Sam Dignon
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Distorted Sound Magazine
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Articles by Sam Dignon
Bring Me The Horizon Release Two New Singles Exclusively On Spotify
Already off to a flying start in 2025, having cemented their place at the top of the bill at this year’s Reading & Leeds festivals. Sheffield superstars, Bring Me The Horizon unveiled two new tracks this week! Available on Spotify, the groups cover of Oasis classic, WONDERWaLL. As well as a new version of YOUtopia (EarthcOre remix) are exclusive to the global music platform and are both ready to stream now. You can even consider checking them out to be a good deed well done.
Sex Pistols & The Who Join Star Studded Line-up For Teenage Cancer Trust At Londons Royal Albert Hall
The only UK charity dedicated to providing specialist nursing and support for young people with cancer. Teenage Cancer Trust announced an amazing array of acts for a special run of shows at Londons iconic Royal Albert Hall earlier this week. With nights hosted by comedian Micky Flannigan and TikToker and podcaster GK Barry, as well as a plethora of incredible musical artists.
Inside The Half Black Heart: An Interview with Ash Costello "I used to really like debate and talk to myself a lot about making the right musical choices and now I just don't care what anyone thinks, I just don't" - Rock Sins
New Years Day are currently in the UK for the first full tour in 5 years. Here at Rock Sins we were fortunate enough to sit down with band Vocalist and figurehead Ash Costello to discuss a variety of topics, including coming out of the pandemic, new music, the bands 20th anniversary and much more. So the last time you were in the UK was in 2020 just before the world shut down with a pandemic. During that time you started writing the half black heart album throughout that time period.
New Years Day + Conquer Divide & Fearless Vampire Killers Live Review - The Engine Rooms, Southampton, January 25th
It’s been 5 long years since New Years Day has graced our shores. Their last UK tour took place in 2020 just before the world shut down due to a little thing called Covid. To say it’s nice to have them back would be an understatement. Tonight’s show at The Engine Rooms in Southampton is the first night of the UK leg of the tour and anticipation is high. This evening’s openers Fearless Vampire Killers weren’t even a band when New Years Day was last here.
Bloodstock Festival 2025 Announce Headliners, First Bands
As far as first festival line up announcements go, Bloodstock Open Air Festival have smashed it out of the park with their opening blast of bands for 2025. In their opening 19 band salvo, Bloodstock have revealed all three main stage headliners for next years festival and a viking boat load of other good stuff too.
Spanish Love Songs live review from the Electric Ballroom, London, 27th January 2024
Over the last few years Spanish Love Songs have really felt like one of the most beloved bands in pop-punk and emo adjacent circles. 2020’s Brave Faces Everyone dropped right as the world went to hell and it became the soundtrack to so many peoples lockdowns and seemed to really strike a chord with fans. Now nearly 4 years later Spanish Love Songs could finally come and do a proper headline tour and they just happen to have another new album under their belts with the brilliant No Joy.
Alexisonfire Live At O2 Academy Brixton, London, 22nd October 2022
With their new album Otherness finally released this year, Alexisonfire embarked on their first full UK tour in 12 years. Since their reunion in 2015 it’s felt like they were building to this and at O2 Academy Brixton they cemented what a victory this has been for them. Boston Manor (6) are bit of an odd choice tonight. The former pop-punk turned alt-rock band initially receive a somewhat cold reaction despite their best efforts.
Coheed and Cambria / Thrice
For fans of a certain period of 00’s emo and post-hardcore, a co-headline of Thrice and Coheed and Cambria felt like such a tantalising offer. Two of the most musically interesting and progressive bands from that era who have found real second winds in the late 2010s that is still carrying on now. Both with new albums in tow, they make their overdue live return to the UK. Even before either headlining band takes to the stage, Touche Amore (8) deliver an opening set of such brilliance.
Blood Command - Praise Armageddonism
Overall Score: 9/10 Vocals : 9/10 Originality : 9/10 Songs: 9/10 Pros: Still such an exciting and original sound | Nikki Bruman adds a new level of intensity to the band Cons: Bruman's vocals might not be for everyone BLOOD COMMAND have been one of the best and most exciting punk bands of the last ten years. For whatever reason though they’ve remained a cult band and never got the wider love they deserve.
Devil Sold His Soul & URNE
Last year Devil Sold His Soul released their brilliant fourth album Loss. Now 12 months later they were finally able to get out on tour in support of the record concluding with a night at Londons Islington Academy. Early doors meant that even with them being bumped up to main support, URNE (8) were still playing to a gradually filling room. But those who did make it down for them did get to witness something mighty.
