When it comes to Greece, aside from being an immensely popular Mediterranean tourist destination, little is known about the countries musical culture from an alternative perspective. Sure in the past I’ve covered artists such as SADDOLLS, who fly the flag for gothic rock equally wonderfully and woefully, and more recently, black metal artists such as ROTTING CHRIST, but, who else could you associate alternative music to Greece with?  GUS G is arguably the biggest name given his catalogue of work and collaborations…VANGELIS? He IS a celebrated and critically acclaimed composer and progressive electronic artist, but he doesn’t REALLY count…what about Meteora? LINKIN PARK named an album after the place? OK, fine I’m clutching at straws! It’s safe to say that, unless you really dig, Greece isn’t a country renowned for its rock and metal…but that’s where today’s band comes in.

Yes today we’re going to be talking about a ‘band’ by the name of SIXSTRINGNOISE, who got in touch with me not too long ago via email, so before I get into things I’d like to say Σας ευχαριστώ που έρθετε σε επαφή! Formed in 2010 by founding (And currently sole member) Markos 6SN, it didn’t take long after his digital debut “Snowing Bullets While Kissing The Ground” for him to want to hit the stage and perform live, recruiting Alex D and Alex B (Drummer and bassist respectively) in 2011. With a penchant for hard rock and metal, they toured up and down Greece, establishing themselves as hot local talent in the Athens area, but after a couple of releases, we find them back down to just Markos as he releases album number four in 2019. The question is, just how noisy can one guitarist be? Let’s find out as we listen to “Relics”…

The album opens up with “How’s The World From Up There?” and we’re immediately met with some simple yet melodic riffs, before switching in some subtle prog-rock elements as it transitions through certain rhythmic variations. The chorus here is bold and soaring, with further key changes giving off an almost power-ballad vibe amidst the hard rock, but vocally at times it sounds more like a demo-quality recording which brings the track down a touch. Instrumentally fine, there’s some solid guitar work here but the vocals could probably be mixed and produced a little better…although it’s a decent opener regardless. “True Colours” keeps the riffs coming hard and heavy with a more metal inspired influence shining through musically; guitar solo included. In ways this pays ample homage to bands like ALTER BRIDGE in its delivery and overall sound; you can easily hear the likes of Myles Kennedy in this track inspirationally and again it’s a decent listen.

It isn’t all about the balls-out rock and roll with Markos mind you, as he’s able to mix things up here and there for a more diverse listening experience…”Underdog” in particular has a wonderfully relaxed country-rock vibe. He still incorporates some impassioned electric guitar but overall it’s a welcome change of pace. “The Old You” goes one step further by stripping back completely to an acoustic ballad and it’s really quite the emotive little track, and an album highlight to boot. The soft croon of the vocals here sounding better and it’s a proper lighters in the air track this, lovely stuff. Further highlights include “None Of Your Business” which while once more picking up the pace and aggression delivers all of the hooks and makes for a catchy hard rock number, with it's simple yet effective chorus. Sometimes all it takes is a great chorus and you’re invested; this is one of those times. Ignore the rest of the track, just, enjoy this chorus.

There are a couple of lesser moments, naturally, and mainly we find them mid-album. “Crack A Smile” houses more of that prog-inspired instrumentation and structure with a touch of fret-wankery thrown in for good measure, while “What’s Wrong With You?” has quite a repetitive chorus and poor gang vocals, honestly they sound like pub-level  karaoke at times…to answer your question Markos, what the fuck is wrong with me? Well right now I’m listening to this song…that’s what. We finish up then on the title track and it’s intro instantly reminds me of A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS but sadly there’s no synth-pop to be found in this instance…instead we’re given a dramatic, metal inspired track with deep riffs and a methodical, militant tempo, almost combining those Alter Bridge influences with a slight middle eastern flavour. It’s not a bad track but it is a slow burner, ending the album on a slightly damp note. It’s safe to say that, SixStringNoise can’t be done for false advertising…Markos plays the guitar, and he makes some noise…which is all well and good, but is the noise worth listening to? Sure there are some genuinely interesting moments dotted throughout these ten tracks and there is definitely promise and potential, but sadly at times the vocal production side of things let’s this album down. That’s not to dismiss this entirely though…I honestly hope Markos continues to make all of the noise and helps encourage an alternative music scene in and around Athens. We could market a new wave of Greek rock…we could call it; Grock…I’m a fucking genius. [6]

As it currently stands, we live in a time where our more Westernised society is, for want of a better description; all over the fucking place.  While culturally we’re (For the most part) all steadily becoming more and more open-minded and understanding, of the ever expanding perception of normality, there are still people who may get, ‘triggered’ as you may say, by certain topics and buzz-words. Some of the most common are generally simple things like veganism which, ironically, causes a lot of beef between some people…then there are prejudices and confusion surrounding the ever growing list of sexualities and gender fluid identities. Seriously now they’re giving rock and metal sub-genres a run for their money in volume and I just don’t have the appropriate graphs to go into that right now. Then there’s feminism…

Let’s be honest, it’s 2019 and the very fact feminism is still such a strong word speaks for itself. The inconsistencies regarding equality (Or lack thereof) can still be beyond laughable, covering everything from salary to bloody abortion rights! Well today’s band are proud and passionate to provide a voice for the cause, exuding a positive feminist vibe; let me introduce you to HANDS OFF GRETEL. The four-piece (Consisting of vocalist/guitarist Lauren Tate, guitarist Sean Bon, bassist Becky Baldwin and drummer Sam Hobbins) formed in South Yorkshire in 2015, and with influences including JACK OFF JILL, HOLE and THE DISTILLERS it’s easy to see where they blend punk and emancipation. They recently released their brand new album “I Want The World”…but where’s the equality in that? Let’s find out…

Opening track “Kiss Me Girl” gets the record off to a roaring start with an up-tempo flurry of punk-rock, laced with lashings of attitude and a tongue-in-cheek sense of taboo; it’s very Brody Dalle. The track explores female sexuality within same-sex relationships, with lyrics like “Have you never kissed a girl before?” and “What’s wrong just feels so right” entwined within a narrative of naughty excitement. Tate delivers the track with a brilliant sense of sarcasm and it kicks things off wonderfully. The first half of the album as a whole in fact doesn’t miss a beat and really we’re treated a solid run of tracks from the word go…”S.A.S.S” continues with its sense of female empowerment by taking a swipe at misogyny with an assertive hard rock number, balanced with subtle layers of funk, something which fans of SUMO CYCO would appreciate for sure. “Big Boy” is another up-tempo piece with a solid rock ‘n’ roll rhythm and more than a sprinkling of innuendo. Very lyrically suggestive, Tate is clearly having fun here and resonates through the track.

If you fancy something a little less intense however the album houses further gems such as the wonderfully infectious “Alien”…vocally not as fervent; there’s a predominantly more funk-pop aesthetic here with a cleaner sound and a more polished, commercial production value…this one would easily entertain fans of NO DOUBT / GWEN STEFANI and it’s got a brilliant climactic flurry. The album does run out of a little steam as it reaches its final moments however with a couple of less inspired cuts not quite on par with the aforementioned. “Milk” for example carries a strong grunge influence and as a result it’s a lot deeper, but at the same time more sluggish; sadly a boring listen, before “My Friend Said” then despite being a generally jovial little track becomes pretty stale and repetitive very quickly…I guess you could say it’s lyrically la-la-la lalalalalala-lazy? Aside from those hiccups it’s safe to say that this is, overall, a very strong and entertaining album. The punk elements where needed are raw and confrontational to aid the subject matter well, allowing Tate to get her message across in an epigrammatic fashion, while the more pop-driven segments allow for a genuinely infectious listen. They may want the world, but you may want to just give this album a listen, and very much get your hands ON Gretel…with consent though, naturally. [8]

Do you wanna be in my gang? It’s my gang, yes that’s right, mine…my gang. I’m the leader of my gang, I am! OK, OK…I’m not REALLY GARY GLITTER, but if I may I would like to touch upon the subject of sexual abuse in music…maybe touch upon was a poorly chosen expression…although I DID ask…you gave consent…right? I digress…I’m facing a backlash before I even get to my point…and that’s not a reference to my penis…FOR FUCK SAKE GAV STOP!

Start again…sexual abuse, or even the accusations of sexual misconduct, whether found to be guilty or not will not only potentially ruin a person’s career but also ruin several lives. The sad thing is it’s a far more common occurrence in music than virtually anybody would care to accept as happenstance. On one end of the spectrum, you’ve got Ian Watkins and let’s be fair, the less said about him the better…don’t get me wrong I fucking miss LOSTPROPHETS but…no, just no. Then there’s cases surrounding the likes of WILLIAM CONTROL, and despite the shit storm surrounding him, all I can gather is that at worst he’s just a terrible husband and a serial cheater. It doesn’t matter if those girls gave consent mate, you still destroyed your own marriage, just hope you had a decent prenuptial in place!

Then we come to the likes of Austin Kerr…the former SET IT OFF bassist was another name to be subjected to allegations and accusations of sexual misconduct and as a result he was ejected from the band back in 2015. Was he guilty? He admits his behaviour wasn’t 100% acceptable, but denies any abhorrently wrong doing…so that’s up in the air…HOWEVER…what would this mean for Set It Off? Despite the negative press they continued to make music without him...but, the question is what did it do for their reputation? They HAVE gone backwards in the Billboard charts, but is that in correlation to all of the trouble surrounding Kerr, or have they simply just dropped a below-par album? Let’s find out as we check out their newest offering “Midnight”…

The album opens up with “Killer In The Mirror” and you can’t help but wonder if this is a confession or they’ve just been reading the newspaper…a song of apparent reflection, it speaks of solitude and the acceptance of circumstances…music is a cut-throat business and you have to take a look at yourself first and foremost. You have to look yourself in the eye and tell yourself you want this, because there are people trying to put you down; this is an unforgiving business and it’s kill or be killed, as much as we’d like to think otherwise. This industry will eat you up as soon as you put a foot wrong, and this song touches upon not only that dog-eat-dog world but in ways mirrors the situation with Kerr. The fuzzy guitar tones, along with the subtle hip-hop/reggaeton inspired instrumentation provide a solid groove and it’s ultimately a fine opening track.

