Kerrang! Tribute album to American Idiot

As American Idiot, the second and the most well known Green Day album, has celebrated it's 10th anniversary, Kerrang! has decided to release a tribute album, which is packed to the brim with amazing bands and some amazing covers! 

Here's the track list

1. American Idiot - 5 Seconds Of Summer
2. Jesus Of Suburbia – Rise To Remain
3. Holiday – The Blackout
4. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams – Neck Deep
5. Are We The Waiting – You Me At Six
6. St. Jimmy – Bowling For Soup
7. Give Me Novocaine – Escape The Fate
8. She’s A Rebel – Falling In Reverse
9. Extraordinary Girl – Frank Iero
10. Letterbomb – LostAlone
11. Wake Me Up When September Ends – The Defiled
12. Homecoming – Lonely The Brave
13. Whatsername – New Politics
Bonus tracks:
14. Welcome To Paradise – State Champs
15. Basket Case – The Swellers

Some may argue that 5 Seconds of Summer should not be on there, solely because they are linked with One Direction, but that does not stop them from absolutely smashing American Idiot, and making it one of the best covers I have ever heard. So don't start running your mouth unless you have truly given it a listen.
Plus there is also a cover from Frank Iero, who was previously the guitarist for My Chemical Romance, before they split. I have yet to listen to that cover but I know that it will be another amazing one, and I'm not just saying that because I was and still am a massive MCR fangirl, but because Frank truly is an amazing musician.

Each band has put their unique spin on each track and essentially made it theirs without changing the true Green Day roots.

Happy 10th Anniversary American Idiot!

Merthyr Rock 2014

At the end of the summer in 2011 & 2012 there was a large crowd gathering at Cyfartha Castle in Merthyr Tydfil for what would shake the South Wales Valleys rock scene, for years to come! Merthyr Rock was and once again is an upcoming event which is rock music lovers from all across the UK have come to love.

In August/September, 2011, the three day festival included bike stunts, fireworks and a DJ set from Ian Watkins(Before it all came out that he was not a nice person), The Blackout, Goldie Lookin Chain, Funeral For A Friend,  Skindred.
The weather was brilliant for the festival and the standard was set for years to come, with the beer flowing and the sun shining, it could rival some of the bigger festivals, and the price was a lot cheaper than the larger festivals with some of the same bands playing them, so what was not to like? Nothing in my eyes, it was a brilliant atmosphere, the staff was friendly and you had numerous chances to meet the bands and win competitions.

Embracing the sun in 2012

Then that time of year came around again in 2012, when Merthyr Rock was back to rock n' roll like there was no tomorrow. This year you had the opportunity to gain an internship, this was a must for anyone who was looking to get into the music scene. However I went to apply and found out that I had to be 16, god damn being 15 at the time!

An ex and I meeting Sean Smith from The Blackout in 2012

The line up this time included once again Skindred as they were a massive hit from the year before and really knew how to get the crowd going! It also included Kids In Glass Houses, Saves The Day, Yashin and Deaf Havana. The crowds were larger than the previous year as news had got out that it was a brilliant, day or three depending on how many bands you'd want to see. But for the one day with twenty bands playing for a ticket price of £20 you can't exactly go wrong with it working out at £1 per band!

Both years were a massive success or so it seemed, but come 2013, we got told the news that there would be no Merthyr Rock this year due to 'economic problems' this came as a massive shock to all the previous goers and those who they informed that it was a good time and that there would be one this year without a fail because of the sheer success of it all.
Later in 2013 we then found out that there was no need to worry as it was coming back in 2014! As you can imagine, for months on end fans of the festival have been on edge wondering if they are true to their word and who will be on the line up for 2014.

The first four bands of the line up so far have been announced and it looks like it's set to upstage previous years with Taking Back Sunday doing an UK exclusive and Anti Flag celebrating their 20th Anniversary this year! However, there is one or two downsides this year, and that is that it is only for one day instead of the three, and the price has been put up. But in light of previous problems it is totally understandable. They've also pushed the date from the last weekend in August to the 17th, which can only mean one thing! More sun!

On the barrier for most of the night in 2012

Overall I'm excited for this years and can't wait to see what other bands are going to be added to the line up!

Newport Helicoptour

Welsh rockers Skindred, played a one off home town gig, with an usual name which plays homage to a move that they've put a claim too - The Newport Helicoptour. The one off gig which was held in The Newport Centre featured a line-up of Continents; Feed the Rhino, Hacktivist and The Blackout.
Continents started the gig and got the crowds pumped with songs such as Idle Hands, Pegasus Pegasus, Inhale and Regrets. After the crowd had sung along to the songs that they knew off they went and on came Feed the Rhino who took it up to a whole new level with pits at every corner of the room and the crowd jumping so hard that you could feel it in the seats! Feed the Rhino played songs such as their classic Tides.

