What is there to say about 2020, that hasn't already been said? Within these reviews over the past nine months I've light-heartedly made reference to issues like Covid-19 and such, but let's not detract from the seriousness of the whole situation. As a calendar year, 2020 was one of the most difficult, frustrating, upsetting and confusing in recent history, and this isn't strictly down to Coronavirus...this time last year we were on the brink of World War 3! Politics has been a shambles, social injustice has been rife, the divide in both community spirit and the classes seemingly continues to grow, and generally speaking, the world is a complete mess. Luckily we've had music to keep us going, if not to keep us sane, and for that at least I am grateful. The images above showcase my personal highlights of 2020, grouped in categories covering pop, metal, EP's and general favourites, and it shows that, despite the state of the world, music flourishes. Music and the arts are SO important, as many of us learned during national lockdown, and we need to appreciate the people who dedicated their lives to creating that art SO much, because times like these prove we'd be lost without them. 

I mean, just looking at the cover art above, it's been as diverse a year as any. MILEY CYRUS embraced her inner rocker on her new album, having collaborated with the likes of BILLY IDOL and JOAN JETT. Groups like STEPS made an unexpected comeback showing they've still got it in an ever changing pop industry, as did MELANIE C. From a metal standpoint, PARADISE LOST prove they just get better with age, as they not only released one of the albums of their career, they also found themselves in the UK Top 40! Imagine that! Goth metal on Radio 1! It gives hope to newer acts like SOUTH OF SALEM who delivered a truly stunning debut album, and certify themselves as ones to watch for sure. There have also been plenty of superb EP's released over the past twelve months...especially VV. Ville Valo surprised everyone with his 3-track EP and HIM fans rejoiced at the new material, I for one certainly cannot wait to hear more from him. CHRISTINE AND THE QUEENS put emphasis on the art as their whole EP was turned into one big choreographed music video which was impressive, while I personally made some brilliant discoveries in the form of LUCIA & THE BEST BOYS and JACKIE. 

Finally then, my official albums of the year, and I was spoiled for choice to be fair. THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE always deliver, they never release a bad album and I'm looking forward to catching up with Chibi on the rescheduled tour dates. MARILYN MANSON dropped his best album in years much to my delight, having found his last couple a little bit boring (Sorry Mazza!), GREY DAZE tugged at the heartstrings with a touching tribute to the late Chester Bennington, releasing unheard material from his pre-LINKIN PARK days, reminding us all how much we'll miss such a talented, brilliant human being. NINJA SEX PARTY on the other hand proved they remain one of the funniest groups around with their bonkers writing style, comedic lyricism and story-telling and wholesome attitude. Yes, 2020 has been a bit of a mess to say the least, but we've still got music, and as fans of that music, we've still got one another, and as a community, we need to hold on to that. With that said, below, is my official GTGC Spotify playlist of 2020, with 40 hand-picked tracks spanning the above records, and it is dedicated to my very good friend Scot 'JD' Rees, who is sadly no longer with us in body, but will forever be with us in heart and spirit. Whether he had a Jack & Coke in his hand, or his guitar, he was always laughing at something, and his energy for enjoyment was infectious. I will miss you Scot, and this compilation is for you. X

Remember the phenomenon that was ‘Chuck Norris Facts’? The man / minor deity can do so many astonishing yet equally absurd things, like, being able to make fire by rubbing ice cubes, or, being the only person able to kick you in the back of the face, or even being able to speak French…in Russian. I could go on (Literally I can read them for hours and laugh to myself quite contently) but it’s that last one that tediously links me to today’s band because I am unable to just, review things normally. Yes, allow me to introduce you to today’s band; L’HOMME ABSURDE.

Hailing from Moscow, Russia, yet with a French name that translates as ‘The Absurd Human’, L’Homme Absurde are a progressive post-hardcore five-piece, consisting of vocalist Alexey Slavin, guitarists Alexandr Safronov & Roman Savenkov, bassist Pavel Gorshkov and drummer Evgeny Loboda, and they’ve been gradually building their reputation since their formation in 2016. With their fusion of metalcore and melodic black metal, they hope to continue to spread their absurdity across Europe with their newest album “Belong”…but do they belong in my ears? Noob Heavy PR asked me to check it out…

The album opens up with “0” which is pretty appropriate given the way this album kicks off…it’s all about momentum, all is still as we get nothing but relaxed percussion and some semi-dreamscape acoustic instrumentation while the record comes to life, as it’s pulse strengthens,  but we suddenly find ourselves enveloped in a blanket of brutally tortured vocals and a more metallic approach in tone, despite its melodic retention. It gives us a sense of artistic drive and direction early on, for sure. First track proper then “Rot” capitalises on the surging blackened metal tendencies the band have by pummelling the listener with a barrage of semi-psychotic instrumentation. Equally melodic yet mauling; it summarises the bands sounds wonderfully.

This can be said of album highlight “Separation” too which takes an almost early post-punk direction with the initial guitars, before we break into more snarled vocals and post-hardcore riff work; this is arguably as catchy as things get over the course of these eight tracks, finding it’s home between the likes of KVELERTAK and MAN THE MACHETES. It’s up-beat and rocking, all the while groove rich and melodic, and a superb piece of modern metal. Elsewhere “Burn” and “Forsaken” continue this approach of searing blackened melodies while incorporating subtle doom atmospherics into the more traditional metal guitar work, before we eventually finish up on ”Sanctuary”. The semi-acoustic opening and soft vocals allowing for a sense of closure and finality to wind the mood down somewhat…or so we thought, as this too erupts into a visceral barrage of pained vocals at the tracks midway point, peaking with a final flurry, before the low-key instrumentation transitions right back into “0” and we appropriately come full circle, as the album essentially loops, which is cleverly done.

Overall, while Russia isn’t exactly prominent in the world metal scene in terms of household names, L’Homme Absurde are clearly equipped to throw down with some of their more established Scandinavian neighbours. Blackened metalcore may sound a touch niche on paper but there’s enough here in terms of subtle variety to at least warrant checking this out for most fans of alternative heavy music. It’s a solid album and one that could potentially find them larger audiences across Europe, and to suggest otherwise would be, well, absurd. [6]

​So back in April, I reviewed an album for All About The Rock called “Italians Die Better”, by B-Movie punks SUPERHORROR. It was somewhat controversial given its title, as it was released during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic (One which we’re actually still in, despite the countries neither here nor there approach to public safety). Their background is plucked straight out of a low-budget zombie slasher, and while I did refer to them as a BTEC MURDERDOLLS, they are at least keeping the horror-punk scene alive. However, diving into my email submissions, I find an album forwarded to me by Stencil PR that predates the Italian’s…

Formed in Budapest, Hungary, THE HELLFREAKS are another seemingly horror-punk inspired outfit, consisting of vocalist Shakey Sue, guitarist Jozzy, bassist Domján Gabi and drummer Budai Béla, though they aren’t quite as tongue-in-cheek or gimmicky. Their own background simply stating that hell was “full” so they came back, but their original sound somewhat contradicts this at least in principle. Sure there were horror elements entwined within their lyricism, but as a generally psychobilly based band, I can’t so much as see them being denied entry to hell because HELL was too full, it’s more likely they were denied entry to an alternative club night for not having ID and exaggerated the story; embarrassed they couldn’t get served WKD. I mean there’s always room in hell for psychobilly!

