Alt-UK

Music, Film, and Gaming

Archives for August 2011

Blink-182 Neighborhoods Artwork Unveiled

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Blink-182 has officially unveiled the artwork for sixth studio album ‘Neighborhoods‘.

The cover art includes a tribute to DJ AM, a good friend of Travis Barker that sadly passed away in August 2009.

‘Neighborhoods‘ is to be released on September 27th through Geffen Records. Two tracks have currently been released from the album; ‘Up All Night‘ was the first new Blink-182 material to be unveiled, and more recently the band has followed this up my making the track ‘Hearts All Gone‘ available for online streaming.

Young Guns/Every Avenue September Tour

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American pop-punk band Every Avenue will return to the UK in September in support of Young Guns. The Michigan five-piece is all set to release new studio album ‘Bad Habits‘ on September 5th, so the tour will be a good chance to catch Every Avenue testing out their new material on the live circuit.

Every Avenue singer David Strauchman had the following to say about the tour:

We’re stoked to be supporting Young Guns on tour this September! It will be amazing getting back to the UK and playing our new material from Bad Habits for all of you. After a full summer in the heat of Warped Tour in the States we’ll be ready for some rain haha! Get ready, UK – we’re coming to party!

Seven dates will be played in total and you’ll be able to catch the band’s at the following venues in September:

Fri, Sep 9               Lemon Tree          Aberdeen

Sat, Sep 10            QMU                       Glasgow

Sun, Sep 11           Ironworks              Inverness

Mon, Sep 12         Northumbria University      Newcastle

Wed, Sep 14         Academy 2            Manchester

Thu, Sep 15           HMV Institute        Birmingham

Fri, Sep 16             HMV Forum           London

Breathe Carolina – Blackout

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Breathe Carolina is an electronic rock duo that has been spreading its joy now since 2007. ‘Blackout‘ is the latest single to have been released by the band, an infectious electropop gem that sounds 100% like it has been made for the radio.

With its exciting electronic edge, ‘Blackout‘ has all the makings of being a successful single; simple yet effective, ‘Blackout‘ is most definitely a track that hits the spot, doing so with incredible  style and supreme flair. The track is unashamedly cheesy, there’s something incredibly gripping about its simplicity and as the band smashes through its chorus there’s a great level of power that comes from the lyrics here. “I’m only getting started, I won’t blackout” shouts the band, also emphasising the lyrical line of “This won’t stop till I say so” through repetition. These are not the most intellectually profound lyrics you’re ever likely to come across in a track, the band certainly has a lot to offer here however, and its through its supreme simplicity that this single works so well.

The exciting electronic duo that is Breathe Carolina will be heading to the UK next month for a co-headlining tour with dubstep outfit Tek-One. This band’s brand of electro rock may not be for everyone, Breathe Carolina and Tek-One should be a pretty exciting double header however, so if you’re up for an evening of electronic excitement thenI’d definitely recommend heading along to one of the shows if you can.

If you’re not yet familiar with the work of Breathe Carolina then be sure to give ‘Blackout‘ a listen. The band’s third studio album ‘Hell Is What You Make It‘ is available now through Fearless Records.

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Introducing: Systemyk

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This Hull-based lot have some very credible influences and contacts – not only can they count Paradise Lost’s guitarist Greg Mackintosh as the producer of their EPs and their forthcoming second album ‘Reward For Obedience‘, but throughout their long history the four-piece (made up of Danny Barr on vocals, Lu Dixon on bass, Lee Dixon on guitar and Phil Owst on keyboards), have maintained a high profile  by touring nationally and internationally, securing a record deal with independant label Casket Music in the process.
In their eight years together the core members of the band have battled many line-up changes and as a result the music has steadily evolved from an intense crossover of industrial sounds into a more gritty and raw electro-metal assault that has won them fans and media attention from right across the alternative spectrum.

Embedded deep within their debut album (2007’s ‘Cross Contamination‘) are classic hard-hitting goth influences like Gary Numan and the aforementioned Paradise Lost (see ‘Can’t Carry On‘) alongside the more contemporary work of cult industrialists Zeromancer and the keyboard-driven decadence of the Deathstars (check out ‘Ghost In The Machine‘). For their second album though, the band have stepped things up to a whole new level embracing heavier and more full-throttle metal influences like Killswitch Engage and Spineshank (the latter’s new material shows a progression away from industrial in to more metalcore territory).

Despite their brutal new approach to live performance and sonic delivery, thematically the group look to discuss personal relationships and emotions to an unusual depth, with the central aim being to appeal to every person no matter what age, or situation.

It is my opinion readers, that Systemyk are worth your attention because their music is affecting, unapologetically raw and totally direct. It does also help that they are one of the hardest working acts on Hull’s scene having played relentlessly throughout Yorkshire (they’ve also completed an tour of the Czech Republic most recently).

Indeed, their drive and determination is such that they have secured a dedicated and loyal fanbase and despite the gap between albums, over the last year they have been working hard to promote the new material on large and intimate stages alike.

The band’s second album ‘Reward For Obedience‘ will be out later this year.