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Slam Dunk 2025: The Big Bad Review

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Somehow I have made it to the ripe old age of 28 before heading to my first Slam Dunk. It’s wild to me, given how good the lineups always are. But this one was especially stellar, so I finally popped my SD cherry. Find out how good it was below!

After seeing the crazy issues with parking a couple of years back, we decided to get in nice and early, having time to have a look round merch and get a drink before the first band started. For us, it was Lake Malice on the Kerrang! stage. I was familiar with the name, at least knowing the style and sound they brought to the table, but live they really blew me away! Firstly, shoutout to the sound guys too, as it was windy as shit all day and, for the most part, everything sounded awesome still. This hit hard, and not just because they were one of the heavier bands for us that day. They’re modern metal awesomeness, combining screams and cleans perfectly around the heavy riffing and catchy melodic sections. They’re essentially everything I WANT Spiritbox to be, but never get from them. And, on top of that, they put on a great show, too. From the backing dancers to Alice Guala’s magnetic stage presence, it all came together perfectly. They’re were the perfect way to open the day, and I can’t recommend them enough to any fans of heavier music out there!

Speaking of magnetic stage presence, next up were Save Ferris. I’ve seen a few videos of the legendary ska punkers over the years and, while Monique always seemed like a powerhouse of a stage presence, I was slightly worried they weren’t going to sound great. All said worries went out the door immediately, as Monique sounded just as good as she did back in the day, and the rest of the band nailed it throughout the set! The sheer energy from a bunch of forty-somethings was incredible, and certainly infectious as they got the crowd dancing and bouncing and joining in early on. Plus, they have so many bangers in their back catalogue that it was hard not to have a good time watching them! From ‘The World is New’ to ‘I Know’ to covers of everything from Dead Kennedys to Operation Ivy to, of course, closing on their incredible ‘Come on Eileen’ cover, it was a really fantastic setlist. The whole band had the crowd in the palm of their hands throughout, and I had an absolute blast listening to them!

We stuck around the Monster tent after that for Home Grown. I have to say they were one of the few bands heading into the day that I wasn’t too familiar with and didn’t have that nostalgia for like others. I do honestly think that hurt their set a little, for me. They weren’t awful, but they weren’t great live, and when I didn’t know the songs all I could really hear was the bad mix and questionable vocals. I think the fact that they had two kinda lead vocals didn’t work for their set, as both were cranked so when one was just doing backing, it kinda drowned out the other. Still, the band are undoubtably talented and I have come away being a fan of a few of their songs on track. Maybe they just had an off day!

Sadly, we didn’t catch too much of The Ataris, due to having to wait a solid 40+ minutes at the bar. For a cashless system and pre-poured drinks, I have no earthly idea how it was taking that long! However, they sounded good from the bar, and even better when we finally got in to see the last half of their set! Sadly, as with a few bands from this sort of era on the bill, everyone was waiting around for their big cover song. ‘Boys of Summer’ was indeed phenomenal, and both live and on track is better than the original. However, their own stuff was just as good! The band were tight and professional as anything, and what they somewhat lacked in putting on a show, they more than made up for in how excellent they sounded. I wouldn’t rush to see them again, but enjoyed their set (or what I saw of it) and if they were on at another festival I’d definitely check them out!

Next up were my band of the day (spoilers), Stray from the Path. We had the pleasure of seeing them at Graspop a couple of years ago, yet somehow they have gotten even better since then! Their anger and energy is off the charts, with Andrew’s stage presence being magnetic, certainly mirroring supposed influences like Zack De La Roacha and Jason Aalon Butler. Whether it’s mammoth tracks off their last album like ‘Guillotine’ and ‘III’ or brand new stuff like ‘Shot Caller’, they played a blinder of a set. They had the crowd in the palm of their hands throughout too, the place going nuts and there being crowd surfers everywhere. It’s insane to me that this band aren’t absolutely massive as they are great on track and live, and have a fantastic message to back it up. Still, with the packed out crowd loving it here, they should have surely gained some new fans!

We snuck over to the Key Club to catch the one and only Delilah Bon. Not too dissimilar to Stray from the Path, it’s no secret here that I love Delilah’s solo stuff. And it all translates so well to a live setting, too! Her rapping is amazing, even though the backing could have been boosted slightly so we could hear the odd line she dropped out for. And her screams… *chef’s kiss*… we need more of them on the next record for sure! The band did a great job backing her up too, but she was very much the star of the show, putting on one hell of a performance and bouncing around every bit of the stage. She certainly isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I loved it and am going to have to get tickets for her tour in November!