I digress…over the years however they have adapted their sound to be more befitting of their name and claim, as 2020 finds them releasing their latest album “God On The Run”. With an angrier, seemingly more metallic approach to their writing, let’s see what the almighty father is fleeing…and does it explain the events of 2020 thus far? The album opens up with “Men In Grey” and you can immediately sense the increase in aggression compared to their debut…Sue’s vocals are coarse but retain a level of clarity and melody that drives the chorus hook home, all the while complimenting the more frenetic riff-work wonderfully. This is some enjoyable, up-tempo melodic alternative punk, and a solid start.

Recent single “Red Sky” then follows up and after a brief build we’re thrust into another dose of pacey, melodic alt. rock, combining pop sensibilities with a more vitriolic punk aesthetic…not too dissimilar to our opener but with ever so slightly less attitude; it’s cleaner with more harmony allowing for a generally smoother, easier listen without losing any bite. The rest of the album then  in all fairness sticks to this formula pretty vehemently, fleeting between those same duel aggressive and arresting aspects of their song writing style. “Doldrum Dynasty” is another great example of a simplistic yet really effective chorus hook amidst edgier guitar elements, while “Adrenalized” uses soaring gang vocals and almost pop-punk riffs to great effect, before we eventually finish up on “Tabby”. The odd one out as the slowest paced piece here; it’s got a deeper, darker,pulsing synth underlying some predominantly grunge-influenced hard rock, but this change of pacing is a pleasant one. It’s nice to know that they CAN shake things up a little more at least.

Ultimately while “God On The Run” doesn’t explain the complete shit storm 2020 is turning out to be, what it has done is turned a psychobilly horror-rock band into a more straight up, alternative punk rock monster with a more sleek, serious tone and less of a niche appeal…which is saying something. The only thing going against it is its lack of real overall diversity; as it’s pretty much all systems go until track ten, and while the melodies are tight, it CAN sound a little samey. If you’re a fan of SUMO CYCO and NEW YEARS DAY…check out The Hellfreaks…if they let you in that is. [8]

Whenever an artist, PR company or record label forwards me some new music to check out, I’m always interested to see what part of the world it comes from. Often I’ve mentioned certain parts of the world being affiliated with certain scenes or styles musically, but it’s always nice to find diversity from within a town, city or general region…and today’s review highlights just that. Lund, Sweden, may not be a destination that jumps out at you as being instantly recognisable, but for any fellow Eurovision fans out there you may know that it the home of one MÅNS ZELMERLÖW, and while I would more than happily listen to Sweden’s answer to JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE for this review, we won’t be covering any pop music for now. “Thank fuck” I can already hear you say…

Lund also happens to be the home of a band by the name of THROUGH THE NOISE, and the team over at Eclipse Records forwarded me their latest album “Dualism” to check out. The five-piece (Consisting of vocalist Jowl Nyberg, guitarists Victor Adonis and Marcus Skantz, bassist Martin Lingonblad and drummer Peter Liwgren) were founded back in 2010, and in the years that followed they established themselves as more than promising up-and-comers within Sweden’s thriving metal community, especially with their 2015 debut “Fall Of Gaia”, but now in 2019 they want to well and truly stamp their name among the metalcore elite and hope to do so with these nine new tracks. Hellfire Magazine summed things up by describing the album as having ‘Interesting, surprisingly well-functioning songs’…back handed compliment and a half that! Consider me intrigued!

We open up with a track called “Shattered” and the virtually instant impact of hard hitting chords, with the duel pummelling of riffs and percussion gives this an intense start! It’s bass-heavy and subtly down-tuned but doesn’t compromise whatsoever when it comes to delivering a harsh dose of surging metal. To a degree you could say it bridges a gap between the likes of ATREYU and CHILDREN OF BODOM, but however you look at it; it doesn’t give a fuck…it just mauls. Early album highlight “Psychomachia” follows up next and we’re joined by guest vocalist Jahna Lund of DEATH BY HORSE fame. For the most part it’s more generally expected metalcore, teetering on generic with its methodical chugging and breakdown-inspired stylistics, but the clean vocals provided by Jahna allow for more melody to flow through the chorus and it’s all balanced very well.

A lot of the album does stick to a firm metalcore/deathcore formula for the most part but it does have more than a couple of points of worth. “House Of Asterion” combines up-tempo post-hardcore with subtle thrash and death elements resulting in an incredibly frenetic listen. “Secret Project” houses a touch more melodic instrumentation, with Jahna again providing backing gang-vocal harmony…the nods to Swedish heavyweights IN FLAMES are proudly on display here. Let’s be honest mind OF COURSE they were going to have a bit of In Flames in them, they’re a Swedish metal band for fuck sake! “Maktbegär” retains all of the pace and again, pummels the listener with a fine slab of scando-death-punk not too unlike the likes of KVELERTAK and MAN THE MACHETES in places, while “Meaning Through Noise” takes on an almost industrial tone, akin to the likes of STATIC-X.

Overall, while not exactly original, bearing in mind recent musical trends and the fact they come from one of the most saturated areas on the planet when it comes to alternative metal, Through The Noise have still managed to deliver a crisp and enjoyable metalcore album. The brief crossover portions work well and they’ve added enough flavour to ensure they don’t blend into genre obscurity like Homer Simpson walking backwards into a hedge row. Put Through The Noise through your speakers, as this album is certainly worth a listen. [7]

Birmingham, as we all know, is the spiritual home of heavy metal and the myriad of alternative genres that followed it, but it’s not the only city in the UK with serious rock ‘n’ roll credentials. Yes today we’re going to be turning our attention to Sheffield and to be fair, its home to several big-name artists itself, spanning from all walks of rock and metal culture, having spawned everyone from DEF LEPPARD to BRING ME THE HORIZON over the years…and while the latter are at the very peak of their career riding high with chart success, infiltrating the mainstream, their contemporaries aren’t too far behind…enter WHILE SHE SLEEPS. (That sounds creepier than intended…)

The five-piece (Consisting of vocalist Lawrence Taylor, drummer Adam Savage, bassist Aaran McKenzie and guitarists Sean Long and Mat Welsh) have been going strong since 2006 and over that time they’ve steadily established themselves as one of the UK’s hottest up-and-coming metal acts. With their last album “You Are We” receiving heaps of critical praise and breaking into the UK charts, all eyes were wide awake in anticipation for their eagerly awaited follow up, and the lads delivered at the beginning of March with album number four; “SO WHAT?”…if I may paraphrase MEGADETH for a second…so far, so good…so what’s in store for us here? Let’s find out…

The album opens up with “ANTI-SOCIAL” and while initially ticking off the clichés with the police sirens and dogs barking, planting the image of troubled neighbourhoods over at the bad side of town, it soon descends into a flurry of almost djent inspired metalcore riffage. Lawrence’s vocals are initially hushed before a bold yet simplistic chorus of ‘I’m not anti-social, I’m anti-bullshit’…the almost nu-metal tones of the instrumentation carry a sense of vitriol and as a whole the track is brimming with piss and vinegar. The disdain for the current state of society, awash with corruption has become too much and here those sentiments are hammered home, especially in the incredibly powerful accompanying video; this is intense stuff. “I’VE SEEN IT ALL” initially follows up with some crazed fret-wankery, before  bellowed gang vocals are layered within the groove-heavy slab of hard rock, giving the track a prominently anthemic feel.

