Blaze Bayley: Iron Maiden Anniversary, The Patriot, Crumlin, 17.10.26
After finally getting his due for being a singer of Iron Maiden, by performing at this summer’s Eddfest in Knebworth. The human dynamo that is Blaze Bayley took his Iron Maiden anniversary tour in the road with the Welsh date landing at ‘The Home Of Rock’ The Patriot in Crumlin.
While Bayley’s tenure at the mic of Maiden is often much maligned, due to his voice not really fitting the Air Raid siren of Dickinson, there’s some really good songwriting that came out of that period with a few experiments that would come to define Maiden’s modern day output, it also meant that some of the Di’Anno cuts came back into circulation as Blaze can handle these really well.
Personally I’ve always had a soft spot for X Factor and Virtual XI, though I’m a huge fan of Blaze’s solo work and Wolfsbane so perhaps my judgement is a little clouded. Though at the time Steve Harris was quoted as saying “musically we’re the best we’ve ever been”.
I have vivid memories of playing both the albums back to back while myself and my brother painted our mother’s house, shouting along to the tracks as we did. So to be able to hear these songs live with him at this gig is something I’ll hold on to as both of us don’t get the time to hang out as much as we did.
But that’s what a Blaze Bayley gig is like, the man bewitches you, his intensity and his passion, you can’t not love him, the between song stories, the open invitations for comradship and his sheer love of doing this is infectious, backed by the always impressive Absolva, a 20+ song set list flew by in the shortest 2 and a half hours of my life.
Absolva; Chris, Luke, Martin & Aki, began with the instrumental of Doctor Doctor by UFO before crashing into life with Lord Of The Flies into Justice Of The Peace, Judgement Of Heaven, Blood On The Worlds Hands and Look For Truth, all taken from the X Factor album and for many in the crowd, never been heard played live.
From here Blaze explained that songs from his debut solo record Silicon Messiah had been written for Maiden so we got Born As A Stranger and The Brave from there before more Maiden in the form of Lighting Strikes Twice and Sign Of The Cross then another two Blaze tracks that were more recent but just as influenced by The Irons.
The band behind Bayley are brilliant, perfectly recreating the Maiden line up of that time as Martin McNee played with the playfulness of Nicko, Chris Appleton had Dave Murray’s tone just right while Aki had Janick’s and Luke laid down the foundation with the Steve Harris’ nimble bass lines, returning with an acoustic for 2 A.M and Como Estais Amigos.
This acoustic section splitting the more well known tracks such as When Two Worlds Collide, The Clansman, Man On The Edge and Futureal, from Virtual XI while Virus came from Best Of The Beast and there was a rousing rendition of Wrathchild, belted out by Bayley and the Crumlin Choir.
As the apex of the evening came, the band let loose a few solo spots before a couple of instrumental movements that featured UFO, Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore and Budgie as Blaze returned for the finally of Angel And The Gambler.
Though I couldn’t hear the terrible guitar synth/keys that make it so endearing, it was a fine way to close out this celebration of Blaze Bayley, Iron Maiden and resilience though doing something you love! Every Blaze show is brilliant, be it solo or with Wolfsbane, he’s still got that bellowing vocal, that larger than life persona and just makes you feel welcome and more importantly thoroughly entertained.
Summed up, it was brilliant and I want to do it again! 10/10
JUNIPER KILLS UNLEASHES NEW SINGLE “SWOLLEN WITH PRIDE”
Las Vegas Metalcore Quartet Introduces New Drummer and Opens the Next Chapter With the First Single From Their Upcoming EP
Las Vegas, Nevada – Las Vegas metalcore quartet Juniper Kills have officially released their new single “Swollen With Pride,” marking the band’s first release featuring drummer John Curry and the first single from their upcoming EP.
Formed in 2023, Juniper Kills have quickly established themselves as a hard-hitting presence within the Las Vegas metal scene, combining crushing metalcore riffs, punishing breakdowns, soaring choruses, and an aggressive live energy that reflects the gritty underbelly of their hometown.
“Swollen With Pride” represents a new chapter for the band, introducing Curry behind the kit while setting the tone for what listeners can expect from the upcoming EP. Built around heavy riffing, driving rhythms, and dynamic vocals, the single showcases Juniper Kills’ ability to balance outright aggression with memorable, anthemic songwriting.
