Anthony Joseph sets sail into Afrofuturist jazz with “The Ark”

There are albums that arrive quietly, and then there are albums that feel like transmissions from another dimension. With The Ark, Anthony Joseph delivers firmly in the latter category—a dense, spiritual, and deeply imaginative voyage through sound, history, and possibility.

Released on April 24, 2026 via Heavenly Sweetness, The Ark is Joseph’s tenth album and a companion piece to 2025’s Rowing Up River To Get Our Names Back. The two records were conceived together, sharing sessions, musicians, and a wider conceptual thread rooted in Afrofuturism—using speculative futures to reframe and reclaim the past.

At the helm once again is Dave Okumu, whose production gives the project its elastic, genre-defying backbone. Jazz improvisation, dub textures, and funk grooves melt into one another, creating a sound that feels both ancient and futuristic at once.

But make no mistake—this is Joseph’s world. His voice, somewhere between spoken word incantation and jazz vocal, remains the gravitational centre. Often described as a leading figure of Britain’s Black avant-garde, Joseph uses language like an instrument, weaving surreal imagery with Caribbean rhythms and political memory.

A vessel of memory, myth, and music

The title track, “The Ark,” is the album’s conceptual heart. It unfolds as a rolling, poetic litany—part roll call, part myth-making exercise—invoking figures from across Black musical, literary, and cultural history. Names like Sun Ra and Octavia E. Butler appear not as references, but as passengers aboard Joseph’s metaphorical vessel.

This “ark” isn’t about escape—it’s about continuity. A moving archive. A refusal to let histories sink. Across the album’s seven tracks—including the expansive “Transposition of Space (Glissant)” and the hypnotic “Blue Susan”—Joseph constructs a fluid geography where London, the Caribbean, and imagined futures bleed into one another.

The sound of collective creation

The record is powered by a formidable ensemble: players like Eska Mtungwazi, Tom Skinner, and Byron Wallencontribute textures that are intricate yet never overwhelming. Every element feels precisely placed, allowing Joseph’s storytelling to remain front and centre.

There’s a sense throughout that The Ark is less a solo statement and more a communal ritual—Joseph acting as conduit, channeling voices across time and space into something unified and urgent.

Final thoughts

The Ark isn’t just an album you listen to—it’s one you enter. It asks for attention, rewards patience, and lingers long after it ends. In an era of quick hits and algorithmic playlists, Anthony Joseph has built something defiantly expansive: a sonic vessel carrying memory, resistance, and imagination forward.

And if you’re willing to step aboard, it’s a journey worth taking.

Ezra Collective Turn East London Inside Out

London’s modern jazz torchbearers lit up an intimate East London space this week, as Ezra Collective returned to their roots for a one-off celebration that felt less like a gig—and more like a full-circle moment.

A Homecoming in the Heart of the Scene

The setting: Colour Factory. The occasion: a special, fan-only event marking ten years since the band’s breakout EP Chapter 7. The result? A night soaked in gratitude, sweat, and the kind of communal energy that’s become synonymous with Ezra Collective’s rise through London’s jazz underground.

This wasn’t just another stop on a tour. The show was tied to the 10th anniversary reissue of Chapter 7, the 2016 release that first captured the band’s restless, genre-blurring energy.

And in keeping with their ethos, tickets weren’t sold—they were gifted via ballot. A thank-you to the community that’s been with them since day one.

The Sound of a Movement

For the uninitiated, Ezra Collective aren’t your standard jazz outfit. Formed in London in 2012, the five-piece—led by drummer Femi Koleoso—blend jazz with Afrobeat, hip-hop, reggae and more, creating a sound that’s as club-ready as it is technically sharp.

That fusion was on full display at Colour Factory. From explosive horn lines to groove-heavy bass sections, the band delivered a set that felt alive—constantly shifting, reacting, and pulling the crowd deeper into the moment.

It’s this live-wire chemistry that’s helped them break barriers, from becoming the first jazz act to win the Mercury Prize in 2023 to taking home Group of the Year at the BRIT Awards 2025.

Community at the Core

But what truly defined the night wasn’t just the music—it was the message.

Gratitude was the throughline, with the band reflecting on the youth clubs, mentors, and grassroots organisations that shaped them. That connection isn’t just lip service; it’s baked into everything they do.

The event itself was organised in partnership with Jazz re:freshed, one of the earliest platforms to support the band. The collaboration brought things back to where it all began—small rooms, big energy, and a crowd that feels like family.

