Anti-Flag decided to hold their own festival this year. Aptly named AntiFest, the event took place at The Forum in Hatfield, a venue which has played host to many festivals and all-dayers in the past. With a solid punk/rock line-up I was really looking forward to the event. Unfortunately, due to train delays (Thanks First Capital Connect!) I missed out on the first couple of acts, but made it just in time to see Exeter’s finest, The Computers play an awesome 30 minute set. The highlight was the performance of “Music Is Dead”.

Next up were The Menzingers. Having been robbed in Manchester the night before, it was great seeing continue with their live dates. Even after being robbed of $10,000 worth of stuff, the band powered through an amazing set. The band put a lot of energy in to their performance and this was reflected by the reception and reaction of the Hatfield crowd. The highlight of the set was the eccentric performance of “Mexican Guitars”.

Penultimate band of the evening, The Skints did not disappoint. After seeing them on the You Me At Six tour last month, I knew that they were going to put on a stellar performance. I was not wrong. They are a band that keeps getting better every time you see them. They were truly appreciated by the Hatfield crowd. The band were tight musically and every song was pulled off flawlessly. Expect big things from these guys in the near future.

If there was one word to sum up Anti-Flag‘s set tonight it would be EPIC. The energy generated by the Pittsburgh punk-rockers was something that had to be seen. From the first chord strummed and first note sung, the Hatfield crowd burst into a frenzy of circle pits and moshing. The atmosphere in the room was amazing. With a back catalogue of nine albums, the band played something from every release keeping old and new fans happy. Highlights from the set were “Cities Burn” and “1 Trillion Dollars”. Overall a brilliant set – Hopefully we’ll see Anti-Flag back over here before the end of the year.

I have been itching since the ‘Sound of Madness’ to get new material from Shinedown. The powerful vocals of Brent Smith and the booming bass drums and savage guitar licks are too infectious not to love and crave. Well I was not disappointed by what their latest full length album had to offer. After the album opener, ‘Adrenaline’, we have Shinedown’s latest single, ‘Bully’. This track, for me, captures all that Shinedown are about, powerful vocals, thick bass, and glossy yet dirty guitar riffs. It is the perfect mixture of raw carnage and subliminal blissfulness.

Shinedown seem to effortlessly make epic rock ballads without seeming cheap or cheesy. This album, much like their previous albums, is full of them. Personal favorites include ‘Miracle’ and “I’ll Follow You” which never fail to run the occasional shiver down your spine.

Shinedown will play on the final day at Download Festival and I strongly advise all to see the spectacle that is their live show. If you think they sound good on record, you have yet to hear how good they sound live.

On April 2nd, Lostprophets released their latest album ‘Weapons’ through Epic Records. It has been long awaited, but after listening, it was worth the wait. Fans had already had a taster of what was to come with ‘Bring ‘Em Down’ and ‘Better Off Dead’, which were made available before the albums release, so fans knew the power of what was to come.

The first track on the album, ‘Bring ‘Em Down’, which is also the latest single from the Welsh sextet, will make any Losprophets fan, old or new, yelp with joy. It is everything you want from a Lostprophets track, its punchy, epic, powerful and of course, in true Lostprophets fashion, has a great chorus melodic chanting going on. On this note, the next track ‘We Bring an Arsenal’ also offers much of the same attributes. A great way to start such a highly anticipated album.

What is beautiful about this album is that it truly grasps what Losptprophets are about. It ranges from stylistic features of ‘A Fake Sound of Progress’ all the way to ‘The Betrayed’ meaning that no fan will be left disappointed. We all know that if you want a rock anthem, Losprophets will bring it, and this album is full of them. Songs such as ‘Jesus Walks’ and ‘Heart on Loan’ really stand out strong for me.

The album was produced by Ken Andrews in Hollywood and is evident through its grit, but yet undoubtable glossy-ness. The album was co-produced and has additional engineering from Romesh Dodabgoda which will ensure that the album, despite being recorded away from the valleys, will still have the homely feel we wouldn’t want to miss out on.

Lostprophets are back, and they are better than ever. You would be a fool to miss them on their upcoming tour this April/May.

