Monthly Archives: September 2026

Confusion Master – Gig Review

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Confusion Master + Endure + Warlockhunt

Tuesday 15th September 2026

G21 at The Saddle, Chester

Luckily for me, I’d already booked the week off work to indulge in some skateboarding and record crate-digging, so a Tuesday night out wasn’t automatically dismissed. Instead of staying in on a school night, I was free for another evening at The Saddle in Chester for some crushingly heavy Doom Metal.

First up were gig organisers Mark and Lorraine and their band Warlockhunt. The new line-up is gelling really well – those post punk, tribal beats both drier and warmer – laying down a crisp foundation for the twin-bass assault. The contrast between sombre melody and the gloomiest, doomiest of bass guitar lines is working better than ever – Warlockhunt seemed confident and overjoyed to be out playing.

Endure were on next, and despite consisting of another trio, this was a very different approach. They created epic, soundtrack-like pieces with the use of keyboards, though the harsh, growled vocals kept them grounded in Metal. I think there were two songs performed (maybe three?), it was hard to tell as the music blended from one to another like one huge, experimental symphony. Occasional furious guitar riffs punctuated the atmosphere, keeping the audience on their toes. Endure gave us cerebral yet brutal music that was fierce and enlightening.

Confusion Master hail from Germany, and are over in the UK on a short tour, spreading their gospel of fuzzed out, sludgy Doom. With songs ranging from mammoth, occult driven skull crushers to faster, nimble rock-outs, the set impressed with its variety of pace and texture. Featuring vocal samples and psychedelic excursions, Confusion Master’s songs cover a number of styles, resembling a mash up of Electric Wizard and Saint Vitus, but drenched in their own grand character.

That was a real treat for a Tuesday school night – all three bands left us feeling that we’d been very lucky to be in attendance. And I hadn’t even done my homework. Told the teacher Cthulhu ate it.

Confusion Master on Facebook.

Endure on Facebook.

Warlockhunt on Facebook.

New Skateboard – Death Dan Cates Killer Clown II

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Who remembers the Killer Clown panic that went round a few years back at Halloween time? When there were all these stories of people getting attacked by creepy weirdos dressed as clowns? Kids were scared silly about it and it was all just urban japes and bants created by the internet.

Anyway, I decided I need a new cruiser board to replace my Santa Cruz Street Creep re-issue. The main reason being, that the Street Creep is worth a few quid and it should be up on the wall as a decoration. Or DECK-oration, haha!! Sorry.

I also really miss the big, old shaped decks of yore, and thought that this would be a good shape to aid in my goal of getting better at slappy tricks.

I’d had my eyes on the Death Dan Cates deck for a while, and finally decided to go for it. Regular readers will know I’m a bit of a Death Skateboard fanboy, and this Cates deck looked perfect – great shape and graphic. Dan Cates is a talented skater who I’ve watched many video parts of. Plus it was within my meagre budget, so I bought it from Native Skate Store online.

The wheels are Powell Peralta Dragons 56mm and 93A, which I got from a contact in a Facebook group for a very good price. The only problem was the trucks: i re-purposed the Indy trucks I had on the Street Creep, but they’re actually not wide enough – wider trucks will be sourced asap.

So far, the whole set up rides amazing: the deck has a really nice concave and overall feel, plus the wheels are unbelievably smooth. I’ve just rolled around the carpark so far, but hope to take a trip to a pump track soon. And maybe do some more old school 80’s street skating…

As usual, here are the specs for posterity:

  • Death Skateboards Dan Cates Killer Clown II 9.375″ (free griptape)
  • Independent trucks (to be replaced)
  • Powell Peralta Dragon wheels 56mm 93A
  • Independent bolts
  • ABEC 5 Bearings

Check out Death Skateboards here.

Check out Native Skate Store here.

Bad Earth – Trigger Point Single Review

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Bad Earth – Trigger Point

Self released

Release date: 18/09/2026

Review by: Alun Jones

8.5/10

Question: what’s got six legs, has played Bloodstock Festival three times, and can rock like a totally unhinged mega bastard? If you answered Bad Earth: you’re correct, you go to the top of the class. Yes, I’m talking about these North Wales Rockcore legends, who are no strangers to these pages, and they’re about to release a new single.

The single is called ‘Trigger Point’, and it features exactly the kind of volume-gauge wrecking, no-nonsense Rock’n’Roll that we’ve come to expect. Like a mix of Metallica and Mastodon with the reliable grit of Motorhead, ‘Triger Point’ is a relentless attack right from the off. The guitars are exquisitely crunchy, but the bass rolls and grooves with the drums to keep the street smart Rock at the heart of the song. The production is clear but still raw, and it’s great to hear the dual vocals roaring through.

‘Trigger Point’ is an early warning of the forthcoming new album from Bad Earth, due later this year. Keep your ears lively for that: if this song is a true indication, the new material should see Bad Earth unleashing some lethal artillery.

Check out Bad Earth on Facebook, Spotify, and Instagram.

Ritual Arcana – Album Review

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Ritual Arcana – Ritual Arcana 

Heavy Psych Sounds 

Release date: 23/01/2026 

Review by: Alun Jones 

8.5/10 

2026 is here, and here also is my first review of the year.  Finally.  Now, now – enough with the “late as usual” bants!  I’ve been busy doing something.  I’m sure I have an excuse somewhere, I’ll get back to you…  Anyway, this is an excellent place to start for the new year – the debut album from Occult Doom Rockers, Ritual Arcana. 

A new band, but with an impressive pedigree, Ritual Arcana consist of SharLee LuckyFree on bass and vocals (ex Moth), Oakley Munson on Drums (The Black Lips) and underground Stoner/Doom legend, the one and only Scott “Wino” Weinrich (of The Obsessed, Saint Vitus, Spirit Caravan etc etc) on guitar.  Slap all that on a release from Heavy Psych Sounds and you just know something serious is going down. 

In the fabled land of Stoner/Doom, The Riff is King.  And with Wino on board, the kingdom is in safe hands.  The slow, throbbing title track opens the ceremonial space, throbbing with a medieval menace.  ‘Occluded’ picks up the pace, a charging head banger that’s more infectious than an outbreak of witchcraft in New England.  That guitar tone is absolutely monolithic throughout, witness the crushing ‘Berkana’ for more evidence.   

The rest of the band ain’t taking a day off, either.  Munson’s drums rattle and crash throughout the ritual with tribal precision, and on ‘Subtle Fruits’ revs up the rhythm to thrilling heights.  And of course there’s the formidable presence of cosmic High Priestess LuckyFree, a solid, warm bass player who’s voice genuinely adds character to all the songs here.  Taking centre stage with glee and authority, LuckyFree leads the throng and particularly shines on ‘Wake the Goddess’. 

“Ritual Arcana” delivers exactly what one would expect, and does it confidently.  A little more variety in song writing would’ve propelled this album to even greater heights – some swampy blues?  An Iommi style mellow piece?  But we can leave that for album number two.  For now, this debut weaves reliably thunderous Hard Rock with a gloomy, supernatural air for an enticing experience. 

Find out more about Ritual Arcana on their website, Facebook and Instagram pages.

This review is brought to you by Platinum Al in association with Ever Metal.