Bloodstock M2TM South Wales Interviews: Inscape - West Heat #2 The Bunkhouse, 22.02.26

Interview With Inscape - West Heat #2 The Bunkhouse, 22.02.26



1. Please introduce yourself for anyone who may not know you. Tell us a little bit more about you as a band.

A unique blend of punchy electronics, upbeat melodies and hard hitting riffs makes up Inscape’s visceral yet meticulous sound. Audiences can expect a set of high
energy and intensity ranging from breakbeats to breakdowns.
FFO - Enter Shikari, Thornhill and Don Broco

2. What made you want to participate in the Metal To The Masses South Wales 2026 campaign? Have you had previous experience? Or is this your first time?

We would love the opportunity to possibly play one of the best rock and metal festivals in the UK - that's the dream at least haha!

But we've recently unintentionally had to have a bit of a break since releasing our first 2 singles due to some personal stuff, but we see this as a good chance to gain back momentum with our new lineup and to play in front of some new audiences and share the stage with bands that we may not normally get on the same bill as!

We competed once before in Cardiff and it didn't go too well haha - got knocked out in the first round but who knows this year, we're older, wiser and have new tunes so anything can happen!

3. M2TM is all about supporting your local scene. How important is the local scene to you as a band?

The local scene is so important, without it, we wouldn't be able to play gigs or go and see other bands!
Most places that advertise for bands these days only want covers and aren't interested in heavy bands. But having venues like the Bunkhouse and Green Rooms, it's really allowed us to write what we want to write and let our genre blend into what's its become. And the community is so supportive of everyone, it really is a safe space for anyone that loves music.

4. We have a slightly different set up this year with Heats/Quarters/Semis taking place at Bunkhouse/Green Rooms. Have you played the venue before or is this your first time? Are you excited to get on those stages?

We are super excited to be back at the Bunkhouse - it's been a while! We used to gig there what seemed like every month when we started out and it gave us such a good platform to grow and get used to performing - we even ended up winning their battle of the bands in 2019 which was the most insane experience and totally unexpected! The Bunkhouse has offered us so much over the years that we've had this band and we are so grateful for it being here!

5. What are your expectations from being a part of M2TM?

I think for us, playing in front of people that may not normally come to see us is a big one, these types of gigs always tend to have a huge range of genres within metal and you get to discover lots of sick new heavy bands that do heavy music in different ways! As expectations go, we're happy to share the stage with some great bands but we want to stay grounded because really, we don't know what to expect haha

6. What would getting to our Day Of Wreckoning final and the possibility of playing Bloodstock Festival 2026 mean to you?

It would be incredible! It's a huge opportunity for grassroots metal and one that we would absolutely love to win - if we are somehow able to get there!

Heavy bands often get over looked so it's amazing to have Bloodstock give an avenue for grassroots metal bands to really grow!

7. We encourage all the bands in M2TM to try and check out the other bands, who are you most looking forward to? Who should your fans also try to catch?

We are looking forward to Blindburn, they're new and we know Tom so excited to see what they've been conjuring!

8. Tell us in five words why people should come and see your band?

Breakdowns, breakbeats, donks, electronics and groove

Bloodstock M2TM South Wales Interviews: Scratch One Grub - West Heat #2 The Bunkhouse, 22.02.26

Interview With Scratch One Grub - West Heat #2 The Bunkhouse, 22.02.26



1. Please introduce yourself for anyone who may not know you. Tell us a little bit more about you as a band.

We are Scratch One Grub from the valleys of South Wales. We create music mostly of the heavy variety, and speaking of variety, that is exactly what our music is about. We refuse to restrict ourselves to one particular sound. You can expect death metal, symphonic and synth elements, groove, and progressive metal. With access to the software we have and all these sounds at our disposal, why wouldn’t we use as much of it as possible?

2. What made you want to participate in the Metal To The Masses South Wales 2026 campaign? Have you had previous experience? Or is this your first time?

This is our first time being part of something like this! After all, this particular band has only been performing live for a year. Not only do we want the opportunity to perform at Bloodstock, we are also very much looking forward to playing alongside amazing bands and getting to know the staff who run the event. We personally know previous participants, including a winning band, who have given us great pieces of advice that have done nothing but enhance our excitement for the event!

3. M2TM is all about supporting your local scene. How important is the local scene to you as a band?

It is paramount. One of our biggest and most common pieces of advice that we give to aspiring musicians/bands, is to attend local shows. Not only are you supporting your local scene, you are are also networking with bands, venue staff and local music lovers with their own portfolios/credentials. Not only is it great fun, but it's very beneficial and a great learning experience.

4. We have a slightly different set up this year with Heats/Quarters/Semis taking place at Bunkhouse/Green Rooms. Have you played the venue before or is this your first time? Are you excited to get on those stages?

We have performed at Green Rooms a handful of times and each time, it has been a lot of fun! As for Bunkhouse, Lewis (drummer) has performed there with other bands and has nothing but good things to say about that venue also!

5. What are your expectations from being a part of M2TM?

Very similar to what we answered with previously. We are honoured to be a part of such a talented roster while establishing connections with the staff, venues and the other bands on the bill. That and it's always exciting to have guaranteed gigs booked in!

