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The Year In Review 2022

Full Pelt Music looks back on 2022 for our Year In Review

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It’s been another big revival year for the music industry following the pandemic years, and it’s been another year of growth for us at Full Pelt Music! We’ve reviewed 67 albums, 7 EP’s, 6 festivals and 38 gigs in 2022 as some level of normality or even stability has returned to our industry.

That said, there are still many issues facing the industry with livelihoods, venues and organisations at risk for a plethora of reasons. Whilst government action is required in many places, what we as fans can do is support the industry with our money. Times are tough for us all, but purchasing an album, buying a t-shirt, nabbing a ticket and grabbing a drink whilst at a gig does so much to support the industry that we love.

Our two great Podcasts have continued to grow and highlights this year came from guests such as Blood Red Shoes, The Treatment, Skinny Lister, Daytime TV, Pet Needs, The Ninth Wave, Sunflower Bean, James and the Cold Gun, Guise, October Drift, BERRIES, Asylums, As Sirens Fall and Jamie Lenman! We’ve already got some fantastic guests lined up for 2023, so ensure you subscribe and follow us across Social Media!

In our now annual end of year awards we’ll be giving out seven hotly contested awards looking at both the recorded and live sides of the industry. Adding to our well established Album of the Year award this year will be the new EP of the Year award. We’ll also once again be revealing our Single of the Year. All awards have seen fierce competition, as once again it’s been a high quality year for new releases.

On the live side of things, we’ll announce both our Gig and Festival of the Year awards. This year of course provided our first full calendar of music since 2019! We were able to witness many great performances this year and we can’t wait to share with you are favourites.

Lastly we’ll look at the artists who’ve had special years as we award our Artist and ‘Discover’ New Artist of the Year awards. So without further ado, let’s work through those award catagories!

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

It has been a truly magnificent year for album releases and getting a spot anywhere in our Top 50 was hard enough but in particular the Top 10 was incredibly tightly fought. You can read the full list here.

‘IMPERA’ from Ghost was able to take the crown this year but any of the top 10 could’ve taken that spot. ‘Reeling’ from The Mysterines in particular would likely have won in any other year, but the majesty and magnificence of ‘IMPERA’ proved unbeatable.

Winner:

‘Impera’ by Ghost

The contenders:

‘Reeling’ by The Mysterines, ‘FTHC’ by Frank Turner, ‘Skinty Fia’ by Fontaines D.C. & ‘The Price of Life’ by Bob Vylan

Previous Winners:

2021 – ‘Blue Weekend’ by Wolf Alice
2020 – ‘Ultra Mono’ by IDLES

EP OF THE YEAR

For the first time this year, we are separating EP’s out of our main award and giving them their own pedestal. That alone is the truest compliment to the quality of EP’s on offer this year.

Again, all EP’s in our top 5 are worthy of the number one spot, but it’s ‘coming of (r)age’ from As Sirens Fall that pips it. Catchy as hell single, ‘heaven (spat us back out)’, helps elevate the release to be crowed our first ever EP of the Year.

Winner:

‘coming of (r)age’ by As Sirens Fall

The contenders:

‘False Start’ by James and the Cold Gun, ‘SCP’ by Oakman, ‘Tyrants’ by IOTA and ‘BLACKGOLD’ by BLACKGOLD

SINGLE OF THE YEAR

We look now at our Single or Song of the Year. In considering the award this year we’ve considered the ear worms that have stayed with us after live performances. We’ve also pondered which songs instantly struck a chord and created a buzz of excitement for the albums and live shows that would follow.

Songs which fell into both of these considerations competed for the award and it was again a tight decision, but ultimately for us this year ‘Dangerous’ from The Mysterines has not just ticked both boxes but also remained on heavy rotation throughout the year despite being an early arrival in 2022. That’s why that track is our 2022 Single of the Year!

Check out the winning single below:

The Mysterines – ‘Dangerous’
Winner:

‘Dangerous’ by The Mysterines

The contenders:

‘Talk Hard’ by Jamie Lenman, ‘Compliance’ by Muse, ‘Wicked Ways’ by Halestorm, ‘Spillways’ by Ghost

Previous Winners:

2021 – ‘Test of our Resolve’ from Press To MECO
2020 – ‘Obey’ by Bring Me The Horizon feat. Yungblud

FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR

2022 was the first full festival season since 2019 and what a return it was. All eyes were on Glastonbury once again, British Summer Time curated a stunning line-up, Download Festival breathed fire and 2000trees was able to remind everyone what’s so great about smaller festivals.

Our winner this year though is Reading & Leeds who went big, sold out and delivered an action packed weekend even with the huge loss of Rage Against The Machine amongst others. Always a perennial contender for this award, 2022 felt like the year the event reclaimed its identity.

Read our review of Reading Festival Saturday

Winner:

Reading & Leeds

The contenders:

Glastonbury Festival, British Summer Time, Download Festival, 2000trees Festival

Previous Winners:

2021 – Download Pilot Festival
2020 – Wild Fields Festival

GIG OF THE YEAR

We’ve reviewed many gigs this year but in reality there could only ever be one winner. Rammstein’s tour is less of a concert and more of an experience; one that everyone, fan of the band or not, should experience at least once.

Beyond that there was still some incredible, top tier gigs in 2022 and our contenders are all worthy of glory, but Rammstein are currently on a whole different level.

Read our review of Rammstein live in Coventry

Winner:

Rammstein @ Coventry Arena

The contenders:

Royal Blood @ O2 Arena, London, Ghost @ Resorts World Arena, Birmingham, Muse @ Eventim Apollo Hammersmith, London, The Killers @ Carrow Road, Norwich, The Hella Mega Tour @ London Stadium, London, Creeper @ Roundhouse, London, Idlewild @ O2 Kentish Town Forum, London

Previous Winners:

2021 – Bring Me The Horizon @ O2 Arena, London
2020 – Frank Turner @ Arboretum, Nottingham

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Artist of the Year now and for this award we look for somebody who has had a huge, perhaps even career-defining year. Previous winners Frank Turner and Biffy Clyro have done so by delivering incredible feats, far above the norm.

This year was a big year for many acts, but we’ve gone for Bring Me The Horizon as a band that have had a career-defining twelve months. Long tipped as festival headliners at a major event, many felt that the time would never come for one of the best live bands on the planet. Big releases, sold-out tours, no matter what the group did they never seemed to be given that torch, that is until this year!

Watching Bring Me The Horizon step up and headline at Reading & Leeds this summer felt like a real moment, not just for the band but for the whole scene. For any metal band, let alone one once considered so unfashionable to headline the biggest festivals in the UK is massive.

Already announced to finally headline Download Festival in 2023, 2022 will forever be linked for Bring Me The Horizon to taking that final career-defining set. Throw in their genre-defying collaboration with Ed Sheeran, 2022’s Artist of the Year had to be Bring Me The Horizon.

Winner:

Bring Me The Horizon

The contenders:

Ghost, Rammstein, Biffy Clyro, Muse

Previous Winners:

2021 – Biffy Clyro
2020 – Frank Turner

‘DISCOVER’ NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

As a publication we always want to put new music at the heart of what we do, and that’s why our final award is perhaps our most important! Our ‘Discover’ New Artist of the Year is awarded to the act we’ve chosen to highlight on our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist and Podcast who we feel has made the biggest impact this year.

At the beginning of 2022 we put the spotlight on new Colchester act PET NEEDS as they continued to promote their debut album, ‘Fractured Party Music’. From that point on the band never looked back with a world tour, a second album (‘Primtime Entertainment’) and a sold out hometown show all under their belts.

They even found the time to become the first (and only at the time of writing) band to progress from our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast and appear on The Full Pelt Music Podcast! Yes, fighting off some stiff competition for the ‘Discover’ New Artist of the Year award in 2022 is PET NEEDS!

Winners:

PET NEEDS

The Contenders:

BERRIES, As Sirens Fall, Oakman, James and the Cold Gun, Daytime TV, MOSKITO

Previous Winners:

2020 – Miss Vincent

So, that’s it! Another year in the record books, it’s been another difficult year and it has again been particularly tough on the music industry. That said, we’ve had a full year of live music for the first time since 2019 and the creative juices remain flowing with some absolutely stunning new releases over the past twelve months.

Below you can enjoy some of our favourite gig photos of the year courtesy of our wonderful photographer Denis!