Turnstile Live Review From Kentish Town Forum, February 3rd 2022
Turnstile’s rise has been one of the greatest success stories from hardcore in recent years. On their second album, Nonstop Feeling, they were one of the most exciting hardcore bands in the underground, with a live show that had many describing them as one of the best live bands around. Time & Space saw their popularity grow, but it’s on album 4 Glow On that the band have truly exploded.
Billy Talent - Crisis Of Faith
Overall Score: 7/10 Variety: 8/10 Vocals: 8/10 Consistency : 6/10 Pros: Some of the best songs Billy Talent have released in years Cons: Whilst nice and varied it is a little inconsistent Billy Talent’s sixth album has been something long awaited by fans. Particularly when its first single dropped all the way back in 2019. Over two years later, likely due to various COVID related problems, Crisis Of Faith finally arrives but was it worth the wait?
Blood Youth - Visions of Another Hell
Overall Score: 7/10 Riffs : 8/10 Vocals : 8/10 Originality : 6/10 Pros: A fitting send off for Kaya Tarsus | That guitar tone Cons: Perhaps a little too derivative for some The surprise announcement of vocalist Kaya Tarsus departing Blood Youth last month was certainly not something fans saw coming. Especially knowing a new album was on the horizon.
The Devil Wears Prada - ZII EP
Overall Score: 7/10 Riffs : 8/10 Vocals : 8/10 Songs: 7/10 Pros: A worthy follow up to the original | Develops their old sound with new ideas Cons: Less committed to the Zombie concept which might disappoint fans of the original 10 years ago THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA released what many consider to be their best work with the ZOMBIE EP. At a time when US metalcore was becoming so watered down and bland, this EP was something far more exciting.
While She Sleeps - Sleeps Society
Overall Score: 8/10 Riffs : 9/10 Lyrics: 7/10 Stand out tracks : 8/10 Pros: The great combination of everything While She Sleeps have done before | Those riffs Cons: A few dodgy lyrics | Some experiments still need a little more refinement WHILE SHE SLEEPS have undeniably been one of the bigger success stories of the last decade within UK metal. They’ve faced their share of adversity and persevered through it all thanks to their fiercely independent drive and DIY ethic.
Touche Amore - Lament
Overall Score: 9/10 Lyrics: 10/10 Songwriting: 9/10 Vocals : 9/10 Pros: Beautifully crafted songs that perfectly capture the lingering effects of loss Cons: Certain songs and their subject matter might be difficult listening for some Following up an album like Stage Four was never going to be an easy task for Touche Amore. A deeply personal album that managed to capture the pain vocalist Jeremy Bolm went through after such a huge loss in an unflinching way.
ALBUM REVIEW: Menace - Nasty
Belgian beatdown mob NASTY are back once again to deliver another round of limb flailing brutality. Since 2006 the band have built up quite a reputation in hardcore circles for their no nonsense approach, delivering some of the most aggressive and outright violent hardcore around. So how does their latest album Menace compare to what’s come before? Well from the opening track Ultimate it becomes clear NASTY haven’t decided to deviate from their tried and tested formula.
Sharptooth: Life on the Razors Edge
SHARPTOOTH have quietly been building up as one of the most exciting new hardcore bands in America. A band with something to say and they don’t care who they upset, there is something so vital about them right now. And now with their second album Transitional Formsthey’ve taken a huge step forward and are ready to step out of the underground. Make no mistake though, SHARPTOOTH are doing this for themselves.
ALBUM REVIEW: Dream Nails - Dream Nails
Album Reviews Alternative Punk Reviews August 26, 2020August 25, 2020 Sam Dignon Alcopop! Records, Dream Nails, Kiss My Fist, Major Press DREAM NAILS have been quietly making a name for themselves in the DIY punk scene over the last few years. The continuing growth of feminist punk bands in the UK has been a really vital and exciting movement that DREAM NAILS are very much part of. Now they finally have their debut album ready to go and look set to take things up a whole other level.
Misery Signals - Ultraviolet
Overall Score: 8/10 Vocals : 8/10 Musicianship: 8/10 Variety : 7/10 Pros: Classic sound delivered with more maturity | High level of quality throughout with no tracks feeling like filler Cons: Lacks originality As if the prospect of a new Misery Signals album after seven years wasn’t exciting enough for fans. Ultraviolet also sees the return of original vocalist Jesse Zarasaka for the first time since their cult classic debut Of Malice and the Magnum Heart.
