Ten reviews you might have missed

Reviews from Wednesday 16 January 2019

River Becomes Ocean – ‘A Motion Paralysed’

River Becomes Ocean may be a name that you’ve not come across before, but it won’t stay like that for long. The Brighton based quintet have been grinding away for years, releasing infectious post-hardcore and touring in support of scene heavyweights like Silverstein and Framing Hanley. The newest addition

Monday 14 January 2019

Reel Big Fish – ‘Life Sucks… Let’s Dance!’

It has to be said that 2018 was quite the year. The gloomy likes of Brexit and Donald Trump have hogged the media spotlight all year round, making it hard to see a bright side to the year at some points. However, just before we enter a fresh 2019,

Palisades – ‘Erase The Pain’

The end of December is a bit of an odd time to release an album. Too late to make anyone’s album of the year list and too early for anyone to start caring about 2019, it’s that weird fuzzy period where nobody can remember the last time they ate

LIVE: King 810 @ Scala

Hailing from the turbulent town of Flint, Michigan, King 810 are arguably one of the most exciting metal bands around today. Officially formed in 2007, they embarked on a mammoth tour in 2015 with music legends Korn and Slipknot, and made an impressive impact despite the powerhouses that followed. Upon

Thursday 10 January 2019

Taking Back Sunday – ‘Twenty’

It’s been two decades under the influence for Long Island’s Taking Back Sunday and, as they tour the globe in celebration of their twentieth year as a band, we take a look at their special anniversary compilation, ‘Twenty’. The album, packaged beautifully, essentially serves as a highlight reel for the

Wednesday 02 January 2019

LIVE: WSTR / Between You & Me / Hey Charlie @ Deaf Institute, Manchester

In a nice fairytale-style twist, it’s been exactly a year since WSTR last played Manchester’s 300 capacity Deaf Institute – but whilst a year ago they were filling the support slot, tonight they are headlining a sold out show. Their rapid progression through the ranks isn’t necessarily surprising, though;

Friday 21 December 2018

LIVE: You Me At Six / Marmozets / The Xcerts ‘Take Off Your Colours 10 Year Anniversary Tour’ @ O2 Academy Brixton

There always seems to be a greater appreciation for music with every year that passes since its release, and with 10 years having gone by since You Me At Six unleashed their debut album ‘Take Off Your Colours’, it’s unsurprising that it’s their most popular album to

Thursday 20 December 2018

LIVE: You Me At Six / Marmozets / The Xcerts ‘VI Tour’ @ O2 Academy Brixton

Regardless of the fluctuating position of You Me At Six in the British charts over the years, their core fanbase has always remained loyal and consistent, having connected strongly to the personable nature of the band and appreciating their consistent fight to listen to their fans. The

Monday 17 December 2018

LIVE: Bring Me The Horizon / Fever 333 @ Alexandra Palace, London

Bring Me The Horizon have arguably become one of British rock music’s leaders in the current generation. They’ve released the game-changing ‘That’s The Spirit’ over three years ago, an album that’s seen them play countless sold out shows all over the world including two nights at the O2 Arena.

Thursday 13 December 2018

All Ears Avow – ‘Skin & Bones’

Only two EPs in, All Ears Avow were already well on their way to creating stadium-filling rock music. Their most recent EP ‘Skin & Bones’ makes this a concrete statement, with wall-to-wall funky riffs and pop-hooks that will be winding around your ears for a long time.

LIVE: Deaf Havana / iDKHOW @ O2 Academy Brixton

Despite releasing what might objectively be their best album yet earlier this year, Deaf Havana have had a limited public profile in 2018, playing just a handful of shows in the past six months. With that being the case, the anticipation leading up to their massive

Tuesday 11 December 2018

LIVE: Basement / Joyce Manor @ O2 Forum, London

It’s almost been 10 years since Basement formed from the ashes of teenage easycore band In This For Fun and, despite their hiatus in 2012, they have kept the torch burning for modern emo consistently. Their latest effort ‘Beside Myself’ was mixed by Rich Costey – who’s

AFI – ‘The Missing Man’

The release of 2017’s self-titled, or ‘The Blood Album’, was heralded as the comeback critics and fans had been waiting for from AFI. It was a return to the post-hardcore sound that began with ‘Sing the Sorrow’ and coursed through ‘Decemberunderground’, and it felt like a band

Monday 10 December 2018

Grains – ‘Play Loud’

EPs are quite tricky to get right, especially if you’ve not got any full albums under your belt. You somehow must set out your entire mission statement over three or four tracks and give the listener a proper picture of who you are as a band. On the first

Monday 03 December 2018

LIVE: Tonight Alive “Fully Plugged” @ O2 Academy Islington, London

It’s no secret that Tonight Alive adore London – often describing it as their second home after Sydney, Australia – and on this particular evening, London showed up in full force, ready to prove just how welcome this four piece is in our city. It was

LIVE: Tonight Alive “Unplugged” @ Bush Hall, London

In stark contrast to the hectic fierceness that defined the previous night, the set up for Tonight Alive’s acoustic performance at Bush Hall was soft and gentle. Fairy lights dressed up the instruments and sound equipment on the small stage, creating an intimate atmosphere strengthened by the

LIVE: Dashboard Confessional / Black Foxxes @ Academy 2, Manchester

Ten years is… well, it’s a long time. If you were to suggest that an artist could essentially disappear for the best part of that time and still maintain a fan base, few would believe you – and for the first fifteen minutes or so after doors opened to

Friday 30 November 2018

LIVE: Nervus / Worriers @ The Parish, Huddersfield

The playlist at The Parish throws up The Lawrence Arms’ eloquently dark ‘The Slowest Drink at the Saddest Bar on the Snowiest Day in the Greatest City’, a tale which depicts battling through the elements and noise to find something better. While one of Chicago’s finest acts–

Tuesday 27 November 2018

LIVE: RVIVR / Happy Accidents / Hurry @ Wharf Chambers, Leeds

Every now and then, life throws up those unexpected surprises that make you think “hey, that’s pretty good”. Tonight’s entertainment in the homely DIY aesthetics of Leeds’ Wharf Chambers is a prime example. Originally billed as a headline show for London three-piece Happy Accidents, a couple

Friday 23 November 2018

Alkahest – ‘2’

2018 has been so stacked with fantastic new releases that you’d be forgiven for switching off your release radar as we drift towards year end. It would be a crying shame however, as you’d be missing out on this fantastic EP. Alkahest is the brainchild of Amelia Pereira, who