All 📸 (c) Denis Gorbatov / Full Pelt Music

We hope you’ve enjoyed our The Year in Review 2022 and we wish you a very Happy New Year. Here’s hoping 2023 is a good one!

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Magazine

News Report

Every week we roundup the best music news from the past week!

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News Report

Download Festival reveals 20th Anniversary line-up

Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!

We start this week with festival announcements and where else could we start other than the monster 20th Anniversary line-up announcement from Download Festival!

Extended to four days this year the event will feature two unique headline sets from Metallica, the return of Donington icons Slipknot and a well deserved top billing for Bring Me The Horizon.

Other big slots are taken by the likes of Alexisonfire, Architects, The Distillers, Disturbed, Evanescence, Ghost, I Prevail, Parkway Drive, Pendulum, Placebo, Simple Plan, Ville Valo and Within Temptation.

It doesn’t stop there and also playing will be the likes of The Blackout, Fever 333, Kid Kapichi, Nova Twins, Seether and Witch Fever.

Tickets are selling fast and are available here.

Read our review of Download Festival 2022

Airbourne to headline Steelhouse Festival

Welsh rock fans are in for a treat when Airbourne bring the party on Saturday night at next years Steelhouse Festival!

The Aussies will headline the event which also features The Answer, Blues Pills, Kris Barras Band, Florence Black, The Cruel Knives, Austin Gold and more, with plenty more to be announced.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of Airbourne live in Norwich

Arctangent reveals initial wave of acts

Bristol’s Arctangent has revealed a wave of acts set for next August’s event including deafheaven playing ‘Sunbather’ in full.

They are joined by the likes of Pigs x7, And So I Watch You From Afar, Loathe, Brutus, Scalping, Svalbard, Conjurer and many more.

Tickets are here.

Listen to our ‘Hard & Heavy’ Spotify Playlist

South Facing bill revealed for 2023

Crystal Palace Bowl in London will once again host South Facing festival next summer and this week Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and more were amongst the first acts revealed.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of The Snuts live in Norwich

News Report

Peter Gabriel announces first EU tour in nearly a decade!

We stay with the live side of things next as our News Report moves onto the best tour announcements from the past week!

Peter Gabriel has revealed his first European tour in nearly a decade including UK dates in Birmingham, London, Glasgow and Manchester.

Gabriel said of the tour: “It’s been a while and I am now surrounded by a whole lot of new songs and am excited to be taking them out on the road for a spin. Look forward to seeing you out there.”

Tickets are here.

Read our review of ‘The Car’ from Arctic Monkeys

Peter Hook & The Light reveal additional UK dates

Peter Hook & The Light will be bringing his ‘Joy Division: A Celebration’ tour back to the UK again next April.

Hook will be performing the albums ‘Unknown Pleasures’ and ‘Closer’ plus an opening set of New Order material.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of ‘Songs From Planet Earth’ from Deux Furieuses

Primal Scream & Happy Mondays to team up in Margate

We continue our News Report with news that Saturday 5th August will see Dreamland in Margate taken over be a co-headline show from Primal Scream and Happy Mondays.

Tickets are here.

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James announce 40th Anniversary Tour

In celebration of their 40th Anniversary, James have announced a new UK ‘James Lasted’ Tour complete with 22-piece orchestra and gospel choir!

Tim Booth says “There are a number of great bands who have been around for 40. But to get here and to be having the best time of our lives. To be part of a supportive loving family that still has something to say and new ways to say it. To be turned on by every gig and song. To fall in love over and over again, Groundhog Day, with our bandmates and audience. Damn. That’s time well spent.

We should have recorded the orchestra tour first time round, as many of you have reminded us. Well, we’ve done it now. And here comes the tour. The Orchestra and Gospel singers expand our palette, heighten the tenderness, heighten the celebration and, despite their numbers, somehow leave us feeling more naked and raw. It will be different, probably each night, because we are James and Joe knows how to dance with us. And because you are different, each night. Please leave your phones behind, come and play in the moment.

Jim Glennie says “Has it really been 40 years? In some ways it feels like yesterday and in others, many lifetimes. I’ve lived a blessed existence, being in a band I’m supremely proud of with musicians that would grace any stage. A family of brothers and sisters, willing to support each other musically and emotionally. We are bloody minded and independent to the core. Uniquely challenging, always pushing ourselves into the new and taking risks collectively and individually, looking for transcendence. With love, trust, and acceptance we grow. Somewhere in a parallel universe, James are the biggest band on the planet. Here’s to another 40 years.

Tickets and album pre-orders are here.

Read our review of ‘Signs of Life’ from Asylums

Razorlight announce ‘best of’ Tour

News Report

Our News Report continues with the news that Razorlight will hitting the road in April next year for a special ‘best of’ tour.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of the self-titled album from The Hunna

Daughtry reveal UK Tour

Daughtry will be returning to the UK in March for a run of dates that will conclude at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of Sum 41 live in London

British Lion set up new UK run

Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris will once again be taking British Lion on the road in the UK next January. Joining them for these shows will be Coney Hatch and Airforce.

Steve Harris comments, “We’re excited to be touring the UK again especially as we’ll be visiting many places we’ve not had a chance to play before. It’s fantastic that we’ve got long-time friends Coney Hatch coming over from Canada to join us. We had great fun when they were our special guests on the British Lion Canadian shows in 2018. And we’re happy to have our old mates Airforce back out on the road with us too. Everyone is really looking forward to this tour and we can’t wait to see everyone.”

Tickets are here.

Read our review of Iron Maiden at Download Festival

Dirty Honey announce ‘California Dreamin’ Tour

Rockers Dirty Honey have announced a UK/EU Tour taking place early next year.

Prior to the tour, in January 2023, the band are set to release a brand new, re-recorded version of album track ‘Heartbreaker’.

“Some songs really come to life after they’ve been performed a bunch of times. You can really see an audience react to a line being sung a certain way or a riff grooving that you didn’t think of while recording in the studio. Over time we realized the song took on a new life on the road in both North America and Europe and we wanted to capture that energy….” – Marc Labelle, vocalist of Dirty Honey, talking about Heartbreaker 2.0

Tickets are here.

Read our review of Dirty Honey supporting Rival Sons

Dream State reveal UK tour dates

A refreshed Dream State have revealed their first UK Tour with their new look line-up.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of Pulled Apart By Horses live in Norwich

Pet Needs expand their ‘Primetime Entertainment’ Tour

Pet Needs have announced additional dates for their ‘Primetime Entertainment’ Tour, with the new shows taking place early next year.

Tickets are here.

Watch Episode 11of The Full Pelt Music Podcast with guests Pet Needs

The Full Pelt Music Podcast – Episode 11 – Pet Needs

Read our review of ‘Primetime Entertainment’ from Pet Needs

News Report

Skindred announce new album ‘Smile’

Skindred – ‘GIMME THAT BOOM’

We move our News Report on now to the best new releases from the past week and we begin with Skindred!

The group this week announced new album, ‘Smile’, will be released August 4th. The band also shared new single, ‘GIMME THAT BOOM’, which you can check out above.

The track is based on a frustrating encounter lead singer Benji Webbe had with an overfamiliar fan.
 
“I was out shopping one day and I could hear someone building up asking me for a picture,” Webbe recalls. “The person didn’t care who I was with or what I was doing – they just wanted their picture. In this day and age, people want you and they expect to get you on tap, constantly giving you that ‘boom’ so they can get their Instagram Likes up. It’s important to remember that people can’t give you that ‘boom’ all the time. People think because they follow you on social media, they own you.”

Pre-order your copy here.

Read our review of Download Pilot Festival

The Dead Daisies share ‘Born To Fly’

The Dead Daisies – ‘Born To Fly’

Ahead of their UK Tour next month, The Dead Daisies have released new single, ‘Born To Fly’, which you can listen to above.

“Doug & I got together in New York earlier in the year and worked on a riff that I had written previously.  Doug had a chorus that just fitted, we messed around with the melody and came up with the name ‘Born To Fly’.  This is a straight-up rock song.  For me it’s literal, I was born to fly.  However we’re all born to fly in our own way.” – David Lowy

Tickets are here.

Listen to our ‘Hard & Heavy’ Playlist

REWS share ‘The World That You Left Behind’

REWS – ‘The World That You Left Behind’

This week saw REWS share new single, ‘The World That Left You Behind’, which you can check out above.

