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The Letters Organize – Dead Rhythm Machine

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When this CD first came through my door I was expecting it to be a bog standard Emo release so I left it for a while, thinking that one day I would finally give it a listen and see if my predictions of the band had been correct. Having listened to this CD now, I’d have to say that my predictions of the band were actually incorrect; however I just really don’t feel this CD. Sure, the band aren’t that bad – but they play no nonsense Hardcore and I just feel that there are a lot of bands out there doing it better than these guys are. I guess there are elements of Emo in this CD, but for the most part it is just straight up Hardcore, with a bit of Rock thrown into the mix.

This CD is 13 tracks long, and clocks in at just over half an hour, so most tracks are typical fast Hardcore tracks clocking in at around 2 minutes a piece. If there wasn’t a short pause in between tracks, most of the time you wouldn’t be able to tell where one track ends and the next one begins as much like most Hardcore bands, The Letters Organize face the problem that most of their songs sound the same. The first track on this CD that I really liked was ‘There’s room for one more’ which comes mid way through the album and I feel is the first real breath of fresh air. However, after this track the band seem to return to doing sound alike numbers and it really does start doing your head in. There’s only so much you can take of the same track being repeated over and over, and The Letters Organize really do push it.

Sure, in this album they do show some signs of great promise and there are some great bits in their tracks that really stand out with some strong vocals, awesome guitar riffs, and blinding drum beats – but there’s just too much of the same thing and it really does get annoying after a while. I found it hard to sit and listen to this album all the way through as half an hour really is a bit much when there’s nothing that particularly makes the band stand out from the crowd at all. For the most part, this album is bog standard fast as hell hardcore and although I respect their ability it really is just far too much of the same thing.

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Fall To Fiction – Wings Lay Shattered

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Fall To Fiction are a Emo/Post Hardcore band from around Kent and Sussex, and can often be seen frequenting the Tunbridge Wells Forum and other such local venues. They are still a young band, and are probably one of the most talented bands around this area at the moment. The band says that they combine a mixture of post hardcore ear piercing screams, with emotional breaks, and add to that a sprinkling of pop punk. I’d probably agree with that – the only problem with this is that by saying this of them you will probably get the wrong idea and that may mean some of you will automatically decide not to listen to them. I really don’t like a lot of Emo/Post Hardcore – the vast majority of it sounds the same and there are a lot of bands out there trying to ride on the success of others by producing generic, sound alike tripe. It really doesn’t work like that – you have far more chance of getting noticed if you’re doing it a bit different thus making your performance that extra bit special. Fall To Fiction do that, and as a result in ‘Wings Lay Shattered’ they have produced a fine CD made up of five cracking songs.

The CD opens off with a cracking track in ‘Ruby Red’ and really sets the pace for the rest of the EP. In this track the band show off some fine vocals with strong melody, cracking guitar riffs, some truly inspirational bass lines, and some superb drum beats. They carry this through and show signs of excellence on each and every single one of the tracks on display on this EP. I particularly like from this EP the fourth track ‘Simple minds, Simple hearts.’ It has a really strong intro and maintains great momentum and power throughout the song making way for a very interesting and exciting listen. The vocals on this track sound amazing with the guitars seemingly done to perfection, and drums proving the ultimate backbeat for a truly classic tune. I really love this track – it just sounds so silky smooth with the band having an aura of true finesse about them.

Fall To Fiction really are coming on in leaps and bounds and if this EP is anything to go by then before long this band should be huge. They really do have a great talent for penning a fine tune and each and every one of them is obviously an extremely talented musician with a very bright future ahead of them. Not only is the bands music great, but lyrically they are also amazing and really show signs of great maturity in their song writing for their age. I strongly urge you to check this band out live if you get an opportunity as I can pretty much guarantee that you’d have a great time and they wouldn’t disappoint.