Streetlight Manifesto were an odd one for me. On the one hand, they were absolutely phenomenal live, as they always are. Their heavy ska sound and truly masterful musicianship and songwriting comes across excellently, and I had a blast. I guess my issue was that after 50-whole-minutes, it felt like they were just getting started, and my god did I want more. Heck, they’re the only band, outside of the headliners, that I heard the ‘we want more’ chant at all day, and I very much agree. I felt myself waiting for more off Everything Goes Numb that we just didn’t get, which was a shame. However, as I said, what they did play was amazing and I cannot recommend seeing them live enough. It had been six long years since I had seen them last before this and hopefully this will scratch just enough of an itch until we get an actual UK tour… (🤞)

We managed to catch the first two or three songs from the legendary Less than Jake before we had to leave. Somehow I’d only seen them once before now, back in the day at Ynot, so it was great to finally get to see them again, if fleetingly. They sound just as fantastic now as they did a decade ago, and just as good as they do on track from even longer ago! It was a fun set to a packed tent, and once again the band brought so much energy. I wish I could have stayed longer, but there was no way I was missing the next band…

Electric Callboy. One of my favourite bands and a big reason as to why we went to the festival. We saw them last year at Graspop and they blew us away, so of course we were excited to see them again. And, once again, they didn’t disappoint! The band are on top form as one of the best live acts in the world right now, and this set proved that yet again. They are incredibly fun from beginning to end, Kevin and Nico being the perfect frontmen and playing off-of each other perfectly. The band don’t take themselves too seriously, hence the silly songs and costume changes, but are absolutely incredible musicians and songwriters, having some of the best big, melodic choruses and ch0nky breakdowns out there. And we even got them stripping it back here, playing acoustic campfire covers of Linkin Park and Backstreet Boys, much to the love of the crowd. And speaking of the crowd, it was absolutely packed. They were arguably too big for the size of the festival, which is saying a lot. But they deserve everything they’re getting, as they are one of the most hard-working and truly interesting bands around today, and they show up every single time they take the stage. Throw in a cheeky Sum 41 cover thanks to Frank Zummo filling in on drums, and you had the recipe for another fantastic set from the German metalcorers!

It was always going to be hard following up Electric Callboy, but Hot Milk did their damnedest to do so. Han and Jim are excellent fronting the band, and sound just as good live as they do on track, both together and separate. They also had plenty of energy, and both interacted with the crowd well between and during songs. I wasn’t as familiar with the band as some of the others on this review, but I loved the stuff that I did know, like ‘HORROR SHOW’ and the ever-epic ‘BREATHING UNDERWATER’. It was a little odd seeing a band on a smaller stage with less production after the massive beast that is Electric Callboy these days, but it was still a lot of fun and made me a bigger fan of the band for sure. I’ll definitely be going to see them again soon, especially with their new album coming out!

And there we have it, my Skam Dunk Cherry well and truly popped. It was an amazing day full of excellent bands and I had a blast throughout. Even the bi-polar weather didn’t bother me that much! I would happily go back to the festival again, especially if they sort out their bars, and would love to see just about every band I saw on the day again live as soon as possible! I would recommend any of it to anyone reading this, as it was a really great day-festival. Until next time, I’m sure!

Reviews

Together: Buster Shuffle’s Best Album to Date?

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The sixth studio album from the ska-punk quartet is set to drop this coming Friday. Being an absolutely massive fan of the genre (I’m a 90s kid) I knew this was one I just had to be checking out, so getting sent it early so that I could do so in full was amazing news! Just to warn you now, this will be full of gushing and fangirling. Let’s just dive right in, shall we?

‘Shows How Little You Know’ sets up the tone of the album perfect. A surprisingly heavy build drops out to some of the most Madness-like ska I’ve heard in years. However, the melody in the choruses, probably helped by the distorted guitars, is clearly inspired awesomely by Rancid. It’s a damn fun song packed full of plenty of amazing instrumentation that somehow never feels like it drowns out any of the rest. And it’s catchy as anything, especially with the ‘ey’s. It’s a short, sweet track that opens things up fantastically. If the rest of the album is up to this standard, we may be onto a winner!

‘Masterplan’ opens up a little more bluesy with the piano. However, the vocal melody, cockney accent and bouncy drums instantly roots it back firmly into ska. Again, there is so much going on instrumentally, and it’s a true testament to the band that they juggle it all so perfectly and it all compliments each other instead of drowning parts out. And it’s another infectiously catchy song too; that chorus is going to be stuck in my head for the rest of the day, for sure! It’s a fun, feel-good track and a clear highlight of the album, easily making it onto our playlist!

