Alt-UK

Music, Film, and Gaming

Reviews

Paramore – Still Into You

by Leave a Comment

Paramore - Still Into You

Having really not been impressed with Paramore’s ‘Now‘ single, I wasn’t at all sure what to expect with single number two from the band’s 2013 self-titled studio album. Whilst I’d still not personally perceive Paramore to be a band at their best right now, ‘Still Into You‘ does at least mark a definite improvement upon the last single.

The jerky introduction to ‘Still Into You‘ doesn’t sit particularly well with me as in my personal opinion Hayley Williams does not play to her vocal strengths here, the track certainly comes complete with an incredibly catchy chorus however, and Williams’ voice sounds absolutely brilliant throughout much of the track. ‘Still Into You‘ is not a single that I would say presents Paramore back at their very best, however it is at least a track that demonstrates that Paramore is still a band very capable of penning a catchy pop song. Regardless of whether or not you like the musical direction that Paramore has taken as a band these past few years, ‘Still Into You‘ is a track that should at least in some way appeal to fans of the band’s earlier material, at least with the punch that it packs with its chorus, even if nothing else.

Instrumentally I do not feel that this is the best track that Paramore has ever written as a band, in fact there’s a lot that I don’t like about this element of the music; the swirling synth sound present here is not a sound that I particularly like all that much and the track could certainly benefit from a really catchy guitar riff such as the band provided in abundance with its first two studio albums, there is however some brilliant drumming on display here, and also some absolutely superb bass lines.

For me, Paramore does not reach the heights that were reached in the earlier years here, this is nonetheless a pretty catchy offering of pop music however, and a track that will no doubt earn the band a few new fans from first time listeners in 2013.

Rating
[Rating:3/5]

Death In Texas – Oil & The Water

by Leave a Comment

Death In Texas – Oil & The Water

Right from the haunting piano and impressive drum sound in the opening, you know that ‘Oil & The Water‘ is going to be something rather special. You can feel the track building right from the word go, and as the vocals kick in here the track certainly doesn’t disappoint.

Whilst Death In Texas may be a band without a guitarist to speak of, what we do have here is an instrumental section of keys, bass, and drums that fits absolutely perfectly with the vocal work of Ruth Power. Ruth actually also happens to be the band’s pianist; clearly an astute instrumentalist as well as a very impressive vocalist. Instrumentally the band’s music is understated yet absolutely perfectly presented, the main focus is on the vocals here, but nonetheless the instrumental work offered in the track is absolutely sublime at all times and the drumming in particular here really does suit the Death In Texas sound absolutely brilliantly. The bassist’s work is also impressively presented here, a lot of the time it’s easy to forget about the individual components of the music as the instrumental elements of the band’s sound all combine together so well, there are certainly times when the bass work really hits you however and you really begin to appreciate the talent that is on display here.

I mentioned before about the haunting nature of the keys at the start of the track, and Ruth’s vocal sound definitely compliments and works well with this. Ruth most certainly has a very powerful voice, it’s something that’s central to the track, and as ‘Oil & The Water‘ progresses a very impressive vocal range is demonstrated on her behalf. It’s very hard not to fall in love with this kind of a voice and I’m sure that there are many Death In Texas fans out there that hold her vocal ability in an incredibly high regard, and many further people out there that will hear her voice in the future and be absolutely blown away.

Death In Texas is currently signed to Last Meal Records, and I definitely feel that this progressive pop band from London has a very big future ahead. If ‘Oil & The Water‘ is anything to go by then this is most certainly a band with a huge amount to offer, and it’ll be interesting to see what 2013 has in store for the band as they continue to tour the country and look to release more music.

Rating
[Rating:4/5]

The Gaslight Anthem @ Troxy, London (29th March 2013)

by 1 Comment

Brian Fallon The Gaslight Anthem

The Gaslight Anthem found their way into the UK’s hearts and record collections a few years ago, after taking to the stage at major festivals such as Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds. Their feel-good summery rock n’ roll anthems made for the perfect soundtrack to the festival season, but on a cold, dark evening, whilst heading down to see them play their first of two nights in London, all of that feels like a distant memory.

