Review: Orchards // Losers/Lovers EP

Hailing from Brighton, Orchards, are one of the latest bands catching the imagination of the UK math rock scene. Not strictly 'math rock' but more 'math pop', their new EP combines the uplifting sounds of bands like And So I Watch You From Afar & Tiny Moving Parts with pop hooks and a sound reminiscent of Paramore's latest album.

Losers/Lovers opens with lead single 'Luv You 2', the bands first release after signing for Big Scary Monsters, and is the perfect introduction to the band. Prevalent with catchy hooks cemented by a sing along chorus it'll be stuck in your head from the first listen, whilst the math rock influence  means by the 20th listen you will still be finding intricasies you missed the first time round.

Not only does 'Luv You 2' set the musical scene for the EP but also in a lyrical sense; painting a picture of a lost love across the back drop of uplifting melodies, a style Orchards seem to have mastered.

These themes carry on through the next two tracks 'Drama King' & 'Be Here', which are both solid entries, but 'Double Vision' is the next real head turner on the record. It shows of the Orchards' ability to write a great pop song; catchy choruses & a brilliant sing along bridge will have it stuck in your head for weeks!

The second half of the EP begins with new song 'Age Of You', similarly to 'Drama King' & 'Be Here' the song further showcases the bands' ability to not only write singles but also high quality pop album tracks. However with it following 'Double Vision' you can't help but feel the bridge as been almost directly lifted from the previous song.

The record closes with 3 previously released songs; 'Peggy', 'Honey' & 'Darling'. This blend of old and new songs makes the EP the perfect introduction to Orchards but also comes across as a statement of intent. It demonstrates perfectly the evolution of the band and how they've polished their sound into something that could see them go really far.

8/10

Losers/Lovers is released on Big Scary Monsters on 6th July 2018 - Pre-order HERE

You can catch Orchards at TRUCK festival & ArcTanGent this summer

Review: Arcane Roots // Curtains

Arcane Roots, today, released the video for new track 'Curtains'. After their critically acclaimed EP 'Heaven & Earth', new music from the Scottish band has been eagerly awaited.

'Curtains' can be seen to build off of song 'If Nothing Breaks, Nothing Moves' in that the song follows a similar pattern. However 'Curtains' seems to be the 'final' version of the song from 'Heaven & Earth'. It has a more full, deeper and more complete sound and appears to offer up a brilliant taste of Arcane Roots rumoured upcoming album.

Review: Slaves // Take Control

After their debut album 'Are You Satisfied?' launched them to fame last year Slaves have taken off. Regular plays on BBC Radio 1, nominated for a Mercury Prize and winning the hearts of many fans with their budding bromance, you could have almost forgiven the duo for selling out on their second album.

However fans needn't have worried.

The album begins with the furious 'Spit It Out' and barely lets go of the frantic pace through 'Hypnotised' until the listener reaches the plodding 'Consume Or Be Consumed'. Featuring Mike D (of Beastie Boys) the song meanders safely along through the droning chorus between some excellent lyrical work from Mike D and Isaac. 'Consume Or Be Consumed', however, most encapsulates the lyrical theme of the album, a protest against everyday life.

'Rich Man' can be seen as a crude summary of modern distaste for the rich and the ongoing talk about the "1%". This is swiftly followed by 'Play Dead', chants of "Too Connected, Disconnected" and "Switch It On, Switch It Off" run through the song - a statement on the issues with social media and mobile phones. Not only something you hear on the record but also at their live shows, it is not uncommon to hear the duo tell fans to turn their phones off, stop filming the gig and enjoy whats in front of them, something applied in a wider sense in this song.

One of the main successes of the band is their ability to be not only a serious band but also a humorous one. In particular 'Where's Your Car Debbie', 'Feed The Mantaray' and 'Girl Fight' spring to mind from their back catalogue. This albums equivalent is 'Fuck The Hi-Hat' a homage to the bands early days on the touring circuit when punters would shout out "Where's your hi-hat' to the band that only have a snare and a bass drum in their arsenal. This frantically short track is one of the least important to the overall album but possibly one of the most enjoyed by fans at the bands live shows.

Slaves tour the UK this November

The second half of the album begins to highlight the duo's ability to play something that little bit slower. This is not the bands comfort zone and not necessarily the future of Slaves, however it showcases some of the bands other influences and makes the album seem that little bit more whole.

