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10 YEARS OF
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DUNK
SOUVENIR PULL-OUT INSIDE!
REVIEW
OVERLOAD!
X LONELY THE BRAVE X
X ELECTRIC WIZARD X
XLESS THAN JAKE X
XCHRIS CORNELL X
XLACUNA COIL X
ANDY
THE BLACK AAA AT
HIS A-LIST
DEBUT
PLUS
WOMEN
CHANGING
OCK ISSUE NO 1620
FOREVER!
MAY 21 2016 / £2.50 AUS: $7.50
WWW.KERRANG.COM
ISSUE 1620 MAY 21, 20
16
HELLO, READERS, and welcome to this very
exciting edition of Kerrang!. Exciting because
it’s a joy to welcome AgainstThe Current to
the cover of Kerrang! for the very first time.
Very exciting because they’re a band the
Kerrang! office have been fans of since the
first time we stumbled upon them on YouTube. Now
watch them soar! And that’s not all. Because, on p4, we’ve
got news on the megastar act that will be playing the 2016
Kerrang! Awards. I can’t believe we’ve managed to pull that off!
Have you got your tickets yet? Wait, you
haven’t? Woah, woah, what are you doing?
You don’t want to miss out, right? Okay,
go get your ticket RIGHT NOW!
NEWS ON THE
COVER:
A DayTo Remember bring the
pop-punk mosh to the K!Awards
(p4),Kiss release a movie (p8) and
we take a look at GerardWay’s new
comic book imprint (p9).Elsewhere,
producer John Feldmann is
everywhere – we investigate (p10).
ON THE COVER:
FEATURES We get under the skin of
the phenomenon known
as AgainstThe Current (p18),and then have a look at
just some of the women changing the face of rock (p24).
Elsewhere,we say‘happy birthday’ to Slam Dunk as it
celebrates turning 10 years young (p31),smash some piñatas
with SWMRS (p38) and visit the creepy lair of NewYears
Day’s Ash Costello (p40).
LIVES
ON THE COVER: Oi! Andy
Black!Where’s the rest of BlackVeil
Brides?We go inside his first UK solo
show (p46)! Elsewhere,Camden gets flattened by riffs at
Desertfest (p48),Chris Cornell serenades Jimmy Page
at the RoyalAlbert Hall and LessThan Jake part their way
through the Midlands (p49).
ASH COSTELLO
p40
Ash had been telling Bob her
SWMRS p38
story about that time she met
Mickey Mouse at Disneyland for
so long that he wasted away… The rest of SWMRS kept their
opinion on their bandmate’s
new hairstyle to themselves…
BREAKING!
REMEMBER
TO PLAY THE
KERRANG! AWARDS
4 KERRANG!
ISSUE 1620 MAY 21, 2016
KERRANG! 5
Guitarist Kevin Skaff
was mad at Jeremy’s
interview copy
“EVERYBODY
FEELS PARANOID
FROM TIME
TO TIME…”
JEREMY McKINNON
6 KERRANG!
THE BIG
all of them, just seems like it could go over well in that
setting, and I’m very excited to see if it does.”
“Homesick was close to going Gold even without J Guns N’ Roses – Las Vegas J Iron Maiden – The Book Of J Fresh Blood With Alex Baker –
taking streaming into account. I think we were about Reunion Shows Souls Kerrang! Radio
20,000 units away.There were more streams counted J 5 Seconds Of Summer – J Neck Deep – Life’s Not Out To J MOJO Rocks with Phil
for What Separates Me…, but, either way, in a time Sounds Live Feels Live Tour Get You Alexander – Planet Rock
when people do not buy records and with us not being J Slipknot – Alexandra Palace J Asking Alexandria – J Radio 1 Rock Show with Daniel
a mainstream band, it’s quite an achievement.” Shows The Black P Carter
J You Me At Six – The Ghost J No Devotion – Permanence J Beats 1 with Zane Lowe
NOW YOU’RE GOLD-SELLING ARTISTES, Inside Benefit Show J Baroness – Purple J Nights With Alice Cooper –
WILL YOU BE DEMANDING BOWLS OF J Biffy Clyro – Edinburgh’s Planet Rock
M&M’S WITH ALL THE BROWN ONES Hogmanay BEST INTERNATIONAL
TAKEN OUT? BAND – PRESENTED BY FIREBALL BESTVIDEO GAME
“I could get behind that.We need to start adding that BEST BRITISH J All Time Low J Far Cry Primal
to the rider. Like,‘Hey, just so you know, we have two NEWCOMER
Gold albums and two Gold singles, and we’re going – PRESENTED BY HELP MUSICIANS UK J Metallica J Fallout 4
to be expecting a monkey doing jumping jacks in the J Counterfeit J PVRIS J Rise Of The Tomb Raider
dressing room from now on…’” J Creeper J A Day To Remember J Guitar Hero Live
J Milk Teeth J Fall Out Boy J Star Wars Battlefront
WAIT. ARE YOU SAYING YOU WANT J Muncie Girls
A MONKEY BACKSTAGE FOR THE K! J The Struts BEST BRITISH BAND BEST COMIC BOOK
AWARDS SHOW? J Bring Me The Horizon J The Wicked + The Divine
“No. I don’t really need a monkey. Actually, a monkey BEST INTERNATIONAL J Iron Maiden J 2000 AD
would be pretty awesome if somebody could bring NEWCOMER – PRESENTED BY TROXY J Enter Shikari J Saga
him, but he wouldn’t have to do anything he didn’t J Cane Hill J Biffy Clyro J Nimona
want to do. I just want to hang out with a monkey.” J The Dirty Nil J Asking Alexandria J Descender
J Beach Slang
J Beautiful Bodies BEST FANBASE BEST FESTIVAL
J Biters J Gerard Way J Download
J Pierce The Veil J Slam Dunk
BEST TRACK J Reading & Leeds
– PRESENTED BY KERRANG! RADIO J Black Veil Brides
J Moose Blood – Honey J Paramore J Bloodstock
J Against The Current – J twenty one pilots J The Great Escape
Running With The Wild Things
J Panic! At The Disco – BEST FILM BEST COMEDIAN
Emperor’s New Clothes J Star Wars:The Force Awakens J Matt Berry
J Architects – A Match J Deadpool J Amy Schumer
Made In Heaven J Minions J Josie Long
J All Time Low – J Ant-Man J Bill Bailey
Missing You J Jurassic World J Louis CK
NAME:
ADDRESS:
EMAIL:
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
Get your tickets for the K! Awards POST YOUR COMPLETED FORM TO:
KERRANG! AWARDS 2016, PO BOX 2930, LONDON W1A 6DZ
at Kerrang.com VOTING DISCLAIMER: The Kerrang! Awards 2016 is voted for by the readers and listeners of Kerrang! Magazine, Kerrang.com, Kerrang!
Radio and by the staff of Kerrang!. Kerrang! readers can vote in all categories listed on this page. Other honorary awards will be awarded by
the Kerrang! judging panel. The final decision is the reserved right of the Kerrang! staff. Voting closes June 2.
KERRANG! 7
Paul Stanley’s Tic Tacs
were a bit funny looking
THE FEED
THIS WE
EK IN ROCK
BEGIN? THE NINE- are celebratory. There’s no what I can physically do!”
SHOW RUN AT THE anger, there’s no hostility,
HARD ROCK HOTEL it’s a gathering of a tribe, all EVER THOUGHT ABOUT DOING A KISS
STARTED WITH THE these people. The difference HOLOGRAM GIG ALL AROUND THE WORLD?
BAND LANDING ON with Kiss is that everybody “They save holograms for dead people, and I’ve no
THE ROOF… FROM is sharing in this huge cult, plans to check out in the near future (laughs)!”
A HELICOPTER?! the largest cult on Earth,
“Well, we’ve never been you give thumbs-up to your Kiss Rocks Vegas hits cinemas
known for subtlety… It’s neighbour there, and you
gotta be big! We’ve put give thumbs-up to everybody
on May 25
HAPPENED TO ME”
plus two VIP tickets to the Kerrang!
Awards on June 9 – which includes
,
special access, the chance to watch full live MARK HOPPUS
sets from A Day To Remember and BLINK-182
KERRANG!9
ISSUE 1620 MAY 21, 2016
ENTIAL
K!ONFID IP A
ND G
IBB ERI S
H
GOSS
ROCK
FELDMANN
10 KERRANG!
ISSUE 1620 MAY 21, 2016
BABYMETAL KARATE-CHOP THEIR WAY UP NEXT WEEK? BIFFY CLYRO “This has been our band
since we were 15 years
IS IT FAIR TO SAY WOLVES OF old. In taking a year off,
WINTER SEES BIFFY CLYRO I tried to contextualise
CHANGING DIRECTION?
HIGHEST POSITION
7 7 3 AGAINST THE CURRENT Running With The Wild Things FUELED BY RAMEN
JANINE SHILSTONE,
karma and the
8 3 8 PVRIS Mirrors RISE
animalistic
VUKOVI qualities of it;
once you’re on
9 4 2 A DAY TO REMEMBER Paranoia ADTR RECORDS
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE its wanted list,
IN THE KERRANG! ROCK there’s no escaping it.”
10 15 1 TWENTY ONE PILOTS Stressed Out FUELED BY RAMEN CHART AGAIN?
“So sweet! Although IF YOU COULD BE ANY
11 1 11 REIGNING DAYS Empire ECCO RECORDINGS we’re never happy – once ANIMAL, WHICH ONE
we’ve achieved one thing, WOULD YOU BE?
12 8 2 PVRIS You And I RISE
we look on to the next.
We want Top 10!”
“It would have to be a
cat! You need to earn
their affection, and
13 3 13 STRANGE BONES God Save The Teen STRANGE BONES
WHAT IS ANIMAL ABOUT? napping all day sounds
“Animal is all about like heaven.”
14 10 7 BLACK PEAKS Glass Built Castles SONY RED
12 KERRANG!
AN
HU NA EM
NO
FI C
GE L EN
UN
T!
THURSDAY, JUNE 9
TROXY,
490 COMMERCIAL ROAD, E1 0HX
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ISSUE 1620 MAY 21, 2016
ZOAX
(L – R): Joe Copcutt (bass), Jonathan Rogers
(drums), Adam Carroll (vocals), Douglas
Wotherspoon (guitar), Sean Weir (guitar)
BLOOD
FRESH
’S BR
EAKI
NG B
A NDS
album, released last week. “There’s a lot us, it was about [knowing] what people are album, out now on
Century Media.
of groove.” And then some, we’d say, as SOUNDS PROMISING, GO ON… seeing in ZOAX that we aren’t seeing.”
MORE INFO:
this quintet have spent the last three years Well, after scrapping two full albums, the Facebook.com/
slogging away on some sizeable riffs. Now, band regrouped at Adam’s home in Ireland WORD HAS IT THEIR LIVE SHOW IS zoaxbandofficial
CRAZY, TOO?
“I’M WAITING
with their first full-length finally launched, it CHECK OUT:
looks like all their hard work is about to pay “I’m waiting for someone to knock me out The video for
off. “Finally people are getting us in some way, some day…” Adam admits, reflecting on his Roses All The Way.
FOR SOMEONE
and it’s incredibly exciting,” Adam says. unpredictable stage habits. ZOAX’s live show DON’T MISS:
is strictly immersive, you see, so expect Adam ZOAX and more
WE’RE INTERESTED. SO, WHAT DO awesome new
TO KNOCK
to be toppling the furniture and engaging
bands on Alex
THEY SOUND LIKE EXACTLY? with the crowd at every opportunity. “I don’t
Baker’s Fresh
Fusing complex hooks, huge choruses and want to stand onstage and just bang my head,
ME OUT…”
Blood show on
energetic melodies with razor-sharp vocals I want to have fun because I enjoy what I’m Wednesdays at
and post-rock allure, what ZOAX create doing,” he says. “It’s just a fun party!” 10pm on K! Radio.
14 KERRANG!
S.J.M. CONCERTS PRESENTS
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“I made a Kerrang! Rock Trivia board game for my
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project.Who rocks
us to a
hardest? YOU DO! This is amazing. Come challenge
to spend
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adopting her hide-and-seek cheating nine hours, and that was
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both eyes, otherwise you know we’re “The Andy Black meeting and signing at HMV was thought it was occupied
hiding under the carpet. Again. amazing!” says @shannon_evans_x.Andy seems to think the whole time.Tu ut it
so, too. Unless he is playing ‘Thumbs Up IfYou Know wasn’t. Magazine
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KERRANG! 19
across his scalp.“I’m, like, anti-dude.Y’know, a lot of “We ask ourselves all the time,‘What do we do Whenever we write a song, I want my mom to like it. I
guys just throw on whatever in the morning, but I need now?’” says Chrissy.“Because there is no precedent want my dad to love this song.You know what I mean?”
a lot of time.You gotta look good.” for what we’re doing.A lot of the time there are Depending on your age, you may be reading this,
“We can’t just go around in our pyjamas,” says bands where it’s very clear – you go here, you go shaking your head and asking what happened to rock
guitarist Dan Gow, chipping in.“We have to wear here, you go here, you go here.We’re just trying music frightening your parents. But remember: a very
clothes that go with the image…” to make sense of it.We’re on our second Europe modern kind of rock band.Why frighten your parents
Some gentle ribbing follows, as to the length of time headliner without having an album out.And even the if you like them? Chrissy smiles.“I love it when my
it takes for each member to get ready in the morning. upgrade from one to the other has been crazy. Like, parents like my music taste, because when I get in the
Somewhat strangely, they all know exactly how long we just played Cologne the other night and we had car and I put on music, they don’t complain about it!
each of them takes in the shower (“When you have a one crazy show there the first time, and then it was “I sat my whole family down and played them
limited amount of water on a bus,” drawls Dan,“you doubled the second time six months later, with no the album before we came out on this tour,” she
know how long people take to shower…”). additional releases.What changed? To be honest, we continues.“Because if my mom, my dad and my brother
“Sometimes we go over to Will’s house to do band don’t totally get it…” can all like a song – and I know they’ll be honest with
things,” continues Chrissy,“because Dan and Will live, “We’ve had advice from the bands we’ve toured me – then I know it’s a good universal song.”
like, a minute away [from each other] and I live an hour with, sure,” says Dan. “Especially All Time Low and And did they like it?
and a half away. So, I would go up for “They liked most of the record
band practise after high school and unanimously,” she smiles, proudly.
stay for the weekend.Whenever we “Like Will said, we’ve had eight-
would go over,Will would be like,‘I’m year-olds, we had a guy come with
just going in the shower,’ and we’d be his grandma and she was, I’m not
like,‘Yup, this is gonna be an hour and kidding, front row and centre losing
a half!’ And we’d go to the gas station her mind. She knew every word
and get a drink and chips and stuff…” and was against the barricade going
Bizarrely, the drummer insists he’s nuts. I was like,‘That’s awesome!’
