As lightning lit up the sky over the iconic Digbeth area of Birmingham, five bands descended upon the Subside bar, intent on rivalling the roar of the thunder with their own might, led by UK based pop-punk four-piece DOWNCAST on their UK summer tour. This free gig was a must-see endeavour for pop-punk enthusiasts, which is why it was a shame to see the floor of the dim, warmly lit pub somewhat quiet for the first act, alt artist LENNOX, who were certainly a promising sound to

It’s been almost a decade since Californian four-piece AFI has graced the UK with their presence, and sixteen years since they last embarked on a headline tour here. In that time they have released four new albums – including 2025’s synthwave and post-punk tinged Silver Bleeds the Black Sun... – signed two separate record deals and constantly evolved their sound. Now, fans pack into Birmingham’s O2 Institute to see how those sixteen years have worn on them. But first, the sta

Walking into HECK’s last ever (but one) show at Signature Brew Haggerston, the room is packed and full of energy from doors - friendly and familiar faces in all corners. There’s a feeling of enthusiastic anticipation - it’s clear from the vibe that it’s not this crowd's first rodeo with HECK and they know exactly what they have got themselves in for. The gig kicked off with RUENA who, fresh off of her first tour where she cycled cross country from gig to gig, you’d think she

“200 STAB WOUNDS?” A passerby smiles tentatively at the name as excited fans gathered to see the death metal legends, the band gaining such acclaim they've been upgraded to the upper floor of The Dome, London, all the better for people to lose their shit on a night guaranteed to give us whiplash. MUTAGENIC HOST didn't ease us in, they grabbed us by the throat and hauled us around, Swarm thundering out across an already full room. By Genestealer, there's a sizeable pit collidi

Fresh off their appearance at Bloodstock Festival, CASTLE RAT swapped gigantic stages for the smaller, sold out 1865. From the moment the doors opened the anticipation seemed to be building with an almost full crowd from the get-go ready for a theatrical night of music ahead of them. Opening the show were Birmingham based Meatdripper. Bringing the perfect fusion of sludge and doom rock, this band seemed other-worldly and truly set the scene for the night ahead. Han Al-Shemerr

In the centre of London, up a staircase below a neon sign blazing the venue’s name into the sky, is Scala - and for one night only, in the height of summer, it became the home of the most uplifting prog band in music, PROTEST THE HERO. With two bands opening for them, there were mere hours between arriving and the time to finally witness their glorious live show - but first, the supports. OBEYER took to the stage first - with a sound that landed somewhere in the djent/deathco

After a monumental main stage show at Bloodstock Festival, BATTLESNAKE journeyed back to London the next day for a show that pulled from all elements of rock in its lineup to make one epic show you don’t often get Downstairs At The Dome; here’s how that sweaty gig went down. Opening up the night saw Sydney natives LIQUID ZOO set the bar for the energy on the stage. Their high-voltage Garage Rock was really astonishing, though taking from many other genres, they had a really

There is something immediately different about a gig when the support bands are already playing as the doors open. At Manchester Club Academy, the room may have been relatively empty at the start of the evening, but the energy certainly was not. The fans who had made it in early were clearly the die-hards, and every band that followed managed to build on that atmosphere. CUT THROAT were already on stage when the evening got underway, bringing a theatrical and entertaining per

In the midst of their grand festival summer, in between major stops like Lollapalooza in the US and various European appearances, CHALK have blessed London with a one-off, but no less thought-through, headline show. The band brought along a well-curated line-up, including the Welsh post-punk collective SLATE and Brighton’s blistering four-piece LEMONSUCKR. Altogether, they lit up and packed out Electric Ballroom, leaving the audience with no room to stand still, but only to s

Despite the venue’s small size, the room is already busy before the first band even appears. There is a quiet anticipation building early on, with people squeezing closer to the stage as the night gets underway. Opening the evening were STEPOVER, making the trip over from the Isle of Wight. Their set begins slowly and atmospherically, easing the crowd in before crashing drums suddenly kick the room into life as they launch into their latest single. The drummer was easily the