6. What would getting to our Day Of Wreckoning final and the possibility of playing Bloodstock Festival 2026 mean to you?

It's likely safe to say that it is every metal bands bucket list venue. Getting to the final is an honour in itself but at this early stage in our career, it is everything right now.

7. We encourage all the bands in M2TM to try and check out the other bands, who are you most looking forward to? Who should your fans also try to catch?

House Of Hosts, Excursia, Syndicate, Disrupt The Continuum, Manumit. These are bands we have already established connections with. Their talents and personalities are equally great!

8. Tell us in five words why people should come and see your band?

Everything desired from one band

Reviews: Death Of Youth, Unchosen Ones, Stabbing, Stargo (Spike, Cherie Curtis, Matt Bladen & Joe Guatieri)

Death Of Youth – Nothing Is The Same Anymore (Engineer Records) [Spike]

There is a specific kind of exhaustion that comes from watching the world break in real-time, and London’s Death Of Youth have spent the better part of the last six years trying to find the right frequency to describe it. What began in 2018 as Rob David’s solitary look at the cracks in the pavement has evolved, by way of 2024’s full-band expansion, into a melodic hardcore powerhouse that feels properly, painfully essential. Nothing Is The Same Anymore is the culmination of that journey.

The album hits the floor with Desensitised, and immediately, the shift from "project" to "band" is undeniable. There’s a sharp, mechanical precision to the guitars that anchors David’s vocals, which have retained all the urgent, snot-and-tears honesty of their early EPs. It’s a track that deals with the emotional numbing effect of modern life, leading directly into the frantic, heart-attack pulse of Rumination.

One of the standout moments is Fix Your Heart Or Die, a title that acts as both a threat and a survival guide. It’s here that the band’s melodic hardcore roots are most evident, balancing a white-hot aggression with the kind of soaring, cathartic hooks found on early 2000s post-hardcore records. The social awareness isn't just a lyrical add-on; it’s baked into the friction of the rhythm section.

The middle stretch of the record, Bystander, The Inverse Of Patriotism, and Invertebrate moves with a breathless velocity. The Inverse of Patriotism, in particular, is a sub-two-minute jolt that targets the hardening of the political landscape with a level of vitriol that feels earned rather than just performed. It’s the sound of a band realizing that "political" isn't a genre, it's a documented reality.

The transition into Performance Art and Castle Rock brings in that "Midwest emo" glimmer, cleaner, more intricate guitar work that allows the emotional weight of the lyrics to settle before the distortion returns. These tracks feel deeply human, exploring the "demons" mentioned in their 2021 compilation with a new, collective strength. The finale and title track, Nothing Is The Same Anymore, is the record’s tectonic heart. It’s a slow-building monolith that moves from a contemplative, atmospheric opening to a feedback-saturated roar toward the sky. 

It doesn't offer a "fix" for the social decay it describes; it simply stands in the wreckage and refuses to look away. By the time the final melodic sigh fades, you realize this isn't just an album for the "emo" crowd. It’s an honest, unmasked account of what it’s like to still be standing in a world that’s fundamentally changed. It’s architectural, it’s pained, and it’s a masterstroke of modern hardcore. 9/10

Unchosen Ones – Divine Power Flowing (Blood Fire Death) [Cherie Curtis]

Unchosen Ones brings us Divine Power Flowing, which is melodic metal with inspiration from classic heavy/ power metal favourites by combining showy piercing riffs and with expressive and emotive lyrics and vocals. What becomes apparent immediately is the stunning voice and nicely layered vocals providing some great musical fullness without being distracting or overwhelming, which makes for a lovely sounding all-rounder, it’s a casual listen that's fit for most occasions.

There’s a mixture of intensity throughout, there's something for everyone. I say this a lot when it comes to power metal because of course there’s 80s elements, but what sets the Unchosen Ones apart is their creativity and their ability to think outside the box, It's not just nostalgia or a copy of a copy with these guys.

What’s interesting is their overall concept, it’s dark high fantasy with vintage video game synthetic sound jotted around. Divine Power Flowing has a lot of world building. Its cinematic and sounds the way a Zack Snyder film looks, it toes the line between mainstream and dated. 

There’s lots of attention to detail when it comes to atmosphere, there's some well executed string openings paired with rushing drums for a dramatic build of intensity with some brass elements, techno clicking beats added in very subtly for a dynamic swell of texture. The stylistic verse deliveries alongside some satisfying metal vocals lead swiftly to a catchy and mainstream sounding chorus which all leads to a nicely wrapped and technical guitar solos.

Overall, it's a solid album and it’s very well executed. Divine Power Flowing is likeable, but to me personally - it’s not life changing and does leave me wanting a bit more as it’s very much an everyday listen. I feel like it would suit being featured on a duke box in a dive bar or played on a long drive. If you’re bored of some standard melodic metal and are looking for something different but not neck breakingly heavy this one is for you. 7/10

Stabbing - Eon Of Obscenity (Century Media) [Matt Bladen]

Extremity is the name of the game with Texas death crew Stabbing. Eon Of Obscurity not only perfectly encapsulates their brutal death metal genre tag but it takes it further. This is vulgur display of death metal which will crush cinder blocks using it's skull.

