Geezer - Gage (Album Review)

Geezer's sophomore release, ‘Gage’, is a hidden gem of a record that snuck out at the end of last year. With the EP only receiving a very limited vinyl run, this little heard release could now provide us with the next rising stars of the stoner rock scene thanks to this speedy reissue.

Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Friday, 27 February 2015

H.E.A.T - Live In London (Album Review)

Photo: Gustaf Sandholm Andersson Way back in the mists of time, concert recordings weren't about fulfilling contractual obligations or stop-gap releases to maintain a band’s profile. Kiss' 'Alive' and Thin Lizzy's 'Live And Dangerous' were career-making masterpieces that cemented their reputations and proved their calibre. In recent years, the live record has become solid rather than spectacular, lacking the thrilling magic of those legendary 1970s offerings. Until now.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Friday, 27 February 2015

Screaming Females - Rose Mountain (Album Review)

Photo: Christopher Patrick Ernst The best part of a decade into their tenure, Screaming Females have made a pop record. Not in the traditional sense, perhaps, but ‘Rose Mountain’ finds them trimmed of excess and comfortable going verse-chorus-verse as Marissa Paternoster augments her rough-hewn guitar genius with some of the most direct lyrics the band has ever folded into an album sleeve. It won't trample you as brazenly ‘Ugly’ did, but it’ll get you in the end.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Wednesday, 25 February 2015

Revolution Saints - Revolution Saints (Album Review)

Photo: Jeff Allen When is a band not a band?  It's not a riddle, but a question that needs to be asked when a bunch of talented musicians are drawn together by a record company head honcho to make a specific sounding record. That's the case with Revolution Saints, whose eagerly anticipated debut exemplifies the flaws with these purpose-built projects.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Tuesday, 24 February 2015

Colleen Green - I Want To Grow Up (Album Review)

Colleen Green says she wants to grow up. Well, she’s got her wish. The west coast native has honed her sound beautifully on this record, ditching bedroom riot grrl, punk and electro dabblings in favour of a cohesive, pop-leaning whole.

Written by: Laura Johnson | Date: Monday, 23 February 2015

Ensiferum - One Man Army (Album Review)

Ensiferum's 'From Afar' very nearly tipped the Finnish folk-metallers into 'modern classic' territory. Its follow up, 2012's lacklustre 'Unsung Heroes', promptly put a stop to that chatter. 'One Man Army' is here to make things right.

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Thursday, 19 February 2015

The Neal Morse Band - The Grand Experiment (Album Review)

Whether with Spock's Beard, Transatlantic, Flying Colors or as a solo artist, whatever Neal Morse turns his hand to inevitably results in something extra special. In fact, such is his genius he could probably broker world peace should he put his mind to it. But while he's crafting albums as flawless as 'The Grand Experiment', such matters can wait.  

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Thursday, 19 February 2015

Drake - If You're Reading This It's Too Late (Album Review)

While his label-mate Lil Wayne is filing lawsuits against Cash Money Records, Drake is casually dropping albums for them without any promotion at all. To be more specific, ‘If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late’ is a surprise mixtape-esque album that can be bought on iTunes, but is also being described as a prequel to Drake’s forthcoming ‘Views From the Six’ LP. What is for certain is that the polarising Toronto emcee is back, and he sounds moodier than ever.

Written by: Jonathan Rimmer | Date: Wednesday, 18 February 2015

Idlewild - Everything Ever Written (Album Review)

After some time away, Idlewild’s return could have been a much more bloated affair. Given their cult status and a back catalogue that, to some, peaked early doors, they would appear to be perfect candidates for the wearying trend of full album revivals. That ‘Everything Ever Written’ is their next move instead is deeply gratifying for anyone who’s followed their path from angular alt-rock kids to considered elder statesmen.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Wednesday, 18 February 2015

Blacklisted - When People Grow, People Go (Album Review)

Too often, the concept of heaviness is reduced to simple, bro-headed terms, implying not a sense of dread or sustained atmosphere but a decision to bow to pit pressure. Blacklisted, though, have always resisted the urge to cater solely to base desires. On 'When People Grow, People Go', they continue to write their own rules.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Tuesday, 17 February 2015