Hailing from Bristol, alt-metal band MALLAVORA have come a long way in recent years. It was only fitting for their debut album What If Better Never Comes? (released March 2026) that the band revisited for a special homecoming at the Exchange Bristol to play their album in full, back in the city where they first made their mark in 2019. Out of Rage last caught up with MALLAVORA during their high energy set supporting BANSHEE at London’s The Dome just last month, seeing them no

Under the glittering disco balls adorning the ceiling of The Grace, London, fans eagerly gathered for LOVE RARELY’s hotly anticipated release show of their debut album Pain Travels, via Big Scary Monsters. The follow up to 2024’s EP Lonely People, Pain Travels has garnered critical acclaim for the band’s charged lyrics and volatile, amped up sound, signalling the next progressive step for them. Releasing between their incredible support slot for CALLOUS DAOBOYS in early 2026

Some gigs ease you in. This one didn’t bother. At Rough Trade Bristol, there’s always that split feeling — relaxed on the surface, something heavier underneath. Early on, it felt calm enough. Drinks moving, conversations going. But the room already felt loaded, like it was waiting to tip. The openers made sure it did. KNIFE BRIDE came in sharp and straight to the point. No slow build, no filler — just a set that knew exactly what it was doing. Controlled, aggressive, and prop

There are some shows that are just as unforgettable for bands as they are to the attending public, and this was the mutual feeling shared by Swedish electronic metalcore act SOLENCE and the packed Manchester academy 3 that showed up for a party unlike no other, with a show of non-stop, raw, energy and infectious, rhythm infused metalcore. The Swedish heroes did not come alone, as support came from one of the most exciting up and coming international bands WRITTEN BY WOLVES, a

Thursday night for a group of London metalheads was one of the most insane gigs in the alternative space this year. GRAPHIC NATURE played a sold out headline show at The Dome and the energy was electric. In the past year alone GRAPHIC NATURE have supported bands like THROWN and STRAY FROM THE PATH and played a multitude of festivals including Download, Slamdunk and 2000trees. Their momentum is far from slowing down with the start of a new era marked with the release of their

Nottingham’s Rock City was already spilling onto the streets on Saturday night. A sea of black stretched down the queue, wrapping around the block. A quiet signal that this was more than just another tour stop. By the time Florida’s DARK DIVINE took to the stage for their first ever Nottingham appearance, the room was still filling - yet the energy inside was already at full capacity. DARK DIVINE wasted no time establishing their presence. Opening with intensity, they leaned

KIM GORDON, the icon behind the cultural sensation that was SONIC YOUTH, has returned to London after two years. Bringing songs from her third studio album, Play Me, as well as her other work, the night was indeed a nostalgic leap in the past and a celebration of the present. Opening the night was LONNIE GUNN. The New Jersey-born and Brighton-based artist brought a full band with her to the Shepherd’s Bush Empire, and from the beginning it was obvious the performance at the w

On paper, a three-band bill in a venue the size of Glasgow’s Slay might read like a fairly standard night out. In reality, April 24th delivered something that felt far bigger than the room could reasonably contain. With AD INFINITUM making their Glasgow debut alongside support from SKARLETT RIOT and SECRET RULE, this was a stacked lineup that never once dipped in energy. First up, SECRET RULE wasted absolutely no time setting the tone. From the first few moments, it was clear

THE DEAD COLLECTIVE embarked on their first ever headline UK tour with twelve shows this April, we were lucky enough to catch them at their London stop at O2 Academy Islington. The Metamorphosis tour is a perfectly polished show full of their best rock and roll tracks, with more shows throughout the UK still to go. The London supporting act was ANCHOR LANE all the way from Scotland, this being the first show they’ve played in London for four years. Before they started the roo

SEAHAVEN have always felt like a band suspended in that liminal space between confession and catharsis, and revisiting their world now feels a bit like opening a long‑sealed letter - you brace for the sting, but you’re drawn in anyway. What makes them compelling isn’t just the moodiness or the slow‑burn tension they’ve perfected; it’s the way their songs seem to articulate emotions people don’t usually say out loud. Performing their album Winter Forever in full, to celebrate