Rock Reviews 24/7
Archive for
The Flips – Damn You & Damn Me, Too review
The Flips debut EP, Damn You & Damn Me, Too is something a little bit odd. It’s a band experimenting with a tonne of different sounds – some work and some don’t. But then that’s the beauty of progression.
While the opening of the EP, Sharp As Knives, sounds like early Weezer – other parts sound like Alex Turner’s solo material. But then again, there are some parts that sound like your every day run of the mill rock band. But then that’s not a bad thing. Putting together an EP like this allows the band to show off their versatility while deciding which genre suits the band best.
I’m Still has a similar rock feel to the latest Foo Fighters record – it’s heavy and chock full of riffs. Always a good sign for a rock band. There I Shook is a fantastic acoustic track. It’s perfect, roaring with emotion and somewhat elegant. It’s the best way to close out Damn You & Damn Me, Too.
On Damn You & Damn Me, Too there are good moments and there are bad moments. But taking a minute to reflect on it, the bad moments aren’t necessarily a problem or something to worry about. If anything, the only criticism that can be given to The Flips is that they need to decide on a certain sound. While this work at the moment, it feels like they haven’t quite found their feet yet, but when they do it’s sure to be a big moment for them and for everyone who is lucky enough to hear them.
Damn You & Damn Me, Too is simply a starter in the right direction for the band. From here on out though, The Flips sound will more than likely progress into something different and quite special. But we’ll all have to wait for that. Patience, after all, is a virtue.
Run From Robots – Rust review
With a name like Run From Robots and with an album with the name of Rust, it could be pretty easy to make puns about metal and rain and everything else. But we’ll refrain for now.
Opening up the album with Raining Nuts and Shooting Bolts, Run From Robots mean business. But it seems that they also have wise words for the listeners. Run From Robots sing that “Nothing is impossible” and that we’ve all got to stick together. Some people may be tired of hearing these things, but they shouldn’t be. These sorts of things are why bands like Run From Robots exist in the first place and in a way it shows passion in the band. If Run From Robots can do what they love to do, why can’t we? Run From Robots aren’t by any means a unique sounding band. It’s pop punk with a twist though, they sound like a band who mean what they say in their lyrics which can’t be said for a lot of other bands in this scene right now.
Being pop punk, you can expect big choruses and Run From Robots come packed with them. On Top Of The Game (which can be downloaded for free here at the official RFR site!), is a classic example of how pop punk should be done. It’s a big sing along song to bounce off the walls with. Red Lights Ruin Nights kicks the album up a notch, whereas songs like Overcoat and C+B are highlights on the record.
Run From Robots do what they do very well, often it’s not as diverse as one might hope but for now it’s doing the band justice. Their poppy choruses and fantastic musicianship will hit home with fans and newcomers, but it seems like there is more to Run From Robots then on first impression. Rust should be looked upon as a new turning point for the band. They’ve come along way since their last EP release and will only continue to grow stronger as they mature into a fantastic British band.
For fans of: You Me At Six, Four Year Strong.
Littlemores – Idle Idols II review
Ska and indie. They couldn’t be more far apart if they tried. However bringing both of the genres together in a weird fusion is what gives Littlemores their “edge”, if you will. Starting out in 2008, the band’s first EP, Idle Idols II, pushes the boundaries of the genre fusing to show what Littlemores are all about.
Femme Fagin kicks off the EP in style. During the verses it’s hard not to notice the Yorkshire accents. The accents are thick on the record but it’s what adds to Littlemores charm. Why be a band that sounds exactly the same as every other band? The sound on Idle Idols II is unique in many ways. The catchy ska tune of Charlie Blow is more suited for summer – much like most ska, but it’s sure to brighten these dark, bleak days of early 2012. It’s exactly how ska should sound. Trumpets, upbeat and catchy as fuck. Perfect.
For The Lads has a strong Jamie T vibe about it, it’s a slower track which is rife with emotion. It’s what Ed “soppy” Sheeran should sound like but doesn’t. Maybe it’s Littlemores Yorkshire charm that makes them great or maybe they are simply five like minded individuals who play their music extremely well. Probably the latter. Larry is another bouncy ska track which has a Reel Big Fish feel about it, yet it relates a hell of a lot more to the UK scene than anything. Littlemores are like the Billy Bragg of ska, except a bit more cheerful (no disrespect, Mr. Bragg sir).
