It’s Friday night in Leeds, and you can feel the excitement of fans walking up to the Project House. Since bursting onto the scene from a sweaty, overpacked tent debut at Download Festival last summer to sold-out venues across the Atlantic, PRESIDENT is exploding onto the scene as one of metal’s most electrifying new bands. Few bands have sparked as much buzz in such a short time. There was a lot of curiosity in the queue, people talking, trying to figure out what the band w

There's something fitting about SKINDRED choosing Banquet Records in Kingston as the launchpad for their new album, treating the sleepy suburb to two shows on the day before they release their newest album, You Got This . The beloved independent record store and events promoter has long been a cornerstone of the south west London live music scene and tonight, the night before You Got This hits shelves, they've packed the room to the rafters. It's also their second show of t

The night felt bigger than a typical gig from the very start. Celebrating the release of their second album 25 Forever , CHROMA ’s hometown show carried a sense of occasion, one rooted not just in a new release, but in identity. With a lineup made up entirely of Welsh acts with LADY GARDEN , BAMBEES , and CHROMA , it became something more: a showcase of the country's thriving music scene, and a reminder of the depth of talent coming out of it right now. LADY GARDEN opened th

On a night that joined two bands, one from each of Philadelphia and London, there was NOTHING to see at Hackney’s Moth Club. Supported by local band HITMEN for two nights - this being the second of the two - the American shoegaze icons took to the cosy confines of the East London venue to entertain and impress on equal measure. The gold glittered ceiling sparkled in anticipation as various punters grabbed a Red Stripe on tap as we waited for both bands to step on stage, and

The room was already busy before the first support act had even stepped out. There was a low buzz of anticipation, the kind that only really builds when a crowd knows what they are here for. Merch dotted the room, a clear sign that this was a loyal audience. In a space this intimate, that kind of devotion can feel exposing. It leaves nowhere to hide, for the crowd or the bands. WHERE OCEANS BURN took to the stage with confidence, even if things did not land perfectly straigh

Where others were sleeping off the bank holiday weekend, hundreds of fans decided to round it out at Dust, Brighton, by getting sweaty in the dance pit for MOUTH CULTURE , with support from OVERGROWN and CLUB BRAT . Having exploded onto the scene after supporting YOU ME AT SIX on their goodbye tour (we are not over it) and playing Slamdunk Festival in 2025, MOUTH CULTURE have been on an upward trajectory ever since. Performing at Takedown Festival 2026, selling out their Br

From the deepest depths, SKYND emerged with their unsettling, distorted sounds and haunting lyrics, to combine the two things they love the most – music and true crime. Formed by the vocalist Skynd and multi-instrumentalist Father , the project quickly began receiving recognition amongst everyone, who shared the same passion. Coming back to London after two years, SKYND brought a special show, as there were no openers this night – only them headlining.With nineteen songs on

Lightning and thunder rumblings reverberated throughout the room. The crowd was jolted to attention. Awaking from the hazy slumber of queuing in the sunshine earlier that day, the crowd was ready. All eyes focused as three figures filled the stage, hands waiting in silence for their lead singer. MALLAVORA had arrived. With a single metronome sound leaving the audience on tenterhooks, lead singer Jessica Douek ’s hymn-like vocals started off their set as she took centre stage

THE RAVEN AGE threw an intimate, UK exclusive show in London earlier in April, and although they did not expect a big audience – after all, it was the first Easter weekend, they were delighted with the amount of fans who showed up to celebrate. Opening the night were the Midlands-based BRIGHT BLACK . The Alt Hard Rock-Metal four piece brought a huge wave of energy with them the second they walked onto the stage, and their mission was clear – to make the crowd move. The voca

BUTCHER BABIES and INFECTED RAIN combined forces to bring one of the most raw co-headline tours of this year. Supported on the run by BLACK SPIKES , the night at the O2 Academy Islington could not be any better. Opening the night were the Lithuanian ethereal beings BLACK SPIKES . Their presence, coupled with very distinctive costumes. captivated the crowd almost immediately, but the real surprise was the vocalist’s use of her voice. From emotional screams, to rap, to Lit

