Gig Review - Spyder Byte - Poco Loco

I have had the pleasure of seeing Spyder Byte twice now but both times it was at a festival, this time it was their headlining gig the Poco Loco in Chatham and it was one hell of a gig.

The Poco Loco is a small venue so the burst of energy that the boys gave off was like an explosion from the first beat.

I loved that they played “Black Velvet Love” as that is my favourite SB song.

Dan, the singer, makes me laugh. He has such a wonderful way of interacting with the crowd, keeping them on their feet and dancing for the whole set. As well as occasionally running into the crowd to sing into people’s faces or trying to get them to start a mosh pit hahaha.

No one wanted them to leave the stage so they did the shortest rendition of Slayer’s Rain In Blood (which is when Connor’s legs became blur which how fast he was playing) and then Guns N Roses Paradise City before ending the set.

Nathan made the sad announcement that he has leaving Into The Pit Promotions so he won't been booking or promoting gigs for them anymore.

I can’t wait for the next gig I can get to, which will be at The Red Lion in Gravesend, it will be their last gig on the year so make sure you get down to see them!!!

Set List
On Time
Nocturnal Beauty
Black Velvet Love
Crash 22
In Your Face
Front Of The Pack
Spark
Home Is Where The Heart Don't Hurt
Double Dose
Hooked
Rain In Blood (mini version haha)
Paradise City

***Previously posted on my music blog Suzy's Musical World

Blind Channel Going On A Break

Like every other Blind Channel fan this morning, we got the news from the band that at the end of 2024, they will be going on a break.

To be honest, I thought it was a fake account at first, putting out false news but then when I looked into it some more, I found that it was true. The lads have spent the last 3 and a half years working their butt's off with doing shows, festivals, recording, shooting videos, doing interviews, winning awards, touring to do shows all over the world and everything else that goes into the planning and executing of all of that. No wonder they need a break.

As much as I am going to miss them dearly until they are ready to come back to us, I hope that the break gives them the time they need to rest and enjoy some peaceful time with the people they love. In the mean time, I will be re-watching all the moments that I had with them that was filmed, so many beautiful moments that I am extremely grateful that I got to have with them.

There is still some chances to see them live before they go on the break as they will be supporting Lacuna Coil on tour in the UK and Ireland as well as their own tour, The Last Emotions tour in Finland.

They also have a documentary coming out in December, the lads had a film camera following them for the last 2 years and from what I have heard, it is going to be an eye opening. There is always so much going on behind the scenes with bands that the fans never know about, and I think we are going to find out a lot that we didn't know, it even consider what was going on.

To Tommi, Olli, Aleksi, Niko, Joonas and Joel, I send you all my love, please give us some updates every now and then on how you are doing so we know you are all ok xxxx

Originally posted on Suzy's Musical World

Album Review - GHØSTKID - Hollywood Suicide

Wow, this is not an album that I expected to like so much. I had heard of the band but not paid much attention to them, something that I now deeply regret because this is an amazing album!!

Hollywood Suicide

Ok, complete honesty (as always), the start of this song had me leaning back in my seat asking "what the fuck is this?" but by the end of the song, I was frigging loving it. Out of all the songs on this album, this is the best song to start the album with because it's so in your face.

S3x

One of my favourite songs on this album, it's slow and moody but I can't get enough of it. It sounds striped down music wise at first but then there is a face melting guitar solo that comes out of nowhere. Love the lyrics "I keep having sex with your soul and nothings gonna take away the pain away".

FSU

I love so many things about this song, the constantly drum beat, the screaming, the gruff singing, the shredding guitars, the catchy chorus and the fact it has me moving from the second it starts.

Heavy Rain

I love the vocals on this track, they are quite emotional, I can almost feel the pain. It's a very theatrical sounding song, it's very dramatic so it grabs your attention, demanding that you stop what you are doing to listen to it until he very end.