Sadly, the remaining fourteen tracks…that’s’ right, fourteen…really don’t offer a great deal of diversity throughout the record. “Lonely Dance”, aside from being something you’d expect someone who plays Fortnite to do, may harbour certain Latino / Hispanic qualities with its guitar tone and backing brass segments but it’s pretty generic alternative pop-rock. “Go To Bed Angry” may sound like optimum wanking circumstances but it’s still just another dose of harmless pop…granted the additional vocals from WAYFARERS add an extra dynamic but it’s a only minor improvement, and that generally sums up the album as a whole.

“Dancing With The Devil” may utilise deeper vocal effects but that’s really all they are, effects…musically we’re in the same boat; the vocals may be deeper but the track is still shallow. “For You Forever” does have some catchy throwback 80’s synth-pop vibes and provides an album highlight aesthetically but it’ll take more than neon to light this album up. “Raise No Fool” does an amuse with it’s ironic ending…lyrically stating “Won’t let you leave me hanging” but then cuts the song abruptly short, leaving the listener hanging themselves…I see what you did there you edgy bunch of bastards! The only REAL change comes in the form of “Unopened Windows” which is sadly the most boring of the tracks on offer here…the piano ballad coming so late on it’s on the verge of being anti-climactic.

Overall while I’ve been quite sarcastic here the album isn’t completely AWFUL by any means…the innocent charm of the pop-inspired melodies is hardly offensive and it’s a generally easy listening record. It’s all mixed and produced well and has a ton of commercial viability…what’s annoying is that over fifteen tracks, there’s very little if anything to differentiate at least fourteen of them and they all blend into one quotidian collection of songs. Nothing truly positive stands out here and it’s a shame because they can clearly write a tune or two, it’s just that on this instance they all more or less sound the same, and by the same what I really mean is the same as FALL OUT BOY because fuck me does this album wish it was a FOB album…but that’s a whole new kettle of fish. Midnight? Goodnight… [4]
​

South Wales has always played an important role in the UK’s music scene; be it the love and support for traditional grass roots venues such as Fuel in Cardiff, or the old TJ’s in Newport, but more importantly the bands themselves that have emerged from the valleys and beyond that have helped put the area firmly on the map. BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE may be riding high at the moment as one of the UK’s biggest modern metal exports, but there’s a bit of a transitional period in play right now as many if not 99% of the biggest names from the area have called it a day. Luckily however there’s always a group of plucky up-and-comers aiming for that brass ring and willing to pick up the ball to run with it…which brings us to today’s band; HOLDING ABSENCE.

Fresh off of the back of his previous band, FALLING WITH STYLE, vocalist Lucas Woodland helped form Holding Absence (Who are completed by guitarists Scott Carey and Chris Smitheram, bassist James Joseph and drummer Ashley Green) as a means of truly delving into his song writing capabilities. With an emphasis on love; its nuances and the  roller-coaster of emotions that accompanies it, their initial singles garnered them much critical praise and the adoration of fans very early on. Momentum grew as they released their split EP with LOATHE and the acclaim kept coming, so in 2018, they began working on their debut full length album. Now, here in 2019 we find that album finally released after much anticipation, as the Cardiff quintet declare that this is…”Holding Absence”…

The album opens up with “Perish” and it’s a bleak start as we find ourselves confronting the heaviness of mental health and its effects on relationships…with over a minute of introductory resonance, it sets a sense of tranquility with its flowing soundscapes before the apropos breakdown, a nice instrumental metaphor for a fragile state of mind. This is mirrored by Lucas himself as he switches from lulling, morose clean vocals to a blistering onslaught of intense shouting amidst a barrage of riffs, and its solid slab of alternative post-hardcore. “Your Love (Has Ruined My Life)” continues with the theme of seemingly depressing song-titles as it also seemingly repeats a similar formula; a soothing intro segment, albeit drastically cut, leading into a wall of noise that transitions into more clean vocals, before a soaring chorus. It’s lyrically where the song stands out as Lucas digs deep into his own level of self-awareness, with an acceptance of his own emotional state; he is an impassioned performer, credit where credit is due.

Speaking of depressing there are a couple of tracks that should come with a repeat prescription for Citalopram in all honesty; “Marigold” is a sombre piano ballad that’s as cold as it is cathartic…and however sweet the admittedly emotional performance is, with its numerous floral references there’s very little blossoming here…which can be similarly said of closing track “Wilt” (Plant related segue for the win). The longest track that’s presented, at near seven minutes, it speaks of the helplessness of watching a love wither away…a heart wrenching story of appreciating the love for its original beauty, like a bouquet of flowers, but those flowers will eventually die and there’s nothing you can do about it. Completing the hat-trick of heavy-heartedness would then be “A Godsend” which again, with its morose tone and low-fi, shoegaze inspired delivery leaves the listener almost despondent.

It isn’t ALL doom and gloom however, this isn’t a MORRISSEY record for fuck sake, and that’s reinforced by album highlight “Like A Shadow”. A sharp dose of angst-ridden, punk-inspired post-rock…it’s got a great rhythm and an infectious chorus hook full of pop aesthetics that you simply can’t help but move to, this is incredibly enjoyable stuff this. “To Fall Asleep” too, despite its heavy message of wanting support through life’s darkest periods is a wonderfully up-beat dose of melodic alt. rock, likewise with “Monochrome” which would easily appeal to fans of artists such as TAKING BACK SUNDAY for example. Ultimately as one of the UK’s hottest rising prospects, they’re showing plenty of promise for big things to come. This may only be their debut and it hasn’t been out long, but their fan base is a loyal and enthusing one, and is growing with each gig and festival slot, no matter how big or small the stage. Raw and passionate, they have all the talent to help lead a new generation of Welsh artists into the spotlight. Just…cheer up lads though yeah? [7]

If you pay any attention to the Chinese zodiac, you’ll know that 2019 is the year of the pig, and while many are celebrating the prospects of wealth and good fortune (According to traditional beliefs that is, personally I just double-up on my bacon) there’s a group of musicians on the other side of the world with an entirely different set of animalistic beliefs; let me introduce you to YEAR OF THE LOCUST. The New York based five-piece (Consisting of vocalist Scot McGiveron, bassist Fred Serrell, drummer Dusty Winterrowd and guitarists Tyler Hensley & Cody Hyde) dropped their debut album “Devolver” back in 2016, and with the ballsy-brand of hard rock riffs they found themselves supporting the likes of SALIVA, HOOBASTANK and PUDDLE OF MUDD. 2019 sees them return with their brand new self-titled EP; “Year Of The Locust”…will these new tracks see them devour all before them, or are they just a plague on rock and metal? Let’s find out…

The EP opens up with “Stay Alive” and immediately you can hear a marked improvement in the production quality here…everything sounds cleaner compared to the album prior. The vocals are clear and more polished and the instrumentation sounds crisp so we’re already off to a promising start. The song itself is superb; a simple yet steady beat and progression of riffs, embracing the slow build leading into an infectious, hook-laden chorus of powerful vocals. It’s impassioned and poles apart from anything offered previously, coupled with the frenzied solo, it makes for a brilliant opening track. “Line Em Up” follows on and it’s got a tough task ahead of it, but it takes on a slightly more southern-metal tone instrumentally, with its distinct guitar driven groove and subtle vocal drawl…fans of BLACK STONE CHERRY and THEORY OF A DEADMAN will likely get a kick out of this; no nonsense, fun rock ‘n’ roll.

As most bands of this genre do, they aren’t opposed to dropping a ballad or two either, allowing for a change of pace and to showcase their varied vocal and musical ability, and here that comes by means of “Whispers In The Dark”. A slower, tender piece of soft rock that’s big on melody and emotive vocals…with its key changes and sensually flowing solo it’s teeters on soaring power pop without quite having you reach for the lighters, before closing track “Sorry” rounds things off with another dose of chugging hard rock. A decent track but spoiled by the inclusion of random spoken-word segments. They sound jarring and hinder the flow of the track, coming across as forced and would have been better suited to an intro monologue or interlude to set up the track.

Overall in the three years that have passed between releases, YOTL have come a hell of a long way…their song writing and playing have come on in leaps and bounds and the sound quality improvement in terms of recording and production is doing them all of the favours. Gone is the grainy instrumentation and raw vocal performance, despite being only four tracks long, this makes the album feel more like a demo! Whatever the band have done differently is paying off, and if this is their direction then it’s an exciting and promising one, as their next record could feature some absolute tunes. It's the year of the locust they claim, and it’ll take more than pesticide to stop this lot! [8]

We’re going local again for this installment of the Wreckord Collection, as we turn our attention to COLIN JAMES MACFARLANE. Not just a cog in the local independent music scene, he is a Jack of all trades and generally more of an all-round entertainer, dabbling in solo work, fronting the band BREAKDOWN FACE, conducting interviews with other bands, making gig diaries, dabbling in hip-hop/rap songs (Consider him a dairy free Vanilla Ice) and making comedy skit videos on his YouTube channel. Here, in his own words, he talks us through some of the records that inspired him and had the biggest impact on him creatively…

Despite the gimmicky premise of this blog, I sadly don’t cover a great deal of Gothic artists within these pages. The odd black gem, or, lump of coal if you prefer, will pop up, like A PALE HORSE NAMED DEATH earlier this year for instance, but Goth bands that I DO come across, new ones at least, are few and far between. Luckily however, as it happens, while covering a compilation piece for DEWAR PR just recently, I stumbled across today’s band; let me introduce you to HER DESPAIR.