“Ah! I’m ecstatic about finally releasing this song!! It’s got so much energy, riff’s for days and a great message!! I wrote it with a great friend of mine from NI, Cahir O’Doherty (New Pagans). It is a song that journey’s through how we can support those people in our lives who get carried away with negative thoughts and feel utterly lost and alone. Hopefully the song will provide a nice audio net for people to fall into at times of need, so they know they aren’t alone!” – Shauna

More here.

Read our review of REWS at Y Not Festival

The Bottom Line debut ‘Fake Love’

The Bottom Line – ‘Fake Love’

The Bottom Line have debuted their latest single, ‘Fake Love’, which you can check out above.

More here.

Listen to our Podcasts

Black Honey announce 3rd album ‘A Fistful of Peaches’

Black Honey – ‘Heavy’

Our News Report continues with the news that Black Honey will release their third album, ‘A Fistful of Peaches’, on March 17th.

You can check out their new single, ‘Heavy’, above.

Pre-order your copy here.

Read our review of Black Honey live in Norwich

Dream Wife debut ‘Leech’

Dream Wife – ‘Leech’

Finally, our News Report brings you ‘Leech’, the brand new single from Dream Wife, which you can of course listen to above!

More here.

Read our review of Dream Wife at Y Not Festival

News Report
News Report

As always we conclude our News Report with the latest additions to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist!

News Report
Dissonants – ‘Grave Mind’

Dissonants have shared their huge new single ‘Grave Mind’.

‘Lyrically, Grave Mind is more conceptual than our previous work. I wrote the track from the viewpoint of someone on their deathbed looking back on their life and wondering if, now that it’s over and coming to a close, they can be happy and at peace. For this track we wanted to draw less from our own experiences and look at concepts such as mortality and happiness, and how one can affect the other’. – Frontman Benjie Allen.

News Report
M(h)aol – ‘Asking For It’

M(h)aol will release debut album, ‘Attachment Styles’ on February 3rd. This week they shared new single, ‘Asking For It’.

On the track singer Róisín said, “I wrote it initially in 2016 then revisited it in 2020. I was shocked by how much internalised victim blaming there was in the lyrics. I rewrote it, then we recorded it and it was released to raise money for Women’s Aid in 2021. The album version is a lot angrier than the 2021 one and almost satirical insofar as it’s highlighting how ludicrous the notion of anyone ‘asking for it’ is.”

News Report
Chasing Kites – ‘Shiver’

Bath-based indie-rock four-piece Chasing Kites return with their fourth single ‘Shiver’.

Speaking about the writing process, vocalist and lyricist Matt Donnelly explains, ‘’Shiver came together extremely quickly. I’d had the lyrics lying around for a very long time and felt they fit perfectly with the sonic side of the track when the melody was written. As we built on the skeleton of the song, our aim was to take us back into the realms of indie rock through powerful injections of energy in the choruses, while maintaining our commercial sound throughout.’’

Watch Episode 21 of our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast with guests Dissonants

‘Discover’ New Music Podcast – Episode 21 – Dissonants

Listen, Follow and Discover your new favourite act now with our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist

Then find out the stories behind the songs on our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast!

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Read our review of Bury Tomorrow live in Norwich

Categories
Live Reviews

Reading Festival

Saturday 27th August 2022

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READING FESTIVAL – SATURDAY – FESTIVAL REVIEW

Reading & Leeds Festivals are the traditional end of the UK Festival season, and this year is a milestone year as a full calendar takes place for the first time since 2019. Let’s not dwell on why, instead let’s head straight into the action on a packed and hot Saturday at Reading Festival.

Sold out well in advance, Saturday at this year’s event is a particularly hot ticket with a stunning line-up throughout and topped by Arctic Monkeys and Bring Me The Horizon.

We are in the arena bright and early for surprise opening act Wargasm who storm the main stage with a set packed full of energy and attitude. The band appears to be on a world conquering mission, and nobody can argue their work ethic. It’s also damn hard to argue with their captivating stage presence and musical outlay.

WATCH ‘FUKSTAR’ FROM WARGASM ON YOUTUBE
WARGASM – ‘Fukstar’

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We then head into the ‘Festival Republic’ Tent for the next couple of acts. With the new two main stage structure at Reading & Leeds Festivals the separate ‘Pit’ and ‘Lock-up’ stage has sadly been a much missed casualty. There is much less choice now for the music connoisseurs amongst the crowd; which isn’t a problem with a stacked line-up like today but is very evident on Friday and Sunday.

This change does mean there is less cohesion in the line-up with heavy rockers Static Dress followed by lad rock upstarts The Skinner Brothers in the tent. Despite their difference styles both deliver energetic and well-received performances for the early risers.

There is more indie-fuelled sing-a-long action next back on the main stages with The Lathums pulling in a decent crowd. Whilst there is nothing earth-shatteringly new about what they do, The Lathums do this modern stock-indie reasonably well.

WATCH POPPY PLAY ‘BLOODMONEY’ AT READING FESTIVAL
Poppy – ‘BLOODMONEY’

Whilst there were no moulds broken on one main stage, over on the other is Poppy, an artist who has broken every mould she’s been in. Yes, originally a Youtube sensation, then a bubblegum pop idol and now a heavy metal phenomenon, Poppy crosses many boundaries. Today she oozes rockstar appeal as she owns the stage with their eclectic musical offerings, proving along the way that she retains a very bright future.

A bright future is also ahead for Sueco, who attracts a good sized audience in the tent next for his debut UK performance. Over the next thirty minutes Sueco has that crowd in the palm of his hands as he runs through fans favourites including TikTok sensation ‘Paralyzed’.

Enter Shikari are a band more concerned with the future of the planet than that of their career and they take a main stage next for a politically charged call to arms with epic musical accompaniment. New single, ‘The Void Stares Back’ including guests Wargasm sounds absolutely huge as do tracks from previous album, ‘Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible’.

WATCH ENTER SHIKARI PLAY ‘{ THE DREAMER’S HOTEL }’ AT READING
Enter Shikari – { The Dreamer’s Hotel }’

Read our review of Enter Shikari live in London

A passionate speech is curtailed through either a power failure or for the conspiracy theorists – censorship. Either way even with a stifled end to their set, the band show once again that they are one of the best live acts on the planet.

We’ve mentioned the stacked line-up today and part of the reason for such excitement is the collection of a number of bands in the best live act conversation. Next up on the other main stage are Fontaines D.C. who receive a hero’s welcome by swelled crowd.

WATCH FONTAINES D.C. PLAY ‘BOYS IN THE BETTER LAND’ AT READING
Fontaines D.C. – ‘Boys In The Better Land’

Read our review of ‘Skinty Fia’ from Fontaines D.C.

New album, ‘Skinty Fia’, takes centre stage as the band deliver the likes of ‘I Love You’, ‘Jackie Down the Line’ and ‘Roman Holiday’. A young fan coming out the crowd to ace guitar on ‘Boys in the Better Land’ provides one of the highlights of the festival, and the band leave the stage having proven themselves to be in the pool of future headliners.

Another band no doubt destined to headline Reading Festival in the not too distant future is Wolf Alice. Whether rocking hard on ‘Smile’, serenading us with ‘Safe From Heartbreak (If You Never Fall in Love)’ or showing their all round brilliance on ‘The Last Man on Earth’, Wolf Alice are a band that can literally do it all.

WATCH WOLF ALICE PLAY ‘HOW CAN I MAKE IT OK?’ AT READING
Wolf Alice – ‘How Can I Make It OK?’

Read our review of Wolf Alice live in Norwich

A twelve song set absolutely flies by this evening and with a rammed field of fans left desperate for more, surely a full headline show from the band is a must next time they come to town.

That’s one thing Reading & Leeds Festivals have always excelled at – giving new headliners their shot. That’s exactly what they do next with heavy hitters Bring Me The Horizon finally being given the main stage headline festival set they earned years ago!

What those who gather for the performance are greeted with is a band at the peak of their powers, both creatively and as a live act. The band proceed to deliver a memorable set for all the right reasons. This is a victory for Bring Me The Horizon and for heavy music and the band do all in their powers to fulfil all expectations.

