When you initially get into the whole business of writing reviews, (music in this case) you naturally start off by picking anything you want to write about. You find a style, you stick to it, hone your craft and over time you find yourself with maybe a few regular readers. After that, word might spread, and you may get unsigned bands seeking you out to promote a new demo or single...word spreads...after that you may find yourself receiving emails from PR companies looking to promote artists. This is where it gets good. Why? EPK's...and RAGE PR really caught my eye with this one; let me introduce you to SUMMER CITY. The York based three-piece (consisting of vocalist/guitarist Benji Adams, bassist Kit Parker and drummer Ben Reynard) have been presented as "MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE meets KNIFE PARTY", with their perfect blend of pop-rock and electronics...their new EP "Reprobates" has just dropped...what have these rascals created? Let's find out...

The EP kicks off with "Signals" and initially your first reaction is "well...this is wrong"...MCR meets KP? More like DON BROCO with a sprinkling of "Liberation..." era LOSTPROPHETS. Don't get me wrong it's a catchy track, the synths are sleek, the hooks and melody bring nothing but smiles, this is great pop-rock, but it's also a disappointment for those expecting something with a little more bite...

Second track "I'm A Wreck" packs a little more punch and here it makes a little more sense purely on an electronic level. The casual pop elements are too rich as a whole though and in ways you could suggest they are more like a tweaked version of former Welsh rockers MY FAVOURITE RUNNER UP, proven further by the happy-go-lucky "There's Only Chemistry Here" and the quaint, almost miss-titled "Burn It Down"...the latter has some brief breakdowns but in the grand scheme of things it's just too...nice.

Finishing  up then, "Sound Of The Crowd" is the final nail in the coffin. As blissfully sweet this closing acoustic number is, it's simply poles apart from the level of expectation built up for this EP; self-inflicted or not. Where is the angst? Where are the pummeling beats? Granted there is emotion within these tracks, a level of romanticism and honesty but at the end of the day it's all far too tame. You can hear the suffering in Gerard Way's voice at his indulgent, emo best, Knife Party / PENDULUM assault you through your speakers with intense dub-step / drum & bass...but, this EP lacks all of the above. It's nice, happy pop-rock, nothing more...and honestly, they should consider rethinking the way they put themselves across, or the sound of the crowd will be more "Oh?" than "Ooooooh!!!!" [6]

Formed in Glasgow in the summer of 2014, unsigned alternative rockers SERVANT SUN eagerly looked to quickly make themselves heard by releasing their debut self-titled EP merely a few months after formation. With a sound that takes influence from the likes of REUBEN, CKY and INCUBUS, they caught peoples attention and have steadily made a name for themselves in Scotland's up-and-coming scene...now, with their new EP "Hundred Waves" the lads are ready to take on the rest of the UK...but will they sink or swim? Let's find out...

We kick off with the title track and it's ambitious to say the least...a six minute plus introductory track is  a bold gamble but it's refreshing to see a band not care for conformity and create as they please. In some ways it's a throwback to early 2000's post-hardcore at it's core, it's got riffs, an almost indie-rock melody at times, prog-inspired guitar licks and tempo changes and you can clearly see where the aforementioned influences fit in. The track takes you on a journey and it successfully keeps the listeners interest peaked.

"Misgiver" follows up with a cheerful little guitar driven intro and this song sounds far more upbeat from the word go and here, you can appreciate the impact Incubus has had on the band creatively, most notably within the vocals of front-man Andrew Macdonald. He carries a good melody not unlike Brandon Boyd and truth be told this could easily pass as an Incubus demo or B-side, which is more complimentary than derogatory. Lead single "Taste Of Silver" starts off generally very mellow, but don't be deceived by it's jazz-cafe feel, like the title track this is a journey and packs a few sucker punches. There's a groove to it as it picks up the pace and it's really rather catchy; the screamed vocals add an extra dynamic to the track, and it just builds upon itself until it reaches it's angst-ridden climax, before we finish up on "Cold House Collapse"...that guitar solo is worth it alone.

