Archives for June 5, 2004

The Erin Bardwell Collective Volume 1

June 5, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

This has been released on Pop-A-Top Records, a collection of songs written and performed by ex More Specials front man Erin Bardwell. It is an awesome little Ska/Reggae album which will definitely get you up on your feet skanking to the mellow, chilled out vibes that it has to offer.

Erin Bardwell is an extremely respected man and you only have to look at this collection to see why – these are amazingly produced Ska/Reggae songs which are sure to calm you down after a hard days work as when you are listening to them you can just imagine being on a far away, tropical island with the sun on the skin and your feet in the sea – it is pure and utter bliss. There are 13 great songs on display here, some having a more Reggae feel to them and some with a distinct skanking Ska sound to them – and whatever the sound is, it is performed to perfection by the man himself, Erin Bardwell. It is not just the music that is good, the lyrics are also expertly produced with deep meaning to them and great significance. If you are a fan of this style of music then you will definitely be in to this CD as it is performed with great style, passion, and flair – and this makes way for one of the greatest Ska/Reggae CDs that I have ever heard, and believe me – I have heard a fair few! It is just so chilled out that it is unbelievable, if you have any problems in the world – when you listen to this you will literally feel them just float away and this is a great feeling indeed! ‘Connection’ is an absolutely blinding tune and if you do not check out the whole CD then just make sure you listen to this one somehow as it is verging on legendary with its chilled out and laid back approach that will have you dancing the night away.

This is definitely one of the Ska/Reggae releases of the year and if I gave CDs ratings then this one would definitely be getting a 10/10 right about now! Everything about this CD is totally spot on and this is as clear as day to anyone – even if you are not a fan of the Ska/Reggae style then you can probably still see that this man has a hell of a lot of talent and has bag loads to offer. I was aware that he had been in The More Specials but did not realise that the man had this much talent and when the CD started playing I really did have a smile on my face right up until the moment that it stopped.

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Rich

UK based film graduate with a huge passion for music, sports and video games.

Electric Eel Shock – Do The Metal

June 5, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

This is a three track single from the Japanese masters of metal Electric Eel Shock and with this mighty single the band show off some more of their near on perfect Metal/Rock ‘n Roll tunes.

All three of these tracks are of an extremely high standard and from these tunes it is easy to see why Kerrang have given them three 5/5 Live rating in a row. They are definitely going to make it big and my guess is that it won’t be long before they do as with this single they are sure to hit the masses in some form or another and the public would be dumb not to take notice of them with the standard of this single. The tune which is the single track, ‘Do The Metal’ is a cool tune with some great lyrics and amazing vocals but my favourite of the three on display is ‘Japanese Meets Chinese In USA’ by far as it is just such a cool tune with some storming bass lines, firing guitar riffs, fast drumming and amazing vocals. This is a really strong tune and although all three of these are of an extremely high standard, I just feel that this one has more power and energy than the other two and that is what made it stand out to me as being better than the rest.

If you are a fan of the Metal / Heavy Rock kind of genre then make sure you check this band out as they have so much talent that it is unbelievable! I am sure that they will be big before the year is out – maybe even before the end of the month, they are that good. I now consider myself to be a strong fan of this band as what they do is absolutely brilliant and personally I love it. I wish that their could be more bands as exciting as these guys as there are a lot of boring bands around that are popular and don’t deserve to be – if these guys get popular they will deserve every minute of it!

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Rich

UK based film graduate with a huge passion for music, sports and video games.

Monkey Scrub Demo

June 5, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

This is a 3 track Demo from the 6 piece Ska band that is Monkey Scrub – and what a hell of a demo it is indeed! This Bristol band sure know how to kick out a fine tune as with this CD they have kicked out 3 whole gems – not a single failing tune, with all three showing great promise and intelligence.

There are 3 extremely strong tunes here with ‘Swing No.1,’ ‘Make Your Move,’ and ‘…….Chips!’ all proving to be of a fantastically high standard and containing some extremely strong material. There is an amazing horn section here, some strong bass lines, firing guitar riffs, fast paced drumming, and some truly outstanding vocals showing off some extremely fine tones. ‘Make Your Move’ is almost a Skacore tune in the way of vocals with the singer here powering them out and putting out an extremely Farse influenced sound. You can tell that there is definitely a Farse influence on this one as there is even the same tongue rolling vocals as used by the Farse main man Ollie – but you can also tell that they are much more than just a Farse rip off as they have really made the tune in to their own with the strength which it contains and the power which comes across in their music.

