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Team Member: Amos Hayes


Amos Hayes's Articles:

Harbinger – Compelled To Suffer

With their debut album, Harbinger showcase bags of potential. With a sludgy aura and thrashy riffs, there’s tonnes of influences throughout this record. It swings from metalcore to death metal. It’s a record that will perk the ears of many metal fans. Perhaps the only downside of this record is that it drags a bit. At 49 minutes long, there isn’t enough to keep you interested for that length of time. There is a lot throughout that shows potential but at the length it is it certainly needs to be more consistent.

The Get Up Kids – Problems

Late 90s emo band The Get Up Kids, return with their first album in 8 years. Problems is a brilliant return to form that is up there with some of the best of the current emo revival. The hooks slipped in between gripping emo verses and bouncy riffs are inescapable. There’s certainly a pop punk side to this album. In the sense that it is laden with hooks and poppy choruses. The songs flow from seemingly upbeat to more melancholic. Ultimately this is a great album from veterans of the scene, that more than holds its own against their younger counterparts.

NOT ENOUGH – TO L-VE

Polish quintet NOT ENOUGH's debut EP sees them attempt to copy the commercially successful template laid down by the likes of Bring Me The Horizon and PVRIS. The synth driven rock music has elements of modern metalcore but sticks to clean vocals for the majority. The EP lacks any real punch and even the heavier bits just pass you by. Ultimately the template used to create this EP is overdone and ultimately boring. Its hard to find anything that stands out of note good or bad.

Lord Dying – Mysterium Tremendum

With Mysterium Tremendum, Oregon metal band Lord Dying produce songs that would wet the taste buds of any Mastodon, High On Fire or other stoner/sludge metal fan. The album comes out the blocks roaring (literally) and for six songs is nothing short of excellent.

Bars Of Gold – SHELTER

SHELTER the new LP from Bars Of Gold, is a post-rock indie record that has an inescapable guitar focused danceable rhythm throughout. Made up of members of a post hardcore band, that influence is there throughout particularly from the drumming and some of the guitar work. Ultimately the post-rock is there but there’s hard hitting element to this record that makes it stand out from its dreamier counterparts.

Raketkanon – RKTKN #3

Belgian band Raketkanon continue their bizarre, intriguing art rock with their third album RKTKN #3. Even as an art rock album, this record is hard to pigeon hole. It carries influence from synth driven rock/pop, industrial music and even straight up noise rock. I suppose at its heart it’s a dark twisted synth rock record, but the odd time signatures and outlandish hooks create a sound that’s as confusing as it is addictive.

Modern Error – Lost In The Noise

Modern Error's debut album Lost In The Noise is a solid start to the band's catalogue, however the odd pacing of the album prevents it gaining any real momentum. With a sound that draws from the common synth driven style of modern metalcore, there is a draw to ballads and melody. Taking a strong influence from the recent Architects releases, and a hint of post Sempiternal metalcore. All the while the is no distinct reliance on another bands style. Within this record there are signs of potential and while it doesn’t stand out as an individual record it does suggest Modern Error to be a band to keep an eye on in coming years.

InVisions – Between You And Me

York metal band InVisions second album is a tough listen, and ultimately flat album where the only interest comes from the absurdly obscene lyrics, which only detract from the already poor quality. This is a record from a band whose attempt to stand out is using almost laughable lyrics rather than musical quality. While the musical side of the album is certainly not abysmal it is simply boring and basic. In truth it is a wonder that bands are continuing to make music of this style in 2019 especially when the past few years have seen the most creative bands typically be the most successful.

Ithaca – The Language of Injury

If we were to highlight the best record label of 2018, it would comfortably be Holy Roar, who released a string of phenomenal heavy records throughout last year. 2019 looks to be no different, with the release of ITHACA’s debut record The Language Of Injury. A record which is brimming with emotionally charged metallic hardcore. A record that is one of the best British releases during this current renaissance of hardcore.

Papa Roach – Who Do You Trust?

On their tenth studio album, Papa Roach move away from their nu-metal roots and into more radio rock territories. All whilst maintaining their signature personality and not losing any of the flare that made so many fans fall in love with them 19 years ago.

Itoldyouiwouldeatyou – Oh Dearism

Itoldyouiwouldeatyou’s debut album Oh Dearism, is an almagamation of classic noughties emo and experimental rock music. It flows from hook laden introspective emo music to off the wall guitar effects.

Our Hollow, Our Home – In Moment // In Memory

On their sophomore record (In Moment // In Memory), Our Hollow, Our Home delve into the emotions that come with the loss of a loved one. In particular guitarist Tobias Youngs father. It is hard to criticise an album that has such a personal meaning to the songwriter. Yet In Moment // In Memory is […]

The Black Queen live @ Bush Hall

[Photo: William Pavli] The Black Queen put on a captivating show at Bush Hall. Despite touring their most recent record Infinite Games, they favoured their debut, Fever Daydream. While both records are equally as magnificent, it seems odd that the older record was favoured in such a way. Perhaps this was due to Fever Daydream […]

Beartooth – Disease

Beartooth look set to survive the death of the Warped Tour metalcore scene with their third album Disease. It’s a more polished, more hook laden and a less heavy take on their sound which saw them thrive within the Warped Tour scene. There’s a definite US radio rock feel to this record, whilst still maintaining […]

The Black Queen – Infinite Games

With Infinite Games, The Black Queen are now so much more than a side project. With The Dillinger Escape Plan’s end, The Black Queen rises, building on their brilliant debut with a more challenging engaging piece of art. Infinite Games is a passion project that brings in influences from every corner of the musical spectrum, […]

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