The five-piece (Consisting of vocalist J, guitarists Dan and Jord, bassist Vikki and drummer Lee) hail from Berkshire, and have been building a name for themselves on the UK alt. rock circuit since their 2015 debut album “Hymns For The Hopeless”. With their penchant for mixing modern melancholia with traditional post-punk aesthetics they’ve quickly grown an impressive underground following. Just last year they released the much anticipated follow up to their debut; a new EP by the brilliant name of “Mournography”…let’s see if we get a kick out of this cadaver…

The EP opens up with “Blaspheme With Me” and right away we’re greeted with a blend of melodic guitar and surging yet sensual riffage…vocally J has a depth to his drawl but it doesn’t go as far as complete baritone like other Gothic rock and metal artists. The two aspects combine well and in ways it can be said it combines the likes of ENTWINE and THE CRUXSHADOWS… a lengthy opener at five minutes but it’s still a great start. “Valentine’s Mourning” continues along the same vein but is a touch more up-tempo and has more of a pop aesthetic with its hooks and overall rhythm. Lyrically steeped in sadness and loss but musically it’s such an uplifting track, a typical yet welcome oxymoron, really fun track this.

We slow things down next for “Within Tragedy” and it takes on a far more elegant tone; the sweeping orchestral elements of the synths really set the mood here while the rock aspects of the track chug along casually, giving it weight and carrying the track forward. If you are all about the slow burn and the melancholy then look no further than closing track “In The Arms Of A Sadist”…at seven minutes plus it embraces a clear doom influence from the likes of MY DYING BRIDE and simply oozes despair, which is very fitting given their name it has to be said, though it’s countered by the previous track “Damnation Tonight” which incorporates more harmonious keys and more groove-heavy goth ‘n’ roll, balancing out the EP perfectly.

Essentially what Her Despair do here is bridge eras in Gothic music; sounding crisp and fresh with their song writing and production, while also channeling the original bleak charm and quality of the likes of Goth godfathers  SISTERS OF MERCY and BAUHAUS. This, alongside their debut confirm that they are one of the brightest (Or should that be darkest?) rising talents on the Goth scene. If you’ve been wanting some quality Goth, stock up on the Kleenex because you’ll be getting off to “Mournography”. [8]

As February 8th 2019 was officially Dydd Miwsig Cymru, or, Welsh Language Music Day for those of you requiring English...I thought that I'd go local for this next installment of My Wreckord Collection. Today we catch up with one Mr Zac Mather, drummer of Pontypridd-based alternative rockers CHROMA. The currently unsigned trio have been making a name for themselves in and around Wales' live music scene since their debut self-titled EP, and continue to come on leaps and bounds through their work with Horizons, even garnering accolades at the Cardiff Music Awards. Here, Zac gives us a quick run down of five albums that helped shaped him as a person and a musician today....

​As some of you will know, Nu Metal was my thing; when I was first introduced properly to this crazy world of rock and roll, it was Nu Metal titans such as LINKIN PARK and LIMP BIZKIT that got me hooked. Now, while we all know the current situation surrounding Linkin Park, and Limp Bizkit are doing a TOOL and taking forever to release their anticipated next album, we have to turn our attention to today’s band and remind ourselves that, we still have it good!

PAPA ROACH have been going impressively steadily since their iconic debut “Infest” back in 2000, and while the genre they helped take over the world with, faded to nothing but a cringe-worthy memory to some, they’ve kept evolving and maturing musically, managing to stay relevant all the while still retaining their own sound. Just under two years since their last album “Crooked Teeth” broke into the Top 20 Charts on both sides of the pond, Jacoby & co are back already with album number ten; entitled “Who Do You Trust?”. The more important question is, can WE keep trusting them to put out solid albums? Let’s find out…

The album interestingly opens up with “The Ending” and we’re greeted with a dark, ominous synth driven affair that leads into Jerry Horton’s traditional, crunching riffs. Jacoby enters the fray with some smooth hip-hop inspired lyrical delivery, before the dual approach of vocal harmonies and visceral screams, leads us onto a simplistic yet catchy chorus. It again shows how well Papa Roach are able to blend styles and ideas to create something truly unique to them; a strong start this. Lead singles “Renegade Music” and the title track then take us further into the meat and veg of the album as a whole. The former, again, dark in tone and rich in political overtones, which allows subtle elements of the likes of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and even BEASTIE BOYS to trickle through.; it’s all empowering and a well-executed, anti-establishmentarian call to arms. The title track, aided by its tongue-in-cheek video refers to the idea of ‘Fake News’ and again, with a guitar heavy, jarring style, speaks to AND for the people against certain people in government.

Speaking of heavier sounds, the brief bombardment of “I Suffer Well” is an interesting yet entertaining slab of hardcore punk…over in less than two minutes, this is a Papa Roach we haven’t felt for a long time and proves they still have it in them to tear it up twenty years in, and it’s quite refreshing. We all know Jacoby is a big softie at heart though and they are more than capable of tugging on the heartstrings of even the most rugged rockers. “Problems” in particular hitting far harder than any goodbye kiss with its level of emotion, self-awareness and brutal honesty…and sadly it’s painfully relatable. Luckily “Feel Like Home” lifts the mood with its soft indie-rock tones and vibrant, optimistic production, despite Jacoby’s trademark, oxymoronic lyrical delivery; contrasting the up-beat style of the song.

Overall, though the album as a whole doesn’t contain ‘hits’ akin to their early years per se, the focus is on the bigger picture, and that picture is of a band who have matured in sound and are comfortable and confident in their ability to deliver a genuinely quality album. Do I trust Papa Roach? Every single time…[7]

Back in 2015, HORIZONS got in touch with me to cover a live show in the Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil, covering a variety of up-and-coming Welsh artists, including THE PEOPLE THE POET, HOUDINI DAX and GABRIELLE MURPHY (Check out my review here). That's what Horizons do, and do damn well if I'm honest; they champion blossoming undiscovered Welsh talents, and together with the BBC and special showcase promotions, they've continued to do over the past couple of years. If ever there's been a more fitting name for a project it would be Horizons, as just like the Sun rising on a new day, so too do fresh-faced artists get the opportunity to shine.

​2018 Saw Horizons take a new batch of bands and artists under their wing, and along with BBC Wales, together they worked on something special, and it involved the iconic ROCKFIELD STUDIOS. The studio, situated in Monmouthshire, was founded in the early 1960's and became the worlds first residential recording studio, but that's not all it's historic for. It didn't take long for Rockfield to start churning out the hits, and I don't mean that lightly. Rockfield has produced a number of incredible albums cementing many a bands legacy, from the MANIC STREET PREACHERS and OASIS in the 90's...going all the way back to QUEEN and "Bohemian Rhapsody" in the 70's...even HIM shaped their gothic-rock masterpiece "Razorblade Romance" in this brilliant little Welsh beauty!

Starting this week on BBC Two, you can see for yourself first hand who Horizons have been working with, courtesy of two mini-documentaries highlighting a select batch of artists, who are not only going to be getting the chance to perform original tracks right there in Monmouth, but will also cover some of the legendary artists who have previously recorded at the Welsh studio. Covering a variety of styles and genres, you'll hear the reggae-inspired tones of ALEIGHCIA SCOTT...the quirky indie-pop funk of Welsh speaking three-piece ADWAITH and the harder hitting swagger-ridden rock 'n' roll of HIMALAYAS. With the first show airing at 10:00pm on Tuesday, January 15th, followed by the second on January 22nd. Both shows (Running time 29 minutes) will be available on the BBC iPlayer for repeated viewing following their aired time on TV. Do check them both out, and check out some of the freshest Welsh music out there today.

There have been a few times where, while talking about musical backgrounds, I’ve referred to areas and places that seem to just, almost mass produce a certain level of quality, relevant artists over time…like, Birmingham in the UK for example. Today however we’re not going to be examining any parts of the UK, as instead we’ll be jumping across the pond to the US and focusing our attention on Detroit, Michigan. Going as far back to the 50’s and 60’s and the likes of MC5, THE SUPREMES and STEVIE WONDER…all the way up to more modern successes like EMINEM and THE WHITE STRIPES, Detroit has always had its finger on the pulse when it comes to music, and today's band want to include themselves on that list…let me introduce you to FLOAT HERE FOREVER.

The three-piece (Consisting of vocalist/guitarist Darrell Bazian, drummer Nick Marko and vocalist / bassist Samantha Easterbrook) initially came to light in 2016 with their debut EP “The Owl”, which was then swiftly followed up by the “Inexhaustible” EP just a year later. Fast forward to the present though, and the band aim to see-in 2019 in style, having released their debut full-length album on January 1st. Samantha sent me an email kindly requesting me to review it, so, let’s press play and together we shall all “Tour The Ruins”…

We open up with the track “Cars Crashing” and hopefully this doesn’t sum up our imminent listening experience…the deep, fuzzy riffs and coarse vocals, coupled with the up-tempo delivery and off-kilter breakdowns gives this an overall, punk-inspired post-rock feel. The dual male / female vocals providing additional depth and variety too and it’s a pretty decent start it has to be said. I wouldn’t go as far as a car crash though; this is at the very most just, clipping a wing mirror. “Wasps” is up next and here musically they’ve gone for a similar approach, with the energetic, up-tempo, angst ridden pop punk tone, though turning ever so slightly prog-based as the track meanders into a purely instrumental second half climax. It’s the punk aspects that truly comprise the albums meat and veg however, as it’s made up of multiple short, sharp doses opposed to more elaborately structured songs.