My favourite of the three tracks is probably ‘…….Chips!’ as it has an amazing horn section, an awesomely strong drum beat, the bass lines are being pounded out, the guitar playing is spot on and the vocals are just absolutely perfect. This is an all around stunner with the great talent which they show off in their music and is quite a heavy tune with a great instrumental bit at the end which will really get your feet tapping, your head nodding, and have you skanking up the walls! The more you listen to this song, the more you begin to appreciate it and realise what an amazing tune it is – an absolute classic in my humble opinion!

So, three tunes on display here of crazy Ska antics, with some awesome lyrics which show that their music goes a lot deeper than just sounding great – it has meaning as well! I have not had a Ska CD for a while and then all of a sudden, I have two in my grasp – what a great week this has been! If you are a fan of Ska, or Punk for that matter make sure you check this band out as they are well worth your time – I promise you this!

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Rich

UK based film graduate with a huge passion for music, sports and video games.

Lavos Demo

June 5, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

Lavos are a fresh, young stoner rock band hailing from London. They are a three piece and have an average age of just 16 and I must say that for their age they have some considerable talent! Sometimes when bands are quite young you can tell by their sound as it is just not very refined and not usually of a very high standard. This band however have an extremely refined sound, and it seems as though they have been practising hard as it says on the biography that they have played relatively few shows – so this talent must have come from somewhere! It also says that they take influences from bands that are Doom to bands that play Punk and this really comes across in their sound as it is something just a bit different.

There are four songs on display here that show off the bands great musical talent – ‘So Thin,’ ‘Addicted,’ ‘Chill,’ and ‘Crazy (The Speed Boy.)’ The vocals of this band are amazing – they are so strong, full of energy and just pretty much spot on perfect. Dave on vocals obviously has a great talent for singing in this style and I am sure that he will go far – whether it be with this band or another band. He sings well on all of these four tracks with his heavy, powerful voice which conveys much energy. The instrumental side of things is also cool – with strong, fast drumming, some awesome bass lines, and some stunning guitar riffs.

Although they are all good tracks, my favourite of the four is definitely the first track, ‘So Thin,’ as it has so much power and oomph to it. Nothing is perfect – but this band sure comes close with this track! As always – the vocals are spot on and there are some bass lines which really stand out on this one. Good, strong hard bass lines poke their head through and really grab your attention as they are pulled off with great style, passion and flair. The drumming keeps a good beat throughout the course of this track and really works well with the guitars and the vocals. A top tune all around really that really stands high above the rest – and this is no minor feat as the other tracks also have some amazing talent to offer.

So if you are a fan of stoner rock, and are looking for some new and interesting bands to check out – give this band a try as they have a great talent for what they do and still only have an average age of 16. If there are any promoters reading this – get in contact with the band at: lavos_band@hotmail.com as they are looking to play many more shows in the future. Never before have I heard stoner rock played so well and sounding so fine!

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Rich

UK based film graduate with a huge passion for music, sports and video games.

Kneehigh – Open Arms

June 5, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

Kneehigh are a melodic punk rock band from Norwich that play some amazing tunes of high standard and show great ability from the young band. Their sound is extremely refined and is really good quality – this is not just an average, run of the mill band here – Kneehigh are a band that seem to have something really special going for them. There are nine tracks on display here if you include the bonus track and they are all really cool tunes – showing that the band have a hell of a lot of potential and will probably go on to be one of the leading bands in the UK.

Out of the 9 tunes on display here my favourites would have to be ‘Open Arms,’ ‘October,’ and ‘Hero.’ These are all amazing tunes within their own right and are all extremely different in sound. ‘Open Arms’ is a strengthy opening track for the CD with powering guitar riffs, strong bass lines, hard hitting vocals and good, hard slamming drumming that will have you frantically tapping your feet on the floor and nodding your head to the beat of the music. ‘October’ takes a less hard hitting tone and is a tune which has awesome song writing skills and amazing pop sensibilities. This is the sort of song that would go down well on a Music TV channel as it is expertly written, has a great sing-along factor and is also an intelligent tune that would put a smile on the face of all people that are sick of no talent, no hope bands getting all the press. ‘Hero’ is another favourite of mine because like with ‘Open Arms,’ there are some strong bass lines and fiery guitar riffs that really capture your attention and leave you wishing that the tune could last forever. The drumming is fast paced, has an amazing beat to it and as always the vocals are spot on and pulled off with amazing flair by the singer, Greg. At all times on this track the band sound super slick and their performance is full to the brim with energy. If you like melodic Punk Rock then you will absolutely love ‘Hero’ as it is a superb little number and is possibly one of the greatest tunes of the style which I have ever heard.

