If you are a fan of post hardcore, you would be amiss to have not heard of the band ALEXISONFIRE . Having been around the scene since 2001, these musical legends have not only grown a fierce, loyal following, but have made record after record of hit songs that have been the soundtrack of rebellion, teenage angst, and all-around fun. Born out of St Catherine’s, Ontario, Canada in 2001, the lineup brought together musicians from different local bands, creating a unique blend o

There’s something about modern heavy music that thrives on contrast. The quiet before the breakdown, the tension between vulnerability and fury, the collision of electronic atmosphere with guitars that feel like they could tear the walls down. Few bands embody that balance as effectively as BAD OMENS . Over the past decade, the Virginia outfit have evolved from promising metalcore newcomers into one of the most compelling names in alternative heavy music, building a sound tha

Forming 30 years ago and becoming one of the largest bands on the planet, LINKIN PARK have cemented themselves as one of the greatest metal bands in history, even after the passing of their legendary singer Chester Bennington , they have continued on the legacy with Emily Armstrong ; This year they return to Download for the first time in 12 years so we thought it only right we have a retrospective on what led them to this point and rank all of their albums. 8 - ONE MORE LI

BATHORY has long defined the extreme side of metal. Being one of the founding fathers of the first wave of black metal, their legacy rings through the sound of many bands, with their sound still coming through today. BATHORY was founded in Sweden in 1983 and during its time active featured frontman and the only songwriter of the band, Thomas "Quorthon" Forsberg . Their debut self-titled album was released in 1984 and became arguably the first truly black metal album to be r

On a lush sunny Saturday, Cardiff’s infamous Womanby Street finds itself lined with black band t-shirts darting between its legendary venues – Fuel Rock Club and Clwb Ifor Bach. What’s the occasion? Noizzefest. Since 2024, Noizze magazine has brought its favourite upcoming heavy hitters to their home city. After the closure of The Moon, this year they have moved venues, upgrading the capacity and calibre of artists across three stages. HAMMARTIA The day starts by darting up

Not all bands age into their legacy—some continue to challenge it, and PIXIES remain one of the few that still feel unpredictable. There is something about PIXIES that resists settling. Decades on from their formation, their music still carries a sense of imbalance—melody rubbing against abrasion, control slipping into chaos. It is not just influence that defines them, but instinct. A band that never quite fits, and never tries to. Formed in Boston in 1986, PIXIES carved o

TWENTY ONE PILOTS , The Alternative two-piece band hailing from Columbus, Ohio, return to their much-loved London, England, to headline their own version of All Points East, called East Is Up. With such a huge show on the way that will be their last for an indefinite time, here is everything you need to know about the band before they rock your socks off. So what are they like? it’s honestly hard to describe the kind of music this band makes, an insane level of genre blendin

TURNSTILE are on a serious hot streak at the minute, opening the door to hardcore for a lot of people and propelling the genre into the public eye; This summer they take on All Points East sharing the stage with the ever so effervescent TYLER, THE CREATOR . Today we rank TURNSTILE’s EP and Albums to prepare for this evening of chaos. 7) MOVE THRU ME Starting off the list, we have the bands second EP released just after their second studio album Nonstop Feeling and just becau

For many of us, GOOD CHARLOTTE is one of the many cornerstones of early 2000’s pop-punk and our gateway drug into the genre. Now, in 2026, they are about to headline Slam Dunk Festival, playing a European exclusive show. Having formed in Maryland, USA all the way back in 1995, the band, built around twin brothers JOEL and BENJI MADDEN, accompanied by PAUL THOMAS and BILLY MARTIN , have been staples in the headphones of many since their inception. With a somewhat softer sound

To stand in a festival crowd, surrounded by thousands of other fans singing every word, is to witness Mike Shinoda at his absolute peak. Not just as a performer but as a producer, songwriter, singer, rapper, artist and above all a leader. Few artists in the modern era of music have shaped the sound of this generation quite like him. The visionary that never stops evolving, the one and only Mike Shinoda . Best known as the co-founder of the band LINKIN PARK as well as the cre

