INSIDIOUS VOID, BANSHEE LABYRINTH, EDINBURGH, OCTOBER 9 2026

Something of a last minute addition to the diary, this one. The latest HELLRAISER event at t'Banshee. Just time to squeeze this one in before RIPCORD 2 in Glasgow.

Line-up:

CULT OF SOBEK: Local doom/sludge trio, back in action and unusually visible. None of that pesky smoke tonight. Just as hefty as ever, though. Guest appearance from an inflatable crocodile god.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/lYrODN5T-lw   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088422994440

LUDDITE: New band, familiar faces. Members of DEGRASSI, THE EXPLOITED, and many, many other bands. Difficult to genrify. Maybe a bit grungey, or maybe not. Never knew Michael Branagh was such a good singer, though. Only their second ever gig.

Not sure about that logo, though. Very 80s.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/49CiiDQjM-A   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561096855700

INSIDIOUS VOID: Belfast blackened death metal trio. Brutal riffing, but very few jokes. Also no inflatable crocodiles.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/e-ulC2Yr0kw   https://www.facebook.com/InsidiousVoid

GOBLINSMOKER, LEGENDS, EDINBURGH, JUNE 28 2025

Newcastle's premier Toad King worshippers return to Edinburgh for RED CRUST PROMOTIONS' last gig before Duncan takes a well earned break.

Line-up:

SOLAR SONS: Old school hairy heavy metal from Dundee with an evident fondness for IRON MAIDEN, which will become clear. For fans of galloping riffs, beards, etc. Slightly extended set tonight, because of the below.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/PXjbPlcI65M   https://www.facebook.com/solarsonsofficial

CULT OF SOBEK:  Sadly pulled out, because it seems the singer has picked up some heinous lurgy from the fetid swamps of the Nile, or something.

GOBLINSMOKER: Out on tour promoting their new album, part 3 of the Toad King trilogy, 'The King's Eternal Throne'. Slightly extended set tonight, because of the above. As expected, new tunes are played. Not, to be fair, radically different from the OLD songs. But, then, why would they be?

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/Xo8iJ3ARp8s   https://www.facebook.com/Goblinsmoker

And with that, Big Duncan at Red Crust takes a step back from gig promotion, to have some well-earned family time. But he'll be back, eventually. He has plans...

HUNDRED YEAR OLD MAN, LEGENDS, EDINBURGH, NOVEMBER 26, 2024

One of my most anticipated gigs of the year. Two of the finest post-metal bands in the country, together, in one place.

Line-up:

CULT OF SOBEK: Waiter, bring me some crocodile doom, and make it snappy! Sorry, couldn't resist. Anyway, you should be familiar with these crocodilian lads by now. Crushing, grinding and harsh. Definitely not snappy. Sometimes I find it hard to be sure, but I think they play a bunch of new stuff tonight, from a gestating new record. Which will be girthy.

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/Ab3Cf5nqY_8   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088422994440

CODESPEAKER: Local post-metal titans, fully loaded with new songs, out on tour with HYOM. New album 'Scavenger' has been receiving top reviews everywhere, and here we can see why. New songs are, I reckon, harder and angrier than the old and singer Greg looks like a man possessed. Thee two new kids seem to know what they're doing, too. Which helps. But, bugger me, it's hard to get a decent pic of them, what with their demonic red lighting and thick smoke. 

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/6qZwfX_5Qpk   https://www.facebook.com/codespeakertheband

HUNDRED YEAR OLD MAN: I make no apology for lavishing praise upon HYOM at any and every opportunity. They are the best post-metal band in the country right now. I would sell my children for a chance to see them play. They seem to have regrouped following their tragic loss and are in a much happier place now, but are still emotionally devastating. They hit me hard, right in the 'feels'. And they can continue to do that as often as they like.

Thanks to Duncan at Red Crust for bringing this tour to Edinburgh. Gig of the Year.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/2NwPfK7r84I   https://www.facebook.com/hundredyearoldman

HELLRAISER NIGHT, BANSHEE LABYRINTH, EDINBURGH, MAY 10 2024

 The Banshee's regular rock'n'metal night returns with a typically assorted line-up.

