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None Of The Above/Swound – Split EP

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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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Swound – Planet Of Swound

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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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Superjoint Ritual – A Lethal Dose Of American Hatred

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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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NMINUS10 Demo

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This is a five track demo from the Nottingham based band that is NMINUS10. They are a melodic band, playing music that is interesting, easy to listen to and is something a bit different. They aim to inject some originality and I think that they have accomplished their aim in this demo as I have not heard a band like this before.

This demo from the band has five tunes on display that are melodic but by no means ‘Emo.’ I would say that they are a melodic rock band and that is as far as I would go in labelling them, and in being this melodic rock band they have a soft spot for fiery, hard hitting bass lines. The drumming is really good, keeping a great beat and entertaining on a large scale. The guitar riffs are quite cool here also, but on the first two tracks the vocals really lack flavour. They are not badly done but I just feel that at times they need a bit more energy and enthusiasm injected into them. They have melody but seem to be over powered a bit by the fiery guitars. I think that he has a good voice mind, and it is definitely well in tune – just not as powerful as you would like them to be. There’s no need to worry though because they come through a hell of a lot stronger on the last three than the first two and the vocalist really redeems himself. It is just frustrating on the first two that they are lacking a bit of oomph when after hearing track 3,4, and 5 you know that the vocalist can put power into his vocals.

There are some storming guitar riffs on offer, strong bass lines and fast drumming. I feel that track 3, ‘Still See You’ comes out really well as it is really chilled out and the vocals fit in on this one and sound really good – but like I said, on the first two tracks they really need to be more powerful. On this chilled out tune they come through really well and when the pace does get turned up a notch, the power of the vocals does too – so they manage to get it right on this one and in fact do a really good job of it. So at this point in the CD we know that they can make vocals that fit and from here on the record shows great promise. What started off looking not too good vocally was quickly turned around and made into something really quite special.

So, the five tracks on display start off quite average vocally with the first two tracks but on ‘Still See You,’ ‘Almost There,’ and ‘King For A Day,’ they come through really well and we realise that the vocalist here can in fact but energy into his music and comes across extremely powerful, showing that he can do it well.

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Stuntface – Can Your Puny Body Survive

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Stuntface are a band from Wrexham playing fast paced Punk at its finest. They are a four piece and deliver some amazing Punk tunes. These are extremely catchy tunes that pass you by at about three million miles an hour. All of these songs are fast but there are the tracks that are fast and then there are the tracks that are FAST!! Some of the songs are pure fast and then there are others that are more melodic while remaining fast and it is easy to tell the difference between the two. For instance, the first track, ‘Out Of Order’ is an extremely fast track and I feel that it was a great way of kicking off the CD as straight away you are fired in to the raw sound that is Stuntface and it is extremely pleasing to hear a song that is so fast yet so great. There are also songs like ‘Life Is Loud’ which take a completely different approach and this is an interesting one as it is more of a skate punk track which takes a much more melodic approach and although it does take such a different approach the outcome is still amazing and leaves you gagging for more. There seems to be a Motorhead influence here on this CD with Lemmy type vocals at times but at other times they sound more like The Exploited with that raw, hardcore kind of vocals which get you jumping around the room and smashing up household items. This is an awesome CD with some great Punk being played and every one of these 14 tracks is a cracker with a great ability to rock it out hard and fast while also having the ability to be melodic when they want to be. I was extremely impressed this band as it is one of the best Punk albums that I have heard in a long time as it is raw, fast, and full of energy and enthusiasm. This CD is amazing and I trust that if you are a fan of Punk then you will absolutely adore this one as it is such an energetic CD that you get your feet tapping and start wishing that you were there at one of their gigs showing your appreciation! This is one of the best CDs that I have heard all year, if not the best as it is extremely exciting with hard hitting vocals and power chords which make way for truly amazing Punk which you can really get into and for 40 minutes all of your worries seem to just vanish. Hopefully I will hear more from this band in the future as I found them extremely enjoyable and am not surprised that they have been snapped up by Good Clean Fun as with such an amazing sound they were bound to be snapped up sooner or later. Check them out as they are amazing and deserve a lot of respect for not only creating such an amazing CD but for raising the funds for making the CD by themselves as well!