These guys are all about nostalgia though. Think hazy summer evenings, classic cars, dirty denim and faded photographs, and you get a pretty good idea of what The Gaslight Anthem are all about. With this in mind, it seems fitting that a band so heavily influenced by memories of days gone by are playing at a venue with so much history. Perhaps one of London’s lesser known venues, the Troxy is quintessentially British and about as far as you can get from the all-American ideals that have shaped The Gaslight Anthem into the band they are today.

In fact this majestic old cinema, with its sweeping staircases and plush carpets, is so far removed from the band’s New Jersey roots that it sparks a bit of culture shock in lead singer Brian Fallon. He pauses mid-set, pointing to a pink neon sign at the back of the room, which reads ‘cloakroom’, and muses; “To me, a cloakroom would be somewhere where Batman would hang his things, not where you would put a coat! But I’ve been learning that in fact, it is where you put a coat… And if you wait there before your soundcheck, Batman will not show up.”

Fallon’s humour is a hit with the crowd. He’s a man of few words but when he does speak, it feels more like he’s catching up with an old friend over a quiet drink, rather than addressing a room full of strangers that are hanging on his every word. He is effortlessly charismatic, strutting around the stage in sturdy brown boots and a red checkered shirt with the sleeves rolled up to reveal intricately tattooed arms. Despite his rough and ragged appearance, Fallon comes across as being a friendly, mild-mannered, very likeable frontman and it’s clear that his charm has the crowd wrapped tightly around his little finger.

The rest of the band seem happy to stay out of the limelight, and instead remain focused on giving the crowd good, solid example of exactly how live music should be. They’re loud, they’re lively and they sound incredible but more importantly, they look like they’re enjoying themselves. In between the raw, gravelly vocals and the wailing guitars, are smiles and a genuine sense of passion, which becomes even more apparent every time Fallon looks up from his guitar and fails to hide a huge Cheshire Cat smile at the sight of the crowd.

The Gaslight Anthem Brian Fallon The Gaslight Anthem Holding Guitar Up Alex Levine The Gaslight Anthem Alex Rosamilia The Gaslight Anthem Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem

Alex Rosamilia of The Gaslight Anthem Brian Fallon The Gaslight Anthem Playing Guitar Alex Rosamilia The Gaslight Anthem Guitar Ian Perkins The Gaslight Anthem Alex Levine The Gaslight Anthem Bassist

It’s hard to tell who’s having more fun – the band or the crowd! Every song prompts a singalong and there’s not a face in the room that doesn’t light up upon hearing the opening notes of ‘Great Expectations’. It’s not just the hits that get the crowd going though, in fact it’s quite the opposite.

After being compared to Bruce Springsteen in a million different reviews, it seems that The Gaslight Anthem are ready to start doing things a bit differently. Of course there are far worse people to be associated with, but a band as good as this shouldn’t have to spend their career in the shadow of another artist.

They launch into their set with a whole host of tracks from their latest album, all of which have a slightly rockier edge to them and feel much more accessible than some of their earlier material. Usually a set like this would make people glaze over or head to bar during the songs they don’t know, but these guys are better than that. They seamlessly blend their newer tracks in with well-known songs from ‘The ‘59 Sound’ and ‘American Slang‘, barely giving the crowd a chance to stop and catch their breath as they work their way through an extensive twenty-three-song setlist.

Each song is met with cheering, whooping and shouts of approval, a sure sign that Gaslight have mastered the art of pleasing their fans. Downstairs the crowd are going wild, singing at the top of their lungs, starting mosh pits and launching crowdsurfers out into a sea of sweaty, moving bodies. However the atmosphere upstairs could not be more different, with seated fans tapping their toes, smiling and clapping politely to show their appreciation.