​With the ability to combine prog-rock with alt. pop hooks and a sprinkling of heavy vocals and make it not only interesting but enjoyable, Servant Sun are a band that has every bit of potential to succeed. With "Hundred Waves" the tide is certainly in for these Glaswegian's and I encourage you to dip your toes, you wont be disappointed. [7]

Regardless of genre, you know a good band just by the fact they have their heads screwed on...and by that I mean despite having a passion, they also have a firm grasp on reality and responsibility. Take CLEANSE THE HIVE for example; formed in Aberdeen, Scotland, back in 2011, this unsigned metal five-piece have only now found themselves releasing their debut EP five years into their career because each member has had work, college and/or university, leaving them treat CTH as an escape, or a distraction if you will. As a means of creating music, it's probably one of the most beneficial as, you can simply let loose your imagination or capture every ounce of frustration with the outside world in song, it can be both therapeutic and cathartic, resulting in some potentially weighty material. The EP is entitled "From The Depths"...lets see what's been lurking for so long...

We open up with "Eviscerate" and it's clear we're dealing with the heavier side of the metal spectrum. Having been influenced by the likes of WHITECHAPEL and UPON A BURNING BODY, the breakdowns are big but the riffs are far bigger, resulting in a well delivered bludgeoning of the listeners senses, aided spectacularly by the performance of vocalist Callum Hutchinson...at times deep and demonic at others simply scorching, it's a solid introduction indeed.

Over the course of the five tracks on offer they don't divert too far from the path all too often, with "Cities Of Gold" and the title track both mixing elements of traditional heavy metal with a touch of groove inspired doom, adding extra weight to their overall sound, allowing for the subtle key changes which give their tracks that extra depth and it works well. Possibly the most accessible track on the EP, "The Reign Of Tyrants" is a slightly more cumbersome but no less crushing...there's more than a touch of say, PANTERA or MACHINE HEAD and as far as this genre goes, this is relatively easy on the ears making for a clear EP highlight, before we finish up then on "Terror Rising". A nice little play on words here both depicting the EP's theme visually and it's terrorizing musical onslaught.

For any unsigned band a debut release is a huge step and to have waited five years to get to that point must have been incredibly painstaking but for CTH patience has been a virtue. Yes this is only a glimpse into the potential these Aberdonian's have but the five tracks show huge promise. They may not quite be Godzilla, but up from the depths they rose and far from Tokyo, expect to see them cleanse a British rock bar near you sooner rather than later. [7]

These days, the birth or creation of a new genre is relatively rare and, if there ever is one it's generally a tad tongue-in-cheek... (HIM's "Love Metal" anyone?)...so quite often they are dismissed as fads or phases, era's in music, but it should never take away from any artists in question. Take ASHESTOANGELS for example;  the boys from Bristol have been hard at work in the few years they've been together and have amassed an incredibly loyal fan-base any unsigned band would be proud of, but last year all of that started to change. With the release of 2014's "Horror Cult", Ashes found themselves in Kerrang! Magazine and spearheading a new wave of alternative bands under the banner of "New Grave"...is this their big break, or have they dug themselves a bit of a hole? Brand new album "How To Bleed" will tell all...

We kick off with opening track "Horror Cult" and it's both a nod to the success and opportunities their breakthrough album attained for them, plus a nod to the fans who have helped them achieve all they have thus far...they, no, WE are the horror cult and this is a call to arms, and with a short sharp dose of punk inspired rock they tell us all they mean business. The energy and charisma exuded by the band, especially vocalist Adam Crilly, has always been a driving force that's not only provided some brilliant live shows but that same energy goes into the songs themselves, and tracks such as first single "Find Hell" plus album highlights "Not In My Name" and "Nothing Lasts Forever" perfectly combine that tenacious punk attitude with a deeper, darker context of their almost gothic-inspired imagery. 

The albums title track highlights this brilliantly both lyrically and atmospherically, it's both simple and deep, with strong melody coupled with some solid guitar work and shows a clear evolution from within the band as song writers, it isn't ALL fast and fun, there's a seriousness within them and this album further proves this with tracks such as "I Could Never Miss You" and "Ghost In The Machine". The latter a haunting ballad (pardon the pun) and is rich in emotion, Crilly's voice tender here and it really carries the song beautifully, showing a diversity in the bands song writing that's paid off very well. There's a good balance between the chaotic and the caressing throughout this album and ultimately Ashes have delivered a very strong album here.

Who cares if New Grave is a fad...because while it's a thing, it's a great thing and you don't want to miss out on bands like AshesToAngels while they're hot. You may just find your new favourite band...grab a shovel and start digging, we can all find hell together. [7]