The organ that opens ‘Take a Pill’ is so very Rancid in the best way, as is the chanting and the general vibe of the track. I love it! The bassline is a big highlight, and the lyrics are of course fantastic as always. They fit the theme of togetherness and coming together to support each other perfectly, and it’s a beautifully uplifting song packed in around the bouncy instrumentation. It’s sadly a really real situation they are singing about, and if anyone is down in that way, check this song out, it certainly helps put it all into perspective. It’s so hard to write lyrics this meaningful as it is, let alone around some stellar musicianship too. It’s yet another incredible song! I absolutely love the extended outro with everything slowly dropping out around the chanting. It honestly gave me goosebumps, and it’s something I want to see live so bad.

Tracks like ‘Waiting For You’, the title song and ‘Knocking at 122’ are slower tracks overall, but that doesn’t mean they are in any way bad. The lyrics for ‘Together’ are expectedly poignant and, if I can get nerdy for a second, the bass tone on the latter track is tasty. All are awesome, more traditionally British ska tracks, harkening back to the 2nd wave perfectly. They play their part on the album fantastically and, especially in ‘Knocking…’s case, it’s another big highlight of the album!

‘I Don’t Mind What I See’ is a bit more high energy; opening on a rock’n’roll riff and generally bringing that punk energy back in force. It’s the perfect change of pace for the mid-point of the album, and is an excellent track in its own right. It’s a catchy, foot-stomping, incredibly fun song and yet another huge highlight on an album so far packed full of them. If you listen to any track on this album, let it be this one, it’s the perfect example of everything the band do so very well!

‘If I Were Wise’ is another Madness-esque ska banger, while ‘One In Ten’ almost feels like the album’s ballad-track. The latter is another awesome song with a catchy as anything, emotion-filled, rocky chorus. ‘Thanks’ is a brief outing of simple, uplifting greatness while ‘View for a Fool’ closes the album in an album jazz-bar style. I love the beat and the piano, organ and guitars playing around it masterfully. I just love ska music, and few do it as well these days as Buster Shuffle do. That’s why I’ve combined these last few tracks together, because it’s all such perfectly formed ska music that it’s impossible to pick out individual parts, it’s all phenomenal. ‘View…’ is another perfect encapsulation of What the band are about, and rounds out the themes and of the album perfectly.

Overall: As I’m sure you can tell, I loved this! The whole thing is right up my street, and we never get to cover much ska stuff on here so whenever I do, I always find it finds a special place in my heart. Every song on this is awesome, and the whole message behind the album is beautiful and much needed in today’s climate. I can’t recommend it enough to anyone reading this. If you’re a fan of the band, the genre or just music in general, check this out, I’m sure you’ll love it just as much as I do! The band are criminally underrated, and this is yet another album of theirs that shows that perfectly.

The Score: 9/10

Reviews

Less Than Jake, Lurking Terror and Trollwar: EPs Galore!

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Another week and another handful of awesome EPs released into the music world. Let’s look at some of them, shall we?

Less Than Jake: Uncharted

The legendary 3rd wave ska band are back with their first new release since 2020. The band certainly haven’t lost a beat in their four years away from the studio. I was immediately transported back to the early 2000s from the opening track and didn’t leave there until 22 minutes later. All seven tracks on this thing are awesome too; just good fun, up-tempo goodness. My favourite songs are ‘Walking Pipebomb’ ‘Not My Problem’ and ‘Sunny Side’, but as I said, there really isn’t a bad track on the EP. Less Than Jake have been consistently great since they broke out, and I’m so glad they are finally returning to releasing new music again. We definitely don’t get enough ska punk these days, as there aren’t many bands coming up and the older ones have slowed down their releases, so it’s always amazing when we finally get drip-fed some. This is an easy 9/10. It very much took me back to my childhood and shows that Less Than Jake haven’t lost a step!