WATCH BRING ME THE HORIZON PLAY ‘BAD HABITS’ WITH ED SHEERAN AT READING
Bring Me The Horizon – ‘Bad Habits’ feat. Ed Sheeran

Read our review of Bring Me The Horizon live in London

The setlist is flawless, the visuals are stunning, the crowd interaction is on point and the band sound incredible; this is a real moment. A moment made even bigger by the band bringing out Ed Sheeran for a dose of ‘Bad Habits’ to the ear-piercing sound of teenage girls screams.

This is the sort of performance that you don’t want to follow but that’s just what Arctic Monkeys have to do next. Being one of the most hotly anticipated acts of the weekend and one much craved by fans in recent years, surely this would be easy for megastars such as Arctic Monkeys.

WATCH ARCTIC MONKEYS PLAY ‘R U MINE’ AT READING
Arctic Monkeys – ‘R U Mine’

Sadly for those in attendance what the band deliver is a lukewarm showing. The opposite of Bring Me The Horizon, the setlist is poor, the visuals are basic, the crowd interaction is nearly non-existent and the sound is too low. A stunning day such as this needed a big finish and that should in hindsight of been Bring Me The Horizon.

Arctic Monkeys are a huge act with a back catalogue you can hold against anybody else, but today it feels like a phoned in effort. It isn’t a bad show by any stretch of the imagination; it’s a good show that should’ve been a great show.

Hopefully the band can rediscover their spark with new album, ‘The Car’ on the way, but tonight belongs to a different Sheffield band!

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Read our review of All Points East with Gorillaz

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Magazine

News Report

Every week we roundup the best music news from the past week!

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News Report

Bring Me The Horizon debut new single ‘sTraNgeRs’

Bring Me The Horizon – ‘sTraNgeRs’

Welcome all to another edition of our weekly music News Report. This week we start with the best new releases from the past seven days.

Up first are Bring Me The Horizon who this week debuted their latest single, ‘sTraNgeRs’, which you can check out above.

More here.

Read our review of Bring Me The Horizon live in London

The Cult share new single ‘Give Me Mercy’

The Cult – ‘Give Me Mercy’

The Cult have announced the October 7th release of new album, ‘Under The Midnight Sun’.

To celebrate, the band have also shared their new single, ‘Give Me Mercy’, which you can listen to above.

Ian Astbury comments, “I was absolutely enamoured with this piece of music Billy had written, and it perfectly fit these thoughts I’d been having about our culture’s need to move past assumptions of duality.  We need new language because words can’t express where we’re going.” 

Billy Duffy adds, “‘Give Me Mercy’ has all the hallmarks of the new classic Cult to my ears … fresh yet familiar.”

Pre-order your album here.

Listen to ‘Give Me Mercy’ on our ‘Hard & Heavy’ Playlist

The HU debut ‘Black Thunder’

The HU – ‘Black Thunder’

There was also new music on offer this week from The HU. The band continue to build towards their second album, ‘Rumble of Thunder’, which is out September 2nd.

You can listen to their latest single, ‘Black Thunder’, above.

Vocalist Gala shared, “’Black Thunder’ is the crown jewel of our second album. The music video is split into two parts and conveys the core values of men through visuals. Our producer Dashka chose a unique location in Mongolia to shoot the video, where we had a great time riding the horses in the vast grassland of our countryside. We hope that our pride in our culture shines through, as we aimed to bring viewers joy and a piece of our culture through this video.”

Speaking on their next studio album, he continued, “Our second album will include ‘Black Thunder’, along with many new songs. We can’t wait for you to listen and enjoy it as much as we enjoyed recording it.”

Pre-order your copy here.

Listen to ‘Black Thunder’ on our ‘Hard & Heavy’ Playlist

Massive Wagons share new single ‘Fuck the Haters’

Massive Wagons – ‘Fuck the Haters’

It was a big week for Massive Wagons as the band shared their latest single, ‘Fuck the Haters’, which you can click through to listen to on Youtube above.

The track will feature on their brand new album, ‘TRIGGERED!’, which is out October 28th.

Pre-order your copy here.

Read our review of Download Festival

Wargasm debut ‘Fukstar’

Wargasm – ‘Fukstar’

Momentum continues for Wargasm as the band debuted their latest single this week. Listen to ‘Fukstar’ above.

More here.

Listen to ‘Salma Hayek’ from Wargasm on our ‘Hard & Heavy’ Playlist

News Report

Levellers announce Acoustic Tour

We move our News Report on now to the best tour announcements from the past week, and we start with a special acoustic tour from Levellers.

The band comment, “We are really excited to be recording a new acoustic album, going through some of our old material, rearranging it for today and doing some new stuff too. Also massively pleased to introduce new member Dan Donnelly to the recording world, and to be working with members of the ‘collective’ again – and some new guys. Then we’re looking forward to touring it! Going around the country’s most beautiful old theatres and some unique and different other venues too. Hopefully see you all there!”

Tickets are here.

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Stray From The Path announce intimate album release shows

To mark the upcoming release of their new album, ‘Euthanasia’, set for release on September 9th, Stray From The Path, have announced a celebratory tour of intimate album release shows for October.

Speaking of tour, guitarist, Tom Williams, says, “We are stoked to return back to the UK and mainland Europe to do some small and intimate album release shows for our new record, ‘Euthanasia’.

By the time we get there, it will be almost three years since we’ve been back. We’ve dropped ‘Guillotine’ and ‘III’ and our UK/EU people have been wanting us back ASAP, I’m glad we can get back there for them.

We’re bringing with us a brand new album, two amazing up and coming bands in Vatican and Guilt Trip, and three years of too much time spent away from some of our favourite places on earth.”

Tickets are here.

Listen to The Full Pelt Music Podcast

The Xcerts announce UK Tour

Our News Report continues with the news that The Xcerts will be returning for a UK Tour this September.

The shows are part of the Music Venue Trust‘s #ReviveLive series, meaning Lottery players can get a second ticket for free!

Tickets are here.

Read our review of Jimmy Eat World live in London

Normandie announce special London shows

Normandie this week announced a series of special London shows for this November.

Across three dates the band will play each of their three albums at the capitals OMEARA venue.

Remaining tickets are here.

Read our review of ‘Dark & Beautiful Secrets’ from Normandie

Working Men’s Club announce November Tour

Also announcing a tour this past week were Working Men’s Club who will be out on the road this November.

Tickets are here.

Listen to our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast

Tom Chaplin announces UK Tour

Our final tour announcement in this week’s News Report comes from Keane frontman Tom Chaplin. He will be touring the UK this October.

Tickets are here.

Listen to our Spotify Hot List!

News Report

As always we conclude our News Report with the latest additions to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist!

The Native – ’20 Something’

The Native share their brand new single ‘20 Something’.

Frontman Charlie Noordewier says, “This song is about a person who is ruining their life with addiction. It started as self medicating at weekends trying to escape from their job and slowly declined into more drink and drugs. They’re working a hard job all week and then blowing all their cash at the weekend to distract themselves from their unhappiness – rather than escaping from the rut they have created.”

Jack Valero – ‘Hollow Warmth’

Jack Valero has shared his second single, ‘Hollow Warmth’.

Jack says, “This continues the abstract motifs of the previous video with a little bleak humour added in. It’s supposed to be a classic breakup narrative, but with a dark twist that can be interpreted in many different ways.

We touch on the ideas of isolation again, but this time dive more into the sometimes dark privacy of a person. It can be taken metaphorically or literally, but either way it should make you feel like you’re getting a peek into someone’s very private world and maybe make you feel a little uncomfortable.”

Humour – ‘yeah, mud!’

Humour share their debut single, ‘yeah, mud!’, an early live favourite, with the band saying the following on the themes behind the track:

This song was one that just came to us. I think it came together in less than an hour and everything just seemed to fit first time. A lot of the lyrics are inspired by an old book Andreas read. In this book a soldier realises he’s about to die and writes his mother a note.

I think it’s interesting to think about what you might have to say if you realised you were going to die in a few minutes, and what you’d then say to your mother. Lots of pressure to come up with something important.”

Listen, Follow and Discover your new favourite act now with our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist

Then find our the stories behind the songs on our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast!

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More acts for Reading & Leeds Festivals

News Report

Welcome to another edition of our weekly music News Report, where we roundup the best music news from the past week. We start this week with the latest festival announcements including the above from Reading & Leeds Festivals.

The dual event this week added a load of new acts for August including Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Black Honey, DMA’s, All Time Low, cleopatrick, Tigercub, Kid Kapichi, Witch Fever, The Blinders and Crawlers!