Valerie

The only word I can pick to describe this song is haunting. It's a short song but it leaves an impression with its very deep gruff vocals in the verses and softer, lighter vocals on the chorus. I don't know what exactly happened to the person who wrote it but I want to give them a big hug and a big ass bottle of vodka.

Black Cloud

This would be the prefect song for the band to come out on stage to, starts off quiet, sounds like clapping and then boom! There they are screaming in your face with a force that forces you backwards.

Ugly

This is a slower one compared to the other songs but it still brilliant. Some awesome screaming going on with lyrics like "come on keep draining me, feeling inferiority is giving me anxiety, will I ever be good enough to fit your frame? People never gonna change, cause poeple are ugly"

Blood

I really hope this song gets played live because it is such an awesome mosh pit song. The beat goes from absolute mental to slow, like they are giving people a little break for 2 seconds and then goes mental again. This is the song that I didn't know I needed in my life.

Murder Feat Inhuman

You know that part in a film when the super sexy bad guy walks in, everyone turns to look at him as a killer song starts and the whole mood changes? This could be that song. If it was a person, they would be stood in front of you screaming in your face and you would be shitting yourself. It's so in your face, the double base drum sounds frigging amazing and the screaming just completes it. FAVOURITE SONG ON THE ALBUM!!!!

Dahlia

I wasn't sure how to interpret this song when I first heard it, I thought that it was just about depression and if anyone would notice if they just disappeared one day. After listening to it some more, I feel like it's more about walking away from a situation or fame and who would still be there for them.

The lyrics that really got me were:-

Still on my feet but I'm dying alive.

Tragedy behind a wall of success

Let's make a bet

Who's gonna miss me?

Who's staying with me?

It's a brilliant song, one of the best on the album.

Helena Drive

This is a slower and quite emotional song touching on depression, self harm and drug use. The feeling that no one will understand enough to help so "she's putting on her makeup to cover the scars, still perfect on the outside, she's dying on the inside".

These guys will be coming to the UK soon supporting Blind Channel on the Exit Emotions tour so get your tickets here now to check them out live!!

***Previously posted on my music blog Suzy's Musical World

Gig Review - Sons Of Liberty - The Carlisle - 7/3/24

 

I have to admit, these guys have a very special place in my heart because they are just so frigging awesome. They are the nicest guys you will ever meet and have the best positive, hyped up vibe!

I love that this was a small gig because it meant the band could interact with the crowd and we all had a brilliant time feeling so involved. Russ was chatting to the crowd between songs (while the rest were tuning guitars lol) and making us all laugh. He would make jokes about the next song being "Tune To E".

The energy that these guys give off on stage is infectious, everyone was so happy singing along and dancing. They always look so happy up on stage, they really do love what they do.

I have to make a point of saying how much I love Fred when he is getting into what he is playing. There needs to be a fan club just for Fred's facial expressions because he is just so happy and really into what he is playing that he is pulling all sorts of faces.

Just before Beef Jerky Boogie, I was standing on Fred's side of the stage between the bar and the stage, trying to get some pictures of Steve the drummer. When the barman banged loudly on the bar next to me and when I looked round, Russ was getting up on the bar and walking down it to the other end. He got the whole crowd to crouch down, which is when he asked the barman "can you see my arse crack?" And then he did a counted everyone in to jump up and around to the beginning of the song.

I did distract poor Russ at one point. I was trying to take a picture of him and he cheekily flipped me his finger finger. I pretended to be shocked but my acting was bette
r than I thought because he looked a bit worried and said "not really", so he lost his place in the song for a second. Sorry Russ, love you xxxx

The end of the night came far too soon and before I knew it, it was the last song and we were all pretending that there wasn't an encore lol. The band did a great job of walking to the back of the stage like we couldn't see them only to come back out again.

When it was all over, the whole band came out to the merch table to speak to everyone and have pictures. I think it's brilliant when a band is able to do this because it's giving something special to the fans.