Lurking Terror: A World In Darkness

The American death metal band released their much anticipated debut EP today, and it’s a damn solid release at that! It’s got somehow both a real old-school feel to it, with hints of Slayer, but also a modern edge. Heck, it also has just a hint of blackened to it, with plenty of Venom influence, too! And, much like with the above EP, all five tracks across its 15-minute runtime are pretty great. My favourite song is probably ‘End of Days’, though, it goes hard. It’s certainly a release worth checking out for anyone into the heavier end of metal, and the band are going to go far if this is anything to go off! 8/10

Trollwar: Tales from the Frozen Wastes

Last but certainly not least this week, we have some amazing folk-death out of Canada. It’s awesome too, a real epic slab of heaviness, catchiness and power. It’s like a more power metal-infused Amon Amarth, and I loved every second of it. From the huge intro into the amazing ‘The Unseen One’, the release starts off incredibly strong. Then you have the other three tracks which are equally amazing, and it really makes for a solid EP. Somehow I’d never heard of the band before despite them having three albums out, but I’ll definitely be going back to check those out now! The band have a big new fan in me, and this is another easy 8/10!

new music mondays

New Music Mondays: Dragonforce, Kacey Musgraves and More!

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Another stacked week of New Music Mondays, covering everything from country to death metal. Let’s check it out!

Dragonforce: Warp Speed Warriors

The British power metal legends returned with their first album in half a decade this last Friday. Any fans of the band already should know exactly what to expect. They have unashamedly stuck to pretty much the exact same sound and formula throughout their careers, the ACDC/Slayer of power metal, if you will. However, every single band member is insanely talented players and songwriters, with Li of course having reached guitar god status years ago. And while, even five albums in now, I can’t quite get into it as much without ZP’s vocals on it, Marc is the best I’ve heard him on this album, and it’s easily the best he’s fit.

The album has plenty of awesome tracks, too. The Gloryhammer-esque ‘Power of the Triforce’ and epic, slower, movie-soundtrack-like ‘Kingdom of Steel’ is a fantastic one-two punch early on. ‘The Killer Queen’ is also a big highlight. However, unless it is a tongue-in-cheek parody song, I have to say ‘Space Marine Corp’ is one of the cringiest songs I’ve heard in a while. But still, in general it’s a great power metal album, and honestly up there with some of the bands best work. Everyone does a great job and it’s packed full of awesome songs. 8/10

Kacey Musgraves: Deeper Well

The country/Americana/folk singer-songwriter is back with her fifth studio album. Considering how massive a name she is, and I certainly knew the name, I can’t think of a song she’s done that I’d heard. Though, having listened to this, I may have heard loads of her stuff and just forgot about it. It’s very… okay. It’s simple and slowish, which does contrast interestingly with the massive choruses of stadium country or even the likes of Chris Stapelton or Drake Milligan. Reaching this size without that is at least admirable. But it’s just like more boring, less well-written Cam. I had this whole album on while I was doing work and honestly couldn’t tell you a single standout track or thing about it. It’s not bad, per say, it’s simply rather dull and not really my sort of thing. 4/10 is the highest I can give it, as it isn’t badly written and I’m sure plenty will love it!

Scott Stapp: Higher Power

We’ve already checked out this awesome album! Read our full review here!

Mad Caddies: Arrows Room 117

The Caddies have been one of my favourite bands for close to a decade now, so when this album was announced, I was understandably excited. Having almost completely abandoned their punk roots at this point, the bands slower, chilled-out, almost easy listening ska/reggae sound is still a huge amount of fun to listen to. The closest they get to punk is on the Social Distortion-esque ‘Backroads’ or ‘Baby’. Heck, the latter even has a slight country tinge. Outside of that, it’s just relaxed ska indicative of their SoCal style. If anything I find it admirable that a band nearly three decades into their careers are continuing to evolve and write what they want to. Too much recently have we heard punk bands try to go back to their agro, adolescent roots to, more often than not, middling results at best.

The album is packed full of highlights, with there not being a bad song on it. However, personal highlights include the previously mentioned songs, ‘Palmtrees and Pines’ and ‘Everywhere You Go’. Honestly though, the whole album is good and worth a listen through from start to finish. If you’re a fan of ska, Reggae or punk, you certainly won’t be disappointed. It’s the first release of original music in a decade, and it’s a worthy successor to Dirty Rice! 9/10

Necrophobic: In the Twilight Grey

The Blackened death metal Swedes put out a pretty interesting and good album to mark their 10th release! It’s very much like if Amon Amarth had a baby with a black metal band, and I kinda love it. Tracks like the opener and ‘Stormcrow’ blew me away and were clear highlights! Having said that though, there really isn’t a bad track on the whole thing. Honestly, there isn’t much to say about the album aside for that if you like any of the genres or bands I’ve already named, you’ll probably love this. I’m not even typically a black/blackened metal fan, but this was interesting enough for me to love. If you’re a fan of the heavy, you’ll like this! 7.5/10

The Black Crowes: Happiness Bastards

The southern rock legends are back with their ninth studio album, and first in a decade and a half. Honestly, it was so good to hear the band were coming back at all after all their issues in the last decade or so, but to have new music released is truly awesome. And what an album it is, too! Whether it’s the classic Crowes sound like their opener, a more punk-infused sound on ‘Rats and Clowns’ or all-out acoustic-country-ballad goodness with ‘Wilted Rose’, there’s plenty to keep someone entertained. The latter also features everyone’s favourite country lady at the minute, Lainey Wilson, and is a fantastic song!