The title track again utilises a rich groove, coupled with duel vocal / guitar harmonies over a hook laden chorus, which can also be said for “THE GUILTY PARTY” and album highlight “SET YOU FREE”…the former, another up-tempo offering with a blistering chorus and more gang vocals, while the latter doubles down on the pop-production quality. The clean vocals are much more prominent and there’s a fun, almost pop-punk tone to the chorus and it all flows so smoothly, before the album eventually closes up on “GATES OF PARADISE”; another fine blend of mauling metalcore and melody, even including some almost rap-inspired vocals towards the breakdown. There was a lot of hype and anticipation around this record, and I will gladly point out that it IS a quality modern metal record; the riffs, the aggression; it’s all on point, just as the softer moments are and it’s a well-balanced album overall. The metalcore aspects themselves ARE growing tired truth be told, there’s only so many screamed vocals and breakdowns you can hear before you begin to feel you’ve heard all of it as many bands apply a copy and paste formula, but there’s enough here to warrant repeat listens, switching up JUST enough to keep their sound fresh.  They aren’t quite on the same level as their fellow Sheffield residents BMTH right now commercially, but the music speaks for itself, and this is an album well worth checking out. [7]

Lansing, Michigan; the very heart of Michigan State and a pivotal player in the US educational sector, housing a plethora of universities, law schools, medical schools and more…but what are they like with metal? That’s where today’s band comes in…let me introduce you to HEARTSICK. Having formed nearly 20 years ago, through a love of progressive metalcore and amidst the NWOAHM boom, the four-piece (Consisting of vocalist Alfonso Civile, guitarist Jerred Pruneau, bassist Waylon Fox and drummer Justin Robinson) have over time built a strong following stateside with their intense, unforgiving live shows, supporting big-hitters such as FEAR FACTORY and HATEBREED. As they unleash their newest album “Sleep Cycles”, we have to ask, can the lads from Lansing school US on the metal? Let’s find out…

The album opens up like Corey Graves’ wife with a track called “Affair” and it’s not long before we’re met with Alfonso’s visceral snarls, curling themselves around some deep riffs; the metalcore style prominent, as it switches up between subtle gang-vocal melody for the chorus and being instrumentally itching for the imminent breakdown. It ends abruptly but generally it’s a fairly standard though enjoyable metal track; a decent start. “Hate Anthem” keeps up the momentum with its primarily more thrash metal inspired sound; the tempo and intensity are all turned up a notch and in ways this harks back to early SLIPKNOT in its delivery; a proper head banger of a track this.

Given the quartets admiration for metalcore however it’s not always a swift smack in the mush as they are more than capable of incorporating ample melody within their instrumentation, especially on the latter half of the album. “Slave Labor” in particular with its hushed atmospherics, whispered vocal delivery and soaring, emotive chorus, almost combining anthemic indie rock with chilling metal aesthetics; it’s quite hypnotic. “Her Heart” is another and again, with the soaring clean vocals it adds diversity to their audible assault, while single “Love Letter” embraces a more sombre, chilled out post-rock approach, appealing to your inner emo with their own take on a heartfelt rock ballad; a genuinely touching track.

​Ultimately “Sleep Cycles” is a fitting title as one minute it’s crushing and aggressively vibrant; wide awake and alert, but they know how to reel it back and soothe you too without managing to make you dose of completely, and they’ve balanced this out really well over the course of the thirteen tracks. Currently unsigned but, it’s hard to see why quite frankly (Unless it’s by choice of course), Heartsick know how to make you feel the feels and this is a solid record all in all…[7]

Metal fans are a fickle lot aren’t they really, let’s be honest…I mean go on social media and browse through the comment sections of any established music outlet. Pick an article, any article, and I can guaran-damn-tee you’ll stumble across any number of elitists proclaiming [Insert Band Here] are not metal enough or, they aren’t metal at all, or they sold out. Some of the memes can be funny don’t get me wrong, but for a collective of supposedly like-minded people, putting specific genre’s to one side for a moment, rock and metal fans can be some of the most narrow-minded and often childish music fans in the world…and this brings us, to BRING ME THE HORIZON.

Formed in Sheffield back in 2004, Oli Sykes and the lads have been raising more eyebrows than The Rock since their debut “Count Your Blessings”…their early energetic deathcore assault was ambitious, and their youthful vitriol and intensity was applauded, but the recklessness and inexperience that came with it drew criticism. Over the years that have followed however, BMTH have gradually toned down their initial brutality, becoming a household name in UK metal in the process, and also one of the fastest rising bands in recent times…but there’s only so far you can really get in metalcore; so in 2015 the band decided to split opinions even further. “That’s The Spirit” was a total departure from their original sound as they’d now started incorporating more electronica and pop production…alienating some fans and metal purists, but finding themselves riding high in the UK charts. Some people don’t like change, but the band are now bigger than ever as they continue down this path, releasing their latest album “amo”…the Marmite of the UK metal scene, or under-appreciated genius? Let’s find out…

The album opens up with an appropriate forewarning entitled “I Apologise If You Feel Something”, and while already a well-executed anti-ballad, it also doubles down as an ironic jab at their critics. A case of sorry / not sorry as they continue to explore new sounds and arrangements, moving further away from their heavy roots, emphasised by the soft, echoing synths and hushed vocals; a cleverly confrontational start. This though is followed up by lead single “Mantra” and the lads are back on anthemic form. Keeping in line with the previous albums sound, the vocals are clean, there’s all of the groove and an incredible hook through the chorus. Despite the heaviness of the lead riff and the pounding percussion at times this is polished with a rich pop production quality and it sounds HUGE.

It’s this type of production that upset so many metal fans last time around, and unluckily for you things haven’t changed a bit this time round either…”Medicine” is oozing the influence that LINKIN PARK had Oli growing up as it blends rock and electronica with a subtle R’n’B vibe, it’s easy to imagine Mike Shinoda guesting on this one. “Sugar Honey Ice & Tea” returns to a more guitar driven core sound but retains the accessibility of the bands recent musical direction, and though while ironically “Heavy Metal” again has some surging guitars it’s far from abrasive.

The majority of this record is comprised of a band happy to experiment and explore; with the album unafraid to shake things up stylistically. With the sweeping, elegant string sections of closing track “I Don’t Know What To Say”…the trance / hard house qualities of “Nihilist Blues” bringing out your inner raver, and the dark, low-fi grime influenced street ballad that is “Why You Gotta Kick Me When I’m Down?” all take the band on different musical directions and it makes for a roller coaster of a listen. Even though on face value BMTH have stayed on this, mainstream path, the evolution is still there for all to see…they have no shame in trying new things, toying with new styles and crossovers and frankly that’s how it SHOULD be. Too often we’re hypocritical of the current scene we’re meant to uphold…band does the same thing over and over? Boring, stagnant, dull…band changes up their sound as they grow as artists? BOOOO traitor! You sold out! You’re meant to be a rock band! Bring Me The Horizon in their current guise might not be for everyone, I totally get that, but what’s wrong AT ALL in one of our own going out there and fucking owning it? Nothing, that’s what…well done lads, shots have been fired. [7]

Well well well...what can I say? 2018 has been and gone; some of it was awesome, some of it was interesting, some of it was amusing and a lot of it was spectacularly shit...however, one thing that's consistent is the sheer volume of music and art created around the world. 2018 saw me cover my usual rock and metal albums...there wasn't a lot of goth...but I dabbled in some pop, in some rap, in some hip-hop...that's not including that which I checked out for the team over at All About The Rock...ultimately 2018 has kept me on my toes musically and I'm sure that my Top 20's, no matter the category, can show you that. 