At times it's claustrophobic, at others horrific, this is band who push to the nth degree, with old school death, brutal death and grindcore all called upon as influences, the band members combined their talents in 2021 to create Stabbing, an angry and violent name for an evening more angry and volatile band.

After the release of their debut album in 2022 they spent a huge amount of time on tour and while supporting Suffocation on tour vocalist Bridget Lynch was asked to step in for their vocalist Ricky Meyers, seamlessly joining the band on stage while also solidifying Stabbing as a band to watch out for.

She and they could hold their own with one of death metal originators then there must be something special about them. It's was these shows that got them signed to Century Media and it was back into the studio for album number two.

So this is what we have in our hands and in our ears, another slab of brutal death that has been crafted to be as extreme as it can be, riffs (Marvin Ruiz) that carve like a buzzsaw through flesh, a snare (Aron Hetsko) that bites you every time it's hit, fuzzing bass (Matt Day) that gurgles your insides and vocals that go from gargling gutturals to horrific yelps.

Lynch wanting to do more vocally on this record having not been satisfied with the debut. It really adds something, as there's times you times you think it can't possibly be a human and that very much the aim. Eon Of Obscurity revels in it's rawness, it's savage and extreme but with a refined focus on what they want to be.

Kicking you in the head from the first track until the last Stabbing post their intent with a nail gun on Eon Of Obscenity. 8/10

Stargo - Violet Skies (Broken Music) [Joe Guatieri]

Stargo are a Stoner Rock band straight out of Dortmund, in Germany. So far they’ve put out their debut Parasight back in 2020, then they followed it up quickly with an EP called Dammbruch in 2021. Now after a good few years, they bring us their second studio album with Violet Skies.

The record opens with Interstellar, it blends Stoner Rock with classic Heavy Metal. The vocalist sounds like a mixture of Chris Jericho, yes really, Bruce Dickinson and Ozzy Osbourne, an odd combination to say the least. It’s upbeat and energetic, prioritising speed with a handful of twists and turns along the way but unfortunately the Bass finds itself buried in the mix.

Going into track two we have, Shine Like Diamonds. The bass has more of a presence here which I was glad about, though for some reason the song feels like it starts halfway through as if something has already happened , no introduction, just build-up. There is a standout moment here where the solo starts at 2:21 where it takes the riff from the song and escalates upon it. With a whoosh of effects and feedback, it’s a rocket ship taking off.

Later on we go into track seven with Tharsis. It’s an instrumental number and stands as the longest track on the album, clocking in at just over 10 minutes. It’s flashy and sparkly, attempting something a bit more heavy and psychedelic, like Stargo’s attempt at an Atomic Bitchwax type of jam. It suffers simply from doing too much, the more atmospheric section takes place near the back end of the track when really it makes so much more sense starting with it.

Overall with Violet Skies, Stargo have just put a single drop of water into the ocean of Stoner Rock out there. Sure they wear their influences on their sleeve, the likes of Kyuss and Iron Maiden come to mind immediately but it doesn’t do much to take them forwards and carve their name into the tree. Only a handful of moments that really stuck out to me, sure there is technical proficiency, the band are clearly good with their instruments but it’s a standard affair. 5/10

Bloodstock M2TM South Wales Interviews: Winter - East Heat #2 Green Rooms 21.02.26

Interview With Winter - East Heat #2 Green Rooms 21.02.26



1. Please introduce yourself for anyone who may not know you. Tell us a little bit more about you as a band.

We are WINTER. We are a 4 piece Welsh Metalcore band formed In the heart of Newport, following our debut releases success “Malevolent” we wanted to throw ourselves back into the heavy pitting and neck breaking breakdowns.

2. What made you want to participate in the Metal To The Masses South Wales 2026 campaign? Have you had previous experience? Or is this your first time?

Our lead vocalist has done the previous two M2TM with other bands. After going to the shows ourselves, we knew this was a competition that we wanted to participate in.

3. M2TM is all about supporting your local scene. How important is the local scene to you as a band?

The local scene is a key element of our band. We all love to support the local scene when we get the chance to. We’re really looking forward to seeing some local bands through M2TM.

4. We have a slightly different set up this year with Heats/Quarters/Semis taking place at Bunkhouse/Green Rooms. Have you played the venue before or is this your first time? Are you excited to get on those stages?

Our lead vocalist has played both venues but the remainder of the band are excited to get into these venues and get some pits started. A few of the members have been in the green rooms but have never been on stage.

5. What are your expectations from being a part of M2TM?

As it is our first time competing our expectation is to turn up to a great venue , play with some fantastic bands and most importantly spread our music. We would love the opportunity to play bloodstock but it will be a hard competition with all of these amazing bands competing. We wish them all the best and we can’t wait to share a stage with them.

6. What would getting to our Day Of Wreckoning final and the possibility of playing Bloodstock Festival 2026 mean to you?

Playing day of reckoning or bloodstock would mean the world to us as we’re a band who have recently reborn. To get to that stage within the early days of the band would be everything.

7. We encourage all the bands in M2TM to try and check out the other bands, who are you most looking forward to? Who should your fans also try to catch?

Following their latest single release and ep release we are really looking forward to seeing Virtue in vain take on the stage. As well we are excited to see syndicate, Excursia and if you’re near Manchester go see Bloodsaw.