probably the member of Against The One, that’s the kind of grandparent
Current who smells the worst. I wanna be.And two, it’s just a great
Backstage with Slipknot this feeling to see an 18-year-old and a
isn’t. But here’s the thing; in these 70-year-old right next to each other
egalitarian times, since the internet loving the same thing…”
dismantled the traditional star-making What’s your family like, Chrissy?
machine, to paraphrase an old punk, She smiles.“Oh, your standard
the people get what the people Italian-American family, I guess.
want.And the people really wanted We eat a lot of pasta and stuff. My
Against The Current; all the millions brother plays a lot of sports. He’s
and millions who have watched their really great at football. Like, soccer
videos onYouTube. Or the people football. He’s an awesome football
who’ve flocked to sell out every UK player and he plays nonstop now.
date they’ve played. My dad coaches him. My dad was
Born onYouTube, talked about a basketball coach and he coached
on Twitter, and if you haven’t seen me whenever I played sport. Like,
Chrissy with dog ears and snout, then I played football for 11 years, 12
you’re following the wrong people years? Something like that.”
on Snapchat;Against The Current How does it feel sitting there,
are a very modern sort of rock band. watching your parents listen to
Clean, crisp, sleek, as unashamedly your record?
pop as they are rock, eager to please. Chrissy shifts in her seat.“It’s
This will be a bad thing to some, and definitely weird, especially for me
a good thing to many. Because this is because I write all the lyrics…”
a sensation the people asked for. No, And they’re pretty honest,
scratch that – that the people made. confessional-type lyrics…
You join them poised on the brink “Yeah. Especially with a song like
of the unknown… Outsiders – my parents were like,
Rise,Against: (from left) Dan Gow,
W
Chrissy Costanza and Will Ferri ‘We don’t want you to feel like
“
e’ve worked really hard,” an outsider! Do you feel like an
says Chrissy, stretching outsider?’ and I’m like,‘Yeah, but the
out her legs.“But I think what has brought Good Charlotte. Benji and Joel [Madden] came whole point of the song is that it’s a good thing, you
us success is that we just stayed really down and just sat with us a few days in a row and know? It’s a positive!’ And so sometimes I just have
genuine the entire time.And I think people connect just talked to us and gave us life advice. Not really to buffer them a little bit with that because they’re
with that. Even in theYouTube scene, we could’ve done about what we should be doing, just, like, what any naturally going to worry because they’re parents.”
the typical,‘We’re gonna upload a new cover every band should do and what they did…” Do you read the opinions of people online when
Wednesday and Thursday!’ which is a huge part of “It wasn’t specifics like,‘You need to have three you post music on the internet?
that culture.We started really small and we built up a risers on tour and you need to have two guitar “Always the first day, for sure…” drawls Dan (NB:
really genuine fanbase.We didn’t build it around hype players and this and that,’” says Chrissy.“It was more If henceforth we write ‘says Dan’, we probably mean
or anything like that. It was just, like, this is what we do about staying genuine and being true to yourself and ‘drawls Dan’. Dan does a lot of drawling).
and that’s it.And we picked up people.There was no remembering nothing that surrounds the band exists “There’s always the same people trolling,” says Will.
plan, no,‘This is how it has to look and this is how it without the core of the band.Without the music “YouTube’s a funny place…”
has to sound and this is how the fans have to react, and and where it started from.You have to keep yourself “I feel like if a fan really wants to tell me a true
this, this, this and this.’ It was just us.This is really what grounded.That’s the most important thing…” opinion about our music, they’re gonna tell it to me
comes natural to us.” You said you didn’t understand your success. Do on Twitter,” says Chrissy.“That’s where I interact
A problem here is that AgainstThe Current are such you at least have an idea why people like your band? with fans the most. Not so much on theYouTube
a modern kind of rock band that there’s no template for Blank looks. comments, because it’s just so hard to sift through the
anything that’s gone before. If you’re Iron Maiden, you “Well, I mean, we’re pretty confident in what we nonsense. It’s more of an effort to Tweet someone
understood a little bit about how touring worked from do,” says Will, taking up this most unintentionally directly.A comment feels more anonymous, I think…”
Led Zeppelin. If you’re blink-182, you could follow the difficult of questions.“Which I think is really I have to say, even as a man who became a music
blueprint laid down by Green Day. But because Against important, you know? We’re really young, so I journalist because he, maybe needily, wanted people to
The Current are so young (all three members are aged think kids can relate to us. But I think the music know what he thought about this thing that mattered
20) and a band who’ve somehow managed to convert an is pretty universal, really.We want everyone to so much to him – music – I’ve never thought,‘I must
audience they built doing covers of their favourite bands like our music; we’re not writing for just our age post an opinion onYouTube…’
online into an audience who want to hear their music, demographic. Like, at our shows we have ages from “I don’t think I’ve ever commented on aYouTube
there’s really nobody who’s done this, like them, ever. eight to, like, 50-something. I think that’s awesome. video,” says Chrissy. “Except maybe on a friend’s to
THREE OTHER STARS HARNESSING THE WEB’S POWER…
Kids J g y y p g
some fulfilment after the put together As It Is, he was plays host to an array of covers
dissolution of his day job by quite the big deal on YouTube. performed by Tyler Carter,
starting his own YouTube If you want to see him cover that would never get near any
channel. Neato Alkaline Trio 5SOS and MCR, and dress up Issues release. And he’s been
covers and inspiring in a dinosaur Kigu, dolled up to the
mental health you know where nines by glam
advice feature. to look. pal Jeffree Star.
BECAUSE HERE IS
NO PRECEDENT FO
WHAT WE’RE R
DOING”
C H R I S S
Y C O S T A N
ATC rule their biggest UK Z A
show to date, at London’s
KOKO, March 2016
What do you mean, you’re
unhappy with the size of
your dressing room?
ME
BUT AT THE ESA
LIK
TIME Y
Z A
Y C O S T A N
C H R I S S
W
“
be like, ‘Yeah, this is awesome!’ back when we were e built Against The Current from a very
really heavily into YouTube. I responded to a couple of small starting point,” says the singer, when
comments being like, ‘Thank you,’ but I haven’t done asked what she finds positive about her
that in probably, like, two years, so…” band existing in the 360, digital age they
It’s sad that a lot of bands are starting to think it’s do. “We grew it slowly and naturally. Because of that,
best not to engage in those ways online, because it’s I feel like we’re really close to our fans. It’s a tight-knit
so easy for innocuous comments to flare into slanging community.They’ve grown with us.”
matches. For all the wonder of endless information at Do you know many fans personally?
our fingertips, we live in an age where many are primed “Oh, yeah,” says Will. “We’re lucky we have so many
to be offended. familiar faces all the time. I can’t imagine that being the
“I don’t think I’ve ever fought with someone online,” case with all other bands. It’s like, ‘Oh, I know you, this
muses Chrissy. “We don’t really get mean tweets – but is your fifth show on the tour.’”
I’ll get people who are like, ‘You look so much better “It’s definitely comforting, too, when you’re touring
without make-up.’ That pisses me off. Or they’ll say so much,” adds Chrissy, “and you’re gone for so long.
something like, ‘You don’t need all that make-up,’ and I’m I know when we come to this show this guy’s gonna
like, ‘Obviously I don’t need it, but I like it, so I’m gonna be there or this girl’s gonna come out to Manchester,
wear it. So, you can fuck yourself…’” you know? Also, for me personally, I have a lot of these
It’s the arrogance that someone feels their opinion of girl fans that I talk about make-up and stuff with, and I
the way you look matters enough to be shared. It can’t know what shows they’re gonna come out to and we
be progress that anyone has to deal with this always have a nice little chat. And it’s nice because I
“You don’t wanna rip them a new one, but at the don’t have any girls on tour right now.”
same time you’re like, ‘This is offensive,’ ” she says, raging. Be honest… Sometimes, do you think, ‘I can’t be
“Like, this is offending me. It offends me more than doing with meeting fans today…’
someone telling me I’m ugly. If someone just told me “No,” says Will. “But I do worry that I might not act
‘You’re ugly, you have a gross nose,’ or something like the way they want me to act. I just don’t see us as the
that, I’d be less offended. It’s like, ‘Who are you to tell me kinds of people fans would flock to. It’s weird. But it’s
what I should do?’ And also, it’s like, ‘I’ve gotten this far in always great to see them. I mean, the fact that they’re
life doing it, I think I’m doing alright, man…’” still coming out to the shows is amazing…”
That said, I’m not sure, say,Vic Fuentes or the twenty Are there ever times you think, ‘Oh no, this person
one pilots boys get this. I know for a fact that Lynn is coming today, I can’t deal with them…’?
from PVRIS gets this. I think that says something… “There’s only a couple,” says Chrissy, who will later
Chrissy laughs. “My favourite part is, like, sometimes tell us how she will regularly sneak fans into shows
the comment will be on Instagram and I’ll click into and aftershows, fans she knows have been there “since
the profile and it’s always just some 12-year-old boy. I’ll forever”. She continues: “There’s a really small handful
turn to my brother and be like, ‘Are you commenting of people that have made me genuinely uncomfortable
on girls’ pictures and telling them they should wear less over the years. But most of them don’t come to the
make-up?’ and he’s like, ‘No, I don’t do that.’ And I’m like, shows any more. It was just really weird. But we don’t
‘Yeah, why are boys your age doing that? Why aren’t even get those any more….”
they going playing soccer or playing outside? Like, don’t A very modern kind of rock band. A band trying to
you have a ball to throw at a wall or something?’” make sense of constant access and perceived intimacy.
She takes a breath. Shouts at a motorcycle revving its A band made by the people, who, in return, think that
engine outside the window to “shut the fuck up”… means they’re entitled to a view on the make-up usage
“The worst is, like, when people are like, ‘I like the of a 20-year-old girl. A band who are making up the
old Chrissy better.’ That drives me up the goddamn rules as they go along. A band. And a sensation.
wall! Not a lot gets under my skin. Call me ugly, say The night of this interview, we watch the band at
I’m gaining weight, say I’m too small, say whatever you KOKO, the room an explosion of joy, the band’s gilded
wanna say – it doesn’t matter. I don’t really care. But pop-rock sounding sassy and fresh, Chrissy Costanza
when people are like, ‘Oh, I like the old Chrissy better a star, and in touching distance of being super. And we
than the new Chrissy,’ that makes me crazy…” think: these are uncharted waters they’re sailing, yes.
Again, the arrogance.Why is it their business? But we think Against The Current will make it.We
“I’m like, ‘People grow up!’ I don’t know if you think they’ll soar.They are the future you asked for.
noticed this, but I started all this when I was, like, 15, 16
years old. If I’m the same person I was when I was 15, IN OUR BONES IS OUT ON MAY 20
16, I think there’d be an issue…” VIA FUELED BY RAMEN
Another deep breath.
We should probably change the subject before
someone has an aneurysm.There must be some upside
For more women writing rock’s
to being this very modern sort of rock band… future, turn the page!
This cover of the Russian- Just ’cause we’re all rock fans, Against The Current hook up
German musician-producer’s we can agree that liking Taylor This song from Adele’s third A team-up with Set It Off that with YouTube big deal Kurt
theme from 2014 sci-fi opus Swift is okay, right? Good. album, 25, sees ATC furthering sizzles with brilliance. But let’s Hugo Schneider for another
Divergent is one of ATC’s Because this is a tune. In the their chops with some *puts on be honest, a toothless sea lion Tay Sway cover. The video
best team-ups with YouTube video, Will Ferri appears to be cheesy local radio voice* mid- could bash out a version of is more fun than gargling
colossus Alex Goot. playing a cardboard box. tempo-disco-pop. this and it would rule. popping candy.
THIS WEEK’S COVER STAR, CHRISSY COSTANZA,
IS FAR FROM ALONE IN INCREASING ROCK’S
FEMALE REPRESENTATION. WITH MUSIC
FINALLY MOVING ON FROM ITS PATRIARCHAL
PAST, HANNAH EWENS CELEBRATES
20 OTHER WOMEN LEADING THE FUTURE
OF OUR SCENE…
PHOTOS: CHRIS CASEY, ANDY FORD, TOM MARTIN, GETTY, ANTONY ROBERTS, MATT WHITE
T
he conversation surrounding “women in
music” has been evolving in recent years and,
thankfully, progress has been made.A while
ago, you’d have been pushed to find anyone
in the industry who would accept that rock had a
problem with gender representation. Certainly, bands
with any non-male members were few and far between.
The answer? To talk. Plenty of artists have spoken out
against sexism and misogyny in the scene to K!. Now,
however, we’re entering a new phase in which we accept
that rock, just like any structural system, has its faults.
The new chapter is about increasing visibility across the
board. However much you’ve been switched on to that
deafening discussion, you’ll have noticed that, over this
period, brilliant non-male artists have worked their way
up and now are dominating the rock world. Increasingly
they’re filling your ears and the pages of Kerrang! – and
no longer for their gender, but for the radical way they’ve
moved rock forwards. Here are just 20 of the most
important artists changing the game…
THERE WAS
“Everyone sticks with each other and
WHO INSPIRED YOU TO women have each other’s backs, which
PICK UP AN INSTRUMENT?
ALREADY ONE
is awesome. But I would like to see more
“My brother. He’s four years openness with touring. We submitted
WOMAN ON IT”
older than me, and I’d steal his guitar for a tour with someone and got denied
when he wasn’t home.We’d jam together because there was already a woman on
when I learned drums and guitar. the tour, or something like that. It was
hen, in middle school, I saw Hayley complete bull.” L Y N N G U N N , P V R I S
24 KERRANG!
EN SHAPING ROCK
Q YOU WRITE SONGS THAT WHAT STILL NEEDS TO CHANGE? EMMA BLACKERY
KATE GATT A TOUCH UPON BEING QUEER “I still think there’s very low THE YOUTUBE STAR WHO’LL
– HOW DO YOU RECONCILE BEING expectations of women to play their TALK ABOUT ANYTHING
THE DIY PUNK QueenPIN A POLITICAL PERSON WITH NOT instruments or write songs. I don’t She has 1.1 million subscribers on
WITH QUEER POLITICS WANTING TO BE PIGEONHOLED? think men have that anxiety, because YouTube, which translates to a lot of
For indie PMA power-pop, there’s “There’s a point where you don’t they have the space to make noise and young people listening to what Emma
nobody better than Personal Best. know whether you’re supposed to make mistakes. I hope young women Blackery has to say. People fell in love
Inadvertently, by being queer (a make those sorts of statements because can have the space to fuck up and it be with her through a
reclaimed term to suggest sexuality or you’re a woman or because you’re okay now. It only seems to be women screen for her relatable
gender outside societal ‘norm’), some queer.You don’t want to feel pressure to who are asked about misogyny, too. I’ve approach to the very
of Kate’s songs touch upon this without make political statements all the time, been asked so many times if anything problems affecting young
being fiercely political.This Is What We but essentially being a woman onstage sexist has ever happened to me and people every single day,
Look Like, for example, is about kissing is political in itself. Being out there and it’s a boring question – like,‘Yeah, of lending her voice to
as protest.You can give Kate’s work this doing it is just as much a statement course…’ (laughs). Unless people are those in need of it. Now
reading, yet at its heart is a love song. It’s as people being out there and giving willing to take on board what they hear she’s pushing ahead with
this dual existence that sets Kate’s music very clear political messages about from these countless stories, then it’s her music career, expect
ahead of most of her peers. queerness and identity.” just going around in circles.” that personality to be
translated into massive pop-rock track
s.
