DREICH, WEE RED BAR, EDINBURGH, OCTOBER 30 2026

It's nearly Hallowe'en, so what better than a night of black metal?

Tonight's headliners were originally supposed to be HORRENDA, but they can't make it, so...

Line-up:

FEINMHARU: Glaswegian duo, drums and guitar/vocals. Very raw. The sort of black metal you might expect from a demented raven. Also tonight's promoter.

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/n1L35omVfgs  https://www.instagram.com/feinmharu666/

GRIEF INCARNATE: Late addition to the bill, after HORRENDA's pull-out. Not really 'black metal', more slam/death. Missing one guitarist tonight, due to the sickness. They seem a tad disappointed by the lack of 'throwdowns', but maybe it's not quite the right audience for that sort of thing.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/mLjY8dUI3Vw   https://www.instagram.com/grief_incarnateband/

DREICH: Aberdeen's kings of DSBM. Boosted up to headliners tonight. Sludgy and grim, the bleakest of metal. Fond of knotted ropes. Not, it seems, very fond of people.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/uJDWTOUbJak   https://www.facebook.com/dreichscotland

That's enough of the metal for now. Next post will feature something entirely different, and then it's a couple o' weeks off before the CORE fest. I've seen that hill in Glasgow, and I'm going to need the time to build up some strength...

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

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.