Latest articles by Matt Parker
On the radar: Brutus
Belgium’s Brutus are the product of a broad but heavy back catalogue of influences, combining blustering punk, black metal beats and reverb-clad post-rock tones
On the radar: Temples
James Bagshaw is the frontman, guitarist and producer behind Kettering psych pop band Temples. Both of their albums, including vibrant second effort Volcano, were recorded in his bedroom.
On the radar: IDLES
Bristol’s IDLES are a potent hash of outrage, bleak humour and avant-garde noise making
5 minutes alone: Wayne Hussey
The Mission’s fearless leader ponders punk, happy accidents and the benefits of creative dictatorships.
On the radar: Power Trip
Amid the ‘kitchen sink’ technique so prevalent in metal, Texan thrashers Power Trip are innovating with simplicity
On the radar: Wille And The Bandits
Many myths exist around ‘natural talent’. Jimi’s ability wasn’t god-given, he practised so much he noodled on the toilet. Pull back the curtain and, time and again, it’s drive that leads to success
20 must-see guitarists at 2017 festivals
Festival season is upon us once again and we’ve compiled this handy list of six-string savants for whom it’s worth enduring your annual dose of gig-leg
On the radar: Fronteers
Sounding like the irksome offspring of Arctic Monkeys and The La’s, Fronteers grew around the close-knit dual guitar and vocal talents of Andy Towse and James Taylor
The Black Angels talk fuzz selection, Phil Ek and crafting Death Song
Guitarist Christian Bland on the psychedelic band’s fifth album
On the radar: Balance And Composure
Pennsylvania’s Balance And Composure have grown a lot since they formed in 2007
On the radar: Teksti-TV 666
It’s hard to pinpoint the precise moment when the rock ’n’ roll establishment decided that two guitars in a band was quite enough, thank you, but it’s a mindset that persists to this day.
Lucy Rose: the 10 records that changed my life
The UK singer-songwriter picks the brave and the blue
On the radar: Josienne Clarke And Ben Walker
Rough Trade signees Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker are a British folk duo, but new album Overnight stretches that definition into soulful electric territory
On the radar: Boston Manor
Ash Wilson and Mike Cunniff, guitarists with Blackpool’s own Boston Manor, blend the best bits of Brand New with Blink-182’s most melancholy moments
On the radar: Plini
Five minutes and 40 seconds into the tour video for Plini's Paper Moon, the camera pans to the audience to reveal an entire front row bearing a look of ‘wtf!?’ wonderment
On the radar: Broncho
From BB King’s bends to Peter Green’s vibrato, some players just ooze personality. Ryan Lindsey, of Oklahoma garage-rockers Broncho, uses “melodic chugging” to create worlds
Slaves' Laurie Vincent on Take Control, Mike D and his mammoth guitar rig
Kent duo Slaves are successfully prodding a pacified rock scene. All they need is an errant Beastie Boy, a stack of riffs and a ludicrous amount of amplifiers…
On the radar: Reigning Days
“I liken being in a band to being in a relationship,” says Dan Steer, frontman of Reigning Days. “Whatever the outcome, you’ve learned a lot about what and what not to do.”
Fink on guitar gear, production tricks and the challenges of making an authentic modern blues record
Singer-songwriter Fin Greenall is best known by his nom-de-plume Fink, a name shared with his trio, completed by bassist Guy Whittaker and drummer Tom Thornton.
On the radar: Beware Of Darkness
As opening statements go, “Muthafucka, I’m back from the dead. About to raise hell, I’m out of my coma and ready to show ya” rates pretty highly on our ‘outrageous swag-ometer’
