Music / Previews
Metal & Prog Picks: October 2023
It’s a packed October for gigs of a rockin’ nature. Also offering to drain your wallet is Bristol’s very own Svalbard‘s first album release on the international Nuclear Blast label, The Weight of the Mask.
Tackling some weighty issues as usual, this sees Svalbard taking a big step out of the underground scene to claim a place among metal’s big hitters. The release date is October 6.
It’s also worth mentioning that October 20 has been designated Metal Merch Day by Metal For Good, whose stalls you’ve probably seen at the summer festivals. With the support of some big names, such as Judas Priest’s Rob Halford, Metal For Good harnesses our subcultural power to provide grants to community groups and organisations that use music to change lives. On Metal Merch Day, you’re encouraged to wear your favourite item of metal merch, which shouldn’t be a stretch for those of us who dress that way anyway, and make a small donation to the organisation’s work.
is needed now More than ever
This Will Destroy You/The Ocean
Fleece, Oct 2
A swift return for German prog-metallers The Ocean, who were on magnificent form at this year’s ArcTanGent festival, as part of a double-bill with Texan ‘doomgaze’ act This Will Destroy You.
St. George’s, Oct 3
Just weeks after former Wishbone Ash bassist Martin Turner brought his show to Bath, the official Wishbone Ash (sole remaining founder member: guitarist Andy Powell) pitch up for their first Bristol performance in, erm, many a year, though they’re frequent visitors to the Cheese & Grain in Frome. Like Mr. Turner, they’re doing a 50th anniversary album tour, the album in question being the excellent Live Dates. More unusually, they’ve just re-recorded the entire album with the current line-up. That’s right: a classic double live album, re-recorded in exactly the same sequence as the original. The title of the new version is Live Dates Live and it’s out now on SPV/Steamhammer. St. George’s is certainly an odd choice of venue for a full-on rock show, but maybe they’ll permit us to leap around a bit.
https://youtu.be/lXAWWOACrx8
Exchange, Oct 5
Regular visitor Wino’s back at the Exchange with his original, hugely influential metal band (motto: “If it ain’t heavy it ain’t shit”), which he formed way back in the late 1970s. They haven’t released anything since 2017’s Sacred, though there is apparently a new album in the works, entitled Gilded Sorrow, for release early next year.
Fleece, Oct 5
It’s back to where it all began for the great Kentucky rockers, who last played the Fleece back in 2007, when they were touring their debut album. This sold-out show doesn’t signal any decline in fortunes, however, as they could still comfortably sell out the Academy or Hall Formerly Known as Colston. Instead, it’s part of a short ‘intimate’ tour to unveil their self-produced eighth album, Screamin’ at the Sky. There’s also an album signing session at Rough Trade from 12-2pm.
Marble Factory, Oct 6
They just can’t keep away. Not so long ago, Richmond, Virginia, thrashers Municipal Waste were playing the Exchange. After hugely successful tours as support to Anthrax and Lamb of God, they’re stepping up to headline the rather more cavernous Marble Factory. This shouldn’t be too much of a stretch for them, as they’re a great live band with a particular affinity for Bristol. Last October, they even stuck around after their show at the Academy with Anthrax to play a ‘secret’ gig at the Golden Lion on Gloucester Road the following night. They’re still touring their seventh studio album, Electrified Brain (Nuclear Blast). All together now: “Municipal Waste is gonna fuck you up!”
Marble Factory, Oct 7
Last time we reviewed this power trio supergroup, when they played the Bristol Academy in February 2016, we were castigated by their management on social media for suggesting that it was a side project for all concerned. Interestingly, however, they promptly went on hiatus and it took them eight years to regroup and release their third album, imaginatively titled III. During that time, ace journeyman drummer Mike Portnoy has played and recorded with the likes of Sons of Apollo, Flying Colors, Transatlantic, Neal Morse and the Liquid Tension Experiment; bassist Billy Sheehan revived Mr. Big once again; and guitarist/vocalist Richie Kotzen formed Smith/Kotzen with Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith, playing a memorable show at the Fleece last March. Expect outpourings of muso joy on seeing them back together on stage again as they showcase their exceptional technical abilities and knack of writing fabulously catchy melodic rock songs.
