Preview: Uprising IV

A week from today and Uprising will be upon us once again. The three day musical extravaganza will be held in and around some of Leicesters best venues for a forth time promoting some of the best heavy music the UK has to offer.

It all kicks off on Friday, 13th September. The venue - the Firebug in the heart of Leicester. "The Night Before Uprising" features a four band bill of some of the best underground acts out there today. Mad Spanner a comedic thrash punk beat combo open proceedings before critically acclaimed Mörti Viventi take to the stage. Following an appearance from 13, it's theatrical masterminds Ward XVI to close out the evening. The band have a stage show to rival Alice Coper and the sound track they provide as front woman Pcychoberrie disembowels her latest victim in front of your eyes.

Saturday is the main day of the event with a ten band bill taking over the O2 Academy in Leicester. Early doors you'll be treated to a full on assault on the senses with Foul Body Autopsy, Seven Hells and Allunah all offering different perspectives on the heavy metal genre.

Resin are fresh off the back of their triumphant Bloodstock appearance and bring their orchestral grunge show to their home town. OHHMS politically driven doomy drone is a wonder to the ears and their stage show never fails to inspire. Their performance at Uprising is sure to be one of the days highlights. Whilst Krysthla, also coming off the back of a critically acclaimed Bloodstock performance, make the mid card on Saturday is looking stronger than ever.

The old school are represented first in the form of thrashers Acid Reign, whose first album in 29 years is due out the week after the festival. [Look out for a special interview we've got with H from Acid Reign next Friday!] Following that it's New Wave of British Heavy Metal crusaders Vardis flying the flag for the old school metal fans.

To round out Uprising's Saturday event it all gets a bit extreme. Firstly Memoriam, their traditional death metal sound borne out of the ashes of Bolt Thrower. Karl Willetts and gang will destroy your ears and melt your face in one intense set. And to close the day a band that should need to introduction, Napalm Death, whose frenetic on stage presence is sure to rock the O2 Academy to its foundations.

Sunday see's festivities return to the Firebug venue and 'Uprising: The Aftermath'. Opening up are the highlight of the New Blood Stage at Bloodstock this year Elyrean. If you like thrashy death metal make sure your see these guys, we promise you won't regret it.T hey are followed swiftly by Devil's Playground and Dishonour The Crown.

Ashen Crown are guaranteed to step it up a gear, the aggressive Brummie death metalers just a few short weeks prior to their own album launch. Pemphigoid, Stormbringer and Prognosis will all mix up the sound a bit with their own aural assaults. The third day, and the weekend as a whole is closed by Godthrymm, featuring members of of My Dying Bride, Vallenfyre, Solstice wielding their own apocalyptic Doom.

For £25 the whole weekend is an absolute bargain. The best in UK metal in the heart of he country. We hope to see many of you there!