Openers Horse Fight do little to wow the audience who got down early – playing to a room of not even 30 people isn’t easy and they fail to make an impression. Their music lacks substance but supporting DZ Deathrays tonight will look on their CV if nothing else. Kestrels are the only band on tonight’s bill who aren’t a twopiece, but that’s not a problem. Tonight’s bill is a diverse one it’s true, but the real problem is that they stick out like a sore thumb. Their indie pop melodies are played with little passion and while better than their predecessors Horse Fight, they looked bored and so do the audience.

The fact that this is run,WALK!’s last ever London show is a sad thought. The noisy pair, who plan to split this year, play a selection of songs from their upcoming (and final) release. As they make their prescence known, it can’t helped to be thought that in years to come run,WALK! will be a band that people look back on and wonder why they were never bigger than they are. They leave the stage and their career (as run,WALK!) in a blaze of glory. So long boys, you’ll be missed.

The most interesting thing about tonight’s show is not the music though, nor the diverse line up. Perhaps the most interesting thing is how DZ Deathrays manage to smash down the age barrier. Teenagers, 20 somethings, 30 somethings and even full grown men well into their 40s pack the Barfly to witness the chaos that DZ bring. It’s not just the strobe lights that are blinding as DZ Deathrays play a fantastic show with songs from their latest release, Bloodstreams. It’s hard to tell if the group of people in the middle is a mosh pit or if they’re just jumping up and down – regardless, it brings out some of the most apalling dance moves from white people ever. But this is what DZ Deathrays show is all about – having a good time. Songs like No Sleep sound perfect tonight while Teenage Kickstarts is played how it should be – very, very fucking loud.

With drinks spilled everywhere and with drummer Simon Ridley attempting to stage dive from his drumkit, tonight is clearly a success. DZ Deathrays might not have made it yet, but they are certainly on their way to bigger things in the future.

DZ Deathrays – Bloodstreams review

When a band has members of another band who have toured the world with acts like the Dead Kennedys and The Bouncing Souls, then expectations are always high. Le Yikes Surf Club, which features members of Dirty Tactics, formed less than a year ago and are already releasing their debut self-titled EP.

The key is really in the name as Le Yikes Surf Club play surf/basement punk – although their kind of surf rock is far removed from the Beach Boys kind. This is punk rock though, so of course the Beach Boys have no relevance here – LYSC play short, catchy as fuck punk to be proud of. Wearing their hearts firmly on their sleeves, their debut record is something to boast about with songs like the excellent Take and No Thanks. Staying true to their surf punk roots, Nights & Days is the kind of song you’d expect to hear blasting out during an American spring break while a bunch of students run about in the sun as they proclaim that “Nights like these last forever”.

Their songs are short lived but perfected to the finest of Ts. Got Feelings barely clocks in at 80 seconds but when music is this good, it doesn’t matter how long it lasts while closing track Ghost Ride The Whip sees the band close in fine form.

Surf punk isn’t something that comes around often – infact if ever. Skate punk is the closest you’ll get but perhaps surf punk has found it’s true pioneers in Le Yikes Surf Club. This 5 track EP might only last about 10 minutes but if you’re a punk fan then you’ll have a new found love that’ll surely impact you for a whole lot more than 10 minutes. Surfs up and Le Yikes Surf Club are the dudes running the scene. Gnarly.

For fans of: Dead Kennedys covering The Beach Boys. Probably.

Le Yikes Surf Club will be released on 6th June via Grizzly Records. Click here to hear a few tracks from the record!

Le Yikes Surf Club on Facebook

Sometimes bands splitting up can be a sad thing, but sometimes it can be a blessing. When Lincolnshire based band Gutshot split up, it was probably a very sad moment for the entire band but of course in this life you have to pick yourself up, dust yourself down and move on with life. And that’s just what 75% of Gutshot did. They moved to London and formed a new band called Stay Free and released an EP called Black To Grey.

