Reviews

Sone – Scratching The Surface

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

This is the bands debut CD and comes in the shape of a 6 track EP of fine rock tunes. The band are London based and have played many underground live shows all over the country and as a result of this gigging they have gained themselves a loyal and devoted fan base and surely on the release of this EP their fan base will increase to an even larger number as they sure deserve a fair few. All six of these tracks show the band to have a hell of a lot of potential and I think that over time they will develop in to a much finer band. Track 1 for instance, ‘Turn Away’ I feel shows the band at their best with some heavy vocals, mixed with some rather melodic vocals which creates a great effect and I think is what makes it so special. The guitar playing on this track is pretty damn good and the drumming is at a casual pace. They use the melodic/emotional crossover on all of the tracks but I feel that it works best on track 1 but I don’t think it works too well on track 5, ‘Evaporate’ as the vocals seem a bit strained on this one and I do not really think that the effect created is too great. Other than that though, this is a top quality rock band and one slip up out of six songs isn’t really a big deal as it is not something that I feel is affecting the album as a whole and can easily be fixed with a bit of work. So, considering that this is the bands debut CD I think that they have done pretty damn well with it and make a good Rock album that could be better, but it could also be much much worse. This band are worth checking out and it definitely wont be left to gather dust but I think when I do listen to it I will be giving track 5 a miss.

Rating:

Rich

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

Solabeat Alliance – VW Summer Beach Party, Herts Showground

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

A rather odd place for a Solabeat gig I must say but then again, the last time I saw them was on a boat on the Thames so there you go. They were due to kick off at 1pm but didn’t play until 1:30 in the end due to an all girl band that had played earlier that turned up and then decided it would be cool to play. The Solabeat party kicked off with Set It Off and right from the beginning you could tell it was going to be an awesome gig because the band were so energetic and had so much to offer. Everyone in the crowd seemed to be loving it and having the time of their lives. The band showed their enthusiasm for the gig jumping around and generally having a great time, John in particular stood out as having a cool time – skanking around the stage in between singing and playing trombone. Two new tracks were played from the album, ‘Island Fire’ which is due out some time in Autumn. They were all awesome tracks, both of which had been played on the Over The Moon Tour. Each and every song they played was excellent and was bursting at the seams with energy, with the band putting all their effort into their music and churning out an awesome sound. They played a 45 minute set (should have been an hour but wasn’t) and not once did I find myself getting bored as when you are watching them live you totally feed off of their energy and you can really tell that you are not the only ones having a great time as the band are also going mad and it is the band that seem to make the crowd go so wild. Solabeat Alliance are probably one of the finest Ska bands going around in the UK at the moment and certainly have the potential to become a lot bigger as they obviously have great talent and everyone watching should be able to see that. As I say, it was a strange gig but even though not many people went there knowing who the band were, I can tell you this a hell of a lot more people came out of the tent knowing who they were and isn’t that what it’s all about, increasing your fan base? So, this was definitely a great Solabeat gig and although I was completely knackered where I had to get up so early to go all the way to Hertfordshire I still enjoyed myself and will definitely be going to see them at the next opportunity.

Rating:

Rich

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

SolaBeat Alliance – Rise On Up EP

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

This is the bands first release on the Moon Ska label and later on this year they have an album to follow it. This EP contains 4 tracks of fun filled Ska Tropica and it really shows that this band are probably the most energetic and enthusiastic band in the country right now. Each of the four tracks here capture the excitement which is felt when you see this band – trust me, if you have seen them live then you will know what I mean – if you haven’t then what are you waiting for?!. For the eleven minutes that this EP lasts you are totally blown away as everything about this band is unbelievable. The horn section is phenomenal with solos that leave you gasping for breath as they are so unbelievably great. The drumming is also good providing a steady beat and the guitars give off a nice underlying effect to provide the vocals with a nice base to sit on. The vocals of SolaBeat Alliance are what make the band so exciting though, with such energy and enthusiasm it gets you skanking around the room without a care of who is around you or what they might be thinking. They are extremely powerful and give you a feeling of immense joy where they are so upbeat and uplifting. No matter how unhappy you may be feeling, or however down you are, this band are sure to cheer you up purely on the basis of the vocals as in my opinion they are the best vocals that we have in Britain at the moment and are that of a band with the potential to be the most famous band in Britain. There is such passion in their music and you can really feel the passion which they have for their music when you are listening to it and you feel passionately about their music because of this. You can tell that they re having a hell of a lot of fun producing this music and some people fail to see that they are doing this because they get great enjoyment out of producing this music which they play, it is not their to put across some kind of political point, it is their to make you enjoy yourself and at the same time they are too.

