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Funeral For A Friend – Four Ways To Scream Your Name

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Here are four more tracks from that wonderful band known as Funeral For A Friend and again you get their astonishing blend of Emo and Hardcore. This EP shows how much the band have progressed since they made ‘Between Order And Model’ and they have really refined their sound to polish it off and give it that nicely varnished kind of effect. The four songs on this EP show great passion and ‘This years most open heart break,’ the track that kicks it all off is really exciting with passion filled right to the brim with great outbreaks of hardcore added in here and there just for good measure. This track shows genre splicing at its best and this is definitely a band that knows exactly what they are trying to achieve and pull it off at an extremely high standard. They have produced four fine tracks here and each one is jam packed with a great of emotion and a hell of a lot of passion. There is a great deal of talent in this band and with these 4 tracks they could definitely make a big name of themselves as they have both passion and aggression so they have the best of both worlds and can probably use this to gain themselves fans from many different genres.

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Five Star ReviewFive Star ReviewFive Star ReviewFive Star ReviewFive Star Review

Funeral For A Friend – Juneau

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This is a three track single from the Welsh post-hardcore band that is Funeral For A Friend. This CD showcases a reworked version of the bands favourite track, ‘Juno’ under a new name of ‘Juneau’ and it also features ‘Kiss And Make Up (All Bets Are Off)’ from the radio one rock show and ‘Getaway Plan.’ The original version of the song was good, but the new single track, ‘Juneau’ just totally blows you away. It is full of energy and the vocals are far stronger than I have ever heard this band playing before. With such a strong track set to become a single, it is sure to sell many copies and I urge you all to buy this single if you are at all interested in post-hardcore as this track is an excellent example of the genre and really shows the band finding their finest form. Tracks ‘Kiss And Make Up (All Bets Are Off)’ from and ‘Getaway Plan’ are also good, sturdy tracks which make this into a supreme single with their great take on the genre of post-hardcore. Again, the band seem to show great passion yet great aggression at the same time and in their music they really put across a great message to their fans and you can tell that they get great enjoyment out of the music which they produce. They are so passionate about what they do that it is unbelievable, if ever there were an award for effort, this band would win it by a mile. If you are a fan of Funeral For A Friend then you should definitely be looking into investing in this CD as it would be money well spent and I swear that you will not be at all disappointed.

Rating:
Review StarReview StarReview StarReview StarReview Half Star

Forever Until October – Forever Until October

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When I got this CD through the door I was really looking forward to listening to it as they are on Copro Records and I like many of the bands that Copro have to offer, especially Dai Lo – they are an absolutely amazing band on the label! So I put this one straight into the CD changer and got listening to it right away!

I was not surprised to find an extremely melodic, UK Emo act and was really pleased with what I heard! The band have amazingly melodic vocals, some supreme drumming, and also awesome guitar riffs. They are another fresh and vibrant band to come out of the Copro cupboard and are absolutely blinding musicians/songwriters. They are all that I had hoped for and more! This ten track self titled album shows that we have another underground Emo band in the UK that are well capable of cracking the mainstream stream with their refreshing take on melodic Emo/Post-Hardcore.

There are some absolutely amazing tunes on display here like the cracking ‘The Whitest Of Lies.’ This is an extremely melodic, emotional affair that shows off the bands extremely strong vocals and also some amazing guitar riffs. This band has truly inspirational vocals and you can see that vocalist Phil Darroch really does have a lot of talent on offer and is sure to impress you with his amazing voice that is full of melody and just exactly what you want for an Emo band really – brilliant. He has great talent for what he does and purely on the basis of this id say that this band will be famous before long! You need a powerful vocalist in this genre and that is what a lot of the bands lack – but this band really have that X-Factor in their vocals as they are full of pure brilliance and have great style and flair. This band would do well on a music channel because these are the sort of vocals which make you look up at the screen and make you wonder just who that band with the brilliant vocalist are.

So if you like Emo and love to hear bands with a refreshing sound then give Forever Until October’s self titled album a listen as if you do then you are in for a treat. They will definitely impress you if you have any respect for Emo whatsoever as they have some absolutely amazing musicians and a brilliant singer. More fine music from those lovely people at Copro Records!

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Review StarReview StarReview StarReview StarReview Half Star

Base Camp Five Demo

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This is a four track demo from the Welsh four piece metal band that is Base Camp Five. It is their first demo and hopefully will be the first of many from this cool little quartet from Pontypridd in South Wales.