Finishing on more of the indie side of things (with a hint of ska), Idle Street is the perfect closing track. For a band like Littlemores to come out with an EP this good, something must be wrong. There isn’t much fantastic music to come out of Yorkshire but it won’t be long before Littlemores join the likes of Arctic Monkeys on that list. Idle Idols II is catchy, full of passion and rife with a bunch of fantastic songs for any occasion. Littlemores have outdone themselves and if you ignore them or this EP, you will be missing out on a fantastic musical experience.
For fans of: Mouthwash, Claypigeon, Arctic Monkeys.
Dead Cells – Tear Down The Heavens review
It’s been mentioned here before that rock really does lack balls in recent years. Many rock bands are formed and many fail miserbaly to make a decent record. It’s safe to say that everybody has heard Nickelback a million times and everyone was sick of it the second time round.
What Dead Cells don’t lack is balls. Their debut EP Tear Down The Heavens is a five track record full of five brilliant rock tunes. Kicking off with Sunshine, there’s hints of Iron Maiden as well as that classic rock n’ roll feel of the 70s and 80s. If what you’re looking for is rock that does actually rock and doesn’t suck, then Dead Cells are the perfect band for you. The fantastic Here Be Dragons has a foot stomping, fist pumping chorus and it’s safe to say that Luke MacKinnon’s voice could tear the roof off of any arena. The guitar riffs that rip out of Kris Willingham’s guitar are brilliant – simple, yet sophisticated. The double punch of Wojtek Broda’s drums and Natalie Mason’s bass completes perfect sound of the four piece.
Painkiller is a classic rock song with a hint of blues mixed in, the blues guitar sound gives the EP an added boost to show the versatility of Dead Cells – a band that deserve to be up there with the greats of classic rock. Had the band been born at the same time as say…AC/DC, then things would be much different for the band today. They too would be easily selling out Wembley Stadium in a matter of minutes and headlining some of the biggest festivals in the world.
But who knows? With songs like these, maybe in a few years we will all have heard of Dead Cells. The rock scene is a difficult one to breakthrough in but what Dead Cells have above most of the other bands is talent.
With this EP behind them and the fact that the band are planning a busy 2012, by the end Dead Cells should be a name on everyone’s lips. Dead Cells are a fantastic example of what rock lacks in the 21st century. If there’s ever a rebirth of classic rock, Dead Cells will lead the way with bands like Voodoo Six and The Answer.
Tear Down The Heavens will be released on 27th February.
For fans of: Voodoo Six, The Answer.
The Detours – Ignite EP review
For a band that formed in 2006 and have shared stages with bands such as The Answer and Asking Alexandria, as well as appearing on Channel 4′s Orange Unsigned in 2009 and also winning Live & Unsigned that same year, it may come as a shock that Ignite is the debut EP for The Detours.
It’s been a bumpy road for The Detours but with Matt Littlefair becoming their lead singer in 2010, they have finally found a line up and sound to commit to and it shines bright on Ignite. Opener One Last Chance is a slice of British rock to be proud of. The Detours are fantastically British. Whereas many bands will take the sound of already established American acts, what the music scene often lacks is great British bands. But in the past few years the British scene has dominated and The Detours can happily join Lower Than Atlantis, You Me At Six, Young Guns and many others as young, raw talent in the British music scene.
Title track Ignite is heavier than One Last Chance – with a riff to mosh to and a big chorus to sing along to, you can’t really go wrong with this track. The closing track of the EP, Free mixes both the sound of One Last Chance and Ignite. Sounding a little like Lostprophets, The Detours complete this EP in style. It might only be 3 tracks but it’s only a taster of what’s to come from the band. It’s taken The Detours a while to get to this point but now they’re here – get ready. They won’t be leaving anytime soon.
For fans of: Lostprophets, You Me At Six, Funeral For A Friend.
The band will be on tour throughout Scotland in February with Attack! Attack!
The Ocean’s Eyes brand new video + tour dates!
The Ocean’s Eyes have just released a brand new video for their track Room Of Red taken from their EP Lost Along The Way!