It’s refreshing to see such a range of positive reactions from people of all ages and backgrounds though, rather than a bog-standard gig full of teens that are more intent on pushing and shoving than enjoying the music. This crowd are far more mature, but maybe that’s because The Gaslight Anthem are for those who have lived a little. The honest, heartfelt lyrics of title track ‘Handwritten’ are reminiscent of better days and as Fallon’s deep, gravelly voice sings “I know there’s someone out there feeling just how I feel” it’s clear that he’s right. Just one look at the crowd reveals fans sporting t-shirts emblazoned with the band’s logo, arms tattooed with lyrics to their songs and smiles spread across weathered faces that have all been there before.

Review and Photography by Liz Murray

Fall Out Boy – Young Volcanoes

by Leave a Comment

Fall Out Boy - Save Rock and Roll Album Cover

With track number three from the ‘Save Rock and Roll‘ studio album, Fall Out Boy most definitely caught me more than a little off-guard. Expecting the band to continue in a similar vein to ‘My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)‘ and ‘The Phoenix‘, Fall Out Boy instead unleashed a bit of a folkier offering with third single, ‘Young Volcanoes‘, despite the drastic change of style however, Fall Out Boy most certainly still manage to hit the spot here, and ‘Young Volcanoes‘ is perhaps even the strongest track that they’ve unveiled from the album thus far.

‘Young Volcanoes‘ is definitely a lighter track than the first two released from the album, a poppy folk infused number which comes complete with an incredibly infectious, singalong chorus. This is a real feel-good anthem for the summer, complete with a ‘woah-oh’ chorus and the incredible Patrick Stump vocal tone that we’ve all come to expect from Fall Out Boy over the years. Stump has always had such a soothing voice, and it’s certainly no different with this track; the style may be different, the vocals are still as silky as ever though, and Patrick Stump’s vocals are what stand out most strongly about the music.

Since returning from hiatus and hitting us with the news of studio album number six, Fall Out Boy has very clearly demonstrated that it’s not a band that has remained static since ‘Folie à Deux‘ was released in 2008. With each and every studio album Fall Out Boy has looked to progress its sound and come back with something different, a course that the band appears to be continuing to follow with ‘Save Rock and Roll‘. When Fall Out Boy went on hiatus in 2009, we had to be aware that if and when they returned, they’d inevitably do so with a view to moving on and providing something a little different, much like Blink-182 did when they released their ‘Neighborhoods‘ studio album in 2011. ‘Young Volcanoes‘ demonstrates that we can expect quite a variety of sounds to be on display when Fall Out Boy releases ‘Save Rock and Roll‘ on April 12th, and I for one am now even more excited than ever to hear what Fall Out Boy has to offer with this latest studio album.

Rating
[Rating:4.5/5]

The Uninvited Review

by Leave a Comment

I went into watching The Uninvited without any real pre-existing knowledge of what I was letting myself in for; the name of the film seemed familiar, beyond that though I couldn’t really recall much else about the film, and the only key detail I knew about the film was that it was a horror film. The film I’d say comes across as a mix of films like Ringu and The Grudge, combined with more contemporary films such as Paranormal Activity and Insidious. It’s actually a remake of the South Korean horror film A Tale of Two Sisters, and this would therefore explain the Asian horror vibe of the film that you get here.

One of the key things that struck me about The Uninvited is the performance of Elizabeth Banks; she’s really good as the creepy stepmother, and for me she provided the absolute stand out performance of the film. Unfortunately there was not really enough focus on her character for my liking, when she was called upon she was brilliant at all times however, and fulfilled her role perfectly in creating a sense of tension and suspense throughout the film. Elizabeth Banks was brilliant then, but beyond this I have very little that’s particularly positive to say about The Uninvited. This film is incredibly clichéd and unoriginal, everything that takes place in the film has all been done before, and it’s all been done a lot better in the past, too.

The Uninvited is one of those horror film’s that comes complete with a twist; you think you know where you are with the film, and then it goes and ‘shocks’ you by turning that around, only, you know, it doesn’t, because in horror film’s these days it’s actually probably more shocking when the film doesn’t have a terrible twist. I think the film was probably actually better before it provided its big twist, I certainly enjoyed it a little more up until that point anyway, then they went and hit me with it, and I felt even more disappointed in the film than I’d anticipated. I’m guessing the original film that The Uninvited is based on had this twist, and so it’s not really the fault of directorial duo Charles Guard and Thomas Guard that this element of the film is so completely awful, it did rather ruin any enjoyment that I’d taken from the script up until this point however, and left me more than a little disappointed in the direction that the film had taken.

