Ten reviews you might have missed

Reviews from Friday 22 March 2019

The Xcerts – ‘Wildheart Dreaming’

As a fan of The Xcerts, it can be frustrating to continually see their music fall on deaf ears. Having easily relatable lyrics and powerful choruses, it consists of the exact ingredients required to make massively popular art. Their latest release, ‘Wildheart Dreaming’, is no exception,

Thursday 21 March 2019

Follower – ‘Against The Ropes’

Guildford five-piece, Follower, are introducing themselves to the world with their debut EP ‘Against The Ropes’. A relatively new band, they’ve only been around since 2016 but they’re already making a name for themselves, filling venues in their home town. Initially meeting on music forums, vocalist Luke Archer and

Buckcherry – ‘Warpaint’

Sun, sex and suspicious vocal chords. No this isn’t a new BBC show, it’s everything that comes to mind when you think of Buckcherry. The Californian hard rockers are back with their eighth album ‘Warpaint’ and it is a far cry from their prime. When you have Greta Van Fleet

Thursday 14 March 2019

LIVE: Blood Youth / Palm Reader / Lotus Eater @ Boston Music Rooms, London

Heavy music in the UK is undergoing an enormous revival. More and more punishing bands are making their way to the surface, all bringing their own unique approach to the genre. As a result, the touring circuit is now jam-packed with these artists, each bill showcasing a different side

American Football – ‘LP3’

When it comes to emo – ‘proper’ emo in musical form, rather than the all-encompassing term that came to be synonymous with studded belts and some, er, questionable haircuts in the mid-2000s – there are a handful of names that will always come immediately to mind. Sunny Day Real

Blaqk Audio – ‘Only Things We Love’

When AFI’s Davey Havok and Jade Puget last donned the mask of their synthpop alter-ego Blaqk Audio, it continued a trend that had manifested in recent AFI work. The 2016 LP ‘Material’ built on the dark motifs which flowed through the incredibly bleak AFI record ‘Burials’,

Parting Gift – ‘Ensom’

It’s been just over two years since Manchester four-piece Parting Gift slipped their way into the music world’s consciousness as something of an enigma with debut single ‘Be Still’. With a steady trickle of releases and plenty of touring since then, 2019 is already proving to be the most

Monday 11 March 2019

LIVE: twenty one pilots @ SSE Arena, Wembley

With the sea of camouflage clothing, combat boots and yellow duct tape that makes up tonight’s Wembley Arena crowd, it would be easy to confuse the thousands of concert goers for troops heading off to war. If you take a second to read the subtext of these

Sunday 10 March 2019

La Dispute – ‘Panorama’

La Dispute are a difficult band to categorise into one genre. Within every track there’s elements of post-hardcore, blues, scream and of course, spoken word. Despite that, it’s easy to recognise them. It’s a sound that’s immediately distinctive – but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to create. Because ‘Panorama’

Youth Fountain – ‘Letters To Our Former Selves’

When a label with a roster like Pure Noise Records – home to the likes of Boston Manor, Four Year Strong, and State Champs – add a new artist to their books, it’s hard to resist dipping in for a listen. In this case, it’s the turn of Canadian

Thursday 07 March 2019

LIVE: Our Hollow Our Home / TheCityIsOurs / The Uncharted @ Satan’s Hollow, Manchester

Manchester’s Satan’s Hollow is probably best known in its more usual guise as a night club, being one of the last and longest standing late night venues to cater to the alternative crowd. It’s hard to imagine a venue that looks more the part for a metal show, though,

Zebrahead – ‘Brain Invaders’

As far as longevity is concerned, pop punk really does have the superpower of never dying. The lifespan of the sub-genre has surpassed all of its detractor’s best wishes. Orange County good-time loving mob Zebrahead are a prime example of how the nostalgic scene can still thrive for over

Tuesday 05 March 2019

LIVE: While She Sleeps / Stray From The Path / Trash Boat / Landmvrks @ Rock City, Nottingham

A lot of people will tell you that metalcore is dying. They’ll tell you that not only is the genre over-saturated, but that the demand for it is disappearing along with the quality of the music. Some of you might agree with those people. But if you attended any

Friday 01 March 2019

Holding Absence – ‘Holding Absence’

Holding Absence are about to release one of the most highly anticipated albums in recent years. After exploding onto the British music scene a couple of years ago, the Cardiff based quintet have continued to sweep audiences off their feet and woo

LIVE: Mayday Parade / The Wonder Years / Movements / Pronoun @ Troxy, London

February isn’t a month that most would associate with pop-punk – especially not in the UK. February usually means grey skies, continuous rain and general misery, which is the complete opposite of everything pop-punk stands for. When a stacked line up is in your city, though, you strap on

Thursday 28 February 2019

In Flames – ‘I, The Mask’

In Flames are one of those bands that have an inextinguishable spark. First forming almost 30 years ago, they played an enormous role in elevating the legendary Gothenburg sound to prominence within the metal community. They’ve been churning out record after record ever since, inspiring countless bands that have

Wednesday 27 February 2019

LIVE: Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes / Black Futures @ Peddler, Sheffield

The story of Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes is a wild one. In mid-2015 there were a few social media rumblings and the rumour mill was chattering about Frank Carter being back on the scene with a band. Fast forward just under 4 years and the band are already

LIVE: Enter Shikari @ The Dome, London

Tufnell Park Dome has a long history of hosting legendary bands, and this year was chosen as one of the venues to host a number of Brits Week performances. In conjunction with War Child, the charity week of shows gives fans a chance to see some of the biggest

Tuesday 26 February 2019

LIVE: Good Charlotte / Sleeping With Sirens / Boston Manor @ Alexandra Palace, London

If there’s any modern day pop-punk band that wasn’t somewhat inspired by Good Charlotte, it would be a surprise. Their music has become a staple in any comprehensive pop-punk playlist, and is recognisable to most from the first few notes alone. That’s why, as a newer

While She Sleeps – ‘So What?’

While She Sleeps are one of the most exciting bands in British music today for a hell of a lot of reasons. Hailing from the steel city of Sheffield, they’ve grown from a tiny local metalcore band to one of the flag bearers for the scene in this country.