Distinctive, unique, creative, clever, underrated, and passionate. All words I would happily associate with Godsticks, the Progressive Metallers who have been carving their own mark in the world of hard rock and Metal for 18 years. Seventh album VOiD is not going to change my view of them, for it is 44 minutes of music that works on every level.
The bite of aggression in their distinctive guitar work remains, and if anything, has been levelled up a notch or two. Dark and uncompromising, it reflects the disillusionment with the division in the world, and as the band put it, the loss of nuance. So, to combat that, we retreat from the noise into our own personal void.
With their first lineup change for aeons in situ, Francis George is now on bass in place of former member Dan Nelson, and the lineup sounds energised and fresh.
Godsticks – VOiD – The quality of this band has always been there. Now it is just pushed up another two levels at least.
Not that there was an issue with This Is What A Winner Looks Like, because I deemed that their best release back in 2023. But there is something more instant, more compelling about VOiD, as George locks in with drummer Tom Price and guitarist Gavin Bushell, with the lineup completed by guitarist and vocalist Darran Charles.
So, what do the band feel about the subject matter? “It feels like we’re in an age where there’s no compromise, no centre ground, and no one really wants to consider another person’s perspective. We’re left with just two viewpoints: left or right (which are also each side’s synonyms for either ‘right’ or ‘wrong’).
“Like many musicians, I’m arguably quite left-wing in my views, although I can’t help but feel that all the strides we’ve made as a society towards tolerance and inclusion have been undermined by efforts to shame anyone who may have used an incorrect word, whilst actually doing a very positive thing.
“In recent years, people have been too quick to strip words of context and, more importantly, intent, all in the name of winning an argument or admonishing someone to make themselves look more enlightened.”
Having emerged blinking into the light from a creative block that caused severe angst post-pandemic with This Is What A Winner Looks Like, Godsticks have spent 18 months crafting VOiD.
That it rolls along with incredible pace is to the band’s credit. M.I.A, Hold Back and Watch It Burn all pass in a blur. This is a Progressive band who do not need to play sprawling epics. Everything is condensed into short sharp bursts. Watch It Burn clocks in at just over three minutes, yet does everything it needs to get the message across with ample time.
Following those three opening tracks, Godsticks ease off the frenetic pace on Master Of A Plan, a slightly more measured and expansive track that still contains all the bite necessary. Charles vocals are on point, more direct and controlled, but still with the distinctive, instantly recognisable style that makes him one of the genre’s best frontmen. The track also features some of the album’s best guitar work.
Allow time to explore and immerse yourself in this album, and you will find rich rewards. The songs are sharp, such as Can’t Withstand, with multiple layers to absorb and appreciate.
The quality of this band has always been there. Now it is just pushed up another two levels at least. It is evident that the writing process has developed again, with Charles effusive about his colleagues’ contributions.
“I cannot overstate the enormously positive impact Tom and Gavin have had on the writing process over the last few albums,” he says. “Whilst the writing methods have rarely changed for me over the years, what has changed is that their contributions are indispensable and something I genuinely look forward to incorporating.
“I’ve lost count of the times on this album that they’ve provided or reinterpreted a part that has prevented the song from being binned because it wasn’t working. This is also the first time in 12 years that we’re working with a different bass player, too [Francis George], and that itself has offered a fresh perspective on arrangements and influenced the overall feel of the rhythm section. It’s a little different this time around.”
I can see that these songs will translate well into the live shows that the band have coming up. I am desperately working on how to get to one, with multiple clashes and commitments to juggle.
However, if I can, the opportunity to see and hear Talking Through Walls Part 1 and Part 2 would be epic, for even at the tail end of the album, often where the runt of the song litter is hidden, Godsticks refuse to bow down on quality with the double parter showing another side to the band.
The first part is more measured, precise and controlled, whilst the latter erupts into a barrage of crunching riffs and chilling lead work.