ALBUM REVIEW: Internal Incarceration - Year Of The Knife
Album Reviews Hardcore Reviews August 6, 2020 Sam Dignon Good As Gold Group, Internal Incarceration, Pure Noise Records, Year Of The Knife Over the last few years, US hardcore has become one of the most exciting scenes in alternative music. Countless bands have come along bringing their own twist on the sound and pushing it in fresh new directions. YEAR OF THE KNIFE were one such band, with their early EPs delivering one of the most vicious takes on hardcore.
ALBUM REVIEW: Transitional Forms - Sharptooth
With 2017’s debut album Clever Girl, SHARPTOOTH showed plenty of promise. That album was bursting with passion and aggression. The album had its shortcomings but it felt like if SHARPTOOTH could refine their sound a bit and find their own identity more then they could become one of the most exciting new hardcore bands around. Now three years later they are back with their second album Transitional Forms, a very fitting title for what SHARPTOOTH have done here.
Rock Sins Albums Of The Decade 2010
A feature roughly six months in the making, Rock Sins’ albums of the decade brought over a dozen of our team together to work out collectively our favourite albums of the decade over which this site came to life and has since thrived. initially delayed by some work commitments and then further by the COVID-19 outbreak, the outbreak has now provided time to get this feature finished, and here we are. How did we come to our conclusions? Quite simply.
The Ghost Inside - The Ghost Inside
Overall Score: 9/10 Vocals: 9/10 Lyrics: 9/10 Songwriting: 8/10 Pros: Raw and emotional | An incredible and uplifting end to a tragic story Cons: Nothing When we talk about comeback stories, few are as inspiring as the story of The Ghost Inside. Their horrific bus crash from 2015 has been well documented and left the band sidelined until their live comeback last year. Given the injuries they suffered being able to play again seemed nothing short of a miracle.
Bleed From Within - Fracture
Overall Score: 8/10 Riffs: 9/10 Vocals: 8/10 Originality : 7/10 Pros: Packed with so many brilliant riffs | A genuine love for the genre they play | Further expands on their sound Cons: Could perhaps push the evolution further Bleed From Within have been one of the most criminally overlooked metal bands of the last decade. The Glaswegians have released several great albums but never quite got the praise they deserve.
ALBUM REVIEW: Steelo - Combos
May 8, 2020May 8, 2020 Sam Dignon Combos, Loyal Blood Records, Steelo, Viral Propaganda PR There’s been something so undeniably fun about some of the punk bands to emerge from Norway over the last decade. Whether it’s the likes of BLOOD COMMAND or BOKASSA, the results have always been loud and high energy noise that is so infectious. Now COMBOS are the latest punk band to emerge, forming at the end of 2018 the band are already dropping their debut album.
The Homeless Gospel Choir - This Land Is Your Landfil
Overall Score: 7/10 Lyrics: 7/10 Melodies: 7/10 Originality: 6/10 Pros: Immensely fun | Important and inspiring lyrics | Full of character Cons: Slightly lacking in original ideas The Homeless Gospel Choir, also known as Derek Zanetti has spent the last couple of years building his profile within the DIY punk scene. Usually a one man project he’s now back with his fourth full length album, and this time he’s bought a lot of friends with him to start this new chapter.
Spanish Love Songs: Optimism As A Radical Life Choice
SPANISH LOVE SONGS have been one of the most praised new bands within pop-punk and emo. Since their breakthrough on their second album Schmaltz the band have just been rising up the ranks. Now with the release of their latest album Brave Faces Everyone the band look set to take things even further. On their recent UK run with the THE MENZINGERS we caught up with vocalist Dylan Slocum to discuss the band’s rise and what this new album means to them.
Darkest Hour: 25 Years of DIY Death Metal
A lot can change over 25 years, especially when you’re in a band. This year marks 25 years since DARKEST HOUR formed and guitarist Mike Schleibaum has a lot to look back on. Despite being a melodic death metal band, DARKEST HOUR have always been proud of their hardcore roots. Especially when you look at the history of the hardcore scene in Washington. This DIY hardcore ethic has always been in the band’s DNA for the last 25 years.
All Time Low - Wake Up, Sunshine
Overall Score: 8/10 'Choruses: 9/10 Melody: 9/10 Variety : 6/10 Pros: Recaptures what made All Time Low great | Packed with massive choruses Cons: The middle section drags 2017’s Last Young Renegade seemed to leave All Time Low in a difficult position. The move to Fuelled By Ramen and the toning down of pop-punk elements in favour of a more radio pop sound felt like a clear play to push their mainstream popularity to the next level. Unfortunately it never seemed to quite pay off.
