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Lostprophets – The Betrayed

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After a wait of three and a half years, Lostprophets is back and has released its fourth studio album ‘The Betrayed’. After the release of ‘Liberation Transmission’ in 2006 the band set to work on its fourth studio album in early 2007 with the hope of releasing a new album later that year, recording in LA didn’t quite go to plan however, and with the band unhappy with the material that had been produced, all was scrapped and it was time to start again. Heading back to Wales the band was able to get to work with a fresh head, with bassist Stuart Richardson at the recording desk to take care of the production and mixing duties with the help of Justin Hopfer. ‘The Betrayed’ is the album that Lostprophets has ultimately put together, with the band taken a heavier approach than with previous album ‘Liberation Transmission’.

‘The Betrayed’ kicks into action with ‘If It Wasn’t for Hate, We’d Be Dead by Now’, providing a quality start to the album as the powerful drumming hits you straight away followed by a brilliant dirty guitar sound. Straight away the album grabs you, with the band providing a supremely satisfying opener for the record. Flowing into ‘Dstryr/Dstryr’ the band continues to impress, and after this we’re treated to singles ‘It’s Not the End of the World, But I Can See It from Here’ and ‘Where We Belong’. ‘The Betrayed’ quickly establishes itself as a fantastic return from the band, and throughout the entirety of the album the drumming of Ilan Rubin really does impress. Sadly Ilan Rubin has moved on to join Nine Inch Nails since this album was recorded, he definitely makes a massive impression on this album though, with his incredible drumming technique always coming across to perfection throughout the album.

Aside from the questionable use of the “lalala” in ‘Streets of Nowhere’ there’s little not to like about ‘The Betrayed’, and put down on record here are eleven largely impressive rock tracks. With catchy choruses aplenty, great rock guitars, and powerful drumming throughout, ‘The Betrayed’ has everything you could possibly want from the Lostprophets, and is an album that should impress the vast majority of the bands fans. It’s not quite perfect, tracks such as ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Felon’, ‘A Better Nothing’, and ‘It’s Not the End of the World, But I Can See It from Here’ are sure to have you singing along though, and closing track ‘The Light That Shines Twice as Bright’ is an excellent one to finish with as the band winds things down with one of the album’s highlights.

If Lostprophets’ ‘Start Something’ sits proudly in your collection then ‘The Betrayed’ is most definitely an album that you should be investing in. There’s a lot of absolutely fantastic material here, and Lostprophets has once again pulled it out of the bag with a good solid album. Ian Watkins’ vocals are as impressive here as ever, instrumentally the music always has much to offer, and it just feels as though the band has put a lot of care into putting this album together. ‘The Betrayed’ may not have the rawness of debut album ‘Thefakesoundofprogress’, and was most definitely recorded on a bigger budget; a lot has changed since the release of the band’s debut in 2001 though, and the fact that the band had the luxury of being able to scrap its first draft and start afresh just shows how much this band has moved on since the early days. Much may have changed, Lostprophets still remains a band very capable of recording impressive rock music though, and ‘The Betrayed’ is an album that you should certainly seek to listen to.

Label: Visible Noise
Release Date: January 18th 2010

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Kamikaze Girls Review

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Although visually beautiful, Tetsuya Nakashima’s Kamikaze Girls often feels like a bit of an empty shell. The cinematography is stunning and there’s no doubt that the film is absolutely incredible to look at, aside from this though there is little that really makes the film special.

Momoko (Kyoko Fukada) is an incredibly isolated seventeen year old that is very much her own woman; she has no friends to speak of and tends to make little effort to get on with others. Momoko is incredibly interested in fashion and likes to purchase her clothes from her favourite boutique, Baby, The Stars Shine Bright. Momoko’s father used to have his own market stall where he sold fake Versace, although her father has now moved on from that business venture however a lot of his old stock still remains in the house, and when Momoko is one day in need of money to buy some new clothes she decides to place an advert on the internet. It’s not long before someone responds to the advert and is after a fake Versace jacket, and as she lives just down the road she decides to come and pay Momoko a visit. Ichiko (Anna Tsuchiya) is the person that responds to the advert, a girl the same age as Momoko but with very different interests; Ichiko is a keen biker, despite their differences though it’s not long before Momoko and Ichiko begin to forge a very strong friendship.

As the film develops a deeper bond grows between Momoko and Ichiko, and the once isolated Momoko learns the value of friendship as she comes to care very much about Ichiko. The film looks into the friendship that these two teenagers form, focusing on their stories as they both look to follow their dreams.

