Rival Sons - Head Down (Album Review)

Are you angered by shallow manufactured music and the style over substance culture feeding it? Do you detest overly preened puppets peddling the same soulless lyrical clichés? Does the age of auto tune make you want to go all Van Gogh on your ears? If you answered those questions with a resounding 'hell yeah' then prepare to meet your new favourite band. Los Angeles quartet Rival Sons are a seventies soaked firecracker of explosive rock and roll attitude alight with the spirit and passion of untameable blues. Their music's unconcerned with image and sales as they aim “to give people the rock and roll they deserve by keeping it honest, visceral, and dangerous”. With the release of 'Head Down' they've more than fulfilled that pledge.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Devil Sold His Soul - Empire Of Light (Album Review)

Capable of creating the sort of heavy music that flattens venues across the UK, and yet also masters of melodic refrains that many pop bands would kill for, Devil Sold His Soul may just be Britain’s finest metal export of the last decade. Some would claim that their ambient influenced post-metal lacks originality, whilst complete morons would argue that Ed Gibbs’ clean vocals make the band emo scenesters. In actual fact, 2010’s 'Blessed & Cursed' was one of the best metal records for many a year, gifting listeners a barrage of uncompromising intensity, and often beauty.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Steve Vai - The Story Of Light (Album Review)

Listening to the work of a virtuoso can be both rewarding and a frustrating challenge. For a guitarist who has become a definitive name in the shredding world, Steve Vai represents both sides of this musical coin on his newest album 'The Story of Light'. A mature artist with unquestionable creativity and technical prowess, Vai lets his talent shine in a series of songs that vary from heavy to light, instrumental and packed with vocals, originals and adaptations.

Written by: Jonathan Lin | Date: Monday, 17 September 2012

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Last Of A Dyin' Breed (Album Review)

With over thirty million albums sold and enough tragedy experienced to have defeated most bands, Lynyrd Skynyrd could be forgiven for hanging up their spurs and enjoying a peaceful retirement. Fortunately, these guys are as tough as a tungsten wrecking ball. Whereas many ageing acts lose their inspiration and trundle towards the creative grave churning out sub standard slop for no other reason than to make money touring their hits (cough Queen cough), Skynyrd remain a force to be reckoned with. As such their eighth album since reforming in 1987 - following the plane crash a decade earlier that killed talismanic leader Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and his sister Cassie – is a blinding piece of work from glorious start to exceptional finish.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Friday, 14 September 2012

Karma To Burn - Slight Reprise (Album Review)

It seems unfair to chastise Karma to Burn for something that was never their fault in the first place, but one cannot help but lament the turn their career took back when it first started, fifteen years ago. Their debut, self-titled, record is fondly remembered by some as one of the definitive stoner rock records. In reality however it was just a hint at what could have been. Having signed a big fat record contract, on the proviso of getting a vocalist, in order to release said debut record, the band recorded something that, whilst great, lacked the distinctive thunder of their instrumental releases since.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 13 September 2012

Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance 30th Anniversary Edition (Album Review)

It's easy to be cynical about record labels continually re-releasing albums. Whilst remastered versions of vintage material are appreciated, especially when augmented with rare gems, how many times can the same album be updated before fans cry rip-off? With that in mind – what does the 'Special 30th Anniversary Edition' of Judas Priest's metal masterpiece 'Screaming For Vengeance' deliver when compared with the remastered version released in 2001? And is it really worth buying again?

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Wednesday, 12 September 2012

Steven Wilson - Get All You Deserve (Live DVD Review)

It has been something of a bumper year for Steven Wilson. An extended period of inactivity for his most famous project, Porcupine Tree, seemed, to many, to hint that his time at the top of the prog rock tree was coming to an end. Instead, Wilson’s second solo record 'Grace for Drowning' was joyously received by critics and fans alike. In fact, he is now arguably better known as an individual than ever. Surprisingly he opted to take the record on tour and 'Get All You Deserve' is the (now near-obligatory) resulting live DVD.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Wednesday, 12 September 2012

Jonny Gill - Thieves, Ghosts and Giants (Album Review)

There is no shortage of talented young singer-songwriters dotted about the country...but how many of them really have a personality of their own? Probably a disappointingly small number, which is why, despite its flaws, this debut album by York based Jonny Gill is worth a bit of your time.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Tuesday, 11 September 2012

Stillpoint - Some Lessons Hurt Like The Truths They Contain (EP Review)

Thursday saw the release of Belfast band Stillpoint’s second E.P. ‘Some Lessons Hurt Like The Truths They Contain.’ Support bands Droids, Window Seats and Deadlights didn’t just make up the numbers with performances of the highest quality, but it was Stillpoint who deservedly stole their own show. Mixing songs from their eponymous first E.P and the new release, the trio showed that they are a force to be reckoned with both locally and further afield.

Written by: Daniel Lynch | Date: Monday, 10 September 2012

Matchbox Twenty - North (Album Review)

'North' is the first full-length studio album with original material released by the alternative rock group Matchbox Twenty since their third album back in 2002. The four-piece band made their mark with energetic hits like '3 AM and 'All Your Reasons' that earned them multiple awards and critical recognition. Their latest effort features more of lead vocalist Rob Thomas' emotive singing that really fits the moody passages provided by the band. Yet, as a whole, the album unfortunately falls rather flat.

