Jinjer to me, and many others, they are Metal’s heirs apparent – Gojira in waiting. It’s theirs for the taking; if they would only step out of the darkness and show themselves in the best possible light. . .

To say that cellist and composer, Jo Quail, has had an amazing 2018 is nothing short of an understatement. With the UK leg of her sell-out tour with Myrkur starting next week, we thought it an ideal time to ask Jo to write about three albums that have been huge influences on her playing and composition.

The UK’s premier experimental music and arts event Supersonic Festival 2018 kicks off from 22 to 24 June in Birmingham, with a host of unique and exclusive performances and appearances to get excited about, including ten things that you won’t see anywhere else this festival season.

Make no mistake, this Black Moth has done its time flitting around the candle. From now on, the candle is coming to them. . . only it’s not a candle any more – it’s a bloody great beacon.

We’re here to take a communion of sorts with Nergal and celebrate his album ‘Songs of Love and Death’, a side project with Anglo-Polish bluesman John Porter. Together, they are Me and That Man. At least, I think they are, because the shadowy figures taking the stage through a fog, to the ominous accompaniment of the harmonica theme from ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’, might just as easily be the Spaghetti Western Orchestra.

Everyone, it seems, loves Clutch; and in turn, they provide an all-points meeting place for fans from a myriad of genres. Charlie Gardner joined the party and Magda Wrzeszcz took the pictures to prove it…

Katie Kim is an enchantress, and Salt sees the visionary singer-songwriter at last set loose in a properly expansive landscape. An outstanding album of elemental beauty that teeters on the edge of darkness…

Charlie Gardner saw Torche light up the seafront and Red Fang make Brighton rock!

Hypnotic and entrancing, ‘The City Lies in Ruins’ may not be psychedelia, but it’s certainly Trip-le Sun. – By Charlie Gardner

Charlie Gardner went on a walking tour of Brighton, and managed to fit in Mugstar and Luminous Bodies on the way…

‘Illusory Blues’ was a fine debut, but in many ways it was an illusion. The Messenger story starts here with ‘Threnodies’, and it’s a story you need to listen to. The message is simply this: Messenger rock! – By Charlie Gardner

On the eve of their UK tour, Renaissance’s Annie Haslam talked to Charlie Gardner about painting, patronage and why the band, now in their fifth decade, have never really seen themselves as prog rockers.

I can’t pretend I’ll be taking it out of the airing cupboard again any time soon; but if the Matmos crew were to fly me out to the States to see them play it live, I’d happily take in their washing for the next six months… By Charlie Gardner

Siobhan Hogarty saw Baroness in Glasgow recently. “They deliver a thunderous rendition and the closing vocal refrain is roared back, as all of us in the room realise how lucky we are to have such a band around.”

‘Ankaa’ is nothing less than a stunning record. It’s a masterpiece: a symphonic concept album that demands its movements be played in sequence, and in one sitting, and which rewards you handsomely for doing so. – By Charlie Gardner

Charlie Gardner went to the Green Door Store in Brighton and found that Bruce Soord without a pineapple isn’t as sweet as Sweet Billy Pilgrim…

Since recently moving to London, I had not yet been to a prog show and was in dire need. Guapo were the answer, playing with support from HIRVIKOLARI at The Lexington. By Cameron Piko

Charlie Gardner went to the Concorde 2 in Brighton to see Anathema play a good set, but they definitely need to enjoy the wider acclaim they so richly deserve and start playing the bigger venues.

Charlie Gardner went to The Prince Albert in Brighton to see Knifeworld, Ham Legion, M U M M Y and Stephen Evens pay tribute to Tim Smith from Cardiacs.