Frontwoman Charlie Hanks delivers a dynamic vocal performance that moves between savage screams and massive melodic hooks, while guitarist Ross McLean drives the track with intricate, crushing riffage. Bassist Joey Little provides the song’s thick low-end foundation, with Curry’s explosive drumming bringing a fresh sense of momentum and intensity to the band’s sound.
The track was engineered by Josh Bearden of Nevermore Recordings, helping capture the weight and impact of the band’s latest material.
For Juniper Kills, “Swollen With Pride” is more than simply a new single. It is the first glimpse into the band’s next era.
“We’re excited for people to finally hear this one,” says the band. “It’s the first single we’ve released with John on drums and the first taste of what’s coming on the new EP.”
Drawing influence from the likes of Shadows Fall, Lamb of God, and Every Time I Die, Juniper Kills bring together the crushing intensity of modern metalcore with the kind of hooks and live energy built to hit hard in a packed room.
The current Juniper Kills lineup features:
Charlie Hanks – Vocals Ross McLean – Guitar Joey Little – Bass John Curry – Drums
With “Swollen With Pride” now available and a new EP on the horizon, Juniper Kills are laying the groundwork for their next move. The Las Vegas four-piece are ready to take the intensity of their hometown to a much larger audience.
“Swollen With Pride” is out now.
[jrEmbed module=”jrYouTube” youtube_id=”SREmjOGNpCM”]
Swollen With Pride by Juniper Kills
JUNIPER KILLS UNLEASHES NEW SINGLE “SWOLLEN WITH PRIDE”
Las Vegas Metalcore Quartet Introduces New Drummer and Opens the Next Chapter With the First Single From Their Upcoming EP
Las Vegas, Nevada – Las Vegas metalcore quartet Juniper Kills have officially released their new single “Swollen With Pride,” marking the band’s first release featuring drummer John Curry and the first single from their upcoming EP.
Formed in 2023, Juniper Kills have quickly established themselves as a hard-hitting presence within the Las Vegas metal scene, combining crushing metalcore riffs, punishing breakdowns, soaring choruses, and an aggressive live energy that reflects the gritty underbelly of their hometown.
“Swollen With Pride” represents a new chapter for the band, introducing Curry behind the kit while setting the tone for what listeners can expect from the upcoming EP. Built around heavy riffing, driving rhythms, and dynamic vocals, the single showcases Juniper Kills’ ability to balance outright aggression with memorable, anthemic songwriting.
Frontwoman Charlie Hanks delivers a dynamic vocal performance that moves between savage screams and massive melodic hooks, while guitarist Ross McLean drives the track with intricate, crushing riffage. Bassist Joey Little provides the song’s thick low-end foundation, with Curry’s explosive drumming bringing a fresh sense of momentum and intensity to the band’s sound.
The track was engineered by Josh Bearden of Nevermore Recordings , helping capture the weight and impact of the band’s latest material.
For Juniper Kills, “Swollen With Pride” is more than simply a new single. It is the first glimpse into the band’s next era.
“We’re excited for people to finally hear this one,” says the band. “It’s the first single we’ve released with John on drums and the first taste of what’s coming on the new EP.”
Drawing influence from the likes of Shadows Fall, Lamb of God, and Every Time I Die , Juniper Kills bring together the crushing intensity of modern metalcore with the kind of hooks and live energy built to hit hard in a packed room.
The current Juniper Kills lineup features:
Charlie Hanks – Vocals Ross McLean – Guitar Joey Little – Bass John Curry – Drums
With “Swollen With Pride” now available and a new EP on the horizon, Juniper Kills are laying the groundwork for their next move. The Las Vegas four-piece are ready to take the intensity of their hometown to a much larger audience.
“Swollen With Pride” is out now.
Jake Blount talks about rehearsing as an apartment dweller, including renting rooms at Providence’s JamStage, where he might be playing in a room next to a dad band covering Linkin Park. He shares advice on staying hydrated on the road and discusses the benefits of a livable income stream outside of music. The fiddler, banjo player, and guitarist is pursuing a Ph.D. in Musicology and Ethnomusicology at Brown University.
DELAIN announces an exciting new creative transformation with an extraordinary cast of musicians and vocalists joining its new setup. One that opens its musical world to different voices, personalities and musical perspectives. Joining this new chapter are well-known musicians such as Marko Hietala, Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation), Fabienne Erni (Eluveitie), Anneke van Giersbergen, and more. The full list can be reviewed below.
