READING FESTIVAL, READING Metalcore and nu metal scene-shifters ...

Bon Jovi Forever (Legendary Edition) ISLAND Jon Bon ...

Welcome to the second of our special Review Of The Year joint interviews. Here, indie provocateur BAXTER DURY and Sleaford Mods’ splenetic frontman JASON WILLIAMSON turn their attentions to the landscape, musical or otherwise, of 2025. Stand by for a bleak, brash, honest and often humorous assessment of the year just gone. Their conclusions? “We’re just flogging this dead horse, aren’t we?” they tell Mark Beaumont

So, it’s 1997 again,” announces Robbie Williams to a crowd of hardcore fans at Camden’s sticky-floored, 600-capacity Dingwalls. Squint and you could take him at face value: there are no mobile phones

ORANSSI PAZUZU / SIJJIN

Bin fires, fistfights and dodgy 80s hair metal songs – this is Malevolence’s guide to their hometown of Sheffield