Distorted Sound Magazine
ANTI-FLAG have always been an extremely political band and that’s no different on their latest album 20/20 Vision.If anything their hatred of Donald Trump has made this album one of their most outspoken, something that drummer Pat Thetic isn’t afraid to express as we sit down for a chat before their headline show in London. “Donald Trump is a complete piece of shit. Boris Johnson is not far behind him.
LIVE REVIEW: Monuments @ O2 Academy Islington, London
MONUMENTS were one of the most adored tech-metal band in the mid 2010s and now they are back with their new vocalist playing one of their biggest headline shows. Alongside them were HEART OF A COWARD who found themselves in a similar situation to MONUMENTS. So this gig is all about two bands continuing to bounce back. Opening act I BUILT THE SKY feel like the sort of act that people would either love or find boring. As is often the case with instrumental bands.
ALBUM REVIEW: Common Sense Holiday - Haggard Cat
Album Reviews Alternative Punk Reviews March 13, 2020March 12, 2020 Sam Dignon Common Sense Holiday, Earache Records, Good As Gold Group, Haggard Cat HAGGARD CAT might be one of the more harshly judged bands in recent years. After HECK unfortunately split before their time in 2017, it felt like there was a lot of pressure on Matt Reynolds and Tom Marsh as they decided to focus on HAGGARD CAT. A lot of unfair comparisons were made between the two bands despite them being very different beasts.
LIVE REVIEW: BABYMETAL @ Eventim Apollo, London
There’s nothing quite like a BABYMETAL show. A room full of moshers, cosplayers, J-pop fans and all kinds of people you’d never expect to see at a metal gig coming together to worship the Fox God. The level of dedication from BABYMETAL fans really is unmatched. And at this sold out show at the Eventim Apollo in London these fans were in for a treat. Creeper live @ Eventim Apollo, London.
LIVE REVIEW: Sylosis @ Islington Assembly Hall, London
After four years away, Reading thrashers SYLOSIS made their highly anticipated return with a sold out show at the Islington Assembly Hall. Their new album Cycle Of Suffering had already wowed fans, so the excitement in the for their live return was so high. Dyscarnate live @ Islington Assembly Hall, London. Photo Credit: @wtchfndr First up though, were DYSCARNATE who did an excellent job warming up the crowd. The three piece just blast the audience with the most crushing death metal.
Live Review From London's Jazz Cafe (Jan 2020)
Doo-wop isn’t usually a genre you’d expect metal fans to care about. But after their debut album got all kinds of attention, Twin Temple have become metal fans doo-wop band of choice. Now Twin Temple aren’t exactly your standard doo-wop band, the band describe it themselves as Satanic doo-wop. This isnt just a gimmick to them though, as satanism is a huge part of the duos life. Now they bring their black mass to a sold out show in London for the second time.
LIVE REVIEW: Anti-Flag @ O2 Academy Islington, London
Hardcore Live Reviews Photo Galleries Punk Reviews February 13, 2020 Sam Dignon Anti-Flag, Maid of Ace, O2 Academy Islington London, The Creepshow, The Homeless Gospel Choir The world isn’t exactly in the best state right now. Something that Pittsburgh punks ANTI-FLAG are all too aware of. With their latest album 20/20 Vision the band are still fighting back.
ALBUM REVIEW: Brave Faces Everyone - Spanish Love Songs
Album Reviews Alternative Punk Reviews February 6, 2020 Sam Dignon Brave Faces Everyone, Good As Gold Group, Pure Noise Records, Spanish Love Songs On their last album Schmaltz, SPANISH LOVE SONGS went from being a relatively unknown band to one of the most adored new punk bands in recent years. It’s not hard to see why as that album was one of the best examples of introspective song writing in the genre since since THE WONDER YEARS essentially completed pop-punk.
Anti-Flag - 20/20 Vision
Overall Score: 8/10 Lyrics: 8/10 Choruses : 8/10 Variety : 7/10 Pros: A powerful message delivered through brilliantly catchy choruses Cons: The complete lack of subtlety might turn some people off Anti-Flag have certainly had no shortage of material to inspire them in recent years. Given the current bleak state of the world, there is plenty for a politically charged punk band to sing about.
The Xcerts Murray Macleod Interviewed
With 2019 marking the 10 year anniversary of The Xcerts debut album In The Cold Wind We Smile the band have put together a reissue of the album as well as embarked on a tour to celebrate the album. We caught up with front man Murray Macleod to discuss the album and the 10 year journey The Xcerts have been on since its release. So 2019 has marked the 10th anniversary of your debut album In The Cold Wind We Smile, to get us started how would you briefly sum up these last 10 years of The Xcerts?
