Phil Pountney, Author at Backseat Mafia

Live Review: Alter Bridge, Daughtry, Sevendust 26.02.2026

A stacked triple bill rolled into AO Arena in Manchester, delivering a full-scale celebration of modern hard rock that balanced melody, muscle and musicianship in equal measure. With three established…

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bristol extreme fest announces a huge batch of bands for its 2026 edition.

Rotting Christ will headline the festival and will be shredding their way back to Bristol, UK for the first time in 22 years. Greek Black Metal legends Rotting Christ will…

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the mighty fortress festival unleashes tynebound, its first edition of the new two day black metal fest in newcastle

Fortress Presents: Tynebound – Moonlight Sorcery announced as first headliner of new Newcastle event New two-day black metal fest brought to you by Fortress Festival and Reaper Agency UK First…

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bloodstocks winter gathering returns for a massive 2026 edition

BLOODSTOCK’S WINTER GATHERING RETURNS FOR 2026! After an unforgettable debut last year, BLOODSTOCK’S WINTER GATHERING storms back this winter, bringing the spirit of the UK’s premier metal festival indoors once…

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live review: lorna shore, whitechapel, shadow of intent, humanity’s last breath. victoria warehouse, manchester 10/02/2026

Manchester’s O2 Victoria Warehouse has always felt like a venue built for extremes. Its vast industrial frame, all exposed beams, concrete, and shadow, created a cavernous atmosphere that seemed to…

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live review: motionless in white, dayseeker and make them suffer, nottingham motorpoint arena 06/02/2026

On a night where the weather seemed to mirror the intensity of the bands on stage, the Nottingham Motorpoint Arena was rocked by an unforgettable, full-throttle night of Metalcore mayhem…

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incineration festival add some more stellar names to the line up including a huge sub headliner

Swedish Death Metal legends GRAVE will sub headline the Roundhouse at Incineration Festival 2026, bringing an ‘Old School Corpse & Grave’ set to London, England. They also welcome an onslaught…

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album review: megadeth, megadeth

Megadeth’s latest album arrives carrying a sense of gravity that’s impossible to ignore. Decades into a career defined by volatility, reinvention, and sheer stubborn survival, the band sounds acutely aware…

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amaranthe, epica, charlotte wessels. o2 apollo, manchester. 23/01/2026

The O2 Apollo in Manchester has long been a proving ground for metal bands, a venue whose intimate yet expansive layout allows both technical virtuosity and emotional resonance to shine.…

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live review: beyond the black, setyøursails & seraina tellis. o2 ritz, manchester 15/01/2026

The O2 Ritz has long been one of Manchester’s most dependable venues for heavy music, and tonight it once again proved why it holds such a special place in the…

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