The Pica Beats Martine, As Heavy Lifter

By the end of the 1970s, the original triumvirate of hard rock heroes Zeppelin, Purple and Sabbath had either graduated to the arenas of the world, or even split up, whilst the second wave of British heavy rockers, including UFO, Motörhead and Judas Priest, were beginning to fill theatres across the land. Punk exploded in 1976 and 1977, and the DIY ethos that sprang up in its wake soon influenced the grassroots metal bands who had yet to leave their local bars and clubs. Often independently released, some of the bands in this set never made more than one now highly prized and collectable 45 or one-off EP.

Documentary profiling the history of British heavy metal, with the emphasis on the godfathers of the genre, Iron Maiden, along with other bands of that ilk, including Samson, Saxon, Diamond Head and many others.

Rushed out in 1970 as a way to bide time as the Who toiled away on their follow-up to Tommy, Live at Leeds wasn't intended to be the definitive Who live album, and many collectors maintain that the band had better shows available on bootlegs. But those shows weren't easily available whereas Live at Leeds was, and even if this show may not have been the absolute best, it's so damn close to it that it would be impossible for anybody but aficionados to argue. Here, the Who sound vicious - as heavy as Led Zeppelin but twice as volatile - as they careen through early classics with the confidence of a band that had finally achieved acclaim but had yet to become preoccupied with making art. In that regard, this recording - in its many different forms - may have been perfectly timed in terms of capturing the band at a pivotal moment in its history…

Get your leathers on and your head banging for this superlative collection of 'New Wave Of British Heavy Metal' anthems. The heavy, heavy sound of 1979 onwards into the 80s was incredibly influential, inspiring the biggest metal bands in the world - to play loud and fast. Heads down, see you in the pit!

Over the past 20 years, The New Pornographers have proven themselves one of themost excellent bands in indie rock. The group’s ninth album and first for Mergeestablishes them alongside modern luminaries like Yo La Tengo and Superchunkwhen it comes to their ability to evolve while still retaining what made them sospecial in the first place. A dazzling and intriguing collection of songs, Continue asa Guest finds bandleader A.C. Newman and his compatriots Neko Case, Kathryn Calder, John Collins, Todd Fancey, and Joe Seiders exploring fresh territory and shattering the barriers of their collective comfort zone.

The acoustic and gritty Bare as Bone, Bright as Blood is the remarkable and unexpected 2020 album by The Pretty Things, who remained the tainted, dark Rock royalty they always were until the very end.