STONED STATUES, BANSHEE LABYRINTH, EDINBURGH, SEPTEMBER 25 2026

 RED CRUST PROMOTIONS back in action with a mixed bag of alt-metal in Edinburgh

Line-up:

ARCHANGEL: Local youngsters doing a hefty death-metal thing, mixing covers and originals. Unusually, the originals compare well with the covers. Also, I'm sure I've seen that singer before somewhere...

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/ohokn2NRxhE   https://www.instagram.com/archangel__music

VISHA: Unexpectedly chunky alt-metal from Perth. Perth, Scotland, obviously.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/3ER5bpIJHMY   https://www.facebook.com/vishaofficial

BAMBITOS: Irrepressable, funky alt-metal locals. Been around a while, and continue to get better every time I see them. Still very hard to get a pic of singer India.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/C09VPVgn6bA   https://www.instagram.com/bambitosband

STONED STATUES: Finnish alt-metallers kicking off their UK tour in Edinburgh, Anthemic, high energy and great fun.

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/-moZmL4yISk   https://www.facebook.com/stonedstatuesofficial

Thanks once again to Duncan at RED CRUST for having me along.

PAEIZI, BANSHEE LABYRINTH, EDINBURGH, SEPTEMBER 19 2026

 Everyone's favourite Scottish/Persian crossover metal band.

Line-up:

INSULIN PUMP: I know nothing about these lads. They might be awful. They might not.

Turns out they're not awful. Not entirely sure what they ARE, actually. Sort of jazz-light, a bit of pop, a bit of post-punk, They do, however have a saxophone, for which I will deduct one point.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/EoIIVxtXzkQ   https://www.instagram.com/insulinpumpband/

REVELATION 23: Local alt-metal trio. Last time I saw them they were just two, and they had a different drummer. They've gotten a bit more 'metal' now, too.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/FPvGLtjSDlw   https://www.instagram.com/revelation23band

PAEZI: The aforementioned Scottish/Persian crossover metal band. Nice to see them in a venue that isn't one of the horrible upstairs rooms in Mash House. They are, I think, at their best when the 'Persian' bit is allowed out to play. Otherwise quite grunge-y and, indeed, start things off with an AUDIOSLAVE cover (Show Me How To Live). Nice bluesy jam late on in the set, too.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/MVqKVkBVTjg   https://www.instagram.com/paeiziproject

DREICH, BANSHEE LABYRINTH, EDINBURGH, FEBRUARY 21 2026

METAL MAYHEM, Vol. 7: IN ETREMIS. Apparently.

It's good to see a metal show featuring a wide range of humans - male, female, non-binary, trans, etc - on stage and in the crowd with NOBODY being a dick about it. We need more of this.

Line-up:

THE BLEACHED: Blackened death from Dundee, not to be confused with other bands/artists of the same name. That singer will be back later.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/Rny87fZkPDY  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574675222812

MARAIGH: Blackened crusty gothy alt-metal from (mostly) Glasgow. Playing tonight with JENNY, sitting in on drums at short notice.

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/PvNL-DQH07E             https://www.facebook.com/Maraighband

MISOPHONIA: Glaswegian progressive melodeath metal. Last time I saw these folks they were having a really bad time. They were missing a guitarist, they hated the venue and they were having endless tech issues. Tonight, they are in a much happier place, although the gremlins are not entirely absent.

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/4bfWohFAG1Y  https://www.facebook.com/Misophoniauk

DREKAVAC: Black metal, masked and leathery, from 'the cold north of the UK', AKA Scotland. Impractical teeth on that lad with the guitar.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/7GSSDxhhTjY    https://www.facebook.com/Drekavacmusic

DREICH: I have seen DREICH before, but I'm not convinced that that's the same singer. This one seems smaller, and has less beard. Still quality atmospheric black metal, still from Aberdeen. Joined for a song by the lad from THE BLEACHED, as you will be able to see from the video below. 

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/HGAWnqtWXzU   https://www.facebook.com/dreich.doom