They join the likes of already announced Arctic Monkeys, Bring Me The Horizon, Rage Against The Machine, Wolf Alice, Fontaines D.C., Enter Shikari and Pale Waves.

Remaining tickets and info are here.

Read our review of Wolf Alice live in Norwich

The Rolling Stones to headline BST

News Report

Probably the biggest band on the planet, The Rolling Stones will headline not one but two nights at British Summer Time Festival this June and July.

The legendary act will be celebrating sixty years together with two shows in Hyde Park, with a Liverpool date also announced.

Tickets and info here.

Find the latest Podcast episodes from Full Pelt Music

Hardwick Festival reveals line-up

Festivals across the country continue to reveal their line-ups for this year, and this past week saw Hardwick Festival unveil theirs.

Headlining the event will be Stereophonics and The Specials. They’ll be joined by Jake Bugg, Seasick Steve, The Proclaimers, Lottery Winners, Rats, Twister and more.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of ‘Oochya!’ from Stereophonics

Neck of the Woods adds more acts

New Norwich Festival Neck of the Woods has this week added The Snuts, Little Comets, Youth Killed It and more to their line-up.

They join headliners The Kooks plus DMA’s, Sea Girls, Lottery Winners, Yonaka, Noisy, The Goa Express and many more.

Tickets and info here.

Read of review of The Snuts live in Colchester

Firestorm Rock Festival reveals line-up

Firestorm Rock Festival will take place in Manchester this August, and this week saw the event reveal a packed line-up.

Performing over the weekend will be Wayward Sons, Phil Campbell & The Bastard Sons, Those Damn Crows, Stone Broken, King King, The Treatment, Inglorious, Mason Hill, Florence Black, Bad Touch, Revival Black, The Hot Damn and many more!

Tickets are here.

Watch The Treatment guest on The Full Pelt Music Podcast

News Report

Florence + The Machine announce arena tour

We move our News Report on now to the latest tour announcements, and none came bigger this week than the live return of Florence + The Machine.

Florence will be joined by support act Willie J Healey on a huge trek around the UK’s biggest venues this November.

Tickets are here.

Listen to ‘King’ from Florence + The Machine on our Spotify Hot List!

Kaiser Chiefs reveal huge UK tour

Another lengthy arena tour announced this week comes from Kaiser Chiefs, who will be joined on the ‘All Together’ UK Tour by both The Fratellis and The Sherlocks.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of ‘Half Drunk Under A Full Moon’ from The Fratellis

The Struts announce ‘The Homecoming Tour’

The Struts announced this week that they’ll be heading back to the UK for ‘The Homecoming Tour’ this July.

Lead singer Luke Spiller comments, “We are bursting with excitement to be coming back to our home country to see you all once more.  It’s been far too long and we are more than ready to make up for lost time. Can’t wait to make some more amazing memories with you all!”

Tickets are here.

Check out our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast

Corey Taylor announces UK dates

Rock icon Corey Taylor this week announced details of three solo UK dates this October. Taylor will play London, Hull and Swansea with support from Cherry Bombs.

Tickets are here.

Listen to our ‘Hard & Heavy’ Spotify Playlist

Yeah Yeah Yeahs announce UK return

Yeah Yeah Yeahs this week announced their return to the UK with three shows this June. Support comes variously from English Teacher, Dry Cleaning, Porridge Radio and Anika!

Tickets are here.

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News Report

Muse announce new album and debut ‘Compliance’

Muse – ‘Compliance’

The latest music releases now in our News Report. Rock behemoths Muse this week announced details of their new album, ‘Will Of The People’.

The album will be released on August 26th, and is preceded by new single, ‘Compliance’, which you can check out above.

Speaking of the album the band explain, “Will Of The People was created in Los Angeles  and London and is influenced by the increasing uncertainty and instability in the world.  A pandemic, new wars in Europe, massive protests & riots, an attempted insurrection, Western democracy wavering, rising authoritarianism, wildfires and natural disasters and the destabilization of the global order all informed Will Of The People.  It has been a worrying and scary time for all of us as the Western empire and the natural world, which have cradled us for so long are genuinely threatened. This album is a personal navigation through those fears and preparation for what comes next.

Pre-order your copy here.

Listen to ‘Won’t Back Down’ from Muse on our Spotify Hot List!

Royal Blood debut ‘Honeybrains’

Royal Blood – ‘Honeybrains’

Royal Blood had new music on offer this week as the band prepared for their upcoming arena tour with new single, ‘Honeybrains’.

Listening options here.

Read our review of Royal Blood live in Norwich

Def Leppard announce new album and debut new single ‘Kick’

Def Leppard – ‘Kick’

Classic rock icons Def Leppard announced this week that they’ll be releasing a new album on May 27th.

They also previewed ‘Diamond Star Halos’ with the single, ‘Kick’ which you can listen to above.

Pre-order your copy here.

Listen to ‘Kick’ on our ‘Hard & Heavy’ Playlist

VUKOVI debut ‘LASSO’

VUKOVI – ‘LASSO’

The new tracks continue with VUKOVI and their newly debuted single, ‘LASSO’, which you can check out above.

More from the band here.

Read our review of VUKOVI live in Norwich

Nova Twins debut ‘Cleopatra’

Nova Twins – ‘Cleopatra’

This week also saw Nova Twins debut their new single, ‘Cleopatra’, which you can watch above.

The track will feature on their new album, ‘Supernova’, which will be released June 17th.

Pre-order your copy here.

The band will also be playing three huge shows in November. Tickets are here.

Read our review of Nova Twins supporting Bring Me The Horizon in London

The Virginmarys debut ‘The Meds’

The Virginmarys – ‘The Meds’

Our News Report is drawing to a close, but we aren’t done yet! The Virginmarys kick started their new era this past week with the release of their new single, ‘The Meds’, which you can watch above.

Listening options here.

Read our review of The Virginmarys supporting Ricky Warwick live in Norwich

Skunk Anansie debut ‘Can’t Take You Anywhere’

Skunk Anansie – ‘Can’t Take You Anywhere’

There was also new music this week from British rock icons Skunk Anansie who debuted new track, ‘Can’t Take You Anywhere’.

Discussing the song Skin explains, “This track is a double-edged sword. We all have that one friend that we love but is a total embarrassment to us, a mate that has no off button and no filter. So if they aren’t losing their phone/keys/coat, they’re saying some stuff that will defo get you cancelled by all your other mates. This song is about how polarised the world is now, and how careful you need to be. It’s about dealing with the new world order of friendship, as never before have I had great long term friends develop completely opposing views to mine. It’s about having to navigate and understand people, keeping the love and respect but also standing firm in your opinions.”

More from Skunk Anansie here.

Read our review of ‘Torpedo’ from Feeder

News Report

As always we finish out our News Report with the latest additions to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist!

‘WORRY’ – PEANESS

Peaness are preparing to release their debut album ‘World Full of Worry’ on May 6th. Check our their single, ‘Worry’, on our playlist!

‘TV PERSONALITY’ – BAIT

As their debut album edges into sight, BAIT are back with the electrifying new single: ‘TV Personality’.

Of the track Michael Webster says: “The pandemic locked us away and forced us to live life through a screen. We each became a TV personality, broadcasting from the rabbit hole for work, study & play.”

‘ALL OUT’ – THE NATIVE

Rising Plymouth band The Native have just signed with This Feeling Records, and will soon support Bastille in arenas across the UK.

Check out their single, ‘All Out’, on our playlist!

Listen, Follow & Discover your new favourite act on our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist

Get to know the artists on our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast!

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News Report

Ed Sheeran & Bring Me The Horizon join on ‘Bad Habits’

Ed Sheeran – Bad Habits feat. Bring Me The Horizon

Welcome all to another edition of our weekly music News Report, where we roundup the best music news from the past week. We start this week with our new releases section and an unexpected collaboration.

Yes, this week has seen the team up of megastar Ed Sheeran and the constantly evolving Bring Me The Horizon. Following a noted performance at the Brit Awards the pair this week officially released the single, ‘Bad Habits’.

You can watch above or find listening options here.

Read our review of Bring Me The Horizon live in London

Simple Plan team with Sum 41’s Deryck Whibley on ‘Ruin My Life’

Simple Plan – ‘Ruin My Life’ feat. Deryck Whibley

Sticking with collaborations and this week also saw Simple Plan debut their new single ‘Ruin My Life’. The track also features Sum 41‘s Deryck Whibley and comes ahead of an expected new album later this year.