This is a really cool demo and shows off the band great music with four tracks of absolutely sublime metal. The first track here, ‘Good Intentions’ is a good example of the music which they create. They are a guitar heavy band with some fast drumming and interesting lyrics. On this one the vocals range from almost being melodic to bursting at the seems with aggression and this creates a really cool effect. The guitarring here is really cool and I would go as far as saying that this is an amazing tune and could easily have been written by any of the bands that they take influence from and been a top seller. The second track here, ‘Sense Of Humour’ is also a good track with heavy metal outbursts to die for. Again the guitar playing and drumming is awesome and coupled with the vocals makes way for an excellent metal song. With two tracks down this is looking like an awesome Demo from a Welsh band that know exactly what they are doing with their music and pull it off extremely well. The third track, ’01:43am’ is no exception to the trend and again proves the band to be a great band with a lot of talent. I particularly like their outbursts of heaviness because this is what separates them from the crowd. If they did not have these then they would just be your average kind of Rock band but these little twists add to the fun. This band really have something special going on here and I am glad to be in on it and consider myself a fan of the music.

So, with three tracks of this standard they had to go out with a band on this last one, didn’t they!? Well they sure did, this is my favourite of the four, with a blinding chorus and ending on a really heavy note – this isn’t one that you want to be missing because it is the climax of the CD, the moment it has all been building up to and it certainly does not disappoint! I really love this one, with its heavy guitars, supreme drumming and gob smacking vocals. The two styles of vocals, aggressive and melodic work really well together and create one of the best songs of this genre I’ve heard in years. This band are certainly not unoriginal and they are full of energy so make sure you get this demo, you can get it for free by contacting Leon by sending your address to him.

Make sure that you check this band out everyone and don’t hesitate in e-mailing for a CD – do it now and do it proud!

Rating:
Five Star ReviewFive Star ReviewFive Star ReviewFive Star ReviewFive Star Review

Fony – Circles

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Oh yes – that’s right people, another release from those lovely people at Copro Records! This time it is Fony that have released an album on the label, and they have continued the labels trend of releasing amazing material! This is an 11 track album from the band showing off their diverse, experimental and extremely powerful sound off to the world again. The last time I saw this band was on the Kerrang TV channel and I was extremely pleased with what I heard – with this album the band continue to impress me with their unique style and great ability.

This is another experimental affair from the band comprising of 11 more of their very fine tunes. I am a great fan of Copro Records and am also quite into Fony so the fact that this was released on Copro was really quite cool as it is a collaboration of two of my loves. The tunes have strong bass lines, fast drumming, storming guitar riffs and absolutely amazing vocals that are sure to just blow you away – pure genius. This is a band that has tremendous talent and you can tell this as soon as you start listening to them – they know what they are trying to do with their music and seem to know exactly where they are going with it. The tunes which they create are interesting and insightful – if you were a fan of their older stuff then you will definitely want to consider yourself a fan of them now as they have progressed a considerable amount and have really developed in to an extremely mature band that have a good head on their shoulders. This album clocks in at a mighty 51 minutes but there is never a dull moment in this time as they always find a way of keeping you entertained. Whether it be with their awesome guitar solos, fast drumming or their amazing vocals you will be entertained and you will never lose concentration. They have their hard hitting, metal tunes and then they have their softer more emotional tunes but whatever they are doing – they do it extremely well and manage to pull it off in tremendous style. They are an extremely impressive band and you really don’t have to look hard to see why Copro have snapped up this band – they are a label with an eye for talent and this band definitely have no lack of it!

Check out this band if you like the sound of them people, don’t be shy! They are an absolutely amazing band with great style, flair, and passion – I urge you to go and see them live, buy a CD or at least download a song!

Rating:
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Atticus Demo

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Atticus are a Loughborough based band that play powerful Rock music. They have been together for four years now and in this time have built up a strong live sound by gigging at every opportunity.

This is a three track demo from the band showing off their powerful rock sound and I must say that what they have produced here is really good! By the name they have chosen I was expecting some kind of Blink182 carbon copy but this band are nothing like them and have a sound that is totally brilliant. They play Alt Rock, and they play it extremely well, with powering bass lines, fiery guitars, great drumming, and amazingly strong vocals. They have a lot to offer and in this demo have provided 3 awesome tunes that have style, passion and flair. It may only be a three track CD but clocks in at just under 12 minutes so it is not as if the songs are short, they are not too long however and I think that the band have found exactly the right length to have their songs at. They know exactly what they are trying to do with their music and sound confident doing what they do. I love the sound that the band have produced as it is hard hitting in places while also managing to keep a mellow rock feel to it.

