We are super excited to announce the addition of some amazing bands who will be joining us on our UK & Ireland tour next Month including @lakemalice , @GRAPHICNATURE__ , @codyfrostmusic @WeareSaintAgnes . Last tickets for Newcastle & Belfast.https://t.co/va5VaPRvXi pic.twitter.com/4TMuiMM11C

— Skindred (@Skindredmusic) September 15, 2023

The ‘Smile’ tour will support the release of the group’s latest studio album, Smile, that was released earlier last month of August 4th via Earache Records. The band’s eighth LP smashed all expectations and slotted straight in at number 2 of the UK Albums Chart, a career high for the ragga metal outfit.

The tour is set to begin at the Roadmender in Northampton on October 6th and will conclude in Dublin at the Academy on November 18th. Skindred will then play their biggest headline show to date next year at the Wembley OVO Arena in London on March 15th, where alternative metal band As Everything Unfolds will open as a support act. Two accompanying shows will also take place in Manchester and Birmingham on either side of the main London show, on the 14th and 16th of March respectively.

In a recent press release, Skindred drummer Arya Goggin spoke about the support acts, saying, “Skindred is always about supporting the next wave of exciting new artists coming through and on this tour we wanted to try and help shine a light on a few amazing new bands that we are excited about and that we think our fans will love too. We want to encourage people to come to our shows early and to get into the party atmosphere and to enjoy the likes of Lake Malice, Cody Frost , Graphic Nature, Saint Agnes, Archives and Idle Discourse. With of course main support Blackgold too.”

Watch the music video for “Gimme That Boom“, a single from their latest LP Smile, below:

See below for Skindred’s headline tour dates:

06/10/2023 – Roadmender – Northampton
07/10 – O2 Academy – Leeds
13/10 – Junction – Cambridge
14/10 – Epic – Norwich
19/10 – Rock City – Nottingham
20/10 – NX – Newcastle
21/10 – The Garage – Glasgow
26/10 – Dreamland – Margate
27/10 – Chalk – Brighton
28/10 – O2 Academy – Bristol
03/11 – Leadmill – Sheffield
04/11 – The Engine Shed – Lincoln
10/11 – The Great Hall – Cardiff
11/11 – O2 Guildhall – Southhampton
17/11 – Limelight 1 – Belfast
18/11 – Academy, Dublin
14/03/2024 – Academy, Manchester
15/03 – OVO Wembley Arena
16/03 – O2 Academy – Birmingham

You can purchase tickets for the London headline show along with other tour dates here.

You can purchase Smile here.

‘Take Me Back To Eden’ is now yours to consume. https://t.co/ybc5qWX20h

Worship. pic.twitter.com/JceGTRJ8bl

— Sleep Token (@Sleep_Token) May 19, 2023

Sleep Token have taken the world by storm over the course of the recent year, selling out shows, releasing their critically acclaimed album Take Me Back To Eden and being nominated and winning numerous awards. The band affirmed their status as one of music’s hottest properties by selling out a December headlining show at Wembley Arena in under 10 minutes. A remarkable feat indeed for a band that no one knows who the members are, with their anonymity arguably adding to their appeal.

With everyone remaining more or less clueless as to who comprises the masked individuals, it has, perhaps inevitably, led to some disreputable members of the public trying to convince the masses that they are, in fact, members of Sleep Token. And, unsurprisingly, this does not sit well with the band who have thus far painstakingly guarded their identities.

Not only have the band rigorously protected their secret, their legion of fans have also fiercely safeguarded the band’s anonymity, despite various internet sources claiming to have worked out who the members are. It is the fact that apparent scammers have been reaching out to the fanbase and posing as members of the band, that have moved Sleep Token to address the false information being spread throughout their community.

In a message to their supporters via Instagram, the band have stated, “followers, it has been brought to our attention that a number of unscrupulous individuals have been masquerading as members of the Sleep Token collective, in order to exploit members of our extended community. Let it be known any unsolciited contact from ANY person claiming to be a member of the collective should be disregarded, and their profile reported to the relevant administration. We thank you for your understanding.”

While it may come as little surprise to casual observers of the band that some people may look to capitalise on Sleep Token’s mysterious membership, other ‘anonymous’ bands have faced similar intrigue in the past. Slipknot members have long given up their rigid hold on their anonymity, although newer members are often nameless for large periods of time and Tobias Forge remains the only (certain) member outed in Ghost.

Remaining unknown is an important facet of what makes Sleep Token so fascinating and the actual members of the band undoubtedly plan to continue the mystery for as long as possible.

The announcement comes with the release of the group’s most recent studio album, Smile, on August 4th via Earache records. The LP will be the band’s eighth to date and its release will be supported by an extensive UK tour that starts on October 6th in Nottingham and finishes, ultimately, in Birmingham on March 16th 2024.

Lead singer Benji Webbe, in a recent press release, has said of the London headline show, “Standing on that stage is a mark of sheer hard work. We have stood upon that stage supporting many truly great acts. Now it’s Skindred’s time to take the headline slot. You may think you’ve seen us, however this is our opportunity to rise, and to step up like never before!
My Sound we come to take over and truly come to rock Wembley with a heart full of gratitude and a set full of the most rockin’ tunes that we have ever played live. Unity, love and togetherness. Let’s ‘ave it. Quadruple XL.”