I fangirled quite a bit. Fred flicked his guitar pick to me and like one of the seagulls from Find Nemo, I scream "mine mine mine" trying to find it after it bounced out my hand and onto the bar lol. Then I asked Steve if I could have his set list and got everyone to sign it. I'd already got a band shirt and one of their card sized bottles opens to the pick and set list were perfect editions to my little collection.

Set list

Time to Fly

Light The Fuse

Tertulia Time

Beef Jerky Boogie

I Come In Peace

Love What You've Got

Rich Man, Poor Man

Up Shit creek

Damaged Reputation

Turn This Tide

I've Got The Sky

What's A Man

Hawk Men Come

Don't Hide Hebind Your Wekness

Libertine

Walk With You

Ruby Star

The guys are still touring right now so if you get the chance, make sure you go along to see them! Here's the link.

***Originally posted on my music blog Suzy's Musical World

Album Review - Blind Channel - Exit Emotion

It's not a secret that I love Blind Channel, they are my favourite band and have been for 3 years since I saw them on Eurovision 2021 wowing the world with their song Dark Side. So you can all guess what an absolute honour it was to be asked to review their latest album, Exit Emotions. I have to admit that I was also very nervous to hear it as I was worried that there would be songs that I didn't like...... but there was no need for me to worry.

Now, when I say that that Exit Emotions is going to blow you off your feet, I don't mean that it is going to gently hold your hand while you slowly lower yourself into a big comfy chair. I mean it is going to rip the rug out from under your feet so violently, that you do one of those really cool cartwheel spins in the air that you see in superhero movies, but you land on the ground with a big ass thump that shakes the whole house.

As I was listening to every song, all I could say was "OMG, this is amazing". I got up and danced around because that is where the vibe took me and at the end, I had to have a sit down to calm myself. It's that good!!

Where's The Exit?

What a way to start the album, love this song so much. It's the shortest song on the album but it packs a serious punch to get you ready for the rest of the album. I seriously don't know how Niko sings so fast on this track lol I had to read the lyrics to know what he was saying, that's going to take me a while to remember those lyrics lol.

Deadzone

This is the third single to come from this album and it is still one of my top favourites. I love the fact that the idea behind it was the party where all the founding band members met as it's like they are going back to their roots. It's really is one of the best songs they have ever written.

Wolves In California

THIS IS MY FAVOURITE SONG ON THE ALBUM!! Omg love this song so much! I can't wait to hear this one live because it has some brilliant live show vibes and some serious heavy vibes. My body doesn't stop moving when this track is on.

It also has some awesome lines:-

Back home we used to be the fucking black sheep, sweet

Now they calling us a flagship

XOXO - Featuring From Ashes To New

The beginning of this song made me laugh as it is a voice clip of someone saying (I think) "I love you too, I love you too" and it made me wonder what was coming. What I got was an in your face, hard hitting, screaming, awesome song that blew me into the back of my seat like a full on gust of wind had blown me backwards.

Keeping It Surreal

It is the lighter side of Blind Channel and I can't get enough of it. They call themselves the Backstreet Boys of metal and I feel like this is as pop as they are going to get nowadays lol. This is definitely my new dance around the living room song as it has such great dancing vibes.

Die Another Day - Featuring Rory

This was the fourth single to come off of this album. I did a review of this song when it was released, you can check it out here. I still feel the same about it, it is a beautiful song that is deeply relatable.

Phobia

The thing I really love about this song is that it feels like Joel's voice has gone to the next level. Don't get me wrong, the dude has an amazing voice, but this song just feels different. It starts off nice and soft, beautiful melodies from Niko and Joel, then the first chorus blows up with some super heavy beats that will knock you over. I just know that this is going to be the song that takes over my body when it's played live. If this song doesn't get your body moving, nothing will.

Happy DoomsDay

This is the second single to come from this album. This is my release-my-frustration song, put this on at full volume and just scream with Niko. Best therapy I've had in a while lol. The drums on this track are my favourite, it just sounds like Tommi is battering the crap out of his kit in some parts of the song.