The band will also be on tour throughout March with Room 94, dates are below and tickets can be purchased here with no booking fees! Result!
15.03 OXFORD O2 Academy2
16.03 SOUTHAMPTON Guava Bar
17.03 BRIGHTON Hydrant
18.03 NORWICH B2
19.03 BRISTOL Thekla
20.03 CARDIFF Clwb Ifor Bach
22.03 NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
23.03 BIRMINGHAM HMV Institute
24.03 MANCHESTER Roadhouse
25.03 SHEFFIELD Corporation
26.03 LIVERPOOL O2 Academy2
27.03 GLASGOW Cathouse
28.03 NEWCASTLE Riverside
29.03 LEEDS Cockpit
31.03 LONDON King’s College (KCLSU)
Die Pretty – Beyond Fate review
In mid 2011, Die Pretty received a big thumbs up from Rock Reviews 24/7 for their EP Battle Over Brooklyn. The only problem? 3 tracks just wasn’t enough. However, to answer all our prayers Die Pretty are gearing up to release their brand new album Beyond Fate.
Beyond Fate contains the 3 original tracks from Battle Over Brooklyn plus a handful of brand new songs. Of course, it is unnecessary to review Voices, Let Me Out and 7th Avenue but if you want to know how good they are then go read last year’s review. Or don’t. But summed up in a short sentence, these 3 tracks were brilliant rock songs and we were desperate for more.
Voices opens up the album which is then followed by My Own Mind. Die Pretty are back and they’re more on form than before. Vocalist/bassist Sarah Orloff’s voice sounds as brilliant and clear as ever. Another brand new track, 2 Hearts, is great but it’s Let Me Out!! that stands out on Beyond Fate. The song’s catchy riff is simple yet brilliant proving that you don’t need to play complicated music to have good songs. Medicated Nation is a stomping rock song with a slight grunge feel to it in the same vain as Hole.
While the older songs are fantastic, it’s the new songs that take home the gold. Out Of This Mess is upbeat with a punky rhythm, proof that not all female vocalists take their inspiration from Amy Lee. However, possibly Die Pretty’s newly crowned “best song in their entire catalogue” is Hey Girl. Catchy rhythms with a catchier chrous. It’s a poppy and punky but it’s not pop punk. It’s just a simple rock song. But that’s what Die Pretty do best.
Beyond Fate is a brilliant return for Die Pretty. Having already impressed people all over with Battle Over Brooklyn, it’s an obvious sign that it was just a starter for what’s about to come for Die Pretty. They’re about to explode and if Battle Over Brooklyn was the real start to Die Pretty’s musical journey, Beyond Fate is the takeover. With songs like this, it’s a mystery why a label hasn’t snapped them up yet.
I, Apparatus – Ebola and the Botanist review
I, Apparatus new album Ebola and the Botanist starts off with a twisted nursery rhyme “Three Little Devils” as the intro to first song Avarice. Three Little Devils can be found in hipster-director Harmony Korine’s film Trash Humpers. Luckily though, Ebola and the Botanist is better than the film. By miles.
Avarice kicks the album off to a great start. Heavy yet melodic, the band continue to thrill throughout the album. Ebola is a bone crushing riff machine, destroying anything in it’s way. Botany soon follows and it’s no different. I, Apparatus have upped the ante for any fellow bands in their area of work in terms of musicianship, brutal heaviness, riffs and just about anything. The self-proclaimed noise core four piece know exactly what the public want. The public want their faces torn and melted off and I, Apparatus are able to provide these services.
One of the main highlights of the album (and there is many) is the fantastic Alexey Shipinov, but it’s nothing compared to the epic and brutal Meeces. What you see with I, Apparatus is what you get. There’s no gimmicks. There’s no ballads. There’s no soppy love songs. No. With I, Apparatus what you get is one hell of a bumpy ride. It’s heavy, it’s fast, it’s brutal. Ebola and the Botanist will tear your face off. I, Apparatus have mastered their sound and perfected the art of extreme music. In a time where groups like Millionaires are considered music, Ebola and the Botanist is a wake up call for the rest of the extreme music scene. Infact, it’s a wake up call to all bands. If you can’t perfect the genre you play, don’t bother. There’s a million and one bands out there all trying to be heard and if you’re not playing with passion and integrity like I, Apparatus – don’t bother.
