Alternative GENRE ARCHIVES
Real Friends – ‘Torn In Two’ [review]
When I first heard of Real Friends I was fresh to pop punk. I liked All Time Low, As It Is, Green Day and My Chemical Romance. I found their first two albums to be too brash and bordering on unlistenable. By the time Composure dropped I’d been to Slam Dunk Festival and, though I still believe their first two records to be poor, that third album really made me fall for them. ‘Stand Steady; is still their best song.
Hawthorne Heights – The Rain Just Follows Me
Hawthorne Heights have never really slowed since their inception. Their eighth full length, The Rain Just Follows Me, shows that the band still have a lot to say.
Myles Kennedy – ‘The Ides Of March’
Myles Kennedy seems to have found some miraculous way to straddle his three globetrotting projects: mega-selling Alter Bridge and Slash albums alongside this solo project. Beyond a shadow of a doubt he is the most notable vocalist in rock today, and for good reason. Those vocals combine with his own delectable guitarwork to make solo album number two a welcome addition to his ample discography.
The Spill Canvas – Conduit
The Spill Canvas have made a comeback into what is a very different music world, but new album Conduit sounds like they don’t give a damn.
Silverstein Out Of This World (episode 3: the conclusion) review
Waking up in a field full of alpacas with an acoustic guitar after being kidnapped by aliens and forced to play Discovering The Waterfront front to back – this is where the third and final episode of Silverstein’s Out Of This World virtual concert series kicks off.
Silverstein – Out Of This World (episode 2) review
In an attempt to bring you the fastest written review in history, fuelled by gig adrenaline and a singular Carlsberg, here is the lowdown on Silverstein’s Out Of This World, episode 2.
Lonely The Brave ‘The Hope List’ review
Lonely The Brave’s new record The Hope List is a very pleasing listen, acting as my introduction to a very talented outfit at a perfect point; the band are reborn with new vocalist Jack Bennett and a new sense of drive and direction.
Cheap Meat – ‘People Are The Worst’
There’s no doubt Cheap Meat can write fun, catchy songs you’d expect from the likes of Weezer and Bowling For Soup. Their new record, aptly titled People Are The Worst, exemplifies this brilliantly.
Hands Like Houses – Hands Like Houses
If a band changes their sound, it’s always called “evolving”. However, evolution is a species adapting to its surroundings and becoming better at surviving. What do we call it when a band changes and the quality has regressed?
Calva Louise – Popurri
Calva Louise have amassed themselves tonnes of praise, high profile fans and a decent following. However, new EP Popurri is nowhere near as eclectic or unique as people would have you believe.
Creeper – Sex, Death & The Infinite Void
In their first 5 years as a band, Creeper crafted the perfect path, releasing an EP each year for three years, touring relentlessly and then putting out their debut album Eternity In Your Arms. It felt like they were never far away from our speakers and stages and that enabled them to grow hugely in that time. Oh yeah, and the outstanding goth-punk-opera rock songs helped a bit too. Then on 1st November 2018 they played their final show of the tour and announced the end. Then there followed a year of radio silence. Anyone familiar with David Bowie would recognize this as the shedding of a skin, the entry to the cocoon, and, exactly one year after that fateful show, they reappeared with a single and shortly followed it up with the announcement of Sex, Death & The Infinite Void. Now, following a lengthy delay due to COVID-19, the release of one of the most hotly anticipated albums in recent years in upon us.
PHOXJAW – Royal Swan
Bristol’s Phoxjaw release their debut record, Royal Swan on the 3rd of July via Hassle records. What can I say about these guys that I haven’t already said? Oh, yeah. What I mean by that is, I’ve had the privilege of listening to their EP, A Playground for Sad Adults, which came out in 2019. A lot has happened since 2019, A LOT, not sure if you know, but we are slowly coming out of lockdown, and learning about social distancing.
Asking Alexandria – ‘Like A House On Fire’
Asking Alexandria had quite a lot to live up to with their new album Like A House On Fire. After 2017's self titled saw both the return of Danny Worsnop and a drastic change in sound, the band's fans were divided.
Album Review: Gold Key – Panic Machine
Hertfordshire quartet, Gold Key have released 'Panic Machine' their follow up to 2017 debut “Hello, Phantom”. Panic Machine was recorded off grid in isolation at Gwynedd in North Wales. The crew created in the summer of 2016 by vocalist Steve Sears and Laurent Barnard two old school friends, Sears also produced two of Barnards, Gallows records. Both decided to make Gold Key adding James Leach on bass of Sikth and Milk Teeth’s Jack Kenny on drums.
Naked Next Door – Swerving Out Wide
Milton Keynes rockers Naked Next Door release their latest six track, EP Swerving Out Wide via Honest records on May 21st. The band of four came together three years ago at the age of…17 years old….I’ll say that again, 17 years old, do they’re bringing their high sprites to us all.