When you have a film as clearly themed as Burnt it really is difficult to write about it without resorting to clich├®s relating to that theme. Burnt is first-and-foremost a cookery programme, it never really ever leaves the kitchen. So when it comes to reviewing it the puns rather do write themselves: is it underbaked? Does it lack a soupcon of something? Is it a … Continue reading Review: Burnt
When I was told that I was going to see a musical about depression, self harm, anorexia and a girl whoÔÇÖd been sectioned, honestly I feared the worst. Musicals are usually so fun and whimsical that I thought it would be impossible to display the emotional depth required for such a topic. Boy was I wrong. Battle Scars: A New Musical, written and directed by … Continue reading Review: Battle Scars: A New Musical, YMCA Theatre
Remember when you were younger and about 90% of your limited income went on video games? But now youÔÇÖre a student, only slightly better off than you were as a kid, but have to buy pizza, cider, andÔǪ like, textbooks or something, I thinkÔǪ too? All that superfluous stuff really cuts into your gaming budget. HereÔÇÖs four ways you can get round the pressures of … Continue reading The Savvy Student Gamer
BizetÔÇÖs gracefully hypnotic, four act opera, Carmen, hit the stage of St DavidÔÇÖs Hall this week and its success was evidently exemplified by the roaring applause upon the final curtain of the performance. The opera revealed a spectacular degree of d├®cor with an all- inclusive account of highly qualified opera stars, multitudes of colorful clothing and just to top it off, a real donkey walking … Continue reading Review: Bizet Carmen, St David’s Hall.
After bouncy pop-rock openers WITTERQUICKÔÇÖs cover of ÔÇÿWrecking BallÔÇÖ that went down surprisingly well with the crowd, and an aggressive set from Merthyr teen rockers Pretty Vicious that was somewhat impaired by technical issues, Nothing But Thieves hit the stage for the Cardiff leg of their sold out UK tour. Just a fortnight after the release of their self-titled debut album, the crowd were up … Continue reading Live: Nothing But Thieves – Clwb Ifor Bach – 1/11/15
Grace Hathaway sat down with Nothing But Thieves on their recent jaunt around the UK and this is what they spoke about… Quench Music (QM): So firstly, congratulations on the album! How does it feel for it to have gone straight into the top 10, with the UK leg of this tour all sold out? Dom Craik (DC): It seems like a really good strong … Continue reading Interview: Nothing But Thieves
Remember, remember the 5th of November the memorable saying goes, and frankly it would be impossible to forget the evening spent watching Preston and the boys rock out spectacularly at little cult venue, The Globe on Albany Road. ItÔÇÖs always enjoyable watching music here, as the atmosphere is intimate and personal, and itÔÇÖs easy to nab a great position in the crowd to view the … Continue reading Live: The Ordinary Boys – 5/11/15 – The Globe
The proof of a good story, whether in film, television or theatre is always the way you feel about the characters come the finale. There have been endless occasions in which protagonists have met their fatal and dramatic deaths, with directors hoping for a weeping audience to mourn the tragedy, only to be met by the realization that no one in the audience really cares. … Continue reading Review: The Glenn Miller Story, New Theatre
The rain’s pouring and there are sticky leaves everywhere. Yes, summer has long gone. *cry cry* But fear not! There is a silver lining on the horizon. Cath KidstonÔÇÖs new collection was available for exclusive viewing and Quench were lucky enough to have a cheeky look ahead of their Spring/Summer 2016 range. And if you thought CK only did floral or polka dotted handbags, think … Continue reading Cath Kidston SS16 Collection Preview
ThereÔÇÖs only so much hype that music media can use to convince you that a bandÔÇÖs worth their salt. Yet, on the last date of a tour with both Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes and Blackhole, the real proof is right there in the flesh. ItÔÇÖs a cold October evening, a fine mist of rain in the air, itÔÇÖs an hour before the doors open … Continue reading Live: Creeper – Clwb Ifor Bach – 28/10/15
