Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses Northern Ireland Heat Three – Belfast, Voodoo 12/03/2015

So here we are at the third heat of the Bloodstock Metal 2 the Masses Northern Ireland battle royale. A different venue and a different reviewer. As the crowd who have braved the freezing wet weather arrive the news breaks that, unfortunately, Baleful Creed have had to pull out last minute due to theirSo here we are at the third heat of the Bloodstock Metal 2 the Masses Northern Ireland battle royale. A different venue and a different reviewer. As the crowd who have braved the freezing wet weather arrive the news breaks that, unfortunately, Baleful Creed have had to pull out last minute due to their singer and guitarist Fin Finlay having been stuck down by a bad bug. And so there were three… but, the show must go on and, as normal, the running order was decided by names pulled out of a hat. Overoth take to the stage first. As the first chord of ‘The Forgotten Tome’ blasts through the speakers, a few members of the audience jump (one of them my companion for this evening lol) at the ferocity of this death metal quartet. The aggression and passion of frontman Andy is evident from the very start of their set. There is little crowd interaction from them apart from welcoming everyone and introducing their songs, but the moodiness and style of this band doesn’t leave much room for this. They have a great balance of melody and death that blinds seamlessly in all their songs, and during their […]

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Bloodstock Metal 2 The Masses Northern Ireland Heat Three – Band Interviews

PlanetMosh continues its support for the Northern Ireland leg of the annual Metal 2 The Masses competition – which gives the winners a slot on the New Blood stage at Bloodstock – by interviewing the participants in heat number three, which takes place at Belfast’s Voodoo on Thursday (March 12). Once again, in the interests

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Baleful Creed + Donum Dei + St Hellfire + Ozymandias – Belfast, Voodoo 17/01/2015

January – and especially the middle of the month – is a notoriously difficult time of the year, with most people still recovering from the needless over-expense of Christmas and counting the minutes until their next pay day… so, it is extremely rewarding for those promoters who dare to venture into the unknown wasteland of

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Baleful Creed – Belfast, Voodoo 13/06/2014

For those of a superstitious mien, Friday the 13th is not exactly a lucky talisman – and so it proves, at least partially, for the organizers of this charity fundraiser gig (in aid of the hugely-underfunded Belfast Rape Crisis Centre) as, despite huge advance marketing and PR campaigns, other mitigating factors – such as itFor those of a superstitious mien, Friday the 13th is not exactly a lucky talisman – and so it proves, at least partially, for the organizers of this charity fundraiser gig (in aid of the hugely-underfunded Belfast Rape Crisis Centre) as, despite huge advance marketing and PR campaigns, other mitigating factors – such as it being the hottest night of the year to date and the World Cup on the telly – mean that there is a disappointingly meagre turnout. This is not say it was a bad crowd: no, there were a respectable 60 or so paying punters present – but, it could have been better… Openers Sentinel are very much the ‘new kids on the block’, to coin a phrase: drummer Jordie Kelly is only 14-years old, and the rest of the band – guitarist Joe Connolly, bassist Ryan Maguire and vocalist Rebecca Feeney – don’t look much older, to be honest. And it is only the combo’s third ever gig. Well, to be brutally honest, on the evidence of tonight’s showing, they have a lot of work to do. Musically, each of them is impressive in their own right – Kelly belies his diminutive stature with a […]

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Baleful Creed – ‘Baleful Creed’

One of the hardest working bands on the Northern Ireland scene, this debut full-length album from Baleful Creed is actually an amalgamation of the quartet’s three previous EPs bound together in one package.

BC’s stoner-edged doom sound is very much rooted in the foundation of Black Sabbath – something for which the band make no apologyOne of the hardest working bands on the Northern Ireland scene, this debut full-length album from Baleful Creed is actually an amalgamation of the quartet’s three previous EPs bound together in one package. BC’s stoner-edged doom sound is very much rooted in the foundation of Black Sabbath – something for which the band make no apology – but there is a whole lot more to it than just settling for regurgitating some legendary riffs, as the band take this influence as a reference point from which to explore a rich and varied range of soundscapes, which also tread the paths of classic metal, death, psychedelia and even grunge in places. The main strength of the album – in addition to the huge, bottom-ended riffs which are essential to produce a sound as deep and dense as this – is its sense of the importance of melody and its subsequent deployment, to stunning effect. Take the dual vocal on ‘Autumn Leaves’ (one of many standout tracks) for example: Fin Finlay’s eases back on the vitriolic delivery which epitomizes the likes of the eponymous opening title track and the venomously acerbic ‘Illuminati’ to soften his tone – something he does with ease […]

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Blazefest IV – Photo Gallery – Belfast – 08/03/2014

A collection of photographs from Blazefest IV, featuring Stormzone, Worldsend, Sandstone, Baleful Creed, Altus & Rebels By Nature, down in The Empire Hall, Belfast. Photographs by Marc Leach Photography.