Rating:

Rich

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

SKANKt – Perfect Timing

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

This is the second album attempt from Cheltenham’s very own Ska Fusion Five-Piece that is SKANKt. This band seems to have their own unique style and I think that the sound which they have created for themselves is totally amazing and has really made this album into something far, far better than average. This is a 10 track album from the band and features some fine, fine tunes. The whole thing is kicked off with track ‘Night Out’ and right from the set off you can tell that this is going to be a great CD to get you skanking around and is one of my favourites on the album. Sometimes bands can have rather dodgy first tracks and this is not good because some people might think that is how the whole thing is going to be and stop listening but no-one in their right mind would stop listening to this album after this first track as it is a great tune with a great beat to get you on your feet and skanking like a mad man. All of these tracks are of an extremely high standard and I am sure that the band is completely happy with what they have produced here as I certainly am and I would go as far as saying that this is one of the best Ska CDs I have heard all year as it shows great musical talent in the band and it sounds like they have reproduced on record their ability and energy of the live shows.

Stand out tracks other than ‘Night Out’ on this CD are for me, the energetic ‘Lost’ and the skank inducing tune that is ‘Full Control.’ Although all of the tunes are of an amazing standard, these are the tunes that really stood out to me and had me listening to many a time before writing this review, and I am sure that they will have me hooked for a long while yet. The band have an extremely unique Ska sound that is outstanding and they really live up to their name as while listening to this release you sure do get skanking and while the CD is playing you just cant help but get into it. I will have to try and get to one of the bands shows as their music is totally amazing and I am sure that they would totally blow me away as this album has really left me gagging for more. If ever you get the opportunity to go and see this band live, do not pass off the chance as they will not disappoint – with such energy and great feeling they are sure to impress and could even become your new favourite band.

If you are a fan of Ska then check out this bands website and don’t forget, if ever you get the chance to see them live don’t hesitate in ordering tickets. This is a band that is sure to hit the big time within the next couple of years if they keep this standard up and with two self released albums they are sure to get snapped up by one of the UK labels soon.

Rating:

Rich

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

Shuriken – Surrender Is Not An Option

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

Ah the post arrived on a wonderfully sunny morning and I was graced with a brand new Shuriken release – excellent I thought. So I headed over to my CD player and shoved it straight in to the CD changer to review it!

Track 1 kicks off, it is an upbeat Emo Punk song called ‘Deflector Shields Down’ and as per usual the lyrics are extremely melodic and upbeat. The drumming is strong here and the Guitar’s are kicking out some awesome riffs so I can see why the band chooses to open their set with this one – it is very upbeat and I can imagine it getting everyone up on their feat and moving. Track 2, ‘Reaction Time’ begins with some fast drumming and interesting Guitar riffs. The vocals on this song are more poppy on this than the others yet they remain melodic and are still emotion driven. It is a funky and interesting song which is sure to please many with its ability to be poppy without being cheesy. The third track, ‘All In The Reflexes’ is more heavy than the others and the emotion seems to be dropped for a more heavy sound with some storming Rock lines and also some brilliant drum playing and strong guitar riffs. I like it as it shows they can be more heavy and pull it off and I think its totally cool when bands are willing to experiment and try out some new things. This is a long track but even so it manages to maintain momentum and is cracking throughout. Track 4, ‘Motion Sickness’ is another cool song with a stunning guitar riff and some outstanding drumming. The song steams away with some shouty vocals, some melodic vocals and lyrics catchier than the flu! Again it has a different sound and with such a large variety it is amazing that they have been able to pull them all off with such fluency and style. Ah, now we get to track 5, a cover of Ricky Martin’s ‘Vida Loca’ …ahem nice. Interesting this song may be but it really doesn’t do the band justice. It is really different to their usual style but the drumming is still cool and fast and the guitar riffs are awesome. Ok, the vocals are Shuriken but don’t portray the band in their true colours. Odd choice for a cover song here but oh well. The sixth track however, ‘Intangible’ is a steady song with extremely emotional vocals getting back to what the band do best – making solid Punk tunes. This is a great tune and ends the EP in tremendous style. I feel that this tune is enough to catapult the band into the mainstream.