From Eurovision bangers courtesy of Saara Aalto...to heavy metal swan songs a la Machine Head. From returning Welsh rap rock renegades The Kennedy Soundtrack...to returning Finnish goth godfathers Musta Paraati. From crossover WWE Superstar Elias...to young crossover Stranger Things superstars forming Calpurnia...you name it there's been something for everyone in 2018 and I like to think I've covered a fair unbiased amount of it. After over 200 albums and EP's, the above gallery showcases the best of the best of 2018 and I hope you agree with my overall picks. Below you'll find the link to the GTGC Facebook page, where you can find my lists in their entirety (Including the bonus WORST 20 OF 2018) and my official GTGC 2018 Spotify Playlist, and I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed compiling it. Here's to 2019 and all of the new music coming our way...some of it will get the GTGC treatment, and you know you're looking forward to that. Peace out bitches...WUBBA LUBBA DUB DUB!!!!!!!!!!!!

 CELTIC MOSH is a long-running alternative metal promotion run by Merthyr Tydfil based booking agent Scott Meredith, and over the past couple of years he's put on some absolutely blistering live metal shows promoting the South Wales metal scene. What started out in Merthyr's local Celtic Bar as a monthly club / gig night slowly spread across South Wales, moving up into Merthyr's bigger venues like The Redhouse town hall, eventually setting up in other venues such as the EVI in Ebbw Vale and even FUEL Rock Bar, Cardiff's premier rock club.

Saturday November 24th see's the Celtic Mosh crew set up at the Green Rooms in Treforest for their annual festival celebrating underground UK metal, and they've got a tasty line-up confirmed! Headlining the all-dayer are Manchester's most promising prog-metal outfit COLLIBUS, who have not only experienced playing Europe's Big 4 metal festivals (WACKEN, BLOODSTOCK, GRASSPOP and DOWNLOAD) but they can also lay claim to being the first ever metal band to have played the House Of Commons! With Their newest album "Trusting The Illusion" having dropped earlier this year they'll certainly bring a little manc madness to the mosh!

The main support slot for the festival this year goes to URSUS...the Swindon based boys maybe new kids on the block only having fully formed in 2017 but their blistering blend of metalcore and nu-metal is proving effective as they've been making both a name for themselves and all the right noises, earning them this support slot. Check them out and their brand new singles "Self-Affliction" and "Purity" on the day!

Joining them are an array of Wales' finest underground / local-scene alternative metal outfits including Celtic Mosh regulars EPIC FAIL, Port Talbot's own I AM GRAVITY and Cardiff up-and-comers UPON THE DYING who will be promoting their newest album "Delusions". You'll also get to witness scorching set's from the likes of VOID CALLER and GOOD MORNING VIETNAM. Doors open at 12pm and the music kicks off at 1pm, with ticket prices set at £12 OTD. Tickets are also available to order via See Tickets for £10 advance. Order your tickets via the link below and we'll see you in the pit \m/

So a bear and a bull walk into a bar and after they take a seat, the bull says “I’ll get the first round, what you having?”…the bear, licking his lips replies “I’ll have………a beer”. The bull, impatient asks “Why the big pause?” The bear simply retorts “I dunno, I was born with them!” …As shitty as that joke is, I intend to make up for it in sheer Segway value; so if you’ll let me explain, allow me to introduce to you PAGANS. Formed somewhere oop north, the internet-based duo consists of Vocalist Luther Williams (Who you may also find in the band THE ANTIQUITY) and multi-instrumentalist Adam Bulpitt, and the pair got together strictly as part of a studio-only project after meeting at university. Inspired by a love of artists such as SYLOSIS and THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER they’ve created an EP under the name of “The Bear And The Bull” (See it made sense in the end!)…will they pull no punches? Or are they too the punch-line to a shitty joke? Let’s find out…

The EP opens up with the track “Fathoms” and initially we just have the soft, creepily plucked guitar providing an almost hypnotic introduction; there’s no ascension, no gradual build…it simply lulls and lingers there for just short of a minute, where we then quickly erupt with a visceral dose of tormented, sludge-heavy death metal. The drone of the guitar and the duel-tone vocals of Williams; half demonic growls, half savage snarling giving the track a true sense of viciousness and foreboding…one can only fathom at the depths off hell this came from…”Cranium Tomb” then follows up and wastes absolutely no time whatsoever. After a brief drum flurry we’re right back at it with a lot more emphasis on those guttural growls, which accompanied by their blend of technical death and retro thrash influences, combining a mixture of chord progressions, off-kilter riffs and key-changes; it’s enough to make your skull collapse under the sheer force of uncontrollable head-banging.

The shortest of the five offerings then, is “Pig Iron” and make no mistake, vocally here Williams sounds like tomorrow’s bacon being roughly fucked with a hot iron…and musically it couldn’t be more fitting to soundtrack such a scene. Blunt, full of aggression and assertive, until it just dissipates...blacks out, unable to take anymore. “I, The Marked One” continues with the pummelling though instrumentally there are more subtle hooks coming through the guitar which do stand out, before closing track “Into The Dawn” ends proceedings like we started; with some softly plucked guitar leading into another scorching death metal assault, although again the guitar does provide a touch more melody this time around. So, the question remains, are the bear and the bull simply part of the set up to a punch-line? Not really no, as they are as every bit as ferocious and intimidating as the animals they represent from a musical standpoint, and if you prefer to be mauled by your metal then be sure to check these out. Not a fan of the vocals? They’ve even got you covered there as the EP has 5 additional purely instrumental cuts for you to get whiplash to, but you don’t get the full level of intensity as was intended. Don’t get too attached though, odds on you’ll not be seeing them live…and that’s a load of bull! [5]

Going back decades, arguably since its inception truth be told, ‘rock’ music was always viewed upon as bad thing; a rebellious genre that started in the early days of rock ‘n’ roll a la ELVIS' controversial hip-swinging, leading young ladies astray…punk rock was always a primary instigator of rebellion when that came about, the musical equivalent of streaking through a convent with your middle fingers proudly pointing skyward…and then there’s metal. We’re not going to be delving into all of the deep, dark sub-genres, but metal itself has always been associated with the devil and darkness, and of course bands like BLACK SABBATH and IRON MAIDEN only fueled that…but sometimes a band just feels the need to speak up; make a statement and be as brutally honest or opinionated as they can be. Here; special guest writer PETE HARRIS ([email protected]) showcases his personal picks on “5 Metal Bands That Made Their Name Attacking The Establishment”

"There are many ways to speak to the powers above. But sometimes, the best and only way to unleash truth is to do it as loudly and as aggressively as possible. Here are five of our favourite artists who knew just that — and have used the inherent aggression of metal to express rage, dissent, and criticism against the unyielding sociopolitical establishment."

