Steve Fallows caught up with Chris Brooks from Lionize. “We decided that in this modern era of music it is no longer viable for us to spend so much money to go to studios and make records with engineers and producers. So we decided that we had to learn to record our albums ourselves.”

Steve Fallows caught up with Chuck Mosley when he was in the UK recently. “If we are all going to die I want to do it in the rolling hills and green countryside of the UK. I don’t want to see Cleveland as I’m getting blown up.”

The thrash scene is thriving right now. Older bands releasing some of their best music and a raft of new bands ready to take their chance.

Steve Fallows went to Manchester to see the legendary former Faith No More frontman Chuck Mosley live at The Star & Garter.

Steve Fallows went to Liverpool to see Ne Obliviscaris, Oceans of Slumber and Kusanagi. “A really good band, building an exceptional live reputation.”

While the band haven’t strayed to far from the formula that has made them such an iconic name, they have nevertheless produced an album that still offers something different to a lot of the other current releases doing the rounds.

They are getting more extreme, yet at the same time, slightly more accessible and open to new ideas. Definitely a contender for my album of the year. – By Steve Fallows

This is a good album, but by losing a few tracks it could have been a bit special. Will be very interesting to see what they do next. – By Steve Fallows

Whilst on the face of it, it appears to be a simple primitive old school black metal release, in ‘The Curling Flame Of Blasphemy’ Ledney and Gelso have produced a complex and intriguing album that only adds to their already legendary status on the underground USBM scene. – By Steve Fallows

Steve Fallows saw great sets by Cattle Decapitation, Crepitation, Exhumation & Deified live in Liverpool. “A genuinely great band at the top of their game.”

Dave Brooks saw MONEY at the Battersea Arts Centre in London. “The audience are left with little more than dogged strums and prolonged cries of anguished self-abandonment. For such a melancholic ending, it’s stunningly cathartic.”

Steve Fallows saw Carina Round (known from Puscifer) and She Makes War in Manchester. “A brilliant night, with two very special talents.”

Steve Fallows saw Raging Speedhorn on Leeds a few weeks ago. “There is every chance they could outdo the original success the band found.”

Steve Fallows saw some sweaty sets by The Wildhearts, Ryan Hamilton & The Traitors and Massive Wagons at The Deaf Institute in Manchester. “The band are really tight and look like they are enjoying every single second, even in this hot, muggy atmosphere.”

Being a fan of the more primitive sound of Cradle of Filth’s earlier work than the more polished sound that became their signature, this holds a lot more interest and enjoyment for me. – By Steve Fallows

Steve Fallows had a little chat with The Melvins frontman Buzz Osborne when the band played Leeds a few weeks back.

Steve Fallows saw Chris T-T, Helen Chambers, Neil Morris and Matt McKee at The Star & Garter in Manchester. “Another one of those nights that convinces you that you should go out and support a show when possible.”

Steve Fallows saw The Melvins at The Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. “An excellent show, one of the best I have seen from them, and that’s saying something.”

Live albums are often hit and miss affairs (more often miss than hit), but this is one that perfectly encapsulates The Wildhearts as a band. The massive pop choruses sit side by side with some huge riffs and massive punk and metal influences, and then you have the crowd singing along with nearly every word. – By Steve Fallows

Hatebreed don’t really do bad albums, but it’s been a while since they have released an album as fierce as ‘The Concrete Confessional’. – By Steve Fallows

At the recent Impericon Festival, Steve Fallows managed to grab a few words with Despised Icon vocalist Alex Erian and talked about the future for the recently reformed Canadian deathcore crew.