So it all worked out pretty damn well for them as Black To Grey is something pretty decent for a debut record. Their melodic punk sounds are similar to that of bands like Latterman and Iron Chic, something that is often hard to find in the UK. Their songs are meaningful, gritty and filled with the raw passion and emotion that punk is all about. Dambusters kicks things off to a great start but it’s followed by the fantastic War, which proves that Stay Free might be new but they have the experience and passion to create brilliant punk rock songs.

Heathens might not be the best song on the 4 track debut, but it’s still better than a lot of bands music and records that plague the airwaves today. The closing song (and title track) of the EP is the band’s best by a million miles – it closes on a high note and proves that Stay Free are ready to take on the big leagues already. Black to Grey is the perfect debut release from the band and although they may need to have a little more umph (for lack of a better term) in their songs sometimes, they are on the right track to becoming one of punk’s brightest new sparks in the UK. As long as they don’t get too far ahead of themselves, Stay Free could bring a lot to UK punk scene which is growing stronger as time goes by.

For fans of: Latterman, Iron Chic.

Staying true to their name, their EP is available for free by clicking here!

Stay Free on Facebook

The opening song, Martyrs, acts as the perfect introduction to who Belligerence are and what they’re all about.  Mid song, Brock proclaims that “We’re all fucking animals!” a bold statement but one which reigns true throughout the record. If there was one term to describe Belligerence, then that term would be a riff machine. Die For This continues the onslaught before Bong Stronger Than Blood manages to destroy everything in it’s path, smashing things to pieces and ripping people’s faces clean off.

Perhaps the best thing about Now Here’s Your Secret isn’t that the songs are pretty fucking good, it’s the fact that Belligerence (like very few bands) have perfected them and mastered the art of their craft. Where many bands fail to create good music by rushing songs and having a lack of communication, it’s clear that Belligerence have their feet on the ground and their heads screwed on. The closing song on the EP, the title track, is as melodic as they come. Clocking in at 7 minutes, the band switch from heavy and powerful to melodic throughout – something that isn’t always easy, but as always Belligerence make it work. Belligerence end how they started – chock full of riffs and an arsenal of fantastic songs. Portsmouth might be home to a shedload of boats, but with this record (and hopefully future records) Belligerence will help put it on the map for rock n’ roll.

For fans of: Cancer Bats, Clutch.

Now Here’s Your Secret is available now.

Belligerence on Facebook

Fearless Vampire Killers don’t look like your average band and of course their image is nothing new. The comparisons to bands like Black Veil Brides and even from earlier My Chemical Romance won’t be a shock to them, but it’s the music that matters and not the image.

Militia Of The Lost is reminiscent to the Bullets-era of My Chemical Romance though – something that FVK should take pride in. It’s not a cheap rip off by all means and could be seen as more of a tribute. Necromania kicks off the album in some style, proving that Fearless Vampire Killers pack a punch but in the first few songs of the album it’s Concede. Repent. Destroy. that really steals the show. At times, Fearless Vampire Killers often sound like a cross between MCR and Panic! At The Disco – it seems weird, but Bleed Till Sunrise has a P!ATD tinged chorus except packed with a lot more riffs and bite. Bite Down On Winchester will end up being a staple within the band’s set which is sure to cause chaos on their upcoming tour with William Control whereas Even Ghosts Forget packs a huge singalong chorus to boot.

The problem with Fearless Vampire Killers is that, for the music they make, the songs are pretty damn good but a lot of people will pass them up simply due to their name and image. But music isn’t about getting everyone to like you, it’s about doing what you love and FVK seem to be doing just that. Packed with an arsenal of great songs and wearing their hearts on their sleeve, Fearless Vampire Killers will reach new heights in the future whether you’ll like it or not. Songs like Bow Ties On Dead Guys stand out head and shoulders above the rest – it’s a song that haters or lovers will find hard not to at least tap their foot or nod their head too. Closing songs Mascara Tears and Vanilla Spice is a piano ballad which seems a little bit cheesy but as an end to the album, it kind of works. It might not be the best song of the album but for fans, it’ll be memorable at least.