Red Tail Lights

This is going to be an amazing song to be played live. There are some nice quieter moments but then full on heavy bits. It's hard to explain what I feel this song is about, it's sounds like it's someone who just wants to mess with people, make them fall in love, use them and then just leave them. A little bit like Bad Idea in a way theme wise but the actual song a very dancy and heavy song which is outstanding!

Not Your Bio

More demon noises = love this track. It also has the best word on the whole album.... Congratumothafuckinglations! Try saying that 5 times after a few vodkas lol. I feel like this is another song like Glory For The Greedy about people who didn't want to know the boys, put them down and then wanted to know them once they started to become a success. So it's another reminder to all the haters that they were wrong. It's not fast paced like some of the other songs, it's a bit slower but it works so well.

Flatline

The first single from this album and an absolute belter. i love this one live, and it's not just because of the little dance routine that comes with it lol. The chorus is just so catchy that you can't help loving it.

One Last Time Again

This is the perfect song to finish the album with. It's not the heaviest song but there are some serious, almost demon sounding, growling and awesome lyrics that will make you want to replay the whole album from the beginning. This is a song that stays in the back of your mind and pops up randomly, I have lost count of the amount of times over the last few weeks, I have suddenly had this song sin my head.

If you would like to get your hands on this masterpiece, click this link to pre-order the CD and vinyl.

Blind Channel will be touring around Europe from March to April on their Exit Emotions tour, some of the dates are already close to selling out so if you want tickets, I suggest you get them quick!

***Originally published on my music blog Suzy's Musical World

Album Review - Sons Of Liberty - The Detail Is In The Devil

 This is the third album from the band but the first with singer Russ Grimmett, the first two being “Animism” and “Aces & Eights”. I had the pleasure of seeing them perform and interview them last year at Maid Of Stone, so believe me when I say that you need to see these guys live in order to get the full effort of their awesomeness.

Time To Fly

This song has it all, the face melting guitar parts, hard hitting drums and a belting voice. This is the song that is going to get you up headbanging and it's the perfect song to start off the album. It was the first single to come off this album and I just love it so much.

Light The Fuse

I can tell you now, by the end of this song, you will find yourself being an extra backup singer dancer around the room singing "light the fuse", because that is exactly what I did lol. I am so happy that this is going to be the bands next single because it means they will be playing at gigs!!

Turn The Tide

This song gives me big anthem vibes about changing the things in your life that aren't working before it's too late. "We need to turn this thing around, we need to chart a brand new course, we need to change this god damb plan". It's the second single from this album and you know why once you listen to it.

Tertulia Time

This is the perfect party song, "the whiskey won't run dry, get the shots in a line" oh hell yes lol. It's another bum wiggler one because there is no way you won't be getting up to dance to this one. I love it all, it sounds like the whole band is super tight and you instantly get the party vibes.

Walk With You

I really love the guitar parts on this song, they are just so hypnotising and remind me of the proper classic rock songs when it wasn't all about how fast you could play, it mattered that you could play a move people with your music.

What's A Man Supposed To Do

This one is what I like to call a bum wiggler song, because your bum will just start wiggling as soon as you start listening to it. The awesome beat and guitars make it impossible to sit still for this one. I love it!!

Hawk Men Come

This song is just amazing. It's a slower vibe to the rest of the album but Russ' voice is so theatrical, and then adding int he backing vocals and the slowed down tempo of the music just all works so perfectly together.

Love What You've Got

Great song with a great message, "love what you've got, not what you not". The beginning sounds like it's going to be a slowish song but then they ramp it up before the chorus.

Libertine

This one is going on the boogle list as it's such a good song to dance around to and it has a seriously awesome guitar solo.

I've Got The Sky

This one is a slow one but it builds gradually with new elements from the band being added every now so that it is the full band by the end of the song. I love the mood and the constant beat running through it.