The finale, Hope Is Burning, is a reminder of the themes and lyrical content on VOiD. It is classic Godsticks, perfectly delivered with a combined feel that is both defiant yet delicate at the same time.
For me, VOiD will, with more plays, likely climb to the top of the band’s discography, possibly beating my favourite, 2020’s Inescapable.
I am going to spend more time with it for sure and continue to work out how to get to one of those Spring shows without causing too many ramifications. You should, too.
Godsticks release VOiD on 27 March 2026 via Kscope. Pre-orders are available from godsticks.lnk.to/VOiDFA. Their tour kicks off on 17 April at the Hope & Anchor in London. Tour ticket links are available from here. The band also play SOS Festival, Oldham on 4 July 2026.
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a
Event Details
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a refreshed lineup and the momentum of their seventh studio album, the band are primed to deliver a set packed with intensity, precision, and atmosphere.
With VOiD showcasing a more immediate and hard-hitting sound, these live shows promise to capture that same urgency, blending tight, punchy compositions with the band’s trademark technical edge.
Fans can expect a carefully crafted setlist that balances new material with established favourites, all delivered with the controlled aggression and musical depth that define Godsticks. Tracks like M.I.A, Hold Back, and Watch It Burn are built for the live environment, while the expansive Talking Through Walls pieces offer a dynamic contrast that highlights the band’s versatility.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or discovering them for the first time, this tour is set to underline exactly why Godsticks continue to stand apart in the Progressive Metal landscape.
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a
Event Details
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a refreshed lineup and the momentum of their seventh studio album, the band are primed to deliver a set packed with intensity, precision, and atmosphere.
With VOiD showcasing a more immediate and hard-hitting sound, these live shows promise to capture that same urgency, blending tight, punchy compositions with the band’s trademark technical edge.
Fans can expect a carefully crafted setlist that balances new material with established favourites, all delivered with the controlled aggression and musical depth that define Godsticks. Tracks like M.I.A, Hold Back, and Watch It Burn are built for the live environment, while the expansive Talking Through Walls pieces offer a dynamic contrast that highlights the band’s versatility.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or discovering them for the first time, this tour is set to underline exactly why Godsticks continue to stand apart in the Progressive Metal landscape.
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a
Event Details
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a refreshed lineup and the momentum of their seventh studio album, the band are primed to deliver a set packed with intensity, precision, and atmosphere.
With VOiD showcasing a more immediate and hard-hitting sound, these live shows promise to capture that same urgency, blending tight, punchy compositions with the band’s trademark technical edge.
Fans can expect a carefully crafted setlist that balances new material with established favourites, all delivered with the controlled aggression and musical depth that define Godsticks. Tracks like M.I.A, Hold Back, and Watch It Burn are built for the live environment, while the expansive Talking Through Walls pieces offer a dynamic contrast that highlights the band’s versatility.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or discovering them for the first time, this tour is set to underline exactly why Godsticks continue to stand apart in the Progressive Metal landscape.
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a
Event Details
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a refreshed lineup and the momentum of their seventh studio album, the band are primed to deliver a set packed with intensity, precision, and atmosphere.
With VOiD showcasing a more immediate and hard-hitting sound, these live shows promise to capture that same urgency, blending tight, punchy compositions with the band’s trademark technical edge.
Fans can expect a carefully crafted setlist that balances new material with established favourites, all delivered with the controlled aggression and musical depth that define Godsticks. Tracks like M.I.A, Hold Back, and Watch It Burn are built for the live environment, while the expansive Talking Through Walls pieces offer a dynamic contrast that highlights the band’s versatility.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or discovering them for the first time, this tour is set to underline exactly why Godsticks continue to stand apart in the Progressive Metal landscape.
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a
Event Details
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a refreshed lineup and the momentum of their seventh studio album, the band are primed to deliver a set packed with intensity, precision, and atmosphere.
With VOiD showcasing a more immediate and hard-hitting sound, these live shows promise to capture that same urgency, blending tight, punchy compositions with the band’s trademark technical edge.