'Same Again' closes the show with the band returning to a style more familiar to them however grungier than before. This sound seems increasingly like it's going to be the future of Slaves and not many people will be upset with this.

However while this album's sound is almost complete - retaining the bands rawness while achieving a slightly mature sound - they are still a couple of (if very small) steps away from being pencilled in on the list of punks greats. They've released their distaste of wider society without getting particularly political or anarchist and for a band capturing the minds of so many disillusioned youths this is really the next step.

(8.5/10)

-Luke

Review: October Drift // This Is Nowhere EP

Softly the sound builds, delicate vocals flow over the top, the sound builds, the drumming gets louder and all of a sudden the twanging riff of the start of October Drift's new EP drops in. The Sheffield band have been crafting a name for themselves over the last year with seeminglessly endless touring and a fantastic reputation to go with it.

Their second EP 'This Is Nowhere' begins with the ambient build of 'Snow Into Dust' which is more of an intro to the next song 'Cherry Red' rather than a stand alone song. 'Cherry Red', however, is wonderfully dark and yet catchy with a strong dominant chorus. It's by far the singalong track on the EP and shows glimpses of the bands potential to be a powerful and individual rock band.

The EP then moves on to 'Cinnamon Girl' which is somewhat similar to 'Cherry Red' and continues to showcase the bands potential. However after several minutes of the same thing it begins to fade into the background and you start to ask for that little bit more.

That little bit more finally arrives with the end of the EP, 'Get With The Times' really highlights October Drift as a band that can slug it out with the big boys. This slower track shows the diversity within the band and their ability to make music at whatever speed and style while still retaining a level of distinction. 'Get With The Times' at this point seems less of a song title and more of a message to those other acts following templates of what came before to make something new.

(7.5/10)

-Luke

Review: Joyce Manor // Cody

Recently a new brand of emo has been emerging. Gone is the emo influenced by rock & metal - the kind that launched My Chemical Romance to fame - and in is a new brand fronted by American bands like Modern Baseball  and Into It. Over It in a style that reflects influences from 90's and 00's pop punk and grunge. Joyce Manor are one of the latest crop of bands that fit that template.

'Cody', their 4th LP and second on Epitaph Records, is out October 7th and with it the band have taken a slight musical turn. Their first 3 albums demonstrate the bands' ability to propuce lo-fi grungy emo with fuzzy guitars, meaningful lyrics and a lack of a serious melody. This latest outing doesn't ditch these ideas but develops them to create a much more musically diverse Joyce Manor.

'Fake I.D.' - the first song and single on the album - demonstrates this evolution at it's best; with a bouncing melody running through the song, it has the feel of a tune that could define the new side of the band. However as soon as that short 2 minutes is over, the album drops into 'Eighteen'. A song which tackles their previous sound but sounds much more mature and though out. It reflects the theme of the album - not only musically but within the lyrics - of maturing. After the song examines the thought of looking back at a foolish, young and worried eighteen year-old self lead singer Barry Johnson let's out "I feel old today" in a way that isn't jaded but instead almost triumphant.

A couple of songs later you the second single from the record - 'Last You Heard Of Me' - bursts on the scene which, at just over 3 minutes, is one of the longest tracks on the record. This song follows the grungier style template of the bands earlier work but approached with a renewed maturity. Rather than a barrage of sound, the song feels more structured and musically strong, a theme that seems to run through the whole album. As a band Joyce Manor have never spent more than 10 days in a recording studio until this release, and you can really tell. Having spent 2 months plugging away in the search of 'Cody' it appears that this new approach has really payed off.

Nothing sums this up more than the closing tune on the record. 'This Song Is A Mess' is anything but a mess, it bounces along with a renewed youthfulness which echoes of their contemporaries in Modern Baseball. This song is a refreshing and playful end to a mature and, at times, serious album about growing up not just in life but within the bands music. It is by far Joyce Manor's most accomplished and complete work to date and leaves the listener itching to hear the next chapter in this evolving bands story.

(8.5/10)

-Luke  

Review: Black Peaks & Heck // Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff // 15.09.16

There are a lot of people that would have told you earlier in the year that british hardcore and metal was dead with the scene relying on old, past their best bands to keep the genre going. However on the evidence of a sweaty night in Cardiff it may just have a future.

