RWEI.

As 2019 comes to a close, it's time to have a look back at the albums and gigs that have really made an impact over the first proper year of this blog's existence. Bring forth then, the first edition of the RWEI Awards! Reflecting upon all of the albums we have covered- and some we haven't... yet- as well as all of the gigs/festival sets we've seen throughout the year in Glasgow and further afield, we have collated some lists for your viewing (and listening) pleasure.  First of all, we'll give out some awards to our favourite albums this year before we count down our Top 20 and reminisce about the great gigs we've been to this year. Enjoy!

with: Night Demon  and Catalysis Hosted by: Hamilton Hunter WORDS: Ross Donald With Sacred Reich releasing their new album Awakening back in August, it was time to tour the record and bring the magic of 80s thrash to the world. I wasn’t sure if I would see this show given that the band has a main stage slot at Bloodstock next year, but I figured a full set by the band would be fun to experience. This show was originally meant to take place at Slay in Glasgow, but like all shows scheduled there, it was quickly changed over to a different venue. While the Cathouse has it’s perks, it isn’t always the best for sound quality (as evidenced by a suspiciously quiet performance by Cattle Decapitation last month). How would it fare for a night of thrash? ___________________ The first band on the stage (roughly ten minutes after the doors actually opened) were Catalysis , a four-piece band from Dundee. I did feel bad for the band at first as when they started playing ...

with: Vehement, Thy Dying Light, Uir  and Waerteras Hosted by: Unholy Forces & North of the Wall Festival WORDS: Joanne Gray

All listings correct as of time of publication 1 st December Byronic Sex & Evile ,  with Gothzilla   @ 13 th Note (Goth Rock) GWAR,   with Voivod and Childrain   @ The Garage (Heavy Metal) Kungens M ä n ,  with Snakes Don’t Belong in Alaska and The Kundalini Genie   @ Nice N’ Sleazy (Post-Rock/Metal) Ryan McCombs (SOiL)  @ Classic Grand (Metal/Acoustic) Spoke Too Soon,  with Remind Me Of Home, Everyday Pharaohs and Savage Dink   @ Ice Box (Pop Punk) 2 nd December Amyl and The Sniffers ,  with support  @ The Garage (Punk/Pub Rock) Idles ,  with support  @ Barrowland Ballroom (Punk Rock) Penelope Isles ,  with Plants & Animals and Freakwave   @ Hug and Pint (Indie Rock/Dream Pop) Sumo Cyco ,  with support  @ Classic Grand (Alternative Metal/Rock) 3 rd December Idles ,  with support  @ B...

with: Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown  and Cellar Door Moon Crow Hosted by: DF Concerts WORDS: Joanne Gray

with: All Them Witches  and Tribulation Hosted by: DF Concerts WORDS: Joanne Gray

Featured Albums 1) The Menzingers Hello Exile (4th October) Epitaph Records With around than a decade’s worth of grafting under their belt, Pennsylvania punks  The Menzingers came into my radar on their 2017 album After The Party . Its Springsteen/Gaslight Anthem- esque sense of bittersweet nostalgia and sheer quantity of life affirming t-shirt tugging anthems made this my album of that year by some distance. Even now, it may just one of my favourite albums released this decade. Spoiler… I bloody love this band… But, as much as I would love to gush about that album, the review here is about their sixth album, Hello Exile . The context of this previous album is important though. How does a band follow up an album that feels very much like the peak of a band’s musical career? One way is to try to write the same album again. The other is to tread different musical ground. As with the differences seen between 2012’s revered On The Impossible Past and 2014’s...