ASH COSTELLO
THE PATRON SAINT OF
CREEPY GIRLS EVERYWHERE
Ash has always been into the darkness.
Entering into her own head and mining
the feeling of being an outsider that goes
back to her childhood, she came out with
‘hauntedmansioncore’, a genre spin
on Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion
with goth-rock. New Years Day
have since gone on to become the
leaders of the New Grave scene.
She’s a hero for any girl with a
parent not happy with coloured
hair and tattoos. Because what’s
‘normal’, anyway?
THE GODDESS-WORSHIPPING
anyone who plays music, you do it
OTHER GIRL
Teen stepsisters Peyton and Kelli I was a teenager and I fell in love with
were raised on a diet of Riot Grrl in her music, her voice, her whole life.
IS MY VOLUME”
hard-working singer who did not give
Toyland loving the band so a shit what people thought of her. She
much, they took them on had so many men mooch off her success.
tour. Feminism is central to A notorious diva and hard-worker;
M I S H B A R B E R - W A Y , W H I T E L U N G
many of the band’s songs, amazing style in every aspect of her
yet more so, say the duo, is being. She died in 1963 at the age of 39.
one simple message: anyone I just love everything about her,
especially her music.”
can do anything, as long as
u’re true to yourself.
MELISSA BECCA MACINTYRE
BECKY REESE
BLOMFIELD THE FRONTWOMAN LEADING
THE WOMAN TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF
THE CHARITABLE END GN’R’s BRITISH GIRLS
ACTIVIST-MUSICIAN PROBLEMATIC PAST Before Becca, there hadn’t been a British
Not only does she front one of the Kurt Cobain famously called them “total rock band with a woman in it offering
best punk rock bands around, Becky sexist jerks”, and, well, the case for the crossover potential for
Blomfield also uses her voice for good. prosection historically doesn’t look great a long, long time. More
With Milk Teeth, she writes incredibly for Guns N’ Roses. On It’s So Easy,Axl crucially, though, there
personal songs detailing, among other Rose – twice cited by former spouses hadn’t been a presence
things, her battles with depression – in for domestic abuse – sang ‘Turn around quite like her, either.
turn making her an empowering voice bitch, I got a use for you’, while the A tough-as-nails ball
for mental health awareness. She’s also original Appetite For Destruction sleeve of ferocious energy
deeply concerned with other issues, depicted a robot rapist and a sexually- onstage, and a whip-
notably poverty. In fact, her handmade assaulted woman. Nothing, then, could smart, outspoken person
jewellery store, DORK SQUAD, has be more out of sorts than Melissa Reese off it, Becca became a
produced ranges in the past with all stepping out as the reunited band’s new role model, in more
proceeds going to her local food bank. keyboardist – a signal of rock’s changing ways than one, simply by
tides if ever there was one. being herself.
26 KERRANG!
EN SHAPING ROCK
HAYLEY WILLIAMS
THE FIRST LADY OF The
POP-PUNK
Such was the enormity of Hayley Revolution
Williams’ impact on rock, for the
decade following her arrival it seemed
that any band with a female singer
CONTINUES...
would lazily be compared to Paramore.
Crucially, however, the degree of her
influence on rock is not just
down to her incredible voice,
lyrics, stage presence or
her band’s global chart- WRESTLING
conquering success. Over Long has the title of the
the years, she’s written many, women’s division of WWE
many powerful (not to mentioned been called the, um,‘Divas
Championship’. After much
extensive) blogs about her life and healthy public outrage and
times in the music a petition or two demanding that
industry, offering real women wrestlers, such as Paige
insight into the boldness (inset), be given better storylines
and determination and more focus on their ability rather
she’s had to have to steer Paramore than their looks, women will no
through the crazy highs and lows of longer be called ‘Divas’ in the future.
their career. The success keeps on Instead, it’s been changed to the
‘Women’s Championship’.
coming: hit records, sold-out tours
and, most recently, she launched her
own hair dye company.Yep, now she BOOKS
can add ‘businesswoman’ to her CV. There are so many insightful, hilarious,
thoughtful memoirs out by female
No wonder she was honoured with musicians now, you won’t find the time
Billboard Women In Music Awards’ to read them all. Kim Gordon’s Girl In
very first Trailblazer Award. After all, it A Band was the headline-making read
is highly likely that an entire generation from last year, and Carrie Brownstein’s
– not just of girls, but also boys – were Hunger Makes Me A Modern Girl
inspired to take up playing instruments is similarly gripping for those who
or start singing because of her. worship Sleater-Kinney. For something
closer to home, Viv Albertine’s tale
of growing up in the Brit punk scene
LZZY HALE
and playing in The Slits will make you
SERENA CHERRY
laugh and cry in equal measures. The
follow up to Clothes, Clothes, Clothes.
THE RULER OF ALL Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys.
is out soon.
MODERN HARD ROCK LEADING THE UK’S BEST
POST-HARDCORE BAND
Lzzy signed up for the rock’n’roll lifestyle
aged just 13. And it shows. In 2016, she Typical of Holy Roar, the beloved MAGAZINES
If you’re a guitar player who doesn’t
is now recognised around the world for independent UK label they call home, want to buy Guitar World or Guitar
her ability to command huge crowds Svalbard are heavy as it comes but Review Guide with a woman in a
and for shredding on guitar with the better than the rest. From atmospheric swimsuit on the cover, then She Shreds
best of them. No wonder Halestorm post-rock build-ups to crushing Mag is for you. Last issue
were the first so-called ‘female-fronted’ sections, their music is aggressive and it had Laura Jane Grace
band in history to top the Billboard visceral. But don’t fucking call them a on the cover. Similar is
Hard Rock Albums chart. Oh, and they female-fronted band. As Serena Cherry Tom Tom Magazine for
won a GRAMMY over Iron lays out on Expect Equal Respect, ‘Is 50 female drummers, an
equally beautifully-created
Maiden, Marilyn Manson per cent a minority? Is my credibility quarterly. Both are brilliant
and Lamb Of God. Perhaps an anomaly?’ Gender is not a genre even if you don’t play an
Lzzy’s most explosive and her message is clear in the essay instrument, and want to
quality, however, is her she penned to go along with the track. read about women doing
lyrics. She’s never afraid to Women “should be simply be referred cool shit in music.
explore her sexuality – just to as a musician – nothing else”.
check out Freak Like Me. WEBSITES
First known for being a site for bros
NITA STRAUSS
everywhere,VICE launched a non-
AMALIE LAURA JANE GRACE male-focused site, Broadly, last year.
BRUUN
If you want to read about witchcraft,
horoscopes and feminism, they’ve
rock’s queen of sh
Rattle off a list of rock’s fine red managed to collate all that in one
place. Look out for White Lung’s Mish
TAKING THE guitarists, and you’ll likely nam
st-ever No trans singer outside of Life Of Agony’s Barber-Way, a writer for the platform.
FLAG FROM BLACK from all nations, all backgro
e people Mina Caputo has as openly shared their
METAL BIGOTS styles – and yet that list will
unds and all story as Laura Jane Grace has.When she
Once the identity of the only men. Nita Strauss, how
likely feature came out as transgender in 2012, she DISCUSSION
person behind this Scandinavian black ever, is one proceeded in Against Me!’sTrueTrans Soul Meredith Graves (inset) made her
such woman capable of givin
metal project was revealed to be that of g anyone else Rebel to detail the uncertainty of losing name in Perfect Pussy, one of the
the world over a run for the
a female former model,Amalie had to ir riffs and your family, longing to be seen for your most raucous punk bands about, and
restore the balance. Regular quickly it became obvious that she was
navigate through the crushing blows of ly featured true gender, and the emotional complexity
in the upper ranks of man one of the most eloquent, engaging
sexism from black metal fans – a genre y modern of a life that few people can understand.
Best Guitarist lists, in 2014 voices in feminism today. Music critic
sometimes known for its unresolved the California This act of bravery in a world that is only
native – who also plays in Jessica Hopper, meanwhile, is another
issues with women. She had to shut all-female Iron just starting to open up to trans people to follow as an advocate for gender
Maiden tribute bandThe Iron
down her Facebook because she Maidens didn’t go unnoticed. LJG has equality in the music industry.
– joined the ranks of Having published The First
was getting so many death threats Alice Cooper’s live become not only a punk trans
and abuse, yet refused to name and icon, but has moved the global Collection Of Criticism By A
band.And if Alice’s Living Female Rock Critic,
shame because she didn’t want to give guillotine doesn’t get conversation on trans issues
she’s always got something
sexists and their bands a moment of you, Nita’s shredding forward, helping countless young extraordinary to say.
fame.A defiant force of nature. will leave you in pieces. peopl ccept their identity.
KERRANG! 27
PHOTO: GETTY
SIMON NEIL
PHOTO: PAUL HARRIES
ANNIVERSARY EDITION
2006 TO 2016
TEN YEARS AGO, A SMALL FESTIVAL BEGAN
LIFE IN LEEDS SIMPLY AS A WAY OF PUTTING
ON A FALL OUT BOY SHOW. NOW, IT’S
ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED EVENTS
IN ROCK’S GLOBAL CALENDAR. KERRANG!
DUSTS OFF THE PHOTO ALBUM (AND WHIPS
UP A BIRTHDAY CAKE) TO RELIVE THE FIRST
DECADE OF SLAM DUNK FESTIVAL…
WORDS: AMIT SHARMA PHOTOS: CHRIS CASEY, PAUL HARRIES, IAN COLLINS, SUZY HARRISON, PA
The Blackout’s Sean Smith
gets into the ‘hanging out’
vibe of Slam Dunk in 2008
MY SLAM
DUNK MEMORIES! After a long, fruitless search
BY GUSTAV WOOD,
in 2010, Gustav Wood
It’s very intimate and you’re finally spotted the loos
guaranteed a great time. Some
YOUNG GUNS of our favourite experiences
“The first time we played Slam have been playing that
Dunk was the first time we’d festival, and it’s a great place
gone to the festival, in 2009. to see friends.We always
We were very much a new know before we get there
band at that point, still figuring that it’s gonna be a great day,
out what we were doing and which takes the pressure off!
how to do it.We were very It’s well organised, but has
green. The festival was in its kept its ethos over the years
infancy, in a way, and so were and grown, which we have
we as a band… And it really tried to do as a band, too, and
worked. The festivals in 2009 it’s really nice to be invited
and 2010 were real learning back every couple of years.
experiences, especially for us It’s a reciprocal thing that
playing to larger audiences benefits everyone involved.
and mixed crowds, instead of It’s one place that caters for
the usual bars. different styles of music in
“The thing about Slam Dunk rock and heavy rock. There’s
is that it’s a real community- a real broad spectrum, and it
based festival, where you’re reflects the versatility we have Hey Monday’s Cassadee
included in an experience. in the UK.” Pope kicks off 2009’s event
T
he months have become weeks, the weeks obviously, for most people is a dream situation!”
days, and soon it’ll be a matter of hours ’til The seeds were planted when a Leeds venue owner
the 11th Slam Dunk Festival is underway. approached Ben with the idea of running a pop-punk
Paramore arrive in 2007.
Since its serendipitous beginnings as a one-off club night.As an up-and-coming promoter, Ben had You might have heard of
all-dayer in Leeds, originally conceived to already impressed by selling out shows headlined by his them since…
bring Fall Out Boy to a city that didn’t have walls big biggest heroes, including ska masters Reel Big Fish. It all
enough to contain them on their meteoric rise to made perfect sense.
global domination, the event has become an institution “It wasn’t me that came up with the name,” laughs The only problem being Millennium Square was
in its own right.The very home of the UK pop-punk Ben.“But we called the club night Slam Dunk and it therefore too big.
scene, and so much more besides. Every music festival started from there,The “And so we figured,” Ben says,
will tell you it’s run “by the fans, for the fans”, but Slam
Dunk has remained defiantly grass-roots in ethos, and
Cockpit in Leeds, from
2001.We soon started “I STUMBLED ACROSS “‘Why not put on a big all-day
event with a few more bands,
perhaps there lies the key in its unmitigated success.
“It all started when I played guitar in a Birmingham
branding gigs as ‘Slam
Dunk Presents’ because, YOU ME AT SIX ON and call it Slam Dunk Festival?’”
MYSPACE AND
A
ska-punk band called Pignut,” begins Ben Ray, Slam back then, there was nd so began the story
Dunk’s head honcho since the very first day.“We the explosion of punk, of England’s biggest and
got big in the local scene supporting bands like Reel
Big Fish, Capdown – that sort of stuff. Somehow, I
like blink-182, Green
Day and The Offspring.
TOOK A CHANCE!” festival. Inbestthepop-punk-heavy
O B E N R A YK! review of that
O
became the organiser for In January 2006, we inaugural year, writer Ruth Booth
gigs and then started doing got quite a big show for us at that point – putting awarded top marks to Thursday for their “pummelling
it for other bands. I actually on Fall Out Boy just as From Under The Cork Tree wall of noise blowing the rest of the bill right off”,
studied something completely was blowing up.They obviously wanted to make the as well praising Fall Out Boy, Hundred Reasons and
different – I was halfway most of their new popularity, so their agent rang me Capdown for stellar performances that made it a
through an engineering course to say they were coming back in May, but couldn’t day of triumph. Inevitably, when it came to the same
at Leeds Uni – when I got do Leeds because there wasn’t a venue big enough. time next year, Slam Dunk was simply something that
the opportunity to do this I replied,‘Fair enough, but we have the Millennium needed to happen.
hobby as a full-time job.Which, Square, it’s outdoors and about 7,000 in capacity.’ 2007 saw the event relocate to Leeds University,
Dunk spread to three venues
MY SLAM
DUNK MEMORIES!
