Transplants - In A Warzone (Album Review)

After eight years of their fans hoping for something more, Transplants have finally released a follow-up to 2005’s ‘Haunted Cities’.

Written by: Yasmin La Ronde | Date: Monday, 01 July 2013

Blackmore's Night - Dancer And The Moon (Album Review)

Prepare to enter a mythical realm of renaissance-flavoured folk, rock and medieval music from former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, his beguiling wife Candice Night and their assembled brethren of merry minstrels. While similar to past offerings, their eighth studio album under the Blackmore's Night name is their most commercial yet, delivering a heady brew of new age, Celtic and world influences with contemporary melodies and accessible arrangements. In short, 'tis most splendid!

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Friday, 28 June 2013

Pixies - Bagboy (Single Review)

Two weeks really is an eternity in the music world. Since the departure of iconic bass player Kim Deal was announced by Pixies a fortnight ago, Black Francis has debuted music as part of the Thriftstore Masterpiece collective – alongside Pete Yorn, Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock and Courtney Taylor-Taylor of the Dandy Warhols – and Deal's 'Last Splash' tour with the Breeders has powered on, barely stopping to crest the speedbump.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Friday, 28 June 2013

Editors - The Weight Of Your Love (Album Review)

Editors - Birmingham’s finest purveyors of doom-laden indie - are back with a first new album in four years and a rejigged line-up. 'The Weight Of Your Love' is their first release since the departure of guitarist Chris Urbanowicz, seemingly heralding a change in direction for the band.

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Thursday, 27 June 2013

Maps - Vicissitude (Album Review)

Maps - Northampton’s James Chapman - first appeared on the music scene in 2007, when Mute Records released his debut album ‘We Can Create’. The record subsequently garnered much critical praise and a Mercury Music Prize nomination.

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Wednesday, 26 June 2013

The Body Rampant - Midnight Mayfair (Album Review)

After the success of their 'Transient Years’ EP in 2011, the Body Rampant have pulled another one out of the bag with ‘Midnight Mayfair’, a concept album focused death and the afterlife.

Written by: Yasmin La Ronde | Date: Tuesday, 25 June 2013

Alice In Chains - The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (Album Review)

Alice In Chains are no doubt an enduring force in rock 'n' roll. Emerging during the grunge explosion of the early 1990s, their colossal second album 'Dirt' secured place in rock history. While 'The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here' can't replicate that level of craftsmanship, it's got plenty to recommend it.

Written by: Josh Adams | Date: Monday, 24 June 2013

Mwahaha - Mwahaha (Album Review)

Mwahaha have been writing and performing together for nearly 10 years, bringing their own brand of experimental, psychedelic pop to the masses. Their self-titled debut was released last year and is now set for the reissue treatment through US label Plug Research.

Written by: Katie Vowles | Date: Monday, 24 June 2013

Kanye West - Yeezus (Album Review)

Separating the artist from the music is never the easiest thing to do. In the case of Kanye West, it's nigh-on impossible.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Friday, 21 June 2013

Black Sabbath - 13 (Album Review)

It all kicked off in 1978. Black Sabbath’s eighth studio album, Never Say Die!, was met with apathy by fans and critics alike, and they subsequently fired singer Ozzy Osbourne amid a haze of booze and narcotics. Vocalists came and went, with mixed results, until the original members built some bridges as the '90s drew to a close. Still, though, a new album didn’t arrive.

Written by: Gemma-Louise Johnson | Date: Thursday, 20 June 2013

Wisdom Of Crowds - Wisdom Of Crowds (Album Review)

The Pineapple Thief’s Bruce Soord and Katatonia’s Jonas Renkse have something in common. Rather unfairly, they are both best known for being in the shadow of other musicians. Soord will always be dogged by his association with Steven Wilson and Porcupine Tree, no matter what he produces, while Renkse is inexorably linked to his close friend Mikael Åkerfeldt and Opeth. Wisdom of Crowds presents an opportunity for both to gain the recognition they deserve.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 20 June 2013

Palms - Palms (Album Review)

Ever since it was announced that Deftones vocalist Chino Moreno would collaborate with Jeff Caxide, Bryant Clifford Meyer and Aaron Harris of Isis on a new project, Palms, there has been an almost unfeasibly high level of expectation from metal fans.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 20 June 2013

Arctic Monkeys - Do I Wanna Know? (Single Review)

It can be tough at the top, as Arctic Monkeys are all too aware. Their latest single, Do You Wanna Know?, dropped on June 19 and immediately spread across the web like wildfire. Soon enough it wasn't just a song, it was a Twitter trend, a YouTube curio. Luckily, there's some substance to back up the inevitable hype.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Kodaline - In A Perfect World (Album Review)

Hailing from Swords, just outside Dublin, the four unassuming lads that make up Kodaline found themselves catapulted into the limelight following the release of a touching video for All I Want in 2012. A modern take on Beauty and the Beast, set in an office environment, the video has clocked up in excess of three million views on Youtube.

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Fist City - It's 1983, Grow Up! (Album Review)

Fist City's new record, 'It's 1983, Grow Up!', is a grimy beauty, a collection of swaggering punk tunes boasting huge melodies, wild surf guitar and swirling psychedelia.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Beady Eye - BE (Album Review)

It appears that Beady Eye fully intended on making amends for their somewhat disappointing debut, ‘Different Gear, Still Speeding’, with its follow-up ‘BE’.

Written by: Brian Thompson | Date: Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Landshapes - Rambutan (Album Review)

Hands up if you remember Lulu and the Lampshades? Anyone? In essence, Landshapes used to be Lulu and the Lampshades, but after a spelling error on a French gig poster, they’re not anymore.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 17 June 2013

Queensryche - Queensryche (Album Review)

You couldn’t make up the current Queensrÿche situation. Two bands now exist where there was once one. Geoff Tate, the original vocalist, now heads up one outfit under the name, and released the almost universally panned ‘Frequency Unknown’ a couple of months ago.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 17 June 2013

Boysetsfire - While A Nation Sleeps... (Album Review)

Some bands are destined never to be remembered. While others take attention they scarcely deserve, some must lurk on the edge of the spotlight, destined to be ignored despite their accomplishments. When it comes to the American post-hardcore scene, Boysetsfire are one of a number of bands who have a right to feel hard done by. 

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Friday, 14 June 2013

Emily Barker And The Red Clay Halo - Dear River (Album Review)

There are a handful of very simple rules when it comes to creating a great album; the songs must be from the heart, they must connect with their audience and filler is a no no. Emily Barker and her band have nailed them on 'Dear River'.

Written by: James Ball | Date: Thursday, 13 June 2013