Packed with an arsenal of great rock songs and a hell of a lot of passion, Fearless Vampire Killers will be on the up and up from here on out in the British music scene. It’ll annoy some but for their fans, it’s good news all round. Militia Of The Lost is a new beginning for Fearless Vampire Killers and the start of something to be proud of. It’s not going to be an easy ride, but having sold out the Barfly last month and nabbing a tour with William Control, Fearless Vampire Killers will be even more determined to capture the minds of fans and non-fans alike.

MILITIA OF THE LOST IS OUT ON GOREMOUNT RECORDS ON 7TH MAY (digitally) AND 14TH MAY (physically).

For fans of: My Chemical Romance.

Fearless Vampire Killers on Facebook

ROCK REVIEWS 24/7 is running a Fearless Vampire Killers competition! The competition is to win a t-shirt and signed CD! Only 1 winner! The competition will be running over on RR24/7′s Facebook page is get liking and get ready!! Click here for the Facebook page!

Come 2012, it seems that goth rock is well and truly coming to an end. Even Marilyn Manson has given up being goth and producing dark music, so why anyone feels the end to continue making such music is surprising.

In short, for anyone who has witnessed the stereotypical goth kids on South Park, Greenveil make the kind of music that they’re often seen listening to. Greenveil claim that their music is part of the “gothic art rock” scene and that they create “doom art” but truth be told, there is little to no artistic value within their self-titled release. Opening track Lopsbrgh is dreary, dull and boring. Even by the time the first track is over, Greenveil are already a dead, lifeless carcass. While they do try to resurrect themselves with the heavier MetaMorph, the life is then sucked back out of the music with the extremely dismal Ghost.

It might seem harsh due to the fact that this is Greenveil’s first release but they do come across as a one trick pony – and the trick isn’t very good. Greenveil seem to have found a sound they’re comfortable with but it’s not a very good one. Dreamlight is haunting in the worst way possible – it’s harrowing sound is less hard hitting and more dreary and boring.

Stars, Moons & Ashes brings the EP to a close – a sense of relief will fall over the listener (assuming they haven’t turned off way before then). The problem with Greenveil is that they haven’t thought about their sound as much as they should have. They haven’t been around for long, so maybe one day they’ll make better music but for now, this poorly produced, poorly thrown together, lazy, boring, dull and dreary record should be avoided at all costs.

Greenveil on Facebook

According to Take One Car, it’s going to be a nice day. But when listening to their album, you sometimes get the feeling it’s going to be anything but. In a few short words, It’s Going To Be A Nice Day is dreary and longwinded – the songs are often far too long and without all the unnecessary melodic guitar parts, there’s a possibility that the album could be far better.

Ok, maybe we’re just being ignorant here – but there’s not enough consistency. The shorter songs are fine as they are except for Patriarchs (clocks in at 2:43) which is hideously out of place. At times Take One Car can show promise – I Know Why You Went Into The Woods packs a bit of a punch but while this song is a heavyweight contender, the rest is more featherweight. Yet Another Voyage(adrift) feels like just that – another voyage that lasts far too long, while In The Company of Wolves makes you wish your ears were being eaten by them.

There seems to be mass amounts of irony in Take One Car’s music. The last two tracks form a sentence “Sometimes The Best Way To Die…” and “Is The Best Way To Die” but perhaps the latter track should be entitled “is to listen to this record”. Ok, maybe all this criticism has been a little harsh but the record just isn’t good. It’s not bad, but it just seems like Take One Car have tried something different and failed miserably. It’s Going To Be A Nice Day is a car crash of a record, it’s all over the place and it’s all a bit too much to take in at once.

If you’re looking for long, melodic songs which are packed full of depressing melodies then Take One Car is for you – if not, avoid at all costs.

Take One Car on Facebook

It’s been said plenty of times, not only on this site, but pretty much everywhere that pop punk bands come and go. The majority of people who form pop punk bands have nothing new about them and try to style themselves on a pisspoor Blink-182 and end up sounding like a terrible All Time Low cover band.