BY ALEX back, just enjoying the go on tour together! You
GASKARTH, show. Paramore were
awesome – they’ve
create these relationships
Mayday Parade (left)
and Funeral For A Friend tear up ALL TIME LOW always been super-nice
that turn into tours or
collaborations that the
2011 and 2012 respectively… “Slam Dunk is almost to us. I think this was
synonymous, with music world can enjoy
around the time Riot! later down the line.
Warped Tour, as one of was really blowing up.
those tried-and-true, “When we headlined
…before Marmozets and I saw that set, thinking, in 2013, we were running
Gallows (below right) take dedicated pop-punk ‘Wow, this is going to
things up a notch in 2012 festivals. Almost like super-late, either flying
be big!’ or driving in. Everything
a pop-punk summer “Slam Dunk has
camp kinda situation, was taking forever!
always encouraged the We got there and I saw
because you’ll see all bands to meet, hang
your friends and peers. Mallory Knox, who I
out and stay out for the had never heard of
It’s a staple of the scene! night. Other festivals before, and they were
“Our first time at can be weird, where
Slam Dunk, we were killing it as we arrived.
people don’t really talk I remember thinking,
over doing press and to each other backstage.
Paramore were playing ‘Wow, that dude [Mikey
So, it facilitates that Chapman] can sing!’ We
[2007]. We just hung social aspect of it and
out with all our friends hung that night and shot
gets the bands hanging the shit. It was such a
and watched all the out. Because things can
bands. It was really cool moment – walking
happen, you might meet in all stressed-out and
good to experience it a band and really get on
like that – really laid- then seeing Mallory
with them, and decide to Knox being awesome!”
A
headlined by Reel Big Fish, with Paramore thrived on its billing, though. fter being awarded 4Ks as one of the highlights
as main support and a bunch of unknowns “Slam Dunk was a nice of 2008’s Leeds University bash,You Me At
from Surrey calling themselves You Me At Six time for us because it was in the Six returned the following year as headliners
kicking off proceedings. Considering Ben went from beginning of when we were first coming over to the – ruling the roost at an event now scaling six stages
being their promoter to their manager, not forgetting UK on our own and being independent, not opening and catering for more tastes than ever before. It’s that
that 2008 debut album, which was released via the for anybody, trying to see if we had our own fanbase,” very diversity that has since allowed fans to go from
now-dormant Slam Dunk record label, you probably recalls Vic Fuentes of Pierce The Veil.“Slam Dunk was watching Thy Art Is Murder to PVRIS and Mariachi El
couldn’t find a band closer to the festival director’s a big affirmation that we actually had some fans over Bronx all in an afternoon’s work.
heart.To see them elevate from the bottom of the here.We did a signing – it was our first signing over While Southampton metalcore bruisers Bury
bill into main stage headliners has been most riveting here, and having a line, you know, blew our minds. It Tomorrow may be a far cry from the pop-punk
indeed, though they’re just one of Slam Dunk’s many, blew everyone’s minds! We had Jenna from Tonight foundation the festival was built on, they nevertheless
many success stories. Alive sing with us, we had people climbing in the trees, remain one of the event’s many rising stars.
“I don’t think it was a conscious decision,” says Ben, I remember we used confetti over there, and we still “It was 2011 when we first played,” remembers
of his reputation as one of the UK’s true champions have videos from it… It was a super-exciting time.” frontman Dani Winter-Bates, by which point the
of homegrown talent. “On MySpace, I happened to Sean Smith, singer of now-defunct Welsh rockers festival had added a second date in Hatfield. “We were
stumble across a band called You Me At Six. I just The Blackout, was only too happy to pull up a pew and mid-way up the bill and actually at a rocky point for
took a chance. From there, a lot of bands started to make himself at home, year after year. our band – between labels wondering whether to
spring up: Enter Shikari,We Are The Ocean, Kids In “They should have called it Sean Dunk – continue doing this.That was one
Glass Houses,The Blackout… Before that point, the they couldn’t bloody get rid of me,” chuckles of those shows that redefined our
market had been dominated by the U.S., and British the gregarious frontman, before wisecracking, love for it. And they’ve grown that
bands didn’t get a look-in. For me, 2008 is when the “but because the sport is so big in Britain, metal stage to what it is today – it’s
UK scene started to flourish. I can’t take credit for just they opted for something basketball-related! far bigger than it was the first time
randomly picking bands that went on to greatness. But I must have played it at least three times, we played. A lot of festivals, even the
I’m always looking for new bands for Slam Dunk, and DJed twice and presented for K! TV there. bigger ones, write off metal and keep
it’s been amazing seeing Kerrang! chip in with the Fresh The festival has produced a lot of good, it in the same place.They don’t try
Blood Stage recently.” young bands – many of which have gone on to grow it.We’ve seen other festivals
That’s not to say bands from across the pond haven’t to do bigger and bigger things.” rise and fall, which is a shame in ways,
DUNK MEMORIES!
BY JOSH
FRANCESCHI,
YOU ME AT SIX
“I think Slam Dunk
in 2007 was the first
proper festival we
ever played, and only
the second time we’d
played up north. At that
point it was literally
just only one stage, and
it was strange for us
because it was also the
Kellin Quinn joins Pierce The Veil first time when I looked
for King For A Day in 2013
around and saw all
these bands that I was
aware of.We were the
unknown entity of the
day, yet it was the first
time that I think we felt
like a real band.
“To come back and
headline two years later
was kinda unheard of!
I mean, what are the
odds that our band, who
faced a lot of scrutiny
In one of its best line-ups ever,You Me
in our early years with At Six, Architects and PVRIS joined
people being like, forces for 2015’s extravaganza
‘What is this noise?!’
would end up where
we are now? And I
While She Sleeps went so hard
in 2015, Loz lost his shirt
don’t think anyone was
expecting Slam Dunk
to still be growing and
growing the way it
has, either.The festival
definitely helped us
by giving us the stage
and an opportunity,
which paved the way
to getting signed by a
major label. And what
I love is that Slam Dunk
has always kept at its
heart how it supports
and wants to propel
2013, and Cancer Bats prove Mikey Chapman enjoyed young British bands,
that Slam Dunk doesn’t even SD14 more than this photo
need to build stages might suggest. Honest like it did us.”
but Slam Dunk have every point covered – they nail it “The best thing about Slam Dunk is we’re an team are meticulously calculating logistics.
every time.” independent festival,” enthuses Ben.“The fans probably “Lower Than Atlantis managed it last year,” admits
That’s not to say the festival hasn’t faced its don’t see a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes. Ben,“but they weren’t headlining, so it was a bit more
challenges.When asked about the toughest situation Thankfully, I’ve got a small team that work hard all-year- stress-free! We’re trying to figure that out at the
he’s had to deal with, real-time and on-site, Ben admits round, and then there’s all the staff who come to work moment. But, all in all, most bands are quite easy to
there was one year where crowd-flow became a major just for the weekend. It’s almost like a family.” work with – we’ve not had any real problems!”
issue, preventing some attendees from being able to And, of course, there are always challenges ahead. For someone with such a high-pressure job, one
see a handful of bands (“It hurt reading comments Right now, with headliners Panic! At The Disco also which can easily see fortunes turn at the drop of a hat,
calling us poorly organised, especially after working performing at Radio 1’s Big Weekend the very same day Ben seems disarmingly relaxed for your typical festival
a year-round to make it as the Midlands leg (introduced director. Even with America’sVans Warped Tour
happen”).Then, of course, is
the health-and-safety aspect “SLAM DUNK in 2013), Ben and his invading British soil for a slice of the pop-punk
party in more recent years, competition is
– swathes of rabid rock fans
surging forward the split-
HELPED OUR something Ben has no qualms with.
“Of course there’s a bit of competition,” he
second those first chords ring BAND AT A admits.“But it’s a very different format than the
ROCKY TIME”
out is always an unpredictable U.S. version.There’s no animosity; I get on with
situation to take responsibility those guys great and there are no real issues.
for. Last year, a fan was O D A N I W I N T E R - B A T E S , It’s at a different time of year and they don’t
injured five songs intoYMAS’ B U R Y T O M O R R O W O bring it over every year anyway. Slam Dunk
5K-rated set in Hatfield, Josh has become the thing I need to focus on. I feel
Franceschi halting the show to respectfully remind it was what the UK scene needed most.”
us “someone’s life is way more important than our We’d be inclined to agree. Let’s hope the weather
little band”. Some 20 minutes later, the boys were holds out for yet another unforgettable series of
back onstage safe in the knowledge that medical summer parties…
supervision was at-hand and there were no serious
Slam Dunk’s diversity comes to the fore
injuries. It really does say a lot about just how much SLAM DUNK 2016 TAKES PLACE MAY
in 2014, as Bury Tomorrow and The All-
Ben and his team have learned along the way. American Rejects (right) share a bill 28 – 30. SEE THE GIG GUIDE FOR INFO
PHOTO: TRIP FONTAINE/DALLE/ICONICPIX
PHOTO: ANDY FORD
AXL ROSE &
ANGUS YOUNG
PHOTO: GETTY
to
RVI
TE E
e
N
W
I
Ni
MEET SWMRS, THE BAND FORMERLY KNOWN
AS ‘EMILY’S ARMY’, WHO ARE PULVERISING THEIR
POP-PUNK PAST AND REDEFINING THEIR FUTURE.
FRONTMAN COLE BECKER TELLS JAMES HICKIE HOW…
!
38 KERRANG!
C
ole Becker’s sense that his some unorthodox methods for enforcing
band, Emily’s Army, wasn’t his preferred creative direction.
SWMRS’ singer-guitarist
the vehicle he and his Cole Becker: guitar in
“He was living at the studio, and when
bandmates wanted it to hand, fringe in mouth we’d come back in, he’d have taken out
be was confirmed when all the instruments that we did and just
they were touring the UK with Rise done synths – so we had to find a middle-
Against and Pennywise in November ground,” says Cole.
2014. Having spent the first four
I
shows “getting booed off the stage”, f you wanted confirmation of the
Pennywise’s guitarist, Fletcher Dragge, diversity of SWMRS’ inspirations, look
tore into Cole and co’s dressing room no further than the fact that on their
and demanded they have a band latest album, this year’s Drive North,
meeting under his hulking supervision. they’ve written songs about Harry Dean
What followed was actually more Stanton and Miley Cyrus – hardly cultural
akin to the battering that the band bedfellows. The former is the grizzled
– completed by Cole’s brother Max veteran actor in such films as Cool Hand
(guitar), Seb Mueller (bass) and Joey Luke, Alien and Paris, Texas – as well as
Armstrong (drums) – are dishing out to the inspiration for opening track Harry
those piñatas to the left, with Fletcher’s Dean. So pleased were the band with
home truths in place of the sticks, and their creation, they sent it on to the man
the Oakland quartet acting as piñatas. himself via Facebook,
“He said, ‘Look, I don’t care what only for him to describe
Cole ignored instructions
anyone says; you guys need to stop to do handstands on a
it as ‘Too loud for [his]
acting like pussies onstage,’” recalls level surface 89-year-old ears’ and,
Cole, his demeanour much calmer than um, promptly shut down
you imagine it was at the time. his account.
Rather than be disheartened by the “The positive take-
words of a man he respected immensely, away that we’re trying
Cole was empowered by them. to put on it is that he’d
“We all came out and were like, heard the best music he
‘Well, he’s right – we need to stop was ever going to hear
wearing shorts, start playing with more so decided there was no
distortion and just go for it.’” point being on Facebook
So, that’s what they did. By the time any more,” jokes Cole.
they released the Miley Cyrus,
A
lthough it sounds like an apocryphal tale, Swim EP in 2014, meanwhile, acted as
Emily’s Army really was formed after a it was clear a the inspiration for the
nine-year-old Cole and Joey watched the dramatic creative song Miley, after Cole,
Jack Black-fronted film School Of Rock – in the shift had taken place, a student at the University of
classroom, of all places. culminating in the band being renamed Swimmers California, Berkeley, was asked to pen an article
“It’s kind of like how a lot of people cite the – later styled as SWMRS.The transformation about the colourful pop starlet for the college’s
Ramones as the reason they wanted to start a subsequently gathered pace as the band drew a magazine. And, in a move that will surely provide
band,” says Cole, quite possibility infuriating a line in the sand and ceased playing any material Cole with a second strike from the punk purists,
generation of punk fans in the process. “It was the predating Swim in their live sets. his lyrics deem her to be a ‘punk rock queen’ –
idea that kids our age could make actual music.” “I wouldn’t say we were embarrassed, but with good reason, he says.
The band, variously known as The Raining we’d become so much more mature “She’s not always the best person to look up
Souls and The Clocks, settled on the name within the space of a year that the music to – I think she’s done a lot of problematic things
Emily’s Army at the suggestion of Cole and Max’s we’d made as Emily’s Army began to under- that have offended people – but she keeps trying
mother, in honour of his cousin Emily, and to represent us,” says Cole. to reinvent herself and she’s not afraid to show
raise awareness of Cystic Fibrosis – a genetic This sea change was heralded by the her scars, which is something you don’t find a lot.”
disorder mainly affecting the lungs – that she appointment of Zac Carper from LA While Cole’s work and study-load has resulted
suffers from.You could therefore say they garage-punks FIDLAR, rather than in him being so busy that he is forced to multitask
were always a band with a message. Billie Joe, as producer. While the during the course of this interview and have a
The real reason for questioning the resolutely hands-off Green Day wee at the same time, the mutually beneficial
veracity of the School Of Rock story is legend had been, in Cole’s words, relationship they bring is key to a man who admits
because you’d have assumed Joey’s father “a dad with nice recording equipment”, he has “more philosophical influences than musical”.
might have kick-started an interest in music, Zac provided them with the opportunity “If I had to choose between the two, I’d pick
given that he’s Billie Joe Armstrong from to explore new musical avenues – a music, as I just want to play that forever. What’s
Green Day, and the man who would go on to huge positive for Cole, whose formative musical amazing about school is that it keeps your mind
produce the band’s first two full-length albums, inspirations came more from ’90s hip-hop acts like awake and provides you with a constant stream of
Don’t Be A Dick (2011) and Lost At Seventeen De La Soul than they did The Damned. ideas,” says Cole.
(2013), the boisterous pop-punk of which Furthermore, working with Zac provided the Now they’re making the music they love and
suggested that the apple didn’t fall far from the band with the confidence to stand up for their own have a constant source of inspiration for new
tree. It wouldn’t stay there, though. ideas, as Zac, a huge fan of electronic music, had material, SWMRS are heading into deeper water.