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The Black Velvets – 3345

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On the basis of this single alone, The Black Velvets seem like quite a bog standard rock band, and there’s definitely nothing here that you won’t have heard before. If I hadn’t liked their first single then I’d have reason to believe that this band are over hyped – but I just think that they’ve just made a bit of a poor choice for their second single and released something which really won’t impress many people. ‘3345’ will be released on the 14th of March through Vertigo Records, and unless you’re a diehard fan I wouldn’t suggest going out and buying this single.

I was quite excited when I first put this CD in my player as it starts off quite energetic and as quite an exciting single – but with three minutes of the same thing it just doesn’t do it for me. Sure, The Black Velvets aren’t a bad band and this single does have some great potential with its catchy chorus and strong guitar hooks, but the problem is the band just doesn’t seem to make the most of what they’ve got. This track plods along, never really doing anything to impress after that initial buzz. The chorus is catchy, but after a while I just found it boring me and rather annoying.

I really think the band could have done a lot better with this single – for the first time listener its really not going to capture their attention and make them want to go out and buy this release. The track just doesn’t manage to maintain its momentum after the initial exciting and innovative introduction. After a while it loses all the energy it seemingly had to start with and it’s a relief to hear the track end really which is quite a disappointment seeing as I really liked the bands first single and was greatly looking forward to this single. Maybe the band can rectify themselves and come back with a strong third single, as I really can’t see this one doing well.

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The Mad Capsule Markets – Happy Ride

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As if you could have ever doubted them – The Mad Capsule Markets are back with another storming single in the form of ‘Happy Ride.’ It is to be released on February 28th through Gut Records and makes me further question why this band has never really made it massive. The band keep releasing single after single, and indeed album after album of musical gold yet they never seem to get the recognition that they so greatly deserve. I sense that the reason for this is the fact that they are from Japan – I reckon that if they were from America then they’d be massive by now, which is a real shame as they really are one of the finest bands in the world right now and are producing some truly godly music.

This song has the superb pop catchiness that you can always rely on The Mad Capsule Markets to give you, but at no point does it ever sound at all like a pop record. It is far too heavy for that with its powering guitars, fast pace drum beat, and super slick vocals. This track gives the idea of Surf Rock meets Heavy Metal with its “woo woo” backing vocals meeting the heavier, harder hitting main vocals. I’m not too sure about the inclusion of ‘Cracker!!!’ as a B-side – I personally like it with its Drum ‘n’ Bass feel, but I reckon that a lot of fans of the band will probably find that they don’t like what it has to offer. It’s track 6 off of the bands album, and I’ve often seen it criticised. I don’t really know what people have against it to be honest because I think it’s a great tune. It has awesomely heavy vocals over a Drum ‘n’ Bass back beat and goes down a treat with its raw, edgy feel. Other B-side, and incidentally the albums title track ‘CiSTM K0nFLiqT’ is another cracking number. It is the song that ends the album, and has been used this time round to end the single – and it certainly ends it in quite spectacular style.

There really is no denying this bands talents – they are definitely one of the greatest bands even to come out of heavy alternative music, let alone heavy alternative music in Japan. The Mad Capsule Markets truly are a force to be reckoned with and I really hope that there is plenty more to come from this band in the future, as without them alternative music will just be a much duller place.

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The Rejects – Welcome To Essex

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Ah yes, I still remember the day when I opened up Kerrang and turned to the review page to find that The Rejects had been given 1K for both ‘Tested On Monkeys,’ and ‘Don’t Sell Yourself Short Just Because You’re A Midget.’ I thought that was quite harsh, but then again – from what I had heard around this time The Rejects were a pretty shambolic band so there you go. Kerrang did however pay them one compliment in their review, and gave the band something to use in their press pack by saying that The Rejects “could effortlessly attain masters degrees in toilet humour,” so it’s not all bad news.

