It’s going to be one busy month, so many great albums hit the shelves as well as some great gigs coming to us and finally the start of FESTIVAL season, summer is just around the corner!
Ozzy Osbourne has announced his rescheduled tour dates for early 2020 after having a turbulent few months with his health but it sounds like he’s finally getting back on his feet. Fingers crossed that Ozzy is back on top form and ready for us all to board the crazy train with him.
Veterans of hardcore bunch, Comeback Kid have announced their return to Europe this June and July with three headline dates and a festival appearance within the UK. These are gigs not to miss, these guys truly bring a great night of music with these dates possibly selling out before the shows. Their newest album 'Outsider' is still heavily rotated within my playlist.
The boys from down under Polaris are set for their first ever UK headline show after their triumph opening up for Architects earlier this year. Originally they were set to play the Boston Music Rooms in London but due to demand have uped the anti and upgraded to The Dome! This is a show I will not be missing, The Mortal Coil is a killer album with banger after banger! These are undoubtedly going to be playing some huge venues in due time!
This month there are definitely more albums being released compared to shows i'll be attending however with not as many gigs it gives me time to listen to all the albums I want compared to rushing around with them playing and not taking the time to fully listen to them.
May is going to see a nice selection of gigs spanning an array of genres. Firstly is a family adventure to see Michael Ball on his ‘Coming Home To You’ tour. We will be attending the Bournemouth show at the BIC for a night of classic musical theatre songs as well as his own original music from his new album which made its way to number 1 on the charts.
Brujeria are set to return to London on the 20th for a wild night of extreme metal at the Underworld in Camden. It’s great to finally get the chance to see these guy rip through the UK on their full European tour as headliners compared to supports.
The 24th sees Knocked Loose return to London for a headline show before their appearances at Slamdunk festival North and South. Knocked loose gigs are always full on and intense, the crowd give it their all with bodies flailing everywhere, screaming the lyrics as loud as they can. I can’t wait to see them after I was blown away with their performance last year in London! Ironically I'll be catching them again two days later as they play Slamdunk South on the 26th, the one-day festival has such a strong lineup with the likes of Bullet For My Valentine, Neck Deep, Simple Plan and plenty more! There is always something for everyone at Slamdunk, I’d highly recommend this festival for everyone its always a good day whatever the weather.
The final gig for the month is on the 31st and sees me return to the Camden Underworld for Fit For An Autopsy’s European headline tour. This is one hell of a lineup including Britain’s own Venom Prison as main support, supporting their new album Samsara which came out in March of this year. As well as the additions of South African slammers Vulvodynia and Aussie lads Justice For The Damned to make this lineup huge and very international!
In the space of 4 weeks I have 10 albums I want to check out! Its going to definitely help pass my work days but listening to some great new music.
The first album I’ll be blaring through my headphones is Amon Amarth’s 'Berserker' which drops on the 3rd of May. It's an exceptionally strong start to the month!
The 10th see’s the return of death metal royalty Possessed with their first studio album in 33 years 'Revelations Of Oblivion' is a follow up to 1986’s Beyond the gates. This is one album not to be missed by any metal fan. The 10th also see's British rockers Whitesnake drop 'Flesh & Blood', you can never go wrong listening to their music there are unreal sing along’s and fantasic driving music this is an album I really am excited for.
The 17th sees the release of three albums which I’m super excited to hear firstly is German industrial metal unit Rammstein, the self titled album has to be one of the most anticipated albums of 2019, both 'Deutschland' and 'Radio' where very well received with a dashing of controversy in the standard Rammstein way, fingers crossed the album follows suit! British thrashers Savage Messiah release 'Demons' via Century Media I’m so ready for face melting riffs and catchy vocals, I can’t wait to hear the whole album. The final album to drop on the 17this Lewis Capalidi’s debut album ‘Divinely Uninspired To A Hellish Extent’ the hype is real, the way he speaks and acts is the polar opposite to how he sings and plays but it all just works so well! Its going to be a solid album.
On the 24th, I’ll have one album on repeat all day and that’s Fleshgod Apocalypse’s ‘Veleno’. The reviews so far have come back unbelievably high! I can’t wait to get the chance to hear it and give it my opinion and fingers crossed a UK tour.
The 31st, and the final day of the month we are in for a real treat! 3 albums are coming for us on that day. Firstly are one of the most underrated thrash bands Death Angel, who bring us ‘Humanicide’. Both new singles are bangers, It’s going to be a full on in your face album and easily going to produce some insane songs played live causing a stir within the crowd.
The final two are Norwegian black metal albums. Darkthrone drop 'Old Star' and Gaahl Wyrd release 'Gastir – Ghosts Invited'. Both albums are super short 'Old Star' is only 6 tracks whilst 'Gastir – Ghosts Invited' comes in a tad longer with 8 songs. Both these albums will be worth a listen as they surly going to be remarkable albums from both bands.
Outside of music, I've had a relatively slow month ahead. I haven't anything really happening apart from the gigs and festivals. I have another session to complete my back piece which is slowly getting there with more sessions booked in to try and finally finish it!
Check back every week for live reviews, memorabilia and album review. Follow my instagram and twitter to see more regular updates of my shenanigans.