​The raw vocal approach to “California’s Burning” allows it’s frustrations and sentiments to shine through the tinny guitar, despite the mostly repetitive lyrics. In many ways it reflects many of the victims of the devastating fires in 2018, like, what can you really say? Such was the magnitude of the blaze. While we’re on the topic, “Quick Burn Fire” offers the listener a truly infectious chorus hook, with Samantha taking over lead vocal duty, allowing for a lot more melody, with the guitars too sounding cleaner and clearer. Further album highlight “Gradients” turns the distortion up again and really gives us a riff-heavy barrage of thick guitars and muzzled vocals, in many ways harking back to early CKY, while “Pilot” has this, happy-go-lucky indie rock ‘n’ roll vibe, providing a fun, up-beat listen.

There are a couple of off moments over the course of the 14 tracks however…”Addax”; a sombre little instrumental primarily consisting of ambient guitars, fades into nothing without the slightest of points, and it’s named after a large North African antelope…making all of the sense. “Plasmodium” being another one…insect bacteria apparently, but sounds all soft and quaint…because nothing says beautiful like malaria right? The rest of the album just consists of the same, brief punk-based indie rock, and while musically enjoyable, nothing REALLY grabs your attention. The 30 minute play time doesn’t allow you to connect with the songs, resulting in no more than a collection of somewhat entertaining, albeit short, generic tracks. Float here forever? I can already do that with Pennywise thank you, and he has balloons too. [5]

While the end of the calendar year is typically filled with Top 10 favourite lists, editors picks, playlists and compilations, review requests do still slide into your DM’s like the thirstiest of thots…and though while initially preoccupied with deciding which album gets the coveted top spot, I don’t like to leave any stones un-turned, which brings us to today’s review. Just before Christmas, I had an email from a gentleman by the name of Tommy Olsson and he asked me to check out his band LONG NIGHT. The three piece (Consisting of Tommy himself on guitar, second guitarist Arni Sorlie and vocalist Osten) have recently released their newest album; “Barren Land”, and it becomes my first official review of 2019. Let’s see if it really is as fruitless as it makes out…

The album kicks off with “East Of The Sun West Of The Moon” and we immediately get that early 80’s post-punk vibe…the subdued vocals over the hypnotic percussion and rhythmic guitars giving off an indie-esque melancholic tone, harking back to the likes of THE MISSION. The low-key melody compliments the dreary gothic tones well and despite being a generally lengthy opener, it satisfies and it’s a strong start.  “The Night’s Ablaze” continues the album with another similar, early post-punk effort albeit more up-beat with more of a general hook and vocal melody…the bass line though simplistic carries the track and there are elements here that would appeal to fans of KILLING JOKE for example; strong stuff this…brilliant.

The early proto-goth vibe is solidified by standout track “It’s All Gone” with its sombre yet melodic guitar; the track as a whole slow enough to capture the torment  and pain, but still up-tempo enough to create a truly entertaining nostalgic bubble…all of the hooks yet all of the throwback simplicity, this is what long-time fans long to hear. “The Rain Still Falls” returns to that overdone lengthy delivery; properly embracing the gothic tendencies but also utilising darker indie-rock elements as found in the likes of EDITORS or SPECTOR…before the rest of the album descends into a disappointing crawl. “On A Little Snowy Field” being a prime example…it’s that slow you could have mowed the field itself and regrown it, waited for it to snow AND built a snowman before the song finishes. “Black River” drones on for over seven minutes with some minimalist, middle-eastern inspired instrumentation, while “Cold Light” returns to those brooding, dreary indie tones, though it does deliver on the vocal front; very much exuding passion, almost drawing sympathy from the listener.

Overall, Long Night have delivered well enough here, and their ability to recapture the early sounds and tones of that original, goth-rock aesthetic is impressive. A perfectly fresh throwback to the genres formative years, they’re definitely a band for all of you OG goths to check out. Some of the tracks are a little flat, there’s a fine line between moody and boring, with some of the tracks needing a little more bite, but “Barren Land” is certainly showing signs of life. [6]

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!!!!!!!!!!!!

You may remember a short while ago; I managed to catch up with David Challenger for a chat about all things THE KENNEDY SOUNDTRACK, and got the guitarist to talk about the past, the present and the possible future for the Welsh rap-rockers. Having only recently reformed for the first time since their debut album run in 2002, nostalgia has been ripe within the KST camp, with the band re-releasing that same debut; “Tale Of 2 Cities”, especially for collectors on cassette store day, as well as playing a come-back headline show in Newport. However, with the cassette proving incredibly popular, and the show itself being a sell-out, it would be foolish to pass up on such an opportunity, given the fresh interest in the band. The result; they are not only riding the wave of nostalgia, but they’re owning that son of a bitch Kelly Slater style…and in the wake of all the excitement, they opted to treat long-time fans with a new compilation of B-Sides and rarities, together for the first time on one album…so with that in mind, let’s check out “B-Sides”.

We begin with “You Never Know” and WHAT a way to kick this album off! Originally available on the “Bloodshot Eyes” single, it perfectly encapsulates all that was good with the early nu-metal era of alternative rap rock…the fuzzy guitar distortion, the deep bass lines, the up-tempo delivery…sharp, angst-riddled lyrics and a huge hook-filled chorus, full of melody and harmony. The instrumental-heavy climax genuinely gives you goose-bumps as it filters out with one last flurry of noise and passion and it’s perfect. Firstly this belongs on the actual album, and secondly this deserves to close proceedings, end on a high note, y’know? It’s got that vibe to it…fucking brilliant stuff. We follow this up with the Melodic Mix of “24-7” and while it retains the original rap-heavy approach of the album version, here we find David taking over on vocal duties for the chorus instead of Nic Harvard and it gives us a fresh take on a classic. It’s still full of piss and vinegar but the inclusion of cleaner vocals softens the track, rendering it both freshly interesting but no less enjoyable compared to the original.

Elsewhere we have “Wide Awake” which features a brief guest vocal from SKINDRED front-man Benji Webbe. His inclusion is minimal at best, really, only offering what can be described as Caribbean Scat? I mean that as in the Scat Man (Bee-dap-bap-badda-boop), not as in, shit…please be aware of that, thank you. The song itself is a primarily mellow acoustic ballad and aside from a mid-track tempo-change of Nic’s low-key hip-hop input, it serves as a wonderfully sweet ballad, showing the Welsh quintet were more than one-trick ponies. “Bring Me Down” ironically picks things back up again with a grittier, riff-driven guitar sound before some sleek, classic hip-hop lyrical delivery, in ways harking back to the likes of PUBLIC ENEMY (Think the early Tony Hawk soundtracks), while promotional single “Proud” really gets going in proper KST fashion…really emphasising their status as the valley’s answer to LINKIN PARK…few UK acts truly embraced the nu-metal movement like this lot and despite a genre saturation, their background and tastes allowed them to still sound unique and exciting, which still holds true to this day.

​At only nine tracks long, it’s over far too quickly…alternative versions of “Yourself” and the aforementioned “Bloodshot Eyes” make an appearance, and if anything can be picked at really it’s the deep cut “E.M.B.”, which with its funk-driven instrumental style and almost 70’s guitar-tones sounds more out of place than anything else, but let’s be honest, this is the kind of sound you light up for, if you know what I mean? You do dabble in the devils lettuce, don’t you? Essentially, as was discussed with David, The Kennedy Soundtrack are happy to be back and they’re excited to be playing music again…while at the same time, long-time fans are even happier to have them back themselves. Somewhat of a cult band given their brief original run, but now is THE perfect time to discover KST, or even give them another chance. Hopefully we’ll have new music in 2019, and they’ll be killing music all over again. [8]

“That was intense, REALLY intense…well, not really intense, but pretty intense”…you may remember this quote by Chris Pontius from Jackass Number 2, when Preston and Wee-Man did the “The Bungee Jump”, but as intense as that was, it pales in comparison to the recent touring cycle undertaken by CKY. Yes the Philadelphia three-piece (Consisting of Chad I Ginsburg, Jess Margera and Matt Deis) made their triumphant return in 2017, with their comeback album “The Phoenix” (Their first in nearly a decade) and ever since the guys virtually haven’t stopped. From US headline tours, supporting HIM on their US farewell tour, covering the entirety of the Vans Warped Tour, touring with SKINDRED, playing multiple festivals, touring with NEKROGOBLIKON, they’re own UK headline tours…the guys have practically LIVED on the road for the past two years! That’s not enough though for these rejuvenated rockers…hell no, amidst all that they still managed to find time to record and release a new EP especially for Record Store Day. Let’s check it out and find out exactly why camp kill yourself are in fact “Too Precious To Kill”…

The EP opens up with “Chase Me” and as the title may suggest it’s got a not-so-subtle action-packed car chase vibe to it…the up-tempo feel, the catchy guitar licks and the brass-bursts take this back to the golden era of James Bond films if you will (Think DURAN DURAN)…there’s elements of a detective caper to this and it’s a really fun opening track. The track flows with an easy listening fluidity and really is infectious, great stuff this. “Fists To The Sky” follows up and here we have a more traditional sounding CKY musically…the imposing trademark riffs are instantly recognisable in tone and although the track has a very steady pacing, broken up by THE DOORS inspired organ-esque synths, it’s still very up-beat…doubling as not only a statement of intent from the trio regarding their come-back, but also maybe a subtle nod to Rocky thematically, given the Philly connection.

