IDIOGRAM, THE CAVES, EDINBURGH, MARCH 22 2025

Stepping away from the Metal entirely, this time, with post-rock/prog quartet IDIOGRAM finally hosting the release show for their (very) long-awaited debut album, 'Reunion of Broken Parts'

Line-up:

SLY DIG: A twiddler of knobs, a maker of excellent hypnotic ambient electronic soundscapes. Mostly quiet, occasionally loud. Nice swirly visuals on the wall behind.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/pzEfcdZKxnU

MATILDA BROWN: Windswept folk/jazz/drone, visuals by Farhad Ahmed. Meatloaf/Streisand covers not included.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/n0XPTLZy3Es  https://www.facebook.com/matildabrown2

IDIOGRAM: Never been entirely sure how to neatly describe IDIOGRAM. They do instrumental, jazz-flavoured proggy post-rock. With bits of other stuff. Anyway, they're here to launch their 'new' album, an album which has been gestating since before Covid, at least six years, and tonight they're going to play it in full. And they do.

(Before I go on, I must relate a bizarre 'conversation' that occurred as I was waiting for Idiogram to come on. I was approached by an elderly man, who started the following exchange:

Old Man: Are you with the Drakes?

Me, baffled: Sorry, what?

O.M.: The Drakes. Are you with the Drakes?

Me, still baffled: I'm just a punter.

O.M. I'm just a punter too, but I don't want to get ripped off. Who owns all of this? (gestures around) Is it the London boys?

Me: Sorry, I have no idea.

O.M. I'll bet it's those London Boys. (wanders off)

Me: ???)

It's an impressive and ambitious show. The music is captivating, and the accompanying visuals - by SAM HEALY of BOARDGAME - fill the room with swirling, pulsating light. Idiogram look like a seasoned band who have been gigging for years, belying the truth that they've only played a handful of shows before. Also, I'd forgotten what a fine venue the Caves is. Great sound, great space. 

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/lWRQgKcWMWA   https://www.facebook.com/idiogram.band

PARIAH, LEGENDS, EDINBURGH, MARCH 15 2025

Another RED CRUST mixed bag of noisy, shouty stuff, featuring sludge, crust, hardcore, post-metal etc

Incidentally, I've recently found out that Duncan at RED CRUST does all of these posters himself. Nice work, Duncan.

Line-up:

A.V.L: Local crusty sludge trio. Bass and drums and vocals. Got there late and only managed to catch their last song. Would have liked to have seen more.

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/afmPbVeiZ8I    https://www.facebook.com/avlband

RAZOR SHARP DEATH BLIZZARD: Local scene veterans. Crusty and shouty, and in no way fond of politicians.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/QWFRsWofOhg   https://www.facebook.com/razorsharpdeathblizzard

EXDESTRIER:  Blackened prog-sludge stoners. Or something like that. Or not at all like that. Now NOT featuring TOMMY CONCRETE on guitar, but with the venerable STU GORDON instead.

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/QQ3Y6wNjw1A   https://www.facebook.com/Exdestrier

BED OF WASPS: Blackened hardcore. From Dundee, but we mustn't let that put us off. Clearly not Tories.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/CxFT6SPqSQk   https://www.facebook.com/BedOfWasps

PARIAH: Angry and bruisingly loud hardcore/post-metal crossover. Great stuff, but far too short, only playing for 18 minutes. Twice that would've been nice, but that's all they've got. Hopefully, they'll be back with more soon. Also, an early front-runner for Beard of the Year.

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/4z2SiQgafbw   They don't do Facebook, so here's a Bandcamp link.  https://pariahnoise.bandcamp.com/album/violence-is-a-curse 

BAMBITOS, BANSHEE LABYRINTH, EDINBURGH, MARCH 8 2025

 A step away from the recent spate of death-metal. Something a wee bit different from RED CRUST.

I'm entirely used to being older than most of the people onstage at gigs, but tonight even my children are older than everybody up there. Also, all of the bands featured here tonight are clearly far too cool for Facebook. I suspect that Instagram would be the place to look for them. That's where all of the young people hang out these days, is it not?

Line-up:

SOL MORTIS: The first of tonight's young hopefuls. It's not easy to work out exactly what it is that SOL MORTIS do, because they play only a few originals and mostly do covers, including the likes of THE CRANBERRIES, PARAMORE(I think) and, rather ambitiously, TOOL. Some kind of proggy alt-rock perhaps? This might well be their first proper gig, and their singer is clearly nervous. They're still finding their way, and just need more experience, and more original songs.

SERPENT: Confidence is something not lacking with these young fellows. Again, though, it's mostly covers - the usual kind of stuff you'd expect from a young 'groove-metal' band, including METALLICA, MOTORHEAD, PANTERA, BLACK SABBATH, LIMP BIZKIT, etc - with a smattering of sturdy originals, all delivered with the bravado of a band with years of experience. If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be for the singer to ditch the tie around the forehead. 

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/QDVjA_ynw9E

BAMBITOS: Tonight's headliners, alt-rockers absolutely bursting with youthful energy. A set of mostly original songs barring, I think, just the one cover - a turbulent version of the DEAD KENNEDYS' 'California uber Alles' for which they are joined by SERPENT's singer, and during which I get punted onto the stage by the seething crowd. And a 'crowd' it certainly is, in a sold out Banshee. These kids are POPULAR and, if there is any justice, have good things ahead of them. 

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/4t7QASz3E6Q