Kneehigh may still only be 18 years of age but in their 18 years on this planet they sure have learnt to play their instruments well and are also awesome songwriters. They have a great talent for what they do and I personally think that they will go a long way if they keep writing songs like these and keep up the fabulous work.

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Rich

UK based film graduate with a huge passion for music, sports and video games.

Indifference – Born To Be A War Machine

June 5, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

This is the long awaited debut EP from Pontypridd’s Metallers, Indifference and is the first CD which they have produced since their amazing introduction Demo which was released in 2002. This new EP shows how far the group have come as a band with five great tracks that are sure to put a smile on your face.

This EP takes a much heavier approach than the Demo and is definitely not for the faint hearted! If you liked the Demo then the likelihood is that you are going to love this – they increased the volume, upped the pace, and most definitely upped the standard! I loved the Demo but this EP totally blew me away – a masterpiece of a CD with so much that you can get from it. All of the songs are of amazing quality with firing guitar riffs, strong bass lines, amazing drum beats, and slamming vocals. If you like Metal at all then you will definitely be down with this CD people – and if you aren’t then quite frankly I don’t want to know you! Metal is something that this South Wales mob have always been good at – with this release showing that they can perform heavy metal just as well as they could do the softer stuff.

The EP seems to gather pace as it goes along – with first track ‘Goodnight’ carrying on from the Demo, sounding like a heavily improved version of ‘King Louis,’ – one of my favourites from the Demo and finishing in style with heavy as song, ‘Sometimes Kings,’ making three stops in between which show off more high standard Metal. ‘Goodnight’ is a good one to start the CD off with I feel as it really works to set the mood with quite a laid back style, and an awesome pause in the middle which really adds to the fun leaving you pleased as hell when it kicks back in to the track. It has a powerful, heavy start but even still is probably the least hardcore of the songs on the CD – which really shows how much the band have upped the tempo, and they have come out smelling of roses! ‘Sometimes Kings’ is a completely different track in style which is heavy all the way through – and shows that the band can work at both sides of the scale and come out with songs which are equally as fantastic. The vocals are absolutely amazing on this track with Chalmers really putting his all in to it! Every ounce of anger that was in the mans body seemed to be going in to these vocals and I am glad he did put so much in to them as it is an outstanding tune with a hell of a lot of flair. Everything about this tune is heavy – heavy guitars, heavy drumming, HEAVY METAL!

This is definitely one of the greatest CDs I have had sent to me in a long time with its fiery energy, great speed, and amazing aggression. The tunes are sure to put a smile on your face if you are a fan of heavy music as heavy is what they do – and heavy is what they do well!

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Rich

UK based film graduate with a huge passion for music, sports and video games.

Crash Cartel – Dirty Little $ecret

June 5, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

Crash Cartel have now split up and all that now remains is their ‘dirty little $ecret.’ This is seven songs which they recorded between the April and September of 2003 before deciding to call it a day. So after splitting up, all that is now left is the memory of the band with this great CD that they have kindly passed on to me to review.

This is a cool little seven track from the band featuring some of their latest and greatest tracks. I wouldn’t really know how to start putting a genre on these guys but none the less – what they do they do it well and pull it off with great style and have a hell of a lot of passion. There are some amazing tunes – from the skateboard anthem of ‘Dead Century’ with some heavy, hardcore vocals as well as more melodic, slower paced ones to great and thoroughly melodic ‘Lifes a Bitch,’ and ‘Decayed’ with its amazing little guitar hooks. These are all great tunes in their own way and are all extremely different in sound. The band have some amazing vocals, absolutely blinding guitar hooks, astounding bass lines and some incredibly strong drumming that will have you tapping pens on your desk to the beat of them (or that could just be something unique to me!) They have some awesomely catchy tunes that will have you singing along in to time – and really thoroughly enjoying yourself! The band have a lot of talent for what they do and as a result kick out some blinding little tunes – but sadly they are no more and I wont get to hear any more of their fabulous anthems. Sadly I never got to go and see the band live when they were around but if I had done I am sure that I would have had a great time – chilling out to their fabulous tunes!