Black Peaks @ Clwb Ifor Bach

After This Be The Verse warmed up the crowd Black Peaks took the stage to a filling room. With an incredible energy, the band began to tear through their set of metal infused math rock which not only sounds excellent on record but translates brilliantly to a live show.

Black Peaks' debut album 'Statues' is possibly the breakout rock album of the year with the band getting great coverage across popular radio stations and magazines - something almost unheard of for a band that started life as a hardcore math rock band. 'Glass Built Castles', 'Saviour' and 'Hang Em High' are all truly epic on record, but live they go up another notch. However most impressive was the anthemic 'Say You Will' which carries a sound you can envisage blasting out of festival main stages and arenas. After such a storming set Heck had a tough act to follow.

Heck @ Clwb Ifor Bach

The first thing you will hear about Heck is the almost insane reputation of their live shows. Within the first song the lead singer was at the back of the room, guitarist in the centre of a mosh pit and mic stands strewn across the floor, and 50 minutes of similar carnage then ensued. At points there were people hanging off the ceiling and circle pits around tables in what seemed, at times, like a satanic ritual. The crowd almost seemed in awe at the energy of Heck and their manic presence with many having just stopping and staring for the first half of the set. However Heck's manic energy is infectious, drawing everyone slowly in to the experience.

Heck ended their set with their gruelling 16 minute epic 'I. See The Old Lady Decently II. Buried Although III. Amongst Those Left Are You' closing an incredibly sweaty and messy night for all involved. The venue looking like a bomb site, mic stands strewn everywhere and the satisfied crowd shuffled out in a haze of sweat and exhaustion after what had been a hectic night for all.

However this isnt the end of the story. What this tour and the critical acclaim of both bands' albums is doing is continuing a story which has been brewing for a couple of years now. Ever since Royal Blood  burst on the scene in 2014 the radio shows and magazines have been more inclined to cover heavier and heavier music. Between these 2 band, and others like Slaves and countless more, they're slowly laying the foundations of the future of punk & rock in the public eye. If you're a fan of the heavier genres - it's a very exciting time.

-Luke

Review: Butserfest 2016 // Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Petersfield // 10.09.16

A festival reaching 10 years old is a big occasion especially for a small festival, just this summer the critically acclaimed 2000Trees turned 10. Likewise Cardiff’s legendary Swn Festival turns 10 in October. However on a wet rainy Saturday in East Hampshire it was the turn of the UK’s largest alcohol and drug free music festival – Butserfest.

The One Hundred @ Butserfest

In 2006 Butserfest burst on to the scene preaching an alternative music festival for everyone - no drunk boisterousness and nutty youths with pupils so wide they don’t have an iris – but instead a community festival where everyone no matter age, gender or whatever can have a great time. It’s the festival where many 14 year olds have their first mosh pits, 10 year olds come to their first festival and now, with the festival in its 10th year, 20-somethings coming back to relive those glory days.

This year the festival, as usual, had a brilliant line up of up & coming bands in the alternative scene. Celebrating not just breakthrough acts but excellent local ones to. Flashfires – last year’s local introducing stage headliner – opened up the main stage with probably the most indie set of the whole day, bouncy and fun their sound translated brilliantly from the small stage to the large one. The other stand out local band - Our Hollow, Our Home – are almost festival regulars now having played the last 3 years on the trot, working their way further up the bill with each performance. Their hardcore style gracing the main stage for the second year running.

Creeper @ Butserfest

One of the best parts of Butserfest is that bands love it, they come back year after year to play a higher slot as their career progresses. For example last year’s headliners Don Broco first played after the release of their debut album over 3 years before they brought the festival to a close. Likewise with this year’s top two bands Mallory Knox & Young Guns. Both during their sets spoke extremely kindly of Butserfest and the impact it had on their careers. Both bands went on to play incredible sets and both hae albums on the way – certainly ones to look for in the near future.

Possibly the most interesting and anticipated set of the weekend was Creeper. In the midst of an elaborate publicity stunt with clues around the internet it is thought the band are sitting on an album. Not only that but the band are from half an hour down the road and they delivered a storming set to what seemed like a home festival crowd designed for them.