Line-up:

MAIN PRIMATE: Seasoned veterans, former and current members of any number of local indie/post-punk bands, giving off serious slacker vibes. Frontman Hugh playing with a broken machine-head, apparently causing his guitar to go out of tune. No-one noticed, so it couldn't have been that bad.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/jn5s4nlpgEE   https://www.facebook.com/MPrimate20

CULT OF SOBEK: Arguably the heaviest offering on tonight's bill, local 'crocodilian doom' trio play in deep gloom and swirling fog, crushing the audience under the sheer weight of their sound. During their last song, bass-monster Harry McCardle's instrument breaks down, but they carry on regardless. Oddly, the lack of bass seems to accentuate the viciousness of the music, rather than detract from it. Somehow, though, I don't think it'll be a regular feature.

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/cRbqVD-_q9Q   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088422994440

BATTALIONS: 'Pure Humber sludge' all the way from Kingston-upon-Hull, the only non-local band of the night put the boot in and deliver a sound kicking to the Banshee crowd. I don't think they broke any instruments.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/APNBXUUV-kI   https://www.facebook.com/BattalionsSludge

RED CRUST FEST, PART 4, VARIOUS VENUES, EDINBURGH MARCH 31 2024

 Last lap. Something of a 'stoner' day today at LA BELLE ANGELE, featuring young upstarts, legendary veterans and a fair bit of stuff  in between. And something at the end to blow the cobwebs away.

VENUE: LA BELLE ANGELE:

Line-up:

FULL MONTIES: The aforementioned young upstarts, playing mostly covers and a few originals. A different selection of covers, though, including the likes of DOORS and CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL. Originals showing a fondness for QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, too. An unexpected offering from a bunch of kids. They need to change their name, though. FULL MONTIES brings to mind a bunch of middle-aged men doing terrible pub-rock covers at a bowling club Christmas party.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/Pou81QSB_r8   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091680182158

CULT OF SOBEK: Grinding doom from local worshippers of the Crocodile God. Very dark.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/VQt2T45ULYg  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088422994440

DUSKWOOD: Sturdy stoner rock from the deep south...well, Yeovil, actually. Back in Edinburgh for the first time in a few years.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/c9j2IsQN-sA  https://www.facebook.com/duskwoodmusic

BIG IRON: Oliver Wardell's newest hard rockin' project, in which he does singing and not guitaring, for a change. Big fun.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/MwIIW_pNFVM   https://www.facebook.com/bigironisbig

SAINT KARLOFF: Heavy duty stoner trio from the deserts of Norway. 

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/SjS3R_PPoMc  https://www.facebook.com/SaintKarloff

RITUAL KING: Sticking with the hefty stoner theme, here we have Manchester's RITUAL KING.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/MscrN7_B4qo   https://www.facebook.com/ritualking

ALAIN JOHANNES/EARLOF HELL:  A legendary figure in the desert rock/grunge scene. At times, with our eyes closed, we could be listening to MARK LANEGAN or QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, but it's all ALAIN JOHANNES. Backed on this tour by local scamps EARL OF HELL, whose own set I missed earlier.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/NgJOtUWEQyE   https://www.facebook.com/alainjohannesmusic

ELEPHANT TREE: Headlining the main stage, bluesy, progressive stoner/doom sort of thing from London. If they've ever played Edinburgh before, it was a long time ago. It would be nice to see them back soon.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/aL5R4vALSAo   https://www.facebook.com/elephanttreeband

That's Sunday at La Belle over and done, and I am very nearly dead. But there is still something to see to before I actually die, so it's a quick dash round the corner to...

VENUE:  LEGENDS 

COFFIN MULCH: Something completely different from Glaswegian death metallers getting all shouty and aggressive in our faces. Which is nice.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/olYY_zCFMbc   https://www.facebook.com/coffinmulch

Right, that's it. Four days of metal, and I'm totally done. I can barely stand up and I've still got to drive home. I've got a few days off, and then it's STRANGEFORMS time. But that's for later. In the meantime, thanks to DUNCAN MOUNTAIN and everybody at RED CRUST for having me, and for putting on a remarkable weekend of metal in all (or most, anyway) of  its forms. I'm assured that plans are already brewing for next time, when the Fest will be back, bigger and, arguably, better. Hopefully, I'll have recovered by then.