Doug Sampson of Airforce
I was privileged to be able to ask a few questions to Doug Sampson. He is the drummer of NWOBHM (new wave of British heavy metal) revival band Airforce. He is most known for being the drummer for Iron Maiden during their legendary Soundhouse Tapes period. Known for dominating the field in the early rise of the band before they were eventually signed, Doug Sampson was pivotal in the phenomenal success of Iron Maiden.
Airforce has a very defined sonic identity. What part of that sound feels most personally “you” at this stage in your career? Our identity is because we play traditional nwobhm. Which is very close to my heart and always will be . Do you see yourself primarily as a drummer who pushes technical boundaries, or as the kind of drummer who shapes the whole band’s foundation from the kick drum up? When we are writing a song the drums are a fundamental part which I nurture to get the best possible result. When you’re writing or contributing to new Airforce material, are there any subtle themes or moods you find yourself returning to, consciously or unconsciously? We try and keep the theme and mood to get the Airforce feel. And try not too venture too far away. Does touring with Airforce bring out different creative instincts in you compared to studio work? Are there particular feelings or atmospheres from the road that feed back into the writing? Now we are touring more regularly, the new songs reflect our time and experiences on the road Across your career, have you noticed certain ideas, images, or musical colours that keep reappearing in your work, even if you don’t plan for them? We basically stick to the same recipe. And that I feel gives it the Airforce sound Do you find your creative ideas arrive in a flash, or do they build slowly over time as you live with the music? Both , with a new song you sometimes get it immediately and it's there from the start others need developing and working on over time . Your well‑honed drumming was a huge part of Iron Maiden’s early live energy. Those shows were intense and often unpredictable. Can you recall a moment on stage where you had to hold everything together against the odds? On one occasion we were doing a firework night show at the music machine and Dave lights had rigded up a fireworks display around the drum riser When he activated it I was surrounded by smoke and flames which wasn't planned and I could see nothing but flames and was shocked how dense it was .Thought Id go up in smoke . We had a good laugh afterwards What part of your stage presence from those early Iron Maiden days do you feel still lives in your performances and new material with Airforce? A solid rhythm section, Tony Hatton and myself concentrate on keeping it tight and powerful. Not dissimilar to what we were doing in early Maiden . What’s next on the agenda for you — whether with Airforce, live shows, or any new creative projects you’re exploring? We are going on tour later in the year With Alcatraz , Girls school and Raven . And now we are working a on our next album. So plenty to look forward to. There you have it, Keep going by following Airforce on Facebook
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The Pixel Rain
Sacrifice South East London It certainly was a privilege to cover The Pixel Rain last June with their awesome and anthemic Last. They are back for an August awakening. When it comes to the modern-day messiah, with a mouth full of verse and proverbs, and a lifestyle just like an aristocrat of old, we tend to discover them hiding within cultural frameworks and social groups. They might not claim to be the second coming, but they sure expect us to see them that way. Being enthusiastic about your ideas and talents is fine, degenerating those of others or ignoring them entirely is ugly and dangerous. There are many more than 144,000 of the good guys, so get in line. The synthesiser-based rock sound headed by Áron Siegler takes all the qualities of industrial and rock n roll, a beautiful fusion of directions that bring us home. We all know what happens to the messiah. This is Sacrifice. The Pixel Rain forms its own sound as digital synths droplet down upon us from the heights of musicality. Bass and drum then collide with the tempo. It collapses into a pressure wave of intense rumination and depths. Áron Siegler begins the vocals, his synonymous voice builds the bonfire of pressure and sets it alight, one verse at a time. The homely synthesiser melodies grab and grope at the fast-rising flame, scorching itself on the desire to touch and be close. The militaristic call gives a breakdown, then a soundbite gives us the theme in plain English. Satan tempts all over again. Who wants to be a god anyway? You can find music by The Pixel Rain on Bandcamp Follow the Pixel Rain on Instagram 
Lola Pony