The opening scene of Kamikaze Girls sets up the finale for the film, and we then follow Momoko and Ichiko’s friendship as we work our way back to the end. It leaves us wondering what we’re leading up to, but as it turns out the journey is ultimately more interesting than the destination. There’s no incredible plot line, and the ending isn’t really worth of such focus as it’s given in being used in the opening sequence of the film; what the film has to offer visually is what’s most striking about Kamikaze Girls, the plot meanwhile is always secondary to this.

Kyoko Fukada and Anna Tsuchiya both play their parts well, it’s the visual gloss that’s key here though, and the fact that both of these actresses play their parts so well just serves to make the viewing experience more pleasant. Realism isn’t a key concentration for Tetsuya Nakashima here, he has chosen his cast well though and the cinematography at all times ensures for an absolute display of visual beauty.

If you watch films hoping for a well written script and top quality plot line then Kamikaze Girls may leave you feeling a little disappointed, if what you’re craving is a high gloss display of stunning visuals though then Kamikaze Girls can definitely deliver. Funny in places and with an incredibly high quality cast, Kamikaze Girls is a film that is certainly worth watching once, whether or not you’ll want to see the film more than that though is uncertain. Kamikaze Girls is far from being a bad film, it’s just far from being an exceptional film also.

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The Machine Girl Review

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Watching The Machine Girl I found the film bring out two separate sides of me; part of me was impressed with the gore, the other part of me however wanted more.

Growing up as a teenager I probably would have watched this film concentrating solely on the over the top gore that Noboru Iguchi offers here, now in my 20s though I can’t help wanting to see more of a storyline. Gore is all well and good, but padding out the gore with a plodding and often severely lacking plot? It’s just a little disappointing.

Gore hounds across the world will no doubt lap The Machine Girl up and admire it for its many grim and gory moments, and the film will surely have its fair share of high school admirers who will pass the film around amongst their peers; get past the gore though and what are you really left with? An award winning plot line was obviously not the aim here, all too often however the film leaves you waiting for the next offering of gore without supplying anything in between. In its opening the film offers so much as it’s not just gory but actually quite funny also, filling you with hope for what’s to come; as the film progresses though it loses that comedy effect as the supply dries up and Noboru Iguchi seems to fall short of ideas to keep the film interesting.

Noboru Iguchi knew what he was aiming for with this film and successfully wrote and directed something that is completely over the top gory, whilst that may have been his aim though it still doesn’t make the poor plot progression any less tedious to watch, and aside from gore this is a film that has really very little to offer.

If you love your gore then give The Machine Girl a watch, if you’re looking for more though then it’s best just to look elsewhere.

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The Fox Family Review

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The Fox Family is an extremely out there South Korean film that is superbly satisfying to watch. The film has you on the edge of your seat at all times as you’re never quite sure what you’re going to get from it, and director Lee Hyung-gon has done an absolutely brilliant job in putting together such an incredibly quirky film.

Only once every thousand years do foxes have a chance to become truly human, and to do so they must consume a human liver at the point of eclipse. With 30 days left until the eclipse, a family of foxes in temporary human form set up a circus in the hope of luring people in as they look to secure the livers that will grant them a human life. The circus idea doesn’t get off to a great start as the only humans they’re able to attract are children, with the children not taking long before they run away from the gruesome circus acts that the foxes have to offer. The foxes gain an easy human as an unaware Gi-dong (Park Joon-gyu) wanders in to the circus one night, he’s able to make sure his life is spared however as he convinces the foxes that he can help them get their hands on the livers that they require.

Unafraid of breaking down the genre barriers, The Fox Family is magnificently able to combine dark comedy with fantasy, with the characters often breaking down into song to provide a great musical feel. There are also slight elements of horror and an unusual love story thrown into the mix and with so much going on the film always has much to offer. The actors perform their parts well, the brilliance of The Fox Family lies in the magnificent direction of Lee Hyung-gon however and in the incredible writing talent of Jeon Hyeon-jin and Park Eun-ah. All involved in this film have every reason to be proud, and cinematographer Choi Jin-woong is someone definitely deserving of a mention here as the way that the film is presented on screen is just absolutely stunning.

The Fox Family has some incredible moments to offer, with one of the film’s most memorable moments a scene in which members of the general public have a break dancing dance-off with riot police whilst the fox family is out looking to recruit people for the circus. Not only is the film visually beauteous, but in terms of the storyline offered here the film also pleases. My one and only criticism of the film would be that it could have a stronger climax, whilst the ending may not be the best though I do feel that the film has a lot to offer in its journey there, and watching The Fox Family most certainly provides for a very satisfying viewing experience.

If you’re bored with formulaic run of the mill films then it’s definitely worth taking a look at The Fox Family; The Fox Family is definitely not a film that can be accused of playing it safe, and the approach to film taken here really does come across well on screen. The cinematography is stunning, the direction excellent, and the quality of acting does much to impress also. The Fox Family is a film that impresses on many levels, and watching this film at least once is something that I would most definitely 100% recommend doing.