For many of us, students especially, our weekends consist of partying all through Friday and Saturday night, whilst sleeping in the day. Our social life revolves around the night time, whether it be at a party or at a club where the average arrival time is 12am and most of us usually end up getting home in the early hours of the next morning. Many … Continue reading Art & Nightlife
I feel sorry for The Witcher 3. If it was released any other year, then it would have easily been the game of the year. Unfortunately Geralt of RiviaÔÇÖs sword has to cut through Big BossÔÇÖ prosthetic arm first. IÔÇÖm always surprised by the lack of people IÔÇÖve encountered that have played a Metal Gear Solid game. Hopefully that will now change with the release … Continue reading Why Metal Gear Solid Is the Best
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain can truly be considered Hideo KojimaÔÇÖs magnum opus. Set in the 1980ÔÇÖs, it follows the story of the legendary hero Punished “Venom” Snake, the leader of the newly minted private military group known as Diamond Dogs. After the destruction of Mother Base, the death of his comrades and awakening from a nine year coma, he seeks to rebuild … Continue reading Review: Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain
Super Tomato: Nestled more or less opposite Tesco on Salisbury Road, Super Tomato houses an AladdinÔÇÖs cave of retro games, manga, toys and awesome imported action figures from Japan. To further satisfy your inner geek and keep you entertained during term time are a wide range of sparkly electronics and cool gadgets. As Super Tomato mainly concentrates on retro games and consoles, not surprisingly much … Continue reading The Gamer’s Guide to Cardiff
After all these years, judging from the buzzing, dancing-in-your-seat atmosphere of the auditorium, Grease certainly is still the one that we want. The nationÔÇÖs favourite musical has hit the stage of The New Theatre, with Orbit Theatre Company bringing us all the classic hits itÔÇÖs famous for- the ones that we all undeniably know the lyrics and all the moves to. Opening the show, the … Continue reading Review: Grease, New Theatre.
For many of us starting out or returning back to uni, the drinking and clubbing scene is typically where you’ll find yourself when looking for a fun night out. To make the best of, if and when, that time arrives, here is the inside scoop on what┬áto wear to a pick of the most popular nights out during the week in Cardiff. So embrace … Continue reading A Step into Cardiff Nightlife
Crimson Peak has what my old Film teacher would call a ÔÇÿcircular narrativeÔÇÖ, in which we follow an aspiring writer, Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska), trying to navigate the new, revolutionised world around her. ItÔÇÖs only until Baronet Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston) and his sister Lucille (Jessica Chastain) stain the gold-saturated world with their deep blacks, dark Hammer horror reds and ominous green/blue tones does Edith … Continue reading The Horror of Love: On the Ghosts of Crimson Peak
So, LISS; probably haven’t heard of them before right? ┬áWell if things pan out the way they should everyone and their mum will know exactly who this Danish four piece are within the next 12 months. ┬áOh and they’re all still in their teens! Quench are heading down to one of their first ever UK shows tomorrow and if you want to hop on board … Continue reading Preview: LISS – Bristol, Crofters Right – 03/11/15
Hothouse Flowers had the honour of opening CardiffÔÇÖs new Tramshed earlier in the week, but Skindred have just as enviable a date to play at the venue: Halloween. Ticket holders in costumes ranging from Captain Jack Sparrow to Wayne & Garth pack the venue the day after the release of SkindredÔÇÖs sixth album ÔÇÿVolumeÔÇÖ. Kicking off ÔÇÿNight of the Living DredÔÇÖ are support bands The … Continue reading Live: Skindred – Tramshed – 31/10/15
Halloween is upon us, and thus begins the battle to watch as many of the seemingly infinite number of horror films as possible. While you may associate horror films with the likes of ghosts, gore and creepy children, a key feature of the horror genre is, in my opinion, women. You may ask: ÔÇÿwhy!? What do women have to do with anything?ÔÇÖ The answer is, … Continue reading Scream Queens and Final Girls: the Portrayal of Women in Postmodern Horror Films