Written by: Jonathan Lin | Date: Monday, 10 September 2012

Freeze The Atlantic - Speakeasy (Album Review)

If there's one thing that bugs this reviewer to the core it is the lack of authenticity in British music today. Say what you like about quintet Freeze the Atlantic, but their penchant for rock n' roll riffs and raw vocals immediately bares them as a stark contrast to the waves of trendy “post-punk” bands that you'll read about in the NME.

Written by: Jonny Rimmer | Date: Thursday, 06 September 2012

Bell Gardens - Full Sundown Assembly (Album Review)

Pop music Don’t you just love it?

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Wednesday, 05 September 2012

Alanis Morissette - Havoc And Bright Lights (Album Review)

Back in 1995 Alanis Morissette's third album, 'Jagged Little Pill', redefined the female singer songwriter, marrying an explicitly delivered vitriolic narrative to commercial indie-pop sensibilities. It sold 33 million copies, inspired a generation of watered down copycats like Natasha Bedingfield and turned it's emotionally erratic creator into a feminist icon whose every move was magnified for the whole world to see. Particularly her behaviour in theatres. Since then Morissette's music has played out like a public therapy session, working through her endless issues with an honesty and self indulgence that's sometimes profound, other times narcissistic. Her eighth studio album 'Havoc And Bright Lights' continues that formula. "This record, as always, is a snapshot of what I currently obsess about, care about, and what strikes me at four in the morning in my most introspective moments”, she states. “It is my emotional, psychological, social and philosophical commentary through song”. Business as usual then.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Wednesday, 05 September 2012

The Pineapple Thief - All The Wars (Album Review)

Let’s be honest here, I should absolutely love The Pineapple Thief. Their sound contains hefty elements of my two favourite bands of all time (Oceansize and Radiohead), not to mention the likes of Anathema, Pink Floyd, Pearl Jam and Porcupine Tree. Furthermore their last album, 2010’s “Someone Here is Missing”, brought an impressive new level of energy and vitality to their sound. Following as it does the band’s finest album to date, therefore, my expectation levels for “All the Wars” were high to say the least. This, in some ways, really is make or break time for The Pineapple Thief.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 03 September 2012

Skam - It's Come To This (Album Review)

Last year American broadcaster Paul Gambaccini claimed rock music was dead. Fans were understandably irate. Classic Rock magazine even penned a well written article full of factual statistics that disproved the smug Yank's nonsensical assertion. However, here's a better way to make that point. Simply take Mr Gambaccini's head, gaffer tape it to a Marshall amp turned up to a volume that would please Nigel Tufnel and blast this rollicking début album from Leicester power trio Skam down his auditory canals. Within seconds of hearing their bludgeoning hard rock repertoire the self styled 'Professor of Pop' will not only admit he was wrong, but that his opinions on music are total and utter.........

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Friday, 31 August 2012

Wot Gorilla? - Kebnekaise (Album Review)

Halifax troupe Wot Gorilla? clearly aren’t messing about on their debut album 'Kebnekaise'. Right from the off the band take more twists and turns than a twisty-turny thing doing a twisty-turny dance at the local club’s ‘Twist & Turn’ night. Think Tubelord mixed with Maps & Atlases and you are approaching the level of math rock goodness that Wot Gorilla? inflict over the course of 'Kebnekaise'.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Friday, 31 August 2012

Rita Ora - ORA (Album Review)

It’s hard to believe that Rita Ora is only just releasing her debut album as it seems like her music has been around for what seems like forever. Signed to Jay Z’s record label Roc Nation, Rita’s album was sure to be electric and full of exceptional lyrics and infectious beats, as well as her recent three singles.

Written by: Lara Rainsforth | Date: Friday, 31 August 2012

Sacred Mother Tongue - A Light Shines (EP Review)

Following the release of 2009's ear shattering debut album 'The Ruin Of Man', Metal Hammer magazine described Northampton four piece Sacred Mother Tongue as "The most convincing young British Metal band to emerge in a long time". Successful sets at 2010's Sonisphere and last year's Download festivals justified their growing reputation, cultivating a rabid fanbase who'll be raging with delight at the quality of this EP's blinding new tracks. However, they should rein in that excitement for now - 'cos this is merely musical foreplay! Sacred Mother Tongue's full length second album, 'Out Of The Darkness' will drop in early 2013 and if this material is anything to go by their popularity is about to explode like a white hot Supernova.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Thursday, 30 August 2012

Monuments - Gnosis (Album Review)

‘Djent’... that most troublesome of metal genre beasts. Easy to deride and hard to love it may often be but the technical skill involved makes up for that right? Wrong! There is nothing worse than a sea of bands essentially ripping off the style of a few innovators (Meshuggah, Textures, etc) with about as much desire to add new aspects as Oasis had to make a full-on avant-garde jazz record. Is such an opinion lazy? Undoubtedly, but that does not make it incorrect.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Wednesday, 29 August 2012

Lianne La Havas - Forget (Single Review)

If you’re someone who ditches an artist once the mainstream latches on then you’ll be overlooking a real gem with Lianne La Havas’s follow-up to her debut album ‘Is Your Love Big Enough?’, which peaked in July at Number 4 in the UK album chart.

Written by: James Brown | Date: Wednesday, 29 August 2012