Archives for June 4, 2004

Thatchers Children Demo

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

This is a six track Demo CD from the Ska / Punk band that is Thatchers Children. Here we have a 20 minute rough demo from the band showing off some of their tunes. The music which they produce is Ska / Punk with a horn section, I guess you could call them Ska Punk if you wanted but they are far more than that and quite frankly the genre of Ska Punk would not do them justice. My favourite track here is probably ‘Our Soles’ because with this tune the band show great ability and great style. It is an awesome example of the sort of music which they produce with an awesome horn section leading you into the strong vocals. This one has a really relaxed feel about it and the laid back Ska feel, in my humble opinion is amazing! This track is my favourite because of its slow, laid back drumming, amazing vocals, the guitar playing is fast and furious, and the horn section gives it that loveable Ska feel which is always cool to have. ‘Burning Bridges’ is also an awesome, laid back Ska track. The vocals on this one are done really well, coming through really clearly – making way for a really cool track. There is also a Ska’d up version of ‘Everlasting Love’ here on this CD that has been added for good measure and it is a really interesting tune. It is a strange choice for a cover song but Thatchers Children make a really good go of it and really make it into their own. As far as cover songs go, this one is amazing and a poppy song has been turned into a Ska tune which is well worth a listen. This is a good little demo from the band here and the only some which isn’t very good is ‘Would Be At My Funeral’ and this is purely because it has not come out at all well after recording so this is quite a shame because the other tracks came out so well and purely because of recording problems this little track has been ruined. So, if you are into Ska or Punk for that matter then check out this band and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

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Rich

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

Tear Jerk – Screaming Down The Walls

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

Ok, although from the name you wouldn’t believe it, Tear Jerk re a Scottish band playing a combination of noise and hardcore. Here are five great tracks of their ability to mix up all these styles and come out with a sound that is totally unique and irresistible. This is a really strong CD with five great tracks of gritty hardcore that would make Emo fans weep into their Taking Back Sunday T-Shirts. The vocals on this CD are awesome and they are really Scottish which is cool because sometimes bands try to be something that they are not but with this one, the band stick to their roots and the vocals are done with a proper Scottish accent. The drumming on this CD is extremely fast as is the guitar playing and it all fits together really well to make a crushing hardcore record.

My favourite tracks on this CD are ‘Read me my rights,’ ‘Screaming down the walls,’ and ‘Good Fucking Riddance,’ because these tracks have serious bite and that is how I like my hardcore – with extreme aggression and a hell of a lot of bite. These are great tracks with extremely strong, gritty vocals that go about thousand and one miles an hour and bounce around every inch of your body. The guitar playing on these three tracks is done extremely well with a very aggressive feel about it and the drumming is just as fast as the vocals and this makes it all the more angry and aggressive. This band only seems to have one preset and that is ‘Fucking Fast.’ All five of these songs are amazing and the band show no signs of slowing down at any point in the record and I am sure that there live performances are extremely energetic and the crowd go absolutely wild to this band.

There is some great hardcore here from this Scottish band and I am sure that you will hear a lot more about this band in the future as with music like this there is no reason why they should disappear in a hurry.

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Rich

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

Dead Letter Dept – Anthology UK

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

This CD comprises 20 of Dead Letter Dept’s greatest tracks and lasts for a total of fifty eight minutes and thirty nine seconds so this is a lengthy CD but well worth listening to as it has got some truly great pop-punk tunes on it. When I received this CD I thought it was going to be some sort of Emo affair but when I got it into the CD changer I was pleasantly surprised because Emo it was not and it is actually a really cool CD with many great songs.

This Canadian band sure know how to pen a good tune and this is demonstrated on this CD with such tracks as ‘You’ll Pretend To Leave & I’ll Pretend To Care,’ and ‘Better Friend’ are really catchy tunes with some lyrics that give you something to relate to rather than ones that have just been written for the sake of it. The lyrics have great meaning to them and although they have great meaning they are also there to make you laugh and have a good time. This CD is extremely emotional, unlike many pop-punk CDs can be and it just gives them that individual factor and separates them from the pack of same old ‘I think I know who they are’ bands.