The same can’t be said for Coming Clean though. Sure, what they’re doing isn’t new but their latest EP, Drive Safe is something that a lot bands should take note of. Drive Safe is a combination of four perfect pop punk tunes in the van of bands like Four Year Strong and Such Gold – however, they don’t sound like a cheap rip off and the New Jersey quintet have added their own unique twist to the familiar sound.

Opener Chlorine Bomb acts as a short intro to the record while 6 x 6 acts as the beginning of a short pop-punk onslaught of killer songs. Pity Vote has an early The Movielife sound to it and while it may be easy to compare Coming Clean to a whole list of bands, it shouldn’t be taken the wrong way. Infact, sounding like these bands is a blessing for pop-punk. If a perfect pop-punk world existed, then we’d be dominated with a bunch of Four Year Strongs, The Wonder Years’s and Coming Cleans but alas it is shamefully dominated with shit.

Drive Safe is practically over before it’s began and there’s a hope that somehow they’ll be more than 4 songs and as Blowfish ends, there’s a sad feeling when you realise there isn’t anymore. Yet. With material like this, passion and the talent to produce fantastic songs, then Coming Clean can only get better from here on out. They might only have just released this second EP but here’s an open letter: Dear Coming Clean, more soon?

For fans of: Four Year Strong, The Movielife, The Wonder Years.

Coming Clean on Facebook – links to free download on page

While Your Friends was a pretty damn good album, it’s clear that The Background have taken their sound, worked on it and made it even better than before. Okay is a pretty simple song but sometimes the simplest things are the best. It’s catchy, upbeat and – while maybe quite poppy – still strikes gold in all the right places. Your Friends was a new beginning for The Background but Okay opens up a whole new chapter and they’re ready to take everyone on board.

The Background on Facebook

Over the past 6 months, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly (or Sam Duckworth to his pals) has been a very busy person, indeed. He was down at the Occupy LSX HQ helping fellow political activists along with Itch from The King Blues but apparently, he also made an album. And that album is entitled Maps.

For the most part, GCWCF sticks out like a sore thumb. The truth is that Sam Duckworth is doing his own thing – it’s different to most and while not unique or new, it certainly does strike all the right chords. The opening song, The Real McCoy, kicks things off in fantastic style. It’s big, it’s loud, it’s in your face but best of all it’s quite clearly some of Duckworth’s best and most interesting work yet. Maps is an album that has obviously helped shape and mature GCWCF for the better and we should all be thankful for it – unless you don’t like GCWCF, but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t. The main difference on Maps and Duckworth’s previous outings is the obvious change in sound. It’s not as dreary as his previous records, there’s more upbeat sounds especially in the phenomenal The Joy Of Stress – a somewhat uplifting piano/acoustic guitar ballad that sounds absolutely astonishing.

There’s some obvious folk influences within Maps and the fact that GCWCF hails from Essex could be one of the reasons. With the likes of Billy Bragg coming from Essex, it’s quite clear that it’s not just being a political voice that they share but also the same sound of music. While GCWCF might often be worlds away from Bragg’s sound, the best track on the album is the folk-tinged Snap. There’s not a chord played wrong or a note snag out of key, everything on Snap is perfect and even if one doesn’t like GCWCF they can’t deny that Duckworth puts every piece of passion he has into making music.

With a guest appearance by hip-hop’s Jehst along the way and a bunch of fantastic songs all packed into the space of 40 minutes, Maps is probably Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly’s best record to date. It’s more upbeat than before and Duckworth has never sounded better. There are some dull points, but the fact of the matter is that when the album is good it’s absolutely astounding. Closing track London’s Burning sees out the record in fine form and ends just how it starts – on the highest of high notes. An amazing record from an amazingly talented young bloke – what else could you possibly want?

Maps will be out on May 7th via Cooking Vinyl.
For fans of: Frank Turner, Jamie T.

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly on Facebook