Godfathers of 90’s and 00’s thrash metal; MACHINE HEAD first made a name in Europe before getting famous back home in the US. One of the pioneers in the ‘New Wave Of American Heavy Metal’ which began in the mid 1990’s and peaked later in the millennium. Machine Head dabbles with thrash and groove metal, which they’ve perfected in songs like “Aesthetics Of Hate” and “Clenching The Fists Of Dissent”. From criticising the critics who act like the gatekeepers of rock, to taking an anti-war stance in the midst of the American government’s oil-hoarding in the Middle East, Machine Head’s fans know that they mean business.

"Being able to loudly and aggressively speak truth to power is just one of the many uses of anti-establishmentarian music. As many metal-heads can attest to, listening to some quality rock and metal can prompt emotional, mental and even physical benefits as well; revelling in the violent themes of metal in in many ways, an act of anti-violence and therapeutic self-love. In fact, academically-backed research published in an article on LOTTOLAND reveals that people who regularly go to live rock music gigs are more satisfied with their lives than those who don’t. The same source also reveals that powerful music can give a 26% boost to your overall blood-flow. Keep these things in mind the next time you’re debating whether or not it’s worth it to go out and see what the newest bands have to offer…"

What are your thoughts on metal bands speaking truth to power? Were there any bands or artists you feel deserve to be in this list? Let us know what you think in the comments!

I’m going to be perfectly honest with you right now; I am officially useless when it comes to time-keeping and scheduling when it comes to this blog! Seriously, I can sit here and make notes, plan some specific reviews and posts then think, right, my free time is here, here and here, so I’ll sort out some content…what ACTUALLY happens instead however is I just find myself opening emails and forgetting about them while I’m lost, procrastinating in the annals of YouTube. Well I’m rectifying one such instance today! Allow me to introduce to you AMERICAN STANDARDS.

I was sent an email by their front-man Brandon Kellum, in which he forwarded his bands (Completed by guitarist Corey Skowronski, bassist Steven Mandell and drummer Mitch Hosier) latest album “Anti-Melody”…asking if I would be so kind to check it out! Better late than never Brandon, though I do apologise! Anyway, formed in 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona, the 4-piece share a love of all things hardcore and post-punk, inspired by big-hitters such as CONVERGE and POISON THE WELL and channelled those influences through this; their 4th album. It wasn’t without its setbacks mind you, as prior to recording, original founding guitarist Cody Conrad committed suicide, which was followed shortly after by the death of Brandon’s own father to cancer…these events, coupled with the state of the world around them pushed them towards writing the most personal album of their career, so let’s see what standards these American’s have…

We open up with “Writers Block Party” and they waste no time getting all up in your face with their blend of punk-infused hardcore rock…with their combination of intense thrashing, full of piss and vinegar, plus the weighty riffs layered over Brandon’s snarling vocal delivery, leading up to a climactic flurry, the album starts as it means to go on; with absolutely no nonsense whatsoever. “Carpe Diem, Tomorrow” follows up and it’s a touch slower in tempo with some off-kilter, almost prog-infused guitar work, bordering on djent in places, before we’re treated to an impromptu and legitimately enjoyable guitar solo which itself takes the track up a level.

Further highlights include “Broken Culture”, which at under two-minutes long may only provide a short, sharp piece of music but it still manages to include some great, groove-heavy guitar work, blunt as it is brief; their punk roots shine through here. By contrast, “Bartenders Without Wings” slows things down completely with a raw, melancholy soaked sense of vulnerability plucked straight out of the MEWITHOUTYOU playbook, while closing track “Chicago Overcoat” plunges itself deep within sludge-metal territory…methodical and with more than a touch of EYEHATEGOD and MELVINS at its core, it ends proceedings on an altogether more sluggish note. For a band that’s gone completely DIY, despite only being 8 tracks and less than half an hour in length this album shows plenty of potential. While firmly rooted in that post-punk / hardcore genre bracket they’re clearly not afraid to dabble to give some of these tracks that extra flavour (Regardless of how off-putting sludge sounds) and it’s this that will likely carry them forward, as they CAN become a little samey when they’re just rip-roaring their way through a bitter, angry track-list, though to its credit the album title doesn’t lie; you won’t find much in terms of easy listening here. [5]

For those of you living under a rock, we’re at the business end of the 2018 FIFA World Cup right now and all the talk over the past weekend was about England beating Sweden to reach the semi-finals (I must say I love a raging semi)…but while I’m not here to celebrate England’s victory (The tabloids have done enough of that) I will share my commiserations with Sweden by highlighting one of their new up-and-coming bands. From the capital of Stockholm, home to a famous lineage of artists ranging from ABBA to OPETH, comes SET BEFORE US. The five-piece (Consisting of vocalist Erik Tropp, guitarists Niklas Edstrom and Jesper Nilsson, bassist Hampus Andersson and drummer Emanuel Borgefors) formed back in 2012 and their influences are rooted in a lot of modern metalcore…on August 31st they unleash their brand new album “Vitae” via Eclipse Records…let’s check it out…

The album wastes virtually no time at all getting underway with “Untainted” and immediately we’re met with the guttural growls of Edstrom and Tropp, while by stark contrast the guitars here meander through your ears with melody and grace…the combination of beauty and breakdowns a staple of Scandinavian melodic death metal and that’s utilised well here, however abrupt it may be. “Avalanche” follows up and keeps momentum going but does introduce subtle clean vocals (Albeit sparsely) alongside a few well-placed hooks and some catchy chord progression to give the track more of a feeling of accessibility. Speaking of accessibility, both “Identity” and “Harbor” take us down increasingly more mainstream directions…the former has an instant early 00’s post-hardcore feel, like we’re listening to a band from the old Victory Records roster (Think BAYSIDE or HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS) before the latter then surprises everyone with a feisty little acoustic ballad, leading into a classic, 80’s influenced guitar driven crescendo; it really is a wonderful little track.

Elsewhere “Oblivion” capitalises on the use of gang-vocals and a hook-laden chorus to further push for a more accessible sound amidst the mauling, before closing track “Charon” opts for an emotive piano ballad to round things off, tip-toeing around the risk of becoming completely emo…had it not been for the deathly growls seemingly possessing the track halfway through…do they save the track or spoil it? You be the judge. Such ferocity does work however on the brief but brutal “Fountain Of Youth” and the groove heavy “The Eternal Fight”, but lead single “Ignite” is a touch generic and disappointing, with its fade-out serving little to no benefit. Ultimately despite some huge promise, this sounds like a band who despite the quality and confidence to deliver a decent album, haven’t 100% decided what album they actually want to deliver, or at the very least are unsure of their preferred market. There’s stuff here taken from a fair selection of alternative influences…and while an enjoyable listen, sometimes it feels they’re unsure which way to go in terms of committing to a sound, not to suggest a band must stick to one style, more so to provide consistency but, on this evidence, wherever it is they’re heading, they’ll get there...and they probably wont take long. [6]