This is not a well produced CD but with this band it really doesn’t matter as it is good all the same and the fact that it isn’t well produced seems to add to the excitement of it all and make it an even better CD as a result. It has been released on NooNoo Records, a DIY label so maybe that’s what its all about, doing it all at grass root level and making sure you keep the heart in it at all times.

If you are after a CD of top quality pop punk tunes then definitely give this CD a good seeing to as at just under an hour long it is good value for money and there are many amazing tracks on it so it is well worth your hard earned cash. So if you are into pop-punk but fancy something a bit different then give this a try! The music here is top quality but if you are after digitally mastered and refined tracks then this will not be your cup of tea – go and buy the latest Good Charlotte CD or something of the sort because this one is all about the music and is pretty damn cool as a result.

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Rich

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

Dai Lo – The Constant Threat Of Accidental Death

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

This Nottingham based band, ‘Dai Lo’ were formed back in the summer of ’99 and play dynamic, vibrant new age rock which has an extremely refreshing feel about it as the band are providing the scene with something new rather than giving their own take on an already prominent genre. There are not enough bands doing this at the moment, creating new and exciting rock tunes with an original feel about them and I really think their should be as when a band try something different people are always willing to listen whether they like it or not. I like very much what these guys are doing with their melodic rock music as it may be melodic but it is also powery, muscular, well formed music that with a swift melody blows you away and leaves you wondering what exactly has hit you.

There are thirteen tracks here showing off their extremely original sound which is extremely refreshing in a scene of musical sound-a-likes and shows that not everything is black and white, there is some shining colour in the scene with Dai Lo at the forefront of it. They have played shows with the likes of ThisGirl, King Prawn and Earthtone9 and it is not hard to see why – this band have something really special going here as they have created a whole new sound, a new genre of music if you will. They are sure to make some kind of change in the music of today because their sound is so new, and unique, yet so refined and melodic. The storming anthem, ‘Have It Your Way’ goes by like a flash as you are having such a great time listening to the band and you are almost sad to hear it end. The drumming is fast, the guitar playing has a raw edge, and the vocals really are in their own league. They are like no other band has ever done them before and I really think they go perfectly with the instrumental side of things. Kerrang described them as a ‘much ballsier Faith No More, complete with charismatic frontman’ and I am inclined to agree with them on that one. Usually I don’t tend to go with what they say but this really is quite true, they do have the feel of a harder Faith No More but instead of being carbon copies of the band, they are doing something new and interesting with their music and as a result have come up with this interesting and exciting album. They do indeed have an extremely ‘charismatic frontman’ and no one can knock him for what he does, he is great at it and the band really wouldn’t be what they are without him as the instrumental side is great but their frontman really is the one to give it that unique feel and refreshing vibe. Everything about this band is just totally amazing and is sure to blow you into another dimension, floating across the colourful universe of ‘Dai Lo.’ Seriously, this band really are something new and extraordinary – I strongly advise that you check them out if you get the chance because you definitely wont be disappointed and hopefully, like me you will be pretty damn impressed!

I may not be a professional journalist but trust me, I know a great band when I see one and this definitely is one of those rare, amazing bands that are sure to put a smile on the face of fans of any style of music as they have a fantastic thing going here and nothing can take that away from them. This is possibly one of the greatest albums I have ever heard, and to think it came from a British band really puts a smile on your face and gets you appreciating just how thriving the UK scene is at the moment, with British bands like Funeral For A Friend and Hondo Maclean already hitting the big time and getting the fans that they so badly deserve. This band are definitely going to join them at the top and hopefully when they get there they wont forget people like me that appreciated them before they became another household name.

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Rich

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

Old Basford Demo

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

Old Basford are a band that love to gig and like to blow everyone away at every opportunity! This is a three track demo CD which shows off their music which mixes up blues, 70s rock, the heavy stuff of the 90s and adds in their own secret spice. This results in a sound which mixes melodic rock with hard hitting breakdowns.