Rating:

Rich

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

Seven Days – Friction EP

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

This is a three track EP from Seven Days, a band that if you have not heard before you are sure to hear their name crop up in the very near future because they play some blinding Rock that is well worth a listen and much better than all the commercial tripe that’s in the charts at the moment!

It all kicks off with the stunning, ‘Leave It Behind.’ This is a rock tune with some serious bite and an amazing chorus. The vocals on this one are done amazingly and work extremely well with the pounding drumming, brilliant bass lines, and fascinating guitar work. This is a masterpiece of a tune here and this band really has come out with the goods this time. This is my favourite of the three on show here as it is raw, aggressive and full of bite. This is an unbeatable combination and makes it the stunner that it is. Not only are the musicians talented but the vocalist is also extremely talented and makes it an all round great song that is well worth listening to as even at a mighty four and a half minutes it fails to bore but definitely doesn’t fail to impress! The second tune, ‘Hidden Faces’ is yet another cracker from this EP and shows that the first track here wasn’t just a one off. This band always manage to pull off something very special and with this one, again they have astounding vocals, catchy lyrics, fiery bass lines and rather more delicate drumming. This is a fresher approach than the first, with a less aggressive feel about it and a slower tune in general but the band still manage to pull it off and they pull it off with amazing style and flair. If you want something a little more mellow than this will be your cup of tea as it is one that will have you desperate to dip your bourbon biscuits into! The last track on show here, ‘Control Me’ again goes for the harder edge and makes way for another cracker of a song. The vocals have a raw feel about them, as do the bass lines, the drumming is much, much faster paces and the guitars have a really great feel about them. The lyrics on this one are absolutely amazing and are sure to put a smile on your face unless possibly you are suicidal.. This ones catchier than the flu and has more bite than a rotweiler. If you are after a track that has a raw edge, aggression and an amazing beat then go for this one or the first track, ‘Leave It Behind’ but if you like mellower stuff then check out ‘Hidden Faces’ – still a great tune, just a hell of a lot mellower than the other two.

So there you have it, this is a three track EP from a band that sure know how to rock hard and put a big smile on your face. If you have any amount of sense you will be checking out this band but if you don’t feel the need to give them a listen – it won’t be long before the men in white coats appear!

Rating:

Rich

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

Seethe and Cerberus Split EP

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

Ok then, this is just getting weird now! This is another CD from Milton Keynes featuring two very fine young bands of the metal genre. They show that it is not just Punk and Ska that Milton Keynes does well – it is metal as well and undeniably this is an awesome release.

Tracks, 1,3, and 5 (Bloodbath of Vengeance, Exhumed Justice, and Darkness Falls) are presented to you by Seethe, a band showing that nu-metal is not the only type of metal that can be produced by bands these days, and metal in its finest form is still around for your listening pleasure. The drumming is fast, the bass lines are gritty, the guitar playing is strong, and the vocals are heavy and done in a true metal fashion – with power, aggression, and a big dollop of style! Seethe are extremely talented young musicians taking influences from such bands as Slayer, Sepultura and Iron Maiden and you can really hear this in their music as they seem to take these bands, mix them all together and then put in their special ingredient, the Seethe factor! As well as the heavy side of their music there is also quite a melodic side that also comes into play at times with the guitars creating this effect and giving it that all melodic feel. They are heavy, they are metal and they are ready to take the country by storm! The band seem to have their own, fully developed sound and by the looks of things know exactly where they are going with their music. These three fine tracks are sure to impress anyone that has any taste because they are great to be honest and not liking them probably should be (if not already) a crime.

