From ‘Plastic Planet’ to ‘Ohmwork’ via ‘Black Science’, Geezer Butler’s solo catalogue gets a welcome rerelease. Eamon O’Neill revisits the hand of Doom’s work outside of Black Sabbath, and finds contemporary '90s metal with Sabbath sludge.
|
Black Sabbath's defining set gets the full expanded box set treatment, five decades after opening metal's door to the masses. Eamon O'Neill reassesses the album, in 'Super Deluxe' form.  Arriving with as much commotion and unbridled power as (but infinitely more welcome than) Storm Dennis, Mongolian Hunnu rock phenomenon The Hu arrived at Belfast’s The Limelight on Saturday night (15th February 2020), bringing a unique blend of head-banging tunes and traditional throat music.  Photo: Warren Blair. A staggering five decades since its' tolling bell ushered in what is generally considered to be the birth of heavy metal, and Black Sabbath's first album was celebrated with an intimate playback in London's Number 10, Hackney. Taking place, appropriately 'in the dark' on the 50th Anniversary of its' release (13th February 2020), it was an evening as atmospheric as the album itself.  With the festive season on the horizon, The Darkness played the middle show (After Cork and before Dublin) of their brief Irish run, at Belfast's Limelight on Tuesday 26th November. Part of their ‘Easter Is Cancelled’ tour, the band played to a sold-out crowd, providing a show of two halves.  Photo: Warren Blair. Florence Katt gets to grips with chamber pop heroes My Life Story at their London Show. Taking place at the Academy, Islington on Saturday night (2nd November 2019), the gig saw the indie act promote latest set, the two decades in the waiting 'World Citizen'.  Hailing from the land down under and cut from the same cloth as AC/DC, Airbourne have been Ready to Rock since 2003, touring religiously since their debut anthemic album ‘Runnin’ Wild’ in 2006. Providing a well-tested formula, the band stopped by Belfast's Limelight on Tuesday night (6th August 2019), for a night of head-banging riffs, crowd interaction and alcohol-fuelled frivolity.  Photo: Warren Blair. Guns ‘n’ Roses gunslinger Slash jetted into Belfast on Wednesday night (12th June 2019), for a night of apocalyptic rock and roll with singer Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators. Playing their largest ever date in the city, the band took to the stage as one of the highlights of the Belsonic series of events, at Ormeau Park.  Photo: Darren McVeigh MetalPlanetMusic. Less Than Jake have been delivering their catchy ska punk themes for 27 years to skaters and punks alike around the world. Wednesday night (22nd May 2019) saw them take to the stage at the intimate venue of Belfast’s Empire, for an anarchy fuelled energetic set.  Photo: Warren Blair. Over twenty years since he last played in Ireland, Eagle-Eye Cherry was back on the #StreetsofDublin on Wednesday night (29th May2019), for an intimate date at the city's famed Whelan’s venue. Touring 2018’s ‘Streets of You’, the singer was in fine form as he wowed the packed venue.  Photo: Stephen Brophy, Tears Of Fire Photography. |