Nachtmystium - Silencing Machine (Album Review)

You know, sometimes I feel that modern metal really doesn’t have enough balls. Too many of the bands trumpeted in the mainstream metal media are limp, lifeless recreations of what has already been done much better, and, for want of a better turn of phrase, much heavier; and yes, Bullet for My Valentine I am looking at you.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 30 July 2012

Hellyeah - Band Of Brothers (Album Review)

Some albums come with a bold mission statement. Some claim to change the face of their scene. Some claim to blow all expectations out of the water. Hellyeah's newest record 'Band of Brothers'? Well, it's said to "take the rock world by the balls and twist." Ouch.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Monday, 30 July 2012

Helen Boulding - Calling All Angels (Album Review)

Helen Boulding released her second album ‘Calling All Angels' on the 16th July.

Written by: V O'Hagan | Date: Monday, 30 July 2012

General Fiasco - Unfaithfully Yours (Album Review)

Northern Ireland’s latest offering to the wider UK music scene, General Fiasco have so far failed to live up to their promised potential. Debut album ‘Buildings’ could be forgiven for being a bit hit and miss as the then trio embarked on their first effort to write a full length album. ‘Unfaithfully Yours’ suffers from similar restraints as ‘Gold Chains’, ‘Bad Habits’ and ‘The Age You Start Losing Friends’, laden with infectious hooks and catchy vocals are somewhat let down by ‘Brother Is’ and ‘The Bottom’ which don’t really seem to keep pace with other tracks.

Written by: Daniel Lynch | Date: Friday, 27 July 2012

The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten (Album Review)

It appears to be business as usual for The Gaslight Anthem with their fourth studio album ‘Handwritten’. Their punk laden debut ‘Sink or Swim’ quickly gave way to a more commercial effort in the hugely successful '59 Sound,' while their third effort ‘American Slang’ disappointed many fans with poorer production detracting from what was undoubtedly a collection of excellent songs. The transition from ‘Sink or Swim’ to ‘American Slang’ and a side project with the Horrible Crowes has developed the overall sound into a much more complete and balanced package.

Written by: Daniel Lynch | Date: Tuesday, 24 July 2012

The Cult - The Wolf (Single Review)

In a year of stunning comeback albums from some of rock's biggest names, The Cult's hard hitting 'Choice Of Weapon' album is one of the very best. Landing a place in the UK Top 20 and receiving a rapturous critical reception, it seems frontman Ian Astbury's U-turn after vowing not to release any more albums (“the format is dead” - he claimed) has been an exceptionally smart volte face. Furthermore, the decision to team up once again with Bob Rock, the producer of their late 80's commercial juggernaut-in-album-form 'Sonic Temple', has reaped the richest of rewards on a huge sounding record for which the clichéd 'return to form' tag is a monolithic understatement.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Monday, 23 July 2012

Slipknot - Antennas To Hell (Album Review)

'Greatest Hits' compilations aren't often very exciting. It usually signals the end of a band's career, a pitiful attempt at making some money for a musical legend who hasn't done so much of late or it's just something to fill the notable lack in new music. However, with Slipknot's 'Antennas To Hell', this is not the case. While the general rule of no new music applies, this succinctly summarises the band's fantastic career up to the present point, luring the listener through a history of one of metal's long-standing icons.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Monday, 23 July 2012

No Doubt - Settle Down (Single Review)

Californian rockers No Doubt carved themselves out a pretty impressive career throughout the late 90's and early 00's. A huge worldwide Number 1 with 'Don't Speak', regular top twenty single releases, platinum album sales (or multi-platinum in the case of 'Tragic Kingdom') and various award nominations and wins saw the band catapulted to international stardom and the world of the household name.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Monday, 23 July 2012

Jimmy Cliff - Rebirth (Album Review)

Reggae python Jimmy Cliff is back to his roots with a message of hope that will keep your heart and soul on the sunny side; an open-hearted thirteen track showcase of his legendary talent which he calls "One more shot at the prize. One more shot at the goal.”

