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

Lemuria - The Distance Is So Big (Album Review)

Lemuria are a band that inspires devotion. Whether it's Bridge Nine records breaking from their hardcore tradition to sign them, or their growing following learning every word of Alex Kerns' idiosyncratic lyrics, once you're in, you're in for good.

Written by: Huw Baines | Date: Thursday, 13 June 2013

KT Tunstall - Invisible Empire//Crescent Moon (Album Review)

Let's start with a promise. If you buy this album and put it on your CD player, deck, iPod, or whatever, and listen to it (actually listen to it), it will change your life.  

Written by: James Ball | Date: Wednesday, 12 June 2013

Master Musicians Of Bukkake - Far West (Album Review)

The incongruously-named Master Musicians of Bukkake have been frying brains left, right and centre for the best part of a decade. Their ‘Totem’ trilogy, released between 2009 and 2011, contained elements of drone, folk, psychedelia and various world music styles, but what held it all together was a collective determination to be as weird as possible at all times.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Wednesday, 12 June 2013

The Maine - Forever Halloween (Album Review)

The Maine are a pop-rock band that sound exactly like hundreds of other pop-rock bands. With their fourth release, ‘Forever Halloween’, they fail to bring anything new to the table, and if anything drag the standard down.

Written by: Katie Vowles | Date: Tuesday, 11 June 2013

The View - Seven Year Setlist (Album Review)

Scottish indie-rockers the View have only been releasing their catchy tunes since 2006.  With thousands of shows and four albums under their belts, including a number one debut in 'Hats Off To The Buskers', the boys have decided that the time is right for a Greatest Hits compilation spanning their relatively short career.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Swindle - Long Live The Jazz (Album Review)

For his debut album, Swindle has teamed up with Deep Medi to bring us ‘Long Live the Jazz’. Having previously worked with Roll Deep, Chipmunk and Professor Green, Swindle is no stranger to a grime/pop crossover and can provide a successful street formula when called upon. None of that can be found here, though.

Written by: Josh Adams | Date: Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Walter Trout - Luther's Blues (Album Review)

Following 2012's 'Blues For The Modern Daze', Walter Trout pays tribute to late, great Chicago bluesman Luther Allison on 'Luther's Blues', the first covers album of his esteemed career. With unstoppable passion and dedication, Trout and his electric band tear through a winning selection of Allison classics, expertly reworking the energised cocktail of soul, funk and blues rock that was his trademark. The result is sonically Trout, and spiritually Allison.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Monday, 10 June 2013

SHY & DRS Feat. Nazareth - I've Got (Enough Love) (Single Review)

Don't tell anyone, but I think we have a kick-ass tune for summer on our hands. In fact, it may be kick-ass classic. The third single from hip hop duo SHY & DRS features 1970s rock giants Nazareth, and it's a powerful 'rap ballad' that, to put it bluntly, is awesome.

Written by: Helen Marie Grant | Date: Monday, 10 June 2013

Kyte - Love To Be Lost (Album Review)

Leicestershire's Kyte seem to spend a large amount of time away from home these days, having carved out a reputation for themselves in Japan. Perhaps this should not be a surprise. The subtle electropop of ‘Love to be Lost’ sounds tailor-made for a sleek, smart Tokyo. 

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 10 June 2013

Dinosaur Pile-Up - Nature Nurture (Album Review)

It hasn’t been an easy road for Dinosaur Pile-Up since their 2010 debut ‘Growing Pains’. With a revolving door policy that would make Spinal Tap weak at the knees, frontman Matt Bigland could have been forgiven for throwing in the towel long ago.

Written by: Daniel Lynch | Date: Monday, 10 June 2013

T.E Morris - And You Were The Hunter (Album Review)

It’s difficult to listen to a T.E Morris solo record without thinking of his better-known work as frontman of Her Name is Calla. World-weary vocals aside, his individual compositions occupy much the same atmospheric territory as his band. 

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Friday, 07 June 2013