Fans can expect a carefully crafted setlist that balances new material with established favourites, all delivered with the controlled aggression and musical depth that define Godsticks. Tracks like M.I.A, Hold Back, and Watch It Burn are built for the live environment, while the expansive Talking Through Walls pieces offer a dynamic contrast that highlights the band’s versatility.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or discovering them for the first time, this tour is set to underline exactly why Godsticks continue to stand apart in the Progressive Metal landscape.
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a
Event Details
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a refreshed lineup and the momentum of their seventh studio album, the band are primed to deliver a set packed with intensity, precision, and atmosphere.
With VOiD showcasing a more immediate and hard-hitting sound, these live shows promise to capture that same urgency, blending tight, punchy compositions with the band’s trademark technical edge.
Fans can expect a carefully crafted setlist that balances new material with established favourites, all delivered with the controlled aggression and musical depth that define Godsticks. Tracks like M.I.A, Hold Back, and Watch It Burn are built for the live environment, while the expansive Talking Through Walls pieces offer a dynamic contrast that highlights the band’s versatility.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or discovering them for the first time, this tour is set to underline exactly why Godsticks continue to stand apart in the Progressive Metal landscape.
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a
Event Details
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a refreshed lineup and the momentum of their seventh studio album, the band are primed to deliver a set packed with intensity, precision, and atmosphere.
With VOiD showcasing a more immediate and hard-hitting sound, these live shows promise to capture that same urgency, blending tight, punchy compositions with the band’s trademark technical edge.
Fans can expect a carefully crafted setlist that balances new material with established favourites, all delivered with the controlled aggression and musical depth that define Godsticks. Tracks like M.I.A, Hold Back, and Watch It Burn are built for the live environment, while the expansive Talking Through Walls pieces offer a dynamic contrast that highlights the band’s versatility.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or discovering them for the first time, this tour is set to underline exactly why Godsticks continue to stand apart in the Progressive Metal landscape.
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a
Event Details
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a refreshed lineup and the momentum of their seventh studio album, the band are primed to deliver a set packed with intensity, precision, and atmosphere.
With VOiD showcasing a more immediate and hard-hitting sound, these live shows promise to capture that same urgency, blending tight, punchy compositions with the band’s trademark technical edge.
Fans can expect a carefully crafted setlist that balances new material with established favourites, all delivered with the controlled aggression and musical depth that define Godsticks. Tracks like M.I.A, Hold Back, and Watch It Burn are built for the live environment, while the expansive Talking Through Walls pieces offer a dynamic contrast that highlights the band’s versatility.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or discovering them for the first time, this tour is set to underline exactly why Godsticks continue to stand apart in the Progressive Metal landscape.
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a
Event Details
Godsticks hit the road in support of VOiD with a renewed sense of purpose, bringing their sharp, modern take on progressive metal to stages across the UK. Energised by a refreshed lineup and the momentum of their seventh studio album, the band are primed to deliver a set packed with intensity, precision, and atmosphere.
With VOiD showcasing a more immediate and hard-hitting sound, these live shows promise to capture that same urgency, blending tight, punchy compositions with the band’s trademark technical edge.
Fans can expect a carefully crafted setlist that balances new material with established favourites, all delivered with the controlled aggression and musical depth that define Godsticks. Tracks like M.I.A, Hold Back, and Watch It Burn are built for the live environment, while the expansive Talking Through Walls pieces offer a dynamic contrast that highlights the band’s versatility.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or discovering them for the first time, this tour is set to underline exactly why Godsticks continue to stand apart in the Progressive Metal landscape.
