Metal & Prog Picks: July 2021

Massive caveat alert! We don’t need to spell it out. But assuming ‘Freedom Day’ does arrive as advertised on July 19 it’s time to support our bands and the splendid local venues that host them by buying tickets, merch and beer – preferably by the truckload.

The cancellation of ArcTanGent means that non-corporate, fan-run Steelhouse is the only festival within reasonable driving distance of Bristol that’s of interest to us this year. So as this has just been given the official green light by the local authority and Public Health Wales, we’re giving it a full preview. Rather brilliantly, the loveliest festival site in the UK, high up on the southern edge of the Brecon Beacons, also features some of the loudest music. Be warned, however, that such is the post-lockdown urge to rock that day tickets are already sold out.

Of course, it hasn’t been entirely grim during lockdown. Bristol acquired its very first independent metal emporium, Black City Records. Situated a Viking’s axe throw away from the Colst . . . er, Bristol Beacon, Gryphon and O2 Academy, this super-friendly bijou emporium conjures memories of Soho’s late lamented Shades (ask an older metalhead, kids), with its commendably broad approach to metal old and new, including every conceivable micro-genre, plus plenty of support for local bands. Oh, and they also have coffee. Black coffee, obviously.

Then there was this:

https://youtu.be/4wyOy3ws8cY

Anyway, eyes down for this month’s picks. Check out the bumper coming soons at the end for the latest on all those rescheduled tours.

Conan

Exchange, July 21

Even those who like that sort of thing surely don’t want to return to live music to the sound of indie strumming and whining. Loud and cathartic metal is what we want, so the self-styled ‘caveman battle doom’ of this raging Scouse trio is a perfect choice for the Exchange’s re-opening gig. Regular visitors to Bristol before Covid, these delightful sludgers have just released their third (count ’em!) live album, Live at Freak Valley, on Napalm.

Return of the Riff: Desert Storm Edition

Crofters Rights, July 25

The first of three packed days (the others being in August) of doom, sludge, stoner and psych at Crofters Rights. This one’s headlined by Oxford riff merchants Desert Storm, the rest of the line up comprising the fabulously named GURT, impressive Cornish doomsters Monolithian, Cybernetic Witch Cult, Sail Band and WALL. The rockin’ starts at 4pm.

Steelhouse: Day One

Hafod-y-Dafal Farm, Aberbeeg, Ebbw Vale, Gwent, July 23

What better way to start a party than with the unpretentious rock’n’roll of The Quireboys? Will they play Seven O’Clock? Of course they fucking will. Local boyos Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons are, of course, the band formed by former Motorhead guitarist Phil Campbell with his bastard sons, plus New Vocalist To Be Confirmed. We last saw them supporting Airbourne at the Academy in 2017. The sons aren’t actually bastards, by the way, and Mrs. Campbell was reportedly not wildly enthusiastic about the band name. Their latest album, delightfully titled We’re the Bastards, was recorded during lockdown. Also on the bill are lauded blues titan Oli Brown’s purist-baiting heavy rock trio RavenEye, who were on fine form at the Exchange back in 2018.

Steelhouse: Day Two

Hafod-y-Dafal Farm, Aberbeeg, Ebbw Vale, Gwent, July 24

“Gimme a D!” Yes, it’s the, er, arkness. Underlining Steelhouse’s knack of picking exactly the sort of bands guaranteed to put smiles on faces post-lockdown, this promises to be a seriously jolly rural knees-up. Justin and chums have spent lockdown working on Motorheart, the follow-up to their excellent Easter is Cancelled. We last saw them in Bristol at the Colston Hall in 2017. Also on today’s bill are the revitalised Therapy?, local heroes Those Damn Crows and heavy bluesers The Kris Barras Band. Wayward Sons will be showcasing both Toby’s new haircut and songs from their third album, Even Up the Score, which is out in October. Already released is the single, Faith In Fools, which continues the troll-baiting political themes of The Truth Ain’t What It Used To Be by targeting those who’ll believe any old bollocks on social media.