These artists will contribute their own artistic identity, with several of them also joining DELAIN on stage. The first glimpse of this new era arrives today with the release of the first single “We Are Fire”, featuring Fabienne Erni, Noa Gruman and Paolo Ribaldini. At the same time, this marks the farewell of vocalist Diana Leah, who has decided to step away from DELAIN after many years with the band. While her departure naturally brings a sense of sadness, the band looks back with great gratitude on everything they have shared together.
At the heart of DELAIN is its founder, songwriter and keyboardist Martijn Westerholt. Alongside him, Ludovico Cioffi, Ronald Landa and Sander Zoer form the core of the project.
Martijn Westerholt adds: “‘We Are Fire’ is about the inner fire that keeps us moving forward, even when the path ahead is uncertain. It’s about daring to cross boundaries, and refusing to give up on what we believe in. To me, it captures the spirit of what DELAIN is becoming. A place where different voices and personalities can come together, each bringing something unique, while sharing the same fire.”
Watch the official music video for “We Are Fire”HERE:
Over the past months, DELAIN has been reflecting on its future and ultimately chose to embrace a new and exciting creative direction, bringing together a wide range of artists and musical perspectives. Rather than looking for a direct replacement for Diana, DELAINhas chosen to embrace collaboration on a much broader scale. Different voices, personalities and musical perspectives can now come together around the band, allowing each song and performance to take on its own character. Joining this new chapter are:
Marko Hietala* Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation) Anneke van Giersbergen Fabienne Erni* (Eluveitie) Patty Gurdy Noa Gruman* (Sabaton’s legendary Orchestra) Paolo Ribaldini* Johanna Kurkela (Auri, Eye of Melian) Ruud Jolie (Within Temptation) *Artists will also join Delain live on their February 2027 tour
Stay tuned for more news coming soon!
DELAIN Live 2027
DELAIN will take this new era on the road for the first time in February 2027, with shows in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. More international dates and countries will be announced soon. The tour will feature INFECTED RAIN as special guest and PERSEFONE as support. The tour will culminate on February 11 at 013 in Tilburg, one of the Netherlands’ most renowned live music venues.
DELAIN FEAT. MARKO HIETALA 2027 Special Guest: INFECTED RAIN Support: PERSEFONE 02.02.27 DE – Cologne / Live Music Hall 03.02.27 DE – Bremen / Modernes 04.02.27 DE – Berlin / Columbia Theater 05.02.27 DE – Leipzig / Hellraiser 06.02.27 DE – Karlsruhe / Substage 07.02.27 CH – Pratteln / Z7 08.02.27 DE – Munich / Backstage 09.02.27 DE – Frankfurt / Batschkapp 10.02.27 LU – Esch-sur-Alzette / Rockhal 11.02.27 NL – Tilburg / O13
Sunday night in Edinburgh, what can you do? The sensible option would probably involve getting ready for my long drive to Peterhead at 5:30 am in the morning. Fortunately, Erja Lyytinen’s birthday tour offered a far more appealing proposition. Work can wait. There are guitars to consider. Celebrating her 50th birthday and twenty years of … Continue reading Gig Review: Erja Lyytinen / Buffalo Gap – La Belle Angèle, Edinburgh (11th October 2026)
Children Of Bodom, Cryptopsy, Bodysnatcher and Celestial Sanctuary – four more names that will make up the upcoming edition of Mystic Festival, and with them, four different images of deadly metal.
Children of Bodom
1997 saw the birth of Children Of Bodom. The Finnish band developed the notion of melodic death metal in the vein of their own sen… Read More/Discuss on Metal Underground.com
Neal Morse & The Resonance return with their highly anticipated second studio album, River of Light, a powerful and deeply personal progressive rock journey, set for release on November 27th, 2026.
On this new podcast, Neal Morse and singer Johnny Bisaha talk about the new album ‘River of Light’, how they wrote, the inspiration, the new band lineup and more.
When Neal Morse first announced Neal Morse & The Resonance in 2024, fans and critics were surprised to see the celebrated prog rock visionary collaborating with a group of exceptionally talented yet relatively unknown musicians. The resulting album, No Hill For A Climber, was met with overwhelming praise, showcasing a fresh creative chemistry that resonated strongly with audiences worldwide.