Throughout the film there are some pretty great shots of the location, aesthetically the film is incredibly pleasing, in terms of actual content however the film fails to ever really deliver. There doesn’t seem to be a strong sense of storyline here, the film just seems to meander along, and every so often we’re thrown another ghost-child moment that we get all too often with these annoying Asian horror film remakes. Banks’ character is great at building tension when she’s around, all too often she’s not however, and the film fails to really grab you or have you particularly caring about the events that are taking place onscreen. There’s no great sense of structure here, and for that reason The Uninvited really seems to struggle.

The film managed to gross in excess of $41 million worldwide, and I really don’t know how it managed to do this. Sure, it has the star power of people like Elizabeth Banks, David Strathairn, and Emily Browning, it also happens to be a really bad film however, and surely word travels pretty fast in this day and age about just how truly awful a new film is?! Elizabeth Banks is really good in the film, she alone is not enough to save it however, and The Uninvited ultimately suffers from its disappointingly clichéd approach and failure to really provide any sort of a compelling viewing experience. I’ve seen worse, but The Uninvited really isn’t a horror film that works, and definitely isn’t a film that I’ll be watching again in the future.

Man Overboard – White Lies

by Leave a Comment

Man Overboard - Heart Attack Album Cover

For me, Man Overboard has long been a pop-punk band with a great amount of potential, but had up until now failed to really deliver at the highest level. They’ve always been a very listenable band, with ‘White Lies‘ they definitely seem to hint at a slightly higher quality with album number three however, and it sounds as though they’ll now be taking things to a whole new level, and probably a whole new greater audience too.

‘White Lies‘ is a very big sounding track, coming complete with a huge chorus and a great amount of fun about it. It’s not hugely different to what the band has come up with in the past, I just think that they’re doing it a little better now though; they’ve tightened up their sound, tightened up the production values, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if 2013 sees the band propelled to whole new heights. They’re a pop-punk band with a great amount of talent, and that really seems to be coming through with their music now. It really is difficult to listen to ‘White Lies‘ without having a huge smile on your face; it’s a fantastic summer anthem from Man Overboard, and even though the weather in the UK is pretty awful right now, ‘White Lies‘ has most definitely brought a little sunshine into my life just lately.

If you like a good uplifting pop-punk song then Man Overboard’s ‘White Lies‘ is most certainly a song that should go down well with you. Instrumentally the band is strong, vocally the sound certainly hits the spot, and the track also comes complete with lyrics that you’ll undoubtedly be singing along to in no time. I for one absolutely can’t wait to hear the band’s third studio album, ‘Heart Attack‘, and will most certainly be checking it out when it’s released at the end of May.

Rating
[Rating:4/5]

The Story So Far – What You Don’t See

by Leave a Comment

The Story So Far - What You Don't See

In 2011 The Story So Far burst onto the pop-punk scene with debut album ‘Under Soil and Dirt‘, 2 years later and the band is back again with album number two. Is ‘What You Don’t See‘ a sophomore slump though, or is it to be one of the comeback album’s of the year?

Parker Cannon’s passionate vocal approach was one of the things that impressed people so much about ‘Under Soil and Dirt‘, he had a huge amount of fire in his belly and with every vocal line he belted out you really felt he believed 100% in what he was singing about. With ‘What You Don’t See‘ the vocals are absolutely incredible again; Parker Cannon continues where he left off with album number one, and I really don’t have a bad thing to say whatsoever about his voice. Combine that with some very impressive musicianship and you have an incredibly solid studio album again here. The Story So Far is a band that definitely seems to have matured with studio album number two, and in my book this is definitely not a bad thing. The band’s first album was great and all, bit with ‘What You Don’t See‘ they just seem to really take things to a whole new level, building upon what they brought to the table last time and really refining their pop-punk sound whilst maturing as musicians at the same time.