It’s one of the strongest return albums I’ve ever heard, and every track is really amazing. Songs like the opener and ‘Dirty Cold Sun’ are also huge highlights. It’s awesome to hear a band that clearly influenced some of my more local favourites like Bad Touch and The Answer back and going strong again. If you’re a fan of southern or hard rock, or country or rock just in general, I’m convinced you’ll love this album as much as I do! 8.5/10

Luke Dick: Lockeland

I spent the entire album trying to work out if this classed as country or not. I came to the conclusion that a) it doesn’t matter, and b) it’s closer to an acoustic easy-listening, Jack Johnson-esque sound most of the time. Either way, it’s a great listen. It’s an incredibly relaxed album with some beautifully written lyrics and guitars. It’s short too; only eight tracks and 27-minutes. It’s only just an album, but it also makes it nearly impossible to pick out highlights. It’s the antithesis of all killer, no filler, and each track feels meticulously selected. Having said that, I haven’t stopped listening to the opener or ‘True Companion’ all weekend! It’s certainly an album worth listening to in full, though! It’s certainly not going to be for every reader, but I loved it! 8.5/10

new music mondays

New Music Mondays: Amon Amarth, Soulfly and More!

You know what’s happening by now. Lots of new music from ten awesome bands. Lets check them out together down below!

Amon Amarth: The Great Heathen Army

Scandinavian Viking metallers return with their 12th studio album, and once again it’s awesome. However, the first thing I noticed was that the fantastic single ‘Put Your Back into the Oar’ that was released earlier this year did not make the album. An unfortunate omission as it’s a great track, but so are the others that made the album’s cut. It’s a concise nine tracks of great death metal. The opener sets the scene perfectly while the title track is simply awesome. However, tracks like ‘Heidrun’ and ‘Find a Way or Make One’ are definite highlights of the album. And of course, the collab between them and Saxon, aptly titled ‘Saxons and Vikings’, is as amazing as you’d expect it to be. While I do have to admit I did prefer the bands last two albums over this one, it’s still a great album I’ll be listening to a lot going forward!7.5/10

Soulfly: Totem

A band that I really should listen to more given how much I like Sepultura, Soulfly have now released a whopping 12 albums for me to catch up on. The groove/death metal band go hard right from the opening track, ‘Superstition’, and to little surprise also go hard through all ten tracks. It shares similar characteristics to the previous album in that both are a similar genre and draw on their culture for inspiration (though Max doesn’t do it as much here as he used to). However, I do think Amon Amarth did it slightly better. Soulfly definitely have the more aggressive edge to their sound, but I found the catchier element of AA funner and ultimately more enjoyable. I know I shouldn’t compare the two bands, and tracks like ‘Souring the Vile’ and ‘Ancestors’ are great, but it’s hard not to when both come out on the same day. Maybe it would translate better live for me! 6.5/10

The Interrupters: In the Wild

We don’t have enough ska on this site, or in the music scene in general any more, so I am so glad The Interrupters are flying the flag for the fourth wave of ska. The Distillers-inspired band have put out three of the best punk albums of the last decade in their short career, and look to continue their streak with this one. Starting out punky it soon goes full ska with the awesome ‘As We Live’ (anything with Tim Armstrong is awesome). The rather silly ‘Raised by Wolves’ gives way to the fantastic lead single, ‘In the Mirror’, and the album is off to a fantastic start.

