Mindless Self Indulgence - 'How I Learned...' (Album Review)

"You're only young once, but you can be immature forever," slurs Jimmy Urine on their new album. Perhaps the lyric that could best sum up Mindless Self Indulgence's entire career and success to date, and it's for that reason that their fans love them. With their fifth album funded by these very people via Kickstarter, 'How I Learned To Stop Giving A Shit and Love Mindless Self Indulgence' had more weight on its shoulders to be good, and - at the very least - proves to be quintessentially MSI. 

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Monday, 13 May 2013

Escape The Fate - Ungrateful (Album Review)

The Escape The Fate road hasn't been the smoothest of journeys over the years. Since Craig Mabbitt's arrival to take over vocal command, there's been a lot of change-ups, controversy and animosity to deal with and, in the midst of all that, they created two post-Radke studio albums. But trying to branch out the band past Ronnie's identifiable styling on their debut has divided the masses. It's now that Escape The Fate are set to drop their fourth album 'Ungrateful' - first post Max Green - and settle themselves firmly where they want to be. 

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Monday, 13 May 2013

These Monsters - Heroic Dose (Album Review)

The long awaited follow up to 2010’s bizarre, yet brilliant, ‘Call Me Dragon’, ‘Heroic Dose’ sees These Monsters take a different approach to their previous efforts. Don’t fear, this is still riotously noisy from beginning to end, and it’s no less weird than the last album either. What has changed is that These Monsters are now more direct in their noise-making, partly one suspects due to their number being whittled down to three and partly due to their own determination to make a record that is, to quote the title of one of ten tracks here, ‘Harder and Faster’.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 13 May 2013

Harry Keyworth - Flux (EP Review)

In recent times there’s been a noticeable increase in the number of talented musicians coming out of West Wales, with singer-songwriter Harry Keyworth the latest to come across Stereoboard’s radar with his debut EP ‘Flux’.

Written by: David Ball | Date: Friday, 10 May 2013

Joe Satriani - Unstoppable Momentum (Album Review)

Make no mistake, this is the sound of an artist completely at ease with himself and his muse, unconcerned by expectations and having an absolute blast. Following 2010's 'Black Swans And Wormhole Wizards' - a stylistically diverse journey through time and space - this fourteenth studio album finds guitar wielding deity Joe Satriani return to earth with a sparkling instrumental album that dissects the emotional traumas and triumphs caused by humanity's ceaseless forward motion. It sounds serious, but thanks to Satch delivering his most commercial collection of tunes since 1992's 'The Extremist', the overall feeling is one of unwavering positivity in the face of adversity. Whilst some may be disappointed by the lack of heavy rock numbers and increasingly mature aesthetic, 'Unstoppable Momentum' still boasts a great mixture of astonishing virtuosity, visceral melodies and genre bending passages that are vintage Satriani.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Friday, 10 May 2013

Lady Antebellum - Golden (Album Review)

Country is all the rage these days with the likes of Laura Marling, Mumford & Sons and Taylor Swift all championing the genre whilst also producing commercially friendly chart toppers. Lady Antebellum are no exception. Fronted by Nashville-born Hillary Scott, the country-pop trio have enjoyed huge success so far. In fact, since 2008, Lady Antebellum have won almost 50 awards – seven of which being Grammys. Will this success continue with new album 'Golden'? It’s a bit of a no-brainer, really.

Written by: Katie Vowels | Date: Thursday, 09 May 2013

Danny Bryant - Hurricane (Album Review)

Why do so many blues guitarists mistakenly believe they can sing? Whether down to ego, self delusion or a dearth of suitable vocalists, those pesky bits with the microphone are often poorly developed in comparison to their well honed six string prowess. On his latest studio effort, Danny Bryant exhibits the kind of impressive touch and feel that's seen him lauded as one of the best British blues players of his generation. However, whilst his song writing is solid enough with the occasional moment of excellence, the material is let down by his decidedly ropey vocals, demonstrating why so many talented players should leave the singing to someone who can match the quality of their fretwork.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Wednesday, 08 May 2013

Agrimonia - Rites Of Separation (Album Review)

It’s hard to adequately sum up Agrimonia. Suffice it to say that they are one of very few metal bands in the last, well, decade or more at least, who have not felt it necessary to act within particular stylistic confines. This Swedish mob utilise elements of crust, black metal and sludge most prominently, but there are also odd hints of more melodic tendencies that perhaps even relate to the sound their hometown of Gothenburg is best known for.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Wednesday, 08 May 2013

The Pigeon Detectives - We Met At Sea (Album Review)

Having sold over 500,000 albums since their formation in 2004, The Pigeon Detectives have accumulated a strong fanbase consisting of a (mainly) youth element, as their songs generally tackle issues that youngsters can easily relate to. New offering 'We Met At Sea', released on the Cooking Vinyl label, continues this trend, with claims of the band having abandoned their ‘polished indie-rock sound’ for something more unpredictable and real.

