Reviews

Defenestration – Ray Zero

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

Defenestration are a band from the Midlands town of Kettering. They combine hard rock with punk and throw in a few sludgy anthems for good measure. This is a brand new album from the band and is being released on Dream Catcher Records, a label which I honour and respect very much for the great bands that they have released! This CD is no exception for the label, as again they have managed to release a great band.

The vocalist with this band is a female, sometimes I don’t really like female vocalists but this one is great and when you sing you can really feel her aggression and can tell that she means it. There are some really sludgy guitar riffs, some awesome bass lines, fast drumming, and super metallic vocals that will have you drooling – I swear it! This band has a lot of talent and in this 14 track album showcase the talent which they have in their grasp extremely well! According to the write up, the drummer had to do the drumming for this album with his eyes closed due to being poked in the eye by fellow band mate Scott and being left temporarily blinded! So if this is the case then he has done a bloody good job, I reckon! I love the track ‘I Want To Kill’ – this is an amazingly well written tune with some awesome guitar riffs, great drumming, amazing bass playing, and vocals that are always perfect – ranging from sludgy, dark metal vocals to melodic rocking vocals that will have you at the edge of your seat. It is an absolutely blinding tune that will have you tapping your feet, singing along and jumping around the room like a madman – all at the same time! I love the style of this band as it is a kind of mix of hardcore punk, heavy rock, and hateful, sludgy kind of music – and the sound which this bizarre mix creates is divine! I am a fan of old school punk, yet I am also a fan of heavy rock so this was a great album for me – combining a few of my favourite genres. Quite a few bands try to blend the two but usually they fall flat on their faces – this on the other hand has been done extremely well, the band have got it spot on!

So check out this band if you are a fan of old school punk/ heavy rock / sludgy metal because you are sure to be impressed with what you hear as it is done extremely well and with great passion, energy, and style! This band is no joke – they really have a passion for what they do and you can tell this by the way that their songs come out and the energy that seems to be in it.

Rating:

Rich

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

One Man Stand – Take Your Chances

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

This is a 4 track CD EP of Punk Rock from the band, One Man Stand and consists of four tracks: ‘Black Hole,’ ‘Done My Time,’ ‘Gangster,’ and ‘Perceptions.’ This band have some good aspects in their music and as a result produce this CD of Punk Rock.

All four of these tunes are really pretty average, but with no stragglers among the bunch and pulled off with a certain degree of Punk attitude. The music is fast paced and full of energy – when it kicks off you seem to be hooked. The drumming is fast paced, the vocals are amazing but the guitar playing is a bit samey at times – not done badly though and it certainly doesn’t spoil the record. On ‘Done My Time’ though, for the most part it is just rather bland. I have no complaints about the guitar playing on most of the rest of the CD though as there are some top quality riffs that really stand out. The drumming here is extremely strong throughout and it really gets you nodding your head away and tapping your feet to the fast paced drum beats that Jan kicks out.

Of all of these tracks, ‘Perceptions’ is probably my favourite track as everything about it is done really well. It is a top quality tune with its fast drumming, great guitar licks, awesome vocals and totally amazing lyrics.

Ok, the basis of this CD is pretty solid and although there are a few minor hiccoughs, they can be fixed and come the next release this band should be producing something pretty special. The songs are pretty good individually, but the EP as a whole is pretty hard to listen to in one go as there is not really enough variety to keep the listeners attention. The vocals and drumming is strong but the guitar playing needs some serious working on as although at times it can come through really well, there are other times when it lacks change and does not do the band justice.

So, in conclusion the band do have talent there, that is as clear as day – it just needs tweaking a bit in order for them to fulfil their full potential.

Rating:

Rich

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

One Man Stand – Stand Up And Be Counted

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

Ok, this is another EP of Punk Rock from the band that is One Man Stand. This is DIY1 and the other one (Take Your Chances) is DIY2 – and you can hear a distinct difference between the two CDs.

This EP seems to be more upbeat than the other one with a kind of happy feel about it. Again, the drumming is extremely fast paced, showing off Jan’s great talent and this man really is extremely talented. He really plays like he means it, and Anthony again puts in a really fine effort with everything he can muster up going into the vocals and making them extra special on ‘So Glad You’re Gone.’ Again the guitar playing seems to be letting the side down and I think I have cracked why. Usually, Punk is very guitar heavy but a lot of the time the vocals and drumming seem to take centre stage while the guitars sit back wallowing in self pity.

This band do show signs of talent on the extremely catchy ‘So Glad You’re Gone’ as it has great catchiness, amazing vocals and the drumming is the dogs bollocks! The guitar playing on it is alright, but again it is not great and is severely lacking in something at times. It really doesn’t seem to convey the energy that the rest of the bands aspects seem to. It all starts off well then seems to become boring and it is as if they have put the first guitar riff on loop.

So, again the four track has a lot to offer with some great lyrics, amazing vocals, and fast paced, furious drumming but is let down slightly by the plain, average guitar playing and although it does not spoil the songs, I am sure that if the standard of it was better then it would add extra flavour and be less samey. Saying that though, there are some totally amazing guitar solos on ‘Another Way’ that really show to me that they do know how to pull the guitar playing off in style, they just can’t seem to be bothered.

Rating:

Rich

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

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.

Rating:

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.

Rating:

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.

Rating:

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.

Rating:

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.

Rating:

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.

Rating:

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!

Rating:

Rich

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