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The Standards – Out Of The Fire EP

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Whilst a definite 1960s influence is apparent here, The Standards is certainly not a band that is looking to rip off its idols, but instead the influence is taken and fused with a modern spin to provide for a musical treat that is truly delicious.

There’s a lot of fun that comes through in The Standards’ sound, and all three tracks on the ‘Out Of The Fire’ EP have been strongly crafted to provide for a highly satisfying and entertaining listening experience. Title track ‘Out Of The Fire’ kicks things off well, with a highly vibrant feel right from the off, and once the band hooks you in it certainly never lets go. After a couple of listens the band is able to have you singing along, and not a single track on this EP disappoints. From ‘Out Of The Fire’ the band fires onto ’11 Dimensions’, another track with a huge amount to offer, and with closing track ‘Already There’ the band continues to impress with its style.

The Standards is a band with a clear love for its 1960s music, what’s so brilliant about this band though is the way that it’s able to use its influences so well here and put together three truly special tracks. The vocals definitely do a lot to please, instrumentally also The Standards is a band with much to offer however, and in all areas supreme strength is shown here.

The ‘Out Of The Fire’ EP is most definitely one that you should look to add to your collection, and The Standards is without doubt a band to watch out for in the future.

Label: Schnapps House
Release Date: February 8th 2010

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The Beast Stalker Review

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Directed by Dante Lam, The Beast Stalker is a cleverly put together action thriller that most definitely provides for an entertaining viewing experience. It’s not perfect, and more could definitely be done to give us a greater idea of the character of Ann Gao (Jingchu Zhang); the film as a whole surely shouldn’t disappoint fans of Hong Kong thrillers however, and if you’re looking for a quality film of this sort then you can definitely do a lot worse than watching The Beast Stalker.

Drawing you in with a fantastically filmed car chase, the film then hits you with the accidental death of public prosecutor Ann Gao’s eldest daughter. Sergeant Tong’s (Nicholas Tse) world is rocked as he accidentally shoots the girl dead in the chase, and when Ann Gao’s other daughter is kidnapped by contract killer Hung (Nick Cheung), Tong then makes it his mission to bring the girl home safe.

All involved play their parts well in The Beast Stalker, were Ann’s character focused on a little more however then the development of her character could definitely help to improve the film a little more. Also, as much as I enjoy the way that Ann, Tong, and Hung’s storylines all come together in the end to show the chance crossover of their paths, the way that this is done is really quite farfetched, and although done well is not hugely believable. These are just small niggles, despite my minor issues with the film I certainly still hugely enjoyed watching The Beast Stalker however, and this is a film that I would still wholeheartedly recommend to others.

109 minutes in length, The Beast Stalker definitely does enough to keep you interested throughout, and the character development of both Sergeant Ton and Hung is excellent here, particularly Hung who truly is a hugely interesting character. Nick Cheung’s portrayal of Hung is sensational which definitely helps, and I for one was thoroughly impressed with the quality of his acting all throughout the film. Dante Lam once again demonstrates here his great quality as a director, and for anyone that has doubted him in recent times The Beast Stalker is certainly a film to look to.

The Beast Stalker is all set for UK release as a double-disc edition on January 4th 2010 through Cine Asia, and would be a worthy addition to any film collection.

Special Features:-

– Behind the Scenes (The Car Chase, Scaling the Sign, The Street Chase, Little Actors)
– Making Of
– Interview Gallery (Nicholas Tse, Jingchu Zhang, Mick Cheung, Dante Lam)
– Extended/Alternate Scenes
– Trailer Gallery

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We Are The Ocean – Look Alive EP

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We Are The Ocean - Look Alive EPThe ‘Look Alive’ EP is the latest release from London based post-hardcore five piece We Are The Ocean, and a very good effort it is from the band too. Lead singer Liam Cromby has an absolutely phenomenal voice, whilst chief screamer Dan Brown also pulls off a fine performance here in all four of these tracks. The contrasting voices of Brown and Cromby complement each other well, and from start to finish the EP is always an absolute treat to listen to. Not just vocally impressive, We Are The Ocean is a band with a great deal to offer instrumentally also, and not one single member of the band fails to impress here.

‘Look Alive’ kicks the EP off in style, and beginning with a bang the quality of this EP never once begins to drop. There’s enough variation here to keep you interested, and ‘Look Alive’, ‘(I’ll Grab You By The) Neck Of The Woods’, ‘Cutting Our Teeth’, and ‘Drag Me Down’ all have something unique to offer.

We Are The Ocean hints at what’s to come with the ‘Look Alive’ EP, and it’ll definitely be interesting to hear what the band serves up with debut album ‘Cutting Our Teeth’ when its released in January 2010. For fans of post-hardcore the ‘Look Alive’ EP is a definite must in the collection, and come January this band will undoubtedly be blowing us away with its first ever full-length release.

