Music

Words: Jay Williams (@jaywilliamspr) If proof were needed that 'desert rock' - as the genre has been lazily entitled - is a state of mind rather than a state of, say, Southern California, then it comes in the opening minute of the third track of Psychlona's debut album Mojo Rising; "Down in the vall-EH," announces singer Phil Hey, proudly stamping Bradford well and truly onto the map. There's nothing remotely sun-kissed about this album.  It's a gas-guzzling dumper truck bearing...

Event - Damnation Festival 2018Location - University of LeedsDate - 3.11.18Photos - Graham Berry  For one weekend a year the University of Leeds campus becomes one of the heaviest places in the world.  Damnation Festival returned for its crushing 13th edition in 2018, bringing some of the world's most renowned acts in heavy music together for a day of tinnitus-inducing, brain-bludgeoning doom, death and grind. Check out the full gallery from Damnation 2018 below, featuring TLE favourites MØL, Ihsahn, Entombed A.D.,...

Nottingham’s Rock City venue had to be evacuated during a at around 9.30pm on November 16 when a suspected pepper spray was released into the crowd during American rap artist Lil Pump's set

The thirteenth iteration of Damnation Festival rolled into Leeds this past weekend, bringing together some of the finest names in extreme and experimental music from all over the world.  The annual event took over the entirety of Leeds University Student’s Union, spreading its tendrils across four stages and allowing almost thirty bands to bludgeon the sold out crowd with their various sonic assaults. UK grindcore pioneers Napalm Death headlined the main stage, leaving absolutely no-one in the room questioning if...

Last night Stormzy was reported to have said the scholarship he launched to help black British students attending Cambridge University was originally proposed for Oxford University, only for the idea to be rejected. Oxford University have denied the claims, a spokesperson said they "admire Stormzy's commitment" to higher education however they had "not received or turned down any offer." The Grime MC was appearing at the Barbican Centre in London to launch his new publishing imprint #MerkyBooks, in partnership with Penguin. Journalist Dan Hancox,...

The former JLS singer is accused of raping a 20-year-old fan after inviting her back to his hotel room

Brighton upstarts Beach Riot have announced their debut EP release for January 25th via Vallance Records. Fronted by a fine slice of catchy, fuzzy pop in new single, Good To Know (That I’m Still on Your Mind), the 4-track EP was recorded by Blood Red Shoes’ Steven Ansell. Their new single, Good To Know (That I’m Still on Your Mind) “is the sound of broken relationships that linger in the dust once the decision to break up becomes reality” explains O’Connor. “It’s the emptiness of...

It has been three years since Roddy Frame last graced a London stage, but despite living in musical wilderness in the charts and on the stage he still has a devoted fan-base with the show selling out within hours of it going on sale. Cadagon Hall, a beautiful venue in the heart of Sloane Square, it is perfectly suited to Roddy’s stripped back acoustic show. Tonight's show promises highlights from both Aztec Camera and Roddy’s solo career. The Scottish singer-songwriter opens the...

Stoke four-piece All The Best Tapes have released an early, TLE-exclusive stream of their new album - Apex Emotion. The follow up to 2014's eponymous debut will see official release on Friday, so that's a bonus 48 hours to enjoy this latest slab of self-proclaimed 'Thrash Jazz'. Apex Emotion is a dense listen, lead by soaring guitars in the Chon mode, and underpinned by an urgent aggression the band have picked up in their three years away. Listen to the...