The album’s opening track ‘Things I Can’t Change‘ eases you in pretty gently here; upon first listening to the album I was a bit worried with this opening that the album wouldn’t meet my admittedly high expectations after the standard that was set with ‘Under Soil and Dirt‘, the track has certainly grown on me with repeated listens however, and although it’s by no means one of the best tracks on the album, it’s still a pretty decent track from The Story So Far. As the swirling guitar riffs and powerful vocals hit you with track number two, ‘Stifled‘, you know that the band has begun to up its game, preparing you for a very impressive pack of pop-punk songs. As I said before, opening track ‘Things I Can’t Change‘ is a definite grower rather than an instant classic, and this is in fact something that’s true of the album as a whole. It takes a few listens to really ‘get’ the brilliance of this album, a pattern which has been true of some of my favourite pop-punk albums of all time. It’s a slow burner, but it’s well worth the breaking in period for the brilliance of the album that you come to know and love by the end of the experience.

It’s with third track ‘Small Talk‘ that the album really begins to explode, a track so beautifully catchy that it’ll no doubt have you hooked for a long time to come. ‘Small Talk‘ is an absolute belter of a pop-punk anthem; instrumentally hard hitting, lyrically brilliant, and, as ever, absolutely vocally outstanding. Right from the start of the track you know that this one is going to be something rather special, and it’s certainly not one to disappoint. The bass tone is absolutely phenomenal as always here, the song is incredibly well structured, and everything about the track just seems to really fit together absolutely perfectly.

‘Empty Space‘ is another absolutely pounder of a pop-punk track from this album, and in places it reminds me a little of ‘Deja Entendu‘ era Brand New, a comparison definitely to be proud of as that’s one of my very favourite albums. Again the track has absolutely superb structure, and it’s another track that I can definitely see myself coming back to a lot over the coming months and years. It’s hard hitting, catchy, and it’s just everything you could possibly want for in a pop-punk release; punchy, yet absolutely hits the spot with enough pop power about it to really get stuck in your head.

There’s not really a single bad track present on this album, there are of course some tracks that are better than others, the same as you’ll discover with any studio album, but not a single one of these 11 tracks is at all bad; they all have their merits, and all combine nicely to form the ‘What You Don’t See‘ studio album as a whole. ‘Framework‘ provides a powerfully uplifting and fitting sendoff for the album, and in listening to this album you really feel like you’ve experienced something truly special. The musicianship on display with this final track, and in fact throughout the entire album is absolutely sublime; the song’s are so well crafted that listening to this album is at all times an absolute pleasure. As I keep coming back to, Parker Cannon’s vocal tone is just something else on this record, he’s probably one of the finest vocalists in pop-punk right now, a true vocal star of the genre with a talent that young fans of the band can most definitely aspire to.

There are few pop-punk releases this year that will come with as much hype as The Story So Far’s ‘What You Don’t See‘, the young band certainly don’t crumble under the pressure of expectation here though, and do in fact seem to thrive under it as they come up with a second absolutely incredible studio release. If you were a fan of ‘Under Soil and Dirt‘ then I definitely recommend investing in ‘What You Don’t See‘ as the band once again have a huge amount to offer here, or if you’re a pop-punk fan and yet to really listen to The Story So Far then definitely take the time to do so now as you’re really missing out on something seriously special.

Rating
[Rating:4/5]

Cockneys vs Zombies Review

by Leave a Comment

As a zombie loving film student living in East London, Cockneys vs Zombies is a film that really made me think ‘This is a film that I’d absolutely love to have been involved in’. It’s a low budget zombie horror film from London based filmmaker Matthias Hoene, and Hoene is clearly someone with a very good knowledge of horror and a keen eye for what works in the genre. With a large helping of humour, a number of absolutely beautiful shots, and an incredibly badass war veteran played by Alan Ford, Cockneys vs Zombies really does have a lot going for it, and it’s hard not to be impressed by this zombie flick set in the English capital.