After four decades as the driving force behind Skid Row, bassist and songwriter Rachel Bolan steps forward with his first-ever solo album under the name BOLAN. Gargoyle of the Garden State is a bold, deeply personal debut rooted in the grit, attitude, and storytelling spirit of his New Jersey upbringing. Produced by multi‑Grammy winner Nick […]
Via Doloris – Guerre Et Paix (Season Of Mist) [Rick Eaglestone]
A debut album that arrives fully formed is a rare thing, and Guerre Et Paix, the first full-length from Via Doloris, is exactly that. Released via Season of Mist, this is the project of French multi-instrumentalist Gildas Le Pape – one man, seven compositions, and a vision so coherent and so committed that it is difficult to believe you are not listening to a band ten years into their career.
The fact that session drums are handled by Frost of Satyricon and 1349 says something about the circles this record is moving in – but what it says even more loudly is that the songwriting underneath had to be strong enough to warrant that collaboration, and it absolutely is.
Shifting between French, English, and Norwegian across its seven compositions, Guerre Et Paix treats language itself as an instrument – each tongue carrying its own emotional gravity, its own weight, its own texture against the music.
The artwork by Linnea Syversen lends the whole package a sacral, almost ritualistic quality that is entirely in keeping with what Le Pape has created sonically. This is an album that demands your full attention.
Opener Communion sets the tone with an atmospheric deliberateness that has genuine weight to it – this is not a record that rushes anywhere, and from the first moments Le Pape makes that clear.
Frost’s drumming grounds everything in physical momentum without ever overwhelming the melodic intent, and as an opening statement it works precisely because it feels like an act of arrival rather than a warm-up. Un Franc Soleil, written in French, is the album at its most quietly devastating – a track built around absence as much as sound, and the most emotionally exposed moment on the record. If you’re not paying close attention, it might pass you by, and that would be a serious mistake.
Omnipresents is where the folk and pagan elements that run through this record become most audible – there is a timeless, almost ancestral quality to the arrangement here, and the contrast between its more aggressive passages and the moments of reflective calm is sharper than anywhere else on the album. It is a demonstration of real compositional maturity.
For The Glory sits at the heart of Guerre Et Paix and is, for me, the album’s crowning moment – the track that most fully encapsulates what Via Doloris is and what this record is trying to do. It is the kind of track that keeps pulling you back, and the more time you spend with it the more you find in it. Hands down.
Ultime Tourment is the album’s centrepiece in terms of sheer ambition – ten minutes that justify every second of their runtime and then some. It builds with a patience that most bands simply don’t have the nerve for, and by the time it reaches its peak it has earned that intensity completely. Go and put this on loud and give it the room it needs.
Visdommens Vei, I brings the Norwegian language into the record with full force, and the mid-track shift into something more luminous and folk-tinged is the kind of moment that makes you stop whatever you’re doing and just listen – it is a genuinely brave compositional choice, and it lands every time.
Visdommens Vei II closes the album at just over two minutes, and that brevity is exactly right – it doesn’t tie anything off neatly, it simply lets the weight of everything that has come before it settles. Guerre Et Paix has earned that ending.
Via Doloris have felt like black metal’s most carefully kept secret for long enough – with Guerre Et Paix that is emphatically no longer the case. Gildas Le Pape has delivered one of the most fully realised debut albums in the genre in recent memory, a record that is meticulous in its craft, uncompromising in its vision, and deeply, genuinely moving in its emotional honesty.
The collaboration with Frost is not a gimmick or a draw – it is a demonstration of just how strong the songwriting here is, because without that foundation no session drummer in the world, however legendary, could have made this record what it is. This is black metal that has something real to say, and it says it with extraordinary grace.
“The album is about confronting the fractures within yourself – the war between what you are and what you want to become.” – Gildas Le Pape. 8/10
NO/MÁS – No Peace (Redefining Darkness Records) [Joe Guatieri]
NO/MÁS is a Grindcore band from Washington, D.C. They are a name known by quite a few weirdos out there like myself who follow extreme music and have a hatred of their sense of hearing. They’ve been around for a good while now, forming in 2017 and putting out several releases.