Despite a wet and cold day, the music and atmosphere of Butserfest brought a smile to everyone’s face and on it’s 10th birthday, it truly delivered as a festival.

-Luke

Mallory Knox @ Butserfest

Review: HUB Festival // Cardiff // 26-28.08.16

Fire Fences @ HUB festival

Sometimes a festival is more than just a collection of artists playing music. Occasionally they become a real experience  and the atmosphere at HUB festival caused it to become exactly that. A local showcase highlighting brilliant artists and promoters from Cardiff and South Wales, HUB festival is everything that is good about the Cardiff music scene. With variety and quality running right through the heart of the line up coupled with the atmosphere of a street party come carnival, HUB fest was really unmissable this year

Wetpainttt @ HUB festival

A great place to start looking for those brilliant local artists in the festival was the Moon Club stage. With part of the Saturday run by the local Young Promoters Network and Sunday's promoters including Luckyman Records the stage was packed with the best up and coming indie bands. At the moment this is the real highlight in the Cardiff scene. Welsh indie rock old timers like Stereophonics, Feeder and Manic Street Preachers still hold influence in this scene but with the rise of Catfish & The Bottlemen and Pretty Vicious there has been a subtle shift in welsh indie. Two brilliant examples of this over the two days were Himalayas and The Fused.

Crinkle Cuts @ HUB festival

Fresh off of their first headline show in July The Fused brought their usual energy to the festival. With catchy songs like 'Are You Ready For Dance?' and 'Buskers and Beggers' already in their arsenal they are quickly growing a reputation as one of the best local live bands in Cardiff.

Having released their EP midweek, Himalayas showed off their new material brilliantly live. Think rock and roll infused indie rock with slight punk influences and that's Himalayas. With a massive sound similar to that of Pretty Vicious the band, rightly so, carry a confidence and swagger comparable to a band that have been touring for years.

Mike Dennis @ HUB festival

However this festival isn't just about the mainstream and indie, its about the slightly obscure stuff you wouldn't otherwise see but are a pleasant surprise. One of the highlights in this area was Crinkle Cuts.

Playing late on the outside Courtyard stage, Crinkle Cuts and their blend of funk and ska had the late night crowd off their feat and jigging along, With a great energy and engaging onstage personality they had the Saturday night crowd wrapped around their fingers and baying for more. Their set finished with a cover of The White Stripes 'Seven Nation Army' in a ska style, Crinkle Cuts hit the nail on the head.


Another exercise in the diversity in the festival came on Sunday night with the City Arms stage headlined by Mike Dennis. One man, a loop machine and a violin is apparently all you need now to create a brilliant and different sound. Occasionally political hip-hop styled rapping contrasted the technical and layered violin while somehow working brilliantly.

Himalayas @ HUB festival

This was the real story of HUB fest. From the street party filled with freestyle MC's and DJ's to the venues packed with every weird and wonderful genre - HUB fest celebrates diversity and once a year creates a little blissful bubble in the heart of the capital.

Review: Cassels // You Us and They EP

"The you in this song is a real person..." Cassels second EP opens in a blunt and direct way. A style built to popularity by punk rock two-pieces like Drenge and Slaves over the last few years, the two brothers from Oxford now attack it with an apathetic yet youthful view on reality. It's refreshing to hear songs about the NHS and social media which don't dumb down or glamorise and Cassels achieve it without sounding unnecessarily crude.

'You Us and They' - the title track - attacks the political minefield of the NHS. "Why don't they gas the polling station as we line up to vote" lyricist Jim shouts at the climax to the track, a sentiment reflecting a large proportion of public opinion. At the end of the day that's what's going to make a band like Cassels, they're not easy on the ear - it's music for the angry but more importantly music with a meaning.

Once you take away the excellent lyrical part of the band you're left with something that is interesting and musically different. The jarring and jumpy punk riffs give Cassels a sound resonating with the new breed of 21st century punk that's slowly rearing it's head and yet retains an air of individuality.

In a time filled with the kind of discontent towards the establishment amongst young people not seen since the 70's, punk could be back and now that Slaves, Drenge and many more have opened the door to the wider audience, it could be Cassels time to burst right through it. Everywhere in this EP from the politics of 'You Us and Them' to the apathetic attitude of 'Ignoring All The Tunnels & Lights' and the frantic 'Well Fed Worms In A Graveyard' this EP screams potential.