Back in 1999, in the city of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a young man by the name of Benjamin Burnley would lay the foundations for what would become one of America’s most popular alternative rock bands; BREAKING BENJAMIN. As the sole remaining original/founding member, Ben has overseen virtually all of the song-writing and composition amidst a series of line-up changes (And lawsuits) but has seen the band attain multi-platinum status in the States with a string of successful albums…however…due to a serious case of aviophobia, as well as hypochondria, it wasn’t until 2016 that Ben and the rest of the current band finally left the comfort of their home country to play their first shows overseas. 2018 sees them return with album number six; “Ember”…have they found new inspirations on their international travels? Let’s find out…

The album opens up with a brief intro piece called “Lyra” and it’s a delicate sounding, sombre piano-led instrumental; based in Greek mythology it represents the Lyre Of Orpheus and is said to produce music so charming that it could affect inanimate objects, and conceptually here that works for this 30 second piece of music, but as we lead into first track proper “Feed The Wolf”, all of that charm goes out the window. We’re met with a thick wall of chugging riffs as Ben delivers his duel vocal onslaught; fleeting between deathly growls and harmonic melodies as he sings of fighting temptation, and giving into the urge of man’s animalistic nature and it’s emotive despite its lag. The albums lead single “Red Cold River” follows up next and really speaking we have more of the same…the combination of his smooth, clean vocals with his intimidating metal growls showcase Ben’s admittedly impressive range, but structurally the track is quite generic and honestly quite bland, despite the ferocity of that pre-chorus…

The album isn’t without it’s highlights however…”Blood” utilises solid groove and rhythm over some well delivered hooks that make up the chorus, using Ben’s growls sparingly and it’s a lot more effective here; it’s balanced incredibly well and allows the chorus to have that much more impact and intensity, and the track stands out all the more for it, while “The Dark Of You” takes a different approach altogether, opting for a chilling power-ballad of sorts, the change of tone no less emotive but it does provide an extra level of depth and variety…though that there is the albums primary flaw; variety…or, lack thereof. Yes, as I’ve previously stated Benjamin’s vocals ARE impressive as he’s able to sing and snarl with the best of them, but here the writing behind it is far too monotonous or two-dimensional. While there are peaks and troughs of specific talking points scattered throughout the 12 tracks on offer, the idea of repeat listens is more than a touch laborious, with the album as a whole coming off as disappointingly boring and repetitive in places. Ember is quite fitting as a title really, for on this evidence, the fire’s gone out and we’re left with just a smouldering lump of used up carbon. [4]

At the risk of stating the obvious, I’m quite partial to a review…yes I spend a fair amount of my time writing up these blog entries and contributing to the team over at All About The Rock, but a lot of my free time is spent watching YouTube reviewers too; guys like Anthony Fantano, AVGN, Brandon Tenold and more recently I’ve stumbled upon a guy named Decker Shado; the internet personality with the best hair. He, like most internet movie reviewers has gone through the “Alien” franchise and having watched these particular videos over the last day or so, it’s only ironic that this next review has ties to the movie itself…thematically at least, let me explain…

​Allow me to introduce to you a band by the name of SICK N’ BEAUTIFUL and to utilise some professional wrestling terminology here, they’re ALL about the kayfabe. Hailing from Acheron LV-426, a moon orbiting Calpamos, 39 Light Years from Earth, from which the USCSS Nostromo picked up a distress signal, before its crew got face-hugged the fuck out of in the aforementioned movie “Alien”. Or, if you prefer…Rome, they’re from Rome, Italy. The intergalactic 5-piece (Consisting of vocalist Herma, bassist Big Daddy Ray, drummer Evey plus guitarists Lobo and Rev C2) apparently “crash landed” in the Italian capital after their spaceship; the BFS9000 suffered engine failure on their travels and they’re a bit stuck, but as luck would have it they’re a space-age musical circus freak-show and request your generosity in funding the repair costs by checking out their brand new album “Element Of Sex”. Clearly not endorsed in any way by the Weyland-Yuntani group, let’s see if they deserve our hard earned dollar…

We open up with “Fire True” and immediately we’re met with a dramatic, string-inspired synth sequence, verging on symphonic really, before we’re thrust right into the crunch of some thick, throwback nu-metal riffs. The heavy intensity and subtle electronic elements musically places this somewhere in deep space between KORN and CANE HILL, add to that then a slick guitar solo and overall we’ve got a decent opener here. Recent single “Megalomaniacal” is up next and it brings the tempo with it too, mixing raw, punk qualities via Herma’s cacophonous vocals, with a classic hard rocking rhythm…also the “Mortal Kombat” inspired arcade game video that accompanies it is a bit bonkers to boot; all in all a fun track. “All Wanna Go To Heaven” then reaches an entirely different echelon as the albums clear stand-out track…the gradual build of seductive keys and simple percussion leading into cleaner vocals, capitalising on influences such as GARBAGE and NO DOUBT resulting in a perfectly catchy piece of pop music; the hooks and overall groove here will have you hitting repeat with no doubt ironically, this is superb.

The trouble with that is, the rest of the album can only go downhill, but it doesn’t go too far down it has to be said; “Hellawake” is another brilliant example of synth-pop combined with hard riffs and hushed ambiance for a solid, almost anthemic listen; layered incredibly well…”HeXxX (The Element Of Sex)” has a certain retro feel to it, partly channelling the likes of THE B52’S in tone giving it a fun, up-beat feel, while “Cryptid” utilises a pacey guitar driven approach, rich with gang vocals, melodies and subtle breakdowns for a well delivered ear-bashing, before closing track “C*mmunion” ends on a high note with more hooks and accessible pop-rock enjoyment. It’s not quite a perfect album over its ten tracks though sadly; “Slam!” despite being heavier and grittier musically plods along a touch too methodically, while “New Witch 666” undergoes a remix following its initial release in 2015…not the best of tracks to begin with, the revised cut gives it new life but it’s still weaker compared to what else is on offer. All in all however we have an undeniably strong album here and from start to finish these xenomorphs entertain on a number of levels. If we could just get Ash to sabotage the fuck out of their repair operation given his previous, maybe they’ll stick around a bit longer…because whilst sick they are indeed beautiful. [8]

Continuing on this current run of Stencil PR promotional reviews, we find ourselves being deported from North America by the Trump administration and being packed off down under, I’m assuming to be fed to the crocodiles or even worse, watch looping “Neighbours” reruns…but it just so happens our next band calls Perth, Australia home; let me introduce you to PATIENT SIXTY-SEVEN. With the name taken from psychological DiCaprio thriller “Shutter Island”, the Aussie outfit formed in 2015, inspired by artists such as IN HEARTS WAKE and ARCHITECTS, and have been lighting up Australia’s local metal scenes since their debut EP “Imbalance”, released that same year. Now, in 2018 we see them return with a follow up EP entitled “Four Walls”…will it see them break out of Australia into the wider world of metal? Or will it have you smashing your head against every one of them? Let’s find out…

The EP opens up with “Selfless” and the combination of orchestral strings with disjointed electronica gives this a somewhat ominous, even dramatic tone, it could easily find itself accompanying a movie trailer…in ways it’s like a modern take on a film score from Kaiju legend Akira Ifukube, or so it reminds me at least, before the vocals kick in and we’re pummeled with a visceral metal onslaught. The aggressive and clean vocals complement each other well, coupled with the use of breakdowns and we’re left with a solid dose of metalcore; it’s a decent opener. New single “Before You Go” follows up and again, there’s electronic elements at the top of the track, somewhat mechanical sounding but not as far as going fully industrial in genre. The track then descends into more of the same in terms of brutal metal entwined with bold vocal melody and it’s enjoyable, but the abrupt ending feels more like someone pulled a power cord as opposed to providing a climax and it sounds unfinished to a degree.