Surprisingly enough with their album that I’m covering here No Peace, it’s only the second “full-length” that they have released with their previous effort coming out in 2022. Again it’s a band that I’ve been aware of but never listened to as I go to more Grindcore gigs then what I do listen to, I was excited to get into it!
The album is typically short at 22 minutes, providing a hammer on your head until you see stars in your peripheral vision. NO/MÁS travel across the world and take influence from some things that you might not expect. For one, there’s a lot of Thrash Metal worship throughout the album, it’s like the band are screaming I love you Slayer!
Take track six, Leech and you’ve got an odd-pairing of two sections that miraculously connect. You’ve got an obvious wink and nod to Raining Blood as they take a fun spin on that famous riff and then juxtapose it with a solo which is straight out of the F-Zero playbook.
No Peace sits much more within Metal than what it does with Hardcore as it’s more about pure destruction than it is speed. The blast beats are especially killer right the way through with such a clean and impactful drum sound, it doesn’t give you any time to breathe and proves what an incredible drummer Henry Everitt is.
The bass also gets a lot of time to shine, at its best it sounds like you’re getting a beating by a steel pipe, the instrument reverberates throughout the room and is always present.
I want to point out track nine, Choke Point, it’s a whole fake out, at first it makes me think oh this is too familiar until it reaches its arms out and brings in great head banging grooves. It goes from a more Groove Metal passage and then in front of your very eyes, the song deconstructs itself and takes elements away, leaving Industrial Metal grit by the end, such a fabulous idea.
Overall, with No Peace, NO/MÁS wears their influences proudly on their sleeve and has a great grasp over subverting your expectations, making for plenty of fun moments. It might be aggressive and off-the-wall but at least for a Grindcore record it feels oddly welcoming, taking you by the hand and saying look we don’t want you to throw up all of the time, only some of it.
The album is a laugh with some fantastic locked-in performances, it’s a night out that you remember fondly but still forget about at least half of what happened. 7/10
A new player has entered the arena!! Diatribes, arriving from the fertile Brazilian underground with their debut release Degenerate. It basically nails its colour to the mast from the off, once you get past the introduction that Death’s Echo Chants sets in motion.
The Witch, is effectively what extreme metal sounds like where you ignore current trends or themes and stay as close as possible to what you got into this in the first place. It also sets the tone for what is to follow and makes no apologies about that. Its all drums that mash and riffs that explode outwardly.
In the respect of being hard, heavy, extreme all of the standard descriptions that can be applied are satisfied here and even more so on Hostility Within that takes a core arrangement and then hammers you with it. They know to keep these songs on the shorter side too, conscious of repeating the same message too many times. There’s a definite Slayer/Exodus flavour on display too, which isn’t a bad thing really.
There is obviously a ying to this yang and that is the fact that despite these tracks doing what they are supposed to do, they flash by without embedding. If you asked me right now for a song that stood out for me, I’d go with Masquerade, only for that Mandatory Suicide homage as its starts.
The songs are energetic and built for being played live, of this I’m absolutely certain because I don’t think that Diatribes have the word ‘slow’ in their vocab. Because of this need for constant aggression to be manifested in song, you need them to have variation In how they play out. Just using speed for speeds sake only goes so far.
Still, this is a minor thing really when you consider that they have come here to be aggressive, to bring tightly focused extreme metal back into play. For those who would like to believe that Grunge, Nu-Metal or any other movement didn’t happen then this is for them.
Its as Old School as you could possibly get without directly copying those influences. I think we should applaud them because it is a strong debut that points to good things coming. 7/10
Let’s go once again in to the epic progressive metal sound of French band Parallel Minds shall we?
Cairn is their fourth studio full length and again brings together thrash, death, power and prog metal which has seen them compared to Blind Guardian, Evergrey and Symphony X and while the latter is very much where Parallel Minds ply their trade, the two former appear throughout with Orishas and Bhopal taking Blind Guardian into some African music sounds as Togo musicians Arka’n Asrafokor and Silveira Lakoélé Atalawoè add their skillset.
