Don Broco - Fancy Dress (Single Review)

Bedford four-piece Don Broco have released their single 'Fancy Dress' off the back of their successful debut album 'Priorities'.

Written by: James Goodall | Date: Monday, 18 February 2013

Wednesday 13 - The Dixie Dead (Album Review)

Looking back, Wednesday 13 should be absolutely massive. Obviously I don’t mean he should be fat; I mean that he should be on of the most successful, commercially lauded artists out there today. From his humble beginnings fronting The Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13 right to the astronomical rise of the Murderdolls with Slipknot superstar Joey Jordison, the man really hasn’t put a foot wrong. He’s one of the most consistent, reliable musicians of our time; save from his unusually average 2011 release ‘Calling All Corpses’, Wednesday 13 has proven time and time again that his unique smattering of punk and metal is a racket that demands to be heard. ‘The Dixie Dead’ has stupendously high expectations to live up to. Can it possibly hold a candle to his career-besting solo album ‘Transylvania 90210’?

Written by: Alec Chillingworth | Date: Sunday, 17 February 2013

Steven Wilson - The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories) (Album Review)

The last couple of years have been perhaps the most important in Steven Wilson’s career to date. Reception to 2011’s 'Grace for Drowning' was almost unanimously positive, and deservedly so. His second solo album was not just an ambitious double record, it was as near to perfection as ‘progressive rock’ has ever been. It was musically expansive without being over the top, emotionally potent without being trite and, most importantly of all, intensely listenable. As a result, 'The Raven that Refused to Sing (and Other Stories)' arrives as possibly the most anticipated record of Wilson’s career to date.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Friday, 15 February 2013

Foals - Holy Fire (Album Review)

Foals are one of those gratifying artists, that not only bettered their debut album with their follow-up, but blew it out of the park. This was a band that evolved from shouty and exuberant ('Antidotes') to brooding and textural ('Total Life Forever') within the space of two years. The jump in quality was so astonishing, one almost wondered whether they'd be taking tips from another certain Oxford band.

Written by: Jonny Rimmer | Date: Friday, 15 February 2013

Baptists - Bushcraft (Album Review)

You can probably have a fairly good guess at what Baptists sound like just by reading a bit about their debut album, ‘Bushcraft’. Words like “seething”, “discordant” and “Kurt Ballou” stand out in the press release. This is savage hardcore, that much may be obvious. Quite how feral Baptists sound, however, is not apparent until ‘Betterment’ rips out of the speakers and beats in your skull with all the subtlety of a psychotic hammer salesman.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 14 February 2013

Sultanov - Keep On Running (Single Review)

“The Russian soul is a dark place,” said Dostoyevsky, and I suppose that’s easy to believe. To anyone that’s taken GCSE history, Russia is synonymous with snow, vodka, ushankas, snow, oppression, Lenin and snow. Russian literature grapples with the heaviest of issues; war, peace, death, morality. Vladimir Putin can kill you with his thumb. To me, Russia has always been deeply fascinating. It is a country of such diverse beauty, vivid history and musical splendour, from the lyricism of Rachmaninoff to the punk-rock feminism of Pussy Riot. Russian indie-pop stars don’t come along that often, so it is with great pleasure that I introduce you to Sultanov.

Written by: V O'Hagan | Date: Wednesday, 13 February 2013

Buckcherry - Confessions (Album Review)

Wondering if I was about to open up a Pandora’s box of personal demons, I have to admit that I approached this review rather gingerly. Would I relate to it? Would it shock me? Would it excite me more than a sip of communion wine and a wafer? Of course, I knew, more than not, that there is no sense of humor in Buckcherry’s music. The LA rockers’ distinctive American sound, merged with Aerosmith style qualities, is always dirty, mean, sleazy and bitter and usually crammed full of self-loathing. I have discovered that 'Confessions', their sixth album to date, is all of this and more.

