Following the untimely death of Matt Cogley, Preston’s Failsafe have announced they are to give their 3rd album, ‘Routines’, a proper release and donate a portion of proceeds to the mental health charity CALM. A full statement is on the band’s website. Drummer Rob gave this statement directly to PT:
“As its way overdue, we are releasing a 5 track acoustic EP with it, that in truth, we had forgotten about. It was discovered on Matts laptop as he recorded it, but we recently had it mixed by Todd from Straight Lines. Routines will be available on the usual download sites with the acoustic EP attached to it, or you can buy the CD straight from our web store. With the CD you’ll receive a link to download the acoustic EP.”

I personally couldn’t think of a better tribute to Matt. The album is out Monday.

In their first statement since the untimely death of Matt Cogley, the band’s guitarist, on new year’s day, Failsafe have talked of their sorrow and the plans for continuing his memory through the music. Please read the whole thing, but here is the quote on the band’s plans now:

“As the reality of this loss begins to set in, so do some of it’s repercussions. It has come to light that we owe it to Matt to let his legacy live on through his music. We feel compelled to try and give our most recent and last album Routines the exposure it deserves. We also have a renewed desire to get the acoustic songs that we all recorded together out there soon. In the circumstances, we feel really keen make our efforts as positive as possible and as such, a portion of the profit from the sale of the record will be donated to a charity by the name of CALM (www.thecalmzone.net). Details will soon follow.”

Preston punks Failsafe play a rare show this Thursday in Manchester at the Ruby Lounge. Support comes from The Arcadia Verses [check the video below] and it’s only 3 quid in on the night, on the door.

https://www.facebook.com/failsafeuk

We’ve long been championing this lot as one of the UK’s finest home grown acts and we know a lot of you agree. Head over to http://www.indiegogo.com/failsafe to donate and be a part of what will inevitably be one of 2011’s most exciting albums!

Three years ago Failsafe were playing that slot. You know the one. On stage at doors, playing to nobody but the other bands and loading out nearly unnoticed. Showdown City tonight occupies this opening slot but doesn?t allow it to hinder. If anything the quintet is happy to be playing any show outside Wolverhampton and it shows onstage. This particular brand of pop punk is laced with a harder edged punk feel that after a short warm up starts to impress. Looks like there may be a move up the gigging bill sooner rather than later.

Hunting The Minotaur is a strange offering. It?s a little bit electronic, a medium bit prog and a big bit atmospheric. All of this is lavishly swathed over a very indie sound. Think Muse meeting Kings Of Leon and you?re getting the gist. On stage it?s all delivered with a faux snot-nosed indifference and, somewhat randomly, a keytar!

Brides, a twelfth-hour replacement for the absent Chief, impress with a quick set of brutal, technical and very tight hardcore. It?s delivered with just enough melodic and harmonious elements to complement the gut-wrenching screeches of frontman Max D?Albiac. On this performance it?s safe to say the Brighton outfit won?t be left under the ever-growing pile of bland hardcore that seems to be plaguing the country at the moment. Certainly signing to Visible Noise won?t harm.

Failsafe opening with ?Actions For Answers? has always meant instant impact: tonight it just seems different level. In fact, tonight?s entire performance seems to be on another plain. Perhaps it?s a case of absence makes the heart grow fonder, perhaps it?s down to the band growing comfortable with new songs and just being appreciative to be back on the road.

Awaiting the album release, it?s been something of a quiet year for the Preston quintet but that quiet is shattered tonight. Set staples ?Fire At Will? and ?To Deny Yourself? are crushingly delivered with a fervour that is matched by a front row that screams the words back. Merge in the likes of lead single ?Hope? and ?Help Yourself?, undoubtedly the stand-out tracks from The Truth Is? and the result is speculatively the best set the band has played in London. Ever.

It?s a shame then that foot traffic seems a tad low. Maybe it?s the extended lay-off since the band last appeared at the Underworld. More likely it?s a direct result of a little band called Rancid playing across town. Regardless, Failsafe treats those in attendance to a fantastic showing, one that will hopefully be wider appreciated next time around. Here?s hoping that next time around isn?t too far off.

Alex

Tonight at the Freebutt, entry is free and evidently a few of the locals have taken advantage of that offer, as by the time Go & Come Back hit the stage, the venue is commendably populated. Understandable, considering the openers are from down the road, and the band manage to thrive off their popularity here on stage. Dynamic, passionate and full of energy, they produce a satisfying blend of hardcore riffs and melancholy vocals which ends up being fairly impressive. If only their bassist didn?t have such peculiar stage moves? (3/5)
Whisper the Image are unfortunately less impressive. Generic, and tedious, they?re not bad per se, rather they come across as clich‚?d and choreographed. With little They?re not helped by the sound engineer?s apparent inability to work a mixer either. (1/5)
It?s hard to be impartial where Punktastic bands are concerned. I?ve never actually seen the Misnomer before and tonight was a great introduction to Ellis and Co?s live experience. Filling their setlist heavily with yet-to-be-released material, we?re treated to what?s in store in the coming months, and honestly their new tracks are stellar. As with Whisper the Image, the venue?s soundman didn?t do them any favours, but they still managed to win over a surprisingly sombre crowd.(3.5/5)
Above all of this, tonight is totally about Failsafe. Considering it?s only their second ever Brighton show, it?s no surprise at the crowd?s size and many people here have clearly been waiting a very long time to see the Preston fivesome. Jim is an absolute treat to observe on stage, and his energy levels perpetuate throughout their forty minute set, in which they manage to squeeze some quality renditions of ?Cities and Headlights? and ?Fire at Will?. However. The highlight of their set lies in ?To Deny Yourself?, which has the crowd screaming along in unison. A band that shouldn?t be overlooked, I?m personally crossing my fingers for 2008 being their year, as tonight?s performance displays how worthy of it they are. (5/5)

Andy R

Opening with ‘Fire At Will’, Failsafe looked hungry. When they have a repertoire as strong as they do after only one album (oh you five-albums-before-you-get-good dinosaurs, weep for yourselves), they can already construct mature, measured sets. Balancing favourites like ‘Unity in Progress’ (which, horrifically, got a better response in Manchester than it did in their hometown) and the ever-astonishing closer ‘Cut To The Chase’ with new songs that, without a trace of hyperbole, bring hope that the world is not empty and dead. Both ‘Without Warning’ and an unnamed anthem, possessing a bassline that throbs so much it could give a eunuch the horn, suggest that all Failsafe need to do is realise their own potential, stop accepting such a shit deal from the UK punk scene and assume their position on top of the planet. These guys can write songs that are both intricate and head-smackingly simple and watching them belt it out live is one of life’s true pleasures.

Coruscating riffs bounce off each other, combining to create a gut-punch of emotion so strong that the air moves not because they’re playing loud but because everyone present breathes in at the exact same moment. The band jerk and crash around onstage, looking like they’re discovering music anew with each new song. By the first chorus of the second song sweat runs off them in buckets as they strip themselves of all context and simply rock the living fuck out.

Failsafe come from a shit part of a shit country. Even when dealing with a handicap like this, they irrefutably remain one of the most exciting bands around right now. Listening to their music live is like being told that life is not a waste, that as long as five young northerners can make music as inherently beautiful as this, and play it with such romance and passion, there is something to stand up for.

(Not at the Roadhouse, at 53 Degrees, Preston)