My only issue with this album is how bloated it is. I love the band and genre as much as the next guy, but 14 tracks is a lot for a ska album. However, having said that, each song is amazing, so I don’t know how they’d have cut any as I wouldn’t be able to choose which to get rid of. The tracks are short enough too, the album is still less than 45-minutes long. I guess it’s just my easily distracted brain wanting slightly ore variety when listening to so many tracks at once. Still, every track on the album is awesome, especially ‘Love Never Dies’ featuring the criminally underrated Skints. Check this out, as it really is a fantastic album, and definitely continues their winning streak! 9/10

Dub War: Westgate Under Fire

Skindred mastermind Benji Webbe’s original band have been on and off active for the last eight years now, but their first new music release in 24 years is a pretty massive deal. The reggae punk-rock works just as well with the political subject matter that ‘Blackkk Man’ explores as it does the slightly lighter subject matter of Skindred’s lyrics. For anyone who isn’t as familiar with the band, it’s more closely related to Public Enemy, Suicidal Tendencies and even Wildhearts than the heavier riffs that Mikey Demus brings to Skindred. However, tracks like ‘Vibes in the Place’, ‘Mary Shelley’ and ‘Fun Done’ are all awesome. A good album and a great return from a band that should have gotten further the first time round! 7.5/10

Psycroptic: Divine Council

The death metal Aussies put out one hell of an eighth studio album last Friday. I cannot get over how fucking incredible the riffs are throughout the entire album, and just the guitars in general. Joe Haley is another criminally underrated guitarist, creating a dream album for those into the rhythm side of the instrument. Just check out ‘A Fool’s Errand’ to hear what I’m talking about. The rest of the band are fantastic too, the drummer working overtime throughout and all the different screams fitting the genre perfectly and being amazing. This is the sort of death metal that I love and holy crap, what an album. At just nine tracks and under f40 minutes, it’s also compact and concise awesomeness. Check this out, you won’t be disappointed! 8/.5/10

The Flatliners: New Ruin

The punk/almost post-hardcore band released their first album in half a decade last week. I wasn’t familiar with the band before writing this review and, honestly, I’m not sure how to feel about the album even after listening to it all. It wasn’t bad at all, it just felt like nothing really stood out to me. It reminds me of this year’s Static Dress album in that it’s a genre that I should LOVE, but for some reason it just doesn’t resonate with me the way I thought it would. However, the more indie-like chorus for ‘Rat King’ did have me singing along pretty quick and is definitely a highlight o the album. 6/10

Abbadon Incarnate: The Wretched Sermon

This at least wins the award for best album artwork of the week. It’s fuckin’ awesome. As for the music, it’s impressively fast death metal. Like, if thrash and death had a baby and then gave it speed. It’s a lot of fun. However, I did find myself loosing track of which song was wihich rather quickly, they all blended into one. Outside of the more up and down, longer ‘Isolation and Decay’ it was all rather samey. It was still a good listen and worth it for anyone who’s into the heavy stuff, but it’s exactly what you’d expect it to be. 6.5/10

StormbounD: December

Check out our full review of this awesome album, alongside it’s score, here.

Grave Bathers: Rock’n’Roll Fetish

The stoner/doom rock band’s debut gives us more riffs than 99.99% of other albums combined, so it feels. The band seem like the second coming of The Sword, something that the industry has needed ever since said band released High Country. ‘Ghost ‘Em All’ pens the album in spectacular fashion and perfectly encapsulates what the band is about and going for It’s amazing. The rest of the album is just as spectacular, too. Again though, and I feel like a broken record at this point, it’s a damn long album. 12 tracks spanning 81-minutes is a lot, even if given the genre it’s a little more forgivable than others. However, the sheer talent of the bands playing and songwriting on display means that even at the insane length of the tracks, it is still one hell of a great listen. No highlights again here, all the tracks are great. 9/10

Devil’s Paradise: Post Mortem

17 tracks for 80-minutes of music. What is it about this week and really long albums? It feels like the bands are cottoning on to how many albums I listen to to review a week and are taking the piss a bit now!

In all seriousness though, this was fantastic. Another great debut album (even if some of these tracks have been out nearly a decade already), making a whopping three in the same day! They remind me a lot of one of my favourite newer bands this year, South of Salem. I really hope this combo of Misfits style goth-punk and modern-day sleaze sticks around and continues to get bigger, because it’s a fantastic sub-genre. This does have a little more of a US radio rock edge to it too (think Burn Halo, Soil etc), especially on the slower tracks like ‘Ghost’. There’s also a handful of slower tracks that sound like Avenged Sevenfold when they they to sound like GNR. I love all of it, these ballads or the heavier, faster goth-sleaze tracks.

There are plenty of highlights from the album, a handful of which made our playlist. This is DEFINITELY worth checking out, these guys are gonna be huge. 9/10

And there we have it, an absolutely fantastic week for new music, a lot of it coming from the youngest bands on the list. Rock music is in an incredibly strong place right now with the next generation coming up, and I cannot wait to see where they all go from here!

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