The Dark Orb Rocks

06/09/2026

Huge congratulations to Ward XVI. They made a small stage feel massive at Mangata Festival yesterday, and this is fab news.

Some photos their Mångata set to follow in coming days.

If you don’t know them, do check them out. Fab metal/rock band channeling the very best of Alice Cooper’s stage presence and 90’s slasher horror movies. They’re very talented and a lot of fun!

Finally home!!!

Our awards from Moshville Radio UK for underground artist of 2025 and music video of 2025.

Moshville Times

05/09/2026

Dead proud of our Judas Priest set from Bloodstock this year.

04/09/2026

One of the MOST amazing melodic Post-Hardcore bands in existence is The Grey, another with more of a post-metal bent is Hidden Mothers. a-tota-so are an incredible sort of post-punk 90's throwback post-metal tour-de-force, Nordic Giants are the very pinnacle of breathtaking come, atmospheric post-rock ambient bands, Ward XVI are bringing the theatrical back into rock in a way that we only really see from Swedish bands right now (and one of those is on semi-permanent hiatus), and Syncolima bring the stomping, driving stoner sludgey energy to the room from the top of the show really.

These are just some of the reasons why I bought my Mangata Music Mangata Festival ticket the moment they went on sale last year, in early-bird.

See you tomorrow?

16/08/2026

I have been to the last two Uprising festivals, not as media (too small for that!) But just as a punter.

It has generally been at the noisier side of heavy the last couple of years, often heavier than I tend to listen to (I’m more the proggy side as many of you know) but I’ve gotta say it’s a great great event.

Next year it’s in Wolverhampton which will be a bit different but amazing. On top of that, two of my very favourite bands, HIPPOTRAKTOR and Cobra The Impaler are playing. Belgian metal is amazing.

I’ll add some of my favourite photos from the previous two Uprising events below.

We don't have a huge PR machine or massive media support, we don't have billboards covered in our posters or huge magazines covering us, but you all know that costs money ultimately from the tickets..
But what we do have is you people that have been, that have played, that have experienced Uprising first hand. You're our PR machine so whilst we're loading up our next run of bands please give our first announcements some love, share the poster , follow the bands, stick them on your playlists, commit to a ticket now if you can or in spirit if you can't.
https://www.gigantic.com/uprising-x-tickets
Might even throw a guest ticket out if you manage to defeat the algorithm
Black Spikes - Cold Night For Alligators - HIPPOTRAKTOR - Cobra The Impaler - Straight For The Sun - RECKONER
KK'S Steel Mill - Live Music

15/08/2026

An absolutely fantastic progressive metal band from Cyprus, Joakem are a force to be reckoned with. If you don't know them, you should fix that.

FFO: Soen, TesseracT, Leprous, Ihlo, Haken, maybe even Wheel at times... You know, those sorts of awesome sounds. :)

15/08/2026

Some photos from our day at Bloodstock Festival with the mighty Spudnik The Gigging Potato Erin Wigglesworth Phil G 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐑𝐀𝐓 Judas Priest, BLS and Joakem. Individual artist posts to follow. First time at Bloodstock, surely not the last!

06/08/2026

Love this photo taken at The Piece Hall of Fredrik Åkesson. It was such a wonderful performance and I feel very fortunate to have been able to attend. Can’t wait to make the trip to Sweden to see Opeth again in three weeks!!!

I can’t believe it took me SO many years to actually listen to this band properly. 🖤

02/08/2026

An absolutely incredible and beautiful performance by the one and only Opeth.

I was a relative latecomer to this mesmerising band, only having seen them live once before at Download festival a couple of years ago. My music tastes have widened and grown a lot in recent years and I must say they offer an incredible blend of progressive rock (which I love, when it's a bit heavier than just jazz) and death metal (which I can enjoy, but I dislike hard vocals and double pedals - especially if it all just sounds like drum triggers.)

Was amazing to hear Mr. Åkerfeldt (Lead singer, guitarist, and main driving force) state they don't even use a 'click track'.

These photos aren't perfect, but I'm not a pro photographer and I was not in the media pit. That said, I'm fairly happy with them.

- Phil.

17/07/2026

This is VERY exciting news.

I’m the first to admit that I only know, well, the music of two of these bands - the fu***ng incredible HIPPOTRAKTOR and the blindly astounding Cobra The Impaler. We have shared images from Cobra’s most recent uk tour earlier in the year (link in comments).

For the other bands, I need to do some exploring. Which band should I start with?

Uprising festival is great. Early Bird tickets are somehow still available at time of writing. Check it out. https://www.gigantic.com/uprising-x-tickets/wolverhampton-kk-s-steel-mill/2027-04-10-12-30

🔥UPRISING X ANNOUNCEMENT🔥

Here's your first drop of 2027!

🤘 First up to join the lineup are Lithuania’s own modern metal heavyweights, Black Spikes.

🤘 Joining the lineup are HIPPOTRAKTOR, the Belgian post-metal quintet renowned for delivering deeply emotional performances.

🤘 Making their debut at the festival, Copenhagen’s very own progressive metal outfit Cold Night For Alligators join the lineup.

🤘 Joining the bill are fellow Belgian heavyweights Cobra The Impaler.

🤘 Making their highly anticipated debut are Brummie rockers Straight For The Sun.

🤘 The final band completing this announcement is Leicester’s own post-hardcore quartet, RECKONER.

With so much still to announce, Uprising X is just getting started for what will be its biggest instalment to date. Grab those tickets to the party of the year!

See you on 10th April 2027 at KK'S Steel Mill - Live Music ⚡

07/06/2026

The fantastic ALT BLK ERA at Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, May 2026