Last Superstar Alive Cartel Studios London She’s a fantastic kind of bonkers that makes creativity look like a daily ceremony and inventiveness feel like a one-person theatre production. Mexican, Lesbian, and Anti-authoritarian, Lola Pony presents the lead single from her Pink Trash Chicken EP. Last Superstar Alive joins a series of tracks that gather into a 20-minute cerebral serenade to alternative living, alternative sounds, and the freedom to be who you are. With an artist residency at Cartel Studios London, an Imprint of Criminal Records, Last Superstar Alive is bound to be the first of many adventurous avenues of aspiration. Don’t miss this initial magic. It crashes in like a wave over the shins, cool and bubbly liquid sensations splash over us as the beat and synth hit vocal at the same time. Her voice carries a compression that gives a warm crackle, walkie-talkie esque distortion grazes against the bounce beat with funky bass that bumps to a pounding and insisting rhythm. It’s over within a minute and a half, the dance punk feel takes us and demands we get the rest. You can follow Lola Pony on Instagram TikTok And Facebook Find out more on the Cartel Studios London website 
Tiny Magnetic Pets
Lost My Guiding Light (Again) Archangelo Music An electronic dance music favourite, Lost My Guiding Light from Tiny Magnetic Pets has been reworked in absolute style for the new EP. A rerecording of their classic track, an adventurous fusion of new and old sounds brings the piece to new and infinitely expressive blooms. Based in Ireland, between North and South, Tiny Magnetic Pets have been climbing steadily and without compromise since the 2010s, and this up-coming EP is as boundary breaking as ever. The music catches the same coat peg as Goldfrapp and Republica yet is made from a different cloth all together. You’ll have to see what I mean when you listen. A gentle rush of luminous twinkling synths and warm undercurrents of breeze lift the sound into the sky where colour and form self-evolve under the weight of inventiveness. The rhythm opens; a tribal roll of toms blends with steady kick and snare as the bass offers a quick stepping motion that holds everything in a tight parcel. The vocal enters a realm of angels and dream; Paula Gilmer evokes a splendour of subtle tension and imagery we can walk through. Bubbling currents of synth effervesce and shimmer within the narrative growth, the journey continues, the light is within you. Find out more on the Tiny Magnetic Pets website Get music by Tiny Magnetic Pets on Bandcamp Follow Tiny Magnetic Pets on Facebook And Instagram 
UNTER STRØM
Fragment Breathing Records They’re building a legacy of their own, Alex Gonzalez of Matte Blvck and John Kunkel of The New Division combine their talents for the epic electronic act UNTER STRØM. Their latest single continues the renegade offerings on Breathing Records with Fragment. They find the ground laid bare by cinematic landscapes and contours of composition then naturalise it with artistic growths of rhythm, inventiveness, and melody. They take an industrial sound and use it to manufacture something beautiful and nature-like through the reflective infinites offered by ruminating listens. By bouncing ideas from each other’s inner faculties, the music is built from the ground up, with motives and hooks manifesting through the application of skill and intuition. It’s described as a real turning point for the group, who discovered their loose and super-creative philosophy while building the track. Time to explore. Sparkling digi-bells call out in a telephonic style melody. Deep and sawing hi-bass synth then dredges the channel for the groove to follow. A punching kick drum and a crack snare rumble together with clashing hi-hats to fill the void. Slicing and stabbing synth sounds produce a dramatic dance melody, ripped with beats and percussive tone, the tune forms a step-by-step pattern into the chaos that lingers. Oscillator synths pass through pressure gates and tonal dials as their voices vibrate and sinewave through the gel of rhythms, bouncing temperaments, and harmonic emotion. A halfway between EBM, EDM, and Big Beat, this track carries the electronic quality standard all the way through. You can follow UNTER STRØM on Instagram Ian Pickering From Sneaker Pimps Continues The Noise Who Runs With His Hook-Laden The Summer Talking30/7/2026 
The Noise Who Runs
The Summer Talking Lille Taken from their now critically acclaimed Re. GenX LP, the record debating cultural frameworks and experiences, The Noise Who Runs highlights The Summer Talking. As August is just through the next door and the key is turning in its ornate and oak-set lock, the clunk of annual metal work holds a new soundtrack to the frothy warmth of the late summer month. With a video that explores idyllic summer escapes against compounding environmental crisis, the track wonders if we’re hoping someone else will sort the problems out while we sip our Umbongos. Do we do enough or not? Blaming the other person is an easier morsel to swallow, I’m sure The Summer has plenty to say. Let’s listen. A moody synth beams out with dappled motions of emotional complexity. Guitar begins to churn within the mixture; it echoes and reverberates into misty arenas of distortion. Pickering begins to sing, his post-punk delivery pushes twinge and passion through extravagant drama, the rock n roll attitude sways against the battering hurricanes of internal awkwardness. A dreamy and blues inspired theory threads through the piece like a patchwork of reimagined vestiture signalling intent and realism. Find out more on The Noise Who Runs website Get music by The Noise Who Runs on Bandcamp Follow The Noise Who Runs on Facebook And Instagram |
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