​“The Void” then, after such a delicate intro is slowly engulfed by more chugging, djent-inspired riff-work, with former ATTACK ATTACK! Vocalist Phil Druyer lending his lungs to proceedings and it really is a song of two halves; the underlying looping piano offers a sweetness to offset the unrelenting metal, while first single “Callous” follows a similar formula more or less just with more focus on the heavy vocals, while the title track and “Disclosure” practically follow a rinse and repeat formula. As far as metalcore goes P67 have delivered a solid EP here. The subtle synth elements that bind the aggressive qualities has worked over the six tracks but they may want to mix it up just a little bit more by the time that full length comes just to avoid the risk of repetition, with tracks facing being lost among themselves, but, all in all there’s nothing to suggest they can’t follow PARKWAY DRIVE out from down-under and on to a wider audience. Metalcore-blimey she's a lil' ripper! [6]

Ah the fond memories of English literature class in school…sat for an hour going over “Of Mice And Men” by John Steinbeck, taking it in turns reading paragraphs about farm work, mentally disabled men, stroking puppies to death, racism, manslaughter, accusations of rape (Did I mention STROKING PUPPIES TO DEATH?) while the teacher tries to force her interpretations upon you as if she wrote the damn novel herself?  Luckily I don’t have to pay George and Lennie another visit (Well, George, spoiler alert, Lennie dies mwahahaha) but we are going to be looking at OF MICE & MEN…formed in Orange County, California, back in 2009, the metalcore-mob have gradually established themselves as one of the biggest up and coming names in alternative metal with an ever growing and ever loyal fan-base, but, this is rock ‘n’ roll damnit and nothing ever goes according to plan! "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft agley" after all…and in this case, it involves former vocalist Austin Carlile. He suffers from Marfan Syndrome which affected his lungs and he was forced to step down from vocal duties…yet the band went on with bassist Aaron Pauley taking the helm and they’ve just released their first album without Austin; “Defy”…let’s check it out…

​We open up with the title track an initially it’s like the band have gone all BLACK STONE CHERRY with a slick, groove-laden approach with their riffs and general tone, but we’re soon reminded of their metalcore roots with some raw, aggressive vocals, but it’s not the be-all and end-all…new front-man Aaron provides some wonderful clean vocals too and the chorus here is huge; it’s a well-balanced track and gets the album underway with a bold and positive note. “Instincts” follows up with another well balanced track combining pummelling metal qualities with another infectious pop-orientated chorus…it’s really the best of both worlds and it appeals to several demographics, the solo is pretty bold too which only adds further character and it’s another impressive effort…so far so good it has to be said!

The only issue however, is that very contrast…as realistically it’s hard to pinpoint what OM&M are actually aiming for with this new record…album highlight “Back To Me” is a wonderfully melodic, almost anthemic rock track with so much passion coursing through it, which can also be said about “Unbreakable” which despite its riff-work clearly has a lot of pop production behind it given it’s catchy delivery, so too with “Forever YDG’n” and it’s infectious hooks layered within the breakdowns and again, a huge chorus…it’s like a band in transition really. This is confirmed by some 50/50 efforts such as “Warzone”…easily the heaviest track on offer here with its sharp dose of brutality and intensity, but its countered by closing track “If We Were Ghosts”…for what it’s worth a generic rock ballad. While the album itself is a strong one, there’s nothing wrong with the music here whatsoever it’s an enjoyable listen from start to finish, it’s as though the band are at a crossroads…it’s a lot more accessible for casual fans but I can imagine original fans finding this weak…I guess in ways it’s down to this; are you a man or a mouse? OM&M are somewhere in between right now…where do you fall? [7]

Every now and again the music world is introduced to a new genre…and by new genre I mean a group of artists that are loosely grouped around a certain demographic, usually for marketing…in this instance I’d like to remind you about a primarily British movement called “New Grave”. Not that I’m knocking it, let me be clear, but in in recent years, several artists have been labelled within this sense of grouping to form under this new umbrella term, artists such as ASHESTOANGELS, NEVER FOUND and even CREEPER in their early days…and in all fairness it got a bit of coverage, but it seemingly died away…or so we thought. Cue THE DEAD XIII…hailing from Manchester and consisting of vocalist Kurt Blackshard, bassist Paul Ryan, drummer Spike Owen, lead guitarist Ste Mahoney and guitarist / synth player Symon Strange, the horror metal mob plan to dig us all a fresh one on February 9th when they drop their brand new album “Dark Days”…grab your shovels…let’s check it out.

The album opens up with “Bloodlines” and we’re met with some cold, eerie synths and a foreboding sense of musical thanatophilia as it slowly builds towards an intense dose of aggrotech inspired metal…it’s energetic and up beat but retains a darkness, backed by Blackshard’s deep, raw vocals…this would easily please fans of say SADDOLLS and DEATHSTARS without sounding like a cheap knock-off, the quality here is top-drawer and it gets the album off to a strong start. We continue on with the album’s title track and though, while the synths are still there as a prominent feature, layered deeply within the songs structure, this is a slower, heavier offering with more emphasis on the chugging riffs, and in many ways this would satisfy anyone following MOTIONLESS IN WHITE, it’s got that crossover, metalcore vibe to it.

​The album has it’s fine points elsewhere too; “Angels” and “Play Hell” keep the momentum going with more of the same up-tempo industrial tinged electronic goth metal…I don’t say this lightly but artists in this genre bracket are a dying breed, especially ones of this quality, the market has shrunken considerably so it’s wonderful to see not only a band totally owning it, but to have come from the UK too, it’s so encouraging! The real star of this album however has to go to “Killers”…with all of the qualities already mentioned but taken up a notch, it’s got some wonderfully infectious melodies and a chorus bordering on anthemic, add to that the slick guitar solo, this tracks on point! A couple of tracks that missed the point however do slightly tarnish the album to a degree…”Last Stand” despite its frenetic black metal inspired intro ends up a little methodical. “Vigil” while undeniably a sweet little piano interlude, is sadly still just a sweet little piano interlude. A break from the vocals is welcome mind you, that’s another thing, it’s all systems go from Blackshard 100% of the time and some clean vocals wouldn’t go amiss...before we get click-baited by “Curtain Call”. First of all, putting another instrumental filler track in the album is one thing but placing it at track 11 on a 12 track album is just annoying…have an elongated intro to proper closing track “From Beyond” by all means but this is a waste of time…it’s literally just filler. Nit-picking aside it’s a strong album overall and does the genre ample justice…whether or not that genre is worth being labelled as new grave is up for debate but for now, consider 13 a lucky number. [8]

What happens when you combine Finnish alternative metal with WWE tag team The Ascension? No, this isn’t some quirky “Sorjonen” crossover episode of the Fashion Files…today we’re actually talking about a band by the name of EMBER FALLS. Formed in Tampere, these red and black clad rockers dropped their debut single “Shut Down With Me” back in 2015 and since then have steadily become a promising home-grown talent in their native Finland, backed up by being signed to Spinefarm Records…now, 2017 sees them release their debut full-length album; “Welcome To Ember Falls”. Is the album really welcome though? Let’s find out…