The band combine Ska and Punk with other genres such as Jazz, Waltz, Metal, and Samba – and in doing so have produced an album of comic genius. It is impossible to listen to this album without raising a smile – they have great lyrics and some really catchy songs. ‘Geek Is Cool’ is definitely one of the highlights of this CD with its amusing lyrics, and attack on the so called ‘cool people’ at school that are now ‘on the dole’ with loads of kids. ‘Cider On The Beach’ is another track which is well worth checking out – it has quality vocals and great lyrics as well as a catchy horn intro, and simple yet great bass line. In fact, pretty much every song is a highlight that’s well worth checking out on this album – the band get through 11 proper tracks here and do them well. The album ends perfectly with ‘We’re Here To Party’ – this track really does end the album on a high, in quite spectacular style.

The Rejects really do ooze fun, with their funny lyrics, cracking horn lines, and fast paced crazy antics. They’re definitely a band you want to be checking out – just for sheer comedy value. I’m pretty sure they put on an amazing live show as in this CD a lot of fun has definitely been captured and the way they cruise through Ska, Punk, and Hardcore seamlessly is really quite remarkable. Despite being a comedy band, there is still a lot of substance to The Rejects music and the band have some truly awesome horn lines as well as strong guitar riffs, funky bass lines, and cool drum beats. The Rejects really are a fine band with a talent for making amusing, yet smartly executed tracks. I strongly suggest you check this album out, if it doesn’t make you laugh then there’s something seriously wrong with you as it really is a funny album and is well worth spending your hard earned cash on.

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Eighteen Visions – Obsession

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I really don’t see why bands like this get signed to a major label like Sony Music – there really is nothing great at all about them, and they definitely shouldn’t be on any sort of major label. This band plays that terrible brand of ‘Post-Hardcore’ with the horrible, pointless screaming placed at random points throughout the songs. I really don’t like this kind of music and fail to see why labels keep releasing CD after CD of seemingly the same old – sure it makes them money at the moment, but eventually the buying public are going to wise up to the fact that generic rubbish keeps being released and people are going to stop buying it.

Instrumentally this band is quite good – they have some strong guitar riffs, great bass lines, and superb drum beats. There is no denying this bands ability – they have definitely got talent and are clearly great musicians, I just don’t like the way they use their talent to make generic Post-Hardcore nonsense. Lyrically I really despise this album with its self loathing, with such randomly screamed lines as “Don’t want to live today when all I feel is pain. I know this world’s the enemy.” It’s just so cliché, and really not the kind of thing that I personally would want to spend my hard earned cash on. They also have the stereotypical lyrics about relationships that have gone wrong such as “after all is said and done you’re not mine” and “you left me hear to die alone.” The world really doesn’t need another of these bands so hopefully, Eighteen Visions will soon disappear – either that or come back with an album where their talent is actually put to good use.

There really is nothing new here – the band is just regurgitating Post-Hardcore clichés in a vain attempt to sell records. The only redeeming feature of this album is that instrumentally the band are tight and clearly have a lot of talent – the drawback of this that you have to take in this fine musicianship with poor, done before vocals, stereotypical lyrics, and a dark, depressing tone that you could really do without. It might be a great album to listen to at a mass suicide pact meeting, but other than that it really doesn’t have a lot of use, other than perhaps being a useful coaster if ever you run out.