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Wednesday, 08 May 2013

Benga - Chapter II (Album Review)

In a culture that’s teeming with wide eyed bedroom producers making it big purely off singles and free mix-tapes, it might be naive to assume that this notion of a “full length studio album” retains much significance. But if this is assumed correctly, then it’s at Benga’s loss that only now, five years since his breakthrough effort ‘Diary Of An Afro Warrior’ that he’s pitched his flag in pop’s battle field with this third release.

Written by: Owen Sheppard | Date: Tuesday, 07 May 2013

Hessian - Manegarmr (Album Review)

With ‘Manegarmr’ it is clear Hessian have worked on honing a formula rather than trying to rewrite the wheel. Their brand of metallic hardcore isn’t going to set the scene alight, but it’s more than decent enough. Hailing from Belgium (yes, there is an Amenra member involved; guitarist Levy Seynaeves plays bass in the country’s premier heavy act), Hessian have crafted an album here that plays as much to their strengths as songwriters as musicians.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Tuesday, 07 May 2013

Parlour Flames - Parlour Flames (Album Review)

When rhythm guitarist Paul Arthurs (AKA Bonehead) left Oasis in 1999 he cited family reasons for the departure. Initially Arthurs laid low in the public eye, until busking duties in Manchester for charity with ex-Smiths bassist Andy Rourke, along with various DJ performances gradually saw him make a return; he also had a stint in local band The Vortex and presented a BBC Radio Manchester show for good measure.

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Thursday, 02 May 2013

Jaga Jazzist - Live With Britten Sinfonia (Album Review)

The old cliché is that live albums are rarely essential and, to be fair, there is a certain degree of mileage in that. Does anyone really need Metallica to release another live DVD where they play the same setlist again, but this time in Peru? Didn’t think so. On the other side of the equation, however, some live albums really do act as valuable documentations of moments in a band’s career, whether the visual element is included or not, and ‘Live with Britten Sinfonia’ may just do that for Jaga Jazzist.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 02 May 2013

Shinobi Ninja - Rock Hood (Album Review)

Coming straight outta Brooklyn, New York, which is part of the United States of America, we have here a record called 'Rock Hood' by a multi-talented crew Shinobi Ninja.

Written by: Mark Wincott | Date: Thursday, 02 May 2013

Fox North Coalition - A Block For The Wigs (Album Review)

If you want something dirty, something grimy with a helluva lot of blues and a lot of rock then go ahead and check out 'A Block For The Wigs' by Fox North Coalition, these guys come together from the split of former band Hijak Oscar. The genre they have given us is Roots Ridden Americana Swamp Blues, and all the way from York in the UK.

Written by: Mark Wincott | Date: Thursday, 02 May 2013

HIM - Tears On Tape (Album Review)

The Finnish rockers are back again for another slice of gloomy, yet anthemic rock, deep from the inner workings of the mind of Ville Valo and company, and as you may already come to expect from a band as seasoned as this after a fifteen year career, it’s pretty good.

Written by: James Ball | Date: Monday, 29 April 2013

Whitesnake - Made In Japan (CD Album/DVD Review)

Anyone who saw the mighty 'Snake on their last world tour will no doubt raise a quizzical eyebrow at the release of this package. Critics and fans were united in the conclusion that the great David Coverdale is struggling in the live arena these days, his singing a far cry from the phenomenal roar that made him a global superstar. And yet, this cheekily named - Purple plagiarising - combo mounts a strong case for the defence. DC's voice no longer boasts the same Ozone shattering range or soulful tonality, but on the evidence of this East Asian extravaganza - recorded at the "Loud Park" festival, Japan in 2011 - he and his band still know how to deliver a rousing rock & roll spectacle. In spite of some tricks to mask those vocal shortcomings, this sizzling collection of gold plated classics and fiery newbies makes for an entertaining, if slightly flawed, addition to Whitesnake's rich back catalogue.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Friday, 26 April 2013

Colin Stetson - New History Warfare Volume 3: To See More Light (Album Review)

The saxophone is an (unfairly) oft-maligned instrument. Next time you complain about the cheesy sax solos in Bruce’s E-String Band or on any number of extremely dated eighties pop hits remember that this is the same instrument that was the main tool of some of the most innovative musicians in all history. Colin Stetson may not be at the same level as Coleman and Coltrane, but then to expect him to approach the level of extraordinary inventiveness displayed by such legends of jazz is unreasonable and unfeasible in the extreme. With ‘To See More Light’, however, Stetson has produced something that can clearly be seen as a potential classic of the contemporary avant-garde.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Friday, 26 April 2013

The Boxer Rebellion - Promises (Album Review)

Sharing their name with a rebellious uprising in China that first came into being in 1898, The Boxer Rebellion actually generate a sound far from anything their name suggests, instead creating highly polished and well produced radio friendly indie rock of an anthemic nature.

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Friday, 26 April 2013

The Ocean - Pelagial (Album Review)

It’s probably fair to say that The Ocean ultimately disappointed a little with their 2010 records ‘Heliocentric’ and ‘Anthropocentric’. Whilst their previous album, 2007’s epic ‘Precambrian’ had managed to match an astonishingly ambitious concept to a thoroughly interesting and consistently listenable set of tracks, the aforementioned pair seemed to struggle a little to live up to the grandiose anti-religious ideas the band tried to present.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Wednesday, 24 April 2013