It’s an album of cinematic orchestrations, neo-classical guitar solos, blistering double kicks and vocals that can hit top end high notes, gutsy passionate mids and gravel throated growls. The influence of Devin Townsend too comes in just how eclectic it is musically, this variation of this album comes from the heart of this album being the symbol of the cairn, stone piles left by travellers along their path. Cairn is a 61 minute concept album, so it’s not a quick listen, but if you give it time you’ll be rewarded but some brilliant performances, great songwriting and a full cast of guest artist that drive the concept this album tries to convey. There’s Native American chants that frame Trail Of Tears before it blows up into Iron Maiden style twin harmonies.
More guests from the French scene join the album as Asylum Pyre, Muhurta, and Stone Horns, to really increase the grandeur of this fourth record as we travel across the world though the medium of intense modern prog metal. Grab your passport and make sure your seats are in the full and upright positions as this is journey through the existence of man and the experiences they leave behind.
A superb record but one that you need to make time for Cairn is a pillar of the prog metal scene. 8/10
After four decades as the driving force behind Skid Row, bassist and songwriter Rachel Bolan steps forward with his first-ever solo album under the name BOLAN. “Gargoyle of the Garden State” is a bold, deeply personal debut rooted in the grit, attitude, and storytelling spirit of his New Jersey upbringing.
Produced by multi‑Grammy winner Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Skid Row, Rush, Evanescence, Alice In Chains) The album began as a simple conversation between friends. What started casually quickly evolved into a record that would ultimately define Bolan’s voice as both a songwriter and storyteller.
“Gargoyle of the Garden State is not a project, it is every bit of my soul,” says Bolan. “Like me, it knows when to be serious and also knows where the party is.”
Musically, the album delivers hook-driven, anthemic songs that fuse punk energy with melodic sensibility, wrapped in swagger and raw edge what early listeners have already called “quintessentially New Jersey.” Among its standout moments is a surprising cover of Oasis’ “Rock And Roll Star”, reimagined through Bolan’s distinctive lens.
Expanding beyond his role as a bassist, Bolan performs the majority of instruments, shaping the record from the ground up. Drawing on influences from Brit Pop and Glam to Punk Rock and New Wave, the album represents a lifetime in music.
“Gargoyle of the Garden State” also features an impressive lineup of guests, including Corey Taylor, Danko Jones, Nuno Bettencourt, Damon Johnson, Steve Conte, and fellow Skid Row members Scotti Hill, Dave “Snake” Sabo and Rob Hammersmith.
“It was incredible to work with so many of my talented friends an experience I wish everyone could have at least once,” Bolan adds.
At its core, “Gargoyle of the Garden State” is Bolan at his most honest, a record full of attitude, melody, and personality unmistakably his own. The album is out on June 12 and will be available as CD digipak, LP gatefold, as well as digital and download.
Heavy Metallers Nuclear Messiah have released their new single ‘For Mad Men Only‘, featuring the talents of Chris Poland, Pat Travers, Joe Lynn Turner, Alan Davey and Shawn Drover. The track is taken from the upcoming new album ‘Black Flame‘. In an unprecedented gathering of rock and metal royalty, Cleopatra Records proudly announces the April 24th release of […]
Australia… you thought they forgot! They did not. They waited. They sharpened their claws. They let the forest grow wilder, darker, hungrier. Three years is a blink in eternity, yet long enough for the trees to learn your secrets. Now they return not as visitors, but as conquerors. Bring your torches. Bring your madness. Bring your soul laid bare.
Step into the woods and let The Clown paint your face with fire. Do not go in alone… because once you enter, you never truly leave.
In 2023, when we declared AVATAR one of the greatest live metal bands on the planet, some were incredulous. Then Australia witnessed the crushing the band delivered. Dance Devil Dance hit #1 on the iTunes Rock and Metal Albums Charts (and #6 across all genres), and the doubters vanished.