(8.5/10)

-Luke

The EP is released on 12th August 2016 via Big Scary Monsters with two EP release shows before and after the date

Cassels also head out on a co-headline tour with itoldyouiwouldeatyou in September:

11th September - Green Door Store, Brighton
12th September - Whiskey Jar, Manchester
14th September - Santiagos, Leeds
15th September - The Cookie, Leicester
17th September - Birthdays, London

Review: Catfish & The Bottlemen // The Ride

Catfish & The Bottlemen’s 2014 debut ‘The Balcony’ made an absolute storm, it’s an album that has propelled them to within touching distance of festival headline status. Their latest outing, ‘The Ride’, could be what puts them their.

‘7’ opens the album and it epitomises the step they’ve made between albums – a very small one. Other than polishing up the sound from the first album it’s difficult to see how the band has changed. Lyrically not a huge amount has changed with songs about girls, partying and regrets. Musically not a huge amount has changed either other than a slightly less frantic and fuller sound.

The most glaring thing missing from this album and Catfish & The Bottlemsn’s discography is a ‘Wonderwall’, a ‘Mr Brightside’, a song that will launch them from a good band to a great one. ‘Soundcheck’, their first single from the album, is the one that comes closest. With a sing-along chorus and a theme reflecting the difficulties of love and touring it’s an absolute hit with fans of the band, but not one that’s going to convert people that aren’t.

With all this said ‘The Ride’ is an excellent album, it improves and develops the band from their raw debut, however second albums are always difficult, especially if your first one is as successful as ‘The Balcony’ was. However it’s hard not to look at this album as a disappointment because it could have been so much more.

(8/10)

-Luke

Review: The Fused // Undertone // 19.07.16

The music industry was not born in big stadiums and festivals. It doesn't run on huge £60+ shows. It runs on shows in tiny basements with a lineup of young raw talent and some very sweaty punters. It runs on small venues and promoters who do it for the love of music and in the hope that one of the bands on the bill might one day make it. Tonight was one of these nights.

Parish @ Undertone

The night opened with Parish, a young band with a lot of potenetial, who's insatiable energy was reflected by the crowd. Their brand of energetic indie rock went down a storm - not something you often see for a first band at a gig - with mosh pits and dancing all through the set.

They then made way for Amber who brought the same level of intensity to their set. With a slightly more polished yet still raw modern indie sound they fed off the energy of the crowd. The band from Cwmbran showcased how to be an excellent support band, whipping the crowd into a frenzy before passing on the baton. 

Next up were Wetpainttt, a slightly older band to the rest of the line up which showed as they brought a more complete sounding performance to the tiny stage. With a sound somewhere between blues and frantic indie rock they were, as the gig panned out, a breather from the fast - paced frantics of the other 3 bands. However they still maintained the energy of the gig keeping the punters sweaty, the room hot and the atmosphere buzzing.

The Fused @ Undertone

Headline band The Fused took to the stage faced with an already sweltering, worn out and sweaty venue. This is almost as much of a challenge as facing a venue with no atmosphere whatsoever and yet the band from Cardiff pushed the crowd to expel that last ounce of energy before the night was up. With clever, honest annd early Arctic Monkey-esc lyrics about life in Cardiff coupled with a sound and persona comparable to Catfish & The Bottlemen, The Fused showed the crowd that they mean business and could really go places in the future.

On the hottest day of the year so far anybody that witnessed this gig was lucky enough to see some of the hottest talent from south Wales.

The Fused announced during the show they would be playing HOYFEST in November along with Amber.

They also will play Hub Festival along with Wetpainttt.

-Luke

You can find our preview of the other acts playing HOYfest HERE and a review of the last gig we saw The Fused at HERE

Review: LUK // Clwb Ifor Bach // 16.06.16

'And Now For Something Completely Different...' is a film by british comedy giants Monty Python, in it the film jumps from unrelated skit to unrelated skit and yet still seems to, in some way or another, be related. Occasionally you get a gig like this where all the acts are completely different and yet seem to fit together, this is what the Cardiff crowd were treated to at LUK's gig.