Well's Run Dry

A brilliant song to finish the album with, keeps the good party vibes going, it made me want to start listening to the album all over again.

This album will have your toe tapping, your head nodding and your bum wiggling from the first beat of the first song. It's released on the 23rd of February and then the lads are touring from the 1st of March so get on their website quick to order the album and get gig tickets!!

***Originally published on my music blog Suzy's Musical World

Song Review - Blind Channel feat Rory - Die Another Day

Wow, if the guys from Blind Channel wanted to make everyone cry to an extremely emotional song, they achieved it with this one. This is such a beautiful way of letting people know that they aren't alone in how they feel.

"If you're done with believing in life
Listen up
I know what you're thinking about in the dark
Maybe life would be easier without a heart
I'mma tear it out
This world is gonna fuck you up".

You just know that the lyrics come from personal experience which makes them mean so much more to the listener.

The piano playing throughout the song sets the mood perfectly, it draws you in by wrapping invisible strings around your heard and holds your attention until the end.

The way the song builds is genius, starting off with the piano and then the other instruments slowly come in before it's the whole band. Love it!

As always, I will be completely honest in my reviews and I think that the song would have been better just being Blind Channel. I feel Joel's voice would have been better singing Rory's parts as his and Niko's voices do compliment each other well. I do really love the song, it is really well written by all of them but I just can't get on with her voice. 

***Originally published on my music blog Suzy's Musical World

Album Review - Block Of Flats - No Hope For The Hopeless

Lake Of Fears

This one is an absolute banger! There is no way you could listen to this without getting up to jump around and scream the words as loud as you can. I love how it builds in the middle, it's quite for a little while, gets a bit louder with more instruments and then it feel like everything is blasting into your face.

Set The World On Fire

From start to finish, love love love love it! I was swinging my hair around straight away. It pulls you in and gets you going. I seriously love the bass line in this song as well. The whole song sounds like a shout out to the people who didn't believe they could make it as a band, but look at them now! I hope those non-believers are crying right now.

Feels Like

You only have to listen to this once and you will find it popping into your head randomly "feels like, feels like, feels like" or after "Your Bridges Are Burning And You Burn Down With Them" when they all the instructions kick in and you are headbanging like a crazy person. This is not a song to be ignored!!!

I Got Your Back, If You Got Mine

The guitars in this song are outstanding. It's a great song for dancing around to, it had me wiggling in my seat. The instrumental bit is where the guitars really stand out. I badly want to see this song performed live as I think it's one of those where your whole body is going to be moving.

No Hope For The Hopeless

I love how this one starts, a few little boomy notes and then boom! There is also some really gruffy sounding vocals in the background that fits in perfectly with everything else, I don't know who it was doing it but I am super impressed. Also, another awesome instrumental part where the guitars remind me of a video game but once again, it all fits together!

Dead Inside

This is one of my favourite BOF songs, Jonne's voice on this track is so hypnotic and melodic. I find this one always randomly starts playing in my head. The part I love the most is when it goes all slow and quiet but then the drums come back in really loud.

Burnout

Fast, loud, heavy, in your face screaming, love it!! My absolute favourite song on this album!! I can't get enough of it.

Never Forgotten

This is another one that's heavier, it's one of those super face melty sort of songs that you will scream every word of because it sends electricity through you.

Black Swan

I love how this song starts off slow and quiet like it's going to be sad, but then it speeds up with an awesome beat and it just evolves into this totally awesome song. It's a very rock pop sort of song, so it gets you up and dancing,

Bleed

A good moody song, the chorus is super catchy, the beat is banging (no pun intended), the guitars are heavy, I really like the vocals throughout the song as they are quiet and then Jonne belts it out in the choruses.  