Imagine Dragons - Smoke + Mirrors (Album Review)

Perhaps the greatest challenge facing arena rock is that the bands who have attained such lofty levels of success are increasingly bound by the safe, solid structures that got them there. Imagine Dragons, who smashed a hole through charts across the globe with Radioactive a couple of years back, are a case in point.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Tuesday, 17 February 2015

Thunder - Wonder Days (Album Review)

For many of us, looking back at carefree younger days while battling adult struggles is an experience that's equal parts nostalgia and bittersweet sense of loss. Six years after another unconvincing split, Thunder are back and doing just that, with ‘Wonder Days’ a superb slice of classic rock that ranks as their finest effort since 1994’s underrated 'Behind Closed Doors'.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Monday, 16 February 2015

Charli XCX - Sucker (Album Review)

'Sucker' is a blast of neon; a snotty declaration to a pop landscape populated by artists often more comfortable lurking in the shadows, superhero sequel style.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Monday, 16 February 2015

The Districts - A Flourish And A Spoil (Album Review)

The Districts’ second album in short order is ringed by the boundaries of a small town. ‘A Flourish And A Spoil’ finds the band growing up on the road, but still just a few steps removed from the day-to-day, neat rows of houses and compartmentalised life of Lititz, Pennsylvania.

Written by: Matt Williams | Date: Friday, 13 February 2015

Blackberry Smoke - Holding All The Roses (Album Review)

When a band's career is on a sharp upward trajectory, they often hook up with a big name producer to capitalise on the momentum and strike gold.  With that in mind, Blackberry Smoke have recruited Brendan O'Brien - of Springsteen, Pearl Jam and AC/DC fame - to ensure that album number four takes them to the promised land. But have they sacrificed something of themselves in the process?

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Thursday, 12 February 2015

Father John Misty - I Love You, Honeybear (Album Review)

Love songs are the backbone of pop music. They’re also mawkish, insincere and calculating. Father John Misty’s ‘I Love You, Honeybear’ is a response to that. The follow up to ‘Fear Fun’ is vulnerable, warts-and-all honest, very funny, a little jaded and unashamedly, inescapably romantic. It’s about loving someone who hates the same stuff you do.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Wednesday, 11 February 2015

Kodaline - Coming Up For Air (Album Review)

It’s crowded at the top. But it’s going to stay that way. U2, Coldplay and Take That are now stadium-filling pop-rock elder statesmen, with the Script and Snow Patrol also playing ambitious songs in the sort of halls best-suited to having ambitious songs belted out to the cheap seats. ‘Coming Up For Air’, Kodaline’s second album, is precision made to ensure that they make that leap sooner rather than later.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Tuesday, 10 February 2015

Two Gallants - We Are Undone (Album Review)

Two Gallants have always been partial to a bit of caterwauling. Their music, whether at the country-punk or bare-bones Americana ends of their spectrum, possesses an abrasive quality, a sense that as it pours out it’s doing some damage to the duo.

Written by: Matt Williams | Date: Monday, 09 February 2015

Title Fight - Hyperview (Album Review)

Title Fight have always been ambitious. ‘Floral Green’ may have been cut from the same hardcore cloth as their early thrashings, but it seemed far bigger, its aims grander in scope. ‘Hyperview’, the Kingston, PA quartet’s third full-length, fulfils that promise, but in a fashion that will almost certainly leave some long-term fans grasping at thin air.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Thursday, 05 February 2015

Soto - Inside The Vertigo (Album Review)

According to a certain wizened Jedi master, an overload of anger is a one way trip to red lightsabers, planet smashing and eternal suffering. What the tiny green killjoy fails to mention, though, is that searing rage often creates fantastic music. That's certainly evident here, as Jeff Scott Soto ditches his nice-guy-of-AOR image to embrace the dark side, unleashing a tornado of expansive contemporary metal and expelling some vengeful personal demons in the process.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Thursday, 05 February 2015