The night opened with Chew, a grime MC from Blackwood. Spitting aggressive and unapologetic bars his sound slots somewhere inbetween Sleaford Mods and Skepta. Unlike many budding grime and hip-hop artists however, Chew had something to say with his music. In between the brief moments of "yeahs" and "my bars are sick" there was a genuine message of distaste for the establishment. Not only did a young anarchist come out but also an interesting commentary on life - this comes across most prominently in 'I Am Proud', a song produced by Equlibrium, which is also some of Chew's best work and is available on his free EP 'The MattheMattical Problem'.

The The 1975-esc Atterbury & Gibbz came up next. The bands melancholy sound is one that's very current but don't for one second think they're a carbon copy, they have a much sparser and less pop-like sound with music that slots somewhere between modern indie and the odd bit of deep house. It's a deadly combination and one that gives Atterbury & Gibbz more of a musical appeal than the pop driven The 1975.

Having gone from hip-hop beats to an electronic indie sound the gig ends halfway between with LUK. Their experimental, beat heavy electronic tracks and deep vocals show the darker side of electro-indie which fluctuates between smooth and jarring. Early on in the set LUK's experimental edge came through before they closed on two more polished tracks which they worked on with producer Lee House. These seemed a lot smoother, cohesive and direct in their approach and sound like the future of LUK.

All three very different artists gave a lesson in Cardiff on the diversity and quality of young, up & coming music and really delivered good solid performances.

-Luke

Review: Frightened Rabbit // Painting Of A Panic Attack

Not all music has to be loud, political and rebellious. Likewise not all music has to be brainless, thoughtless pop manufactured for the masses. Sometimes music can be delicate, thoughtful and personal and this is the kind of music Frightened Rabbit have been dealing in since their creation. From humble beginnings as two brothers playing in a band together, Frightened Rabbit has gained a few members, gotten a little older and have now released their 5th studio album - 'Painting Of A Panic Attack'.


Since their last album, released over 3 years a go, a lot has changed; lead singer Scott Hutchison has moved to LA leaving the band separated by the Atlantic ocean, the band has lost a member and the whole of Frightened Rabbit has been given a rethink. After the success of album number 4 - 'Pedestrian Verse' - to Scott, atleast, Frightened Rabbit had reached a triumphant finale, becoming the band he envisioned from a start. However he decided it was the end of a chapter not a story and the next chapter, 'Painting Of A Panic Attack', began to form.

The album opens with 'Death Dream', the first song released for the album, which very much sets the tone. Organ driven and ghostly the song paints a sombre and painful picture, one that appears even more personal than that of previous albums, before dropping into 'Get Out'. The two songs together really show what the album is about - love, loss but also hope. More than anything these songs lay out a new Frightened Rabbit with a slightly different sound but who's core element - the lyrical content - remains familiar and if anything more focussed.

'I Wish I Was Sober' and 'Woke Up Hurting' along with 'Get Out' compound the slightly rethought style of the band, introducing a greater element of electronic and a lesser use of the acoustic guitar - only really appearing on the closing number.

Despite the number of sombre songs on the album, there is the occasional moment where the guitar driven Frightened Rabbit from 'Pedestrian Verse' punches through. Particularly in 'Break' the guitar driven chorus is infectious and is certainly the most upbeat and positive sounding track on the album.

Catch Frightened Rabbit on tour this autumn

'Painting Of A Panic Attack' draws to a close with three very different songs. The piano driven '400 Bones' is the closest to a love song that Frightened Rabbit have ever reached, reflecting on the small intimate moments between two people. The song builds and builds to dramatic effect before dropping back to a singular piano in an almost eerie stillness. 'Lump Street' however delivers a dark, thumping and harsh reality to the listener before the album draws to a delicate conclusion with 'Die Like A Rich Boy'. The song completes the album combining elements of the Frightened Rabbit of old with the new style while providing a ghostly and refreshing view of life.