Once everything calmed down and they finished their set on came Milton Keynes rockers Hacktivist, with their unique sound and the ability to get the crowd hanging off their every word caused them to put on one hell of a show and definitely got everyone pumped for the next support act, The Blackout. They had everyone in the crowd raise their middle finger in the air just before they played their most well-known song, Elevate. Even if you didn't know the lyrics before that, after the song you'd be singing the chorus for the rest of the night trying to resist to raise your middle finger once again. They covered Jay-Z and Kayne West's song ****** In Paris which for fans of the band and those who knew the original couldn't help but to sing a long too.

The Blackout, fellow Welsh rockers were up next, and boy did they get everyone going with their party based hit, Start the Party. Considering that they are the lightest sounded band on the line up with their infectious pop rock sound they still managed to get everyone on their and singing along to their songs without batting an eyelid. They also had the crowd intentionally booing them and calling them every bad name under the sun. Showbiz aye? They also played one of their most well-known hits; Children of the Night, which with its catchy chorus had everyone singing their hearts out, like their life depended on it.

Once they left the stage all that was left to do was wait for Skindred to come on, the wait felt like a lifetime. Once the lights went down, the crowd went absolutely bonkers and it didn't stop there. They came on to an Imperial March remix which had everyone singing the famous Star Wars theme as loud as they possible could with their voices already under a lot of strain from the previous bands. They started the night off with an oldie - Rat Race which got all fans both old and new singing along with the catchy lyrics and the beat which makes you want to jump the night away. Next up was a classic which all Skindred fans know off by heart - Doom Riff, this was the song that created all the pits and caused a lot of injuries from rocking too hard(if that's even possible!) They then went on to play a song of their newest album - Ninja, despite it being out for less than a year everyone was lapping up the atmosphere with the pits expanding and everyone just going bloody insane! They played another classic once Ninja finished - Cut Dem which just made everyone sing their hearts out.

After a short intermission they carried on playing with yet another oldie - Babylon, which with its simple but catchy lyrics had everyone jumping like their life depended on it and singing like their lungs were about to give in. Then keeping with the theme of the oldies, they played Bruises from the same album as Babylon, this again had the same effect causing everyone just too lose it and get down with the music. They then upped their game and played their biggest hit of the newest album - Kill the Power, this song had everyone singing along because of its catchy lyrics and the whole party vibe that it gives off, perfect for a one off hometown gig. Again keeping with the new album they played World's On Fire, which got the crowd going like nothing you've ever seen before, there was pits left right and centre, there was no where you could stand without being within a few feet of one.

The next intermission contained something that you'd never expect to see at a gig of bands of this genre, it was a remix of Thrift Shop, Don’t Stop Me Now and We Will Rock; this caused the crowd to go mental as everyone knew those songs, because let’s face it that doesn't? The crowd were sufficiently ready for the next lot of songs to be played, the song which kicked off the next couple of songs was Trouble, which yet again caused the moshers to go nuts because let’s face it, it’s a song about getting into trouble and they tend too. They then played Pressure yet another well-known song, Pressure, this had everyone singing and just generally having a good time because it’s catchy and up beat lyrics. Next up was Nobody, yet another well-known song by them, which caused everyone to sing along and unite with their love of good music, the pits died down just ever so slightly for this song, but they still were there moshing away.

Then that seemed like it was the end of their set as they disappeared off the stage, but that didn’t stop the crowd from cheering them on and wanting more. With an unanimous chant of ‘Skindred’ and ‘We Want More’, they returned, for a final two songs. Just what the crowd had asked for. They slowed it down for the first song, which was off their newest album, We Live, this song acted as almost a relaxant which caused everyone to calm down and just appreciate the music and the fact that they were stood in front of an amazing band.

The final song caused the gig to end with a bang, and gave the tour its name. Benji asked the crowd to take off their jackets and prepare themselves for the Newport Helicopter, to those who may not know what the Newport Helicopter is its where when the band play Warning, and when Benji tells you to do it, you lift your jacket/top into the air and start swinging it above your head in a circular motion, just like a helicopter.
The crowd went ballistic, with a mixture of jumping up and down, swinging their tops and jackets, singing and pits, the sight was absolutely amazing, something that you’d only ever get to see when Skindred are playing, and if you have ever seen them live then you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Overall it was an amazing night and something that if you were there you’d cherish the memories of that night forever, if you weren’t too drunk not to remember it that is!