Bear Driver - Big Love (Single Review)

A sound is not just a sound; it is something that gets you moving and your ears pricking up. Bear Driver, a five-piece band from London, have jumped straight in and pulled out a great single; ‘Big Love’.

Written by: Yasmin La Ronde | Date: Thursday, 29 March 2012

Bruce Springsteen - Wrecking Ball (Album Review)

Bruce Springsteen has never been afraid to tackle political issues and each time a crisis comes around you can set your calendar for a new album. Throughout his career he's taken shots at everyone he feels are wronging his homeland and 'Wrecking Ball' carries that theme into the most current crisis of the global recession. Now 62-years-old 'Wrecking Ball' is Springsteen's 17th studio album and, although it's had some stiff competition over the years, may well be his angriest.

Written by: Dave Ball | Date: Thursday, 29 March 2012

Sleigh Bells - Reign Of Terror (Album Review)

Sleigh Bells are a pair currently enjoying a relatively speedy rise to the heights of popularity against their competitors in the class of 2012. It was only in 2008 that vocalist Alexis Krauss and guitarist Derek E. Miller first met in the Brooklyn N.Y. music scene after releasing an EP to mixed reactions but securing a deal with M.I.A.’s N.E.E.T. Records. But this debut has landed them in a powerful position with the ball still in their court for the rest of the year.

Written by: Owen Sheppard | Date: Thursday, 29 March 2012

Lostprophets - Weapons (Album Review)

It's been just over 2 years since 'The Betrayed' and its experimental sound hit the charts, but now Lostprophets are back with a vengeance with 5th studio album, 'Weapons'. After various changes behind the scenes in the band's camp, it appears they're back to make their mark once again, and stamp the Lostprophets name back where it belongs.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Thursday, 29 March 2012

Breton - Other People’s Problems (Album Review)

My favourite part of the first “Shrek” film comes when the title character tries to explain the resemblance of ogres to onions in the simplest form possible…they both have layers. It is always troubling when people fail to acknowledge that music, like ogres and onions, is also all about the layers. Breton are certainly a good example of this. This band clearly enjoys mixing things into compositions that are delightfully unexpected and this passion for the surprising has paid dividends on this debut full-length.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Monday, 26 March 2012

Imperial Leisure - Death To The One Trick Pony (Album Review)

Sometimes it’s hard to know whether to take Imperial Leisure seriously. Sure, this is a band that makes music for fun and to be fun but the frustrating hints of genuine substance in their work have sometimes made their more light hearted output a little more disappointing. 'Death to the One Trick Pony' spends some time trying to prove itself as a mature, self-conscious record but never genuinely convinces.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Friday, 23 March 2012

Sound Of Guns - Angels And Enemies (Album Review)

Liverpool are well known for some of the biggest musical highlights the world have ever given us, and none are more prolific than the band that really kick started guitar-based pop rock, The Beatles. Now, dear Sound of Guns fans, I'm not going to raise expectations of your favourite bands' second full length release to one of the most well known bands of all time, because that would be unfair, but once you say a band is from Liverpool, you do almost expect near perfection every time.

Written by: James Ball | Date: Friday, 23 March 2012

Jodie Marie – Mountain Echo (Album Review)

It has been a cracking week for the country of Wales, as their ball-tossing gladiators bashed up their bigger neighbours, and won another rugby grand slam. The fans' passion was palpable, after all, they're able to combine the two things that they love most – watching rugby, and of course, singing. And the Welsh have never been short on singers that can belt it out: Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones, Katherine Jenkins, Duffy and Charlotte Church to name but a few.

Written by: Jonny Rimmer | Date: Thursday, 22 March 2012

Scholars - Bad For Business (Single Review)

I'll admit, I had a feeling of dread when I heard the introduction to this. I thought it was going to be a Sum41-by-numbers piece that I was already dreading listening to the mandatory multiple number of times to write a proper review of. Then the lyrics begin and all is forgiven. Phew!

Written by: James Ball | Date: Thursday, 22 March 2012

Graham Coxon - A+E (Album Review)

Blur are everywhere again at the moment. They've sold out another Hyde Park gig just three years after their much heralded comeback and rumours continue to spread about new material. So former wantaway axe-man Graham Coxon shows the world he's still more than capable of bringing out an epic record on his own, and you seriously have to hear it to believe it.

