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

FLESHTIVAL, LA BELLE ANGELE, EDINBURGH, AUGUST 15 2026

Edinburgh's premier (only?) metal festival, brought to La Belle by those nice HELLRAISER chaps. Some bands making a lot of noise. Some familiar faces. Some less so. Some serious beards.

Line-up:

FRAIL AND ROTTING: Things are running late. Anyway, these death-metal kids are playing only their second gig, but you really can't tell. Watch out for them in the future.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/jhrgvun9Uk4   https://www.instagram.com/frail_and_rotting

RAZOR SHARP DEATH BLIZZARD: From new kids to grizzled veterans. Ever present on the punk/metal scene since the dawn of time. Joined for a song or two by LUKE from 100 FEET OF TEETH/DOG TIRED.

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

KAKIHARA: Crowd-bothering beatdoon merchants. 

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/xciIqcH7WYc   https://www.facebook.com/kakihara.life

BATTALIONS: I have no idea what happened to BATTALIONS. Perhaps their absence explains the late start...

100 FEET OF TEETH: Thunderous deathsludge from new local 'supergroup'. featuring members of DOG TIRED, ACIDSAURUS BONG, Etc.

VIDEO:  

OVERTHROW: London death metallers. Leather, bullet belts, and indoor shades.

HAMMER: Had to skip out to retrieve the car and totally missed HAMMER, mostly because of insane Festival traffic and parking issues. Damn it, I hate Edinburgh during the Festival...

DIGGETH: Sludgy Dutch stoners. Unquestionably the beard of the day.

IRON ALTAR: Veteran band, new songs, and new line-up. Now featuring, on guitar, EV from HAMMER.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/s3dN63TSRHU   https://www.facebook.com/ironaltarmetal

TEN TON SLUG: M(oll)uscular sludgy riffs from Ireland.

VIDEO:    https://youtu.be/GQeaihBivNM   https://www.facebook.com/TenTonSlug

And finally, some random bloke who joined KAKIHARA for a bit of extra vocals.