My favourite of the three tunes is ‘Reasons’ as it is the hardest hitting of the three in my opinion and has some awesome guitar work in it. There are also some great bass lines, strong drumming, and near on perfect vocals! I really like the vocals in this tune and feel that the vocals, and the guitar riffs are what make this song stand out from the rest. They have obviously put a lot of time and effort into this one and as a result have pulled off an extremely fine tune, played with a distinct passion.

I think that this band definitely have a good thing going as the sound which they create is absolutely amazing. I am sure that this band will go a long way in the scene as the passion is there, and the talent is there as well. If these guys continue to gig whenever possible then before long they will have an enormous fan base and be at the forefront of the Alt Rock scene.

Rating:
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Five Days Of Static – Everything Works In Theory

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This is a 4 track EP from the great Alt Rock/Metal band that is Five Days Of Static – they are an awesome band and are really cool guys as well! They are from Ellesmere Port and are well worth listening to.

This four track EP offers up some great tunes – right from the word go! The first track, ‘In The Company Of One’ is an absolutely amazing tune with great lyrics, amazingly melodic vocals, a good drum beat, slick guitar playing and a cool little musical breakdown about half way through. The vocals disappear for a good 20 seconds before you get launched back in to them again and they are absolutely amazingly done. I love the way that they have done this as the sound that they have created in doing it is truly amazing. Before now I had never heard this band play before and up until a couple of weeks before that didn’t even know that the band existed – but I’m glad that I know of their existence now as they are a truly awesome band and if I had missed out of them then it would have been a great loss! The vocalist here has a lot of talent with his great melodic rocky take on the vocals and this works well with the fast drum pace and storming bass lines – not to mention the fiery guitars! I really like what this band two as on this four track EP they demonstrate to me a band that have good song writing skills, play their instruments well, and have a strong passion for the music that they produce. This little EP clocks in at just over 12 minutes but these are a good 12 minutes that will leave you glad that you have spent your hard earned cash on this band! Four tracks of great songs that will have you singing along and nodding your head to the brilliant drum beats.

So if you are into melodic rock vocals, with fiery metallic guitar riffs, and fast as hell drumming then this is definitely the sort of band that you ought to be checking out – this is a strong, young British act with a bag full of talent! It is the younger bands that need your support as if they don’t get it then they are sure to last no more than 5 minutes – so make sure you all check this band out and try and get to one of their gigs in the future!

Rating:
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Five Ash Down – Falling Away

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Five Ash Down are a four piece Rock band from the Midlands that take inspiration mainly from alternative US acts rather than the UK’s Brit Rock scene and as a result have created a vibrant and exciting sound of Rock music. This is their third release to date with two Demos being recorded before this three track single release. Their sound is really exciting and refreshing – yes that’s right people, two CDs in a row that I have reviewed that have not only been exciting but also refreshing.

So here we have three tracks, ‘Falling Away,’ ‘Not What I Wanted,’ and ‘Moments (619,)’ and they are all really good tunes. They all have the same kind of style and this is an uplifting, exciting sound that is sure to put a smile on your face as it is an interesting sound which they have managed to create in their music and I really like it. The drumming is fast, the bass lines are fiery, the guitar playing is great, and the vocals are super melodic and full of energy and refreshment. When it is all combined together this makes well for an awesome CD that has three songs which are well worth listening to as they are awesome tunes. The power in them is amazing as the music is really quite melodic vocally so it is strange how they manage to have such a powery instrumental side and get away with it still sounding good, but I think the reason that it does sound so good is because the vocals and the instrumental side of things are contrasting and make way for a really good listen. ‘Moments (619)’ is my favourite of the three as I feel that this tune has the most energy of the three and really is my kind of tune. It’s a really exciting tune that has power, emotion, and a hell of a lot of energy! This tune really brings the best out in the band with a tune that grabs you by the neck and holds you there right until the very end. I promise you this; you will never stop this tune mid-drift to pursue other matters, you will hang on right till the very end. This little baby clocks in at just under 12 minutes and this is an action packed time with never a dull moment keeping your attention and impressing you deeply. If this isn’t your thing then I really don’t know what is because it is patently obvious that this band have great talent for what they do and are extremely talented musicians.