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Splitters – International Smugglers

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The past few weeks have been really great for me, I have received many great Ska albums and this here album is no exception to the trend. This here CD is a 13 track album from the Leicester Ska movement that is Splitters. They play exciting Ska music with an extremely mellow sound that just makes you want to get up and skank away. The horn section here seems to have a very Jamaican feel about it and you can tell that they have been listening to the early Ska in order to get this wonderful sound which they are producing. The vocals are truly amazing here and they work extremely well with the instrumental side creating a highly unique Ska sound which is jam packed full of energy and is sure to make everybody listening get skanking away. They combine the good feel factor of Jamaican music with their own take on Ska and also throw in a bit of two-tone to come up with this unique and extremely exciting sound. There are some truly great tunes here and one of my favourites on the album is the track that kicks it all off, ‘Wykin Airport.’ This one is so great because it has a very Jamaican feel about it and is just one of those tunes where you can imagine every one at a gig skanking away without a care in the world. It stops you worrying about your problems and for three minutes you don’t have a care in the world as you just chill out and relax to this masterpiece of a track. There are also other great tracks on this wonderful album such as ‘Bouncing Off The Walls,’ ‘Monsters In My Mind,’ and ‘Mindless.’ These are all gems and if you like Ska then you should definitely check them out! Their songs are so energetic, with a flawless horn section and awesome vocals and even with the CD being a whole hour long you do not get bored as you are kept entertained all the time by the bands marvellous brand of Ska. This here album was released on the bands very own record label that is Blue Line Order Records and I must say that this has been recorded brilliantly and the band deserves great credit for this. This is a fine Ska record and is likely to become a regular in my CD player.

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Unchosen – Precautionary Evolution

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Unchosen are an Oxford band playing music with a passion and when you hear them playing you can tell that they really mean what they are saying and their hearts really are in it – they’re making music because they like to, not because they want to make a few quid fast.

Here are five tracks from the band showcasing some if the rock tunes which they have to offer. The write up said that they have a diverse sound with the punching riffs of a metal band, with funky rhythm, and a hint of jazz which creates an energetic band with powerful vocals. I would say that you cant really fault that description, it is a fair summary as they have extremely soulful yet energetic, powering vocals and crashing metallic riffs which will give you a hard punch in the stomach. There are some cracking little tunes on display here that are full of power, energy, and raw aggression. I am sure that this band are an amazing live act as they even put across a feeling of great energy on record so god knows how much live energy they have!

My favourite tune here us track 4, ‘Release’ as I feel that out of the five on display, it is the one which conveys the most energy with its power fuelled vocals, blinding guitar riffs and sweet drumming that is slow, steady and relaxed. It is an awesome tune as it has so much power in its grasp and is a really exciting track that is soulful, yet powerful, and full of energy and fun to listen to.

So this band have some good tunes on display with varying techniques used to get the songs across – with the jazzy ‘Seventeen,’ melodic ‘In My Head,’ and powerful ‘Release,’ which really capture you attention with their interesting and insightful tunes. Check this band out if you like Rock bands that love melodic vocals, heavy metal riffs, and calm drumming.

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Violent Basket Tracks

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Here are three live tracks from the Yeovil four piece that is Violent Basket. They play some cool punk music. Ok, that’s enough chit chat…on with the review we go!

‘Gorilla VS Badger Ninja’ is a cool track showcasing some excellent hardcore. The drumming here is amazing, it is extremely fast and the drummer here obviously has a lot of talent. He definitely deserves a mention here as his drumming on this track is outstanding and I think that he will go far with this kind of talent. The guitar playing here is also good here with good, strong riffs that drum through your whole body and just really shake things up. The vocals on this one are in a hardcore kind of fashion, with Ben really getting into it and screaming his heart out. At the start of the song the vocals seem to practically disappear where it is a live song and not professionally recorded but other than this everything is fine and it’s really good when you get a live track because you get to feel the emotion of the bands performance and it is always really interesting for me.

Next track up is ‘Hate Boy,’ and this is more of a straight up Punk track, again containing extremely strong drumming. There are some really good guitar riffs on this one and it is a top quality Punk tune with a’77 feel about it. The vocals on this one are extremely Punk and for this one it sounds like the band has been listening to early Punk as this is how the vocals have come out and it has created a really good sound, so another track showing great promise from the Yeovil based band.