***Originally posted on my music blog Suzy's Musical World

Gig review - Lost Society - The Underworld, Camden - 24/10/2023

I have lost count of the amount of time I have walked past the Underworld but I've never actually been to a gig in there, been in the pub, The Worlds End, enough times though haha.
I got there at about 2pm and got to see some of my friends that I hadn't seen in months and got to have a great catch-up with them all. I love the friendly atmosphere in the queue, everyone so excited to see the band and sharing their stories of meeting their favourite band members.
I saw Samy from Lost Society come back from shopping and I had to

Seething Akira
Ok, so to be completely honest, I hadn't listened to these guys before the show and I wish I had because I loved them! As soon as they came out on stage they jumping around with some serious energy that I was just not prepared for haha. I do also have to mention that outstanding dance moves from the singers, they kept me very entertained.
They have a sort of Electric Callboy sort of vibe by mixing up dance tracks with metal guitars and making it work so well. I've had a listen through their spotify and found the song that I enjoyed the most, it's called "Punishment Instructions", everyone needs to check this out!!

North Atlas
I didn't massively get into these guys but they did sound good and most of the audience really seemed to like them. They had a great stage presence, very tribal, and seemed to play their songs without any issues, well, I didn't see anyone in the band look at someone else in the band in a confused way haha.
I loved their stage props which looked like fake ivy vines on stands and the whole band looked like they had rubbed each other down with mud before coming on stage haha.

Lost Society
OMG, Lost Society (as usual) did not disappoint. As soon as they came out on stage, all you could see was a sea of hair and hands in the audience. I haven't had the pleasure of seeing these guys live in almost a year and I was so glad to see that they still put on such an amazing show.

This gig was the last of 8 UK dates on their "If The Sky Came Down" tour and from what I had heard, they have been performing with maximum energy levels every single night.

They came out and did my favourite song "112" straight away, so I was completely over the moon as it completely set the energy for the whole night.

I loved hearing Samy's little speeches about how far they come and how much they love all of their fans. They work so hard to be the best that they can and you can see it in their performance because it was all perfect, except the blue and red lights, they are always a nightmare when you are trying to take pictures haha. Each member of the band was on top form all night, you can see by their performance that they take this all very seriously.

Like I said before, I had never been to The Underworld before and I have to say, it's a brilliant venue considering how small it is. I had to move around to take pictures but I could hear the band perfectly where ever I stood and got a great view. No one was squashed in so everyone had plenty of room to dance around as much as they liked and the vibe from the band and the audience was amazing. Everyone was just having the best time.

My favourite song of the night being performed was "Awake". I was up the back for this song and this felt like the song that got the most response from the crowd so I think it was a alot of people's favourite song. I could hear the people around me singing this one at the top of their lungs and I could see pure emotion on some people's faces while they were singing. It was quite emotional.

Set list
Underneath
Riot
If the sky came down
(We are the) braindead
Awake
Artificial
What have I done
Suffocation
Hurt me
Kill + NWL
Creature
Outbreak
Eternity
No absolution
Stitches

112

Song Review - Lost Zone - Fighting Demons

I will admit, I have a soft spot for these guys, I have been listening to them for nearly 2 years and I absolutely love them. Their songs are brilliant and this new song "Fighting Demons" is no different.

I think Florian's voice has a fantastic range and it's perfect as the lead voice in this song. You can really feel the emotion in his voice. I interviewed Simon and Florian earlier this year and they said that the songs they write come from their real personal experiences. This is why I think there is so much emotion in Florian's voice, there is truth behind the words.

The part that I love the most about this song is when the bassist, Andre, starts screaming. It breaks up the song perfectly and its quite dramatic, it feels a bit like a slap in the face, but in a good way. The first time I heard it, I was really taken aback for a moment. Listen to the song and tell me that you can believe that the screaming voice comes out of the guy to the right. And if you want proof that voice comes from Andre, check out the music video for the song, it really is him lol.

The finally piece in this awesome band is the drummer, Simon. He might be up the back banging away on the drums but he's got the important job of keeping everyone in time and driving the beat of this amazing song.

If you want a new band to follow, these guys should be first on your list to check out.

***First published on my music blog Suzy's Musical World