A collection of photographs from Blazefest IV, featuring Stormzone, Worldsend, Sandstone, Baleful Creed, Altus & Rebels By Nature, down in The Empire Hall, Belfast. Photographs by Marc Leach Photography. Rebels By Nature by Marc Leach Photography Rebels By Nature by Marc Leach Photography Rebels By Nature by Marc Leach Photography Rebels By Nature by Marc […]

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Blazefest IV – Empire Music Hall, Belfast – 8/3/2014

The rock and metal community, perhaps more than any other in the field of music, always has been known for its generosity of spirit and support for worthy causes. For the community in Northern Ireland, few are more special or better supported than Blaze’s Appeal, which raises funds for the Royal Belfast Hospital For SickThe rock and metal community, perhaps more than any other in the field of music, always has been known for its generosity of spirit and support for worthy causes. For the community in Northern Ireland, few are more special or better supported than Blaze’s Appeal, which raises funds for the Royal Belfast Hospital For Sick Childre n, the highlight of which is the annual Blazefest, now in its fourth cycle. Stormzone by Marc Leach Photography The inspiration behind the event is young Blaze Shields-Pettitt, an otherwise lively little boy who suffers from Severe Bilateral Hydronephrosis, a condition whereby both of his kidneys are stretched and swollen, and which affects one in 600 people. In Blaze’s case, it was diagnosed during ante-natal scans: his condition is complicated by the fact that he also suffers from Vesicoureteral Reflex (VUR), a condition which reverses the flow of urine between the bladder and kidneys. After numerous operations – all of which Blaze has faced with a bravery and humour envied by many adults – his parents, Darren and Dawn, came up with the idea of combining their lifelong passion for heavy metal with their desire to show their thanks to the nursing teams at the […]

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Highway To Hell – Limelight 2, Belfast – 1 February 2014

.@Planetmosh reviews @Screagle83, @MaverickBelfast and @balefulcreed at @LimelightNI.

You know you’ve had a good day/night (delete as applicable) when you wake up the next morning with a hangover to match the hole in your wallet – and you know the rock year has officially started when the return of The Distortion Project’s Saturday afternoon RocKD sessions.@Planetmosh reviews @Screagle83, @MaverickBelfast and @balefulcreed at @LimelightNI. You know you’ve had a good day/night (delete as applicable) when you wake up the next morning with a hangover to match the hole in your wallet – and you know the rock year has officially started when the return of The Distortion Project’s Saturday afternoon RocKD sessions is responsible for the damage to both your physical and financial wellbeing. This evening was supposed to be a re-enactment of the onslaught which four of Northern Ireland’s finest had delivered in last November’s ‘Highway To Hell’ battle of the bands thingy over the shuck in Glasgie, but Sinocence had to pull out that morning due to drummer Dav y Cassa severely damaging tendons in his hand: but, such setbacks are always overcome by those determined to bring the best possible rock ‘n’ roll shows to the masses, as the three remaining bands effortlessly extended their scheduled sets to fill the gaping gap (sic). Openers Baleful Creed kick off proceedings with an intent which is almost criminal in its intensity, with their normally dark and dirty sound even grittier than normal, especially in relation to Fin’s vocals and their bottom-ended guitar sound. ‘Double F.S.’ adds […]

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The Highway To Hell Reunion – Photo Gallery – Belfast – 01/02/2014

A collection of photographs from the Highway To Hell Reunion, featuring Baleful Creed, Maverick & Screaming Eagles, down in The Limelight 2, Belfast. Photographs by Marc Leach Photography.

A collection of photographs from the Highway To Hell Reunion, featuring Baleful Creed, Maverick & Screaming Eagles, down in The Limelight 2, Belfast. Photographs by Marc Leach Photography. Baleful Creed by Marc Leach Photography Baleful Creed by Marc Leach Photography Baleful Creed by Marc Leach Photography Baleful Creed by Marc Leach Photography Baleful Creed by Marc Leach Photography Baleful Creed by Marc Leach Photography Baleful Creed by Marc Leach Photography Baleful Creed by Marc Leach Photography Maverick by Marc Leach Photography Maverick by Marc Leach Photography Maverick by Marc Leach Photography Maverick by Marc Leach Photography Maverick by Marc Leach Photography Maverick by Marc Leach Photography Maverick by Marc Leach Photography Maverick by Marc Leach Photography T he Screaming Eagles by Marc Leach Photography The Screaming Eagles by Marc Leach Photography The Screaming Eagles by Marc Leach Photography The Screaming Eagles by Marc Leach Photography The Screaming Eagles by Marc Leach Photography The Screaming Eagles by Marc Leach Photography The Screaming Eagles by Marc Leach Photography The Screaming Eagles by Marc Leach Photography

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NI bands part ways with guitarists

Two of Northern Ireland’s top hard rock acts have announced in the past 24 hours that they have parted ways with guitar players.

Earlier today, Trucker Diablo announced that founder member Simon Haddock (pictured right) has decided to leave the band for family reasons.

In a statement on the band’s website, fellow guitarist/lead vocalist Tom Harte, said:

“FirstTwo of Northern Ireland’s top hard rock acts have announced in the past 24 hours that they have parted ways with guitar players. Earlier today, Trucker Diablo announced that founder member Simon Haddock (pictured right) has decided to leave the band for family reasons. In a statement on the band’s website, fellow guitarist/lead vocalist Tom Harte, said: “First and foremost we want to thank our families for the amazing support. It takes a lot of sacrifice to be in a band, personally and family based. We love you… “To be honest I never thought I would be sitting down to write this message, but here we are and I have to write it. It is with great regret and sadness that Simon has decided to leave Trucker Diablo. This was by no means an easy decision and one that has been weighing on his mind for quite a bit of time. Simon has autistic twins and the care they need outweighs the responsibilities of being in the band. It’s always been very toug h for Simon to leave his family for his Trucker family, as Simon’s physical presence is essential for the care and the growth of his children. “The support […]

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