Ok, the other band here is Cerberus – another Milton Keynes heavy metal band that are well worth checking out. They supply the tracks ‘On Your Knees,’ ‘Necromancer,’ and ‘Cerberus.’ These are all long tunes that are in no fear of losing momentum, keeping a fast pace throughout, really getting inside your body and beating around. Again they have the correct ingredients to make a good heavy metal band, with drumming that is fast and heavy, bass lines that are slick, guitar playing that is totally amazing, and vocals that are heavier than Rik Waller. This band however have no melodic side to them whatsoever, they are heavy through and through showing no signs that they are likely to ever change that and this really works well for them. The vocals are a distinct factor in the bands tremendous talent as they are extremely strong and considering these guys are all between 16 and 18 they don’t half put one hell of a tune together! This is truly heavy stuff that will put a smile on metal fans, and non metal fans alike leaving them pleased to have heard such a new and exciting band. It is strange to find two such great bands on one split CD but I have and I am happy that I have because I had not heard of either of these bands before now but the two names will be sure to stick in my mind for a long time to come!

These two are sure to cause a stir in the scene as they both have great talent for what they do, creating some amazing metal tunes that you really have to hear to fully appreciate just how good they are. They are both shouty, energetic, talented, young (and probably soon loaded!) bands that are well worth your hard earned cash so make sure you buy this one! Its not for the faint hearted mind so avoid it if you are easily offended.

Rating:

Rich

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

Winter In June/ Steel Rules Die Split CD

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

Ok, this is the first CD to be released by Ignition Records with the new name of ‘Engineer Records’ so this is a new beginning for the label because with a change of name they will hopefully release many a more great CD for years to come from many more great CDs. This first release as Enginner Records is a split CD featuring Steel Rules Die whose previous releases were on IATDE and Winter In June who are more at home here having already released CDs on the label.

This is a 6 track split CD with the first 3 tracks by Winter In June and the last 3 by Steel Rules Die so there is enough to keep listening as this is an exciting CD by two bands that have a lot of talent. So, starting with Winter In June then – here are three good tracks, ‘Looking Back Doesn’t Equal Living Now,’ ‘When No-One Else Gave A *****,’ and ‘A Heart Has Reasons.’ This is a five piece band that certainly knows what they are all about, their music is heavy, hardcore Punk with a Metal tinge and they are described as being influenced by Swedish bands. I can really hear this influence in their music as they could easily be a Swedish outfit and it’s a good job that I like that style! In fact, I love it and especially when it has been done as well as this because these three tracks are brilliant and show off a band with some amazing talent. The bass lines are really heavy, with a metallic edge and that is obviously where the metal influence comes in, there is definitely a metallic riffage thing going on here and I really like the sound which it is creating. It is exciting and full of energy and gives the music a bit of flavour and originality. The vocals are in an extremely hardcore fashion and are sure to appeal to a varied audience. The drumming on show here is extremely fast and aggressive with a good beat, and there are also some mellower guitar riffs at times on this CD like at the end of ‘A Heart Has Reasons’ before taking you into the heavier bass lines and back in to the vocals again and this technique seems to work really well and pays off as I was extremely impressed with their third track and it is probably my favourite track on show although it is hard to decide what my favourite really is as they are all amazing tracks that are just as good as each other. Check this band out, Punk fans and Hardcore fans alike are sure to agree that this band are something special that deserve to be bigger than they are as before reviewing this band I had never heard of them before and they don’t even live that far away from me. This band is changing the scene, with something a bit extraordinary that is sure to grab your attention and have you hooked.

And on we go with the second band to take the CD on, Steel Rules Die, a unique Hardcore band with a sound that is definitely their own as I cant actually think of any bands that I could compare them to. They are in a league of their own with their exciting sound and I swear that there will be no other band this year to create a sound anything like this and their sound is really quite inspiring. The three tracks here are extremely exciting ones with drumming that is deadly, guitar riffs to die for and vocals that will just totally blow you away. I would say that if you are to try and start to label their sound it would be an early sort of Hardcore sound and this is no easy sound to reproduce. With these three tracks they are really stirring something up as they are all awesome tracks that are well worth listening to with ‘A Mile A Minute,’ ‘Lives Like Movies,’ and ‘Our Time Honoured Tradition Of Trying Too Hard,’ all drumming through your body at a million miles an hour and ripping your insides apart with their great take on hardcore. This band are a great inspiration to me with a sound of their own which is sure to be mimicked by Punk kids the nation over in years to come. Everyone has to appreciate this band as their sound is just so great and if you cant find it in your heart to appreciate this band then my, there must be something wrong with you because there is plenty to appreciate here and plenty of Hardcore Punk Rock to digest. If you are looking for a band that are a bit different and you are into Hardcore then this is a band that you should seriously check out because original they are, and amazing they also are! If I could drum like this, sing like that and play guitar with that energy then I would be extremely proud of myself because all the elements of this band are amazing and they must have some extremely talented musicians in their band to make music like this!