‘Ruin My Life’ is a song about overcoming adversity, going through a difficult life situation, and not only surviving it, but becoming an even stronger and more resilient version of yourself because of it,” the band shares. “It’s fun, catchy, energetic and empowering and we’re so excited to share it with our fans. Having Deryck from Sum 41 sing on it with us makes it even more special!

Watch above or head here for more listening options!

Check out The Full Pelt Music Podcast on Youtube

Fontaines D.C. unveil new single ‘I Love You’

Fontaines D.C. – ‘I Love You’

Having recently announced the upcoming release of new album, ‘Skinty Fia’, on April 22nd, Fontaines D.C. this week unveiled new single, ‘I Love You’.

Described as ostensibly a love song, ‘I Love You’ is written from the perspective of an Irishman abroad, unravelling to reveal a passionate sense of self-loathing. Frontman Grian Chatten describes the song as “the first overtly political song we’ve written.”.

You can check out the video above as Chatten elaborates, “It’s standing in the centre of our beloved home country as a multitude of things are brought to tragic ends in an apocalyptic state of affairs. That’s how it feels to me, and what I felt when I wrote it.”

Pre-order the album here.

Read our review of Fontaines D.C. live in Cambridge

Chubby and the Gang reveal new EP ‘Labour of Love’

Chubby and the Gang – ‘Who Loves Ya (Coup d’état)’

There was also new music this week from West London 5-piece Chubby and the Gang. The group celebrated Valentine’s Day with the digital release of new EP ‘Labour of Love’.

The EP features new single ‘Who Loves Ya (Coup d’état)’ which you can watch the video for above. Frontman Charlie Manning says of the song: “We had the idea to do a Valentine’s Day single and I sort of wanted to show all the angles of love. Warts and all. Quite often it’s not such a smooth experience. Can often feel scary and insane. So I wanted to write a bubblegum song about it but also show the duality of the emotion.”.

For listening options and physical pre-orders head here.

Listen to our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast

News Report

Nine Inch Nails heading to Cornwall

We move on now to to the latest show announcements as our News Report continues.

The biggest news this week came with the revelation that the iconic Nine Inch Nails will be heading to Cornwall this June for not one but two shows at the Eden Project.

Pick up your tickets here.

Read our review of IDLES live in London

Sean McGowan announces new tour dates

Sean McGowan will be playing a handful of shows this July with dates in Manchester, Newport and Winchester.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of ‘FTHC’ from Frank Turner

News Report

TRNSMT Festival reveals updated line-up

Festival announcements now in our News Report and it’s over to Scotland for the latest line-up reveal from TRNSMT Festival.

The event is set to be headlined by Paolo Nutini, The Strokes and Lewis Capaldi, with huge slots scheduled for Sam Fender, Foals, Wolf Alice, The Snuts and Fontaines D.C..

Day and Stage splits have now been revealed with highlights set to include The Regrettes, Jimmy Eat World, Maximo Park, Self Esteem and Wet Leg.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of The Snuts live in Colchester

Bastille to headline Kendal Calling

We close out our News Report with news that Bastille will now headline Kendal Calling with The Streets no longer able to play.

They join a phenomenal line-up with fellow headliners Stereophonics and Supergrass plus The Wombats, The Kooks, Pale Waves, Sports Team, The Snuts, The Mysterines, Lottery Winners, Valeras, Lauran Hibberd, Massive Wagons, Skinny Lister and many more.

Tickets are here.

Watch The Full Pelt Music Podcast with guests Skinny Lister

We are passionate about new music at Full Pelt Music. Check out the new additions to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist this week:

‘Pity’ – Out of Love

London punks Out of Love preview their upcoming debut LP, ‘So Far, So Good’ with new single ‘Pity’. Frontman Jack Rogers says “Pity is an observation about a person I know who does nothing but moan about life. It’s a response to the toxic outlook they have on the world and how I want nothing to do with them anymore. Even though cutting that person out from my life will be hard and conflicting, it’s necessary to surround myself with like-minded, forward-thinking people. 

“It’s hard to watch someone you care about be so set in their ways and do very little to try and change even after helping them time and time again. Pity is a reminder for me to never turn into that person.”

‘Delirious’ – South Haven

Copenhagen natives South Haven debut new single, ‘Delirious’. Vocalist Christine Nielsen comments,“This song has a special place in my heart because I think the lyrics are open for interpretation. Personally, I interpret the song to be about dealing with a lot of difficult emotions all at once and not being able to get rid of them, which results in a feeling of deliriousness. The music video seeks to show this state of mind with the use of different locations and short and quick shots. Although it seeks to emphasize this, it also portrays a sort of beauty in the chaos with the use of neutral and calm colors and lighting”.

‘Turn It Up!’ – Romero

Melbourne’s power-pop group Romero preview their debut album with the title track, ‘Turn It Up!’. Singer Alanna Oliver reflects on the single, “I was watching a Debbie Harry [Blondie] documentary and one of the quotes was  ‘she just gets on stage and she turns it on’. As soon as I heard this I paused it and started writing. The lyrics flowed effortlessly. It was such a simple idea to channel that inner power. When I sing this song I am now a woman who knows what she wants and how to get it.”

Listen to all these songs and more on our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist here.

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The Year In Review 2021

The Year In Review 2021

Full Pelt Music looks back on 2021 for our Year In Review

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2020 was a year that we all wish we could forget. Could 2021 be any better? Well, it started off just as the previous year ended; with the live music industry on its knees. Lockdown restrictions still ruled out any live in person shows, with even socially distanced shows initially outlawed.

Come late spring, things began to look up and a number of “test” events were planned. We were lucky enough to attend the Pilot Download Festival and the euphoria of being amongst fellow music fans in a field can’t truly be put into words. Things were looking up!

Live music would eventually make a full return but sadly as we write this The Year In Review 2021 feature, the sector is once again holding its breath waiting for the Government to take action. Alas, true normality may still be a long way off, but for a few months this year we got to feel alive again.

That alone elevates 2021 above 2020, but there is plenty more to unpack. We recently undertook our now annual countdown of our top albums of the year over on our social media. 2021 was a truly exceptional year in terms of album quality. Those musicians kept in lockdown last year certainly found their creativity and compiling a list of the top 50 albums of the year was highly competitive.

Read our Album of the Year 2021 feature

In our The Year In Review 2021 article, we will be revealing our end of year award winners. As with last year we will announce our Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Artist of the Year, Gig of the Year and Festival of the Year.

This year however we have an additional award to hand out. 2021 was a big year for Full Pelt Music, our first full year in existence. We’ve grown and we’ve enhanced our focus on new music. We launched initially our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist on Spotify through which we highlight the best up and coming artists.

We also launched not one but two Podcasts this year, including the accompanying ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast where we truly shine the spotlight on your new favourite acts. As such, this year we will also be awarding the ‘Discover’ New Artist of the Year award!

Before we get to those awards though, let’s run you through a few of our highlights this year. First of all, as mentioned we also launched The Full Pelt Music Podcast this year. Fittingly our inaugural guest was Frank Turner, the winner of both our Gig of the Year and Artist of the Year awards in our 2020 Year In Review.

Across the Podcasts this year we’ve had the pleasure to talk with Press To Meco, Beans On Toast, Miss Vincent, Planet Fatale, Mercutio, Light By The Sea, Freddie and the Fabs, The Damned Few, Project Renegade, Icarus and Smoke! Be sure to check out these conversations, and also to Subscribe on Youtube or wherever you listen to your Podcasts. After all, we will have plenty more for you to enjoy in 2022.

The Music Industry has seized on the opportunity to entertain this year both live and on record. We’ve reviewed 66 albums, 2 festivals and 27 gigs in 2021 as fans have been treated to incredible releases and some truly stunning live shows. Again, perhaps the enforced break has allowed creativity to breed innovation.

So with that in mind, let’s work through those award catagories!

Album of the Year

As we’ve already referenced, the pure quality of releases this year made compiling our Top 50 Album of the Year List very tricky. It was hard work but we did it, and you can read the full list here.

The quality is demonstrated best by last year’s winners IDLES only reaching a still respectable number 7. The winner however had to be ‘Blue Weekend’ from the incredible Wolf Alice who continue to go from strength to strength. After three stunning albums, there is no ceiling for this band and we can’t wait to catch songs from the album live in 2022.

