HELLRAISER X-MAS SPECIAL, BANSHEE LABYRINTH, EDINBURGH, DECEMBER 13 2024

 Friday 13th. I'm feeling lucky for my last gig of the year.

Line-up:

PRIAPISM: From Newcastle. Imagine CLUTCH playing tech/death metal. Or don't. Your choice.

VIDEO:https://youtu.be/enHlxxDjNxM      https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063464893966

ACIDSAURUS BONG: The dankest sludge/stoner/grind/doom/etc. Local lads with a recent new album to promote. Which they do.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/mKaAtGaxhfQ   https://www.facebook.com/acidsaurusbong

ACID AGE: War-jazz thrashers from Northern Ireland, in Scotland for the very first time. Hopefully they'll be back soon, because they were unreasonably good.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/Qmv9_LVfHZk    https://www.facebook.com/acidagethrash

ROBOT DEATH MONKEY: Local stoners. Like desert rock, if you were driving through the desert in a stupidly fast car with a broken silencer. And lots of beer.

Joined - briefly - at one point by some lad from, I think, BIG IRON. That's him there, in the photograph.

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/EoUx_lyXr3s   https://www.facebook.com/RobotDeathMonkey

Well, what a way to end the year. Four trios. Two old favourites and two new ones. Death/sludge nutters from Newcastle and a bunch of ridiculously talented Irish thrash lads. 

Merry Fudmas, and see you all next year.

RED CRUST CRUSTMAS BASH, LEGENDS, EDINBURGH, DECEMBER 7 2024

RED CRUST PROMOTIONS' 400th gig, in which Big Duncan donates all proceeds to cancer research charity. 

Once again, memory card issues makes it impossible to record ANY audio for this show, so there are no videos. But there are LOTS of photographs.

I miss a couple of bands, one because of logistical issues and the other because I was invited over to another venue across the road for an album release show which would've been rude to turn down.

Line-up:

TEMPORAL PROPHET: Nu-metalcore, apparently. Whatever THAT is. Only their second ever gig tonight, it seems.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564229074633

JOROGUMO: Hefty death/sludge from Glasgow named, so I'm told, after a shape-shifting Japanese monster. And why not?

https://www.facebook.com/jorogumogla

REVANICA: Goth-tinged alt-metal from local youngsters. The only band of the night to have a raccoon hanging from a mic stand.

https://www.facebook.com/revanicaband

DAL RIATA: Melodic death-metal telling stories from Celtic history/mythology. Featuring the sparkliest dress of the night

https://www.facebook.com/@DalRiataScot

ANOMOS: Melodic death/thrash with Santa hats and Xmas sweaters.

https://www.facebook.com/anomosbandofficial

MONI JITCHELL: Glaswegian noise-rock duo. My personal highlight of the show. Minimal equipment, maximal ferocity. Unreal.

https://www.facebook.com/monijitchell

Exdestrier

HEAVENQUEEN: Dutch symphonic metal, out on tour with ANNA KIARA. Were meant to play their own separate show, but visa issues caused a delay and they were added to the Fest line-up instead.

https://www.facebook.com/heavenqueen

ANNA KIARA: Symphonic power metal from The Netherlands, another late addition to the line-up. Went down well. Definitely the most impressive cape of the night.

Harbingers Drum Crew                            

                                                                                          Side Quest:     CABARET VOLTAIRE

                                                                                          ROBOT DEATH MONKEY: The 'hardest band in Scotland', trimmed down to a 2-piece for tonight (Except when they are joined by Craig from TKTE - playing an SG for a change - for a brisk cover of a MOUNTAIN song). Turbo-stoner drum'n'bass.

                                                        https://www.facebook.com/RobotDeathMonkey

                                                                                          THE KRYSS TALMETH EXPERIENCE: Psychedelic stoner-blues power trio showcasing their brand new album 'When the wheels Fall Off'. Normal service is resumed with Craig back on his usual Les Paul.

                                            https://www.facebook.com/KryssTalmeth

RAISED BY OWLS: Tongue-in-cheek grindcore from, rather vaguely, the UK, with a fondness for cheesy celebrities. And Mr. Blobby. Back for another try after killing the electricity in half of Edinburgh last time. To be fair, I don't THINK it was their fault.

https://www.facebook.com/RaisedByOwls`

Well, there's never been a festival where ALL of the bands have been entirely my cup of tea, and this one is no exception, but it's been mostly a lot of fun. And it's for a good cause. Here's to the next 400 RED CRUST gigs.