Brighton has a way of exporting its finest, and for one night in London, hometown heroes TIGERCUB bring their biggest show to date, pulling together a lineup that proves the south coast scene is very much alive. Supported by VENUS GRRRLS and SNAYX , the evening doubles as a love letter to grassroots music and hometown solidarity. VENUS GRRRLS open with the kind of energy that makes you forget they are the first band on, expending the pit’s energy before TIGERCUB have eve

Now back for its fourth year since returning to the scene, Takedown Festival 2026 kicked off at Portsmouth Guildhall over Easter Weekend, with a clear sense that this is a festival continuing to grow year on year. From the moment doors opened, there was a real buzz around the place, the kind you only get when people have been waiting for festival season to come back around. The Guildhall once again proved why it works so well for Takedown. The layout made moving between stag

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

Coming down to London all the way from Scotland, MASON HILL brought their energetic set, supported by the rising stars DEFENCES . Opening the night were the Hertfordshire five-piece DEFENCES , who returned to The Underworld for the first time since 2019. Although the floor was still filling up when they took over, the energy Cherry Duesbury (vocals), William Alex Young (screams/keys), Calum Wilmot (guitar), Owen Hughes-Holland (bass) and Kyle Park (drums) brought was hig

It’s the Easter bank holiday weekend, what more of an excuse can you need for a day filled with live music. We spent our Saturday down at Gloucester’s Guildhall for an ‘Alt All Dayer’ put on by your friendly neighbourhood alternative market trader come live music promotor, The Dark Corner. The live music kicked off in the early afternoon with performances from AUBS THE KID (featuring IDLE HANDS ), THE UNDECIDED , ECHOES OF OBSIDIAN , BLACKLISTED MC , HOLLOW RITUAL and DEATH

Most will probably know HEADBUSSA from their support slot for KNOCKED LOOSE a couple years ago, some will know them for sharing line-ups with SUNAMI, by the end of this gig, we know them for a brand of hardcore that kicks you in the teeth with no apology, with 6 bands on the lineup this show certainly packed a punch. First up were London Hardcore 5-piece SO FAR SO GOOD, these self proclaimed ‘Evilcore’ certainly lived up to that moniker; with kick drums that sounded like a ma

Speed metal truly alive as Scottish metallers HELLRIPPER bring their take on metal to the stage. The headliner love metal and support the scene wherever they can, that’s why they have brought along DEVASTATOR and SCHIZOPHRENIA . Taking the opening set was Derbyshire based DEVASTATOR , who brought their take on blackened thrash with a speed metal direction, as all bands had on this bill, taking over the stage with attitude and direction from the moment they arrived. The crow

PHOENIX LAKE are a UK-based melodic metal band from Nottingham, formed in 2018. They are known for their vocalist’s powerful vocals and blend elements of metalcore and hard rock to create a sound that’s unique and nostalgic at the same time. Having been on tour with bands such as SKARLETT RIOT and appeared at festivals such as Bloodstock, this debut headline tour seems like the perfect start for fans to see what a headline set sounds like. Unfortunately off the bat there was

In the dusky evening haze of Manchester venue Ambers, the warm glow of its wide-set-entrance invites onlookers down three flights of stairs to its dark basement. It's a perfect night for a trip to your favourite local haunt, and for gloom punks WITCH FEVER , and this final set in the UK is nothing short of a homecoming. Off the back of the macabre-inspired record Fever Eaten - and a coveted spot as the Out Of Rage Halloween cover - they embark on their European tour with a ro

Birmingham’s MIRRORTALK opened the show, bringing a polished take on emo revival that pulls their grunge and shoegaze influences together into a shimmering wall of fuzzy guitars and 00's nostalgia. It is not the most original formula in the world, but when it is delivered with this level of heartfelt enthusiasm, it is hard to not end up won over. Making the most out of an unfamiliar crowd to test out fresh material that takes in some modern hardcore influences, adding in the