top of page

StereoRiot

Make life LOUD

Search

LIVE REVIEW: Crobot, Wolf Jaw, Liberty Lies - 25th July 2019 - O2 Academy Birmingham

Jack Kirby

Jul 29, 2019
3 min

LIVE REVIEW: Crobot, Wolf Jaw, Liberty Lies - 25th July 2019 - O2 Academy Birmingham

On one of the hottest nights of the year, you could quite easily say there was an air of funk going around. However personally my funk was coming from the O2 Academy 3 on this boiling day. Awaiting me there was a night full of crazy music from Liberty Lies, Wolf Jaw and the incredible Crobot. First up - an outing for the local lads, Liberty Lies. A band I've missed a few times as they've hit venues close to me and one I've been eyeing to catch for a while. After popping backs

REVIEW: Hitman HD Enhanced Collection

Jack Kirby

Jan 25, 2019
2 min

REVIEW: Hitman HD Enhanced Collection

With what was arguably my favourite game of 2019 being the sleeper Hitman 2, I was insanely excited when the announcement of the HD collection of both Blood Money and Absolution was announced. Both games are milestones, for differing reasons, for the series, so to have a 4K edition provided was exciting to say the least. This write up, won't touch too heavily on either of the games, as both are Hitman classics in their own rights. Whereas Blood Money is arguably the 'heavy hi

LIVE REVIEW - Clutch - 22nd December 2018 - O2 Academy Birmingham

Adam Reynolds

Jan 4, 2019
3 min

LIVE REVIEW - Clutch - 22nd December 2018 - O2 Academy Birmingham

Birmingham City Centre is full of two types of people on this Saturday night. Those who are out for their Christmas party - the boring option - or those out to go watch Clutch - the better option. 3 guesses where we were heading. Before the almighty US group graced our stage, we managed to catch the support by The Picturebooks. Something I've been noticing for the past year is the absolute increase in quality of support bands. Tonight was no exception to this. Only two people

LIVE REVIEW: Fireball Tour (With Flogging Molly, The Bronx) - O2 Academy Birmingham - 12th December

Adam Reynolds

Dec 20, 2018
4 min

LIVE REVIEW: Fireball Tour (With Flogging Molly, The Bronx) - O2 Academy Birmingham - 12th December

The past three years (2016 – present), Fireball have run a tour of top acts touring the UK. Previous offerings include Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake and Anti Flag. This year sees Flogging Molly swaggering through the UK with The Bronx, Face to Face and Lost in Stereo in tow. With plenty of Fireball in the place, it promises to be a rowdy night. First up are Lost In Stereo, who play to a sparse crowd. Unfortunately for them, the doors earlier than usual for a Wednesday gig. Th

LIVE REVIEW: Black Stone Cherry - Arena Birmingham - 11th December 2018

Adam Reynolds

Dec 13, 2018
3 min

LIVE REVIEW: Black Stone Cherry - Arena Birmingham - 11th December 2018

Black Stone Cherry have got a fantastic and long lasting relationship with Birmingham, with multiple visits across many venues and even a li

LIVE REVIEW: Zeal & Ardor - Birmingham O2 Institute - 4th December 2018

Jack Kirby

Dec 6, 2018
3 min

LIVE REVIEW: Zeal & Ardor - Birmingham O2 Institute - 4th December 2018

It's a Tuesday night at the start of December, in the back streets of Digbeth where one of my 'Bands of 2018' are reading to tak

REVIEW: Less Than Jake + Reel Big Fish - Birmingham O2 Academy - 11/11/18

Adam Reynolds

Nov 13, 2018
5 min

REVIEW: Less Than Jake + Reel Big Fish - Birmingham O2 Academy - 11/11/18

When you see the names Reel Big Fish or Less Than Jake, you know you’re in for a fun night. Now read it as Reel Big Fish AND Less Than Jake. The fun at least doubles. At least. Then add “The Partiest Band in the World,” Zebrahead and a band that plays at Disney World occasionally. Mind blown, right?! It’s bloody cold on this Remembrance Sunday, but when we get inside, the temperature rises instantly. California based Suburban Legends have just taken to the stage as we enter t