Now AVATAR return with the triumphant release of their tenth studio album, Don’t Go In The Forest, continuing their legacy of crushing riffs, soaring hooks, masterful songwriting and shadow‑soaked storytelling.
Australia prepare to pledge your allegiance. The reckoning has arrived.
Tickets: Pre-sale: Friday 27th March 9:00am Local General Public On Sale: Monday 30th March 9:00am Local From:https://thephoenix.au/avatar-2026/
There’s something about a sold-out night at KK’s Steel Mill that just hits different, an undeniable statement that rock n roll is alive and kicking. The Wolverhampton venue has built a reputation for hosting some of the most intense and intimate live experiences in the UK, and this show was no exception.
Defences took to the stage with a confidence that immediately commanded attention, making full use of their forty minute slot. From the outset, their blend of crushing riffs and atmospheric electronics created a wall of sound that felt far bigger than the stage they were playing on. The dual vocal dynamic proved to be a real weapon, shifting seamlessly between aggression and melody, keeping the crowd locked in throughout.
Tracks swelled with emotional weight, but never lost their bite, and the band’s tight performance ensured there was no drop in energy. By the time their set drew to a close, they had not only warmed up the crowd but left a lasting impression and a long queue forming at the merch table.
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
By the time Mason Hill hit the stage, the atmosphere had reached boiling point. Opening with ‘D.N.A.’, they wasted no time in establishing control, delivering a punchy, high-energy start that had the entire room moving. Their sound, rooted in classic hard rock but polished with modern production, translated effortlessly into a live setting, hitting with both precision and power.
‘We Pray’ and ‘Twisted’ kept the momentum surging, the interplay between guitar lines and rhythm section was particularly tight, giving each track a sense of drive that never let up. It’s this balance of groove and grit that continues to define their appeal
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Mid-set, tracks like ‘Resonate’ and ‘Hold On’ brought a more anthemic feel, with the crowd fully engaged, singing back every line and feeding off the band’s energy. ‘Tainted Wings’ and ‘Silence’ added depth to the set, whilst ‘Find My Way’ and ‘Hurricane’ pushed things back into overdrive, the band clearly feeding off the sold-out crowd.
There’s a confidence in their performance now that suggests a band stepping into a bigger league, and it showed in how effortlessly they controlled the room. Even a bold cover of Muse’s ‘Hysteria’ landed perfectly, reworked just enough to feel like their own without losing the original’s pulse.
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Closing the main set with ‘Remember’, they left the crowd wanting more… and they got it. The encore of ‘Burn It Down’, ‘Broken Son’ and ‘Against the Wall’ was nothing short of explosive. Each track hit harder than the last, ending the night on a towering high that perfectly capped off a performance brimming with confidence, precision, and undeniable power.
A load more bands have been added to twenty one pilots’ All Points East show this summer.
Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun were already set to be joined by Wunderhorse, REN, BBNO$, PVRIS, Nova Twins, Dead Pony, Kid Kapichi and LEAP on the day, but now things are looking properly packed.
On top of all the music, twenty one pilots’ All Points East extravaganza will feature an exclusive Fan Premier Exhibit – according to a press release, that includes ‘new Breach items from the band’s personal collection, interactive photo opps and more.
‘Plus, step into the immersive Banditø Camp – a community space within the festival grounds fans can take photos, explore the camp’s artefacts and connect with fellow Banditøs. The band is also bringing their iconic headline Breach tour B‑stage experience to the festival.’
The show takes place on Sunday, August 30 at London’s Victoria Park.
After four decades as the driving force behind Skid Row, bassist and songwriter Rachel Bolan steps forward with his first-ever solo album under the name BOLAN. Gargoyle of the Garden State is a bold, deeply personal debut rooted in the grit, attitude, and storytelling spirit of his New Jersey upbringing. Produced by multi‑Grammy winner Nick […]
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
Photo Credit: Tim Finch Photography
