Diaries of Doom

In the absence of gigs due to the pandemic at the moment DoD is holding off from the usual weekly roundups for the time being. There's a lot less going on - especially for the small, live, underground bands we champion - and it feels a bit depressing doing them without. They'll be back among more normal times. Stay safe out there.

Last week on Diaries of Doom... We uploaded another documentary at the weekend. Watch our 15-min insight into Independent Music Venues Week, with  Raging Speedhorn ,  Desert Storm  and  Those Snakes , talking about their local music scenes, the importance of small venues, and new music for the latter two bands. In a busy week for underground live music,  Fractura  played their first show under their new line up at Metal 2 The Masses Wolverhampton,  King Corpse  headlined Ye Olde Foundry in Dudley with  Tumanduumband  and  Voidlurker , and  Ashen Crown  opened for Grand Magus and Wolf in Birmingham. Something I forgot to mention last week was that  Insurgent  released a new single, titled 'Colours Bleed'. Unfortunately, with that announcement came the news that they were calling it a day as a band. Gutted isn't the word. Creature dropped a live session for 'Cold Man's World'. They're touring wi...

Did you catch Ungraven this week? The industrial blackened sludge duo feature Jon of  Conan  and Tyler of Tuskar.  Voidlurker  and Adder supported them in an incredible night of live music in Coventry. You can read our new  review  of the  Land Captains  EP, written expertly by Ben Price. Thomas V Jäger of  Monolord  announced a solo project. It's a bit softer than the crushing doom he's known for - based on acoustic guitars, synths and vocals. The new Testament song 'Children of the Next Level' crushes. That sums it up nicely. Desert Storm  have released another song. 'The Machine' will be on upcoming album Omens, out on APF.  We've got new videos from  Witch Tripper ,  Conan  and  Memoriam  on the channel - have a watch! Viscera's first album came out this week. Jamie, who used to front Sylosis and Heart of a Coward, is providing vocals. This stuff is heavy...

Those Snakes  released the fantastic 'Widowmaker' on Friday. It's by far one of the strongest albums I've heard this year. We uploaded our interview with them from about a month prior - you can listen to them talk about the album and the true journey it took to get there. They headlined Redrum with Prognosis and  King Corpse  as part of the release. Speaking of interviews, we uploaded our first feature with  Ironvolt ! It's Ben's first interview for Diaries of Doom, and what better place to start? Keep this band on your radar if you like heavy, groovy funky, but more importantly - fun - music. Have a watch of some live  King Corpse . 'Exhumation' live at HRH Metal has gone up to coincide with its single release last week. Have you seen  Pelugion  this week? They've been busy! After supporting Straight for the Sun at Scruffy's (Birmingham) on Friday night, they headlined a charity gig at the Arches (Coventry). Keep an eye ou...

Napalm Death played a triumphant hometown show in Birmingham on Thursday. They were joined by Eyehategod, Misery Index, Rotten Sound and Bat. King Corpse  released 'Exhumation', the first track from the upcoming Sacred Crimson EP. Catch them on March 14th with  Voidlurker   and   Tumanduumband   at Ye Olde Foundry   (listen to the track  here ) Telford blackened death metallers  Blood Church   announced some new 'False Idols' merch. Check their Facebook for more details. With the dust settling from HRH Metal last weekend, DoD has already uploaded a couple of highlights from  Ashborn  and  Lullaby for a Unicorn . We've also put up an interview with  The Grand Mal  and a live clip of  Those Snakes . Those Snakes' second album is barely a week away now. Towards the more classic side of metal, KK Downing announced KK's Priest with two other former Judas Priest members (Tim 'Ripper' Owens...

Last week on Diaries of Doom... Black Sabbath's debut album turned 50 on Thursday. Yeah, you read that right. Half a century of heavy metal in our ears! No biggie. Master Charger  announced a show at Scruffy Murphy's in Birmingham with  Flex Bison ,  Slump   and  Shot Down Zed . It's the first Diaries of Doom gig and will be  promoted by MMH Radio  as well! HRH Metal went down in Birmingham at the weekend, including bands like  Flex Bison  and  King Corpse  as well as Rhapsody of Fire, Equilibrium, Evil Scarecrow and Raised by Owls and Witchsorrow nearer the top. Speaking of festivals, Bloodstock announced Acid Reign, Svalbard, Idle Hands, Soen, Viscera, Dog Tired and Bailer. Witch Tripper  toured with Evil Scarecrow, sharing stages in Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds and London. Those Snakes released a new video for the song 'Ghosts of Tomorrow'. The Stafford psychedelic metallers are not a band to be ...

Last week on Diaries of Doom: We uploaded our first review! Ben wrote a brilliant piece about  Voidlurker 's Industrial Nightmare EP. It's a banger, and a must listen for doom and sludge fans. Have a read ! Our  Pemphigoid  interview from the Hare & Hounds is now up. Have a watch for an insight into the Mansfield OSDMers. Netherhall released a new song on Friday, titled 'Distant'. You can buy it for a quid here  - the Brummies seem to go from strength to strength with every new release. King Corpse  announced details of their upcoming EP 'Sacred Crimson'. It's coming out on April 17th. Can't. Wait. Read the Facebook post here . Desert Storm  announced an upcoming new album and tour. 'Omens' comes out on the 1st of May, and 'Black Bile' was released as a single (listen here) . They're doing a run of UK and EU dates throughout May, with a few more through the rest of the year. As well as the one abov...