INSPIRATIONS
THE ARTHUR DOYLE HAND CREAM Jane’s Addiction never shied away This is a haunting song
The version on 2004’s from dark subject matter. This track for two reasons. Firstly, it’s
Sonic Nurse is called Kim from their 1988 classic Nothing’s about Kevin Carter, the Pulitzer
PHOTOS: LINDSEY BYRNES
Gordon And The Arthur Doyle Hand Shocking isn’t just inspired by Ted Prize-winning photographer
Cream (after the band’s bassist), Bundy, the American serial killer who who committed suicide in 1994.
SWMRS HAVE A TRACK but originally name-checked murdered at least 30 people during Secondly, it was written by Richey
ABOUT MILEY CYRUS. HERE Mariah Carey, as it addresses her the ’70s, it also features a incredibly Edwards, the Manics’ guitarist and
ARE SOME OTHER SONGS high-profile breakdown in 2001. creepy clip from an interview lyricist who disappeared
INSPIRED BY UNLIKELY After concerns about legal action, with him, in which he the year before the track
CULTURAL ICONS… the title was changed. denies the crimes. was released.
KERRANG! 39
move right. But Bob was perfect, so
“I was always the girl at the he came all the way home with me. “House Of 1000 Corpses
slumber party who would bring He sits on the foot of my bed now. [2003] is my favourite horror movie
the Ouija board, and egg on I’d love a real skeleton one day. I’ll of all time,hands down. I’m a big
freaking everyone out. People work my way up to that…” movie person; I’d rather be at
really do get freaked out over the home watching movies than out
Ouija board. My band won’t touch partying.House… has everything –
them, but I’ve a few, including “I have a jar of my friends’ humour, colourful characters… It’s
one that was passed down to me teeth. I don’t know how this the perfect horror movie.
that used to be taped down so it obsession started… I got my “What do I like about horror
couldn’t be opened, but I opened wisdom teeth pulled a while back movies? I don’t know.They just call
it up anyway! The warning on and asked to keep them, and then to me, make me feel calm. I can put
the front is for a choking hazard, I started asking my friends to on Hellraiser [1987] and work and
rather than for demons (laughs)!” keep any teeth they had pulled, or relax. A Nightmare On Elm Street
whatever.They know me, so I can’t [1984] was the first horror movie
surprise them with anything any I ever saw. I met Robert Englund
“When we tour, I have to more! I get bummed out with them about a year ago, and told him,
bring special boxes in our bus when they don’t keep ‘You’re like my dad, I grew up with
to keep all the Hallowe’en stuff them for me! A you!’ My grandma did special
I pick up to take home. Bob was fan gave me a effects for horror movies; she
picked up in Missouri. I’m very few that he taught me how to make fake
picky about my skeletons – either lost in a car entrails, and there was
they’re anatomically incorrect, accident a box of severed heads
or I don’t like their facial this one around the house… It
expressions, or they don’t time, too.” was all normal to me.”
40 KERRANG!
KERRANG! 41
THE SONGS THAT
MY
CHARLIE’S CURRENTLY ON TOUR WITH BUSTED. WE’RE REALLY, REALLY HOPING
THAT HE’S IN CHARGE OF THE BUS STEREO. OR MAYBE HE’S DJING BEFORE
THE SHOWS. EVERYONE LIKES MESHUGGAH, RIGHT? RIGHT?
THIS WEEK:CHARLIE SIMPSON, FIGHTSTAR
THE SONG THAT MAKES ME THINK THE LAST SONG I LISTENED me, and even though I’ve heard it so many
OF HOME IS… TO WAS… times, it still provokes that level of emotion.
YOU REMIND ME I’M ON FIRE The whole thing is so minimal and so
heartbreaking, and the video is stunning,
OF HOME BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN too. It’s just perfect.”
Benjamin Gibbard “I wouldn’t call myself the biggest
Springsteen fan, but he has definitely written
FIND IT: American IV:The Man
Comes Around (2002)
“He’s the singer of Death Cab For Cutie,
some amazing songs, and I’ve recently been
and this one’s an acoustic song that’s really THE HARDEST FIGHTSTAR
sifting through his back catalogue looking
poignant for me. One of the opening lines SONG TO PLAY IS…
for some potential classics I’ve not heard
is ‘You remind me of home’, and, yeah, that
makes me think of home.There really is no yet.This one is an absolute cracker, it’s so SINK WITH
hidden subtext there! It takes me back to the simple and minimal, and it reminds me of
Jackson Browne – who I’m a huge fan of. I
THE SNAKES
FIGHTSTAR
house I grew up in with my family, which is
think we could probably do a pretty good
always a nice place to let my thoughts go to.
cover of this one, too.We could really build
It makes me think of a time back in the day “This is definitely the hardest thing
it up to an epic conclusion, which would be
when I played drums and me and my brother I’ve ever written. I wanted to write
very cool.”
jammed Silverchair covers together!” something quite fast and really
FIND IT: Born In The U.S.A. (1984)
FIND IT: HomeVolumeV (2003) push myself as a guitarist and
singer. I had been listening to a
THE SONG THAT MAKES ME WANT
THE SONG THAT MADE ME WANT lot of Architects, which I think
TO STAGE-DIVE IS…
TO BE A MUSICIAN WAS… is what inspired the techier
LOTION NEW NOISE riffs. It’s one of my favourites,
REFUSED
but when we get to the point
DEFTONES “I heard this for the first time when I was
in the set where it comes
up, I have to stand still and
“My dad was big into music, and I heard a lot
on tour with Fightstar back in the day. In concentrate.There’s no
ofVan Morrison and The Beatles growing up,
fact, it was actually on the tour bus, and I way I’d get close if I was
which had a big effect on me. But this was
remember someone put it on and when jumping around!”
the song that changed everything for me. My
it really kicked in, the back lounge literally FIND IT: Behind
friend bought the record,Around The Fur,
erupted into a total mosh-pit. It’s absolutely The Devil’s Back
and the first song he played me was Lotion
brilliant; it’s got so much groove to it and the (2015)
– it just hit me so hard. I was already into
energy it gives off is perfect when it comes
heavier stuff – I liked Sepultura and Machine
to making you want to go fucking mental!”
Head – but I had never heard heavy music
FIND IT: The Shape Of Punk To Come
with such amazing melodies, as well.”
(1998)
FIND IT: Around The Fur (1997)
THE SONG THAT MAKES ME WANT
THE SONG THAT I WOULD
TO CRY IS…
LIKE TO COVER IS…
YOUTH HURT
DAUGHTER JOHNNY CASH
WORDS: DAN SLESSOR PHOTO: PAUL HARRIES
42KERRANG!
ISSUE 1620 MAY 21, 2016
“I’VE CRIED TO
and the heat coming on and off had made
it slip to this mental tuning that made no
JOHNNY CASH
musical sense. But I played the chords and
they sounded awesome.There was just
something so beautiful about it, which adds
KERRANG! 43
OF
ISSUE 1620 MAY 21, 2016
O M Y
ANAT CKSTAR THE MOVIE THAT CHANGED
A RO MY LIFE WAS…
DEZ
“The Godfather [1972].The first time I
watched it, I got a sense of how a man
should do business, and how serious
FAFLADRRIVAER
business can be. Coming from an Italian
family, you watch that and just feel like
you’re learning. Just listen to lines like,
‘Don’t ever tell anyone outside the family
what you’re feeling!’ It teaches you, and I
DEVI
like anything where I’m learning.”
ES?
G ? B AD. WIV MY GUILTIEST
LKIN WO PLEASURE IS…
SHIT-TA OD. EATING T EAT!
G O G R
A DAY?
“Food! When I’m on tour I can’t eat
PIZZAS
a fuckin’ thing because I’ve gotta go
onstage every night, so I’ve gotta keep
trim. But when I’m home it’s like, ‘Let’s
order pizza at 11 in the morning and
another at four!’ I’m on tour so much,
MY FAVOURITE when I get home all I want to do is
take my family out and eat.”
MEMORY IS…
“Getting my first motorcycle
when I was seven years old. It was
Christmas Day and we were all out MY HERO IS…
in the desert with a bunch of friends “My father. He’s had a long life – he
– we’re a motorcycle family. I took had me, he went to war for the U.S.
off and rode straight into a cactus. in Vietnam and he’s had a long acting
Ever since then, I’ve been a biker.” career. He was in one of the most
iconic shows on American TV, Leave
It To Beaver. He’s someone I wasn’t
MY KIND OF really raised with, and I didn’t really
PEOPLE ARE… know him until my later years, but
once I got to know him I found a
“People who live in the light. wonderful guy with a great heart
People who are givers rather who loves his family, who works
than takers. People who are hard and never takes ‘no’ for an
positive rather than negative. answer. He’s the kind of guy you’d
I don’t like negative people, or want as your friend, and I admire
takers, or people who talk shit him a great deal.”
on other people. If I come into
a room and someone’s talking
shit, I don’t talk to them because I
know they’ll talk shit on me later.”
THE ONE THING I CAN’T
LIVE WITHOUT IS…
MY GREATEST “Marijuana. I’ve suffered from ADD
and ADHD all my life and found that,
PHOBIA IS… as a medicinal aid, it helps me greatly.
“Losing my wife. For 18 years I’ve It helps me to study, it helps me to
never been without her. She’s a focus, it helps me to sleep. It helps
great woman, a wonderful mother, aches and pains after touring, too.
a wonderful best friend. She’s like It brings a calm and a karma to my
a backbone to me. A great woman life, I feel like it adds a beautiful hippy
will make a great man and a horrible element. Has the legalisation in some
woman will break a man down so states changed my relationship with
quick. I’ve been fortunate enough to it? No, I’ve always smoked it, legal or
find one who builds me up, and she
keeps me going on a daily basis.” “I’VE BEEN A illegal, since I was 15 years old.”
BIKER SINCE I
THE BEST TRIP I’VE
EVER BEEN ON WAS… WAS SEVEN…”
D E Z F A F A R A
MY FIRST PAID
JOB WAS…
“About a year ago I went to Japan “Working on a construction
WORDS: SAM LAW PHOTO: PAUL HARRIES
for the first time. The culture is so site with my dad. I come from a
beautiful, the food is incredible and construction family and I started
the shows were fantastic. I went to working at nine years old. At first I’d
Osaka Castle, accidentally put $100 just be picking up cans and bottles.
in the ticket machine and walked Then I started really cleaning up. My
away with $90 still in it. Somebody dad used to say, ‘If it’s not growing
found it, looked for me for an hour from the ground, pick it up and put
in the castle, bowed and gave it it in a fucking pile!’ When you’re
back to me. Anywhere else, that getting paid $50 at nine years old,
money would still be missing.” you’re the cool kid!”
44 KERRANG!
COMING JUNE 8
VOLUME 2
AN ALL-STAR
TRIBUTE CD TO
ONLY IN
R AT I N G S
KKKKK = CLASSIC
KKKK = EXCELLENT
KKK = GOOD
KK = AVERAGE
K = POOR
ANDY
BLACK
PLUS: CREEPER
LEADMILL, SHEFFIELD. 10.05.16
KKKK
MR BIERSACK JILTS THE BRIDES TO PLAY
HIS FIRST SOLO SHOW ON UK SOIL
WORDS: PAUL TRAVERS PHOTOS: PAUL HARRIES
“DIDYOU just say ‘banana hammock’?” laughs
Andy Black.“We need a system so you can shout
things out one at a time. I’m not sure a banana
hammock would go with the whole look, but
maybe I can get a black one made.”
This is Andy Biersack as you’ve never seen him before. Black
Veil Brides are all about forming a close connection with their
fans, but when they play it’s with a sense of total bombast and
larger-than-life rockstar spectacle.Tonight, playing his first UK
show under his solo guise of Andy Black – last week he made
his proper debut in LA, to an audience including blink-182’s
Mark Hoppus and Matt Skiba, 5 Seconds Of Summer and
producer extraordinaire John Feldmann – the feeling is far more
intimate. He laughs and chats with the crowd as he casually
chucks out quirky pop-rock gems from recently-released album
The Shadow Side, and indulges in covers that mean something
to him personally, even if the majority of his audience are initially
unfamiliar with them. He’s still every inch the rockstar up there,
but it’s almost like he’s off-duty and sharing some tunes and
good times with 900 or so close, personal friends.
Friends like Creeper.Andy has been vocal in his support of
their growing cult and a respectable portion of the crowd
seems familiar with the punk-fuelled rush of The Honeymoon
Suite and the gothic melodrama of Misery.The rest are left with
an indelible impression, as the band race through a brilliant set
that’s part-AFI, part-MCR and part a dark magic entirely of their
own making.
Tonight,Andy Black also wears his influences – at least
those that aren’t Kiss or Mötley Crüe –
on his sleeves.There are covers of
Generation X’s DancingWith Myself,
AlkalineTrio’sTimeToWaste and Social
Distortion’s Reach ForThe Sky. Elsewhere,
the brittle Beautiful Pain is dedicated
to late guitar tech Chris Holley, the big
ballad Paint It Black is dedicated to Andy’s
new wife Juliet Simms, and an all-acoustic
run-through of BVB’s Saviour threatens to
bring the roof down.
It’s not as big or brash as a BlackVeil
Brides show, but then it’s not supposed to
be. For Andy Black, this is personal, and for
those present at this first solo show, it was Creeper chose a weird moment
a pleasure to share it with him. to recreate Michelangelo’s The
Creation Of Adam
46 KERRANG!
Punching yourself in
the goolies: perfect for
reaching those high notes
ANDY BLACK
ASHTON IRWIN
(5 SECONDS OF SUMMER)
CALUM HOOD
(5 SECONDS OF SUMMER)
JOHN FELDMANN
(MEGA-PRODUCER)
MATT SKIBA
(BLINK-182/ALKALINE TRIO)
MARK HOPPUS
(BLINK-182)
ANDY BLACK
(VOCALS)
DID YOU HAVE ANY
NERVES ABOUT
PLAYING A SOLO GIG?
“I’m not sure ‘nervous’
is the right word, but I
was certainly anxious
in a way, because it’s so
different. There’s things
you get used to with
Black Veil Brides. It’s not
like we go up and do a
choreographed show,
but there are times in
the set when I know this
or that thing is going
to happen. Doing this
is entirely different.
Whether it’s talking to
the audience between
songs or even the order
of the set list, it’s all new
to me, and I was anxious
to get it right.”