I have just witnessed one of the greatest Split CDs I have ever heard, featuring two amazingly inspirational bands that I would love to find out more about. Mark my words, these two WILL be big and in theory their time should be pretty soon. If these bands aren’t big within the next year or so then there is no justice in this world because they definitely deserve it and both have great talent for what they do. What a great CD to introduce Engineer Records with! This one is out on the 11th of August, so on that date do yourself a favour and get out their and purchase this CD – if you don’t then you are missing out on the experience of a lifetime! Not to be missed!

Rating:

Rich

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

Wet With A Vengence – 2 Track Demo

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

Wet With A Vengence are a six piece Ska Punk band from Sunderland and this is the second demo they have made. It is a 2 track demo of Ska Punk and here are my opinions of it…

The first track, ‘Friendly Lovin’’ at first I didn’t like but it is one of those songs where when you listen to it a few times it grows on you so now I really like the song. It is a good ska punk song with catchy lyrics and an awesome horn section. The drumming is frantic and the guitars produce a fine, fine sound to finish off the cool music of the WWAV team! This is a good start to the CD so the band have got at least one of these songs right but what about the other one I wonder. Well only one way to find out… Track 2, ‘Retarded Love Song’ is another cool ska punk tune with a superb horn section and wicked vocals. The drumming is also excellent and the guitars also work really well to give it a polished sound. The strength of the vocals on this track is definitely what makes the song so excellent but without the great instrumental side of the band they would be nothing so I would like to congratulate them for making it such an enjoyable song for me.

So overall this is a cool 2 track demo as both songs are excellent and I am sure that this is not the last we will be hearing from this band as they sure know how to make great music and it would be a shame for such a cool band to split up.

Rating:

Rich

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

WE – Lightyears Ahead

June 4, 2004 by Rich Leave a Comment

This is a 5 track album from WE, a Rock band that come from Oslo in Norway and they apparently rock in a 60s kind of style. They are friends of Nick Oliveri from Queens Of The Stone Age and he loves what they do – and according to him, WE like to rock out in a stoned fashion.

I must admit, they do play innovative slow music which captures your thoughts with its slow rock vibe but they are meant to be doing a 60s thing and it ‘takes you back to the 60s’ but I wasn’t even born in the 60s so it isn’t going to take me back to anywhere to be honest. There are five tracks here which vie to capture your attention with some strong heartfelt vocals, some strong guitar riffs but really rather plodding drum beat. The only track here which really caught me properly was track 4, ‘Lost Crossroad Found,’ as it stands out from the rest by a long shot and is by far my favourite of the lot. This one has some considerable strength to it and is really quite good. Although I was not around to experience the 60s I really feel this tune with its happy-feel vibe.

This LP is alright but I think that this is a band where you have to actually see them Live to gain the full experience of what they do. It is a bit half cocked with you feeling it has some potential yet you just don’t seem to have the full thing, half is missing and seeing them live would probably give you this other half which seems to be missing in their music. There are five tracks here but only one stands out in my humble opinion and that is what this is all about, what I think of the music. ‘Lost Crossroad Found’ is perfect, it grabs your attention and keeps you listening, the other four tunes on the other hand seem to remain in a league of mediocrity, never really shining through. I would say that they are worth checking out Live mind as I really feel strongly that these are one of those bands that you have to see Live in order to appreciate them and don’t think this album really does them any justice. Other than the track I have mentioned, nothing special comes out of this CD at all and it is all rather lacking.

If you are a fan of 60s stoned rocker music then by all means check this band out but I think that you will find, as I have that they are really lacking but their Live sets have always impressed so they must put on one hell of a transformation when they play at gigs. Half an hour for five tunes? Not my idea of fun!

Rating:

Rich

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