The album ends as it started, the faint nursery rhyme of Three Little Devils is played before a crash of instruments tears through the speakers. One final scream brings Ebola and the Botanist to it’s end. But while that might be the end of the album, it’s really just a new beginning for I, Apparatus. It’s a chance to show the world what they’re about. Their mathcore/noisecore/hardcore/whatever you want to call it-core is played with passion, heart and integrity. These three things go hand in hand but to play the music well is a different story. Of course though, I, Apparatus do just that and they won’t be letting us forget it anytime soon.
Pangea – Hollow Hearts review
In the 21st century, hardcore bands have come and gone in a second. Most of them are forgotten about in a second before they can even be remembered, however hot on the heels of signing to Hotfoot Records, Pangea have released their brand new album Hollow Hearts.
It’s heavy, of course it’s heavy. But what else did you expect? The riffs come in thick and fast with the rest of the band mixing perfectly. Unlike other hardcore bands, Pangea don’t sound like they were chucked in a room with inexperience. On occasions, Pangea sound like a heavier Trash Talk. On Thesis however, Pangea try something different. It starts slow and it sounds odd. Whether it be good or bad, it somehow works before the riffs kick back in to place and give the song a real boost. If there was ever a hardcore song filled with passion and bleeding emotion without being too over the top, this is it. Pangea show that being in a hardcore band doesn’t mean constant same sounding breakdowns and screaming “BITCH! whenever you get the chance to – something everyone needs a break from.
Shapeshifter is a borderline skate punk song mixed in with hardcore, it’s like what would happen if Cerebral Ballzy made a musical baby with Jamey Jasta. However, if you’re more of a fan of your hardcore coming in fast, heavy and brutal the short The Burning Branch could be for you. A short track clocking in at a mere 76 seconds but it’s a sure fire starter to get you head banging or swinging your limbs around like a lunatic.
Testament closes the record on a high note. Another slower, toned down song that comes to a crashing halt for the end of the album. On Hollow Hearts Pangea have left a path of destruction in their way, barriers were broken and limbs more than likely were seen flying all over the place – but that only proves that Hollow Hearts done what it was intended to do. Pangea do hardcore the proper way. With passion and spirit. To stand out in their scene, you need something special and this is a special record indeed. Five people from New Hampshire got together and the music doesn’t fit their New England scenery but it’ll strike gold with a lot of people. In 2012, Pangea are definitely one to keep a very close eye on.
For fans of: Hatebreed, Trash Talk.
Draft Week – Bad Times Specifically review
On first impression, Draft Week’s Bad Times Specifically isn’t anything new. But just because it isn’t new doesn’t mean that it’s not good. Besides, finding something completely new to do in music gets harder by the second. It’s better to stick to what you know and make something good then try something hugely different and have it sound like shit (ahem, Brokencyde we’re looking at you).
Despite being young full time college students, Bad Times Specifically is Draft Week’s second record. Their first came in 2010 with The Sophomore. Bad Times Specifically has shown that during the time between the records, they matured and really came into their own. On songs like Daylight Savings, Draft Week sound like Weezer in their heyday. Sunday is a post rock gem – relaxing and inspiring, while Bagpipes (no real bagpipes were used, fortunately) is more of a poppy indie track which won’t have you bouncing about the room but more so just nodding your head and singing along happily.
The band might not have the songs in their repertoire to be selling out huge shows just yet, but it’s room for improvement. They have the right idea with songs like Bagpipes or even the alternative For Now, but the diversity in Sunday shows that the band have a lot of different ideas. And once these ideas are put from inside their heads into a bunch of songs, you can gurantee that you’ll be hearing a lot more from Draft Week. For the time being though, Bad Times Specifically does the trick – but there’s only so long that it can last before Draft Week will need to expand on to something bigger and better.
For a band which consists of college students who go to various different colleges though, it’s impressive. Most bands try to find the time to hook up as much as they can and so it musn’t be easy for Draft Week but to come out with something like Bad Times Specifically when the band is only in their infancy yet is pretty decent. One can only imagine what their music would sound like if they had more time with each other.
