to it.
Another Black Star Riders song, Finest Hour, was playlisted on Radio 2. Ricky’s mother’s response was, “I see you have a proper job now.”
Towards the end of the set, they play a very authentic cover of Motörhead’s Iron Fist in tribute to guitarist Phil Campbell, who passed away recently. Proceedings then draw to a close with The Almighty’s Free ‘n’ Easy.
This has been effectively a masterclass in how classic rock should be played and presented by an artist with an absolutely terrific back catalogue, thus ensuring a brilliant set.
There was space for more people at Concorde. It is imperative that excellent shows like tonight’s are supported, otherwise bands simply will not play. You have been warned.
I was somewhat unsure about what to expect from Tony Wright. I must confess I was completely unaware that he had a solo career, notwithstanding the fact that he has released four albums.
Tony has been intending to play an acoustic tour since COVID, but it has repeatedly been cancelled for various reasons. So this support tour is something of a realisation of a dream. Tony is on acoustic guitar, mostly playing rhythm, and he is accompanied by Terrorvision guitarist Milton ‘Milly’ Evans, also on acoustic, who mostly plays lead. Milly also has a pedal which triggers an electronic bass drum.
Their playing is really rather impressive, with Nothing To Write Home About featuring dual lead acoustic guitar. You do not hear that every day. Tony’s lyrics, and indeed his between-song banter, are very witty. This guy could, and maybe should, do stand-up.
The Blues is “a true story” made up by Tony. It’s “about how shit life can be when you’re lucky.” I’ll take his word for it. Another song is about a guy who reaches 100, and when asked about the secret behind his longevity, says, “drinking a half bottle of scotch and smoking 20 tabs a day.”
It should be noted that these are not necessarily the views of the reviewer.
Naturally, we get a Terrorvision song, just the one. Friends And Family offers a wonderful opportunity for some audience participation, as Tony and Milly sing “there’s a party over there,” and we respond with “fuck you over there.”
Everybody likes a good swear, I suppose, and in public it feels ever so slightly naughty. Their short set just whizzes by, but there is no denying that it is top entertainment. Indeed, so much so that I buy one of Tony’s CDs, so he must have been good.
Spring was in full swing for a while there, but now I have the heat back on and I’m bringing my plants indoors every other night. I sure wish I had some sick name-your-price releases that could save me some money AND help me work through my ineffectual annoyance with the weather…
As luck would have it, that’s exactly what we have in store for this edition of Cheap Thrills. These albums won’t solve your first-world problems, but you’ll probably feel better about yourself after supporting underground metal!
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Moon Wisdom – Let Water Flow (January 16, 2026)
There’s plenty of heavy metal influence on this hard-riffing debut from Italian black metal trio Moon Wisdom, making it a surprisingly fun and diverse listen. “As Rain” leads the charge with a series of galloping melodies that plunge into the fray with swords held aloft. I usually don’t like my black metal to be particularly clean and/or catchy, but I found it hard to argue with that earworm main riff and how the band keeps finding new ways to recontextualize it throughout the track. Then we have the album’s centerpiece: the mid-paced blackened ballad “Frozen Soul” (not to be confused with Texan death metal band of the same name), which draws equally from the epic Hellenic sound of the 90s and the misty neofolk textures that ruled the Cascades in the 00’s. Among the releases in this month’s column, Let Water Flow is probably the furthest outside my wheelhouse, but maybe it’s a sign that I should try to have more fun with my black metal.
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Hostile – Anhédonie à perte de vue (January 20, 2026)
Stop me if you’ve heard me say this before, but there’s a new one-man project worth following! Hostile’s debut LP is a misanthropic, blackened maelstrom that really means business. Hell, the very first track on this thing clocks in at 13:37, and while this relentless opener won’t make you any better at Counterstrike 1.6, it may flay the skin right off your bones–and that’ll probably make your hands that much lighter and more aerodynamic, right? One of my favorite tracks, “Knives of the Night,” dials back the tempo and cranks up the gain on damn near every instrument to create a crackling haze laced with haunting guitar melodies and indecipherable chants. Mr. Hostile, AKA Sommeil, really has something special going on with this project.