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Review Star

New Found Glory, Hot Water Music + The Explosion @ Hammersmith Palais 15.2.05

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I was really looking forward to the moment when The Explosion took to the stage, having heard a lot of their material and being impressed with what I heard. However, when they took to the stage the crowd remained lifeless and didn’t seem to care for the band whatsoever – this crowd had come to see New Found Glory and didn’t seem prepared to give any of the support bands a chance. Sure, there was a bit of a circle pit, but this consisted of very few people while the majority of the crowd just stood their lifeless like lemons. The band got through a number of tracks off forthcoming album ‘Black Tape’ and appeared to be putting a fair amount of effort into their set but people just didn’t seem to care. I was expecting ‘Here I Am’ to get quite a big reaction due to its catchy pop sensibilities, and superb guitar riffs but the crowd didn’t even get going to that, despite its being on the music channels lately. I think the problem is that The Explosion are still relatively unknown in the UK at the moment so people didn’t really know quite how to take them or what to make of them. It can be hard trying to win over a crowd of people that have never heard your songs before as you’ve yet to release any material in that country – The Explosion are proof of this and despite attempts to get the crowd going it just never really happened. The Explosion seemed to be enjoying themselves and I don’t think they let the lifeless crowd got to them much so I have great respect for them on the basis of this alone. Despite the lack of crowd reaction, I enjoyed The Explosion’s set and thought they put on a pretty good show.

Next on was Hot Water Music – another band I have heard on CD, but never before experienced live. I didn’t think the band was that bad, they weren’t as good as I was expecting them to be but they were by no means a poor live act. Again, the crowd just didn’t seem to react to this band and everyone remained rather lifeless meaning that the gig couldn’t be as enjoyable as it should have been. Hot Water Music, much like The Explosion seemed to be putting a fair bit of energy into their set – but I just don’t think a band can give it their best shot when the audience are being this dull. I would like to see this band again as I did enjoy their set and maybe in a different situation, with a more motivated crowd then Hot Water Music would really come across at their best.

Finally, after a long wait – New Found Glory took to the stage and for the first time this evening there was actually a reaction from the crowd. As soon as the band played their first note everyone moved forward and it was just one huge crush as everyone pushed towards the front. I made my way to the back shortly after this as I really didn’t appreciate getting squashed by people half my size and could appreciate the bands set much more when I wasn’t getting crushed by sweaty 14 year olds. The band got through countless tracks off their incredible back catalogue such as the superb ‘Dressed To Kill,’ the amazing ‘Hit Or Miss’ and the storming ‘Head On Collision.’ As well as these classics that had the majority of the crowd singing along the band also played some newer material off their most recent album ‘Catalyst’ such as ‘All Downhill From Here’ and the recently released ‘I Don’t Wanna Know.’ After a mammoth set, the band went offstage – but I don’t think anyone really believe that they had gone for good. Everyone realised that they’d be coming back on for an encore – the fact that they had yet to play ‘My Friends Over You’ gave it away a bit. It was that very track that ended their set – everyone seemed to move out the way for this one and I was able to get near the front, this time without getting crushed. There was a huge circle pit for this song, which I found a bit strange seeing as its probably the most poppy of all the songs they played tonight but there you go – I guess you have to go crazy for a last song regardless of what it is! I was impressed with the set that New Found Glory put on – they were tight, played well together and there was a fair amount of talking with the crowd to keep everyone entertained so all in all it was a good night. It could have been better if the venue was a little less packed and you could actually move and breath but there you go – it doesn’t always go your way and when a bands as big as New Found Glory are its to be expected that’s its going to be a sell out and everyone’s going to be tightly packed in.

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LoLa Ray – What It Feels Like EP

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When this CD came through and I saw that the band were releasing this CD on Good Charlotte’s label ‘DC Flag Records’ I was expecting it to be an over produced piece of rubbish to be honest. However, I though I’d give the CD a chance and listen to it a few times before deciding whether or not I liked it. On first listen I was proven to be wrong about it being over produced and rubbish as it is actually quite a good CD, and the more times I listened to it the more I began to like it.

There are 4 tracks on display here on this fine EP – four tracks which will later be appearing on their album which is yet to be released in the UK. The band is definitely very different to the people that run their label – Good Charlotte, and in my opinion are a far superior band to the aforementioned. They combine tremendous pop sensibilities with superb guitar riffs in order to create songs that are truly unforgettable. I love the bands vocals – on every song they shine through and really make way for an exciting and fulfilling listen. Track 3 on this EP, ‘Slave’ really is a classic – it has one of the most amazing and truly unforgettable choruses I have ever heard in my life, it really is that good. In fact, every track on this EP has a super chorus that you won’t be forgetting in a hurry. This band certainly seems to have a great knack for song writing and as a result every track on display here has come out sounding perfect. The striking thing about LoLa Ray is that despite all being from Orange County, there is a truly British element to their sound. I think this is what makes them so special as they’re not like a lot of American bands – they have a truly original and exciting sound that many fail to capture.