'Painting Of A Panic Attack' is the bands most complete work to date; reinventing and reworking themselves while maintaining the soul and quality of the band - a feat rarely pulled off by any artist. Frightened Rabbit have gone from strength to strength over the last decade, expect them to keep growing for another 10 years to come.
(9.5/10)

-Luke

Review: Lonely The Brave // Thing Will Matter

Lonely The Brave burst onto the scene in 2014 with 'The Day's War' and now they're back with a second album 'Things Will Matter'. David Jake's soft deep vocals still seep through the whole album and with the songs still heavily guitar, at a glance it doesn't look as if much as changed

It's difficult to put your finger on initially, however the more you listen the more you realise something has changed. In Black Mire, the second song on the album, its the most clear with the vocals becoming faint and at times overshadowed by the roaring guitar riffs creating a darker feel to the album.

Most importantly, however, this album shows the development of a band set to go to the top of alternative musics hierarchy. It's not the finished article just yet but its yet another step forward in this bands career. (8/10)

-Luke

Review: The Broadcasts // The Broadcasts

If you've spent enough time going to gigs in Cardiff you'll have inevitably stumbled across The Broadcasts. In only the last few months they've supported the likes of October Drift, The People The Poet and more, and if you were lucky enough to catch them, you'll know their first album could be a force to be reckoned with.

Their self-titled debut opens with the energetic and catchy blues rock of Down The Line and The Future. Both songs get the blood pumping before the album takes a breather on Western Lands; the first 3 songs on the album demonstrating The Broadcasts ability to write songs at any pace not only with a common sound but with an infectious one too. The simple but interesting style to their music will have you singing along by the second or third listen.

The fourth song on the LP - 'This Is Life' - is the lead single of the album and it carries a more country feel and demonstrates further the bands ability to write an infectious and yet a musically sound song. With the kind of chorus' that you would happily shout along to throughout the album, almost any song could have taken the lead single slot.

However The Broadcasts are not a one dimensional band and are not just about those sing a long catchy tunes. In 'The Road Goes On', 'What It Meant To Me' and the closing song 'What We've Become', the band shows a more delicate and polished touch to their music. 'What We've Become', in particular, shows a more sombre sound to the band - a sound you here in glimpses throughout the rest of the album - and is really developed in the closing song. It's by no means a stretch to call the closing to the album an epic, with delicate piano parts building into an anthemic chorus it brings the bands sounds together and ties up the album brilliantly.

An exciting and well-rounded debut from the Cardiff band; catchy, thoughtful and epic all at once. (8.5/10)

- Luke

You can catch The Broadcasts at their album release show at Clwb Ifor Bach in Cardiff on 17th June

Review: Modern Baseball // Holy Ghost

Modern Baseball are affectionately called MoBo by fans

A lot of people treat pop punk as blanket term for generic songs about hating your home town and missing your girl/boyfriend. It's the term people associate with 'Teenage Dirtbag', Blink-182, 'In Too Deep' and scrawny guys wearing tank tops and snap-backs. It's even a phrase which has become synonymous with pizza....

"He's been haunting my dreams at night....."; Modern Baseball's new record 'Holy Ghost' opens with a slow, sombre title track which band member Jake Ewald wrote about the death of his grandfather - not your typical 'Pop Punk' song. That's what initially strikes you about this record, it's pop punk but not as we know it, the sound and style is there but gone is the generic lyrics and strong themes designed to help the listener connect. Instead this is a very personal album from the boys from across the pond, not dealing in the vague and relatable but instead in the specifics.

With the LP split in two with the first half written by Jake Ewalds and the second half by Brendan Lukens each portion has its own unique qualities and personal touches and yet comes together brilliantly as a whole.

In songs 1 to 6, Jake takes the reigns steering the album through the style synonymous with the bands first 2 albums but a lyrical style that comes across as more personal than reflected on previous outings. The song 'Holy Ghost' feeds into 'Wedding Singer' which is what one would call a 'classic' MoBo song. The subject of the first music video of the album, the song (and video) reflects one part of the theme for Ewalds half of the album - finding someone. The rest of Ewalds half follows suit with building on a sound which the band had previously cemented as their own.

On the B-side Lukens takes over and introduces a slightly 'thrashier' sound to the band which has only been seen in glimpses on the previous albums. Each song is a short burst of a dark room, lonely night shout along. Last year MoBo cancelled a series of dates so that Brendan could go to rehab having being diagnosed with bipolar disorder - a subject which is covered in their documentary 'Tripping In The Dark' - and the struggles he has faced are covered in the second half of this album. This comes through clearly in the last song 'Just Another Face' which attacks the subject in a refreshingly honest and frank way - opening with "I'm a waste of time and space / Drifting through my selfish ways" - the song reflects how difficult it was for Lukens to open up about the subject and how facing his problems effected him and the band.

