Diaries of Doom

Rabidfest is a yearly event in Oxford that's seen the likes of Discharge , Diamond Head and Blaze Bayley headline through the years. I was there for the first time last year as a performer and was really impressed at how well-run the event was; this year is no different, with friendly security, bar staff, organisers and front of house, as well as a ton of incredible bands. I'm only able to make the Sunday this time unfortunately, but I'm still left with some serious local and national talent to enjoy for a full day.  I get to the Bullingdon to the sweet, dulcet tones of Fetus Destruction blaring out of the speakers. With a band name like theirs, and directly titled songs such as 'Kunt', you can make a good guess at what to expect, but what you wouldn't necessarily take for granted is just how tight they are as a live unit, with particularly intense drumming and an excellent lead vocal. Despite playing around two in the afternoon, there's a sizeable and ...

An eventful 2023 has seen Bristolian doomgazers Epimetheus win the local Microdog Battle of the Bands heat before spreading their wings a little further out in the country, notably with appearances at Depravation Festival and Worcester Music Festival as part of their Doomgazing tour. They've also put out the excellent new single Alone He Guards This House , which has become a staple of their setlists over the last few months. A few gentle, fuzzy chords set an ominous scene before leaning into a screeching guitar line over a swaggering rhythm. It's a lot more upbeat than most of their existing material, but with their trademark superfuzz and intelligent drum patterns, it's still very much an Epimetheus number. They've never been afraid to write a solid vocal hook (see last year's Machetezilla ), but Alone He Guards This House really exceeds expectations in this regard with a leading line that really sticks in your head. James' backing vocals are excellent, with...