The Campaign to Stop the Kingsgate Shopping Centre Expansion: The threat it poses to Huddersfield's music scene and a whole town

To the wider rock/metal community, this next post concerning the plight of a beloved local rock bar/gig venue (pictured above) isn't going to be of too much major concern to you. And indeed, this particular venue only makes up a part of the wider picture which is to be affected.

Live Review: G.U. Medicine @ The Parish, Huddersfield, 23/03/2012

So that's your lot. Any of you ever hoping to catch G.U. Medicine live again, should you not have been in attendance here, have more than likely missed the boat. G.U Medicine signed off in style, delivering a typically raucous set to a packed out crowd in Huddersfield, rallying through a set comprising of their best material from over the years. Songs like 'Needles and Pins' and 'Alcoholocaust' hit the mark just like they always did and will always do, and damn you can headbang like always to 'Dirty Little Girl'. Original guitarist/vocalist Lee Storrar rejoined the band to sing 'Lords of Oblivion' and Mr. Shiraz vocalist Mikey Baird even got up at one point to sing 'The Right Time' with the band. It was a party atmosphere that embodied what the band were all about – sleaze, danger, booze, and all out rock action. The cans of Carling dotted around the stage should have hinted at that alone, if not the band's association with Jagermeister which has been prevalent over the last couple of years. Now the UK is one more quality rock band short. We probably can't hold out much hope for a G.U. reunion, at least not in this vein, but this was a fitting finale nonetheless.

Peter Clegg

Wadge - Tiki Gods, No Masters

Wadge

Tiki Gods, No Masters EP

Grindcore Karaoke

Anyone who either has a keen ear for diving into the weirder excesses of grindcore, or indeed anyone who was an early visitor to this site may well be aware of Canadian drum-machine surf-grinders Wadge. That description is very real. Although it turns out they've been around since 1991, it was only when they released an album on J Randall's Grindcore Karaoke label last year entitled 'Grindcore Lu'au' that they came to slightly wider attention. 'Grindcore Lu'au' indulged in all manner of Tiki, surf and general island themes with a grind ethic, as well as some pretty tinny production which grated due to the record's excessive (in grind circles, at least) length. That said, it had some memorable highlights and the ridiculousity does not let up on new release, 'Tiki Gods, No Masters'. It should have seen light a couple of years ago as part of a split, but almost got washed away with the tide when Brazilian split partners Dispepsiaa called it a day.

Visions: The Bendal Interlude – Odourama (NSFW)

Liverpool hasn't been short on top quality bands of late, with acts like SSS, Voorhees, Lifeless, Iron Witch and The Bendal Interlude all coming up with the goods over the year. All of them know how to play nasty too when required, and the chaps in The Bendal Interlude have certainly delivered a video nasty here in the form of 'Odourama', taken from their forthcoming EP of the same name. The video itself has a real 90's feel to it – maybe it's the way it's shot that does it for me – and its mired in a mixture of jiggery pokery and sickening sights. Crafted from the twisted genius that is Tom Lee Rutter at Carnie Film Productions, prepare to be disgusted and abhorred at the sights you're about to see – while grooving out to a thoroughly righteous, heavy stoner metal jam. And yes, that is an NSFW label I'm using. It's not the most shocking, just proper graphic. If you like that sort of thing. Which you obviously do. After the jump.

Peter Clegg

Napalm Death - Utilitarian

Napalm Death

Utilitarian

Century Media

Robin van Persie. The Klitschko brothers. Rahul Dravid. Valve. Eeyore. The one thing all these names have in common is reliability. In the case of all but Eeyore (for whom I can't vouch 'performance'), quality is another synonymous trait. These people, companies and indeed characters possess an unbelievable ability to produce striking results again and again and again. And again. And yes, again.