As this was a vinyl release, side-B kicks off with “One Step Ahead” and it immediately starts off darker, atmospherically speaking…the slow build leading to a frenetic chorus, with Chad belting out the lyrics against a wall of reverberated noise. He gets to fret-wank his heart out here too as he embarks on an incredibly trippy, psychedelic guitar solo and you can sense the enjoyment had in writing this one, it resonates through his playing. The final track however is the one we’ve all been waiting for…not just over the course of these four tracks…no…I’m talking over the course of the last TWENTY YEARS. Yes, for the first time ever, CKY have FINALLY given us a recorded cover of GG ALLIN classic “Bite It You Scum”. A long-time fan-favourite and a staple of their set list on the live stage forever, they finally put it to record and they’ve more than done it justice. It’s lost none of its raucous rock ‘n’ roll charm and still retains all of its raw punk attitude, while both refreshing and nostalgic at the same time. Having heard it live for all these years, we finally get a studio recording and it’s magnificent. While currently only available as a limited edition vinyl released for Record Store Day, (Were you lucky enough to get one?) I’m sure that sometime over the near future the EP will become available for download or streaming, or you should hope at least. Is this an EP you want? Is this an EP you NEED!? fuCKYea! [9]

While it’s been a short while now since we’ve properly heard from Anaheim alt. rockers NEW YEARS DAY, we’ve been treated to a couple of projects from front-woman Ash Costello. Last year saw her branch out with horror-pop band THE HAXANS and their incredibly fun album “Party Monsters”…but this year, although returning under the NYD moniker, we find Ash indulging herself on what is essentially a covers EP. Occasionally you’ll find interviews and articles in magazines, revolving around the artists and songs that shaped other artists…but Ash wanted to go one better and actually record her own versions of the songs she deemed so inspirational. The result; the “Diary Of A Creep” EP…a fitting tribute, or should their new year’s resolution be no more covers? Let’s find out…

We open up the EP with the sole original track “Disgust Me” and it’s somewhat appropriate, like, you say it out loud, and the EP does its fucking best to do just that. With its hard-hitting percussion and deep, chugging riffs, coupled with Ash’s melodic vocals over a hook-laden chorus, its trademark NYD…balancing subtle gothic tendencies with a heavy, nu-metal aesthetic, getting the EP off to a decent albeit standard start. We follow that with the first of five covers…and we’re spanning a plethora of era’s and styles here. Naturally it’s fair as influence can come from all walks of life, but here, together, in this style…something just doesn’t quite gel. We begin with a cover of NEW ORDER’s “Bizarre Love Triangle” and gone are the quaint synths…gone are the soft vocals of Bernard Summer…instead we find crunching, disjointed riffs and Ash’s powerful vocal chords, backed with key changes, repetitive classic guitar licks and gang vocals. The whole thing comes across as copy and paste, looping itself as it ticks along and sadly lacks any of the originals charm.

We shift gears completely next up, as we dabble in a spot of metal via PANTERA classic “Fucking Hostile” and it kind of does what it says on the tin; the raw aggression carries through with Ash’s angrier vocals and they know how to deliver a riff, but it’s hard to see how this would go down with traditional metal fans…they’ll either respect you (Albeit resentfully) for covering it in the first place, or form a Wall Of Death that even Donald Trump would be in awe of, but aim TOWARDS the stage and trample you into the floor for doing so…they’re on thin ice here. Next up…and, oh god…we have “Crawling”…yes…THAT crawling, by LINKIN PARK. Now, let’s be honest, who hasn’t been inspired in some way by Linkin Park in recent generations? But, to attempt to cover such an iconic song is BRAVE! It totally lacks the original feel of the song, there’s no angst or passion, and sadly it comes across as really quite flat, which is a complete shame. Ash’s melodic vocals work here but as soon as the track shifts into gear, it just doesn’t compare; the pain is missing and the result is a hollow song.

The last couple of tracks include GARBAGE hit “Only Happy When It Rains”, which while originally an iconic 90’s indie rock hit, here, even aided by LZZY HALE, lacks any of the song’s original feel…not even the duel vocals here can match up to Shirley Manson and if anything just makes you cringe, before there is some level of redemption on closing track “Don’t Speak”. The NO DOUBT classic works well here as Ash really does justice to Gwen Stefani’s vocal style and with the metal touch musically it gives the track a new lease of life. Overall while it’s all well and good to want to pay respects to your hero’s and inspirations, it sometimes works better in theory rather than practice. Ash and NYD have a style and a sound that suits them, and some of the tracks covered here really don’t benefit from that sound at all. If anything I guess, it gives you a chance to go through the originals, and maybe discover some classics you may have missed, depending on your age and tastes…other than that, it’s an EP of interesting but sadly disappointing covers. [4]

It’s been a heck of a year for Brighton’s YONAKA…following on from 2017’s “Heavy” EP, the band have found themselves on some pretty impressive tours in its wake; sharing stages with the likes of reinvigorated king of partying ANDREW WK, DON BROCO and more recently playing arena’s with BRING ME THE HORIZON. The four-piece however (Consisting of vocalist Theresa Jarvis, guitarist George Edwards, bassist Alex Crosby and drummer Robert Mason) aren’t resting their laurels…and earlier this year they released not one but two, highly anticipated follow up EP’s entitled “Teach Me To Fight” and “Creature”. Have Yonaka burned through the midnight oil, or will it be the dawn of a new day for this south-coast ensemble? Let’s find out, as we check out the latter…

The four-track EP opens up with “Own Worst Enemy” and it speaks of a split-personality, battling your inner demons and confronting yourself over your own actions and choices in life. Their dark blend of sultry electronic pop and indie rock, coupled with Theresa’s semi-husky voice combines well for a groove-heavy, rhythmic track and a strong opener. The pop hooks and atmospherics bridge a nice gap for fans of say, JESSIE J and FLORENCE & THE MACHINE. The title track offers a serious EP highlight with its urbanised pop aesthetic; an almost classic disco funk rhythm with subtle R’n’B elements, along-side a catchy chorus, showcasing Yonaka’s ability to write a genuine tune.

​“Death By Love” despite having a slightly slower tempo for the most part retains that funk-based core sound and really utilises a sense of easy-listening pop production…this is the kind of track that could easily (Given the chance) get them more mainstream airplay in the current chart climate, capable of appealing to a fairly wider audience compared to many bands in a similar position.  We sadly then finish up too soon on final track “She’s Not There” and again they’ve opted for a slower, darker, slightly brooding heavy pop track to round things off. It ends proceedings on an almost cinematic vibe, with slick production, a simplistic yet conspicuous beat and minimal yet effective instrumentation; the riffs and percussion flowing effortlessly, carrying Theresa’s vocals through a brief yet hypnotic track. All in all, Yonaka have taken all that was good with their previous works and continued to build not only a sound of their own, but a name for themselves around the UK’s up-and-coming live scene. Both reliable on stage and consistently delivering quality tracks, Yonaka are certainly ones to watch and on this evidence, their debut album has the potential to be something very special indeed. You don’t follow Yonaka? You knackered…[8]

The history of CKY is, for want of a better word, turbulent…when things were good, they were great; record deals with the likes of Island and Roadrunner, the worldwide fame thanks to connections with the whole “Jackass” phenomenon, they developed an intensely loyal fan base, or, alliance…but when things turned sour, boy did they turn sour. In 2011 after the praise and acclaim of “Carver City”, there were disagreements over the bands future direction…which led to conflict…which in turn led to one of the most, bitter, if you will, separations in rock.

In the years that have followed, while CKY, after trialing new vocalists, decided to settle on their current 3-piece formation (Consisting of Chad I Ginsberg, Jess Margera and a returning Matt Deis) Deron Miller opted to go it alone, dabbling in several projects during the period. Initially in a dispute over the rights of CKY, he released the solo album “Acoustified!” which, as you can probably guess was an acoustic medley of previous works…there was the return of his prior band FOREIGN OBJECTS who resurfaced for a new album in 2015…and then we have this; 96 BITTER BEINGS. Not only a jab at arguably one of CKY’s biggest tracks itself…but the album has been called “Camp Pain”…which, mistake me if I’m wrong, is ironically similar in theme to Camp Kill Yourself? I did say things were bitter right? Let’s see what Deron (Backed by new band members Kenneth Hunter, Shaun Luera and Tim Luera) has come up with…

The album opens up with “Try It Again” and it’s both an intro AND a skit…the idea that they’ve spent ages writing and practicing only for the track to sound like absolute shit essentially; out of tune without any sense of cohesive rhythm, it’s a rib on themselves basically as it’s been a while since we’ve had any new recorded material…they’re a bit rusty. First track proper however "Still Unstable, Still At Large" charges right at you with a serious sounding, deep, chugging albeit sluggish guitar riff, before we’re greeted with the traditional, sweet synths and moogs that so characterised CKY’s original music. Deron plays and writes with such a distinct style, this brings back so many memories…and the nostalgia doesn’t stop there.

Despite being only 10 tracks long in total, it manages to cram in a fair couple of highlight tracks…in particular “The Whipping Hands” which sounds like it could have been taken right out of the recording sessions from “Carver City”. It’s got a great rhythm and an infectious bass-heavy groove, playing out nicely. “Where Were You?” offers a more relaxed, melodic track, with a primarily down-tempo approach but a chorus that harks back to the style of “An Answer Can Be Found”…before the album ultimately ends with “December Higher Power”, a traditionally slower ballad-esque piece to close proceedings, a staple of past CKY works. Some tracks are a little questionable mind you…”Megadextria” is just a recycled track from the last Foreign Objects record, “Cavalcade Of Perversion” is 90% instrumental and 10% what the fuck? Speaking of, there’s a cover of MICHAEL JACKSON’s “Beat It” thrown in for good measure…I’m not even joking. I mean they pull it off quite well but, seriously…why?!