8. Tell us in five words why people should come and see your band?

Heavy riffs and circle pits

Bloodstock M2TM South Wales Interviews: Blood Red Lips - East Heat #2 Green Rooms 21.02.26

Interview With Blood Red Lips - East Heat #2 Green Rooms 21.02.26

1. Please introduce yourself for anyone who may not know you. Tell us a little bit more about you as a band.

We’re Blood Red Lips, an original hard rock band from Caerphilly, South Wales. Formed in 2019, we’re a 4 piece band and our sound is rooted in the grit of classic rock and metal and delivered with our own flavour. We like big riffs, dark hooks, and choruses and melodies that stick in your head. We love leaning into a slightly gothic themes including mortality, obsession, folklore, and desire. Pulling this all together to form our sound and drive.

2. What made you want to participate in the Metal To The Masses South Wales 2026 campaign? Have you had previous experience? Or is this your first time?

The Metal To The Masses competition is something we’ve always respected because it genuinely champions bands from all avenues and promotes grassroots music and venues. We were lucky enough to be included in the heats a few years ago, and we had great fun playing at the bunkhouse in Swansea. But this year felt like the right time for us to re-enter. We’ve recently had a line up change and where we are now has resulted in us writing some of our strongest material yet and we can’t wait to get it in front of people. We’ve had experience playing competitive showcases before, but M2TM has its own legacy and reputation and being part of it this year is something we’re really excited about.

3. M2TM is all about supporting your local scene. How important is the local scene to you as a band?

The local scene is everything. South Wales has an incredibly passionate and supportive metal and rock community, and we wouldn’t be where we are without it. Playing shows with local bands pushes us to be better, keeps the scene alive, and builds real connections. Supporting each other is how scenes survive and thrive. Grassroots venues and artists need the recognition they deserve.

4. We have a slightly different set up this year with Heats/Quarters/Semis taking place at Bunkhouse/Green Rooms. Have you played the venue before or is this your first time? Are you excited to get on those stages?

We love the Green Rooms venue and the team there! We’ve played Green Rooms before and it’s a killer venue, great atmosphere, great sound, and always a strong crowd. Jonny and the team are fantastic and really supportive. It feels like the perfect setting for M2TM, and we can’t wait to get back on that stage and give it everything and turn the Green Rooms Red!

5. What are your expectations from being a part of M2TM?

Playing Bloodstock would be incredible, and that’s something that as a band would mean a massive amount to us, but M2TM is also about more than that. We’re looking to connect with new people, fans, build relationships with other bands, promoters, and people in the industry, and push ourselves as a band. It’s a chance to showcase our songs in front of people and grow as a band.

6. What would getting to our Day Of Wreckoning final and the possibility of playing Bloodstock Festival 2026 mean to you?

It would mean everything to us. Reaching the Day Of Wreckoning final would be a massive payoff and recognition of the work we’ve put in as a band and that our sound is respected by others. Playing Bloodstock would be a proper milestone moment. It’s one of the most respected metal festivals in the UK, and to represent Blood Red Lips and South Wales on that stage would be an honour.

7. We encourage all the bands in M2TM to try and check out the other bands, who are you most looking forward to? Who should your fans also try to catch?

The South Wales music scene is strong and there’s always such a great lineup in South Wales M2TM. That’s part of what makes it special. There’s a few bands we’ve played with before but also some new bands we cant wait to see, from our heat, Excursia are a powerhouse and from other heats, bands like Manumit and Thawn are great! We’re also looking forward to discovering new bands as much as catching the ones we already know. Fans should come early, stay late, and support the whole bill. You never know who your next favourite band will be.

8. Tell us in five words why people should come and see your band?

Melodic, catchy, heavy, something new!

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/blood.red.lips_official?igsh=MW5nMjZhZnA2czQzeg==

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BloodRedLips.Official

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Reviews: Worm, Temple Balls, Deathraw, Austen Starr (Mark Young & Matt Bladen)

Worm - Necropalace (Century Media) [Mark Young]

Buckle up kids, Worm have dropped a truly essential album with Necropalace. It is an absolute barnstormer where the songs are just at an insane level of excellence. 

Now I should back up a little and set the scene. This review slipped through the net a little and as result I got to it late. As a band, Worm, have been releasing music in one form or another since 2014. 

Necropalace represents their 4th full length album in a period stretching from 2017 and I’ll be honest I hadn’t come across them until I sat down to prep for the review. Generally, I like to listen two or three times and then put pen to paper.

Pressing play, the intro track Gates To The Shadowzone started off and its ho-hum, instrumental but it had something different to it. The arrangement is all building guitars and over the top atmosphere which then transfers into Necropalace. Its here that the gloves are truly taken off.

It is a 10-minute masterwork where they hit you with an album’s worth of ideas in one shot. Its overwhelming as it is engaging and is basically everything you love about Black metal, wrapped up in one place. It goes from full tilt to crawling tempos, mixing the approach so that it never settles in one place and incredibly it works. Nothing is out of place, no idea off the table. 

There is a solo that comes in around 8 minutes in that is sublime and mental at the same time. That seems to be at the core of this album, that combination of ideals. Love it. After this 1-2, they could have recorded a car alarm going off for 40 or so minutes and it wouldn’t have changed my feeling towards this album.