This is one hell of a CD people!! Seven fine little tracks with never a dull moment – quite a rarity with CDs at the moment as usually you will find that there are 1 or 2 tracks that are considerably poorer than the rest but all of these are outstanding and really put a smile on my face. If you have not yet checked this band out then now is the time as the band may be history but their spirit will certainly live on with this ‘Dirty Little Secret.’

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Rich

UK based film graduate with a huge passion for music, sports and video games.

The Murder Of Rosa Luxemburg – Everyone’s In Love And Flowers Pick Themselves

June 5, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

The Murder Of Rosa Luxemburg are a five piece band that formed in 2002. They play some good Rock music and range from vocals that are extremely heavy, raw and distorted to vocals that are clear, concise and melodic.

There are 8 tracks on display here, showing off the bands great music and all of these eight tunes are of an extremely high standard and some of these guys are absolutely amazing musicians! The vocals on the tracks range from the depths of destruction to melodic and seem to flick between the two as if someone is flicking a switch somewhere! There are some awesome guitar riffs on display – they are highly melodic and pumped full of energy – and as for the bass lines, well they are absolutely blinding! The drums really help to create a good backbeat and at times really shine through.

There are eight great tracks on this CD but there are two in particular that really grabbed my attention. The first of these two tracks is ‘Infernal Music’ – a great track which kicks off with sounds resembling an alien frequency signal. After this, you are taken straight into some melodic guitar riffs which are played with great style and sound truly awesome. This then leads in to some melodic vocals and then every now and then there are heavy vocal breakdowns where the vocalist just seems to go crazy! There are also some strong bass lines and a great drum beat which really help to make it the amazing song that it is. The drum beat really stands out on this tune as it is performed to perfection and the guitar riffs are smooth, sleek and sexy creating a sound which is vibrant, energetic, and excitable. The other track which I found to be amazing was the awesome ‘Time And Death Invading The Arcadian Scene.’ They really storm through this track and that is why I like it so much – it has power, aggression and is a really high energy track. It has all you ever wished for – great bass lines, fiery heavy vocals, an amazing drum beat, and astounding guitar riffs. About half way through you think the track has come to an end but then it kicks back in to action and you realise that it was just a pause for dramatic effect! This is an aggressive, powering tune and that is what I like to hear in a tune so that is why I reckon it is one of the two best tunes on the album.

So if you like the sound of this band then make sure you check them out – either by buying this wonderful release from Undergroove Records or by going to one of their live gigs and getting the full experience of this wonderful five piece Worcester band.

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Rich

UK based film graduate with a huge passion for music, sports and video games.

Circus Act – The Shape Of Drunks To Come

June 5, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

Circus Act are a 3 piece Punk band from Southampton that have been in existence for over 6 years and in this time have managed to score gigs with Fine Before You Came, Geiger Counter, and even the amazing, legendary Snuff! Two of them also use to play for the same football team as the lead singer from the Cooper Temple Clause – and that’s their claim to fame for the moment!

With this CD they have produced four fine songs which show a hell of a lot of talent with some awesome vocals, strong bass lines, firing guitar riffs, and smooth drumming that will get your feet tapping away uncontrollably. They say that they are influenced by the heavier end of Emo and the softer end of Hardcore – this comes across in their music as although it is by no means Emo, it is not Hardcore either and seems to me to be a cool medium. They have some serious power in their music and this power makes them what they are – an extremely special Punk outfit.

My favourite of the four tracks on display here is the one that kicks it all off – ‘The Shape of Drunks to Come.’ This is a tune which really shows off what I was talking about – the power of the band on this track is unbelievable, they really kick off the CD in style and there is no hesitation about doing so. This tune has some amazing vocals, and these vocals are what give the track so much flavour and excitement – you want to keep on listening as they are so full of energy that it is unbelievable. There are also some outstandingly powerful guitar riffs, a good, strong drum beat, and bass lines which will drive a whole through your body as they are so strong! I am sure that the band were really pleased with this one as it certainly brought a smile to my face and I wasn’t even the one that wrote it so the band themselves must get great pleasure from knowing that they wrote, and performed this song as it is absolutely amazing!

Circus Act are a band with a hell of a lot of talent and they have really shown this to me with the four track CD which they sent me for review – it is full of gems that contain awesome song writing skills, driving vocals, spot on drum beats, and some expertly played guitar. This is definitely a band which is now on my A list of bands that I have not seen live that I really ought to soon! Check this band out if you are a fan of Punk music at all and I promise that you will not be disappointed!

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Rich

UK based film graduate with a huge passion for music, sports and video games.