Ultimately, at the end of the day, it’s not a perfect album by any means, but it’s damn impossible to not enjoy this. Deron has such a creative flair for solid guitar riffs and an iconic sound that’s been missed…CKY are doing fine right now without him don’t get me wrong, and I’m not about to wish for a reunion, that ship sailed, but, I will just state how glad I am to have Deron back releasing music again. There may be 96 bitter beings but, I’m not one of them…for I am simply…Bernadette Nere. [7]

Anniversaries…usually happy times shared by couples as they grow old together, celebrating their love and commitment to one another…sometimes they can be nostalgic or, historic; marking so-many years since an incident or an event…though other times they can be painful; tainted with sad memories and tearful reminders, and I’m afraid in this instance we’re referring to the latter. Yes it’s nearly been a year now since Ville Valo and HIM went out with a bang and a whimper on their, admittedly rushed, 2017 farewell tour… a whole year of knowing that the Heartagram had beaten for the last time, buried alive by its own love, and it’s a truly sad fact. However…even the most melancholic gothic-laced grey clouds have silver linings, and in this instance, after a metaphorical mass funeral of hearts, in HIM’s absence we’ve got some new projects from our favourite Finn’s! Let me introduce you to FLAT EARTH…

A Finnish super-group of sorts…HIM’s six-string maestro Linde Lindstrom and former drummer Gas Lipstick make up 50% of the band, while it’s completed by former AMORPHIS bassist Niclas Etelavuori and POLANSKI vocalist Anthony Pikkarainen, and together, over the past several months they have stripped everything back, wiped the slate clean and written a no-nonsense, no frills, no gimmicks hard rock album by the name of “None For One”. The question is, is their musical prowess better than their apparent grasp of basic geology? Let’s find out…

We open up with “Subhuman” and ironically, it’s what you’d suggest someone who DOES believe that the Earth is flat would be in terms of mental capacity…slightly sluggish in tone for the most part, it comprises of slower riffs and percussion, combining a classic rock tone with just a touch of blues metal, although there’s an incredibly subtle middle-eastern feel to some of the more melodic guitar notes. Pretty straightforward stuff but it’s a fine start nevertheless. “Blame” follows up and here we find Anthony leading the musical direction more with a primarily 90’s grunge-inspired piece, backed with Linde’s distinctive string-work…the solo here is classic Linde, his fret-work is on point and you remember here how underrated a guitarist he really is.

This combination of styles is, for the most part the very foundation of this album as a whole…the back-to-basics, guitar heavy instrumentation being the very backbone of their sound while vocally we hark back to a simpler time; clean but with a certain raw emotion and in ways, at numerous points throughout this record you get a sense of ALICE IN CHAINS meets THE SMASHING PUMPKINS, really embracing those 90’s characteristics. The title track is a wonderful example, highlighting the above point really quite well…”Noble Swine” has some intense percussion and oh how we’ve missed Gas behind a drum kit, he can really drive a track and here he does just that…also baring a light resemblance to Linde’s other work with DANIEL LIONEYE in tone, before album highlight “Limelight” carries you away with a genuinely catchy little harmonic chorus and a simplistic groove. The rest of the album is generally run of the mill hard rock but as I said, that’s the aesthetic they’ve gone for; nothing fancy or over the top…just some good honest rock, which is fine. Admittedly it CAN feel a little lethargic at times, and if anything is to blame for that it IS Anthony’s vocals…maybe it’s just because I’m not too used to them and, to some extent can’t quite yet fully separate this from HIM, but he’s no Ville Valo. I know that’s the point to a degree, but this album DOES lack in belters and could do with a shot of adrenaline really. He’s got the emotion, but lacks in power. Overall the Earth here isn’t entirely flat, but it’s only just slightly concaved…they need a little more depth next time around. [5]

The Japanese progressive metal outfit SOKONINARU have confirmed that they will be hitting London during their debut European Tour in 2019, for a must-see one-off headline show. The tour poster via Avo Magazine specifies that it will all go down at The Underworld, one of the homes of London’s hardcore metal scene. If everything goes according to plan, you can catch Sokoninaru’s unique, harmonic, heavy, and highly technical sounds on February 12th. They will also be hitting Germany, France, Holland, and other European locations during the scheduled 13-date tour.

Active since 2011, it took a while for vocalist / guitarist Juko Suzuki and vocalist / bassist Misaki Fujiwara to get recognised in Asia’s metal scene. Nowadays however, it’s safe to say that the band has a massive global following online, evident by the 1.2 million views (October 2018) garnered by their music video Tenohira de odoru. Meanwhile, their latest video "re:program" was able to gain 150,000 views in just a matter of months. Further proof of Sokoninaru’s global fame is the fact that they also recently officially launched their own English website, a major step in the band’s efforts to appeal to overseas audiences. And seeing as Sokoninaru is now slated for a major European tour early next year, they’re bound to attract more fans of rock, metal, and good old melodic chaos.

While London and Japanese metal might seem a strange combination, there are actually plenty of historical precedents for this 'meeting of cultures'. For starters, heavy metal has its roots in the UK. The likes of Black Sabbath and Jimi Hendrix – both of which achieved global fame while in the UK – are responsible for the seminal sounds that birthed the different courses of metal and rock music, including the harmonic, heavy, and highly technical speed metal of Sokoninaru. There’s even an award-winning Japanese electronic/rock/metal band that’s based in London – Esprit D’Air have been channelling UK influences since their debut album, "Constellations".

During the last decade, Japanese culture has exploded in the UK. This is highly apparent in the UK’s wide array of Japanese-influenced media, including TV, film, music, and even online gaming. On the BBC, "The Art of Japanese Life" prompts audiences to join Dr. James Fox in examining the intricacies of Japanese art and culture. 

​Another reason of this desire for more Japanese culture is the increasing number of digital media dedicated to the country. The Japanese gaming industry is one of the biggest in the world, and its games consoles and titles dominant markets across the globe. The response to this has been that modern digital companies are now trying to tap into these growing markets to find new audiences. Online Asian games provider Expatbets has a dedicated Japanese slot game called "Sakura Fortune" that combines two parts of Japan’s heritage, the lone warrior and the cherry blossom, both of which attract millions of visitors each year. Japanese-inspired entertainment has become so big that a lot of people’s first contact with Japan’s culture is through these games, which then leads them on to discover more about the country. The European tour of Sokoninaru is a sign that western audiences are a part of this growing interest, and that music fans are seeking out more obscure parts of Japanese culture to find new and exciting talent. 

All of these factors will combine to give Sokoninaru an unusually warm welcome in cold, wet London on February 2019. In a way, it can be said that, one of the greatest proponents of modern metal will be bringing metal back home to the UK.

Words: Madison Scott

Social media comes under a lot of scrutiny at times…if you pay any attention to certain arguments at least, and while I can appreciate that, occasionally it can be a dangerous or questionable place (Anyone for an unsolicited dick pic or spot of grooming?) it has nothing but beneficial qualities in terms of brand marketing, exposure and communication if used wisely (Last chance for that dick pic…no?).  I say this because it’s a great place to both freely promote yourself and spread your product, and this ties in to today’s review on a couple of levels…let me explain.

Recently through sharing my reviews on Instagram (Follow me @gavthegothicchav) I was contacted by a gentleman named Michal Kosinski, who asked me to check out his music. While nothing new for the blog, it was the first direct request through Instagram specifically which I have to firstly thank Michal for. Based in Sweden, he informed me of his project named MY OWN CO-PILOT, requesting that I listen to his debut EP “Textures”…all pretty straightforward, but here it gets a little more interesting. It turns out the singer; Derrek Siemieniuk, hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and already fronts a band Stateside by the name of SAVE EMPTY VESSELS. Michal upon hearing this band, liked their style and immediately contacted Derrek requesting his services and suggesting a collaboration. Curious and inspired, Derrek obliged, recording and then sending over his vocals ready to be mixed…and despite a distance of nearly 4,000 miles, social media and communication was able to bring these artists together to complete My Own Co-Pilot. With that, via some sort of, social media inception, from Sweden, via the US through to me on Instagram, let’s check out “Textures”…

We begin with “Exit You” which could mean one of two things; either we’re about to experience some form of, outer-body musical transcendence…or it shares it’s characteristics with faecal matter. Kicking things off rather slowly with some basic percussion; simple guitar notes gently plucking away, we gradually evolve into a more complete shoegaze-inspired piece with Derrek’s subdued vocals…that is until the frenetic, almost tantrum-fuelled chorus. Here we find the pair’s joint affection for early post-rock and hardcore; acts like REUBEN and SILVERSTEIN spring to mind upon hearing this, it’s a nice dynamic though not as up-tempo as preferred. “When The Missing Return” keeps this up with a much more vibrant start, the raw, garage-rock feel allowing the track to truly breath, if you ignore the vocal loop mid track…despite its prog elements it’s just filler essentially and comes off as annoying rather than artistic. The lyrical repetition is delivered in such a dull, flat manner that it really does spoil an otherwise decent track.

“This Crying” follows down a similar path itself, blending the weightier, rock aspects with some more enjoyable vocal melodies this time around, allowing it to come off as a generally more polished track in comparison, and providing the EP’s standout track. Sadly we finish up on a disappointing note courtesy of “Remembering”, which is ironic as truthfully I’d rather forget this one. Musically fine; the wall of guitar supporting a blitz of crashing cymbals provides a level of intensity, and it carries a decent rhythm leading up to its climax too, but for the most part here Derrek’s vocal delivery is arguably the blandest of the whole EP. When he’s screaming and in-your-face its fine, but sometimes his drone can induce levels of boredom not experienced since, well, half way through track two. Generally speaking the EP is a decent foray into MOCP’s debut musical adventure…this partnership has its good and bad aspects, but it’s a decent debut none the less…what’s more intriguing however, is where Michal takes this next. Was this a one-off and purely an indulgence? Will he and Derrek collaborate further in future, where they can grow as a side project, or will he take this on a new conceptual journey enlisting different co-pilots? Who knows, but until then, if you miss the early 00’s alt. rock / emo scene, then you’ll likely appreciate this pair in their current guise. [5]

If you cast your mind back to a little over a month ago, I shared a review covering an artist by the name of THE ANIX…initially forwarded to me by the team over at FiXT, it highlighted their steady expansion as they slowly build up their label roster with newer, outside artists. While musically it didn’t differ a GREAT deal from their already established acts, it was promising nevertheless…and today we’re going to be looking at another of their newest signings; let me introduce to you SOUL EXTRACT.

