For those fans down on the ground in Telemark… damn, what an experience it must have been.  For those others like me, tuning in from the comfort of home, it… provided yet further insight into the timeless complexity and grandiosity of their classic recordings, and demonstrated that – thirty years down the line – Emperor remain as unique and relevant as ever. 

This Dracula Spectacular, filmed in Colchester, was delayed from January – yes even streams get delayed in 2021… After two hours, I could happily watch another hour of this – even if they exhausted their stash of music-vid visuals – and would have liked a new track premiere, but I still feel well and truly satisfied…

It provided a level of immersion that had been missing from many streamed events and though it probably won’t make artists more accepting of people filming entire bloody shows when concerts resume, this was the perfect chance to experience a performance from one of music’s great innovators in a truly unique way.

Part 3 of our Roadburn Redux coverage. “It was maybe one of the most egalitarian musical ventures to have been attempted, not just during this lockdown but ever.”

Part 2 of our Roadburn Redux coverage. “Even online, Roadburn really is like no other festival: diverse, innovative music whose heaviness always cuts deep.”

Part 1 of our Roadburn Redux coverage. “It got far, far closer to that magic than I imagined possible for a digitally distanced event. A fantastic achievement from all involved.”

Roadburn Festival returns this year as ‘Roadburn Redux’, which takes place online with loads of things to choose from. Echoes and Dust looks ahead to see who and what is involved this year.

First Flight of the White Raven is a success, as long as you judge it fairly. If you’re a Wardruna fan, and the band release this show for purchase then you’ll want to buy it. . . For those who tuned in, it was Wardruna alive, bursting with energy and splendour, if not live with the full capacity for majesty that that experience entails. The white raven itself is prophetic, as Einar explained: a symbol of hope – and that’s something we all need now, more than ever.

In a world without live music Owen Coggins was lucky enough to see back-to-back gigs by Tuskar – one live, the other livestream – in an autumnal double-header at the Black Heart.

With the stroke of a Covid-19 pen, Birmingham’s brilliant but lockdowned Supersonic festival became the virtual, Sofasonic. Jared Dix was sitting comfortably and gives us the full DFS. . .

They are legends of their genre for a reason, and showed why with this celebration of their greatest achievement as a band.

Heavy Psych Sounds Records brought some heavy Stoner and Psych Rock vibes to Camden’s Underworld in a one-day mini-festival.

Employed To Serve keeping moving forward, with Birmingham’s Mama Roux’s the latest conquest in their eternal campaign.

This is exactly the sort of stuff for which this venue is perfect. Deep listening music that taps into the same meditative qualities as the building . . . Here in a space that already encourages stillness, in your own shut-off little pew, you can drift away with it.

I can’t imagine many bands would like to follow Birds in Row but Alcest managed it with ease; they played a varied set with a good balance of old and new, showed some versatility and somehow, after all I have said, remained slightly understated. Highly recommended.