Diaries of Doom

Lizard King Promotions ' head honcho Mike Linehan stopped by for a chat about Cvltfest Resurrected last week, discussing in detail almost all the bands on the bill later this month - with the exception of Battalions , who were announced yesterday as the last-minute replacement for Made of Teeth on the lineup. Cvltfest will take place on the 23rd and 24th of February at Rebellion, Manchester, hosted by Lizard King Promotions and Riffolution Promotions . All the bands loosely can be connected to their musical forefathers in Black Sabbath - but other than that, it's a massively varied lineup that really offers something for everyone. Listen to our interview for a very exclusive peek into what the day may entail, such as unreleased songs, collaborations and guest spots. I won't spoil the surprise... It's a stellar lineup and I'll see everyone there. Appearing at Cvltfest Resurrected will be Dvne , Pijn , Mastiff , Hundred Year Old Man , Conan , Boss Keloid

PRESS RELEASE: After an eight-year hiatus, Birmingham's very own Blackened Death Metal powerhouse, Under Blackened Skies , is rising from the shadows with a vengeance. The band, known for their intense and captivating performances, is thrilled to announce their return to the metal scene, accompanied by a new member on bass, Dan Carter . Dan Carter , formerly of Left For Red , joins Under Blackened Skies with a wealth of experience and a shared passion for the band's unique sound. Carter expressed his excitement about joining the fold, stating, "I was thrilled to be asked to join Under Blackened Skies , they were a band that I admired when my old band used to perform with them. I love playing their songs, and I am excited to share the stage with them in 2024 and write new music." The band's blend of blackened atmospheres and death metal brutality has always set them apart, and their return promises to be nothing short of spectacular. Fans can expect an unforgettab

London stoner/grunge quartet Okay You Win have barely been active for a year, but are surely starting to make their dent in the British heavy rock scene. In the last few weeks they've immortalised their first chapter of existence with Live From The Pit , a seven-track recording captured live from The Pit Studios in Kent by Paul 'Pablo' Annis in early November 2023. The Live From The Pit album takes you on a sonic ride that kicks off with Ten Year Trip 's climbing psych-rock riff, signaling the start of what immediately seems an epic, grungy adventure. This opener sets the tone, bringing chugs and guitar dissonance that pack a serious punch, all while channeling vocals reminiscent of the legendary Chris Cornell. These echoes of the Soundgarden frontman ooze a vintage sense of cool, and the instrumental/lead guitar break? We're only just getting started. It nicely encapsulates what's to come, with Ryan and Rodrigo's guitar and bass chemistry making itself

  Stoke-based quintet Era's End will round off a busy year with the release of Over Throne , due on 29th December. With the attitude of pop punk, the intensity of metalcore, and catchy hooks that bands of a much bigger size would be jealous of, will this give them the lift they deserve? Starting off with a thrashy riff and a full-throttle, driving rhythm, the instrumental work is great. A soaring, charismatic lead vocal from Amy directs the flow, and they waste no time setting the scene. The track is less than three minutes long, so they keep it short, sweet and snappy, with focused songwriting that doesn't try to cram too much in. The chorus packs a punch with its metalcore feel and layered screams, complementing Amy's soulful cleans. Beth's gloriously gritty bass tone in the mix gives the track a nice crunch. It has to be said that the production here is also really impressive. There's a noticeable sonic difference c ompared to their previous work . Over Throne

Black Cloud Harbour, the solo project from Adam C. Taylor (also of acclaimed Hertfordshire post-sludge fourpiece Everest Queen), launched earlier this year with the release of Corrosion back in October 2023. Mixing punk, hardcore, and black metal in its core sound, Storm built upon the first single a month later, with strong, uplifting melodic undercurrents. As Taylor explains, 'this project will morph and evolve as I go on'. Black Cloud Harbour's genre-twisting places it at the forefront of the modern metal soundscape, and it seems by all accounts that there are still a few surprises awaiting us. Tomorrow will see the release of The Eternal Abyss , the third Black Cloud Harbour single in as many months. It kicks off with a driving hardcore beat and a simple but effective sludgy riff to get the adrenaline flowing early on. He uses a solid, gravelly scream over the top, though as the song progresses into more melodic waters, a tuneful guitar bridge really elevates The Et

I remember seeing Grunk for the first time. If you haven't yet, you will, too. It was Worcester Music Festival last year, they'd turned the floor of Circle of Swords tattoo studio into a pit of pure chaos, silliness and brutality. Truly a force of nature. A year on, I caught them again at the same festival, though a different venue. It was equally reckless and lawless, but with the addition of bass player Mike, their fuller sound really made a difference on the ears. In the same way, if you compare 2020's Unnecessary Hate Boner to the recently-released Tales From The Stupidity Vortex , Grunk sound bigger and better, with Ramón also adding some guttural gurgles to complement Ollie's tortured shouting this time round. They sound much closer to the finished product these days. Grunk - Hooligan's Haircut (live at Worcester Music Festival 2022) Tales From The Stupidity Vortex kicks off with the brutal and lyrically self-explanatory Radiator Spunk , led by some great