MEDUSA TOUCH, FORGED IN SCOTLAND, BANSHEE LABYRINTH, EDINBURGH, JUNE 19 2026

The first FORGED IN SCOTLAND showcase, brought to us by SCOTLAND ROCKS RADIO, a radio station based in Scotland which plays rock music.

Line-up:

8TH CIRCLE: Unpretentious and unapologetic heavy metal. kinda thrash-tinged NWOBHM thing

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/L9kt_X33aLk   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095303110208  https://www.instagram.com/8thcircleband

BLACK LESION: The only band on the bill that I've seen before. Chunky, grungey metal, flavours of Soundgarden and a hint of Tool.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/FoVVQtaoims   https://www.facebook.com/BlackLesion  https://www.instagram.com/blacklesionband

MEDUSA TOUCH: Old-school NWOBHM. Been around since the Eighties. MIGHT sound just a tad like Saxon.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/aEui0Af6-C8   https://www.facebook.com/medusatouch   https://www.instagram.com/medusatouchrocks

DELIVERING THE GOODS, BANNERMAN'S, EDINBURGH, AUGUST 30 2025

Now, it's no secret that I don't have a lot of time for tribute bands, so you might be wondering what I'm doing here tonight. Well, please allow me to clarify. DELIVERING THE GOODS is not really a 'tribute band'. It's more of a 'homage'. Put together by Ali Lauder of  any number of local extreme metal bands, it's a one-off* celebration of JUDAS PRIEST, featuring a set of deep cuts and album tracks. None of the 'greatest hits'. It's also Ali's 40th birthday**, and this is how he wants to mark it. And it's in aid of CATS PROTECTION, which is a very good thing.

* - Yes, I know they've played before, but it was just the once and I wasn't there.

** - Coincidentally, it was Rob Halford's 74th birthday a few days ago.

INTERESTING FACT (and yes, it absolutely IS a fact) - my next door neighbour's name is Judith Priest.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I don't actually like Judas Priest, but I DO like cats.

Line-up:

TYMVOS: Edinburgh-based death metal. Does exactly what it says on the tin. Got some new songs to play tonight, one of which you can find below.

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/Q-5ehFX1c_4   https://www.facebook.com/Tymvosband

PENNY COFFIN: Glaswegian death metal. Brutal and very, very loud. My ears will still be ringing two days later.

VIDEO:   https://youtu.be/BcmAsxWkcSM  https://www.facebook.com/pennycoffindeath   

DELIVERING THE GOODS: Featuring members of BARSHASKETH, AGELESS SUMMONING, VOID OF LIGHT, BLACK TALON and IRON ALTAR. I wonder how many cows died to leather up this bunch of big lads. Regardless of my dislike for covers bands and Judas Priest, this is great fun. Probably helped by their avoidance of 'greatest hits'. The only title I recognise is 'Hell Bent for Leather', which you can enjoy in the video below. I am also impressed by Ali's remarkable vocal range, hitting heights I've never heard from him before.

VIDEO:  https://youtu.be/2-lzaskObhM

WE CAME FROM THE NORTH, BANNERMAN'S, EDINBURGH, NOVEMBER 14 2021

A real mixed bag, this one. A charity event at Bannerman's featuring local Post-rock, post-metal, and regular metal bands rising cash for mental health charities.

Line-up:

WE CAME FROM THE NORTH: Top class post-rock, heftier than many metal bands. Apologies for Iain's unfortunate use of the 'man-bun'

CODESPEAKER: Post-metal/post-hardcore mash up, with tonight's promoter, Duncan Mountain of RED CRUST filling in on bass. Duncan doesn't play bass.

HAMMER: Heavy metal.With a name like that, who'd've guessed?

RAZOR SHARP DEATH BLIZZARD: Punky metal.Definitely not Tory voters. Oddly, there's no video for them at this gig.

ANOMOS: 'Groove infused Deathcore'. Whatever THAT is.

WE CAME FROM THE NORTH   https://youtu.be/A_zyYLekUgw   https://www.facebook.com/WeCameFromTheNorth

CODESPEAKER   https://youtu.be/h6aMopnBRB4   https://www.facebook.com/codespeakertheband

HAMMER   https://youtu.be/F74UhQSKSLE   https://www.facebook.com/HammerScotland

RAZOR SHARP DEATH BLIZZARD   https://www.facebook.com/razorsharpdeathblizzard

ANOMOS   https://youtu.be/kMp_hsd_e-g   https://www.facebook.com/anomosbandofficial