Mega Man X Legacy Collection Review

Jack Kirby

Sep 3, 2018
3 min

Mega Man X Legacy Collection Review

Mega Man is a synonymous name in video gaming, a brand that extends over 30 years with a incredible range of games and a fan base that continues to grow. So what better way to celebrate the history of this Blue-Bomber than for Capcom to release the MegaMan X Legacy Collection. The release of MMXLC 1 and 2 packs the original 8 Mega-Man X games into two releases. 1-4 in pack 1 and 5-8 in the latter. The initial boot up screens of both games pumps the nostalgia up to 11, with th

REVIEW & GALLERY: Enter Shikari - Arena Birmingham - 24th November 2017

Adam Reynolds

Nov 29, 2017
4 min

REVIEW & GALLERY: Enter Shikari - Arena Birmingham - 24th November 2017

It’s a brisk Friday night in Birmingham. The German Market is buzzing, the streets are filled with bargain hunters, as Black Friday rears its big shiny deal having head. But tonight, The Arena (formerly Barclaycard Arena, formerly NIA) in Birmingham hosts a trio of British bands who are sure to bring a blistering heat to a cold November evening. Upon walking into the venue, I’m a little bit confused. The stage isn’t right at the front of the venue as usual, but is in the back

REVIEW: Assassin's Creed Origins

Jack Kirby

Nov 8, 2017
3 min

REVIEW: Assassin's Creed Origins

Assassin's Creed is a series that dates back ten years and after many ups and downs, Ubisoft are back, taking us further back than they've ever taken us before. Let's go back to the Origins. (Quick side note, I will not be bringing up Micro-transactions in this review. I frown upon them - heavily - however I do not think they should change a review) The first thing on the list of many things I will congratulate this game on is the choice of setting. Ancient Egypt is a near on

The Killers - Genting Arena - 6th November 2017

Adam Reynolds

Nov 8, 2017
3 min

The Killers - Genting Arena - 6th November 2017

It's a fairly cold Monday in Birmingham. But that hasn't stopped a capacity crowd from coming out to the Genting Arena tonight. Even as I arrive at about 7:45 (just in time to watch the support act), there's still a huge queue outside the entrance to the arena. As I walk in, I find a vast array of humanity lining the walls from the forum to the arena, where I find my seat and settle down to watch Alex Cameron kick off the proceedings and "grease up the stage" for the headline

REVIEW AND GALLERY: Clean Cut Kid - Wolverhampton Newhampton Arts Centre - 22nd October 2017

Hollie Turner

Oct 24, 2017
2 min

REVIEW AND GALLERY: Clean Cut Kid - Wolverhampton Newhampton Arts Centre - 22nd October 2017

Scottish native Callum Beattie and his band opened for Clean Cut Kid in Wolverhampton on Sunday night. I have never seen Callum before, but straight away I noticed the small following of women going nuts for him that he had clearly already earned himself. He had a great energy and a really nice down to earth vibe. He quite happily took me backstage to shoot some portraits with him after his set. He came out and signed autographs and took pictures with waiting fans, and handed

REVIEW & GALLERY: Fickle Friends - O2 Institute - 21st October 2017

Hollie Turner

Oct 24, 2017
1 min

REVIEW & GALLERY: Fickle Friends - O2 Institute - 21st October 2017

Brighton born band Fickle Friends played to a room of people at the O2 Institute in Birmingham on Saturday night. With the stage themed with palm trees, their infectious 80's indie pop sound got the crowds singing and dancing along to the tracks from their EP's 'Glue' and 'Velvet'. Narrated by synths and really great vibes this band made it hard not to partake in their energy. The crowd threw around inflatable balls filled with confetti. For a small room, plenty flocked to co