Luckily, they didn’t and then proceed to unleash god tier metal on us. Halls Of Weeping pulls that speed right back, going heavily into atmospheric realms instead. The thing here is the length of these songs. Halls is around 9 minutes long, and like Necropalace and the ones that follow forms a complete story in its own right. You can listen to the songs here in any order you like and it doesn’t alter how they land with you. Each is an exercise in how to do epic metal and I don’t think I’ve heard anyone get close to this. 

It’s difficult to pick out stand-out moments here, because each song is a stand-out in its own right. The shorter songs – The Night Has Fangs and Blackheart (7 minutes each) still have more going on than the norm, and somehow, they make it work. Neither sounds rushed or over the top. Both have crushing rhythms and those mental lead breaks within. There is nothing that you can find fault with at all.

And then they bring out the bigger guns. They close out with Witchmoon – The Infernal Masquerade (ft Marty Friedman). Barely a minute on the clock and the first lead kicks in. Delicate arpeggios and choirs back up the guitars and its obvious that this is culmination of their efforts. Its pace is slightly restrained but it doesn’t feel slower because of this. If anything it gives it the room to breathe, bringing those themes together and mixing them into a heady brew.

It brings brutality, beauty and all points in between and shall become in my eyes the very definition of what epic looks like. Its not overblown, overwrought or any other overs you can think of. The lead work is fantastic, completely in keeping with this and the album as a whole. The duelling solos around 8 minutes in is just chef’s kiss, truly exceptional stuff.

Necropalace is the sort of music that you will come back to again and again. The instant attraction is there straight away, but this is not a shallow experience. If this isn’t still in your playlists come AOTY time in December, then there is something wrong with the world. You don’t have to love Black Metal to love this. You just need to love heavy metal. 10/10

Temple Balls - Temple Balls (Frontiers Music) [Matt Bladen]

It's still the worst name ever but I have to say Temple Balls play really fun hard rock. Coming from Finland, their self-titled record, their fifth overall, continues their journey as a band, they've been adapting their style over their previous albums and this one can be seen as a bit of reinvention, like all good self-titled records, though drawing from where they have come from to be the best version.

The band feel like they have finally nailed down how they want to sound as a band after four albums. Produced by Jona Tee, it's extremely slick in how it's delivered. Thumping electronics, bouncy rhythms, huge choruses, massive backing vocals, this is 80's AOR in the modern age, brimming with attitude, Temple Balls bristle with energy and confidence here. 

Influences of Def Leppard, Bon Jovi and Foreigner (sax on We Are The Night) are all here, but so are the melodic metal and modern rock styles that are now present with many of the bands on the Frontiers roster.

Opening with Flashback Dynamite, you know its bloody good, music that is honed on stage and then written for it, this is good time rock n roll, ready to bounce along to and sing back with your full voice. There’s a sleazy swagger to Lethal Force, Tokyo Love meanwhile reminds me of fellow Finns Lordi with its warped sense of humour. 

The playing is great, the tracks such as Hellbound and Chasing The Madness benefiting from the double guitar approach. The rhythm section boisterous on There Will Be Blood and heavy southern approach of We Are The Night. Vocally too there’s enough grit to melody ratio on The Path Within and the epic closer Living In A Nightmare.

Temple Balls still have a terrible name but their music is extremely anthemic melodic metal/rock, honed to near perfection, album number five collects everything that’s come before into their most definitive statement so far, fair warning you will be humming it for days to come. 8/10

Deathraw - Reduced To Ashes (Self Released) [Mark Young]

And now for some Bay Area Thrash by way of France, Deathraw bring their debut assault to bear with Reduced To Ashes. So, getting down to brass tacks, it’s 5 tracks of razor-sharp thrash that is as good as anything you would have heard outside of the Big Four. 

It owes more to those bands that stayed within that tightly focused musical sphere for the whole of their careers, instead of those who moved beyond it. Musical trends come and go and like fashion ideas they do come back around again and thrash is no different. 

The question is, does it have enough to garner interest when perceived rightly or wrongly as being simplistic when held up against other forms of metal. Well, you either love it or hate it. There isn’t any middle ground here, no meandering moments or acoustic guitars or lyrics with the word ‘baby’ in them (copyright to J Hetfield, Donnington, the 80’s).

It is aggressive, fast and like I mentioned earlier it can sit with the likes of Testament and Death Angel and their best material. Its played completely straight, it isn’t coming from an angle of humour they are deadly serious.

Wolves Assemble is proof of this intent. Spidery melody lines are its introduction and then its boom, here we go. It must be difficult in trying to find the right way to sing – the vocals have to sit within a certain range, possessing the right amount of grit. 

Its about right on here but let’s face it you are here for the riffs and the leads. I can confirm that they are in place. The riffs are exactly what you expect, wrapped up tightly, palm-muted and dropped with venom. 

Reduced To Ashes comes hot on the heels and keeps velocity in place, with a sumptuous lead break. From that perspective, Deathraw achieve what they need to and over the course of the remainder of the songs they remind you of this. They appreciate that they can’t use speed every time and bring The Last Testimony to the table. 