So everyone, make sure you check this band out and I promise you this, you will not be disappointed and it will leave you gagging for more. ‘Falling Away’ is one of those releases that could be in your CD changer for 6 months and you still wouldn’t tire of it! The three tunes on display here are of a really high standard and it is sure to get them critical acclaim and a pretty massive fan base.

Rating:
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Firstborn – The Face In The Frame EP

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Upon first listen, this band sound like any other band in the genre of Emo Rock – and of course this is not very interesting. However, upon listening again to the music you start to take in the vocals of the music and it is then that you realise that this band are nothing like their U.S. counterparts – where they whine about previous girlfriends, Firstborn replace this with every day events which you can relate to. This makes the band really approachable and gives them that feeling of humanity and friendliness – Firstborn are the sort of people who we can understand and could quite easily consider to be our friends.

Here are 4 tracks which convey deep meaning and really touch our hearts due to general down to earth nature and this music is really quite considerably amazing once you realise what it is all about. You can really see these guys point of view and can feel sorry for them, rather than silently thinking ‘stop whining emo kid.’ This music has been played by Mary Anne Hobbs – this is not really hard to believe as she plays a lot of good music, so it is great that a band have finally made it on to her playlist with some real emotion, rather than some rubbish made up to sell records and make some money. The general public will now finally be graced with a band that they can relate to and seem like human beings rather than being some sort of alien concept. This CD, of course has some really amazing lyrics with the bands really pouring their hearts in to the music and you can tell that when the band make this music they are really believing in what they are singing about. There are some terrific bass lines on display here, as well as phenomenal drum beats, and beastly guitar riffs. The vocals are really spot on all four of the tracks here so this is good to hear as not only do the lyrics have some real meaning but they are also portrayed well. This band make music that makes you think – the sound of the band is not always exactly the most original but at least they are not singing about things they hold no real ground on. Track 2 sounds very reminiscent of Incubus at their most melodic moments – this sound coupled with the bands honest, approachable lyrics make way for a very wholesome track which you can really listen to and understand, but at the same time deeply enjoy.

I am sure that the band will go a long way in this genre as they have something that a lot of bands lack – that being honesty, not just to the fans but to themselves as well. They are obviously happy in what they are doing and if the band are happy then the chances are that the listeners are going to be as well. Although this band are very good, I feel that the best is still yet to come from this band and they could easily improve further still. Track 3 shows talent which seems to surpass the rest of the tracks on the CD – if the band could make an album and have 10 or 11 tracks of the same sort of quality as this one then they would easily be a million selling, next big thing band. All the instruments on this track seem to be perfectly sequenced and this track sounds so complete that it is unbelievable. It is not every day that you hear a track this good and it is extremely pleasant on the ears to hear such wonderful music. Expect to see a lot more from this band as by the sounds of things they are far from finishing what they’ve got to say and have a lot more to offer. If this band are to follow the trend of many and split up then this would be a very tragic loss in the scene of today because they are obviously an extremely talented band that are sure to just get better and better as they gain in experience and travel the world. You should really look in to getting to one of this bands gigs as it is sure to be worth it as I feel that from listening to the CD you only really get half the story and to gain the full experience you really need to listen to them live.

Rating:
Review Star

Appease – Act Five, Scene Three

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This is a 4 track EP from the Manchester pop-punk 4 piece that is ‘Appease’. When I read that this was a pop punk CD then I got a bit worried because I thought that it would all be about breaking up with girlfriends and about how fun it is to masturbate but luckily it is not. The vocals are definitely pop-punk style vocals but there are some strong guitar riffs which provide licks of hardcore and this makes it a sharper sound and I like the way that this has been done to make it stronger and not let it become dull and uninteresting like pop punk can sometimes be. The strong guitar lines that occasionally come through liven the whole experience up and strop it becoming too boring. The vocals are very American sounding and it seems that the band are trying to be something that they are not with the vocals and I do not really like the way that this is done but the drumming is amazing, with a fast pace and great beat. The thing about these 4 tracks is that they all seem to sound the same and when listening to it you can not really tell where one track ends and the next one starts so this is a definite fault. They need to add a bit of variation in to their music as it seems to drag on forever where the tracks sound so similar to one another. There is a definite lack of experimentation going on in this band in this EP and as a result all the tracks have come out sounding pretty much the same so it really did not excite me as it was way too unadventurous. I like to hear something new when I listen to a CD and all I heard in this one was the same old pop-punk just with a few storming guitar riffs. This one failed to capture my interest so unless you are a diehard fan of this band then don’t splash out your hard earned cash on it.

Rating:
Review Star