I think that this is a good little three track CD that shows off some great music by the band and shows that there are a variety of styles in the UK right now and bands aren’t afraid to try new things. All three of these tunes are interesting and show the band to be extremely musically talented – with some stormy bass lines, strong guitar riffs, good drum beat and really melodic, Rocky vocals. In the first track, ‘Cruel Love,’ the vocals go from melodic rock vocals, to heavier almost grunge era vocals that are a lot harder hitting and have a strong guitar line to accompany them. So their vocals have a harder hitting side, and an extremely melodic side. It is a kind of Jekyll and Hyde situation where they are two completely different sounding vocals and are contrasting yet are in fact sung by the same person and it is really hard to believe that someone could have two such different sounding singing voices. It is great to see how the two styles mix and create such an awesome sound, it is enjoyable to listen to and makes you want to hear more. I like this band whether they are pulling off melodic numbers or slamming out hard edged beats as they do both well and are extremely good at pulling it off in style. They are an energetic band that is full of excitement as they sound so electric. It is a sound that you have to hear in person to realise just how good this is and fully appreciate it.

I really enjoyed this CD and think that this band will go on to do some great things in their career and hopefully get a bit of success. They really deserve to be successful as the talent is definitely there so all they need now is a stroke of luck in order to get them in to the public eye. The three tracks on display show great talent from the band and they are living proof that new and exciting Rock bands are still coming through, and there are some that are going extremely strong.

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Rich

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

Odd Man Out – Breakdowns & Endings

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

Odd Man Out are another great band hailing from Milton Keynes. They play some fine music, just like their buddies, Phema and here they present three blinding tracks of pop rock that really get your juices going. ‘wanting more,’ ‘the great soul swindle,’ and ‘middle ground’ are all awesome tracks showing off the bands great music with well written tunes that have great vocals, awesome drumming skills and some brilliant, gritty guitar playing. This band seem to take great influence from Jimmy Eat World but although this may be true, they seem to be much more Rock heavy than the aforementioned band and as a result I think they come out a lot better off. Although I like JEW, I feel that this sound is a lot better as I prefer the harder edge and this CD definitely has that.

Here are three tunes of powerful post-hardcore/pop rock and I say the post-hardcore bit as at times they seem to break down into this and it really gives their music a harder edge that makes the music all the more interesting. The harder elements of their music add to the excitement of it all and make it the great three track that it is. My favourite track here is ‘the great soul swindle,’ as I feel that this is the track that they portray the most style on and as a result comes off the better track of the three. The vocals on this one are perfect going from post-hardcore to pop rock at the flick of a switch and the outcome of this just totally blows you away. If you like the sound of this band then check them out at their Official Site as they are an extremely great band, showing further proof that the Milton Keynes scene is one of the best in the country at the moment with many awesome bands hailing from this area.

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Rich

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

Odd Man Out CD Single

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

Ok, this is the latest CD from the Milton Keynes crew that is Odd Man Out and on this one the band give you three more fine tunes in their loveable style that leave you gagging for more. Ok, the last band I reviewed was Graveltrap and they were absolutely blinding so when I received this CD from another of my favourite MK bands I was ecstatic! This is a much rawer CD than their last effort and really captures them in their true colours. It is a lot heavier and they are really moving away from that Jimmy Eat World pigeonhole. ‘Breakdowns & Endings,’ their last release saw them as being a harder hitting (and much more talented) version of JEW yet with this one Pete said to me it would be a lot rawer and when he said that he sure wasn’t lying!

These three tracks, ‘The Cycle,’ ‘Asylum,’ and ‘Dead Inside,’ are all extremely guitar heavy, raw masterpieces from the band showing their harder edged side. If the last CD was Pop-Rock with sprinklings of Post-Hardcore then this one is definitely the complete opposite, leaving them to focus on the heavier aspects of the music with the only melodic bit on the whole record being the start of ‘The Cycle,’ which leads you in to it all. There is heavy guitar playing, storming bass lines, frantic drumming, and amazing vocals which leave you wondering what exactly has just hit you. This CD is fiery and shows Odd Man Out on CD as you always wanted them – raw and full of energy! There is so much energy here that it is unbelievable, with the band flying through their songs as if they are going out of fashion. This is a must see because the band have really turned up the pace a few notches and are now going full throttle. The guitar riffs are so raw that you find yourself questioning whether this really is Odd Man Out – they really shock you with this one and come out with their rawest release yet with three tracks that totally blow you away and leave you drooling at the luscious guitar licks that they to offer.

So this is by far the greatest CD that Odd Man Out have ever released and is most definitely the rawest. The three tracks that are on show here are bursting at the seams with energy and are packed full of action. So if you like a band with fiery bass lines, fast and furious drumming, amazing guitar licks, and extraordinary vocals then check this Milton Keynes band out now!