The stages were set, the amps were turned up, and the crowd were literally doing lunge stretches in preparation for 3-days of two-stepping and moshing. Manchester Punk Festival has made its deafening return for its glorious 10 th anniversary; 3 days, 8 venues, a jaw-dropping 150+ acts, and the city is full of punk/rock-adjacent fans to support the musicians leading the charge on the anti-establishment scene. In the current climate of fascism, anti-LGBTQ+, racism, and misogy

Kicking off its third edition this year, Noizzefest is coming back stronger than ever. Taking place across the Fuel Rock Club and Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff on the 25th April, the festival is a celebration of the British underground scene, while it is also not shying away from booking big names for their stages. With such a packed bill this year, there is a big chance that everyone will find themselves a handful of bands they need to absolutely check out, as well as names the

If the name ‘Lambrini’ sends a shiver through your soul and an ache in your head just to hear it, it’s time to realign those thoughts to something powerful and daring – LAMBRINI GIRLS , the punk-rock band that have the chaotic, dazzling energy of firecrackers. Hailing from Brighton, the enigmatic duo is made up of vocalist Pheobe Lunny and bassist Lily Maciera , touring drummer Misha Phillips, and the fourth unsung hero that is their absolute grit and ambition to get their s

There’s an old book out there your more mythologically inclined friend most likely owns. It’s a tome in a beautiful black hardback with a glossy golden embossed title, Folklore Myths and Legends of Britain . The front also displays a horned screaming face, the Ooser of Dorset. Within the pages is an exhaustive compilation of the wyrd and wonderful traditions of this very ancient land once known as Albion, and hardly a stone is left unturn’d. The book goes region-by-region and

KID KAPICHI have been releasing music into the world for over ten years, and there’s no sign of them slowing down anytime soon. They blend everything from punk to indie to alt rock, making there something for everyone. As of July 2025, they have been made up of vocalist Jack Wilson and bassist Eddie Lewis , with guitarist Lee Martin and drummer Miles Gill becoming official members once album five rolls around. After having a lineup change in 2025, KID KAPICHI may sound

When a completely unknown band appears on the lineup for one of the biggest rock festivals in the world, people notice. When that band has released no music, shows no faces, and speaks only in cryptic teasers? People start investigating. That’s exactly what happened when PRESIDENT burst onto the scene in February 2025 after appearing on the lineup for Download Festival. At the time, the name meant absolutely nothing to anyone. No singles, no music videos, no press—just a nam

Slam Dunk Festival has long been one of the UK’s most beloved celebrations of alternative music, building its reputation on bringing together the best of pop-punk, hardcore, metalcore, and alternative rock. What started as a relatively small gathering has evolved into a staple of the UK festival circuit, balancing scene legends with the rising acts shaping the future of heavy music. Taking place on Saturday 23rd May in Hatfield and Sunday 24th May in Leeds, this year’s lineup

It’s less than two months now until the festival that is the home of Stoner Rock, Doom, and Heavy Psych is upon us. Desertfest sees three full days of the world’s most iconic acts flock to London to play in some of Camden’s most stellar venues, including the Roundhouse, the Electric Ballroom, the Underworld, and the Dev. Last year saw the likes of ELDER and ZEAL AND ANDOR as headliners and the festival brought light (and doom) to the heart of London. This year will be the 1

Bearded Theory returns to Catton Park once again for another run and a fantastic showcase of artists for this independent music festival; scenic views, country air, and a family-friendly setting are what make this festival such a fun time, if you’re going, here are ten artists you simply can’t miss. PIXIES As the headliner and one of the most legendary bands of the 90's do you really want to miss these guys? Age has not slowed down PIXIES at all as they have been putting on

Back in 2024, BBC Radio 1 dubbed CALVA LOUISE as one of the “Artists You Need to Know”. In the past twelve months, they’ve proved that to be true and then some. Formed in 2016, London-based band CALVA LOUISE have showcased the malleability of music genres and creativity, synthesising punk, electronica, and Latin American folk music. Comprised of lead singer and guitarist Jess Allanic from Venezuela, drummer Ben Parker from New Zealand and bassist Alizon Taho from France,