KERRANG! 47
Blood Ceremony: flexible with
the truth when describing
their Subway sandwich
DESERTFEST
VARIOUS VENUES, CAMDEN. 29.04.16 – 01.05.16
Trouble: apparently we
DO want some trouble
here, as it happens
Electric Ballroom and The Black Heart, across three else’s. Following that, RUSSIAN CIRCLES (KKK)
days, over 60 bands crank out some of the heaviest, are good, but their post-metal feels like water after 18
freakiest and, in some cases, weirdest sounds the cans of double-strength energy drink by comparison.
underground has to offer. By Sunday, the hangovers are as unholy as some
Things get off to a heavy-riffing, hard-boozing of the riffs. But, fortunately, there’s salvation in
start with the sludge’n’roll of the eternally the form of Christian doom legends TROUBLE
likeable GURT (KKKK), while Corby filth lords (KKKK), who dole out classic, Sabbathy cuts
RAGING SPEEDHORN (KKKK) are as much like The Tempter that crush skulls with as much
like a pub brawl as they were back in 2000. But an might as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
enjoyable one. However, it’s the double-whammy of On a more mellow tip are Canada’s BLOOD
CROWBAR (KKKK) and CORROSION OF CEREMONY (KKKKK). Armed with some
CONFORMITY (KKKKK) that sets things ablaze. vintage psych riffs and the world’s hardest-rocking
The former crush, with songs like Conquering and flute courtesy of frontwoman Alia O’Brien, they’re
Like Broken Glass hitting like concrete, while CoC a welcome trip to somewhere truly magical.
are like having a party where your mates’ band play And smashing that vibe to smithereens are
Sabbath tunes too fast. It is glorious, and frontman GODFLESH (KKK), who know how to flatten
Pepper Keenan looks like the world’s happiest man any venue with their gargantuan assault of harrowing,
as he riffs. industrial fuzz. But they seem positively nice next to
Saturday finds ELECTRIC WIZARD (KKKKK).The stalwarts
slow-mo heaviests of doom metal are now so frightening that songs like
POSEIDON the hateful Return Trip and a rare airing of Dunwich
(KKKK), Leeds would have Beelzebub himself cowering behind his
sluggers BONG sofa in complete and utter fear. It’s a doom apocalypse
CAULDRON that can’t be followed, and ends things on a gloriously
(KKKK) heavy note. Hopefully our ears will have stopped
and America’s ringing in time for Desertfest 2017…
Clearly, it was a
very tiring weekend
for Godflesh
ISSUE 1620 MAY 21, 2016
FOXING
PLUS: TTNG
LTJ, probably wishing
they’d booked a gig
in Ska-borough…
DOME, LONDON. 30.04.16
KKKK
ST. LOUIS POST-HARDCORE MOB EXORCISE
THEIR WOES BRILLIANTLY IN LONDON
QWHEN YOU’VE deconstructed your PLUS: TRASH BOAT, LIONIZE
entire existence, picked apart your most O2 ACADEMY, LEICESTER. 04.05.16
heart-aching anecdotes and poured them
into an album, playing live is going to be a
heavy affair. Tonight, though, the weight on
KKKK
the shoulders of St. Louis post-hardcore SKA HEROES MAKE A PRESENT OF
heroes Foxing is the result of countless van THE PAST WITH GREATEST HITS SET
breakdowns en route to this penultimate
night of a nine-week tour. Luckily, tour buds Q SKANKING AWAY to the jolly ska of Good Enough,
TTNG (formerly This Town Needs Guns) are it’s easy to forget that this is what LessThan Jake have
on hand to banish any signs of stress with been doing for two decades.They’re too modest to
their resilient brand of math-rock. Singer make a fuss about it, but releasing a live album (Live At
Henry Tremain’s soaring vocals surge into The Astoria) that was actually recorded 15 years ago
complex riffs, and Chinchilla and If I Sit Still… suggests they’re at least taking a step back to marvel
show that the Oxford trio may have changed at their achievements.Although they come with much STAR SHOUT! WHY RELEASE AN
their name, but it’s lost them no momentum.
Even with their motor woes, Foxing are in
less history, openers Lionize distract with their funky,
occasionally soulful gifts, and although Trash Boat have a CHRIS ALBUM RECORDED
15 YEARS AGO NOW?
BUTCHER
PLUS: SUMO CYCO
BABIES
O2 ACADEMY3, BIRMINGHAM. 23.04.16
for reasons you’re unable to properly fathom. covers of Prince,The Beatles, Michael he is. He’s hilarious. Evidence: after
Commitment to the cause is beyond doubt Jackson, Bob Dylan and more besides. self-deprecatingly critiquing himself for
– Heidi in particular hurls herself around Look, when you cover Led Zeppelin’s only writing “miserable songs”, he tells
as if on springs, her mid-air scissor kicks ThankYou and Jimmy Page is in the a story of how he planned to cover
miraculously not taking out any of the other crowd applauding like a mere mortal, U2’s uplifting One to compensate.
band members. Ultimately, though, when it’s safe to say you’re doing a good job. He then explains how a Google snafu
an expression of rage has no form and no In fact, this is phenomenal.Acoustic meant he accidentally started reading
pay-off, it just walks around in circles like a versions of Black Hole Sun and I Am the lyrics to a metal classic of the
pissed-off polar bear in a confined enclosure. The Highway impress as always, but same name.And so tonight sees U2’s
Until Butcher Babies learn to harness their it’sTemple OfThe Dog’s Hunger chords with the words to Metallica’s
obvious power, they’ll look impotent next to Strike that offers the unimpeachable One.And, like absolutely everything Chris Cornell:
bands like Sumo Cyco. highlight.That said, it should be noted else tonight, it sounds incredible. Superunplugged
STEVE BEEBEE
KERRANG! 49
R AT I N G S
KKKKK = CLASSIC
KKKK = EXCELLENT
KKK = GOOD
KK = AVERAGE
K = POOR
LONELY
THE BRAVE
THINGS WILL MATTER (HASSLE)
KKKK
CAMBRIDGE ALT.ROCK STARS CONTINUE TO FOLLOW
THEIR OWN PATH ON ALBUM NUMBER TWO
WHEN YOUR stock-in-trade involves The Car, you’re sort of waiting for it to build and hook of What If You Fall In also takes on a shade
the mixing of emotionally-charged explode.That’s what most other bands would do of Biffy’s unconventional stadium rock attached
poetic lyricism with thrusting riff- on an opening track, but Lonely The Brave simply to a slightly awkward time signature.That said,
fuelled alt.rock anthems and swirling, give it space to breathe. As the song exhales for though, you could add more comparisons: there’s
textured post-rock soundscapes, there’s no such the final time, they segue artfully into Black Mire a hint of Baroness’ cerebral aggression here and
thing as a rule book. If there was, Lonely The Brave and ratchet up the volume.This is indisputably the there, not to mention the build-and-release tactics
would probably have torn it up (then written an sound of a rock band unleashed, but even when of Explosions In The Sky (only with added vocals)
emotionally-charged song about the emotional they’re letting loose there’s still a poetry and grace when they go fully post-rock on closer Jaws Of Hell.
impact of tearing up rule books). to everything they do. ‘What if I said that this ain’t These are all just elements, however, and when
This is a band, after all, who were supporting the one / The slicked back curd of the yellow sun?’ you combine them into one seamless and almost
gravel-throated roots rock legend Bruce ponders frontman David Jakes over ringing guitars surprisingly cohesive whole, Lonely The Brave
Springsteen before they’d even released their debut and pounding drums. sound like themselves and no-one else.That’s a
album,The Day’s War.They’re more than capable This is a band who’ve been compared to tricky thing to pull off, but with Things Will Matter,
of writing anthems that can fill every corner of the everyone from Pearl Jam to Biffy Clyro numerous one of the most distinctive bands to have emerged
sort of enormodomes commanded by The Boss, times.True, there are certainly aspects of their in recent years continue to make bold strides into
but they also know that not everything has to go sound and songwriting that justify it. David may the unknown.
off like a hand grenade. be so shy he lurks at the back of the stage at DOWNLOAD: Radar, Jaws Of Hell.
When they start Things Will Matter with the gigs, but his rich, expressive croon has an Eddie FOR FANS OF: Biffy Clyro, Pearl Jam.
chiming minimalism and heartbeat pulse of Wait In Vedder timbre at times. Likewise, the sing-along PAUL TRAVERS
50 KERRANG!
ISSUE 1620 MAY 21, 2016
“A LOT OF THE
LYRICS ARE
ABOUT BECOMING
A DAD…”
DAVID JAKES
TRAC
K
B
TRACY
K
LACUNA COIL
DELIRIUM (CENTURY MEDIA)
KKKK
ITALY’S GOTH METAL ROYALTY GET EVEN DARKER
ON THEIR RETURN-TO-FORM EIGHTH ALBUM
2 BROKEN THINGS
Andrea Ferro’s screamed
vocal is all anguish in another 7 YOU LOVE ME ’CAUSE
I HATE YOU
song that addresses personal The Ferro-Scabbia roles are
demons.The pay-off is Cristina reversed on this slow-building
Scabbia’s bright chorus. slab of moodiness.
3 DELIRIUM
Lacuna Coil have
undergone line-up changes
8 GHOST IN THE MIST
The best bit here is the
guitar part in the middle,
in the build-up to this album, which makes a kind of ‘nee-
and perhaps that explains naw’ cop car noise.
its focus on internal struggle.
This instantly memorable
tune is one of their easier-to-
digest moments.
9 MY DEMONS
A song of hatred and
love horribly muddled up, it’s
Delirium’s most emotional
feet for a lot of it. I think “There’s a lot of stuff on I opened them, thinking that 18%
we all went into the second there about becoming a dad they were going to just be 12% New blood
43% Goth stuff
album as better musicians, and having to deal with my scratchy recordings of an Dual vocals
so I hope it shows. I don’t ongoing problems with mind acoustic, but there were
think there was any pressure and body! There’s also a few layered guitars, drums, bass – 27%
Emotion
to follow up the debut.We songs on there about my an early version of Radar!”
KERRANG! 51
KKKK = CLASSIC KKKK = EXCELLENT KKK = GOOD KK = AVERAGE K = POOR
KVELERTAK
NAME4IGER !RMY ARE BACK6sssn IS THE
sound of a band full of the quiet confidence SAOSIN
needed to take their time with all things, ALONG THE SHADOW (EPITAPH)
NATTESFERD (ROADRUNNER) including getting to the point. It all moves
along at a slow-burning pace, rather than KK
KKKK the usual cocky swagger, and frontman Nick FIRST NEW MUSIC IN SEVEN YEARS FROM
SCANDO METAL NUTCASES GET SLIGHTLY 13’s croon coats each song like molasses, SECOND-TIER POST-HARDCORE CREW
MORE SENSIBLE ON THIRD ALBUM LYRIC OF and it takes until eighth track Devil Lurks Q IN THEIR mid-’00s
QRENOWNED FOR
their far-beyond-driven
THE WEEK On The Road for them to actually unleash
anything that quickens the pulse. Much
heyday, Newport
Beach’s Saosin were
‘There’s an
live performances, echo pulling of the rest wallows in retro rock’n’roll not exactly the most
Norwegian crew out the meaning nostalgia without offering anything new, like riveting band in the
Kvelertak have taken a / Rescuing a a rockabilly admiring his artfully-crafted quiff cluttered post-hardcore
slightly more considered nightmare from in the mirror for just a bit too long. scene. Back with their
approach to their latest a dream’. And DOWNLOAD: Devil Lurks On The Road. first release since 2009’s In Search Of Solid
that’s how the
work. It doesn’t mean this riot-bringing metal FOR FANS OF: Alkaline Trio,The Cramps, Ground – and reunited with original vocalist
new blink track
band who previously gave every impression of opens – with a Rocket From The Crypt. Anthony Green (Circa Survive) – they don’t
having just escaped from a zoo are suddenly tacit admission ALISTAIR LAWRENCE make much more of an impression this
practising sobriety. God knows what Berserkr that they aid time, either.That opener The Silver String
is about, but it probably isn’t flower-arranging,
put it that way.This still rocks – but it also
Freddy Krueger
in making a ANTI-CLONE is somewhat plodding and predictable isn’t
the best start, and unfortunately these are
soothes and hypnotises in ways that fans might getaway from THE ROOT OF MAN (PHD) two words that can be applied with far too
not be expecting.After a frantic, grinding start, teenagers’ much frequency.They have their moments,
the title-track and 1985 have a metronomic dreams when
things get a bit
KKKK though – the urgent-yet-ethereal chorus of
poetry in their genes, while the nine-minute hairy.We’re on LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FROM THE Ideology Is Theft is effortlessly affecting, and
Heksebrann actually blossoms into proper to you, blink. MURDER CAPITAL OF THE UK… METAL the jangling Second Guesses is really quite
melody.While it’s conceivable that, in its less BAND: Q HAVE YOU ever gorgeous. But even these are pretty hard to
feral moments, Nattesferd will disappoint blink-182 been to Boston in recall once all is said and done.
some, it’s a bold, transitional statement from a SONG: Lincolnshire? It’s quite DOWNLOAD: Second Guesses.
band that’s still reaching for their best. Bored To Death a nice place, surrounded FOR FANS OF: Circa Survive,Thrice.
DOWNLOAD: Svartmesse. ALBUM: by farmland, seems DAN SLESSOR
California
FOR FANS OF: Mastodon, Gojira. quiet, not a lot to do.
STEVE BEEBEE Apparently it’s the
murder capital of the UK.We know this CABIN BOY
OCEAN GROVE
BLACK LABEL (SUBLIME VOL.) (UNFD)
because it’s one of the first things residents
Anti-Clone – stars of our recent New
Wave Of Weird feature (K!1615) – mention.