Not only does tonight feature one of the hottest bands on the UK rock scene, but it also includes an excruciatingly good support with the likes of ‘Kids and Glass Houses and Mayday Parade’ on the bill.

The first band on tonight, “The Skints” seemed out of place and failed to fully engage the crowd. Never the less, they seemed like talented musicians, and very nice people. It was simply not the right forum for them. Next up was ‘Mayday Parade’ who seemed to bring along a loyal gathering of fans with them tonight. Rocking through such hits like ‘When I Get Home You’re So Dead’, the fans got what they wanted. However, and speaking as a fan of the band, compared to the next two bands to play, they sounded weak and their sound was drowned in the venue tonight. It was time for ‘Kids in Glass Houses’, not strangers on the scene, and we can see why. They played through hits such as ‘Animals’, ‘Saturday’ and ‘Give Me What I Want’ which pleases fans old and new. Their energy is terrific and their sound is lush and powerful.

Finally it was time for the main attraction. The venue tonight was packed, hot, sweaty and eager for what seems to be everyones favorite band at the moment. People had been queuing for hours, and we were about to see why.

Coming on stage to ‘When We Were Younger’, the band exploded into the first single off their latest album, ‘Sinners Never Sleep’. It was received with excitement and passion from the crowd and was a great indication of how the evening would continue. What was great about tonights set was that it featured all the great new tracks off their latest album but also previous albums. You Me At Six played through tracks such as ‘Safer To Hate Her’, ‘Trophy Eyes’. ‘The Consequence’ and ‘The Swarm’ before closing tonights set with ‘Bite My Tongue’. They brought a great production back-line with them which added to the immense reality of what they have become. Fans will be very proud of the the Surrey five-piece tonight.

I have followed You Me At Six since the begining. I have seen them in arenas, clubs and student unions. They are at the top of their game and it can only get better. They will headline the second stage at Download Festival in eight weeks time.

Once the clouds of perspiration have settled and the tepid tap water has been fairly distributed it turns to Sheffield natives Rolo Tomassi to keep the energy high with their synth laden experimental jazzcore. Right from the off there’s a sense of Rolo’s quitter more reflective moments sticking out alongside Stray From The Path’s restless energy. The slightly bemused audience aside, what they do, they do well and we’re even treated to some new material off their upcoming 3^rd studio album which sounds beyond promising. There’s so much going on throughout any one song that you get to feel a real sense of the band pushing the boundaries within what often feels like a very stagnant genre. The treat of new tracks mixed with Eva Spence’s contradictory vocal ability which shocks and encapsulates the unsuspecting audience as she howls and bounds across the stage before easing off into a siren like fragile tone makes it a set well worth missing the last few minutes of fabled Belfast sunshine for.

As Architects take to the stage you can feel from their sheer presence and the devotion directed towards them from their fans that after 4 albums over the course of 7 years these guys know exactly what they’re doing. From start to finish it’s a polished and tight set full of intricate breakdowns and meticulously timed moments of knowing when to ask the crowd for more.  Aside from the brief distraction of a fight which sparks an impassioned speech from frontman Sam Carter about how nobody came here tonight for violence things all go to plan. Architects strength lie in their focus on creating interesting and expressive riffs and their ability to always push themselves to deliver that little bit extra both in the studio and on stage. It’s a strength which will undoubtedly pay off when their fifth studio album Daybreaker comes out this May. After a final push and brief guest reappearance from Eva Spence the windmilling crowd gratefully accept one final stage dive before stampeding home in a sweaty contented bliss.

Warming up tonights crowd was Tek One, providing fans a diverse array of music to pump them for the main attraction and to keep them entertained. The popular Young Guns were the main support and has brought an army of fans along with them too judging by their reception and the amount of Young Guns merchandise being sported by punters. Fresh off of last months release of their latest studio album, ‘Bones’, they fired through the songs including fan favorites such as ‘The Weight of the World’ and ‘Stitches’.

The time had come for what everything had been waiting for. Enter Shikari. Beginning the set with ‘System…’ from their latest album and crunching straight through to ‘Meltdown’ gave the crowd a good chance to sample the mayhem that would be the rest of the set. What was perfect about tonight’s set, was the diversity of material from all of their albums, pleasing fans old and new. Enter Shikari tonight had brought their game and sounded brilliant playing through tracks such as ‘Return to Energiser’, ‘Mothership’, ‘Search Party’ and ‘Arguing with Thermometers’. As always, the set included some remixed versions of songs which, in my opinion, is always nice as it keeps the crowd entertained and gives us something different to witness if you have seen the band live before.