Winner:

‘Blue Weekend’ by Wolf Alice

The Contenders:

‘Written & Directed’ by Black Honey, ‘Typhoons’ by Royal Blood, ‘Seize the Power’ by Yonaka and ‘Transmute’ by Press To MECO

Previous Winners:

2020 – ‘Ultra Mono’ by IDLES

Single of the Year

We move on now to our award for the Single or Song of the Year. This year has again seen us locked down for considerable amounts of time and many will have sought solace in Playlists such as our Spotify Hot List.

In selecting our track of the year we considered which songs we’ve come back to time and time again, which songs remain as fresh now as they did on first listen and what songs simply just resonate on a different level.

Our winner is an incredible track from the fantastic album ‘Transmute’ from Press To MECO. ‘A Test Of Our Resolve’ ticks all of the criteria and also sounds absolutely massive live.

Press To MECO – ‘A Test Of Our Resolve’
Winner:

‘A Test Of Our Resolve’ by Press To MECO

The Contenders:

‘My Town’ by Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, ‘Afterlife’ by Holding Absence, ‘Midnight’ by Creeper and ‘Haven’t Been Doing So Well’ by Frank Turner

Previous Winners:

2020 – ‘Obey’ by Bring Me The Horizon feat. Yungblud

Artist of the Year

Artist of the Year now and for this award we look for somebody who has had a huge, perhaps even career-defining year. Last year we gave the award to Frank Turner for his incredible work for the #SaveOurVenues campaign through his Independent Venue Love series.

This year our winners are a band that also dabbled with livestreams during that first lockdown. This year however has been a hugely important year for Biffy Clyro. A new album, ‘A Myth of the Happily Ever After’ came hot on the heels of last year’s ‘A Celebration of Endings’. It’s another quality album from a band that continue to deliver consistently great music.

The band also had a huge impact on the live music scene this year. Firstly, the band rode to the rescue by stepping in as late replacements for Queens of the Stone Age to once again headline Reading and Leeds Festivals.

Secondly, the band played huge outdoor shows in Cardiff, Glasgow and Margate to help signal the return of live music after around 16 months of lockdown. Highlights of both their Reading and Glasgow performances aired on the BBC.

Lastly, the band played a completely sold out and very intimate ‘Fingers Crossed’ Tour across the UK. Their shows this year giving fans an opportunity to witness songs from not one but two albums live for the first time.

Biffy Clyro – ‘A Hunger In Your Haunt / Unknown Male 01’
Winner:

Biffy Clyro

The Contenders:

Enter Shikari, Bring Me The Horizon, Creeper and Wolf Alice

Previous Winners:

2020 – Frank Turner

Festival of the Year

Festivals made a belated return from lockdown restrictions in late summer, although the majority of the usual seasons events were still cancelled. For our Festival of the Year however we can’t look anywhere other than the special event that laid the groundwork for all events to return, the Download Pilot Festival!

Back in June the Government test event was the first opportunity for music fans to camp in a field and rock out for three days. The camaraderie and atmosphere this situation created, combined with the uniquely intimate Download layout and line-up made for a once in a lifetime experience.

British bands took centre stage and delivered an incredible weekend of music; with bands and fans both desperate to experience live music again. Thanks to all involved we can hopefully experience a full fat Download Festival again this summer.

Read our review of the Download Pilot Festival!

Winner:

Download Pilot Festival

The Contenders:

Reading Festival and Lost Evenings

Previous Winners:

2020 – Wild Fields Festival

Gig of the Year

Last year’s winner of Gig of the Year was a socially distancing outdoor affair, this year however true live music returned! Picking a winner this year is difficult because the pent up frustration of lockdown on both musicians and fans vented fully across some amazing gigs.

We reviewed 27 of those shows this year and there were some very special moments amongst them. The winner however must go to Bring Me The Horizon who stormed the O2 Arena with You Me At Six and Nova Twins in tow.

The night was a massive middle finger to any remaining doubters and the band solidified themselves not just as arena fillers but as festival headline ready. Fitting therefore that they have recently been revealed as headliners for Reading & Leeds Festivals next year.

Read our review of Bring Me The Horizon live in London

Winner:

Bring Me The Horizon @ O2 Arena

The Contenders:

Creeper @ O2 Kentish Town Forum, Idlewild @ Electric Brixton, The Offspring @ Wembley Arena, Biffy Clyro @ O2 Kentish Town Forum, Vukovi @ Norwich Waterfront Studio and Royal Blood @ Norwich UEA

Previous Winners:

2020 – Frank Turner @ Nottingham Arboretum

‘Discover’ New Artist of the Year

Our final award is a new award for this year where we shift focus on to the future. Having launched our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist and Podcast this year we wanted to honour an act that we have featured and for whom the future is bright.

With their debut album ‘A Funeral For Youth’ cracking our top 20 for the year, Miss Vincent take the inaugural ‘Discover’ New Artist of the Year award!

Miss Vincent – ‘Rosaline’
Winner:

Miss Vincent

The Contenders:

Planet Fatale, Dead Nature and Thumper

So, it hasn’t been a usual year again, in fact at times it has been just as hard as 2020. 2021 has however reminded us of what we were missing. Stunning new music, incredible live shows and a return to some normality (nobody say ‘new’ normal!), make 2021 a year that will live long in the memory for many reasons.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our The Year in Review 2021 feature and we wish you a very Happy New Year. Here’s hoping 2022 is a good one!

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Reading Festival unveil 2022 line-up!

News Report

Welcome to another edition of our News Report. We have festivals galore to report on this week as organisers look to get in on the Christmas shopping rush!

We’ll start with one of the biggest events on the planet, Reading and Leeds Festivals. This week saw the combined event reveal the first acts for 2022 including headline slots for Arctic Monkeys, Bring Me The Horizon and Rage Against The Machine!

If that wasn’t enough there are also sets from Wolf Alice, Enter Shikari, Fontaines D.C., Bastille, Fever 333 and Pale Waves. There are many, many more still to be announced too.

Tickets are here

Read our review of Bring Me The Horizon live in London

Victorious Festival announce Stereophonics and more

News Report

Taking place the same weekend will be Portsmouth’s Victorious Festival. This week the event announced their first wave of acts including Friday headliners Stereophonics.

Also playing over the weekend will be James, Nothing But Thieves, The Wombats, Self Esteem, We Are Scientists, Little Man Tate and more.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of Stereophonics live in Cambridge

Rebellion Festival reveal new R-Fest

News Report

Blackpool’s Rebellion Festival will next year include the new R-Fest. Taking place alongside the usual event, R-Fest will be part of the festival ticket or is purchasable as a standalone.

The outside event will feature headliners The Levellers, The Stranglers, Gary Numan and Squeeze.

They’ll be joined by The Wildhearts, Ferocious Dog, Beans On Toast, The Undertones, From The Jam, The Vapors, Peter Hook & The Light, Buzzcocks and more.

Tickets and information here.

Read our review of ’21st Century Love Songs’ from The Wildhearts

Burn It Down Festival reveals first acts for 2022

Torquay festival Burn It Down this week revealed the first acts for the 2022 edition. Taking place on 2nd and 3rd September, the event will feature a huge set from Dream State.

They will be joined by the likes of Tigercub, Gender Roles and Pupil Slicer.

Tickets are here.

Check out our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast on Youtube

Cambridge Folk Festival reveal first wave of 2022 acts

The festival announcements continue with Cambridge Folk Festival. The event revealed a host of acts for the 2022 return of the festival following the pandemic.

Acts playing the event include Passenger, Seasick Steve, This Is The Kit, Show Of Hands and Beans On Toast!

Tickets are here

Watch Beans On Toast on The Full Pelt Music Podcast

The Full Pelt Music Podcast – Episode 3 – Beans On Toast

Moseley Folk & Arts Festival reveal first acts for 2022

More festival goodness comes from Birmingham and the Moseley Folk & Arts Festival, which this week revealed their first acts for next year.

The line-up will be topped by Supergrass and Seasick Steve.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of Seasick Steve live in Norwich

Wide Awake Festival returns to Brockwell Park next year

Our final festival announcement comes from London event Wide Awake, which takes place in May in Brockwell Park

The two day event will feature a headline set from Primal Scream plus appearances from Working Men’s Club, Billy Nomates, Chubby & The Gang, Yard Act and many more.