JUMPED SHIP
PATHWAYS (SELF-RELEASE)
How’s that for setting the tone? After
KKK spotting them in their masks, that is.And KK
MULTIFACETED MELBOURNE METAL CREW SLEEVE OF it’s no surprise that when The Root Of TIME FOR SOME IDENTIKIT ELECTRO-METAL-
WELCOME YOU TO THEIR (ODD) WORLD
QTHEY’RE A confusing
THE WEEK Man’s first proper track, Deracinated,
lurches into view, it does so on the back of
SNORE-CORE FROM THE MIDLANDS
QWHEN A record’s
Was there ever a
bunch, Ocean Grove. On more gloriously a stupidly heavy, nu-metal-tinged riff, bleak opening lyric is
the one hand, they’ve rock’n’roll sight atmosphere and disturbing vocals.At first ‘Everybody’s going to
released a manifesto than Lemmy glance, there are a few obvious-looking die’, you can be fairly
alongside this EP, in which snarling full-pelt signposts – most obviously to Slipknot, both assured this is not
they describe themselves into a mic? No. in a visual sense and in the heavy grooves ground-breaking stuff.
as an “artistic collective” There is no that pulse through songs like A Sight For In fact, Leicestershire’s
better idea for
and raise points about social behaviour and a sleeve for
Sewn Eyes – but there’s also a sense of Cabin Boy Jumped Ship may well find work
the consumption of culture. And on the other, Motörhead’s genuinely sick weirdness to them that’s all ensuring said ground remains distinctly
they not only have a song called Lights On forthcoming Anti-Clone’s own. It makes them intriguing, unspoiled, for you’re more likely to find a
Kind Of Lover, but have filmed themselves Clean Your fascinating, but still not the sort of people unicorn on their tour bus than an original
acting the giddy goat in its video. Musically, Clock live album you’re sure you’d actually like to meet, idea on Pathways. All the requisite parts
we’re on more familiar ground; what the than the late judging by the way they rage here.Although that make them sound ‘now’ are there
manifesto refers to as “odd world music”(???) frontman doing we’re sure they’re really nice.They hide it – the atmospheric electronics, juddering
largely fits into the baggy strides of nu-metal, what he did very well, mind. breakdowns, petulant, toys-out-the-
best, and doing
albeit with space for the odd deathcore vocal it better than
DOWNLOAD: Deracinated,A Sight pram screaming and sing-along choruses.
or progressive flourish. A Limp Bizkit who anyone else. For Sewn Eyes. These choruses are their strongest suit,
want to make, not Break Stuff? A Slipknot FOR FANS OF: Slipknot, Meshuggah, particularly on The New World Order, but
who think People=Awesome? Told you they King 810, Mudvayne. the heavy use of so much horrid vocoder
were confusing. NICK RUSKELL on the same track is absolutely unforgivable.
DOWNLOAD: Cold Skin.
FOR FANS OF: Slipknot, Deftones. AT THIS summer’s of fun. Singer Dee
TWISTED
OLLY THOMAS Bloodstock festival, Snider is the sort of
Twisted Sister will play tireless, cheerleading
52 KERRANG!
K!LASSIC ALBUM ISSUE 1620 MAY 21, 2016
PSALM 69
DAN SLESSOR
S (Sire, 1992)
TERE
DESTRUCTION
O
Issues tune! sharpish. Probably.With Marcel ‘Schmier’ most of the money on drugs, then asked YOU GOT THE ALBUM TITLE FROM
This is smoother Schirmer still howling his heart out and Mike the label for more. Unsurprisingly, the CHAPTER 69 OF ALEISTER CROWLEY’S
than spreadable Sifringer shredding like a madman, don’t be atmosphere was not great.Al and the THE BOOK OF LIES. WAS HE SOMEONE
butter that’s just
had a shave.
surprised if album 15 is not too far off. band’s other creative lynchpin, bassist Paul YOU LOOKED UP TO?
DOWNLOAD: Under Attack. Barker, actively hated one another to the “He had the right frame of mind, though
FOR FANS OF: Slayer, Bonded By Blood. point where they couldn’t work together he weren’t no genius. Sure, he fucked some
3 RED HOT
CHILI
PEPPERS
DAN SLESSOR in the studio, and Al claims to have gone
in daily and simply undone everything his
chick on top of a pyramid, but he hasn’t
done anything I haven’t done. If anything,
– DARK
NECESSITIES
Is RHCP’s
EMP!RE
OUR SIMPLE TRUTHS (SELF-RELEASE)
bandmate had been working on.
But what actually came out of all this
unpleasantness is a masterpiece that added
I’d teach him shit, you know? I’ve hung out
with people that make Crowley look like
kindergarten. But the guy was cool for
comeback a layer of industrial sharpness to the ’90s his time and completely overlooked, I’ll
single about all
the essentials
KK metal explosion, and confirmed just how give him that. Good versus evil should be
for a power IT’S TWO STEPS FORWARD E STEP much of a twisted genius Al was.As he inherent in every human being. He’d play
cut? Torches, BACK FOR SOUTH WEST RO releases the debut of his new band, Surgical up the evil part, and at least during the
candles? No, but QSOME BANDS take Meth Machine, he looks back at how he Victorian age that was a huge ‘fuck you’ to
it’s still good. a little time to mature. made a monster… society. Gotta give the guy credit for that!”
Emp!re have spent the last
4
MESS
REAL
FRIENDS –
four years slowly trying
to hone their sound, into
WHAT WAS IT ACTUALLY LIKE IN THE
STUDIO, WORKING ON THE ALBUM?
HOW DO YOU FEEL LOOKING BACK
AT THE ALBUM TODAY?
something bolder and AL JOURGENSEN (VOCALS, MOST “I guess it was okay for its time.There are
Not that much
of a mess at all,
more complex, although, INSTRUMENTS):“It was like a bunch of a couple of songs I really dig on there, but
actually. More of sadly, it still isn’t quite landing here.While Sights animals being let loose.We spent a lot it’s not the best one to me.To be honest,
5 GORGUTS –
PLEIADES’
DUST
(chiefly Coheed And Cambria) that let this
down.When it’s good, though, there’s some
shit going on everywhere. Barker and I
never saw one another – he’d work in Kerrang! Radio play
uniqueness about Our Simple Truths that the day and be all good, and I’d come in it all at 10pm, May 19!
Ready for mind-
suggests Emp!re still have something worth at night, fuck with his shit, and just do my
bending prog-
death-metal? building on.They just need to bring it out more.
Yes? Here’s 33 DOWNLOAD: Sights.
minutes of it. FOR FANS OF: Arcane Roots, Biffy Clyro.
JESSICA BRIDGEMAN
“WE THREW
rocking every one of (in your face, suits),
those faces. WE ARE and releasing Stay
FIRECRACKERS
TWISTED F**KING Hungry, an album
SISTER (KKKK) – now that sold five million
getting a UK release miss opportunities copies and was crucial
AT TRENT
WORDS: NICK RUSKELL
REZNOR…”
their struggle to even scorn that the head of then realise why you
get off the blocks. Of a Atlantic threatened to have to see them this
terrible spate of bad fire the next person summer. You’ll regret
luck that saw them who suggested it if you don’t.
AL JOURGENSEN
KERRANG! 53
MU$T
HAV£S
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£16.49 Backstreetmerch.com $12.95 (£8.96) Shop.fox.com Price TBC CIDmerch.com
54 KERRANG!
1620 MAY 21, 2016
C HE
From the pen of the brilliant Jeff Thanks to this yellow beauty
MERCH STORE!
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favourite comic series. too! L8RZ, wind.
$7.99 (£5.53) Imagecomics.com £20.90 Zippo.co.uk If Pierce The Veil were Prone to Misadventures? This shirt kinda reminds us of
a sports team they’d Then the compass necklace ’90s girly game Dream Phone.
probably have a hat like in this album bundle should Is it Vic, Tony, Mike or Jaime that
this. Luckily they’re not, help you find your way. wants to take you on a date to
because the quartet don’t look P.S. We’re more excited the downtown diner? We know
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around in freshly-cut grass with dreams? Then these Pierce The much use if you’re going to
this tie-dye shirt. It’s so grasslike Veil-brand pillowcases should do the jungle with Bear Grylls,
it actually just brought on our it. Maybe tie yourself to the bed but it might just get you
Pretend you’re Chewbacca (without the nits) with this satsuma-coloured hayfever, and we’re not even lying. before nodding off, just in case through the day at Slam Dunk.
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KERRANG! 55
’T MISS
DON ISSUES
FUN FACT: THIS IS ISSUES’ FIRST-EVER UK HEADLINE TOUR! ANOTHER FUN FACT:
THEY’RE ALSO READY TO BLOW YOU AWAY WITH THEIR BRAND-NEW ALBUM...
WELCOME BACK! YOU MUST HAVE YOU EVER HAD AN OPENING BAND and I didn’t know how people were going to
BE REALLY EXCITED TO FINALLY MAKE YOU THINK, “AH SHIT – WE HAVE TO take it, especially with the singing, as I sing on
HAVE SOME NEW SONGS TO FOLLOW THAT!?” almost every song. But the response to those
PLAY ONCE YOU HIT THE UK! “If there’s one band that does that, it’s letlive.! two songs has been incredible, so I’m definitely
MICHAEL BOHN (VOCALS): “Definitely! You watch that band and your jaw drops – we’d a lot more confident now.”
We’ve really only just finished the self-titled be standing side-stage while they’d be playing
touring cycle after almost two years, so it’ll be and it’d be like, ‘Um, okay, so we have to kill it?’ SO, WILL WE BE SEEING THAT NEW SENSE
good to break out some new songs for you (laughs). And that was every single night – they OF CONFIDENCE ONSTAGE AT YOUR SLAM
guys. We’ve also never done an Issues headliner don’t do bad shows! But it almost gives you a DUNK APPEARANCES, TOO?
in the UK before, so that’s really exciting, too.” boost, too, to be as insane as them.” “We’re really excited for it, this will be our first
time and we’ve heard nothing but good things.
GIVEN THAT THIS IS YOUR FIRST HEADLINER, We’ll definitely be out there trying to make as
WILL YOU BE BRINGING PYRO AND
CONFETTI CANNONS WITH YOU? “WE WANT TO many new fans as possible.”
set – we’d have cannons onstage and totally SINCE POSTING YOUR HILARIOUS ‘UBER
embrace the theme! We’ve always got crazy ideas
– we’ve done a Pokémon theme, and when we
last toured the States we had a dive bar theme.”
SHIP’ STAGE SET”
MICHAEL BOHN
DRIVER FROM HELL’ VIDEO ON YOUTUBE?
“Yeah, and there have been a lot of people
saying, ‘I wish this was my Uber driver!’ I’m
actually following it up with a series of videos –
YOU’RE BRINGING HACKTIVIST AND the next one is ‘Lyft Driver From Hell’, because
ASTROID BOYS ON THIS TOUR, ARE YOU SPEAKING OF EXCITING THINGS, AFTER I got fired from my Uber job and had to go
LOOKING FORWARD TO WATCHING THEM? TAKING AGES TO MAKE YOUR NEW drive for them instead (laughs)!”
“Oh yeah! Our tour manager is from the UK ALBUM, HEADSPACE, IT’S COMING
and he turned us on to Astroid Boys, and OUT THIS WEEK – PSYCHED FOR PEOPLE DATES: Cardiff Y Plas May 24, London Camden
they’re something different – we don’t want a TO HEAR IT? KOKO 25, O2 Ritz Manchester 26, Glasgow Garage
bill of straight-up heavy bands. And, of course, “Before we released The Realest and Coma, I 27, Southampton Engine Rooms 31. Support:
we’re all big fans of Hacktivist, they’re insane!” was super-nervous. I didn’t know what to think Hacktivist, Astroid Boys.
56 KERRANG!
ISSUE 1620 MAY 21, 2016
58 KERRANG!
ISSUE 1620 MAY 21, 2016
FIDLAR
London Brixton Electric July 12.
FIZZY BLOOD / ALLUSONDRUGS
Kingston Fighting Cocks June 6, Birmingham Sunflower
Lounge 7, Newport Le Pub 8, Cheltenham Frog &
Fiddle 9, Liverpool Magnet 10.
FORT FEST
Line-up: Lonely The Brave, InMe,The DirtyYouth,
The Treatment, Grumble Bee, Bad Touch, Eva Plays
Dead, Cheap Meat and more. Bedfordshire
Thurleigh September 2 – 4.
FORT HOPE
MOTION CITY
Plymouth Underground May 25.
FROM SORROW TO SERENITY
SOUNDTRACK
O2 Ritz Manchester August 17, O2
Bridlington Londesborough May 27, Edinburgh Opium Birmingham Institute2 18, London
28, Derby Hairy Dog 29, Plymouth Underground 31, Camden KOKO 19.
Birmingham Rainbow June 1, Brighton Sticky Mike’s 2,
Bristol Hatchet 3. Support: No Sins Evades His Gaze.
GLASTONBURY
Line-Up: Muse, Bring Me The Horizon, ZZ Top,Wolf
Alice and more. Somerset Worthy Farm June 24 – 26.
JUST ANNOUNCED
HANDS LIKE HOUSES
Manchester Academy III May 25, Leeds Key Club
26, Glasgow Cathouse 27, Newcastle Uni SU 28,
Liverpool Arts Centre Loft 29, Nottingham Bodega 30,
O2 Institute2 Birmingham 31, Southampton Joiners
APOCALYPTICA DANCE GAVIN DANCE Street March 1, London O2 Forum Kentish
June 1, Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach 2, London O2Academy
Islington 3, Bristol Exchange 4. Support: I The Mighty, Manchester Bridgewater Hall February 27, O2 Academy2 Oxford November 3, Brighton Town 2. Support: Sepultura, Soilwork, Aborted.
Dead!,The GospelYouth. Edinburgh Queens Hall 28, London Royal Haunt 4, O2 Institute3 Birmingham 5,
Festival Hall March 1. Southampton Engine Rooms 6, Nottingham NASTY
ICED EARTH Rescue Rooms 8, O2 Academy2 Newcastle 9, Manchester Sound Control October 23,
London Brixton Electric December 6. Support: BASEMENT Manchester Sound Control 10, Glasgow Garage Glasgow G2 24, Birmingham Rainbow 25, London
Ensiferum, Kataklysm, Unearth. Newcastle Riverside July 12, Carlisle Brickyard 11, Leeds Key Club 12, Cardiff Globe 14, Bristol Camden Underworld 26. Support:Aversions
13, Cardiff Globe 14,Wolverhampton Fleece 15, London Camden Underworld 16. Crown, Malevolence,Vitja, Sand.
IGGY POP & JOSH HOMME
Slade Rooms 15, Southend Chinnery’s 18,
London Royal Albert Hall May 18.
Brighton Haunt 19,Tunbridge Wells Forum DEAD KENNEDYS TERRORVISION
I KILLED THE PROM QUEEN 20, Southampton 1865 21, Plymouth Hub 22. O2 Academy Oxford October 12, London O2 Glasgow Garage November 22,Wolverhampton
Glasgow Cathouse August 22, Birmingham Rainbow Support: Dinosaur Pile-Up,The Sun Days. Academy Islington 13 – 14. Wulfrun Hall 23, O2 Ritz Manchester 25,
23, Plymouth Hub 24, London Camden Dingwalls 25, Southampton Engine Rooms 26, London
Southampton Social 26. Support:The Browning, Feed BILLY TALENT FIREBALL – FUELLING THE FIRE TOUR Camden KOKO 27, Norwich Waterfront 28,
Her To The Sharks, Empires Fade,To Kill Achilles. Norwich UEA October 12, O2 Academy Line-up: Less Than Jake,The Skints, Mariachi El
Cardiff TramShed 29.
Bristol 13, Manchester Academy 15, O2 ABC Bronx, Kemuri (3 – 6),The Bennies (8 – 11).