Written by: Anna Ghislena | Date: Tuesday, 12 February 2013

Such Gold - Misadventures (Album Review)

Such Gold are the latest exports from New York’s ever thriving hardcore punk scene and their debut ‘Misadventures’ bears all the hallmarks a young, boisterous and emotionally charged first outing ought to.

Written by: Owen Sheppard | Date: Monday, 11 February 2013

Johnny Marr - The Messenger (Album Review)

Being a legend in the music business will do founder member and guitarist of iconic indie darlings The Smiths, Johnny Marr, no favours as he dips his toe into the world of solo releases for the very first time after plying his trade for a staggering 35 years. This time has been spent within a huge number of bands, making it somewhat fitting that his very own name is remarkably similar to the word ‘journeyman’. Expectations for something special will be high; can he scale the heights the indie legends achieved, which had been the result of an inimitable partnership with flamboyant singer and lyricist Morrissey, or would he end up with egg on his face, returning to band life with his tail between his legs? Rumoured to be one of the nicest guys in the music world, you’re already hoping for his sake that it won’t be the latter.

Written by: Graeme Marsh | Date: Saturday, 09 February 2013

Bullet For My Valentine - Temper Temper (Album Review)

Once praised for their ability to produce classic and powerful hits as well as heartfelt ballads, Bullet For My Valentine have seemingly slipped further and further from their former metal ways. Back in 2010 'Temper Temper'’s predecessor 'Fever' was released and subsequently criticised for straying from Bullet’s metal roots. Moving on three years and Bullet have drifted from metal altogether, settling for hard rock instead. Fourth studio album 'Temper Temper' will no doubt have die-hard fans up in arms because if you’ve come to this album looking for the old Bullet then you might as well leave now. On the other hand, if you’re open to change then embrace 'Temper Temper' with open arms and you never know, you just might like it.

Written by: Katie Vowles | Date: Thursday, 07 February 2013

Bridget Kelly - Special Delivery (Single Review)

The past few years have seen a new generation of R&B stars entering the fray; for one Bruno Mars with his cheeky hybrid of Motown, Rock and Reggae with the moves (and a quiff to match) that Elvis himself would have very approved of. We also must not forget the immensely talented Frank Ocean who has reminded the world that R&B isn’t just music to make “sweet love” to (R.I.P. Barry White) but is a critically acclaimed as well as a commercial powerhouse.

Written by: Jaspreet Kaur Takhi | Date: Wednesday, 06 February 2013

Steve Lukather - Transition (Album Review)

As far as impressive musical resumes go, few can match the one belonging to American guitarist, writer, arranger and producer Steve Lukather. As a founding member of AOR superstars Toto he's shifted a tidy 35 million records, but it's his work as a session musician that really catches the eye, contributing to over 1500 albums by the likes of Aretha Franklin, Roger Waters, Paul McCartney, Elton John and Miles Davis. As well as playing most of the guitar parts on a certain Michael Jackson album called 'Thriller'. He's also released a string of genre hopping solo albums, with his recent output displaying deeply personal, emotionally charged songwriting following the breakdown of his marriage, his mothers death and numerous nasty business wrangles. 'Transition' continues that introspective trend, but this time there's hope amidst the pain as the album moves from lost and angry to resigned and hopeful. Whilst not as musically thrilling as 2008's 'Ever Changing Times' or 2010's 'All's Well That Ends Well', 'Transition' is more song centric and focussed, whilst still delivering a cornucopia of styles that encompasses scorned blues grooves, lush soundscapes, prog dexterity, jazzy flourishes and his trademark melodic rock sensibilities.

Written by: Simon Ramsay | Date: Monday, 04 February 2013

The Virginmarys - King Of Conflict (Album Review)

It is not very often that listening to a new album makes you want to cry, dance and brawl at the same time, but The Virginmarys’ 'King of Conflict' does just that. It is like getting caught in a ruckus that leaves you with a bloody nose, a smile on your face and a rush to the head.

