LIVE REVIEW: Voodoo shaken to foundations by Raging Speedhorn, ably assisted by Dead Label and By Any Means

BELFAST'S Voodoo on a Sunday. The Lord's Day. The Day of Rest. A day for quiet reflection. On Sunday, 18th September there was no quiet time as the Fountain Street venue was shaken to the foundations by Raging Speedhorn.

The six-piece metal force were rounding up a brief Irish tour, as part of this leg of the Lost Ritual Tour, after dates in Cork and Dublin with compatriots Dead Label and By Any Means, who reported themselves as "broken" after the dates.

Dublin three-piece Dead Label have developed a meaty sound over the past two years and have been no strangers to Belfast.

With their latest album forming the core of their set they appear confident and strident in their music and message. We look forward to many more appearances north of the border.

Despite the vagaries of recent touring that left some members 'fragile' By Any Means arrive on stage like a force of whatever nature is left in Belfast. Micky Higgins prowls around the audience for the first couple of tunes.

As he bellows out 'Built On Respect' the respect the hometown crowd gives the respect the band deserves. Their hardcore with a metallic edge translates so well with the passion the four members play each track.

The messages of the songs are powerful, and the performance matches that intensity. A superb version of 'The Hammer' is just one of the many highlights of BAM's set.

Raging Speedhorn were making their first appearance in Belfast since 2007 and they receive a welcome as if they were conquering heroes.

Since reforming after a few years hiatus Speedhorn have recorded a new album and even more keenly honed their already fearsome live show to a leathul edge.

Mixing old favourites with a healthy representation from 'Lost Ritual' from start to finish the entire band ooze sweat from every pore and invoke a similar passion from the crowd.

John and Frank dominate the audience as 'Hate Song' kicks off the hour-long show. and, the pace never slows. Sod the genre shit, this is just metal pure and not so simple.

There were no fillers here as new songs like 'Motorhead', 'Dogshit Blues' merged effortlessly with the likes of the band's first ever single 'Thumper' - all the way back in 2000.

However, this was not a band rolling back the years. This was a band still as relevant in 2016 as they were when they were starting off their musical career back in Corby. They even drew Paul BAM into the pit at one point.

What was evident as the crowd emerged into the late Sunday night air were the smiles and the chatter over each other's favourites. And, ringing ears...

Full-on music power and prowess - it may not have been an evening of quiet reflection, but this show will be reflected upon fondly for quite some time.

Review by Jonny
Pictures by Darren McVeigh

Reproduction by written permission only

BLOODSTOCK: By Any Means, Overoth, Dead Label and many more at one of the best fests

BLOODSTOCK'S joy, beer and searing heat (yes, the sun shone for all four days of a UK festival!) still resonates in the memory.

It was not our intention at any stage to work at this festival - we were there to relax. But somewhere along the way some of our colleagues managed to con us into interviewing a few bands and giving an overview of the fest.

Before getting down to the interviews it's fair to say that with more than 100 bands playing some of the most extreme forms of metal it was still one of the friendliest festivals we have ever attended.

Headliners apart the music was intense across all four days, and Northern Ireland and Irish did themselves proud.

Just days away you'll have the chance to see Dead Label support Gojira in Limelight1. They put in a great set on the Sophie Lancaster Stage before talking to us about forthcoming plans.

Representing Northern Ireland By Any Means and Overoth ripped apart the New Blood Stage. Overoth gave a death metal masterclass, while BAM brought their own unique brand of hardcore mayhem (even attracting Ben Ward from Orange Goblin down for half their set).

By Any Means interview


To sum up Bloostock is almost impossible. More than 100 bands across four stages - from the Ronnie James Stage, through the Sophie Lancaster Stage, the Unsigned Stage and the Jagermeister Stage (basically a bar with a stage attached) there were more bands to see than even the most determined fan could catch up with.

Overoth interview


Of the many bands who appeared there were several stand-out sets. Armored Saint, Belphegor, Sabaton, the uncommunicative Black Label Society, Onslaught were among those that shone.

Dead Label Society interview


What was unanimous amongst those at their first Bloodstock was that they will be back each and every year - no matter that the headliners weren't the stars they could have been the vibe, the totality of the musical experience and the madness in Camp Midgard....[See below]

Foul Body Autopsy Interview
[Parental notice - sweary bits within!]


Footnote - Camp Midgard was were we pitched our tents (with your editor experiencing some issues on that task) and it was the scene of the madness only metalheads can generate....bin jousting, metal wrestling, a parade with a Slayer flag and a 'Christ on a Stick' and a bon homie few can match...

Words by Jonny

No sin as Sinocence return to slay Limelight again

THIS Saturday Sinocence are back to lay waste to the Limelight2 once again as the Distortion Project lays on a five-band show on May 25th (this coming Saturday).

Still out there plugging their awesome No Gods, No Masters Vol 1 EP Sinocence are backed by Dead Label, By Any Means, Red Six and September Cross.

As always with Saturday afternoon's at the Distortion Project doors at Limelight2 are at 4pm and the event runs until 9pm.

Tickets are a measly £5 and there is a selection of drinks promotions (we stopped reading when we saw Jager at £2...)

A perfect warm-up to June 2nd's Helfast with Stormzone, Triggerman et al...(Competition for that wonderment is here)