ISLE OF WIGHT FESTIVAL Glasgow 16, O2 Academy Newcastle 17, O2 O2 Academy Bristol October 3, O2 Academy
Line-up: Queen + Adam Lambert, Stereophonics, THRICE
Institute Birmingham 19, O2 Academy Leeds Sheffield 4, O2 Academy Birmingham 5, London
Twin Atlantic, Sixx:A.M. and more. Seaclose Park, London Electric Ballroom August 25.
20, Nottingham Rock City 22, London Camden O2 Academy Brixton 6, O2 Academy Newcastle
Newport June 9 – 12. Roundhouse 23, Cardiff Tramshed 24, O2 8, O2 Academy Glasgow 9, O2 Ritz Manchester
Guildhall Southampton 26. 10, O2 Academy Bournemouth 11. UGLY KID JOE
ISSUES
Glasgow Garage October 1, Newcastle
London Camden KOKO May 25, O2 Manchester
PHOTO: GETTY
THE BOUNCING SOULS KERRANG! AWARDS 2016 Riverside 2, Manchester Academy3 3, O2
Ritz 26, Glasgow Garage 27, Southampton Engine
Rooms 31. Support: Hacktivist,Astroid Boys. Huddersfield Parish August 2, Glasgow Latest addition: A Day To Remember. Academy2 Sheffield 4, Norwich Waterfront 6,
Stereo 3, Bristol Exchange 5, London Camden Nottingham Rescue Rooms 7, Southampton
KATATONIA Underworld 6, Kingston Fighting Cocks 7. KREATOR Engine Rooms 9, Bristol Thekla 10, London O2
London O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire October 21. Support: Pear. Manchester Academy February 28, Dublin Vicar Academy Islington 12.
KERRANG! AWARDS 2016
Line-up:Asking Alexandria. London Troxy June 9.
Basingstoke Sanctuary 26,BournemouthAnvilAugust PIERCE THE VEIL 21,TunbridgeWells Forum 30.
KILLING JOKE 1,Southampton Joiners 2,MargateWest Coast Bar Cardiff Great Hall November 25,O2Academy
London O2 Academy Brixton November 4. 3,London O2Academy2 Islington 4,Northampton SLAM DUNK FESTIVAL
Birmingham 26,London O2Academy Brixton
Black Prince 5,DoncasterVintage Rock Bar 6,Leeds Line-up:Panic!AtThe Disco,Of Mice & Men,
27,Nottingham Rock City 29,O2Academy
LANDSCAPES New Found Glory, Mallory Knox, FourYear Strong,
Key Club 7, Newcastle Central 8, Edinburgh Opium 9, Newcastle 30, Glasgow Barrowland December
Birmingham Rainbow May18, Manchester StarAnd The Starting Line, SetYour Goals, Every Time I
Glasgow Classic Grand 10, Manchester Rebellion 11, 1, Manchester Academy 2, Belfast Mandela Hall 4,
Garter 19, London Boston Music Rooms 20.Support: Die, Issues, Memphis May Fire, Zebrahead, Capdown,
Cheltenham Frog & Fiddle 12, Bristol Hatchet Inn 13, Dublin Academy 5 – 6.
Capsize, Giants. Real Friends, Miss May I,We Came As Romans,
Plymouth Underground 14.
LONELY THE BRAVE PUSCIFER Yellowcard, Mayday Parade, Shikari Sound System,
Exeter Cavern May 18, Cambridge Corn Exchange NORMA JEAN Manchester Bridgewater Hall May 30, London The Story So Far,The King Blues, Cancer Bats,The
20, Norwich Open 23, Reading Sub89 24, Newcastle Plymouth Junction May 31, Bournemouth Anvil Camden Roundhouse 31. Amity Affliction, Northlane, Moose Blood, Norma
Riverside 27. June 1, Chester Live Rooms 2, O2 Academy Leicester Jean, Hacktivist, Hit The Lights, Gnarwolves, Chunk!
3, Brighton Sticky Mikes 5, Liverpool Arts Club 7, RAGING SPEEDHORN No, Captain Chunk!, ROAM,Young Guns, coldrain,As
MEMPHIS MAY FIRE Swansea Scene 8, Belfast Empire 10, DublinVoodoo 11. Colchester Arts Centre July 15, Cardiff Clwb Ifor Bach It Is,Trash Boat,WSTR, King Prawn, [spunge], Heart
London Camden Electric Ballroom May 31.Support: 16, Liverpool Arts Club Loft 17, O2 ABC2 Glasgow Of A Coward,Astroid Boys,The One Hundred,The
We Came As Romans, Miss May I, Cane Hill. NORMANDIE 18, Leeds Key Club 19, O2 Academy3 Birmingham Qemists,The Beat,The JB Conspiracy, Rob Lynch,
London Boston Music Rooms July 18, Cardiff Fuel 20, Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms 21, Oxford Bryce Avary solo,Away Days, Grumble Bee, Greywind,
METAL BREW 19, Manchester Retro Bar 20, Newcastle Head Of Wheatsheaf 22, London Camden Underworld 23. Elder Brother, Seafoal, Bethan Leadley, Lianne Kaye.
Line-up:Venom Inc, Diamond Head, Divine Chaos, Steam 21, Nuneaton Queens Hall 22, Cheltenham Support: Stoneghost, By Any Means. Slam Dunk North – Leeds City Centre May 28, Slam
Incredible Hog,Witchsorrow, Groan, Desert Storm, Frog & Fiddle 23, Southampton Joiners 24. Support:
READING & LEEDS FESTIVAL Dunk Midlands – Birmingham NEC 29, Slam Dunk
Dysteria, Landskap. London Barnet Rugby Football Future Talk.
Club July 30. Line-up: Red Hot Chili Peppers, Biffy Clyro,Fall Out South – Hatfield University Of Hertfordshire 30.
OCEANS ATE ALASKA Boy, twenty one pilots, Crossfaith, Eagles Of Death SLEEP
MINISTRY Birmingham Rainbow June 1, Cardiff Bunker 2, Metal, Lower Than Atlantis,Asking Alexandria,Five
Cardiff TramShed August 16, O2 ABC Glasgow 17, London O2 Forum Kentish Town July 6.
Northampton Black Prince 3, Newcastle Central 4, Finger Death Punch, Sleeping With Sirens, State
O2 Institute Birmingham 18, O2 Ritz Manchester Edinburgh Opium 5, Manchester Rebellion 6,Leeds Champs, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes,Creeper, THE SMITH STREET BAND
19, London O2 Forum Kentish Town. Support: Key Club. Support: Fathoms, Loathe. Mastodon, Good Charlotte, Beach Slang, State London Camden Underworld July 9, Kingston
DevilDriver. Champs, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls,Tonight Fighting Cocks 10, Norwich Owl Sanctuary
THE OFFSPRING / BAD RELIGION Alive,Thrice, Hacktivist, Nothing More, Citizen, 12, Nottingham Bodega 13, Glasgow Audio 14,
MOOSE BLOOD O2 Academy Birmingham June 19, O2 Academy
O2 Institute2 Birmingham October 3, Glasgow Superheaven, FVK, SWMRS,Nothing But Thieves, Manchester Soup Kitchen 15, Dublin Fibber Magees
Glasgow 20, London Eventim Apollo 22. Support: Coheed & Cambria, Skindred, Dillinger Escape Plan, 16, Brighton Prince Albert 17. Support:Apologies, I
Garage 4, O2 Academy2 Sheffield 5, CardiffY Plas 6, Templeton Pek.
London Camden KOKO, Manchester Academy2 8. Kvelertak, Milk Teeth, HECK, Dead!, Big Spring,The Have None,Woahnows.
PANIC! AT THE DISCO King Blues, Modern Baseball, ROAM,Waterparks,
THE STRUTS
MUNICIPAL WASTE O2 Apollo Manchester November 17, Cardiff Brian Fallon and more! Reading Richfield Avenue and
Glasgow Cathouse June 13, Newcastle ThinkTank? Leeds Bramham Park August 26 – 28. London Camden Dingwalls July 5, Bristol Thekla 6,
Motorpoint Arena 18, London Alexandra Palace DerbyVenue 7.
14, Leeds Brudenell Social Club 15, London Camden
19 – 20. REAL FRIENDS
Underworld 16, Manchester Sound Control 17.
TECH-FEST
PETROL GIRLS Kingston Hippodrome May 27.
NAILS Line-up: Protest The Hero, Between The Buried And
Cardiff Gwdihw June 7, Bristol Exchange 8,Worcester ROB ZOMBIE Me and more. Newark Showground July 7 – 11.
Glasgow Cathouse November 4, Bristol Fleece 6,
Fly Bar 9, Plymouth Juntion 10, Brighton Prince Albert London O2 Forum Kentish Town October 17.
London Camden Underworld 7. Support: Full Of Hell.
11, Norwich Owl Sanctuary 12, Glasgow Bar Bloc 14, Y NOT FESTIVAL
NAPOLEON Newcastle Trillians 15, Huddersfield Parish 16,London RORY INDIANA Line-up:The Hives, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Neck Deep,
Liverpool Arts Club Loft June 21,Worcester Marr’s DIY Space 17, Liverpool Social Centre 18, Manchester Leicester Pi Bar June 17, Southampton Alex 19, Creeper, Moose Blood, Lonely T he Brave, Gnarwolves,
Bar 23, Exeter Cavern 24, Brighton Sticky Mikes 25, Sound Control 19. Plymouth Underground 20, Cheltenham Frog & Fiddle HECK, Queen Kwong, Reigning Days and more.
KERRANG! 59
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TUOMAS HOLOPAINEN
fan of his writing, so it was amazing to
have him involved in our last album [2015’s
Endless Forms Most Beautiful].”
NIGHTWISH
THE STREET?
“We get recognised on the street, especially in
Finland.We’re tabloid material if something big
happens, but I think the media has treated us fairly
HE’S MATES WITH RICHARD DAWKINS AND OBSESSED well. I live in a small community of 39,000 people.
WITH SCROOGE McDUCK. THIS SHOULD BE GOOD… I’ve lived here all my life and everyone knows me,
so they don’t pay that much attention.”
Let’s just forget about the Russian superfan who wanted
ON ROCK’N’ROLL… minutes before I realised I had pushed the ‘Demo’ to come and live with you, then, shall we?
WHAT’S THE MOST STUPID button on my keyboard.The sound guy walked
THING YOU’VE EVER DONE onstage, pressed one button and left again, leaving ON THE HYPOTHETICAL…
FOR A DARE? me extremely embarrassed.” IF YOU COULD GO THROUGH A PORTAL
“It wasn’t a dare exactly, but I’ve sung in front of Oddly, we don’t think Napalm Death have ever TO ANY FICTIONAL FANTASY LAND,
30,000 people at Wacken Open Air, and I was had this problem.Ask them for tips, maybe? WHERE WOULD YOU GO?
terrified. Singing is not my cup of tea. I’ve never “Duckburg! What was going through my
taken lessons and I don’t really have the talent for it, LIFESTYLES OF THE head when I decided to write an album
but because of the circumstances, I sang on the first RICH AND FAMOUS… about Scrooge McDuck [2014’s Music
Nightwish album [1997’s Angels Fall First] and I had WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU Inspired By The Life And Times Of
to carry that burden for a few years.” WERE STAR-STRUCK? Scrooge]? Well, when you’re an artist you
“It was during ourWembley Arena show write about things that truly inspire you.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN GENUINE FEAR last year when [writer and evolutionary They get inside your system and you feel
FOR YOUR LIFE? the urge to get them out somehow.
“Once, when we came back from tour, I was driving It’s one of my favourite book series.
my car back from the airport and I fell asleep. I was Whenever I read them, my head was
on a motorway, doing 100 kilometres per hour, so it always filled with music.”
was a very close call.That was the scariest moment
of my life. Luckily I had a friend with me and he was WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVE FOREVER?
able to pull the wheel so that we avoided crashing.” “No, absolutely not. I love life, but the idea of
infinity sounds really tiresome. I wouldn’t mind
WHAT’S BEEN YOUR WEIRDEST-EVER living for maybe 300 years, to see where the world
FAN ENCOUNTER? is going and whether and how mankind survives.
“About seven years ago there was a Russian girl I want to live long and see new innovations, but
who had sold everything she owned and packed certainly not forever.That’s a terrible thought.”
all her belongings into three big suitcases. She just That’s a motivational poster right there: ‘Living Forever –
showed up at my parents’ house, saying,‘I’m going Terrible’. Copyright that now,Tuomas
to come here and be with Tuomas for the rest
of my life.’ That took a little taking care of, but SPIRITUAL HEADMELTER…
she was serious about it. She had actually sold WILL SCIENCE EVER PROVE OR DISPROVE
everything and taken a train from Russia THE EXISTENCE OF GOD?
to my hometown.” “I think the burden of proof is on the people
Quite some dedication, carrying three who believe in God, because extraordinary
suitcases.That extra arm could probably claims require extraordinary evidence. My
come in handy, maybe… answer would be that I don’t know, but
I think it is a scientific question. Science
FAILURES AND and God are not two separate things.”
F’UPS… Deep.We were hoping you’d say more
HAVE YOU EVER WRITTEN A about Scrooge McDuck, to be honest…
SONG YOU’VE DISOWNED
AFTERWARDS?
“No. I can look back on some of SCORE
70%
my songs – especially the lyrics
NOT A GREAT SCORE, BUT AS ONE
A TRAIN FROM
they’re all honest. Some of the
songs on the first album have
lyrics that I wouldn’t write THE LEADERBOARD
now, but that’s who I was 20
years ago.” RUSSIA, SAYING 1
2
AL JOURGENSEN MINISTRY
ALICE COOPER
100%
99%
HAVE YOU EVER HAD A
SPINAL TAP MOMENT THEY WERE 3
4
BEN BRUCE ASKING ALEXANDRIA
GENE SIMMONS KISS
98%
93%
ONSTAGE?
“So many, but one of the COMING TO LIVE 5
6
CHAD NICEFIELD WILSON
MORTIIS
92%
90%
WITH ME”
most embarrassing was 7 BERT McCRACKEN THE USED 86%
in Marseille in 2001, when 8 BRENDON URIE PANIC! AT THE DISCO 85%
suddenly this massive disco
9 BRIAN MOLKO PLACEBO 84%
beat started to play during a TUOMAS HOLOPAINEN 10 DERYCK WHIBLEY SUM 41 83%
song.We had to
11 JOHAN HEGG AMON AMARTH 76%
WORDS: PAUL TRAVERS
stop playing
and try to find
12 DENIS STOFF ASKING ALEXANDRIA 73%
the source of
13 TUOMAS HOLOPAINEN NIGHTWISH 70%
this really annoying
techno sound. It took five 14 CHRIS ROBERTSON BLACK STONE CHERRY 52%
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