Possessing a crawling tempo, it attacks in a different way using a core melodic line to allow the song to grow around it. Of course it also gives them a ton of space to drop a face melter of a solo. Job done.

For fans of thrash, well they should just eat this up. Riot, the penultimate track is a scorcher that takes the classic template of super tight riffing, multiple lead breaks, down picking and of course cymbal tapping. It has everything you would normally expect to hear, possibly over the course of one album but in one song, and if you wanted a jumping on track then I would say this. 

Post Human (ft Ol Drake) would probably have words about that though. The final song here, it pails a little when compared against Riot, and for me I would have swapped them round, but no matter. Thankfully they haven’t dropped a ballad or an instrumental, it’s a face forward stomper that has another burner of a lead. It is an absolute corker.

And we are done, its 28 minutes of fast, aggressive material that should find a home with anyone who digs heavy metal. The question for some maybe that its considered to be old hat when placed side by side with modern metal. 

Well, bands are still going back to Black Sabbath for inspiration, are they old hat? There is a glut of bands who use that super-dense sound with 7 or 8 strings to mask their ability. On this you can hear everything so those riffs have to be good, the leads have to be solid gold. 

On balance, having the 5 tracks works in their favour. Long enough to make a mark on you, short enough so that it doesn’t overstay its welcome. The acid test will be a full album, can they sustain it over 40 or more minutes? I’d like to find out. 9/10

Austen Starr – I Am The Enemy (Frontiers Music) [Matt Bladen]

Having never been a teenage girl full of angst, in fact I’ve never been a girl or had angst to be honest, there are a lot of bands who have passed me by. The entire emo movement, most of pop punk and few others. 

Now I read that Boston singer Austen Starr has been compared to bands such as The Warning and Halestorm, and while I can hear that, she reflects both bands at the early stages of their careers where the influence of Avril Lavigne, Paramore and Evanescence, all brought about a pop rock sound that was fit for radio, and has been adopted by artists like Oliva Rodrigo in recent years. 

A lot of the nuance and maturity that Halestorm especially have now doesn’t manifest here, it’s a throwback to the pop punk/emo/alt rock anthems of the early 2000’s. If you’re from the UK, this is a record that has Kerrang TV and Scuzz TV all over it.

Now that being said, Austen Starr is a great singer and lyricist, she also has a majorly high profile and talented band behind her in guitarist Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake/Revolution Saints/Trans-Siberian Orchestra), bassist/drummer Chris Collier (Mick Mars, Lita Ford), keyboardist Steve Ferlazzo (Avril Lavigne) along with Chloe Lowery (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) on backing vocals. 

Raised in household where being a musician was frowned upon, she channelled her angst into her songwriting, being picked up by Frontiers and given a crack team of musicians this debut is the result of many years hard work, and if the result of many “emo karaoke nights” is your bag then you’ll be putting on the eyeliner and shouting along to punky the title track, head banging to Effigy or getting into Paramore styled Running Out Of Time.

If you’re expecting AOR or melodic rock from this Frontiers act, turn away now, however I guarantee there’s still an audience for this sort of angsty pop rocking, and Austen Starr has the potential to be huge. 7/10

Bloodstock M2TM South Wales Interviews: Remain The Few - East Heat #2 Green Rooms 21.02.26

Interview With Remain The Few - East Heat #2 Green Rooms 21.02.26

1. Please introduce yourself for anyone who may not know you. Tell us a little bit more about you as a band.

We are Remain The Few! Our music blends metal influences with other genres, including punk, prog, and emo. Creativity doesn’t care much for genre boxes and we go wherever it sounds good. Blending raw energy with thoughtful and deep lyrics, our music leans into the catharsis of heavy alt music.

2. What made you want to participate in the Metal To The Masses South Wales 2026 campaign? Have you had previous experience? Or is this your first time?

It’s our first time performing at Metal To The Masses as Remain The Few, but a couple of us have played the heats before with another band. The show was great and it was so much more than a typical battle of the bands, where the audience appreciated every band and gave everyone a fair shot. That being said, it’d be great to go far in the competition!

3. M2TM is all about supporting your local scene. How important is the local scene to you as a band? 

Our local scene is incredibly important! We’re all spread across South Wales (Barry, Bridgend, Cardiff, Newport, and Pontypridd), and they all have their own unique music scenes. We’ve been around the block in other bands and we look forward to getting out into our local scenes more in 2026 as Remain The Few.

Without grassroots venues you wouldn’t have any of your favourite bands, so it’s super important to support it as much as you can and give a chance to bands you don’t necessarily know, but might end up loving. There’s been a tonne of bands on shows we’ve played that we know consider ourselves fans of.

4. We have a slightly different set up this year with Heats/Quarters/Semis taking place at Bunkhouse/Green Rooms. Have you played the venue before or is this your first time? Are you excited to get on those stages?

It’s our first time at Green Rooms. But we’ve practiced there before and members have performed there in other bands. It’s a unique venue, with great sound and incredible staff, so we’re looking forward to playing there. It’s a really vital part of the scene in South Wales, and gives up-and-coming bands a chance to get on stage in front of supportive crowds.

5. What are your expectations from being a part of M2TM?

We’re looking forward to getting out there more. We’re all parents so we’re just relieved to be out of the house for a bit and doing what we enjoy: playing bangers and performing on stage.