Fister - Violence

Fister
Violence EP

The best sludge metal is often mired in nihilistic rage, misanthropy and sheer fuck-it-all attitude. It's heavier than a herd of elephants riding a gam of whales, if such a thing ever came to fruition. Fister, if you didn't know, play real heavy sludge/doom metal, and they don't mess about when it comes to pounding your head with slow megaton riffs and the loud beat of the drums, in much the same fashion as described above.

Visions: Mark Lanegan Band - The Gravedigger's Song

Circumstances did not allow me to be able to go and catch Mark Lanegan on his recent UK tour, something which I regret for not having discovered it sooner. Nonetheless, he and his band have at least provided some (dis)comfort in the form of the new video for new album 'Blues Funeral's opening track, 'The Gravedigger's Song'. Right from the off, I felt a tinge of unease. Directed by Alistair Legrand and produced by Jack Richardson, this haunting bluesy number gets a befitting clip. Set in a house filled with ghosts, full of ghostly women and children staring blankly into your soul, often from nowhere, amongst other slightly grisly images of blood, taxidermy, and generally all things dark. Its a loving tribute to old-school horror films and certainly one of the more capitivating videos I've watched recently. Check it out above and indulge yourself in Legrand's mildly disturbing vision.

Peter Clegg

Josh Homme and Scott Reeder sue Kyuss Lives! Sad news indeed.

I sincerely wish the above headline was a work of fiction, but unfortunately the news is very true. Yep, Queens of the Stone Age and ex-Kyuss guitarist Josh Homme, along with former bassist Scott Reeder, have filed a lawsuit against Kyuss Lives!, the reincarnated version of Kyuss formed by former bandmates John Garcia, Nick Oliveri, Brant Bjork, with Bruno Fevery enlisted in Homme's former role.

Corrosion of Conformity - Corrosion of Conformity

Corrosion of Conformity

Corrosion of Conformity

Candlelight

In a storied career spanning 28 years, it's a testament to Corrosion of Conformity to see themselves standing where they are today. From the original hardcore punk styling, through to crossover thrash, Southern metal and beyond, they've managed to survive a number of sound changes and line-up alterations that would kill many a band in the modern era. Indeed, most bands seem to get stick for daring to evolve their sound, unjustified as that sounds. But perhaps the biggest threat to Corrosion of Conformity, if it could be called that, was the unstoppable rise of NOLA-supergroup Down, featuring their lead vocalist and guitarist Pepper Keenan. After the demise of Pantera, thanks to inner turmoil and 'Dimebag' Darrell's tragic death, Down appeared to become the number one priority for its members and despite releasing 'In the Arms of God' in 2005, it does feel like Corrosion of Conformity became the side-project, rather than the frontline band it deserves to be.

The last G.U. Medicine show as we know it

Without question, Barnsley rockers G.U. Medicine ought to have become one of the UK's most successful rock bands. Their brand of dangerous metallized sleaze rock has won them a cult following who undoubtedly go rabid for their songs whenever they perform live. They released three cracking albums including the phenomenal 'Lords of Oblivion', unquestionably one of the greatest releases of 2010 and certainly one of the most overlooked too. Unfortunately, success has eluded them, not least because of our country's horrible music taste and limited label backing at best. Perhaps their best recent publicity came when, following the departure of their long time vocalist/guitarist Lee Storrar, they recorded a song with Rocky 'The Rockhopper' - that penguin, on vocals.

It's with a tinge of sadness I hereby report on the upcoming G.U. Medicine show taking place at The Parish, Huddersfield, this Friday evening (23^rd March). The gig is billed as 'the last G.U. Medicine show as we know it!' – at least, according to the poster. The reality is that G.U. Medicine appear to be calling it quits good and proper. Support is from Girlfixer and Black Hart Idols.

If anything is guaranteed about this final G.U. show, it's that its bound to be everything you can expect from a G.U. show – booze, sweat, headbanging and a damn good time. One last time. Get yourself down there and do far too many again.

Peter Clegg

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