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Powerplant – Bridge of Sacrifice (March 13, 2026)
Wouldn’t you know it—this is also the work of a solo musician. But what sets Bridge of Sacrifice apart from the rest of the releases in this month’s column is that it’s absolutely baffling. Theo Zhykharyev initially conceived Powerplant as a synth-punk band, and while this release is very much built upon that punky foundation, Bridge of Sacrifice also sees Zhykharyev experimenting with black metal in a serious way. Well, maybe serious is the wrong word, as there is definitely an endearing campiness to the whole package, similar to what you might find on an unrelated label whose name is synonymous with “muck rock.” But it’s that cheese-factor that keeps me coming back to tracks like “Bad Moon Motel,” which opens with languid, warbly singing shadowed by drunken slide guitar and vampiric rasps that hint at the coming darkness. Halfway through, you’re suddenly teleported from the counter of a dingy lobby bar to a Castlevania level, complete with flying Gorgon heads and fire-breathing dragon statues. The paintings on the wall are trying to kill you and these tiny hunchbacks are leaping about maddeningly. Then, before you know it, you’re back to nursing your drink, blinking in the dim light of the bar, unsure if that was all a dream.
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Slave Agent – Silent Universe (March 22, 2024)
I swear this one isn’t from a solo musician, but our story starts with one. Hear me out!
The other day, I was sitting around and idly thinking to myself, “What happened to Autonoesis: that one-man tech-y blackened thrash band from a few years back?” I got to Googling, and it turned out that Tyler Lidstone, the lone member of Autonoesis, had since joined up with a merry band of fellow sci-fi thrashers to form Slave Agent. Silent Universe is their second album, and despite the relentless tempos and wanton shredding that drive each track into hyperspace, there is an impressive amount of melody—enough to catch your ear just before you are atomized in the event horizon.
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Potion – Split w/ Failure Addict (October 20, 2023)
Speaking of projects that I forgot about, why did no one tell me that Potion released new material—a few years ago? Damn it, I’m even later to this one!
Anyway, this is as good an excuse as any to introduce you to Potion. The California trio plays some of the most insane grindcore you’re likely to hear on this plane of reality. The combination of agonized howls, knifelike atonality, and firecracker percussion is utterly nonsensical and, to be honest, somewhat headache-inducing, but it makes for such a unique auditory experience that I can’t help but respect it. The folks in Failure Addict ain’t chumps either—over on side B, their note avalanches are slightly less manic but still unhinged and ear-splitting in the best (worst) ways. Blast from your car stereo or backyard Bluetooth speaker and you are guaranteed to ruin someone’s day.
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It’s been a little while since we’ve heard from Hey, ily. The off-kilter emo-pop project of Montana-bred, Twin Cities-based Caleb Haynes released their sophomore album Hey, I Loathe You! back in 2024, and today they’ve returned with a new pair of singles. “Ugly On The Inside (& Out)” is probably the biggest-sounding song we’ve heard…
The post Hey, ily – “Ugly On The Inside (& Out)” & “anendlesslistofnamesburnedintomyphonescreen” appeared first on Stereogum.
– April 30th, 2026 –
New Video/Single Now Playing + Pre-Orders Available
Photo by Florian Lübke
Watch/stream ENDSEEKER’s “Enemies Of Peace” HERE
After twelve years of seeking, German death metal hellraisers ENDSEEKER have finally found the end. The fiery Coffin Born EP, set for release on June 19th via Metal Blade Records, will mark the final chapter as a band.
“We’ve accomplished more than we have ever imagined in our wildest dreams,” reflects the band, in a celebratory mood. “We played with fantastic bands, played super-cool festivals, and released four albums and two EPs of which we are extremely proud. We were blessed with great and loyal fans and managed to stay a consistent lineup throughout our whole career. But after grinding for more than a decade and dedicating so much time and energy to this band, we feel like it’s time to move on to other projects. We wanted to end this band like we started – as very good friends. We started with an EP and we end it with an EP. It just feels right to do this now, while we still have the power to deliver a great farewell performance as well in the studio as on stage.”
Since their 2015 debut EP Corrosive Revelation, each release has hoisted the Hamburg quintet further up the death metal mountain, with Mount Carcass (2021) and Global Worming (2023) receiving widespread acclaim. Their soft spot for novelty cheese recurs on Coffin Born in a glorious David Hasselhoff cover, “True Survivor.”
In advance of the record’s release, today ENDSEEKER presents the EP’s opening track and first single, “Enemies Of Peace.” The band comments, “This is a straight banger with some hardcore and crust vibes. This song grooves like hell and has a very raw and kinda punk attitude. Not only the anti-fascist lyrics, but also musically. It’s very powerful by any means with a strong and bold message.“
Watch ENDSEEKER‘s “Enemies Of Peace” video HERE.
