INFLUENCES: Civil Villains

Knife Bride – ‘SORRY ABOUT THE PLAGUE’

When the black death struck Europe in the mid-1300’s it was devastating. Maybe there was something in the air. Maybe it was punishment from an angry God. People died. They weren’t ready. They tried to protect themselves with sweet-smelling herbs, they held up charms, and they called

Skindred – ‘You Got This’

A new Skindred record is always a cause for celebration, and doubly so when it’s as crammed with as much self-belief as ‘You Got This’. While their sound has mellowed of late, like on 2023’s ‘Smile’, their latest offering is somewhat of a return to fiery form: just as

Retrospective: Rage Against The Machine – ‘Evil Empire’

Teen Suicide – ‘Nude Descending A Staircase Headless’

The most immediately notable aspect of Teen Suicide’s latest offering – ‘Nude Descending A Staircase Headless’ – is that the production value is great. This is worth pointing out as the band initially made a name for themselves as a lo-fi project; ‘NDASH’ is the first time that Teen

Tired Of Fighting – ‘AND THEN SUDDENLY IT HITS YOU’

You’re tired. We’re tired. Everyone is tired. Reading the news or comments from writers can make you ask yourself: Where did the malaise come from? Is it even real?  Was everyone always this tired? Is now actually the tiredest part of history or have we just worn

Palette Knife – ‘KEYFRAME’

Imagine an artist. A painter. Their work, their art, isn’t just about ideas. It’s about expression, the form, the way they paint the picture. Maybe they choose water colours, they might choose to work with oils or acrylic. They might use a brush to apply paint to

Love Rarely – ‘Pain Travels’

Covering themes of generational trauma and toxic familial relationships, ‘Pain Travels’ seems a particularly apt title for the debut album of Leeds-based mathcore/post-hardcore quintet Love Rarely. Written and recorded by the band over the course of a year, Love Rarely admit themselves that the album took a

Sugar Horse – ‘NOT A SOUND IN HEAVEN’

It’s time. That slow, creeping sense of dread. The feeling that plans were being made, that schemes were being hatched, and that something evil is brewing in the depths of Brighton. Yes, Sugar Horse are back with their third full-length record. If you’ve followed their career, you’ll

As Everything Unfolds – ‘DID YOU ASK TO BE SET FREE?’

Take the time to reflect. Sit a moment with your sadness. Watch a drop of condensation snake its way down a window pane. Imagine the route it will take, the direction it will travel, and observe its path. It seems to be going where you hoped. Until