We open up with “The Cost Of Doing Business” and immediately we’re subject to a barrage of slick metal tinged hard-rock riffs channeling an infectious groove; it’s an up-tempo introduction and full of energy, aided by both gang-vocal harmonies and metalcore-inspired screamed vocals courtesy of guitarist Calu, it all accompanies front-man Thomas Grove perfectly with his almost power metal core style…in some ways imagine if ASKING ALEXANDRIA and TURISAS had a baby…that’s what you’ve got here essentially…this is a strong intro. “Falling Rain” continues with the power metal / almost symphonic elements and in places has subtle nods to NIGHTWISH within the structure of the track giving it a slight dramatic touch, before “Of Letting Go” steps it up a gear with a more prominent electronic based sound layered within the riffs and percussion. It’s really up beat and throws a power-ballad style chorus into the mix; its balanced well, some delicate piano coupled with a decent guitar solo and provides another enjoyable listen.

“Freedom” then goes all the way into soft ballad territory with no shame whatsoever, showing a versatility in the Finns, it doesn’t come across as pompous but simply oozes genuine emotion and as the track ascends to its climax it picks up with a certain classic rock tone; the guitar here is simply elegant, a softer track all around but no less impressive. The clear highlight here though is “Open Your Eyes”…featuring NC Enroe (Niko Moilanen) from Finnish pop rockers BLIND CHANNEL…coursing with electronic, vibrant pop-rock energy and a touch of nu-metal attitude courtesy of NC's rapping, this is the kind of song that would get any alternative night club moving, incredibly infectious and easily the standout track on this record, before we close proceedings with another inclusion of their debut single, and “The Lamb Lies Down In Sacrifice”…a meatier, melodic death metal inspired piece akin to the likes of SCAR SYMMETRY and such, the riffs are back, as are the wailing guitars and the whole thing ends on a more aggressive, assertive note. While some of the albums track’s all too easily blend in to some of their influences from the Scandinavian melodic death artists, primarily their neighboring Sweden’s Gothenburg scene, you can’t dispute how down right enjoyable a lot of this album is…welcome to ember falls? You’re very welcome indeed. [8]

The shark; the ultimate predator…having existed for around 400 million years, essentially predating spines, they’ve lived through multiple mass-extinction level events and have evolved into the perfect killing machine. They properly put the shits up some people (Jaws didn’t help) but to be perfectly honest, sharks get a bad rap most of the time…did you know you are 1000x more likely to die while riding a bicycle? And did you also know you are 75x more likely to be killed by lightning? So with that in mind…let’s see where today’s band, HARBOUR SHARKS, find themselves on the musical food chain. Formed in Kingston, London in 2015, the hardcore pop-punks (Consisting of vocalist/bassist Jack Morris, guitarist Rob Rees and drummer Richard Hemley) have steadily been finding their fins with live shows up and down the country following the release of their first single “Alive To Survive”…but on October 27th they are taking the plunge with their debut full length album; “A History Of Violence”…let’s tuck in.

The album opens up with “False Flags” and there’s no messing around here, hitting very serious topics from the word go. Inspired by the current state of the world and the on-going conflict between terrorists and the west, it’s message is simply that we need to be sensible and open minded, we can’t rely on the media…for most governments are solely interested in profits and they will use newspapers and such to their advantage; scare mongering and propaganda, we need to be wise to this as we are expendable…set over some meaty riffs, it’s up-tempo and frustrated, it’s a solid opener. “The Killer Inside Me” again utilises a chugging, breakdown approach to this blend of soft metalcore, capped off with a decent melodic chorus, the clean vocals balancing the track well, add to that a slick guitar solo and it’s another enjoyable track overall.

Album highlight “It’s Not Working Out” is considerably lighter with more emphasis on the pop qualities regarding the core sound of the track, there are still riffs and light breakdowns but there’s far more harmony within this melodic little anti-love song…this one reminds me of AMBERLINE with it’s easy-core approach, while “Swing Away Merrill” has an up-tempo BLINK 182 inspired feel, Jack channelling his inner Mark Hoppus, while “Burn Down London” has an almost NEW FOUND GLORY inspired sound, before closing track and further highlight “Abandon All Hope” rounds things off on another serious note. With subtle doom elements, it’s a far slower, morose offering and it really sets itself apart from the rest of the album, and though it does pick up at the end, it’s dramatic and emotional and ends the album strongly. On a random note…”Vulva” is a wonderfully quirky minute-long mid-album punk rock snippet with sole intention of calling the government a bunch of cunts…brilliant. All in all, Harbour Sharks have delivered a decent debut here, there are some elements such as breakdowns which feel dated already because they became the in-thing and are now overdone, but ultimately there’s enough here to keep the listener going, plus the encouraging thought of how these songs play out on stage. They aren’t quite Great White’s but, they’ve still got plenty of bite. [6]

Every now and again a band will come along and just stand out for one reason or another, and one of those bands today is Pennsylvania’s MOTIONLESS IN WHITE. Their blend of gothic inspired, borderline theatrical metalcore has seen them go from new kids on the block to one of the most exciting bands on the scene in the last couple of years, coupled with front man Chris Motionless’ often astute and sometimes outspoken opinions on that same scene around him, wearing his heart on his sleeve with absolutely no fear of consequence over anything he says, they inject a much needed dose of honesty into the often ridiculous world that is the music industry. Their newest album; “Reincarnate” sees them return to a heavier sound than previous release “Infamous”, here’s what they’ve brought back with them…

“Deathmarch” opens proceedings rather accordingly, trudging head strong into the album with a sound settling somewhere in between the likes of THE DEFILED and MARILYN MANSON, its dark, it’s rigid and purposeful with Josh Balz keyboards providing a sinister backdrop, before we dive right into the title track. Heavier on the synthesizers and introducing clean vocals, but still riff-heavy, it’s a great track and brings the album to life. “Puppets 3 (The Grand Finale)” begins with a seemingly SLAYER inspired thrash metal sound, that is until we’re subject to the all too familiar wails of guest vocalist Dani Filth of CRADLE OF FILTH fame. The sound shifts to an electronic metalcore / black metal mash-up and it works really well.

On the subject of guest vocals, Maria Brink of IN THIS MOMENT pops up in “Contemptress”, with her feminine yet equally ferocious vocals more than welcome; she’s a great vocalist with a powerfully emotive delivery that complements Chris perfectly here, however briefly. Elsewhere on the album, tracks such as “Unstoppable”, “Break The Cycle” and the brilliantly titled EDM styled “Dead As Fuck” maintain a level of quality throughout, before we finish up on “Carry The Torch”. It’s a slow builder, but once it gets going its pretty straightforward, but not to the extent that it ends things on a flat note.

It’s safe to say that MIW, on evidence here with “Reincarnate”, remain one of the brightest prospects for the future of alternative music. This album is their strongest to date and it’s almost impossible to think they won’t be around for years to come, regardless of whatever trends may come and go in the increasingly disposable world of music. You need this album, and everyone else needs to step up. [9]

"Reincarnate" is available on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/reincarnate/id897039441