Despite Lukens and Ewalds attacking different themes in each side of the record, it somehow comes together as a whole and becomes a musical biography for the band since the release of 'You're Gonna Miss It All'. Each personal touch on this record dispels the theory that something must be generic to be relatable and will, without a doubt, grow Modern Baseball's already substantial following.  - (9/10)

-Luke

Review: In Requiem // In Requiem

Alt-Rock is currently a very strange scene, metal-heads and rock fans are notoriously difficult to please and have their old school favourites and generally stick to them. People still flock in their droves to see bands like Black Sabbath, Rammestein and Iron Maiden who as a trio people still flock to see despite their almost complete irrelevance to the modern alt-rock music scene.

Pontypridd based In Requiem, in February, released their debut self-titled EP and it shows how a band can reflect those legends of old but still be there own band. 

;In Requiem; was released on 14/02/2016

The 4-piece combine elements of that classic rock sound with synth in a 5 track EP that doesn't break musical boundaries but hints that there is more in this band that meets the eye.

The opening track 'Shelter (Save Me)' opens with a melodic guitar rift before dropping into a quieter synth sequence. At points in the song and the album as a whole the music, at times, reflects the music of Linkin Park. At the same time, In Requiem seem to develop their style throughout the EP, seeming to have found a comfortable sound for them and one that echos through the record. Unfortunately those stubborn rock fans may need a little more convincing than that.

'In Requiem' is a solid debut and an entertaining listen, however it hints that if the band develop certain elements in their music it can push them on to bigger things. 7/10

-Luke

Review: Heart Of Oak // E.P. | One

At times, there's nothing more comforting than a quiet, thoughtful acoustic album and that's exactly what 'E.P. | One' from Heart Of Oak delivers.

Heart Of Oak is a Southampton based artist solely made up of Jimmy Broomfield and 'E.P. | One' is his first release and was released on 1st May 2016.

The first song on the album, 'Faded Flags', highlights Jimmy's natural talent for song and lyric writing. His smooth tone is what keeps this album ticking; a somewhat familiar sound but with a personal edge.

Heart Of Oak is currently touring Europe with The Lion & The Wolf

At points this album seriously tugs at the heart strings; 'Skin and Bones' and 'Somewhere, Another Life Is Waiting' particularly are two very emotional songs. 'Skin and Bones' talks about being flawed but fighting and struggling through it, this almost reflects Heart Of Oak's struggle in releasing the record.

Well documented on the Heart Of Oak Facebook, Jimmy talks about the difficulties he faced gaining the confidence to release 'E.P | One' but boy are we glad he did. This album is a delicate and emotional ride and at points is truly beautiful - 8.5/10

-Luke

The Fused // Are You Ready For A Dance?

The Fused are an indie rock band from Cardiff who are slowly establishing themselves on the live scene. We saw them support the unfathomably good October Drift and they more than held their ground on stage when compared to the established main act and other support The Broadcasts in April.

You can find the full review of that night HERE

Today The Fused released their single 'Are You Ready To Dance?' on Soundcloud and Bandcamp.

The title track of the single is an excellent example of modern indie rock incorporating elements of bands like Catfish & The Bottlemen infused with classic indie rock with a killer bassline and distinctive vocals.


The B-side is called 'The Bouncer And The Underage Teen' which is just as good as the title track. This, like the title track, reflects classic indie rock and is about, as the song name suggests, underage teens tackling a night out.

As we said in our article on their live performance The Fused have a very current and modern sound and are a band that could go on to bigger an better things. Catch them while they're hot!


The single is available to download on the bands BANDCAMP

-Luke

Radiohead Release "Burn The Witch"

After deleting all social media presence the other day, Radiohead confirm what everyone expected by releasing new song "Burn The Witch".

The interesting new song is accompanied by a disturbing music video which you can see below.

This development and the addition of a strange new profile leads us to believe a new album is on its way! "Burn The Witch" will be available to buy digitally from tomorrow.

Radioheads new profile picture on social media has raised eyebrows