Also, gigs like this are so important to meeting new people and bands, and we’re looking forward to playing with the other bands on our bill.

6. What would getting to our Day Of Wreckoning final and the possibility of playing Bloodstock Festival 2026 mean to you?

Needless to say, progressing in the competition would be incredible for us. We’re a relatively new band, and playing the Day Of Wreckoning and maybe even getting to Bloodstock would be beyond words. As we said, we’re all parents, and we’d love to show our kids that the metal/heavy music scene is a place where everyone has a place and can come together and enjoy music.

7. We encourage all the bands in M2TM to try and check out the other bands, who are you most looking forward to? Who should your fans also try to catch?

In our heat, we’re really looking forward to Blood Red Lips. A couple of us have played with them before and they’re great live.

Outside of our heat, Thawn! Definitely check them out.

But, importantly, get to as many heats as you can. The lineup this year is incredible with some real heavy hitters.

8. Tell us in five words why people should come and see your band?

Megaphone. Riffs. Bass. Dad jokes.

Bloodstock M2TM South Wales Interviews: Excursia - East Heat #2 Green Rooms 21.02.26

Interview With Excursia - East Heat #2 Green Rooms 21.02.26

1. Please introduce yourself for anyone who may not know you. Tell us a little bit more about you as a band. 

Rooted in guitarist Sam Hill's inspiration, passion, and love for the Pantera style of groove metal, Excursia look to splice modern extreme metal into the rawness of 90's groove metal. Excursia tackle and explore the inner struggle between anger and hatred, as well as sadness and depression.

2. What made you want to participate in the Metal To The Masses South Wales 2026 campaign? Have you had previous experience? Or is this your first time?

Excursia have had many line up changes in the past. However, we’ve found solidarity in our current line up and love the idea of bringing this new energy to the M2TM audience. We have performed before with great success. Unfortunately, due to members leaving the band we had to remove ourselves from the competition. We return with a chip on our shoulder, and an unrivalled passion.

3. M2TM is all about supporting your local scene. How important is the local scene to you as a band?

As a band alot of our shows are performed locally. We have a passion in trying to get involved and create DIY shows with as many different promotion companies and bands as possible, ensure upcoming/new bands are on the bills, but also ensure that the level of talent on display is of a quality that we can be proud of.

4. We have a slightly different set up this year with Heats/Quarters/Semis taking place at Bunkhouse/Green Rooms. Have you played the venue before or is this your first time? Are you excited to get on those stages?

We’ll be performing at Green Rooms. For us, and many other bands, this venue has been a fundamental part of the South Wales music scene. It’s been a while since performing there last, so it’ll be nice to return to a place that is a right of passage for all bands in the South Wales region.

5. What are your expectations from being a part of M2TM? 

For us M2TM is an opportunity to see all of our friends in the community! There’s always a huge turnout and it’s a yearly event that gives us an opportunity to continue to grow our fanbase, as well our connections within the community, as new bands form and enter.

6. What would getting to our Day Of Wreckoning final and the possibility of playing Bloodstock Festival 2026 mean to you?

Walking in the footsteps of all the other great bands that have not only performed at Bloodstock, but in the M2TM competition, is something we take great pride in. To be able to say we realised our dream of performing at the UK’s biggest metal festival, or at least boast that we managed to reach the finals of this illustrious competition would be an amazing feat.

7. We encourage all the bands in M2TM to try and check out the other bands, who are you most looking forward to? Who should your fans also try to catch?

There’s a good bunch of new bands, but people we know are great that we’ve played with previously and are friends include:

Virtue In Vain

Syndicate

Winter

Exaust

Scratch One Grub

Blindburn

Risperidrone

8. Tell us in five words why people should come and see your band?

Beatdowns

Breakdowns

Blast-beats

Pig-squeals

Filth

Review: Converge - Love Is Not Enough (GC)

Converge - Love Is Not Enough (Epitaph Records/Deathwish Inc)

In every style or genre of music, there are names that you instantly know and always hold to a high standard and can usually rely on them to release great records. One of those names is about to release their latest record Love Is Not Enough, that name is of course the mighty Converge. Over the course of their 30+ year career they have re-defined what it is to be a heavy band over and over again, they have been labelled as many things and have always delivered the goods consistently including that one album that defined an entire genre of heavy music, yes Jane Doe and as much as I want to, I won’t talk about that here as this review is about their new album and that deserves all the focus here.

Back in the distant year 2025 when Love Is Not Enough was released as a taster for this album it absolutely floored me with its pure aggression and spiteful sound and after what feels like hundreds of listens since it still has the same impact, it has everything that makes Converge such a force, the pure anger running through every single second of this song feels almost life affirming in a weird way and it’s a blistering way to start a record that’s for sure.

Bad Faith in comparison doesn’t feel as aggressive and has a slower more thoughtful way of throwing extreme violence in your direction the deliberate and thundering force behind the music is something to behold and shows that they know how to be heavy in many different ways and always do it immaculately, Distract And Divide instantly throws the shackles back off and has a juddering and violent grindcore beginning that then drops into the more sludgy sound before ending on a chaotic and unholy cacophony of noise all over and done in 1:31, thank you very much and good night! 