And judging by the atmosphere, the feeling was mutual. Reports from the night describe a euphoric exchange—gratitude flowing just as strongly from the audience back to the band.

Intimate, But Monumental

There’s something special about seeing a band of this stature in a room this size. Ezra Collective have played major venues—like London’s arenas—but here, every note felt personal.

Moments of improvisation stretched and snapped back into tight, rhythmic unison. Smiles were exchanged between bandmates mid-jam. The crowd didn’t just watch—they moved, responded, became part of the performance.

It’s the kind of show that reminds you why live music matters.

The Bigger Picture

With their latest album Dance, No One’s Watching continuing to push their sound forward, and accolades stacking up, Ezra Collective could easily stay in the big-league circuit.

Instead, they chose to step back into a smaller room—and in doing so, reinforced exactly what got them here in the first place.

Not hype. Not industry machinery.

Community.

Final Word

In an era where success often means distance, Ezra Collective are doing the opposite—pulling closer, reaching back, and bringing everyone with them.

At Colour Factory, that philosophy wasn’t just talked about.

It was felt.

On ‘Reflections of Insanity’: Uridium Unleash Vintage Metal Chaos

There’s something feral brewing in the UK underground right now—and it’s coming straight out of Norwich. Rising heavy metal outfit Uridium have dropped their debut full-length Reflections of Insanity, and it’s less a gentle introduction than a full-throttle assault of old-school metal spirit.

Released on April 17, 2026, the album is a deliberate throwback to the golden age of heavy music, pulling heavily from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) and mid-’80s thrash scene. Think the raw urgency of early Iron Maiden, the bite of Megadeth, and the riff-driven chaos of Anthrax—but filtered through a fresh, hungry, grassroots lens.

A Debut That Hits Like a Sledgehammer

From the opening track Sanctum, Reflections of Insanity wastes no time establishing its intent. Galloping drums, razor-edged twin guitars, and gritty vocals collide in a sound that feels proudly unpolished—in the best possible way. This is metal that doesn’t care for overproduction; it thrives on sweat, speed, and sheer conviction.

The band—featuring Cameron Brown on vocals, Gary Vescio and Paul Cutting on guitars, Ian “Slug” Hill on bass, and James Morgan on drums—operate like a tightly wound machine. Their chemistry is especially evident on tracks like No Way Out and Fire and Lies, where tempo shifts and melodic breaks keep things unpredictable without ever losing momentum.

Madness as Muse

What sets Reflections of Insanity apart isn’t just its sonic nostalgia—it’s the thematic weight behind it. The album draws inspiration from real-life experiences working in a psychiatric hospital, channeling themes of inner turmoil, fear, and psychological struggle.

The title track stands as the emotional core of the record, exploring the sensation of being trapped inside your own mind—panic rising, walls closing in, reality fracturing. It’s heavy, not just in sound, but in substance.

Old-School Energy, Modern Bite

Tracks like Wasted and Bloodshot Eyes crank up the speed, delivering high-octane riffing that wouldn’t feel out of place on a 1985 thrash record. Meanwhile, Rise or Fall and Fight showcase the band’s ability to weave in dynamic changes without losing that relentless edge.

By the time closer Monster rolls around, Uridium have taken listeners on a full-spectrum ride—from breakneck aggression to creeping, atmospheric tension—before slamming the door shut with a final burst of energy.

A Band to Watch in the UK Metal Revival

Hailing from Norwich and operating independently, Uridium represent the kind of band that feels built from the ground up—no gloss, no gimmicks, just pure heavy metal intent. Their sound may be rooted in the past, but their trajectory points firmly forward.

If Reflections of Insanity is anything to go by, this is only the beginning. Uridium aren’t just paying homage to metal’s glory days—they’re reigniting them.

YUNGBLUD Ignites a Fierce Homecoming

There are big gigs—and then there are homecomings. For Yungblud, stepping onto the stage at First Direct Bank Arena on April 17, 2026 wasn’t just another date on the Idols World Tour—it was a full-circle moment drenched in sweat, pride, and pure chaos.

A City That Roared Back

From the moment doors opened, it was clear Leeds wasn’t treating this like a standard arena show. The 13,000-capacity venue—one of the UK’s premier live music spaces since opening in 2013 —buzzed with anticipation long before the Doncaster-born star appeared.

And when he did? Total eruption.