Benji Madden made the statement “I just can’t imagine anyone hearing it and not wanting to put it out – it’s that good.” For once, I actually agree with the guy here as this really is a fine EP, and if it is anything to go by then the album is sure to be a stormer. If this band don’t get huge then there’s something seriously up with the world as they are clearly a great band with a lot of talent and a fine skill for penning great tunes.

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The Explosion – Here I Am

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Underground US Punk band The Explosion have been tipped to make it big over here in 2005 – and with their major label album debut ‘Black Tape’ fast approaching, and support slots with the likes of the Ordinary Boys, New Found Glory, and Good Charlotte, it is surely going to happen.

“Here I Am” is the first single to be taken from their new album and is to be released on the 14th of March. This is a perfect breakthrough track really – it has great pop sensibilities, a fast and furious pace, a highly memorable chorus, and strong guitar riffs. This track is sure to make everyone go wild at their gigs when the band plays here over the next couple of months. It really is a high energy song and it’s absolutely impossible not to sing along to the chorus. If you’ve seen the video for this track on the music channels then you’ll already know of this track and its immense excellence. I swear that if this track doesn’t get into the top 10, let alone the top 40 then there’s something seriously wrong with people because this really is one of the finest Pop Punk tracks I have heard for a long time – it has everything you could possibly wish for in a Pop Punk track, from the unforgettable chorus and high energy, right down to the skateboard video.

I really can’t get enough of this song – if this track is anything to by then their album is sure to be a classic. This band are long overdue their shot at fame so lets hope that 2005 will be the year that everyone starts worshipping the ground that The Explosion walk on. ‘Black Tape’ will be released on March 28th so make sure you pre-order your copy now because after people get a load of this single it’s sure to sell out pretty quick I reckon!

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Stunted Giants – Just A Coincidence

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When this CD came through my door I really didn’t know what I was going to make of them. I try not to make any prejudice judgements before I listen to bands but sometimes it can be hard! I saw the word ‘emocore’ and automatically assumed the worst as this is a term I have come to associate with generic sound alike lacklustre bands singing about how much it hurts them that they broke up with their girlfriends. Luckily I was wrong in thinking that Stunted Giants were one of these bands, and when I read on in the biography I noticed that the band said that they all bring different influences to the band, and over time have gradually progressed into their own unique brand of rock music. This is definitely a fair description as the band doesn’t really fit into or follow any particular genre conventions – they just play their own brand of music and play it well.

When you listen to this CD it feels more like you’re listening to a gig than a CD – the band have a tremendous raw feel about them and this rawness gives them that extra bite that a lot of bands seem to be lacking. Their rawness definitely puts them at a vantage point as Stunted Giants possess a quality that a lot of bands don’t have but would love to have. You can tell that this band put on an electric live performance and are well suited to the live circuit. In these three tracks the drums will capture you with their heavy, hard edged punch, the guitars will have you gripped, the bass lines will put a huge smile on your face, and the vocals will please you more than you could ever have imagined. Obviously the band have not yet perfected their game as they are still young and have only made three CD’s prior to this so are yet to fully establish their niche but they are definitely well on their way.

Stunted giants really are an exciting young band, and although they have some improving to do until they are at the top of their game they are definitely getting there and with this CD show that they are a talented band worthy of your attention. This band deserve a lot of recognition even at this stage – in three years they have clearly developed and refined their sound and they are now heading towards perfection with it. I am sure that before long this band will be able to produce a CD that will place them at the top of their genre and gain them the fan base that they deserve.

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