To Feel Something sounds like a lost recording from the Jane Doe era, yes, I know I said I wasn’t going to mention that record but the second I heard this it’s all I could think about and that’s kind of a good thing and also maybe not such a good thing? It reminds you once again how vital they were and still are of course but then it also makes you wonder if they could have stretched a bit more? It’s a good track no question just feels a little too familiar maybe? I’m not sure what they were aiming for on Beyond Repair because its just one riff and a bit of bass that does precisely nothing at all for a couple of minutes and feels like a complete waste of time to include as an actual track on its own instead of just having it as part of a build-up in a another song? 

Amon Amok rudely smashes you back into life and is full of the kind of raw emotion and heart wrenching pain that is such a backbone of the sound and always makes for a fascinating and uncomfortable listen even after all these years I’m not sure there is another band that can show such emotion in heavy music and REALLY make you feel it all, this is a torturous listen but in the best possible way. 

Force Meets Presence has a barn storming riff to get things going nicely with a touch of the stoner style but mixed with hardcore bite and then its back to the white hot violence and punk attitude and some wonderful atmosphere setting tones that then all form to one massive noisy crescendo that mixes back in with that beginning riff before ending abruptly, as you pick your jaw off the floor the sounds of Gilded Cage slowly and ominously begin. It’s a bass lead track with some background vocals that are more of the hardcore style the guitars come in and the familiar bark is back and creating the discord but they thread the sounds in and out in equal measure and it has an uneasy feel throughout without ever sounding one paced or predictable. 

Make Me Forget You is another familiar feeling track but not in an instantly recognizable way, there are parts that you have come to expect and are all here in droves and the usual relentless behind this song feels a little purposeful and really makes you sit and want to take it all in, it’s a perfect expression of anger and done in the unique way that only Converge really can.

It’s fitting that We Were Never The Same closes this album because it feels like a grand finale, the first part has a grand bass rumble that sets a tone of expectancy that then explodes into life with the vital hardcore punk energy you want and then as quickly its back to the mood setting bass tone with the vocals screaming and wailing their discontent over the top before more blasts of energy and vitriol, it has an energy and flow that is remarkable and is a suitably effortless way to end.

Another day, another awesome Converge record, Love Is Not Enough is a remarkable piece of work, and while their earlier offerings are classed as genre defining classics. If you are a already a fan you will no doubt love this record, if you for some unknown reason you haven’t really got into them then this would not be a bad place to start because it combines a lot of their styles and sounds all together and is a fantastic show case for what an amazingly talented and unpredictable band they are and that alone should make you want to listen because once you do, you will not regret your choice. 9/10

Bloodstock M2TM South Wales Interviews: Thawn - West Heat #1 The Bunkhouse, 15.02.26

Interview With Thawn - West Heat #1 The Bunkhouse, 15.02.26

1. Please introduce yourself for anyone who may not know you. Tell us a little bit more about you as a band.

We’re Thawn, a Bridgend-based three piece best described as a mix of grunge rock and alt-metal. Lead guitarist and frontman Dylan Norris, drummer Miles Davis and bassist Kate Roberts came together to develop a writing style that draws from groups such as Incubus, Deftones, Alice in Chains and Snot.

2. What made you want to participate in the Metal To The Masses South Wales 2026 campaign? Have you had previous experience? Or is this your first time?

This is our second time participating in Metal To the Masses South Wales! We first played last year, however since then we’ve grown substantially as a band and have learned the trade. We believe our unique style will work in our favour for getting to the next round, however whether we get through or not, we’re just happy to play a gig in a great venue!

3. M2TM is all about supporting your local scene. How important is the local scene to you as a band?

Especially recently, we have really began to feel connected to the local scene and the bands that inhabit it. We’ve made some great friends and played with people that we respect and love! At the end of the day, we’re all just a group of artists trying to get our art into the wider world, and we need to support each other in that endeavour.

4. We have a slightly different set up this year with Heats/Quarters/Semis taking place at Bunkhouse/Green Rooms. Have you played the venue before or is this your first time? Are you excited to get on those stages?

We’ve played the Bunkhouse twice before and we absolutely love it there. The sound is immense out front, however the clarity from the monitors is also top notch. Apart from that, we love the aesthetic and community aspect of the venue, and the music history it has behind it. Just beyond excited to get up there!

5. What are your expectations from being a part of M2TM?

We hope to prove to the younger community of Swansea that we have the goods, really. It’s an opportunity for us to show off a style that no one else in the scene is really doing at the moment, and to hopefully get some people in the crowd to jump! Bloodstock is obviously the dream, but there’s a lot to be gained from this beyond that, especially regarding connections.

6. What would getting to our Day Of Wreckoning final and the possibility of playing Bloodstock Festival 2026 mean to you?

It would be an absolutely amazing experience. As a young band, our only hope really is to use this as a platform to share our music, but getting as far as more experienced, established bands would mean the world to us!

7. We encourage all the bands in M2TM to try and check out the other bands, who are you most looking forward to? Who should your fans also try to catch?

Antique Curse’s style of Iron Maiden-esque heavy metal is absolutely up our street, and we’re really excited to see what they have to offer.

8. Tell us in five words why people should come and see your band?

Music to vitalise the industry!