Label: Hassle Records
Release Date: November 16th 2009

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Slade – Merry Christmas Everybody: Party Hits

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Slade Party HitsChristmas just wouldn’t be the same without hearing Noddy Holder shout ‘It’s Christmas!’, and that’s exactly why everyone should own at least one Slade album. ‘Merry Christmas Everybody: Party Hits’ is the latest compilation release from Slade, and comes complete with a total of twenty tracks from the band. Kicking off with the massive hit ‘Merry Xmax Everyboday’, the ‘Party Hits’ collection has all the tracks to get you in the mood for Christmas as it continues with ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’ and closes with the ‘Okey Cokey’ and ‘Here’s To The New Year’. With plenty of entertaining tracks in between such as ‘Mama Weer All Crazee Now’, ‘Coz I Love You’, and ‘C’Mon Feel The Noize’, there’s much here to keep you interested and ensure that a very satisfying listening experience is provided.

The ‘Party Hits’ collection from Slade is an excellent album to purchase this Christmas, and if you know of any friends or family members that enjoy the music of Slade then what better Christmas present to provide them with than a copy of the ‘Merry Christmas Everybody: Party Hits’ album this December 25th. It’s absolutely brilliant value for the 20 tracks that you receive here, and not only does it contain some true Christmas classics but a number of Slade’s other big hits also.

Slade may not be together in its original form anymore, the fact still remains that this band has released a lot of great music throughout the years however, and that’s something that is displayed here with the ‘Merry Christmas Everybody: Party Hits’ collection.

Brighten up your Christmas with a bit of Slade and definitely do look to invest in this album.

The following is the full track listing for Slade’s 2009 ‘Party Hits’ album:

1. Merry Xmas Everybody
2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
3. Mama Weer All Crazee Now
4. Let The Good Times Roll / Feel So Fine
5. Coz I Love You
6. Gudbuy T’Jane
7. We’re Really Gonna To Raise The Roof
8. C’Mon Feel The Noize
9. My Baby Left Me
10. Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me
11. Let’s Have A Party
12. Hey Ho Wish You Well
13. Let’s Dance
14. I’m A Rocker
15. My Oh My (Swing Version)
16. Standin’ On The Corner
17. Do You Believe In Miracles
18. All Join Hands
19. Okey Cokey
20. Here’s To The New Year

Label: UMTV
Release Date: November 23rd 2009

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Naruto Unleashed Series 6: Volume 1 Review

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Naruto Unleashed Series 6: Volume 1Beginning where Series 5 left off, Naruto Unleashed Series 6 kicks off in great style as the fight between Naruto and Sasuke concludes. It’s an exciting start to the series as we watch it all unfold, and although Volume 1 also comes complete with a few filler episodes; overall this is addictive viewing and watching Naruto Unleashed episodes 131 through 143 is most definitely highly recommended.

If you’re a Naruto fan then there’s plenty to keep you entertained here, with Volume 1 beginning and ending on a high, leaving you with a thirst for more. Once you finish watching episode 143 you immediately want to see what happens in episode 144, sadly this is where the DVD ends though and if you do wish to watch what happens next then you’ll just have to look to Naruto Unleashed Series 6: Volume 2.

Naruto Unleashed Series 6: Volume 1 provides the option to watch the episodes dubbed in English or spoken in Japanese with English subtitles, and whichever way you choose to watch the DVD then it’s sure to impress. Naruto himself is as entertaining as ever here in these 13 episodes, and some of the action that you get to watch here really is fantastic.

For Naruto fans Naruto Unleashed Series 6: Volume 1 is essential viewing, and with the boxset currently available from Amazon for £15.88 (or the complete series can be bought for £29.98), for the entertainment provided it is most certainly well worth the money, and this really is one to put on your Christmas list if you don’t already own it.

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N-Dubz – I Need You

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N-Dubz - I Need YouN-Dubz may not be a group to everyone’s tastes, but they’ve certainly come out with some very catchy singles in recent times. ‘I Need You’ is the latest single to be released by the band, featuring Facebook focused lyrics, an incredibly catchy chorus, and a really rather bouncy beat also.

‘I Need You’ is an absolute fun-packed single from N-Dubz, and whilst listening to this one it really is difficult not to start singing along. N-Dubz once again demonstrates here a great knack for penning a perfect pop song, and this group certainly seems to know what it’s doing when it comes to making the music as infectious as possible.

‘I Need You’ is the latest N-Dubz single to have achieved chart success, and it’s surely only a matter of time before this group is back again with another.

Label: All Around The World
Release Date: November 9th 2009

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