Before watching the film I must say that I didn’t have particularly high expectations; I’ve watched a lot of low budget horror films in my time, many of which have failed to impress and long been forgotten. Cockneys vs Zombies perhaps had a harder job to do with me than most, it’s set in the area that I currently live after all, an area in which I’ve filmed a few short films myself and I therefore really didn’t want the film to let my current area down. With Cockneys vs Zombies, Matthias Hoene most certainly succeeded in making me feel proud to be a budding filmmaker in East London.

Michelle Ryan, formerly of Eastenders fame, is one of the film’s key stars here, I also spotted Gary Beadle making a brief cameo, and there are a few others involved in the film as well with Eastenders/East London connections. There are thankfully no Dick Van Dyke style cockney accents present here, the key cockney’s all seem to be pretty well cast and the film definitely delivers in this area. As I mentioned before, Alan Ford’s character is particularly brilliant in the film, and for me this was one of the most standout elements of Cockneys vs Zombies. With a low budget comedy horror film such as this, there is much emphasis on the quality of the script and the quality of the acting in order to make it work, and in my eyes Matthias Hoene has certainly succeeded here in making sure that all elements of the film are strong enough to make it work and make it work well.

Cockneys vs Zombies is a tasty little mashup of comedy horror and action film conventions, combining nicely to form a 90 minute feature film of fun that will no doubt please fans of British horror films. There’s enough here to keep you entertained for the film’s duration, and if you’re looking for a bit of light entertainment on an evening then you can definitely do a lot worse than sitting down with Cockneys vs Zombies. There’s enough gore here to please the pure horror fans, enough light-hearted humour to please the comedy fans, and a healthy helping of action thrown in there as well just for good measure.

Cockneys vs Zombies is a film that’s well worth a watch, and it’ll also be interesting to keep an eye out for director Matthias Hoene and screenwriter James Moran in the future to see what they come up with next. Moran appears to be involved in writing a new film for 2013, Silent Night of the Living Dead, so I’ll certainly be checking that one out and seeing what that film has to offer; if Cockneys vs Zombies is anything to go by then I should surely be in for another British horror treat!

Tall Ships @ Scala, London (7th March 2013)

by Leave a Comment

Tall Ships Bassist (Scala, London)

Remember those kids in school who used to walk into an exam grinning from ear to ear because they knew they were going to get every question right? Well that’s the sort of quiet confidence that emanated from math-rock four-piece Tall Ships as they took to the stage at London’s Scala earlier this month.

Despite being the last date of their UK tour, the band still managed to look fresh-faced and enthusiastic as they shuffled onto the stage, smiling shyly at the sea of eager faces in front of them. The crowd were buzzing after being treated to the psychedelic, synth-y sounds of Emperor Yes, and an energetic performance from the ever so slightly trippy Isla, who brought their immaculately styled moustaches, floaty clothes and vast array of instruments off of the stage and into the audience. It was a breath of fresh air, then, to see Tall Ships’ frontman Ric Phethean emerge with just a guitar, a laptop, and a loop machine. No wacky clothes, no gimmicks, just raw talent.

With their guitars and dodgy haircuts, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Tall Ships are just another indie band. On the surface they’re nothing special, but it soon becomes clear that these guys are full of surprises. The first surprise of the evening is their choice of opening track. The first single from Tall Ships’ debut album ‘Everything Touching’ has received acclaim from the likes of NME, Punktastic and The Guardian, and has even made it onto the Radio 1 playlist. For most bands a huge crowd-pleaser like this would be the obvious choice to end their set with, but these guys aren’t like most bands, so they launch straight into the catchy, grinding guitar riff of ‘T=0’.

When it comes to live shows, the same old formula has been re-hashed time and time again, so it’s refreshing to see a band like Tall Ships breaking out of that mould and doing things a little bit differently. Keeping their fans happy seems to be at the top of their agenda and that’s exactly what they do, from the juddery, jangly ‘Best Ever‘, to the pounding drum beats of ‘Gallop‘, right through to their climatic encore in the form of ‘Vessels‘.

tall-ships-london-scala tall-ships-Ric-Phethean-photo tall-ships-keys tall-ships-drummer tall-ships-Ric-Phethean

When the band last toured the UK, they consisted of only three members and were virtually unknown. Older fans will no doubt argue that the original line-up was better but there’s no disputing the fact that, with the addition of keys, these four guys are making some amazing sounds now.