It was clear that Enter Shikari pulled out all the stops for tonights performance and were accompanied by some very hefty production and a very complex light show. This year it will be hard to find a gig that will match the raw atmosphere, production and energy that tonight provided.

Dear Superstar: Micky Satiar

Having seen this Manchester 5 piece play the legendary Download Festival last June, I knew I was in for a treat. Playing main support to Chicago rockers Kill Hannah, I can safely say that Dear Superstar were worth the ticket price alone.

Kicking things off with “Damned Religion”, the band powered through a brilliant set. The Manchester quintet put a lot of energy into their performance and this showed with the roaring reception from the London crowd.

One of the highlights from the set was “Our City Sleeps”. Being my favourite track on “Damned Religion”, I was really looking forward to seeing the track being pulled off in a live environment. It was played flawlessly.

Overall, a brilliant energetic set. I look forward to Dear Superstar’s return to the capital.

Kicking things off were Sheffield metallers, While She Sleeps. Having seen this band a few times before, one thing that you will notice is the amount of raw energy and emotion the guys put into their set. Without a doubt they delivered this tonight. Stand out tracks were “Crows” and “Believe”. Overall the band played a tight set and got the crowd warmed up for the bands to follow.

Next up were Los Angeles own, Letlive. If I could describe them in one word it would be WOW. They put on an aggressive hard hitting set which the London crowd loved. “Muther” was the stand out track from the set.

The Blackout were the penultimate act on tonight’s bill. The band were added late to the tour due to Sum 41 pulling out last minute. The Welsh rockers put on a fast paced high energy set. Highlights were Gavin Butler doing the worm in “Save Ourselves” and the epic cover of “Fat Lip”.

Closing the show and final date of the Kerrang! Tour 2012 were New Found Glory. They were disappointing to say they least. Don’t get me wrong, they are a brilliant band on record, but live, they just don’t cut it. Although the songs were pulled of flawlessly, the band weren’t putting the same amount of emotion and energy into their set as per the other bands on the bill. Highlights were “Kiss Me” and their cover of Green Day hit “Basket Case”.

This evening’s main support came by Pennsylvania’s own Halestorm who offer us no frolics, straight up, hard rock. Fronted by lead singer and rhythm guitarist Elizabeth “Lzzy” Hale, who is a personal friend of tonight’s main attraction, the band storm through a pleasing mixture of alternative metal, finishing with 2009’s crowd pleasing hit “I Get Off”.  Lzzy Hale exhibited her incredible vocals and warmed up the venue in anticipation for the headliners in a very neat fashion.

The fans milling around the Roundhouse range from seasoned rockers to teenagers showing that one thing can be shared and appreciated amongst all music fans, which is quality. Shinedown are just that.

Opening their set with the title track from their third album “The Sound of Madness”, Shinedown don’t hold back on hitting hard from the minute they take the stage. As always with the Jacksonville four-piece, the bass is booming, drums are tight, guitar playing is perfected and vocals pitch perfect. Personally I believe that frontman Brent Smith has one of the best vocals in hard rock today.

Shinedown power through many of their hits including “Devour”, “Cyanide Sweet Tooth” and “Diamond Eyes”, from the soundtrack of “The Expendables”, but also play homage to many of their classic tracks such as “Save Me”, “45” and Lynyrd Skynyrd‘s “Simple Man”. Also the band took the opportunity to preview some tracks from their new album “Amaryllis” which comes out this March.

Shinedown never disappoint, and have further secured themselves as one of the best hard rock bands out there today.

Setlist:

1. Sound Of Madness

2. Enemies

3. Devour

4. If You Only Knew

5. Cyanide Sweet Tooth Suicide

6. Save Me

7. Adrenaline

8. The Crow & The Butterfly

9. Diamond Eyes (Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom)

10. 45

11. Bully

12. Simple Man (Lynyrd Skynyrd cover)

13. Second Chance

14. Fly From The Inside