Watch the music video for “Nobody”, the lead single from Skindred’s first album, Babylon, below:

Skindred were formed in 1998 in Newport and released their debut album, Babylon, in 2002 to critical acclaim, quickly topping the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart. The band soon amassed a devoted cult following after perfecting the craft of mixing metal rock and alternative metal with reggae, this mixing of genres subsequently becoming known as ragga metal, and the group subsequently becoming one of Britain’s leading pioneers of the genre. The group consists of ever-present members Benji Webbe, lead singer, and bassist Daniel Pugsley, along with guitarist Mikey Demus and drummer Arya Goggin.

Watch the music video for “Gimme That Boom“, a single from their latest LP Smile, below:

See below for Skindred’s UK headline tour dates:

06/10/2023 – Roadmender – Norhampton
07/10 – O2 Academy – Leeds
13/10 – Junction – Cambridge
14/10 – Epic – Norwich
19/10 – Rock City – Nottingham
20/10 – NX – Newcastle
21/10 – The Garage – Glasgow
26/10 – Dreamland – Margate
27/10 – Chalk – Brighton
28/10 – O2 Academy – Bristol
03/11 – Leadmill – Sheffield
04/11 – The Engine Shed – Lincoln
10/11 – The Great Hall – Cardiff
11/11 – O2 Guildhall – Southhampton
17/11 – Limelight 1 – Belfast
18/11 – Academy, Dublin
14/03/2024 – Academy, Manchester
15/03 – OVO Wembley Arena
16/03 – O2 Academy – Birmingham

You can purchase tickets for the London headline show along with other tour dates here.

You can purchase Smile here.

New music and European Tour November pic.twitter.com/PRATlLmUgh

— helmetmusic (@Helmetmusic) July 11, 2023

The New York City band have long been an influential force within the heavy rock and metal scenes and the announcement that new material is on its way will come as exciting news for all who follow the industry. Even more exciting for the UK and Europe, Helmet will be premiering songs off of the new album on the Look Left Tour, which will see them visit over 25 major cities.

Left will be the long awaited follow up to 2016’s Dead to the World and feature an incarnation of the band that has remained largely intact since 2006. Vocalist and guitarist, Page Hamilton-Helmet’s frontman, primary songwriter and driving force hinted in 2021, that new music could be on the way from Helmet and the new record is now set to release in November.

Began in 1989 in New York City by Hamilton, Helmet quickly became a massive influence on modern genres such as indie rock and even nu-metal-a distinction that Hamilton has downplayed on numerous occasions. The group met with considerable attention and acclaim with 1992’s Meantime and 1994’s Betty-the album having the highest chart performance in the band’s discography to date in the United States.

Line up changes and instability within the band began to plague Helmet with Hamilton remaining the only original member of the group left standing. Disbanding in 1997, Hamilton reformed Helmet in 2004 and have continued to release albums, albeit infrequently, since.

Hamilton himself has had a highly successful career within and behind the scenes of many artists and musicians. He has been involved with the composition of film scores and has production credits for a wide array of musical acts including Gavin Rossdale, of Bush fame’s project, Institute.

Perhaps most notably, Hamilton became the lead guitarist for David Bowie’s band during the Hours Tour after Helmet went on a prolonged hiatus. Proving his eclectic variety of tastes and abilities, Hamilton also filled his time providing guest vocals for bands from a range of differing genres-appearing on songs from Norma Jean and Linkin Park.

Helmet will embark on what will be a highly anticipated tour of the UK and Europe in November beginning in the Czech Republic and ending in London in December. Tickets for the tour are on sale now and can be found here.

Helmet Look Left Tour UK and Europe:

08/11/2023 – Lucerna Music Bar – Prague, Czech Republic
10/11 – Lido – Berlin, Germany
11/11 – Gimle – Roskilde, Denmark
12/11 – Slaktkyrkan – Stockholm, Sweden
14/11 – Vanha – Helsinki, Finland
16/11 – Logo – Hamburg, Germany
17/11 – Gebaude 9 – Cologne, Germany
18/11 – Trix – Antwerp, Belgium
19/11 – Effenaar – Eindhoven, Netherlands
20/11 – Zoom – Frankfurt, Germany
21/11 – Kantine – Augsburg, Germany
23/11 – KIFF – Aarau, Switzerland
24/11 – Szene – Vienna, Austria
25/11 – Analog Music Hall – Budapest, Hungary
27/11 – Bloom – Mezzago, Italy
28/11 – Bronson Club – Ravenna, Italy
30/11 – Nazca – Madrid, Spain
01/12 – Psilocybenea – Hondarribia, Spain
02/12 – Le Ferailleur – Nantes, France
03/12 – Le Petit Bain – Paris, France
05/12 – The Key Club – Leeds
06/12 – The Rescue Rooms – Nottingham
08/12 – The Academy – Dublin
09/12 – Dolans – Limerick
10/12 – Limelight – Belfast
11/12 – The Cathouse – Glasgow
12/12 – Club Academy – Manchester
13/12 – The Dome – London