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Rich

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

None Of The Above/Swound – Split EP

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

There is a review of these 3 Swound tracks elsewhere on the site so if you were looking at this review for what I thought about Swound then you can find the review on the review page as I reviewed this one a while back.

So, here are 4 new tracks from the band None Of The Above and to be honest, they are nothing like I remember them, since the ‘Them VS Them EP’ they have made what was once a good band a great band and they now seem to have a more refined sound and have a better idea of what it is exactly that they are trying to achieve. Here are 4 tracks which show that the band have matured and the small flaws which were once there seem to have vanished and all there is now is a top notch band with a hell of a lot of potential. They are a post hardcore outfit that are at the moment, doing all the right things and playing all the right notes as the outcome of these 4 tracks is an amazing display of the talent which they possess. They are all great songs but my favourite out of the 4 has to be ‘Take One For The Team’ as it has a certain growl about it which just really impressed me and put a smile on my face as it has an amazing structure that just totally blew me away. This is a band that are doing their own thing and the stuff which they are coming up with by doing their own thing is totally amazing and it is just so totally original that you cant begin to imagine how many influences they must take in – but whatever they have been listening to has definitely been some great inspiration! This is an extremely exciting band and it is amazing to see how much they have improved their sound and become such a well established band with great potential to go on to become an astonishing band. If they continue to progress at this rate then it will not be long before they are one of the leading bands in the UK as they have come a long way in such a little space of time and this 4 track effort from them shows that they are capable of great things and you can never be quite sure what to expect from this band. They are setting a trend rather than following one and it is good to see a unique style being used by the band and with their post hardcore style they are sure to blow you away.

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Rich

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

Swound – Planet Of Swound

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

This is a 3 track Demo from the band Swound and it is make or break time for them. They have nearly finished at Uni so if the band are successful then they will keep it up but if they aren’t its time to get a job!

Track 1, ‘Kill America’ is an exciting song with a driving Guitar riff, brilliant drumming and an extremely powerful chorus The words really come out strong and they really stick in your head as they are catchy as, and you can easily sing along to them. I really like this one as it maintains excitement throughout and it is filled to the rim with greatness. The second track, ‘Winning Smile’ starts off quite darkly but then you are launched into the awesome vocals and it is as if the darkness of it suddenly disintegrates. Again there is a really powerful piece of Guitar riffage and the drumming is cool as it is really fast and furious and everything here seems to gel really well making it an ultra cool tune. The third track, ‘Lost In Space’ speeds you off at about 300 miles an hour as it kicks off with lightning fast drumming and guitar playing. The vocals are again superb as they are melodic while remaining kind of Punky and with such a strong bass line you found yourself lost in the wonderful world of Swound with their tremendous ability to rock hard. The end is funny too and I sure hope that this band continue to outstand others with their tuneful music as I sure enjoyed it and I am sure many other will too!

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Rich

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

Superjoint Ritual – A Lethal Dose Of American Hatred

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

This is a 13 track album from the band that proclaim that they will ‘never sell out,’ Superjoint Ritual. It has this title to show a Pro-American attitude after all that has gone on in the world lately as many look to America to blame them but the band stand by their country and this album definitely is ‘a lethal dose of American hatred.’ This release is full to the rafters with raw aggression, which is brought to you with strong guitar riffs that are lightning fast and full of energy, drum beats that are so heavy that they probably got through about thirty drum kits in the making of the album and then screaming vocals in a pure, raw punk kind of fashion. This is a really heavy and dark album brought to you by the ex Pantera man, Philip Anselmo and this is a man who seems to be maturing like a fine wine and each record he sings on seems to become increasingly heavier over time and in my humble opinion this is an amazingly great thing to happen! None of these 13 tracks are boring and you are kept excited throughout as the music is raw, shouty (but not stupidly so) and full of aggression that you can take out your own aggression out onto while listening to it and generally going mad to it. It is really fast and it gets you moving around and head-banging to the beat as it is catchier than the Flu and twice as lethal. So when this album comes out on the 21st of July, get your ass down that record shop and buy yourself a copy Mr because if you don’t then you will be missing out on one hell of an album!

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Rich

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