The final track here is ‘Fade Away,’ and again it is a track that shows great promise from the band. It is another track with vocals that lean more towards the hardcore side and they manage to pull it off with great style. The lyrics on this one are extremely cool and the vocals are really fast paced and this is what makes the track such a great one. Again the drumming is totally amazing and just blows you away with its speed and flair, this boy has got a serious talent! The guitar playing is again well done with good gritty guitar riffs that work well with the vocals and drumming to create a really cool tune with their own unique style. The vocals on this one are really something special I feel and out of all three of the songs I think that they are done best on this track as although they were done well on ‘Gorilla VS Badger Ninja’ at times the recording was dodgy and spoilt it a bit.

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Violent Asylum Demo

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This is a four track demo CD from the Romford based thrash metal band that is Violent Asylum and Phil from E O Music strongly believes that this band has what it takes to be part of the UK explosion. They are a five piece band and with their mix of trash and heavy metal are sure to find critical acclaim.

It all kicks off with the explosive ‘Intro/Scars’ which is a really fiery track showing off the bands great blend of Trash and Heavy Metal. Right from the offset you know that this band is going to be something special and is far above being average. There are stormy, distorted guitar lines, fast drumming, and extreme vocals which are totally amazing and done extremely well here. This one is an extremely cool tune and was a great one to kick it all off with because it really catches your attention and leaves you wanting for more and luckily there are three more tracks on show for your listening pleasure! Track two, ‘Diablo’ is another cool track and again from the beginning you can tell that this is far from your average band and they have loads to offer. Again you have the distorted guitars, fast as ***** drumming, and some amazingly done vocals. This one is not to be missed and has some great guitar solos which provide a real raw edge which I really love to hear in my music. This is definitely my kind of band as I love a band that has bite and this band certainly does have that! ‘Demise’ is the next track up and again, does not fail to impress with the bands great take on thrash/metal coming through strong. Again, it is a cool tune with a really raw edge and a really eerie feel about it. The guitar playing is done extremely well, and goes nicely with the fast and furious drumming and amazing vocals. This is another ace tune from a band that I am sure will go far with their great mix of musical fineness. Ok, and on to the last track we go with another awesome track, ‘Relentless.’ It stars off with gun shots and then you are fired into the music with an awesome opening riff that is to die for. The vocals are really ace on this one, again there is a really eerie feeling about it for some reason and it all just adds to the excitement of it really and makes this a top notch tune. The drumming is frantic and full of energy, I am sure that this would be a great band to go and see live because their music is just so full of energy that it is unbelievable.

I really liked these four tracks and hope to hear more from this band because they are really energetic and really know how to churn out a good CD. If you are a fan of Thrash or Heavy Metal then check this one out because it is sure to put a smile on your face.

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Vext – A Childs Fascination With Ugliness

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This is a six track EP of Punk Rock from the fast rising Punk band Vext and clocks in at just 12:27 minutes. This is a good serving of Punk Rock from Vext and shows there take on the genre with six stunning tracks that are sure to help make them a household name.

They are Punk Rock and that is a fact, their brand of music is fast, with a very heavy feel about it. These tracks are far from boring and have a lot to offer with their unique sound that is sure to impress. It has a real garage punk feel about it and this Weymouth outfit sure know what they are doing and how to hit the right buttons in order to impress. This is only their second EP yet they sound as if they’ve been doing this for donkey’s years and really have a refined sound that is noisy and full of energy. If you don’t like this band then there must be something wrong with you because I can’t see anything about this band that’s not to like and it is a superb little effort from them. The lyrics here are cool, which is always good because when bands have poor lyrics, they are usually a poor band! This is a band to look out for and this CD really shows that as it has a lot of quality packed within the twelve minutes and the time you spend listening to this little CD is an enjoyable time and after it finished you want more but the CD player just wont give it! Top notch Punk Rock served up with frantic drumming, blinding guitar riffs, banging bass lines, and amazing vocals. If you like the sound of this review then make sure you check out this band as they have a lot to offer and are musically slick. The vocals are constantly breaking into hardcore and it creates a totally amazing sound that leaves you wanting more. This could easily have been written by a top American Garage Punk band and is sure to make fans of the genre jizz their pants!

If you like the sound of this review then make sure you check this band out and give them a listen. If you have even an ounce of sense I am sure that you will be checking this band out in the very near future and helping out one of the most musically talented bands around. Hopefully I will be hearing more from this band in the near future and many great CDs should follow.

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