Originally based out of Atlanta, Georgia, Soul Extract is the creation of composer Josh Mullis and he formed the project way back in 1998! With certain setbacks however it’s taken a fair amount of time for his music to see the light of day, but now, confident and comfortable on the FiXT roster, he’s able to share his hard work and efforts through the album “Circadian Algorithm”; both his label and musical debut…let’s check it out.

The album opens up with “Project Terraform” and immediately you’re swept into a grandiose, almost cinematic musical score; intense and dramatic string elements backing a slowly emanating techno wave. It’s the kind of instrumentation that would easily find itself slotted into a Transformers movie or something akin to that….vocally switching back and forth between cleaner, synth fuelled segments and angst-ridden screams; it fits in perfectly well with the likes of CELLDWELLER and also reminds me of more local acts such as CLEAR THE AUDITORIUM. Follow up track “Decryption” takes us back to Extract’s formative years and here you can clearly hear some of that early nu-metal influence. Josh openly cites LINKIN PARK as an inspiration and you can clearly hear that within not only the vocals of this track, which are a nice homage to Chester at this point, but you can hear it within the composition and instrumentation too, with some of riffs and electronic touches sounding like they’ve come straight out of the “Meteora” writing sessions.

The nu-metal influence can also be heard on the likes of “Take Another” with the vocals giving off a subtle KORN vibe, alongside the slower, more crunchier instrumentation, mirroring artists such as ADEMA to boot. Speaking of slowing things down, “Oblivion” offers a far more chilling, mellow synth-heavy pop affair; with its anti-ballad qualities, mixing icy piano keys with a bold chorus and an orchestral climatic flurry, allows for a laid back but luxurious listen. Elsewhere “Aphotic Destiny” if nothing else taught me a new word today, however its pulsing techno perfectly suits its title, as it metaphorically submerges you into the deepest, darkest watery depths, before closing track “Singularity” rounds things off with more Celldweller-inspired, vocally raw, orchestral-tinged electronic rock.

Aesthetically this album is a nice little nostalgia trip for the most part, merging those early electro-rock influences with the more modern production value found through working with FiXT. While musically fine, if anything is to be noted as a negative it’s the track length; nothing here is under four minutes long, resulting in a ten-track album sounding far longer than it actually is. Condense one or two of these down and you could have some decent singles to promote off of the back of this, and that’s about the only real issue going forward. Other than that, it’s a fine record and nice way to maybe coax some more nu-metal fans towards the FiXT brand. [6]

Over the years many an artist, in rock ‘n’ roll especially, have used shock tactics or elaborate theatrics to help get themselves noticed. It’s all part of the image; the horror and excess that (Music aside) helps separate rock and metal from other genres. Many have succeeded throughout history…ALICE COOPER arguably helped start it all with his stage production going WAY back, you have the likes of ROB ZOMBIE bridging media formats by branching out into some intensely brutal horror movies…though today however we’re focusing not so much on artistic theatre, but, more of a macabre pantomime…yes we’re going to be looking at LORDI. Now instantly recognisable, their whole gimmick is based around the demonic monster costumes designed by front man Mr Lordi (Real name Tomi Petteri Putaansuu) but, despite being around for some time now, it wasn’t until that fateful and unforgettable night where they WON the Eurovision Song Contest for Finland back in 2006.

As unreal as that sounds, “Hard Rock Hallelujah” catapulted them into a mainstream audience, and their tongue-in-cheek style or horror metal has won them over a legion of fans, and they now have an impressive back catalogue of albums. Earlier this year they released their ninth; the wonderfully titled “Sexorcism”, supposedly their most controversial release to date…somebody better call Father Merrin, I think Jesus has done WAY more than fuck this lot…

We begin with the title track and it does open up like a cut from a horror movie score; really dramatic sounding and in preparation for a jump scare or intense fight between good and evil. The simple but ominous piano soon gives way though to some decent riffs and a surging hard-rock aesthetic and musically this is fine; it’s got a decent melodic hook for  a chorus too which, given, Mr Lordi’s honestly awful gravelled vocals, is quite impressive….it’s been produced really well up in Finnvox. This is far from a regular exorcism however (Is there even such a thing?) as he sings of FINGERING the demon out of her…steady on guys this isn’t the 19th century, you can’t be palming shit like this off like hysteria…did she even consent? This gimmick is backed up later by the interlude “Scg9: The Documented Phenomenon”, which essentially parodies THAT Exorcist scene with only slightly re-arranged verbiage. I really don’t know if this is a tribute or a parody…

The ridiculousness doesn’t stop there however as thematically following on from the title track we’re gifted with “The Beast Is Yet To Cum”...a nice play on words there Sir but if anything you’re promoting the fact that your own fingering skills are sub-par at best. Y’all motherfuckers need STEEL PANTHER and that’s one thing I thought I’d never say! In terms of musical highlights, it’s actually quite hard to separate any of the 13 tracks offered this time around. “Naked In My Cellar” has some more catchy synth elements and initially opens up like an early NIGHTWISH number before it delves into this rumbling, bass-heavy riff, and it’s about as clean as Mr Lordi’s vocals can probably get? It’s got a great pop chorus really…”Polterchrist” is another amusingly named track which starts off with some chilling female choir-esque vocals and more piano, before descending into a chugging, classic-metal type affair.

We eventually close out with “Sodomesticated Animal” which aside from its admittedly good name and a decent solo doesn’t inspire a great deal, while “Haunting Season” rounds things up with a generic symphonic metal effort. The trouble with this album is, everything seems to last forever, all of the songs, despite their comedic quirks, sadly drag a little and overstay their welcome to a degree. Less Lordi, more of a thick load quite frankly…a good release for Lordi perhaps like but, not something you want in your ears…the power of Christ compels you to NOT listen to this album. [4]

Back in the early 2000's, Nu-Metal was officially in full-swing; a new wave of bands had been established, and the next generation of alternative music fans were about to catapult rock and metal into the mainstream. You couldn't go anywhere without seeing kids in baggy jeans skateboarding, talking about all these cool new bands they'd heard on this channel called Kerrang!...even video games and movies were getting in on the trend with a lot of soundtracks utilising the audible adrenaline rush, especially horror movies and sports games like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater; the whole thing was huge. While bands like LIMP BIZKIT were rollin' high up the charts much to the dismay of disgusted parents, and LINKIN PARK were slowly taking over the world having released THAT album...but here in Wales we could more than hold our own. With a blend of angst-ridden alternative rock, urban hip-hop lyricism and pop melody, THE KENNEDY SOUNDTRACK emerged and dropped one of the greatest yet overlooked debut album's ever to come out of the UK...now, nearly twenty years later, they're back, and I was lucky enough to have a chat with guitarist/vocalist DAVE CHALLENGER, as he looks back with bloodshot eyes, to re-tell a tale of two cities, and look ahead to a whole new soundtrack...

I’d like to just begin by taking a look back to those formative years; for those unaware of KST, give us a bit of back-story…how did you guys meet and ultimately form?

“You know that will reveal how old we are right!? [Laughs] We met around the mid to late 90s while we were in our teens at Crosskeys College in South Wales. Many schools in the area at the time didn’t have 6th forms so you would go to Crosskeys to do your A Levels or whatever else they had to offer. At the time (And I believe still to this day), they offered a BTEC performing arts course, this course had two variants, Drama or Music. The majority of us met on the music course.

In between the sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll, and shouting in an alcohol fuelled state at Pontypool’s Rugby lads, we’d also spent a lot of time playing music. Mainly; Manic Street Preachers, Radiohead, Nirvana or Oasis songs, before officially forming The Kennedy Soundtrack in 1999 to start writing our own stuff. One of the first tracks we wrote was “Too Much Stress”, and that version is way different to what ended up on the album. It was more of a 90’s Britpop affair with Nic’s youthful higher pitched rap over the top. Though it planted the seed for the KST to grow…”

The early 2000’s was a really interesting era in rock and alternative music…with Nu-Metal in full swing, so many bands were experimenting with genre crossover’s; the likes of LINKIN PARK and LIMP BIZKIT all taking the blueprint set by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and redesigning an entire style…were these bands that you looked to as inspiration?

“Rage was definitely an influence, I remember a friend in high school gave me a black cassette tape that he’d recorded himself with the letters “R.A.T.M” carefully written in Tippex. He said “Give it a listen, there’s no samples or anything, it’s all Guitar!” I was like what IS this? I took it home and grabbed my Walkman and listened to it straight away. This was nothing like I’d never heard before and I loved it. There’s just something about those funky but also heavy riffs that just blew me away.  Up until that point I was mainly listening to U2 trying to figure out what on earth The Edge was doing then this Tom Morello guy was doing even stranger things!

