February gig picks
After the bare month that is January, the gigs are slowly picking up, enough for us to give you some recommendations!
Rammstein
German industrial rockers Rammstein are heading over for headline arena tour! They are a spectacle to behold, both musically and visually. It’ll be a night you’ll never forget, don’t miss out!
Shinedown
American rock group Shinedown are touching down on UK soil next month for a string of dates with Halestorm in tow. Their heavy riffs and Brent Smith’s vocals are not to be missed! They have a new album Amaryllis, due out in March. Tickets here.
Misfits
2011 saw the first release of new material from horror punk group Misfits in 12 years. Despite only having one original members left in the group in Jerry Only, we’d still recommend you go see them! Dates can be found here.
Big Country
After the success of last years tour and to celebrate their 30th anniversary, Scottish group Big Country are back on tour. With the promise of new material later in the year, it is a must for all BC fans! Get your tickets here.
Misfits - The Devil’s Rain
Pioneers of rock, heroes of horror punk and with a past members list longer than Guns N’ Roses, the Misfits have returned with their first studio album in 8 years. Naturally there has been a slight line up change, with Eric Acre coming in on drums.
Title track The Devil’s Rain is up first and unsurprisingly opens with a thunderstorm. Slower than the usual frantic pace associated with the group, the track still possesses typical attributes you expect from the Misfits: heavy riffs, solid drums and a strong vocal from the only remaining original member and co-founder, Jerry Only. This sets up the rest of the album, full of melodrama, horror influenced sounds and terror tales. Despite the critical elements being there, the opening tracks still make it feel like there is something missing to make the album truly captivating. The album as a whole doesn’t have any particularly weak tracks, Land Of The Dead and Father providing highlights. They hint more back to the Misfits of old and easily hold your attention. Infact, the more the album progresses, so does the music, sounding much like the Misfits that captured the punk rock audiences in the late seventies.
Many will make comparison to the original Danzig era and feel new material would never live up to the old. On this showing I am torn; first half of the album I would agree, second half not so much. The Devil’s Rain is not a bad album, far from it; it maybe just posses weaker tracks than the bands previous work. As a Misfits fan, I’m glad they’re still around!
Songs I’d Recommend: Land Of The Dead, Father, Jack The Ripper
Laura Woodhead