Fleece, Oct 16
Hot from supporting the Winery Dogs, much acclaimed lanky blues-rock guitar hero Jared James Nichols brings his trusty vintage Gibson Les Paul to the Fleece for a headline show in support of his eponymously titled third album. “If these 12 songs are his new set of clothes, they’re a good fit, with Nichols’s promised ‘loud-ass guitars’ sprayed convincingly over his hardest collection to date,” enthused Classic Rock. Support comes from Dutch classic rock trio DeWolff, who’ve been picking up plenty of good reviews in the rock press. Such a shame this show clashes with . . .
SWX, Oct 16
Welcome return of the distinctive, dreamy French blackgazers, who were last seen in Bristol at the Marble Factory with Cradle of Filth. There’s no new music, this being instead an anniversary tour for the breakthrough Écailles de lune album, which launched the creative powerhouse duo of Neige and Winterhalter.
O2 Academy, Oct 21
These Grammy-nominated Californian rockers sure have been busy lately, with two albums (Darkfighter, Lightbringer) released in 2023, both having been recorded in the same sessions during 2021. Classic Rock enthused of Darkfighter that it was “not so much the sound of a reinvention as that of a band recalibrated and revitalised”. This sold-out show is their first Bristol gig in four years. They’ll also be doing a Lightbringer signing session at Rough Trade from 12pm. Tickets for this are available here.
Fleece, Oct 26
London rockers who appear to be following hard on the heels of Earache labelmates Massive Wagons by building a fanbase big enough to secure impressive chart success. This year’s Loco Paradise (“Top-notch songwriting and serious musical chops in one incendiary package, Loco Paradise is more than just a bit good,” reckoned Classic Rock) became The Dust Coda’s second consecutive top 40 hit. They also bagged a coveted support slot with Guns n’ Roses at BST Hyde Park back in the summer.
O2 Academy, Oct 28
It was just a matter of time before these likeable, hard-working Newport ragga-metallers achieved their big breakthrough. Having played at virtually every UK festival this summer, Skindred finally pulled it off in August when new album Smile entered the UK charts at number two, even securing Benji and Mikey a spot on the BBC Breakfast TV sofa. The spoils of their well-deserved success take the form of a mostly sold-out UK tour that includes a date at Wembley Arena – their biggest-ever UK headlining show.
Louisiana, Oct 29
She won’t need any introduction to fans of Devin Townsend, as Canadian musician Ché Aimee Dorval was one half of his country rock project Casualties of Cool. She’s also toured with Hevy Devy and appeared on his latest album, Lightwork. Her solo work is more in the mainstream singer/songwritery tradition, and she’s here to promote her new album The Crowned, which was produced in part by Bob Rock. She’s been known to cover Almost Again from Strapping Young Lad’s The New Black, so it’s possible there’ll be some tasteful acoustic metal tonight too. Above is her cover of Things Behind the Sun from Nick Drake’s Pink Moon album. Every singer/songwriter has to do a Nick Drake cover these days. It’s the law.
Main image: The Winery Dogs
COMING SOON
Here’s our essential diary of upcoming gigs that should be of interest to anyone of a rockin’ disposition.
Employed to Serve, Exchange, Nov 1
Fear Factory, SWX, Nov 4
Steve N Seagulls, Thekla, Nov 6
Elder, Fleece, Nov 7
The Raven Age, Exchange Nov 15
Focus, Fleece, Nov 16
Atreyu, SWX, Nov 20
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Fleece, Nov 21
Gong/Ozric Tentacles, O2 Academy, Nov 24
Battle Beast, Fleece, Nov 26
Green Lung, Thekla, Nov 26
Decapitated, Fleece, Nov 29
Extreme/Living Color, O2 Academy, Dec 3
Danko Jones, Thekla, Dec 12
The Darkness, Bristol Beacon, Dec 14
Urne, Exchange, Dec 15
Buckcherry, Thekla, Jan 23
Evil Scarecrow, Thekla, Feb 2
TesseracT, O2 Academy, Feb 22 2024
Rick Wakeman, Bristol Beacon, Feb 28 2024
10cc, Bristol Beacon, March 7 2024
Cattle Decapitation, Fleece, March 17 2024
Dragonforce/Amaranthe, O2 Academy, March 22 2024
Jethro Tull, Bristol Beacon, April 17 2024
Yes, Bristol Beacon, May 31 2024
Steve Hackett, Bristol Beacon, Oct 5 2024
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