Tickets are here.

Listen to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist on Spotify

My Chemical Romance add additional UK dates

On to tour announcements now as our News Report progresses. My Chemical Romance fans have been left desperate to catch their returning heroes with their much hyped reunion continuously delayed by the pandemic.

With all three Milton Keynes dates long sold out, fans will now have more opportunity to catch them when they finally do arrive. This week saw the band reveal extra dates including Warrington, Cardiff and Glasgow.

Tickets will be here.

Listen to our ‘Hard & Heavy’ Playlist

The Cure announce UK Tour

Another special tour announcement this week saw The Cure reveal a run of UK dates. Fans will have the opportunity to catch them in arenas across the UK next year.

Making the dates even better is support act The Twilight Sad!

Tickets are here

Read our review of Idlewild live in London

Jack White to play 2 London shows

Seeing out our tour announcement section of the News Report is the iconic Jack White.

White this week revealed a huge World Tour for next year. ‘The Supply Chain Issues Tour’ will include two nights in London at the Hammersmith Eventim Apollo in June.

Tickets are here.

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Read our review of Enter Shikari live in London

Categories
Live Reviews

Bring Me The Horizon

O2 Arena, London

Sunday 26th September 2021

Bring Me The Horizon

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BRING ME THE HORIZON – O2 ARENA – LIVE REVIEW

There is a tangible sense of excitement in the air at the O2 Arena. It may be a Sunday night, we may still be living in a pandemic world, there may be a fuel crisis and summer may be in the rear view mirror but tonight nothing else matters.

Tonight is all about a moment, a spectacle, a band ascending to a higher level. It’s a tired debate now really; are Bring Me The Horizon ready? Are they ready to headline festivals, ready to carry the mantle for heavy music, ready to take over the world?

If their live performances in recent years, their chart successes or even their cultivation of a cult-like fanbase aren’t evidence enough that they are already that band then what is? How about a sold out arena tour? How about another number one record in the form of ‘Post Human: Survival Horror’? Well, we are in London to find out.

Read our review of ‘Post Human: Survival Horror’

Up first are one of the most exciting young rock bands around, Nova Twins. Delays in entering the venue leave their crowd a little sparse but the attention of those in the venue is fully trained on the fierce power emanating from the stage. It’s a mesmerising performance from a prospective generational band.

Next on the famous stage are a band who previously headlined the venue in 2015. Since then You Me At Six have dabbled with nostalgia and experimented with new directions. It’s that amalgamation of experiences that has born their latest album ‘SUCKAPUNCH’.

Read our review of ‘SUCKAPUNCH’

The majority of their set tonight comes from their own number one album and the likes of ‘SUCKAPUNCH’ and ‘Beautiful Way’ are greeted with audience response equal to favourites ‘Lived A Lie’ and ‘Underdog’.

The highlight however is a certain Oliver Sykes partaking in an epic run through of ‘Bite My Tongue’. Tonight’s atmosphere is special and You Me At Six make the most of it with a performance that could’ve headlined again.

Instead our headline act is Bring Me The Horizon. At times a marmite band, in that you either love them or you hate them. The hate that the band generate these days however seems to come more from jealousy. How dare a band evolve, how dare a fanbase grow, how dare an alternative band enjoy mainstream success!

‘Post Human: Survival Horror’ seems to have swayed a fair few old school fans back into the fold, but the growth of the band comes from more than that. There is a genuine crossover now between the popular crowd and those that like it heavy.

The Linkin Park-esque ‘Teardrops’ is perhaps therefore a fitting opening number. There is then very little ease in the relentless parade of hits. This is a band now that can’t fit all their popular tracks into a single set list.

So the band now has a top class set list. They also have a premium stage show that perfectly fits the narrative of the evening. They can also pull in guest appearances from Nova Twins on ‘1×1’ and YUNGBLUD on ‘Obey’.

By the time the band finish with ‘Throne’ and ‘Can You Feel My Heart’ there isn’t an audience member in the sold out venue left in any doubt that this band has arrived. Bring Me The Horizon already are everything people argue they are or more to the matter are not! End the arguments now, embrace the future and just enjoy a heavy music success story.

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Check out Episode 7 of our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast with guests Miss Vincent

Categories
Magazine

News Report

We roundup the best music news from the past week!

Every week we roundup the best music news from the past week in our News Report. To stay up to date with the biggest news be sure to follow us on our social channels:

Frank Turner announces new single, album and UK Tour

Frank Turner News Report

Welcome to another edition of our weekly News Report where we roundup the best music new from the past week including single, album and tour announcements.

This week one artist has ticked all three of those boxes, as Frank Turner begins the next era of his career. Turner has revealed that his new album, ‘FTHC’ will arrive February 11th. You can pre-order the album here.

Those that do pre-order will be given priority access to tickets for his ‘Never Ending Tour of Everywhere’! Yes Turner will play a staggering 29 date tour in early 2022, dates for which you can see above.

Finally, giving fans a sample of what’s to come, Turner has debuted his latest single, ‘Haven’t Been Doing So Well’, which you can check out below.

For ticket and album details head here.

Frank Turner – ‘Haven’t Been Doing So Well’

Check out Frank Turner on our Full Pelt Music Podcast

Primal Scream celebrate 30 years of ‘Screamadelica’

Primal Scream News Report

Continuing on the tour announcement front, Primal Scream this week announced plans to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of ‘Screamadelica’. They will do this with a special tour and re-release of the album.

Tickets are here, and you can pre-order the album here.

Read our review of ‘The Ultra Vivid Lament’ from Manic Street Preachers

Alice Cooper and The Cult announce UK Tour

Alice Cooper The Cult News Report

Two iconic rock acts will join forces for a UK Tour next spring, as Alice Cooper and The Cult announce an arena run starting in Swansea and finishing in Leeds.

Find tickets here.

Read our review of ‘The Cycle Repeats’ from Planet Fatale

Turbowolf announce special tour

Another anniversary tour announced this week will see Turbowolf celebrate 10 years of their debut album. The band will play shows in Bristol, Manchester and London this November where they will also preview some new music.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of Royal Blood live at Norwich UEA

Bowling For Soup set for acoustic UK Tour

Jaret and Rob from Bowling For Soup will be heading to the UK this December for an intimate run of acoustic shows.

Tickets are here.

Read our review of Download Pilot Festival

TRNSMT Festival unveils 2022 lineup

On to the Festival portion of our News Report and following a successful 2021 event, Glasgow’s TRNSMT has already revealed the first acts for the 2022 edition.

Taking place from 8th to 10th July, Glasgow Green will welcome The Strokes, Paolo Nutini, Lewis Capaldi, Foals, Fontaines D.C., Wolf Alice, Jimmy Eat World and The Snuts!

Tickets are here.

Read our review of ‘Blue Weekend’ from Wolf Alice

Lytham Festival reveals stunning 2022 bill

Lytham Festival has revealed details for 2022 including the rescheduled 2021 dates. 2021 acts Diana Ross, Lewis Capaldi, Snow Patrol, Duran Duran and Lionel Richie will play Weekend 1.

Weekend 2 will include a date for The Strokes with guests Fontaines D.C. and a date featuring Tears For Fears, Alison Moyet and Natalie Imbruglia!

Tickets are here.

Listen to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist

Bring Me The Horizon debut ‘DiE4u’

Bring Me The Horizon – ‘DiE4u’

New music releases now as our News Report continues. First up is the new track from Bring Me The Horizon. Ahead of their upcoming UK Tour, the band this week debuted ‘DiE4u’ which you can check out above.

More ‘DiE4u’ listening options here.

Listen to ‘DiE4u’ on our Spotify Hot List!

Placebo return with first new single in 5 years!

Placebo – ‘Beautiful James’

Placebo returned this week with their first new single in 5 long years! You can check out ‘Beautiful James’ above. There are more listening options here.

Listen to ‘Beautiful James’ on our Spotify Hot List!

Dead Man’s Whiskey debut ‘Never Ever’

Dead Man’s Whiskey – ‘Never Ever’

Finally this week, new music from a great young band, Dead Man’s Whiskey. The band debuted ‘Never Ever’ this week ahead of the release of their EP ‘Breakout’ which you can pre-order here.

Check out our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast

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Read our review of ‘A Funeral For Youth’ from Miss Vincent