The Menzingers - Hello Exile
Overall Score: 9/10 Lyrics: 10/10 Melodies : 9/10 Vocals: 9/10 Pros: Filled with amazing lyrics and stories | The choruses are all huge Cons: Some might find it less immediate than their previous albums With 2017’s After the Party The Menzingers cemented themselves as one of the best bands in modern punk rock. After building up a real dedicated fan base that album saw them explode to another level. This put a fair bit of pressure on them when it came to a follow up.
Blood Youth & Palm Reader Live Review From London (2019)
2019 has been a really big year for Blood Youth so far. Their latest album Starve has seen the band move into a darker and heavier direction and their fans really have got on board with it. Earlier in the year they set out on a headline tour to celebrate its release that concluded in an oversold night at the Boston Music Room in London. Palm Reader (8) were main support and it will come as no surprise that they were absolutely brilliant.
Pagan Guitarist Xavier Santilli Interviewed At Slam Dunk Festival 2019
Ahead of their set at this years Slam Dunk festival we caught up with Pagan guitarist Xavier Santilli. With their debut album Black Wash really establishing Pagan as one of the most exciting new bands around it was great to hear from the band how the time since its release has been, how they came up with their sound and how the UK is already starting to feel like a second home to them. So we’re here with Xavier from Pagan, how’s you Slam Dunk experience been so far?
Slam Dunk Festival 2019
It’s time once again for Slam Dunk to kick off the festival season. Returning to Hatfield house with its biggest line up yet, Slam Dunk looked set to get the season going with a bang and it did not disappoint. Whether it was the traditional pop-punk bands, NOFX’s Punk In Drublic festival or the amazing hardcore bands on the Impericon stage, Slam Dunk Festival had something great for everyone there. First up was William Ryan Key (7) opening up the Marshall Stage.
Petrol Girls - Cut & Stitch
Overall Score: 9/10 Vocals: 8/10 Lyrics: 9/10 Variety : 8/10 Pros: Filled with powerful lyrics that carry an important message | Consistently varied and interesting Cons: Nothing Cut & Stitch is the second album from UK punks Petrol Girls. Like their previous work this is another furious blast of feminist punk. The thought behind Cut & Stitch is this ongoing patchwork of sounds and ideas.
Petrol Girls - Cut & Stitch
9 Overall Score Vocals: 8/10 Lyrics: 9/10 Variety : 8/10 Filled with powerful lyrics that carry an important message | Consistently varied and interesting Nothing Cut & Stitch is the second album from UK punks Petrol Girls. Like their previous work this is another furious blast of feminist punk. The thought behind Cut & Stitch is this ongoing patchwork of sounds and ideas.
Slam Dunk Festival 2019
It’s that time of year again, Slam Dunk Festival is back to kick off festival season, bringing their biggest line up yet. Alongside returning to Hatfield House for the second year, the festival has also moved to a brand new site in Leeds at Temple Newsam Park. Other changes this year include alternating stages meaning they can fit in even more bands without them clashing. So with this being the biggest Slam Dunk yet, the Rock Sins team have picked their must see bands for each stage this year.
Polar Interviewed In London
Polar have spent the last 10 years being one of the UK’s hardest working bands. Now head of the release of their fourth album Nova, we caught up with Adam “Woody” Woodford, Tom Green, Jonny Bowman and Fabian “Fab” Lomas. With their new album on the horizon there was plenty to catch up on as well as looking back on how far the band have come since they formed in 2009.
Holding Absence - Holding Absence
Overall Score: 7/10 Vocals: 9/10 Lyrics: 7/10 Consistency : 6/10 Pros: Great vocal performance | Some incredibly powerful moments with both music and vocals Cons: The ballads really drag things down There has been a large amount of buzz surrounding Holding Absence over the last few years. Their early singles and split EP with Loathe showed promise and seemed to really win people over.
Holding Absence - Holding Absence
7 Overall Score Vocals: 9/10 Lyrics: 7/10 Consistency : 6/10 Great vocal performance | Some incredibly powerful moments with both music and vocals The ballads really drag things down There has been a large amount of buzz surrounding Holding Absence over the last few years. Their early singles and split EP with Loathe showed promise and seemed to really win people over. Now it’s their time to show what they are capable of with a full album and prove if they are worthy of all the hype.
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