Now, just two years later, the band continues that journey with River of Light, an album that expands upon the musical and spiritual foundations established by its predecessor.
Reflecting on the project, Morse explains:
“Following the success of No Hill For A Climber and some really great live shows in the summer of 2025, we knew that we wanted to make more music together. We started kicking around ideas in October 2025 and ended up spending much more time on this record. At one point it looked like it might become a double album because we had so many ideas. Eventually, we trimmed it down to a single album, and I think it works great.”
At its core, River of Light is a concept album centered on a spiritual journey, a theme familiar to Morse’s longtime fans. This time, however, the inspiration comes from the often-overlooked biblical figure Terah, the father of Abraham.
“Terah signifies someone who begins a journey with God but gets tired and allows sadness and resignation to keep them from going all the way,” says Morse. “However, his son completes the journey.”
Musically, River of Light represents a true collaborative effort. While Morse remains the band’s creative anchor, the album highlights the significant contributions of guitarist Andre Madatian and vocalist Jonny Bisaha, whose influences bring a fresh energy and perspective to the material.
“On this album, you can really hear what these guys have brought to the table,” Morse says. “Partly because of their ages, they’re influenced by bands like Rush and 90s rock, which I think is really cool. We had so many ideas that simply fitting everything together and creating the right flow became a challenge in itself.”
River of Light will be available as a Limited 2CD Digipak (featuring a second disc of instrumentals), Standard CD Jewelcase & Digital Album.
The full track-listing is as follows:
1. Opening (River Of Light)
2. The Sorrow
3. The Ashes
4. The Movement
5. The Time (To Be Timeless)
6. The Second Movement
7. The Calling
8. Walk on Water
9. Shine Until Tomorrow
10. Haran (The Place Between)
11. Cascading Skies
12. River of Light
From the opening strains of Sister Christian or some Meat Loaf blasting through the PA to Hannah Greenwood emerging from a coffin and William Von Ghould surveying proceedings from a handcrafted gothic throne, the Off With Their Heads Tour arrived in London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town as the grandest Creeper production to date.
Filmed for posterity as part of a short UK run, the near-capacity O2 Forum Kentish Town witnessed a band performing with supreme confidence.
Ambitious stage shows are hardly new territory for Creeper, but something about the energy of this one pushed things even further. Every set piece, character appearance and theatrical flourish felt like another bite of a delicious meal, with songs strong enough to carry the weight of it all.
That connection between band and audience remains one of Creeper’s greatest strengths.
Creeper – O2 Forum Kentish Town – 9 October 2026. Photo: Jessica-Rose Lena
At various points throughout the evening, Will stood almost stunned as hundreds of voices sang entire verses back at him. Fans had travelled from across the UK and beyond, with some flying in from the United States and others following multiple dates on the tour.
Grown adults and young children painted in the band’s iconic vampire makeup made the atmosphere feel less like a standard rock show and more like a gathering of a community that continues to grow with every passing year.
Creeper – O2 Forum Kentish Town – 9 October 2026. Photo: Jessica-Rose Lena
For this writer, every London Creeper show has become essential viewing. Each tour adds another chapter to a story that began years ago and continues to evolve, while the world surrounding the band grows richer with every release. Audiences transcend gigs, stepping into a universe that exists far beyond the duration of a setlist.
As has become tradition in recent years, Creeper’s presence extended well beyond the venue itself. Camden effectively became Creeper’s lair for the day, with The Black Heart, Lost Souls Pizza and The Underworld each playing their part in the celebrations.
The Black Heart opened its doors early for the band’s pop-up shop, tattoo studio and themed cocktails. Bargain hunters delighted in heavily discounted merchandise, with shirts available for as little as £5 and hoodies reduced to £20.
Judging by the queues, plenty of fans arrived home with additions to their wardrobes before the evening had even begun.
A short walk away, Lost Souls Pizza embraced the occasion with Creeper-themed pizzas and cocktails. Few bands inspire enough devotion for fans to spend an afternoon eating black pizza before heading to a huge show, but few bands have cultivated a fanbase quite like Creeper’s.
Creeper – O2 Forum Kentish Town – 9 October 2026. Photo: Jessica-Rose Lena
The music began with Atlanta’s Starbenders, who brought swagger, energy and a healthy dose of hard rock attitude. Opening with Blood Moon, the quartet tore through songs including TheBeast Goes On and Sex before closing with Saturday. A shirtless guitarist, punchy riffs and infectious enthusiasm made for an entertaining start to the evening.