REVIEW: Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA

Richard Robinson

Aug 29, 2017
3 min

REVIEW: Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana just dropped and we were given some time in advance to see what we thought of it. Richard gave it a spin, so take a look at his thoughts! I love RPG's. I absolutely love 'em. I've been into games since I was 6 years old and I can't remember a time where I wasn't obsessed with them. If you were to ask me what was it I loved about them so much, you'd best stick the kettle on and find a comfy place to sit because you've left yourself open to a three ho

Review: Sonic Mania - Back In Blue

Jack Kirby

Aug 21, 2017
3 min

Review: Sonic Mania - Back In Blue

It's 2017 and I have to admit that I was terrified to write this sentence. There's a new Sonic game. Sonic Mania has hit our shelves, shall we take a look and see if it shines like a Chaos Emerald or lives in the dark like a certain werewolf. I'm going to be blunt straight off. It shines. My god does it shine. Visually it is an incredible throw back to the days of the Mega Drive. Think anywhere from Sonic the Hedgehog to Sonic & Knuckles and you've got the aesthetic. But even

REVIEW: Agents of Mayhem - Chaos and Explosions. In a Good Way.

Jack Kirby

Aug 15, 2017
2 min

REVIEW: Agents of Mayhem - Chaos and Explosions. In a Good Way.

Agents of Mayhem is the follow up to Deep Silver Volition's Saints Row and we're here to tell you what it's like.

The Wailers - O2 Academy Birmingham - 15th March 2017

Hayley Clark

Mar 21, 2017
2 min

The Wailers - O2 Academy Birmingham - 15th March 2017

The Wailers returned to Birmingham and the O2 Academy was 'jammed' full. As the O2 Academy Birmingham started to fill, support J J Soul adorned the stage with her mellow, cheerful vibe with a beautiful blessed voice of an angel. Hailing from London she didn't disappoint with her half an hour set showcasing her talented tracks as one of the first supports to watch out for this year. Within five minutes Shanty stormed the storage bringing an uptempo vibe to get the crowd swayi

Pet Shop Boys - Birmingham Barclaycard Arena - 26th February 2017

Lauren Joyce

Mar 7, 2017
2 min

Pet Shop Boys - Birmingham Barclaycard Arena - 26th February 2017

Friday night saw the ‘Popkids’ themselves, the Pet Shop boys hit Birmingham’s Barclaycard Arena, the dulcet drone of the electro beat thumping through the speakers liberated this more mature audience for a night of euphoric decadence that seen them emulating the phrase, ‘dance like no one’s watching’. Despite this being one of the more lavish gig’s I’ve been to, the crowd was dressed up to the nines, ladies in cocktail dresses and men dressed in smart suits were, despite seat

White Lies - O2 Institute Birmingham - 29th November 2016

Rachel Westwood

Dec 6, 2016
3 min

White Lies - O2 Institute Birmingham - 29th November 2016

After a three-year hiatus, White Lies returned to Birmingham armed with new, electronic-infused songs, fresh vigour and plenty of indie stompers. Supporting a band known for weighty, dark rhythms with touches of synth pop, it makes perfect sense Bristolian quintet The Ramona Flowers are the support band of choice. Taking their name from the Scott Pilgrim heroine, the band – led by the headbanging of lead singer Steve Bird – leave their mark on the Birmingham crowd with the en

Final Fantasy XV - Like a Matured Whisky.

Jack Kirby

Dec 1, 2016
2 min

Final Fantasy XV - Like a Matured Whisky.

Final Fantasy. Two words that can make memories appear from pretty much anyone who's ever played a video game. And after a long wait, FFXV came rushing in. And it was oh so worth the wait. First impressions for FFXV were difficult to put into words. It took over 5 to 6 hours before I was ready to begin even typing about it, which is what most games now take to beat. The vastness of this title is amazing, but what makes it incredible is that none of it seems tedious. With a va

Contact

bottom of page