Written by: Helen Grant | Date: Friday, 20 July 2012

Aerosmith - Legendary Child (Single Review)

A few years ago the prospect of new music from Aerosmith seemed about as likely as Manchester City winning the Premier League title. How times change.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Wednesday, 18 July 2012

Om - Advaitic Songs (Album Review)

If there was a competition to decide which bands were least likely to become really big in the next twelve months then surely Om would have to be near the top of the list. I mean, 'Advaitic Songs' is the best album of their career to date but it is so anti-zeitgeist that it may as well have a big sticker on the front with Nick Clegg’s grinning face on it. This is exactly the opposite of the sort of music that most people even think of listening to, and that is part of the reason why it is so brilliant.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Wednesday, 18 July 2012

Rob Zombie - Mondo Sex Head (Album Review)

Rob Zombie has never been one to shy away from the unconventional, or one to see a boundary in his music. So, he handed over some of his most famed musical offerings to a string of DJs, let them have their wicked way with his work and is now releasing their collaborative works, entitled 'Mondo Sex Head'.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Wednesday, 18 July 2012

Green Day - Oh Love (Single Review)

Not content with one new album, Green Day are treating fans to three, but the question that plagues many is: Can Green Day produce three albums of pure quality? The trilogy of releases, being a challenge for most bands, could result in many filler tracks and there - in its depths - lies a string of songs that, when put together, would result in one mammoth record. 'Oh, Love' - the newest insight into what to expect - doesn't bode too well for the theory of three albums of pure brilliance.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Tuesday, 17 July 2012

Moya - Lost And Found (Album Review)

Brighton-based singer/songwriter Moya released her debut album on July 9th and it’s a stunning first effort.

Written by: V O'Hagan | Date: Monday, 16 July 2012

Bloc Party - Octopus (Single Review)

Bloc Party are back, with balls.

Written by: Luke Bailey | Date: Monday, 16 July 2012

Grasscut - Unearth (Album Review)

Some albums are really frustrating. They promise so much but ultimately fail to deliver the substance that the listener really craves, hinting at greatness but instead settling for half-baked ideas and overall disappointment. It would be a bit harsh to say that 'Unearth' fits wholly into that description but at the same time this album never reaches the heights that Grasscut really could be scaling.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Friday, 13 July 2012

Duke Special - Oh Pioneer (Album Review)

It’s hard to ascertain why Duke Special isn’t something of a bigger name than he is. With 'Oh Pioneer' being his tenth studio album, and with his songwriting still deserving of plaudits, the artist less known as Peter Wilson must be beginning to think that the luck will never come for him in the harsh reality of the music business. A consistent producer of high quality albums, it is about time that the Duke got a break.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 12 July 2012

Run, WALK - "Health" (Album Review)

It’s always very strange reviewing an album when you know its creators are releasing it as an endnote to their career. In the case of run, WALK! the frustration usually accompanying such records is all the greater, and not just because it is their long awaited debut full-length. If this, confusingly titled, album is anything to go by then this is, or rather was, a band with something special in them.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 12 July 2012

Daniel Powter - Turn On The Lights (Album Review)

Best known as a one hit wonder for smash hit 2006 single 'Bad Day', which played in the background as Alvin and his Chipmunks gathered nuts for the winter and American Idol losers sobbed farewell, it's fair to say Daniel Powter is in need of some fair press, and after a four year musical hiatus spent, by his own admission, surfing and fighting his demons, suffice to say he has his work cut out.

Written by: Helen Grant | Date: Thursday, 12 July 2012

The Killers - Runaways (Single Review)

The new Killers single "Runaways" wouldn't have been out of place in the Joan Jett biopic of the same name. There is a distinctly classic rock sound to the track, with tales of teenage love on the run, a classic American fairy tale.

Written by: Mark Richards | Date: Tuesday, 10 July 2012