Written by: Anna Ghislena | Date: Monday, 04 February 2013

Humanfly - Awesome Science (Album Review)

Humanfly have always had a progressive streak in their musical armoury. That much is for certain. Somewhere between 2010’s impressive 'Darker Later' and their new record, 'Awesome Science', however the quartet’s lens has clearly shifted focus somewhat. 'Darker Later' was an oppressive, suffocatingly heavy record reliant on the immense power of the riff. 'Awesome Science', on the other hand, finds its brilliance in the dynamic plains the group traverse more thoroughly here than ever before.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Friday, 01 February 2013

Man The Machetes - Idiokrati (Album Review)

In the style of Kvelertak come Man the Machetes, another bunch of rowdy Norwegians who come armed with more tunes than is healthy for debut albums and, so I have been told, dynamite live shows. In just a couple of years the quintet have already started to make waves, having already played major festivals and gained some sought after radio airplay in their home nation.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Friday, 01 February 2013

The Pigeon Detectives - Animal (Single Review)

The Pigeon Detectives really are victims of the modern music trends. They were absolutely EVERYWHERE just five short years ago and now, nothing. It’s a shame really because, despite being not entirely ground-breaking, they always wrote catchy enough indie-rock anthems that would please a crowd at a gig. However, upon seeing what the Arctic Monkeys have gotten up to, still selling records despite a drop off in the guitar genre, it now seems like they have decided to all but copy their sound.

Written by: James Ball | Date: Friday, 01 February 2013

Heaven's Basement - Filthy Empire (Album Review)

If one band has had more ups and downs than a groupie’s knickers, (if you’ll pardon that well-worn phrase), having tried and tried again for years on end, then surely, success must prevail for Heavens Basement at last? With a history of hectic touring schedules behind and ahead of them; some significant band member changes over the years and two EPs to their name, the UK rockers are about to release their debut album, recorded and produced by John Feldman (Black Veil Brides/Papa Roach).

Written by: Anna Ghislena | Date: Thursday, 31 January 2013

Guapo - History Of The Visitation (Album Review)

The world of ‘progressive rock’ is one riddled with contradictions, especially today, when most of the bands that are generally seen to fall within its boundaries are arguably the very opposite of ‘progressive’ in their clear reliance on the influence of the classic prog acts of the 70s. Guapo, though, have a little more genuine claim to being ‘progressive’ than most of their contemporaries. Certainly the band is not especially original in the aesthetics of their sound, but there is something in their approach that bites a bit more keenly than the work of many others.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Wednesday, 30 January 2013

The Bronx - IV (Album Review)

Often, album titles can hint towards what the album is about, or can offer some ideas as to how it could differ from past works. The Bronx, however, do not follow convention. Where the likes of Billy Talent eventually broke their eponymous titling last year, we now find ourselves facing the Los Angeles punk outfit's fourth self-titled record. Regardless of giving nothing away in the title, the record feels long overdue, and - in that sense - the fact there is a record at all is enough!

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Monday, 28 January 2013

Biffy Clyro - Opposites (Album Review)

I’ll start with an admission. Biffy Clyro are the band that changed my life. You wouldn’t be reading this review without them. They sparked in me a passion for music that has only grown since the day I first bought 'Infinity Land' (in the St. Albans branch of HMV in case you were interested) as an impressionable thirteen year-old. This Scottish trio not only made music that I found immeasurably appealing, they seemed like three ordinary guys who were prepared to sweat it out for long-overdue success. That’s what they did. Fast forward a few years and Biffy Clyro are the biggest guitar band in Britain, besides Muse. They have earned their success through sheer hard work and dedication to their craft. 2007’s 'Puzzle' and its follow up, 2009’s 'Only Revolutions', may have lacked a bit of the raw excitement of their early material but Biffy Clyro still had a discernible character that was all their own. Their move away from awkward post-hardcore was not selling out, as some would claim; it was just a natural progression of the band’s sound. Biffy moved into creating stadium-sized rock with a heart and a soul, whilst retaining a very real personality that continued to set them apart from lame posturers such as All Time Low and You Me at Six.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 28 January 2013