Prior to RATM we were also growing up listening to GUNS & ROSES, CYPRESS HILL, N.W.A, NIRVANA and even prog-rock like PINK FLOYD, YES, and EMERSON LAKE & PALMER. Even the SEX PISTOLS, but I’m sure Johnny Lydon would not be impressed to be mentioned alongside Yes, but to be proper punk you don’t conform just to fit in. I watched an interview with him on YouTube the other day, I think he was quite disappointed with the punk scene. It’s what often happens with counter culture movements, is that they just become another box for everyone to fit into and then become main-stream. Be yourself, though accept your influences! [Laughs]”

With your gritty yet melodic rap-rock sound, you stood out yourselves in the South Wales scene…bands like CATATONIA and STEREOPHONICS had put Wales back on the map musically, but you were part of such a vibrant movement…with yourselves, SKINDRED, FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND and we can’t ignore LOSTPROPHETS as much as society wants us to…what are your memories of back then? A lot has changed in music since, do you look back fondly?
 
 
“Lostprophets! I’m not gonna’ lie, we used to listen to them a lot, as they were around a little before us. It’s a terrible thing to have happened to all the victims, and it goes to show you shouldn’t put anyone on a pedestal. He’s ruined a lot of lives including the rest of the guys in the lost prophets that have to live with it. Anyway enough of that…

I do get nostalgic listening to all those bands; it was part of us as we were developing as people and as a band. Each of us was coming to the band with our own musical background and each one of us was determined to get that into the mix.  That’s the Kennedy Soundtrack, each one of us had a Soundtrack we grew up with to add to the project. Everything from 70’s Prog, Rock, Metal, Reggae, Hip-Hop and even 90’s indie.

Cool Cymru was a term that was banded around quite a lot, though we came a little late to the party and we weren’t really part of that scene, apart from perhaps Skindred. We did play with them from time to time. Benji even did a cameo on one of our B-sides, which I incidentally will be re-released in the coming months through Spotify (shameless plug)…”

You left your mark with the release of your debut album “Tale Of 2 Cities” back in 2002, an album that’s become somewhat of a cult-classic…you delivered so many top tracks like “Learning To Let Go”, “Here 4 You” and that’s without the singles you released…it was a quality album from start to finish and at the time, arguably criminally underrated. Looking back, are you proud of the album still? With hindsight is there anything you wish you'd done differently or not done at all?

“Ha, Is it really a cult classic?  I suppose that just means that not many people have heard it, but the ones that have, love it? Well, I think that’s a good a definition! We are always proud of what we achieved, and looking back now there are things that we could’ve done differently, but it is what it is. We are certainly better musicians and performers now, older, slightly wiser. We are better than ever!”

Much to the dismay of your fans, it was to be your only album, there was and still is genuine disappointment surrounding that, what happened following the initial release and collectively what have you guys been up to during the time that’s passed?

“2002 was a pretty hectic year for us. What with recording the album in the USA and touring, I reckon we probably did around 250 gigs that year, we were pretty worn out and jaded by the end of it. By Christmas 2002 we were dropped from the record company. Shortly after that, around February 2003 we were offered a support slot on tour with STEVE-O from JACKASS. The first gig on the tour was in London’s Shepherds Bush Empire. Let’s just say that the place was full of teenage boys trying to outdo each other and the place was crazy. I remember walking onto the stage with some kids shouting “I’ve puked and pissed on your guitar!”.....I thought to myself, “yeah, whatever”.....but as I walked over to my treasured guitar on stage, glistening under the stage lights with our intro music pumping out over the PA, I picked it up and I felt it slip out of my hand a little. The rest of the guys were taking their places on stage looking similarly concerned as I was. I put the guitar around my neck to realise, that the shouts from the kids at the front of the stage were not just the sounds of youthful banter, but they had actually thrown puke onto the stage. We played for around 20-30 minutes whilst being assaulted by various bodily fluids and projectiles before ending the show wondering what the hell had just happened...

All our gigs up until that point (apart from one gig in Barry Island where we had a little scuffle with one of the local knobbers) had been fantastic experiences, playing with PINK, HUNDRED REASONS, PITCHSHIFTER and various festivals such as Reading and Leeds. But, having just lost our record label, being worn out, and the Shepherds Bush gig was the final straw. That was the last time that we played together on stage. (As of Nov 2018)
Following this we all went on to have normal jobs, leading normal lives, buying houses, raising kids etc etc. Between us we’ve been doing Drug Rehab Work, NHS Management, Stats Office Management, Store Assistants, Carpenters, Youth Workers and Bus Drivers.

While living the 9-5 we’ve still had other musical projects, such as Nic’s Hip Hop stuff;- Applied Science and Knights Of Boom. Elliot has been in almost every band in South Wales from 2003 to current day, such as The Guns, Smiling Tigers to name a couple. Myself and Elliot also performed in Ice Cold In Alex and have new project CATALYSTS. You can find these on Spotify, Apple Music etc."

Now in 2018, nostalgia is ripe and it’s an exciting time for KST fans….Recently (Oct 13th 2018) you re-released your album marking International Cassette Store Day…very much like Record Store Day it celebrates physical format and independent outlets across the country, and to mark the occasion people can now find your debut album on cassette as a limited edition for collectors. How did this come to light and who got the ball rolling to make this happen?

“Well that was serendipitous event back in the summer where I put an old demo tape of ours (Actually originally it was on mini disc but I’ve recently got into cassettes) on eBay to see if anyone would be interested in it. Pretty soon after listing, Ant from Lavender Sweep Records in Swansea messaged me if we’d be interested in releasing the demos for international cassette store day. The plan was to release the demos. As it turned out we decided to keep some of the demos and to re-release the album instead. We contacted our old record company and I must say they have been really helpful and supportive to hear that we’ve reformed. So they agreed to let Lavender Sweep produce a limited run for CSD. There are still a small number available if you are interested!”

If that wasn’t enough, you’ve also been rehearsing for some select reunion shows and have even talked about releasing a collection of B-Sides and rarities…tracks like “You Never Know” getting the deserved chance to shine…clearly the energy is positive; what’s it like having the band back together?

“It’s been fantastic! And this time we’re doing it for ourselves, by ourselves and our main goal is to create music and have a good time. We’ve succeeded at that, so we will keep surfing the new KST wave.”

With the talk of the B-Sides project, coupled with the Cassette Store Day release, the level of activity in the KST camp is exciting…fans have to ask, what’s next? Is the motivation there to maybe get together and write again? Maybe more live shows down the line? Or is this purely a nostalgia trip for the fans?
 
 “We’ve recently been in the studio with the Producer Legend that is Romesh Dodangoda. We will be releasing a single in the New Year from that session. For KST live? We’ll see how our first show in nearly 16 years goes on the 14th December 2018! It’s sold out so it seems there’s appetite for the KST. I think we just might have to think about a show in the New Year, maybe even new material. You Never Know…”

Dave, thank you so much for the chat, all the best for the up-coming projects and more importantly, welcome back!

The rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle…very much akin to that of any Santa Carla vampire really; you know…party all night and all that malarkey…well it turns out, a couple of UK bands didn’t get that memo last year! Maybe it’s just coincidence but both YOU ME AT SIX and today’s band, DEAF HAVANA (Despite charting favourably) pretty much underperformed and underwhelmed with their previous albums “Night People” and “All These Countless Nights” respectively. They may have been children of the night but oh what music they DIDN’T make…well this year both bands are aiming for redemption with swift follow-up records. I’ve already covered YMA6’s new one “VI” over at www.allabouttherock.co.uk but here I’m going to be looking at Havana’s new LP entitled “Rituals”.

Written with a fresh, interesting approach; here we found front-man James Veck-Gilodi throwing out the usual Deaf Havana rule-book to jot down no more than just some potential song names first. He would then write songs according to those titles, fitting the lyrics and music around those ideas and concepts, with the band then completing them in the studio once satisfied. The end result? The 13 tracks we have right now making up “Rituals”…let’s check it out.

The album rather appropriately opens up with “Wake” and while a completely separate body of work it’s still as though there’s this redeeming narrative that both aforementioned bands are focusing on; the morning after the night before, referencing the previous albums. No more than a 40 second intro with the words “You can fall” repeated in a choir-esque fashion…very hushed but slowly climbing in volume and presence, before cutting off and leading into first track proper “Sinner”. An incredibly jovial track combining elements of soft indie-rock and boy-band pop melodies; an incredibly light-hearted take on James’ own personal past experiences; a song of admittance and acceptance delivered with a very British stiff upper lip, but it’s very easy listening and enjoyable.

This general tone musically carries through the album fairly consistently…even conceptually as far as the single-word song titles. “Holy” utilises a subtle, underlying funk-inspired feel coinciding with the already established indie-pop vibe, backed with more choir accompaniment courtesy of the London Contemporary Voice Choir…”Worship” too with its percussion-driven acoustic tones and minimal synths makes for a very laid back listen, which can also be said for “Fear”, while album highlight “Pure” is rich in rhythm and delivers a simple yet effective chorus, even teasing at James’ grittier vocal qualities, highlighting his passion as a singer.

Some of the tracks do plod along, barely escaping 2nd gear towards the end of the album mind, with “Heaven” again utilising the help of the choir, providing gospel-inspired gang vocals over a generally slower, stripped back track, while the albums longest offering “Saint” makes you wish you had the patience of one. God it’s so slow and boring…I mean it’s touching, but boring…and who really wants to feel bored when touched? I’m getting off topic now…ahem…that sadly too leads us into the closing track “Epiphany” and it’s here I had a sudden realisation; this track is also sadly a bit dull, as well as feeling abrupt and almost unfinished. “Rituals” as a whole isn’t bad; it’s got its pleasant pop qualities, James is still a fine story-teller, plus it’s got more energy than its predecessor…and credit to them for experimenting with their entire approach to writing this time around. The only thing I will say is that know James can properly belt out the vocals when called upon with grit and conviction, he’s done so in the past, and this album again does lack some of that edge…other than that it’s a decent album. Now if you’ll excuse me I have my OWN rituals to sort out…these puppies aren’t going to sacrifice themselves…[6]