Many of these older, more hardcore fans were right down at the front of the crowd, belting out every single word with more passion than if they’d written the songs themselves. In contrast, there were also plenty of people who had maybe heard them played on the radio a couple of times, standing at the back of the venue, clutching a drink, smiling and nodding along to the odd song. Despite there being a very clear divide between fans, there wasn’t a single person in the room that wasn’t completely mesmerised by what was going on in front of them.

And when I say ‘in front of them’, I mean right in front of them. With no barriers and no wall of butch, high vis-clad security guards in front of the stage, the band were able to really engage with their fans and give a much more intimate performance. The front row gazed up in awe at Ric, whose soaring vocals, coupled with the complex array of noises made by the rest of the band, filled the entire room and captivated everyone within its walls. From start to finish, all eyes were on the band’s shy, understated, yet quietly brilliant frontman.

If the crowd’s reaction to their beautifully complex melodies, haunting vocals and polished live performance are anything to go by, then this certainly won’t be the last we hear of Tall Ships. These guys are going to be seriously big, and commanding a room full of so many adoring fans just goes to show that they’re more than ready to step up to the mark and take on the festivals they have lined up this summer, including The Great Escape festival in their hometown of Brighton. In fact, the likes of Reading and Leeds, the Isle of Wight festival and even Glastonbury are well within their reach… But for now, if they can make a room full of people smile and dance on a cold, wet Thursday night in King’s Cross then they must be doing something right!

Review and Photography by Liz Murray

Bring Me The Horizon – Sleepwalking

by Leave a Comment

bmth-sempiternal

With a chorus not too dissimilar to the early work of Linkin Park, ‘Sleepwalking‘ is a great new track from Bring Me The Horizon, and one that could well win the band a few new fans.

Whilst the ‘Sempiternal‘ studio album doesn’t actually officially come out until the start of April, it’s already available to stream online, a move undertaken by the band amidst controversy of the album having been leaked online 2 months earlier than its originally intended release date. The album may not officially be out yet, but ‘Sleepwalking‘ is already the third single to be released from the album out of the eleven tracks to feature on it. The band has quite an interesting variety of tracks on the album, and as previously mentioned, ‘Sleepwalking’ can certainly be seen to have more than just a hint of a Linkin Park vibe about it. Think of a slightly heavier ‘Crawling‘ and you’re probably not  far off envisioning what ‘Sleepwalking‘ sounds like. It’s a pretty impressive track from Bring Me The Horizon, although I can imagine that whilst gaining a fair few new fans with this new single/ the ‘Sempiternal‘ studio album, the band may also alienate a few old ones that are a little too set in their ways to accept the change in approach of the band. ‘Sleepwalking‘ is an incredibly solid single from Bring Me The Horizon, but it’s also a long way different from the band’s starting point; Bring Me The Horizon is a band that has come along way over the years as the band’s members have progressed and matured as musicians, it’s commendable to see, but also understandable that not everyone will be down with it.

If you’re a Linkin Park fan, or general fan of catchy metal songs, then you’ll no doubt have a lot of love for ‘Sleepwalking‘ and it’s most definitely a piece of music that I’d highly recommend listening to. The track won’t be for everyone, and the entire ‘Sempiternal‘ studio album certainly isn’t in the exact same tone as this track, personally I think that ‘Sleepwalking‘ is a great piece of music though and comes from another very impressive studio album from Bring Me The Horizon in the form of ‘Sempiternal‘.

Give this track a listen, and also give the ‘Sempiternal‘ studio album a listen too whilst you’re at it; if you like what you hear then show your support for great British rock music and make sure that you pre-order it for the album’s official release on April 1st.

Rating
[Rating:4/5]