Olly Murs - Heart Skips A Beat (Single Review)

It’s often the case that the runner up in talent shows go on to have equally, if not more, lucrative careers in the music business than the winners themselves... JLS, Adam Lambert, Diana Vickers... but there is none more so than the man who came 2nd in 2009’s X Factor - Olly Murs. With numerous hits already under his belt including ‘Thinking Of Me’, ‘Please Don’t Let Me Go’ and the more acoustically based ‘Busy’, Olly has teamed up with Rizzle Kicks for a new musical experiment with his latest offering ‘Heart Skips A Beat’.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Wednesday, 20 July 2011

Blink 182 - Up All Night (Single Review)

Six years is a long time to be away from the charts without being forgotten about. Luckily Blink 182 have a hardcore base of fans sticking with them through thick and thin, and that includes a six year hiatus. After last years' hugely successful headline shows at Reading and Leeds festivals, Blink are finally back with some new material.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Tuesday, 19 July 2011

Rise To Remain - Nothing Left (Single Review)

Rise to Remain are a five-piece band from London whose new song has been described by some as “a powerful statement of intent". The band have recently been awarded 'Best New Band' by both Kerrang and Metal Hammer and if you have been to one of the heavier music festivals this summer, chances are that you have already seen them as they have played Download, Sonisphere and are due to play Kent's Hevy Festival in August.

Written by: Kimberley Martinez-Meakins | Date: Tuesday, 19 July 2011

Noah And The Whale - Life Is Life (Single Review)

After the success of Noah and the Whale’s re-release of ‘Five Years Time’ - the single that had everyone whistling and learning to play the ukulele - The band went on to release singles from second album ‘The First Days of Spring’. These songs weren’t as celebrated in the charts, but earned five stars from the Sunday Times and was quoted to be ‘Magical’ from Q magazine. It’s understandable then, that Noah and the Whale might have felt pressure from a few different directions as they prepared to release tracks from the ‘difficult third album’ entitled ‘Last Night on Earth’.

Written by: Emma Newlyn | Date: Tuesday, 19 July 2011

Francis Neve - I Wont Make You Better (Single Review)

Multi-instrumental Essex boy Francis Neve is here with new single ‘I Won’t Make You Better’ from his seven track mini-abum ‘The Second Time We First Met’.

Written by: V O'Hagan | Date: Monday, 18 July 2011

Breathe Carolina - Hell Is What You Make It (Album Review)

Breathe Carolina are the prime example of the digital fairytale. Creating tracks on Garage Band for fun then posting them on Myspace took them from making music as a pastime to their more professional status. 2009’s ‘Hello Fascination’ really put the duo out there in the scene, but the question is whether their new release ‘Hell Is What You Make It’ can keep them there.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Monday, 18 July 2011

Dead Letter Circus - This Is The Warning (Album Review)

Having already earned themselves a Number One album in their native Australia and supported the likes of Muse and Linkin Park over on that side of the planet, Brisbane’s Dead Letter Circus finally made it over to our own humble shores for a quick visit earlier this month. The short run of shows provided the band with the chance to introduce us to their debut album ‘This is the Warning’ following its UK release, over a year since its original unveiling back home in sunny Oz. Like fellow Antipodean rockers Karnivool and Cog, Dead Letter Circus have opted to pursue a similar brand of prog-metal in the vein of American heavyweights like Tool, Deftones and The Mars Volta. ‘This is the Warning’ deservedly achieves such categorisation and helps to place Dead Letter Circus in the worldwide arena alongside alt-rock’s most notable big players.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Sunday, 17 July 2011

Saxon - Call To Arms (Album Review)

The meritorious success of Saxon’s latest touring extravaganza – characterizing of festivals such as Sonisphere and Download – has proven, without a shadow of a doubt, that these classic British metal masters can still quench the parched lips of rock and metal fans from all over the globe. A 19th studio album doesn’t just appear on the shelves of your nearest record shop, these old-timers have journeyed down the path of an extraordinary career, spanning for more than 30 years.

Written by: Ryan Tinslay | Date: Friday, 15 July 2011

Radiohead - Little By Little (Caribou Remix) & Lotus Flower (Jacques Green Remix) (Review)

The King of Limbs, to be honest, is the prime example of a record ready to be manipulated into remixes by the experimentations of DJ’s and electronic artists. While talk of a full album remix by Flying Lotus circulates, Radiohead have announced a series of summer remix releases. The first of which sees Canadian artist Caribou (Dan Snaith) tackle 'Little By Little', while new boy Jacques Greene gives 'Lotus Flower' a going over.

Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Friday, 15 July 2011

The Mountaineering Club Orchestra - A Start On Such A Night Is Full Of Promise (Album Review)

Concept albums nearly as a rule can either go breathtakingly right, Pink Floyds 'Dark Side of the Moon' and Nine Inch Nails 'The Downward Spiral' for example, or can go hideously wrong, think Pete Townshends 'Psychoderelict' and Styx 'Kilroy Was Here'. So, 'A Start On Such A Night Is Full Of Promise', the debut album by The Mountaineering Club Orchestra, takes a brave leap into this arena with its icy tale of 17th century Norwegian explorers.

