The Modern Alternative was privileged to get a good clear view of the Bloodstock début of The King Is Blind this past weekend. A video of the set opener, “Mors Somnis” can be seen further down the page. This was shot spontaneously with a regular camera and, albeit a little shaky, the raw footage gives an insight into the performance, without any visual or audio retouching. Continue reading
Author Archives: Alex
DOOM OVER EDINBURGH FESTIVAL / Bannerman’s, Edinburgh, Scotland / March 2015
Festival: Doom Over Edinburgh Festival.
Date: Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th of March 2015.
Location: Bannerman’s Bar, 212 Cowgate, Edinburgh, Scotland.
Post Code: EH1 1NQ.
Official Travel: N/A.
Ticket Cost: £16 for weekend ticket / £8 Saturday only / £10 Sunday only.
Hot off the press! Continue reading
BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR / Catton Hall, England / August 2014
Festival: Bloodstock Open Air Metal Festival.
Date: Thursday until Sunday, 7th to 10th of August 2014.
Location: Catton Park, Walton-On-Trent, Derbyshire, England.
Post Code: DE12 8LN.
Official Travel: Big Green Coach.
Ticket Cost: £130.00 (Adult) & £39.00 (Child 4yo – 11yo) for Standard Camping.
The limited early bird price of £115.00 for Adults and £35.00 for Children are no longer available, they are on sale each year until the middle of December.
The TMA Collective will keep you up to date with all the announcements, deals and news for one of our favourite Festivals. Continue reading
TALANAS – “Asylum”
Even with a genre as narrow as Progressive Death Metal, bands taking a step back and releasing an altogether more sedate collection of tracks is by no means unique. For example Opeth very successfully chanced their arm with “Damnation” and more recently Spires laid their souls bare with the incredible “Lucid Abstractions” EP, but this takes a different path still. Stripping back the electrics, distortion, extremity of vocal and drum, the aforementioned examples released works of beauty. Talanas did not… Continue reading
RANNOCH – “Between Two Worlds”
It was clear from the outset that Rannoch were worthy of our collective attention in 2008 when they released their début EP, “Talamh Màthair”. The release displayed ability, confidence and promise in abundance, shining their light forwards and hinting at what may come from putting their own stamp of Extreme Progressive Metal.
Some time passed with little heard from the band, save for electric and acoustic appearances at Bloodstock Open Air in 2011 which tempted more people in to their charms. Now some five years after the début EP, courtesy of London’s Eulogy Media, we finally have the release of the first full length album and it they build on the solid foundations of the earlier work to achieve a powerful and diverse release. Continue reading
NEW MODEL ARMY & Monster Jaw – Live @ The Garage, Aberdeen (12/11/2013)
The first and Northernmost night of the UK Tour, Bradford’s New Model Army thrill Aberdeen in support of their latest highly acclaimed album, “Between Dog And Wolf”.
With a formidable live reputation they always have their own achievements to be measured against, and tonight as ever, the legendary Rock Band do so with ease and deliver another incendiary show that puts the majority of bands to shame. Continue reading
AMIENSUS & OAK PANTHEON – “Gathering” (Split)
If I could have picked two US Metal bands to collaborate for a limited split EP, then Tridroid Records had been reading my mind and have released my dream EP this year, giving the label a further tentative step into the world of CDs. In keeping with their model, this EP is available for free download to anyone that wants it, but I think it is safe to say that the CD will sell out rapidly. Continue reading
THE PROJECT HATE MCMXCIX – “The Cadaverous Retaliation Agenda” – Very Limited Digipack Pre-Order Deadline
Big News in from The Project Hate MCMXCIX, big favourites of TMA…
“The horns are raised in honor of The Birth Of “The Cadaverous Retaliation Agenda” In Digipak Form!
You asked for “TCRA” in a physical Digipak version and now you’ll get it. Continue reading
PENTAGRAM (CHILE) – “The Malefice”
Pentagram (Chile) may be a name unfamiliar to many still, but they have been causing a stir for those with an ear to the ground since 1987.
Massively influential on so many of the major players of Death Metal and Black Metal today, they finally release their debut full length on September 6th.
So why is this such an important release and why have most people never had the privilege before? Why are bands like Napalm Death, At The Gates, Dark Throne, Avulsed, Destruction, Emtombed and Dismember huge fans… some of whom are guesting on this debut album…? Continue reading
WINTERFYLLETH, EASTERN FRONT & JØTNARR – Live @ Colchester Arts Centre (13/07/2013)
Having favourite bands and venues can be a frustration when they rarely combine; the preferred bands are frequently placed in less than ideal venues. However, sometimes the stars align and the experience is enhanced by the act and the location making the performance more than the sum of its parts. Unfortunately, when such a pairing is such a long way away from home, it is a battle for common sense and compulsion to decide… so a flight was booked to take me back to one of my old haunts in England. Compulsion is so much more rewarding! Continue reading