Reviewers described the night as a “sold-out homecoming” where the crowd met him with deafening intensity before he even hit the first note . This wasn’t just fandom—it was a collective release, the kind only an artist like Yungblud, with his unfiltered emotional connection to fans, can command.

The Build-Up: Controlled Chaos

Support came in hot. Rising rockers The Molotovs delivered a short but explosive set, brimming with jagged riffs and urgency, immediately winning over early arrivals .

Then came The Warning, the Mexican sister trio whose polished, arena-ready hard rock shifted the tone without dropping the intensity. Their commanding presence pushed the atmosphere to boiling point, setting the stage perfectly for the headliner .

YUNGBLUD’s Moment

When Yungblud finally stormed the stage—reportedly opening with the ominous tones of War Pigs—it was instant ignition. Think towering visuals, confetti cannons, and a stage design built for maximum drama .

The performance itself mirrored everything fans have come to expect: genre-smashing chaos, emotional vulnerability, and relentless energy. Critics noted the show struck the “perfect side of excessive”—a spectacle that matched his larger-than-life persona .

But beyond the theatrics, there was something deeper. Between songs, Yungblud reflected on writing material in Leeds and what it meant to bring those tracks home—turning the night into something personal as well as explosive .

More Than Just a Gig

What set this show apart wasn’t just scale—it was connection. Reports from the night describe a crowd that felt “unbridled” in their passion, the kind of audience that doesn’t just watch but participates .

That synergy—artist and audience feeding off each other—is what elevated the Leeds date beyond a tour stop. It became a statement: Yungblud isn’t just riding a wave—he’s building a movement.

The Verdict

In a tour already packed with major arena dates across the UK and beyond , Leeds stood out as something rawer, louder, and far more emotional. A reminder that no matter how global the stage gets, some nights still belong to home.

And if this show proved anything, it’s that when Yungblud returns to Yorkshire, it’s not just a concert—it’s an event.

The Karma Effect Gear Up for Explosive 2026 UK Tour After ‘Cruel Intentions’ Reveal

South London’s rising rock heavyweights The Karma Effect are kicking things into high gear for 2026, announcing a full UK headline tour to coincide with the arrival of their hotly anticipated third album Cruel Intentions—and if early signs are anything to go by, this could be the moment they truly break into the big leagues.

The band, formed in Surrey and now firmly embedded in the UK’s modern rock scene, have been steadily building momentum since their 2022 debut and 2024’s Promised Land, which crashed into the UK Top 20 and cemented their reputation as one of Britain’s most exciting guitar acts.

Now, with Cruel Intentions set to land on 15 May 2026 via Earache Records, the group are doubling down on that success with what’s being described as their biggest and boldest chapter yet.

A Bigger, Bolder Sound Incoming

If you’ve been following the singles, you’ll know this isn’t just a continuation—it’s an evolution. Tracks like “Waiting On A Miracle” and “Dangerous Love” lean hard into the band’s signature blend of vintage swagger and modern punch, channeling classic rock influences while sounding unmistakably current.

Frontman Henry Gottelier has hinted at the album’s themes of temptation, chaos, and ambition, describing it as a record where “every single note counts” and delivers a “stadium experience for your ears.”

Produced by longtime collaborator Michael Charman and mixed by GRAMMY-nominated Romesh Dodangoda, Cruel Intentions is shaping up to be the band’s most refined—and explosive—release yet.

UK Tour Dates: Hitting the Road This Autumn

To celebrate the album, The Karma Effect will embark on a 13-date UK headline tour in autumn 2026, bringing their high-octane live show to venues across the country.

Stops include:

• Hastings

• Norwich

• Guildford

• Cambridge

• Edinburgh & Glasgow

• Nottingham

• Sheffield

• Wolverhampton

• London
  …and more.

Support comes from rising rock outfit Juliet's Not Dead, promising a stacked lineup of raw riffs and arena-ready hooks.

Why This Tour Matters

There’s a sense that this tour isn’t just another run of dates—it’s a statement. With a growing fanbase, a chart-proven track record, and a sound that bridges classic and contemporary rock, The Karma Effect are stepping into a space that UK guitar music has been craving: bold, melodic, unapologetically fun rock ’n’ roll with serious bite.

And if Cruel Intentions delivers on its promise, these shows could mark the transition from “ones to watch” to bona fide headliners.

The Verdict

Between a powerhouse new album and a nationwide tour to match, 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for The Karma Effect.

If you like your rock loud, soulful, and dripping with swagger, you’ll want to keep a very close eye on this one.