Written by: Patrick Gormley | Date: Friday, 15 July 2011

The Horrors - Skying (Album Review)

Let us be honest, 'Strange House' was a little bit shit. Made by five people who seemed to be more obsessed with their glam-goth appearance then attaining any real music credibility. They were thus given a Chelsea boot up the arse by their record label and kicked to the curb. Surely that was the end of this all too long gothic nightmare. It wasn’t. In what has turned out to be an inspired decision by some fucking genius at XL Records, The Horrors signed a new record deal. The image was played down and through some clever PR we found out that this five-piece really know there stuff. Then they delivered it. Then they delivered not only the greatest album of 2009, but a landmark album for British music. 'Primary Colours' was everything that nobody was expecting.

Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Friday, 15 July 2011

Grey Reverend - Of the Days (Album Review)

This record really doesn’t sound like it is a new release at all. It sounds like it has come straight out of the sixties, out of the glory days of folk music when Dylan was taking on the world by accident (and winning). L. D. Brown is a singer-songwriter who has stripped music back to arguably its purest form here and his music works all the better as a result.

Written by: Lee Johnston | Date: Thursday, 14 July 2011

The Worldonfire - ...Music To Leadership (Album Review)

There is something undeniably frustrating about this album. It seems to be trying to be something that it is not and, considering that this is a debut record that is a tad worrying to say the least. You see The Worldonfire are an alternative rock band from Essex, with touches of Yourcodenameis:milo-esque post-hardcore to make them a slightly more exciting prospect. In fact, at times the vocal acrobatics of bassist and vocalist David Walsh do sound a lot like Paul Mullen from the aforementioned band and this would have been a great thing for those who miss yci:m...except Paul Mullen has now formed Young Legionnaire, who fill the yci:m shaped void in the music scene pretty comfortably. That doesn’t mean there is no place for The Worldonfire however, although they seem to have taken a dodgy hint that the scene is full and that they should try and sound a bit more ‘different’ and ‘interesting’.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 14 July 2011

Blacklisters - Swords (Single Review)

If you like noisy music then Blacklisters might become your new favourite band. These West Yorkshiremen cite influences as early Deftones, Shellac and The Jesus Lizard. They sound a lot like these bands mixed into a cocktail of unholy sonic destruction. 'Swords' is a typical Blacklisters track...except it’s available for free download from their Bandcamp page, which is pretty awesome.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 14 July 2011

Warm Brains - Let Down (Single Review)

Warm Brains is the new solo project by London based DIY Producer Rory Attwell, who is best know for being a member of Test Icicles and other bands and is now highly sought after as a producer. The 18th July sees the release of his latest offering, a double-A side single ‘Let Down’/ ‘Stone to Sand to Glass’.

Written by: Lee Johnston | Date: Thursday, 14 July 2011

David Guetta ft. Taio Cruz - Little Bad Girl (Single Review)

With a string of club hits under his belt, it comes as no surprise that David Guetta’s newest collaboration with Taio Cruz and Ludacris – ‘Little Bad Girl’ - follows a similar suit. Kicking off the track with a strong electronic beat, Taio Cruz claims ‘Oh yeah, they tell me I’m a bad boy’...

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Thursday, 14 July 2011

Mona - Shooting The Moon (Single Review)

Nashville based rockers Mona have already got some pretty impressive support slots under their belts, not least playing with their mates Kings Of Leon on their recent arena tour in the UK. Already crowned at the MTV Awards with the Brand New for 2011 title, it seems that the only way is up for Nick, Vince, Zach and Jordan.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Thursday, 14 July 2011

Ellwood ‘Lost in Transition’ (Album Review)

If you’re familiar with the ska-infused party anthems of the Mad Caddies, then please meet Ellwood – a vaguely similar-sounding Californian reggae quartet that bear more than just a passing resemblance to said Caddies. And you would be forgiven for thinking that, for Ellwood actually are the Mad Caddies – well, four of them are anyway. Sometime since the Mad Caddies most recent release back in 2007, lead vocalist Chuck Robertson called together three of his bandmates to form this all-new side project. Although Ellwood could be accused of sounding a lot like Mad Caddies in places and therefore calling the purpose of this venture into question, what they have in fact done is removed the hyperactive, beer-soaked and brass-crazy punk rock of their main band and slowed it right down for a somewhat more tempered and easygoing pop-reggae album.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Wednesday, 13 July 2011

Danny & The Champions Of The World - Hearts & Arrows (Album Review)

It’s always nice to allow a little Americana into your living room. Danny and the Champions of the World, despite being mostly London based, are not releasing music synonymous with our shores, but that’s ok, I can forgive them for that since this offering, 'Hearts and Arrows', happens to be very good.

Written by: James Ball | Date: Wednesday, 13 July 2011

Guineafowl - Hello Anxiety (EP Review)

The first line claims that Guineafowl “form in our circles to discuss things with purpose, issues to address. problems and their mess. Kids can dance, dance, dance, dance, dance…” which, unlike anything I’ve ever heard, sets the scene for this wonderful five-track more than anything I’ve heard all year. To say that opener 'In Our Circles' sounds big would normally be a lazy and uninspired way of describing it, especially since us reviewer types often to cram as many ridiculous similes in an review as possible, but there is no sound bigger. It’s like walking through ultra-flat Norfolk and smacking straight into the BT tower (whoops, there is a simile after all). Soaring synths dissect some absolutely shuddering bass drum with more melody crammed in than this years Apprentice. Yup. Guineafowl aren’t here to make things boring. They’re here to shake up the “arena rock” sound that Coldplay, Elbow and Snow Patrol have been the kings of and make it something entirely new and exciting.

Written by: James Ball | Date: Wednesday, 13 July 2011