Written by: James Ball | Date: Thursday, 22 March 2012

Meshuggah - Koloss (Album Review)

It is sad that, despite their legendary status in metal’s higher echelons, Meshuggah are rapidly becoming best known to a new generation of heavy music fans as the forefathers of ‘djent’. It is undoubtedly true that, were it not for the influence of these Swedish masters of the polyrhythm, ‘djent’ bands like Tesseract and Aliases would not currently be making waves as they are today. Yet really Meshuggah are something far more important than just the band that belatedly started a scene with debatable excitement credentials. Meshuggah are a band that genuinely changed perceptions of what could be done with the genre of heavy metal. There may have been plenty of other bands that have pushed metal to its experimental, technical outskirts but few who have forged a career as extreme and yet progressive as this one.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Wednesday, 21 March 2012

The Levels – Listen (EP Review)

The Levels, formerly known as Bright Lights by long term fans, have been on the local music scene, gigging around various Liverpool venues since 2010. Over the past two years they have had many successful gigs and have drastically increased their fan base.

Written by: Sophie Monk | Date: Tuesday, 20 March 2012

Hawk Eyes - Ideas (Album Review)

For those unaware it is best to reveal early…Hawk Eyes used to be Chickenhawk. Under that previous name they released the cutthroat awesomeness of 'Modern Bodies'. For those that worried their name change meant a move from high-octane vicious post-alternative-hardcore-metal or whatever it is that they did on that first album, to something far more restrained and easy going, then do not fear. Hawk Eyes are back in just as absurdly barnstorming a fashion as they were on last year’s teaser EP 'Mindhammers' and as before their name change.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Tuesday, 20 March 2012

Dio - Holy Diver, The Last In Line, Sacred Heart (Reissue Album Review)

Legendary heavy metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio sadly passed away last year from stomach cancer and to celebrate his life and work his first three solo albums, 'Holy Diver' (small pic), 'The Last in Line' and 'Sacred Heart' are being re-released this month. Before his expansive solo career Dio became famous for replacing Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath and being one of the main singers who sang with Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow over the years. These CDs are all endorsed by Ronnie's widow, Wendy Dio and they all come with a whole extra disc of bonus tracks and B-sides along with the remastered version of the original album.

Written by: Steven James | Date: Monday, 19 March 2012

Ed Vallance - Volcano (Album Review)

The accumulation of creating music all over the world has resulted in something quite magnificent. British singer songwriter, Ed Vallance has produced something rather memorable, with the release of, ‘Volcano.’ The London born musician, now residing in Brooklyn, has brought forth his amazing debut EP, enlisting beautiful harmonies and spine tingling vocals. It’s nice to hear something different, something so fresh and raw.b‘Volcano’ is the antidote to the missing link in the music industry; it is a delivery of contemporary music, intertwined with elegance.

Written by: Yasmin La Ronde | Date: Friday, 16 March 2012

Wet Nuns - Throttle (Single Review)

If you haven't heard of Wet Nuns, then you are in for a treat. Having been introduced to them in the best possible way (seeing them perform live), they are by far one of the most exciting bands that I have come across in a very long time. Their profile is rising slowly but you mark my words, this magical duo are going to be huge. NME has already named them “Band To Watch 2012” and Arctic Monkeys Matt Helders has remixed their previous single 'Heaven’s Below'.

Written by: Kimberley Martinez-Meakins | Date: Friday, 16 March 2012

The Popes - New Church (Album Review)

Once best known for being Shane MacGowan's (The Pogues) “backing band”, the Popes have quietly gone on to carve their own career with Paul “Mad Dog” McGuinness at the helm. On New Church, McGuinness' vocals sound as husky and comfortable as ever. My problem, unfortunately, is with everything else.

Written by: Jonathon Rimmer | Date: Thursday, 15 March 2012

Michael Bolton - Gems the Very Best Of (Album Review)

When an artist reaches the point in their career to be able to release ‘Best Of...’ albums, it’s always guaranteed to be a treat to the huge fans they’ve accumulated along the way. Not content with a mere compilation of his greatest hits in the form of ‘The Very Best Of’, Michael Bolton is treating fans to a second disc – ‘Gems’ – a collection of duets.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Wednesday, 14 March 2012

Seether - Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray (Album Review)

When a band release the same album on dates particularly far apart, it can often render the offering a little anticlimactic as fans will have acquired the album online by the time it officially drops in their country. With this in mind, Seether’s ‘Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray’ could have been one of those releases to kind of fall between the cracks due to its huge success already but they’ve offered a whole range of bonuses to warrant rife anticipation. Cue: extra songs, remixes and an additional DVD.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Wednesday, 14 March 2012

Halestorm - The Strange Case Of... (Album Review)

The music industry is swamped with bands, fronted by female vocalist, and this band is no different. Halestorm are a four-piece band hailing from Pennsylvania, and since the phenomenal EP release, ‘Hello, It’s Mz. Hyde’, they are about to exhibit their full-length album; ‘The Strange Case Of…’ The long wait is finally over, and Halestorm have gone to town on their second album.

Written by: Yasmin La Ronde | Date: Tuesday, 13 March 2012