Welcome to AmpedReviews.net
We have been around since 2006 and bring you the best of CD and Live reviews aswell as Interviews with bands, features and live photography! If you're interested in appearing on or writing for the website please get in contact
The Birthday Massacre - Corporation, Sheffield - 15th July 2009
Support: Raggedy Angry
Although the ticket clearly states that doors open at seven o’clock, upon entering the Corporation we’re informed that the first of tonight’s three bands isn’t on until eight thirty, due to an art exhibition being held at the Corp earlier in the evening. Why no-one noticed they’d scheduled a gig and an exhibition on the same night, is anyone’s guess. Even worse, the Corp’s Wednesday night School Disco is supposed to kick off at ten o’clock. Later on in the night, a chat with some of the school tie-wearing multitudes, reveals that they were holed up in one of the club’s teeny secondary rooms while the gig was on - something they’re none too pleased about.
Scheduling problems aside, it’s easy to see why the first band were chosen to support The Birthday Massacre, as their gothic pop-rock is exactly the sort of thing the aforementioned Toronto six piece specialise in, just with slightly less synths. Unfortunately, they’re not listed as support on any of The Birthday Massacre’s websites, so I haven’t got the faintest idea who they were, which is a pity as they were actually pretty good. Next time, make sure you put your name out there!
Second act Raggedy Angry are clearly vying for Aiden’s teenybopper goth fan base. Every member is dressed like a different Hot Topic cliché: we have the tie-wearing emo-goth frontman; the cross-dressing Marilyn Manson lookalike guitarist; and the bassist who refuses to put his hood down for the entirety of the set. Still, they make a visual impression, and they clearly know their target market, unleashing a storming cover of ‘This Is Halloween’ that has everyone grinning. The rest of their set can’t live up to that cover, but you suspect this is the one support band everyone will leave the Corp talking about, even if what they’re talking about are the spider web fishnet tights the guitarist was wearing.
Half past ten has come and gone before The Birthday Massacre take to the stage, but any worries about catching the last train home are blasted away by frontwoman Chibbi’s phenomenal onstage presence. Wide-eyed and smirking with demonic glee, she pulls faces, waves at the audience with all the enthusiasm of a child who’s been popping too many E numbers, and generally bounds around with such mad-eyed exuberance, that taking a step back seems like a good idea. She’s fascinating to watch (although I’m glad I’m not stood too close), and The Birthday Massacre have the songs to prevent this from becoming a one-woman show. Their blend of industrial metal with posturing, gothic fairy tale lyrics and heapings of chilling synths, may be a guilty pleasure, but it’s a pleasure nonetheless. ‘Kill The Lights’ is simply spine-tingling, while ‘Walking With Strangers’ is a sassy electro-goth stomp, and The Birthday Massacre’s cover of ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ may be very silly, but it’s also damn good fun, which is a pretty neat summary of tonight’s show.
Interview with MiMi Soya
We recently spoke to Brighton based pop rock outfit, MiMi Soya about their brand new EP 'I Can't Stand Pop Bands,' their recent success and what is still yet to come from the band. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Behinds the scenes with My Darkest Days
We recently went behind the scenes with My Darkest Days on their July 2010 tour, opening for Sick Puppies alongside It's Alive and Janus.
Mark Goodwin of Sick Puppies
We recently spoke to Mark Goodwin of Sick Puppies about Rock Prophecies, who he would like to share a stage with and what's new about their recent tour.
It's Alive
We recently spoke to It's Alive about their recent tour in support of Sick Puppies and shooting the video for their single 'Pieces.'
Tommi Thunder from Suicide Love Boat
We spoke to Tommi Thunder of Suicide Love Boat about the band’s scam tour to Germany, stolen guitars, cut fingers, lost brothers, playing drunk and many others. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Jonas Karsten from Vanity Beach
We talked to Jonas Karsten of Vanity Beach about their long-awaited second album ‘A Life of Vice’, a new line-up and producer and many other curious sidelights. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Dead Confederate
We spoke to Dead Confederate during the last day of SXSW about what they've been up to and their new album READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Burn The Fleet
We spoke to this Southampton based group about their local music scene and how they are breaking out from it. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Silent Disguise
We spoke to metal band Silent Disguise about their journey to where they are today and what is on the horizon. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Phillip Edwards from Boys With X-Ray Eyes
We spoke to drummer Phillip Edwards about the bands rise since their debut. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Gustav Wood from Young Guns
We talk to the young front man about the Kerrang! Relentless tour and what it feels like to be an unsigned band that is currently making huge waves in the rock music industry. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Lost Prophets
We talk to Lost Prophets about their new album 'The Betrayed' and their current tour of the UK READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Funeral For A Friend
We talked to Funeral For A Friend members Darran and Gavin about their new 'Greatest Hits' album and how Gavin felt about joining the band. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
Angel Ibarra from Aiden
Back in June we talked to Aiden guitarist Angel Ibarra about the new record and the recent troubles that the band have faced. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW
