Category Archives: Pure Metal/Gig reviews

Metal gig reviews

Gig review: RIVERSIDE – O2 Liverpool Academy, 5 April 2014

Support Act: Votum Review and Photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Polish Prog Metal outfit Riverside have acquired a reputation for being a top quality live band over the years, so accepting this gig assignment was a no-brainer to me. Now, … Continue reading

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Gig review: OVERKILL – London O2 Islington Academy, 13 March 2014

Support act: Soilwork & Xentrix. Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Two gigs in a row, with less than four hours of sleep in between – not a problem back in the day, but getting closer … Continue reading

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Gig review: TRANSATLANTIC – London The Forum, 12 March 2014

TRANSATLANTIC – London The Forum, 12 March 2014

Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Wednesday the 12th of March was in my calendar for quite some time; this was the day when Progressive super group Transatlantic were to be in London for a highly … Continue reading

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Gig review: EXUMER – London O2 Islington Academy, 19 February 2014

Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis I would like to start this gig review by first apologising for how short it is and secondly by clarifying one important thing: German Thrashers Exumer did not perform a headline show on the evening … Continue reading

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Gig review: SEPULTURA – O2 Islington Academy, London, 6 February 2014‏

SEPULTURA – O2 Islington Academy, London, 6 February 2014‏

Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis There are many bands out there, claiming to play high velocity Thrash Metal, but only a handful can do so with the energy and conviction which characterise the legendary Brazilian quartet Sepultura. When Andreas Kisser … Continue reading

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Gig review: TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA – Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, London, 4 January 2014‏

The first time that I saw Trans-Siberian Orchestra live, it turned out to be one of the musical highlights of the year for me. The year was 2011, the venue exactly the same as tonight (note: then called The Hammersmith … Continue reading

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Gig review: THERION – O2 Islington Academy, London, 20 December 2013‏

Arkona

Support Acts: Arkona Review & Photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis It was around the end of November that an acquaintance of mine asked me to name my favorite gig of the year to which my response was “It’s too early … Continue reading

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Gig review: DEATH ANGEL – London, The Underworld, 10 December 2013‏

Dew-Scented - London Underworld, 10 December 2013

Support Acts: Dew-Scented Review & Photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Five days on from the glorious Marduk/Grave show, I am back in The Underworld in Camden to see San Francisco Thrashers Death Angel, who are back in town, supporting their … Continue reading

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Gig review: MARDUK – London, The Underworld, 5 December 2013‏

Death Wolf

Support Acts: Grave, Death Wolf, Valkyrja Review & Photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis With Morgan Steinmeyer Håkansson being the top guy that he is and Marduk one of the most energy driven and high performance black metal bands around, one … Continue reading

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Gig review: AMON AMARTH – London, The Forum, 17 November 2013‏

Hell

Support Acts: Carcass, Bleed From Within, Hell Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Oh how times change! One thousand three hundred years ago, a ‘visit’ from the people of Scandinavia to these shores would have been accompanied by sheer terror and … Continue reading

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Gig review: LEPROUS – London, The Underworld, 9 November 2013‏

Support Acts: Blindead Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Photos by Emily Dgebuadze Two weeks or so ago I was contacted by Inside Out’s London PR rep about reviewing the upcoming London show of Norwegian Progressive Metal band Leprous. Up until … Continue reading

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Gig review: PARADISE LOST, Lacuna Coil, Katatonia – London, The Roundhouse, 3 November 2013

My introduction to the chromatic world of Death Metal took place exactly twenty three years ago and one of the albums responsible for my immediate conversion was Paradise Lost’s debut “Lost Paradise”. It was not at all surprising, then, that … Continue reading

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Gig review: ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN, Trillium – London Jazz Cafe, 19 October 2013

Fifteen years ago, at the now demolished Rodon Club in Athens and in the good company of another two thousand fans of atmospheric/progressive metal, the author of this review enjoyed one of the most artistically satisfying and emotionally charged performances … Continue reading

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Gig review: POWERWOLF, ASHES OF ARES – The Underworld, London, 27 September 2013

Friday the 27th of September was a day that I had been looking forward to with feverish antiscipation, the way I would have done when I was in my teens. Why? Well, Matt Barlow and his Power Metal troupe Ashes … Continue reading

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Gig review: ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO – Jazz Cafe, London, 29 September 2013

Alex Skolnick Trio

This always promised to be a curious night, but if some of the audience were taking a leap of faith they were amply rewarded by a band who clearly relished a challenge as much a sharing their enjoyment with their … Continue reading

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Gig Review: NILE, EX DEO – The Garage, London, 10 September 2013

I love autumn, especially when it follows a particularly hot summer: the air is once again fresh (as much as this is possible in London!), friends are back from holiday and, most importantly, it’s possible to attend an intimate Death … Continue reading

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Gig review: ANVIL – The Garage, London, 30 July 2013

Support Acts: Asomvel, Skreamer. Last time I visited The Garage was five days ago for Kscope’s celebratory gig, headlined by the mighty Anathema. I had firmly resolved to stay away from that place until the weather had cooled down as … Continue reading

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Gig review: 5 Years Of Kscope – The Garage, London, 25 July 2013 featuring Anathema

Leafblade

Main Act: Anathema Support Acts: North Atlantic Oscillation, Mothlite & Leafblade Another gig, another evening drenched in sweat. I moaned about the poor ventilation at the Garage in Highbury and Islington when I was there ten days ago for Wintersun’s … Continue reading

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Gig review: WINTERSUN – The Garage, London, 16 July 2013

Support Acts: Bloodshot Dawn & Savage Messiah There is something truly ironic about a Finnish band visiting London on the hottest day of the year and performing at a venue that feels worse than a sauna, or the very lungs … Continue reading

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Gig review: MOSS – Camden Underworld, London,15 May 2013

Support Acts: Purson & Black Magician Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Having just returned from a great holiday, involving great company, awesome food and top quality wine, I had to face the cold and rainy streets of London once more. … Continue reading

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Gig review: HELLOWEEN – The Forum, Kentish Town, London, 16 April 2013

Helloween, Kentish Town Forum, 16 April 2013

If you are a frequent visitor to our pages, especially our gig reviews section, you would have undoubtedly noticed that on the 15th of April, a day prior to the one featured in this review, I attended a magnificent Pain … Continue reading

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Gig review: IL NINO, SACRED MOTHER TONGUE, Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, 4 April 2013

Il Nino, Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, 4 April 2013

It beckoned to be a good night, the advertised line up was very strong and the venue was a good one for the crowd.  However it soon became apparent that the lineup had changed but no notification of this was … Continue reading

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Gig review: PAIN OF SALVATION – The Relentless Garage Islington, London,15 April 2013

Support Acts: Anneke van Giersbergen, Arstidir Review and photos by Yiannis (John) Stefanis At my age, venturing out on a Monday night to a gig can only be prompted by some pretty special events, among which I count the fact … Continue reading

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Gig review: ANTHRAX, Tremont Music Hall, Charlotte, NC, April 13 2013

I’m back! Well maybe…sort of…I don’t know. Those two or three keeping track will realize that I’ve not been to a show since Raven in November. At that point it was looking bleak that I’d make it to another show … Continue reading

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Gig review: VREID – Barfly, London, 4 April 2013

Review by Yiannis (John) Stefanis Photos by Fabiola Santini I have been living in the UK for a good twelve years now, however, I still find myself somewhat baffled by the state of some venues here in London. Take, for … Continue reading

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