London-based trio Calva Louise followed with a performance that repeatedly left onlookers wondering how frontwoman Jess Allanic was managing to sing, play guitar and handle keyboard duties seemingly all at once. Tracks including W.T.F showcased the band’s adventurous approach, while the international makeup of the group only added to their appeal. With members hailing from Venezuela, New Zealand and France, Calva Louise felt every bit the world-class act their growing reputation suggests.
Creeper – O2 Forum Kentish Town – 9 October 2026. Photo: Jessica-Rose Lena
As the house lights dimmed for the main event, a voiceover echoed around the venue before a lone silhouette appeared against blood-red lighting. Closely followed by the arrival of the Mistress Of Death. An imposing force from the moment she stepped into the light, she commanded immediate attention, dispatching her first victim to the delight of the crowd before the curtain dropped and Creeper launched into Blood Magic.
The reaction was immediate. Voices bounced back towards the stage with astonishing volume as fans greeted every lyric, every riff and every dramatic gesture with unwavering enthusiasm. Material from Sanguivore and Sanguivore II understandably dominated the set, with songs from both records proving tailor-made for large stages and devoted audiences.
During Lovers Led Astray, Hannah emerged with outstretched arms, encouraging a sea of waving hands and foam headstones above the crowd. Parasite landed with equal force before Headstones provided one of several opportunities for Hannah’s vocals to shine.
For Black House, Will was presented with a rotary phone, singing directly into the mouthpiece before taking a seat upon his elaborate gothic throne.
Creeper – O2 Forum Kentish Town – 9 October 2026. Photo: Jessica-Rose Lena
One of the evening’s standout sequences arrived with Razor Wire as two vampire familiars appeared carrying a coffin onto the stage. The lid creaked open, Hannah emerged to a deafening reception and delivered a haunting performance that perfectly captured the dark romanticism at the heart of Creeper’s identity. Around her, the stage resembled the set of a gothic horror film brought vividly to life.
Throughout the night, Will remained a magnetic presence. Whether directing crowd singalongs during Cry To Heaven, pouring emotion into More Than Death or simply watching the audience take ownership of a song, his ability to connect with people remains extraordinary.
The guillotine’s arrival towards the end of the set brought knowing cheers from every corner of the Forum.
Returning armed with her axe, the Mistress of Death stalked across the stage like Creeper’s own Ninth Wonder Of The World. Will’s theatrical decapitation prompted one of the loudest reactions of the night, with the severed trophy raised triumphantly overhead while fans roared their approval.
Creeper – O2 Forum Kentish Town – 9 October 2026. Photo: Jessica-Rose Lena
The encore shifted gears slightly for the final three tracks. Hiding With The Boys provided a welcome nod to earlier chapters of the band’s catalogue and sparked another huge singalong from a crowd that had somehow found even more energy.
But Misery, a song that has gradually become something larger than Creeper themselves, proved the night’s ultimate triumph.
Before Will reached the first line, vast sections of the audience had already begun to murmur the lyrics. Friends threw arms around shoulders, strangers sang every word together, some smiled through tears while others simply stood absorbed by the occasion.
Will recognised what was happening and stepped away from centre stage, leaving the crowd to carry the song for him. Few frontmen can command attention quite like Will Gould, but recognising when a song belongs to the people in front of him may be an even rarer gift.
Creeper – O2 Forum Kentish Town – 9 October 2026. Photo: Jessica-Rose Lena
As the closing stretch approached, Will thanked the audience on behalf of the band before Creeper crashed headlong into a thunderous finale.
By the time the final notes rang out, black makeup and fake blood streaked countless faces throughout the venue. Whether caused by sweat, tears or a mixture of both scarcely mattered.
What remained was the feeling of having witnessed a band operating at the absolute peak of their powers.
Long after the final encore, Creeper’s grip on Camden continued. Fans drifted towards The Underworld, where Creeper Karaoke kept spirits high before members of the band took control of the decks themselves.
Those who stayed until the small hours were rewarded once again when Hannah grabbed the microphone and joined in singing along to Ice Nine Kills, Twisting The Knife, bringing an already memorable day to a fitting conclusion.
Most shows leave behind memories. Creeper leave chapters, and judging by the scenes inside the O2 Forum Kentish Town, plenty more pages remain to be written.