Steelhouse: Day Three

Hafod-y-Dafal Farm, Aberbeeg, Ebbw Vale, Gwent, July 25

Pa-pa-pa-parp Pa. Pa pa pa pa paa. Yes, of course they’ll play the parping song. They always do. But Europe have been working very hard over the last decade to re-establish their reputation as a credible hard rock band, winning over hordes of initially sceptical punters. If you’re wondering how they’ll get here from, er, Europe, rest assured that Joey Tempest has actually lived in London for decades now. Giving them a run for their money are the mighty Wildhearts, still touring the brilliant Renaissance Men (Classic Rock‘s Album of the Year, lest we forget). Pasted above is the recently unearthed vid of them doing Caffeine Bomb on TOTP back in 1994. Good job the Beeb’s censors didn’t actually read the lyrics, eh? A quick look at their touring schedule reveals that the seven-legged rock’n’roll machine seem absolutely determined to play every festival in the UK this year. Knowing Ginger and co., they may even turn up where they’re not welcome. So watch out Latitude punters . . . Giving the Wildhearts a run for their money in turn is Steelhouse favourite, former Whitesnake guitarist and local lad Bernie Marsden, who’ll once again be teaming up with the great Nev MacDonald, as he did for that memorable show at the Fleece in April 2018. Check out the fan-shot vid from that show above. Oh, and do grab a copy of Bernie’s hugely enjoyable, recently published autobiography Where’s My Guitar? (Fourth Estate). Also on today’s bill are Swedish melodic rockers H.E.A.T., whose recent line-up shenanigans have seen the return of original singer Kenny Leckremo.

COMING SOON

Here’s our essential diary of upcoming gigs that should be of interest to anyone of a rockin’ disposition.

Return of the Riff: Ken Pustelnik’s Groundhogs Edition, Crofters Rights, Aug 7

Return of the Riff: Slabdragger Edition, Crofters Rights, Aug 8

Sons of Liberty, Thekla, Aug 22

The Wildhearts, SWX, Sept 4

Hands Off Gretel, Thekla, Sept 5

Green Lung, Exchange, Sept 5

A.A. Williams, Trinity, Sept 5

Black Stone Cherry, O2 Academy, Sept 9

Mason Hill, Fleece, Sept 16

Jethro Tull, The Forum, Bath, Sept 17

Steve’n’Seagulls, Thekla, Sept 20

Dopelord, The Lanes, Sept 21

Inglorious, Fleece, Fleece, Sept 21

The Pineapple Thief, SWX, Oct 8

Skindred, O2 Academy, Oct 8

Evergrey, Fleece, Oct 11

Venom Prison, Fleece, Oct 21

Caravan, Fleece, Oct 27

Evil Scarecrow, Thekla, Nov 6

Imonolith, Exchange, Nov 7

Wayward Sons, Thekla, Nov 15

Fish, SWX, Nov 15

Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, Thekla, Nov 18

Monolord, Exchange, Nov 22

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, SWX, Nov 24

Marillion, The Forum, Bath, Nov 24

Focus, Fleece, Nov 25

Pitchshifter, SWX, Dec 1

Hayseed Dixie, Fleece, Dec 1

The Darkness/British Lion, O2 Academy, Dec 7

Igorrr, Fleece, Dec 9

Alestorm/Gloryhammer, O2 Academy, Dec 10

Lamb of God/Kreator/Power Trip, O2 Academy, Dec 14

Svalbard, Exchange, Dec 18

Mayhem/Mortiis, Fleece, Jan 1

Avatar, SWX, Jan 13

The Black Dahlia Murder, Fleece, Jan 30

Cheap Trick, O2 Academy, Feb 6

Tony MacAlpine, Exchange, Feb 11

Katatonia/Solstafir, SWX, Feb 13

Paradise Lost, SWX, Feb 17

Kvelertak, SWX, Feb 20

The Zombies, Fleece, Feb 24

Van Der Graaf Generator, The Forum, Bath, March 1

The Sheepdogs, Thekla, March 6

Epica/Apocalyptica, O2 Academy, March 12

Tangerine Dream, SWX, March 16

Status Quo, The Forum, Bath, March 18

Big Big Train, The Forum, Bath, March 19

Gong, Thekla, March 23

Eric Gales/Danny Bryant, Fleece March 27

Therapy?, SWX, March 31

Redd Kross, Exchange, April 3

Skunk Anansie, O2 Academy, April 12

Deicide, Fleece, April 16

The Picturebooks, Exchange, April 24

Stoner, Thekla, May 4

Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets, The Forum, Bath, May 7

Karnivool, SWX, May 19

OM, Fleece, May 26

Meshuggah/Zeal & Ardor, O2 Academy, May 29

The Quireboys, Thekla, June 17

Main pic: The Darkness at the Hall Formerly Known as Colston, December 2017, by Mike Evans