Mick Birchall Reviews | Interviews, Gig Reports & Album Reviews

Spiders have always been one of those bands I’ve tried to keep a close eye on. I’ve loved their music for a long time, and even though I’ve never seen them live, their records stick with me. I remember buying the CD, Shake Electric , and being completely blown away by their 70s throwback sound and rock n roll ethos. They’re just an incredible band, and I encourage anyone reading this to listen to their discography, especially if you’re into that late 60s to early 70s rock sound that seems to have been lost somewhere in the modern-day rock scene. So, after listening to their latest fifth album, Crystal Eyes , and speaking with the lead vocalist Ann-Sofia Hoyles , I thought I’d give you my thoughts on the record and what I feel works about this latest offering. This album feels similar in some aspects but wildly different if you know what to listen to. Opening on the fast and furious “Creature of the Night”, the album starts on the right foot. If you’re new to Spiders, then you’ll be me...

Mick: I was literally just listening to the new album, Crystal Eyes, before I got the call. I've really been enjoying it so far. What differences do you feel between this album and your previous work, in terms of what you’ve taken into writing/recording this record? Ann: I mean, it’s been a very short time between these two albums, Sharp Objects and Crystal Eyes . So it's connected in some way because if you're looking back, it was a bigger gap between Killer Machine and Sharp Objects . So I think we're still in a mood like writing new songs. I mean, I don't know how you listeners feel, but for me, it's like we are in a new mode, like more of a Dead Boy s , The Dictators , Blondie kind of mode. So I think it's like the Sharp Objects and Crystal Eyes is a bit connected to each other, the two albums, because we wrote it in like two years, the two albums.   Mick: You’ve called this your most powerful album yet; could you elaborate? Ann: I mean, it would be w...

You may remember that earlier this year I got to speak with Michael Beck and Paul Williams from the American rock band Escape The Hive . (Click Here to Read the Interview) When we spoke, they were talking about the new record and, from the first single, “Around The Sun”, I was quite excited for the record to be released. Now it’s been released and has been in my rotation for a little bit; I thought I’d follow up on that interview and take some time to share my thoughts. This album, Fight or Flight , is the follow-up record to their 2023 album, This Is Gonna Sting , and you can hear the development from one album to the next. Though they’re sticking to the same genre, there does feel like a notable progression from the first to this new album. I’ve been putting it on and letting it play from start to end, and I have to say, I do think this is an enjoyable listening experience. If you’re into that late-70s to early-80s AOR or glam rock, then I think this is an album you’ll very quickly ...

As It Is & Greywind Gig Report | Venue: District, Liverpool | Date: 13th September 2026 Sometimes the best shows are the last-minute ones. I only learned of the show about three hours before it was set to kick off. I’ve really enjoyed the work of the Brighton pop-rockers As It Is for a while now. Ever since their album The Great Depression , they’ve been a band that has been on my radar. This evening would mark my third time catching them live in concert. The last time I got to see As It Is was at Slam Dunk Festival 2025 , so I was very excited to attend a headline show. Speaking of Slam Dunk Festival, one of my favourite discoveries from that event in recent years has been the Ireland-based emo-rock band, Greywind , who joined As It Is for this evening’s entertainment. I’ve loved listening to Greywind since their album Severed Heart City dropped, and they’re a band that doesn't leave my rotation. So, yeah, I’m really glad I dragged myself to Liverpool for this one. The show...

Have you ever discovered a band that’s been around for a long time and thought to yourself, “Wow, this is really my type of sound”? Well I have just had one of those moments. I have got the new albums from Southern metal act Texas Hippie Coalition , from Denison, Texas, USA. As someone who grew up on southern rock , heavy metal and country, this is a band that I instantly got into. Their sound was almost nostalgic to me, the bluesy riffs, the deep vocals, the vibe of going to a dive bar and listening to the local band with a beer in your hand. Yeah, that kind of band. It was something quite instant. I got quite the introduction as in 2026 the band has put out two brand new records. This is not a double-record, it’s two separate records that they’ve released at the same time. Which, I must say, is an interesting strategy. The two albums are Band of Outlaws and Stoned Cowboys . Which both sound pretty good to me. I know this type of music is not everyone’s cup of tea. To me though, ...