Produced by the band with drums engineered by Eike Freese, Coffin Born stands as ENDSEEKER‘s swan song, shaped by the intense bond of a lineup that remained together throughout their whole career.
Coffin Born will be released on digipak CD (w/ 12-page booklet) and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:
180g Black (EU)
Silver Black Merged (EU/US – Ltd.250)
“Royalty Metallic” Vintage Gold Marble (EU – Ltd. 250)
Find pre-orders at: metalblade.com/endseeker
Coffin Born Track Listing:
01. Enemies of Peace
02. No After. No Before.
03. Coffin Born
04. Life Breeds Death
05. True Survivor (David Hasselhoff Cover)
ENDSEEKER Live:
07/10/2026 M.U.R. Open Air – Königsee, DE
07/11/2026 Pure Fucking Metal FestEvil – Laberweinting, DE
07/24/2026 Burning Q – Osterholz-Scharmbeck, DE
11/06/2026 Club From Hell – Erfurt, DE w/ Milking The Goatmachine
11/07/2026 Live Music Hall – Weiher, DE w/ Milking The Goatmachine
11/13/2026 Helvetic – Oberhausen, DE w/ Milking The Goatmachine
11/14/2026 Urban Spree – Berlin, DE w/ Milking The Goatmachine
11/27/2026 LA Cham – Cham, DE w/ Milking The Goatmachine
11/28/2026 Backstage – München, DE w/ Milking The Goatmachine
12/12/2026 Knust – Hamburg, DE w/ Stillbirth, Slaughterday
ENDSEEKER:
Lenny Osterhus – vocals
Ben Liepelt – guitar
Jury Kowalczyk – guitar
Torsten Eggert – bass
André Kummer – drums
https://www.instagram.com/endseeker_official
https://www.facebook.com/endseekermusic
https://endseeker.bandcamp.com/music
Terminator death metal is a surprisingly sparse field. There are tenfold more Warhammer 40,000-themed bands than there are those who tackle the dystopian Skynet-controlled future. D.C.’s Immortal Form take a more inspired approach and embody an unflinching killing machine on their latest EP, Exterminatus Extremis, which we’re premiering today before it releases this Friday. Listen to it below and try not to get caught in the trash compactor.
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Pragmatism and apathy play a large role on Exterminatus Extremis, musically speaking. Immortal Form cultivate their stiff upper lip and aren’t concerned with the toll it takes on human life. It’s as if the intoxicating bassline on “The Abjuration of Human Existence” is the byproduct of cogs turning in a contraption, though it’s evident throughout Exterminatus Extremis. The guitar pedals are partially responsible, posessing an HM-2-like sharpness. The other piece of the equation is Immortal Form’s dour disposition, the cold and calculated manner in which they perform, acting as if the snapping of human shinbones is rote and rudimentary for them.
Vocalist Nate Falger countersbalances that with a cruel performance. He stands out in contrast to the modest (by death metal standards) instrumentation, never chewing scenery but clearly welcoming the spotlight, evident on “Butchered by Machines.” While the rest of Immortal Form are strict, Falger delights in the gore. He injects color into the silver and grey of Exterminatus Extremis, spicing up the already-impressive EP by putting a face to the murder machine. Not that it makes the punisher any more human.
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Exterminatus Extremis releases May 1.
Southern roots-rock alumni Warren Haynes has revealed a sweepingly majestic version of the Gov’t Mule favourite, ‘Banks Of The Deep End‘. The song is released on Provogue/Artone, and you can listen to it here. The track is taken from his upcoming new live album ‘Dreams & Songs‘, with more information on the release to follow. It […]
The post Warren Haynes Reveals ‘Banks Of The Deep End (live),’ With 64-piece Asheville Symphony Orchestra appeared first on ROCKPOSER DOT COM.
The hugely popular UK dance DJ and producer Fred again.. has a very, very long video up on his YouTube right now. That clip has the title “USB002 EVERY SHOW,” and it runs for 108 hours, or about four and a half days. It’s a live recording of every DJ set that Fred again.. played between Oct. 3, 2025, and Feb. 27 of this year. In that time, he played a ton of sets with other big names around the world. The Elijah-designed art for the video features the names of all the other acts on those bills.
The post Fred again.. Says He’s Uploaded The Longest YouTube Video Ever — But Did He? appeared first on Stereogum.
The post DETACH THE ISLANDS: Metal Injection Premieres Concrete Jungle EP By Brooklyn Mathcore/Hardcore Band Which Includes Poison The Well And Death Grips Covers; Record Out This Friday May 1st appeared first on INFRARED MAGAZINE.