The Dillinger Escape Plan feat. Jarren Benton – ‘Rage’ [Review]

converse ep vol 2This track broke my brain, in a good way. By all rights, rapping and flowing over Dillinger’s hyper-complex mathcore insanity should be as impossible as taking flight by flapping your arms really quickly – but on Rage Jarren Benton proves that assumption wrong with style, panache, and still more style. Math-rap should be a thing, especially considering a) how hard this track wins; b) that being able to rap over something that’s not in 4/4 is as worthy a thing to boast about as the size of your bank account and/or cock; and c) that Jarren Benton’s only current competition (see YouTube below) are missing the point entirely. Read more…

Posted on 15 September 2014

Trails / Swim Good / Dragons That Make Love To Pandas / Cavalier [Live Review – The Boileroom, Guildford, 6/9/14]

trails album launchThe Boileroom team sure know how to throw the quietest (or at least best-soundproofed) album launch parties in town. Read more…

Posted on 07 September 2014

Atiptoe / Patchwork Natives – ‘Split EP’ [Review]

atiptoe patchwork nativesOne thing’s for sure: Surrey-based indie label Failure By Design have great taste. For evidence, just give this split EP a metaphorical spin. Read more…

Posted on 06 September 2014

Chronographs – ‘The Tallest Peak’ [Review]

chronographs augustHaunted guitars, rhythms on the edge of giving up the ghost, and lyrical themes of abandonment and loss permeate the latest offering from TMMP favourites Chronographs. The Tallest Peak is yet another track in an increasingly long line of speedily yet masterfully written songs that demands your full  attention before rewarding your patience with a rare level of generosity. I’m really looking forward to seeing Chronographs’ hard work paying off in spades within the not too distant future. Read more…

Posted on 06 September 2014

Marmozets – ‘Born Young And Free’ [Review]

marmozets born young and freeAs someone who’s already interviewed Marmozets, preordered their debut album (previewable here), seen them kick seven shades out of a wildly ecstatic live audience at Guildford’s own Boileroom, and ranted and raved personally to anyone who’ll listen about how goddamn awesome this math-happy quintet is and how far they’re set to go in the months and years to come, I see no reason to take an understated and polite path when it comes to Born Young And Free. Read more…

Posted on 04 September 2014

Ilenkus – ‘The Crossing’ [Review]

The Crossing ArtworkIrish prog-metallers Ilenkus sure know how to stir things up. The moment opening track Devourer kicks in, we’re chucked into a merciless rhythmic maelstrom and dragged through tangential twists and turns punctuated with screams that might echo our own, were we allowed to pause for breath. Relentlessly intense, skin-rendingly cathartic, and hectic as fuck – and that’s just the first track. Read more…

Posted on 03 September 2014

Falsense – ‘Keep In Mind’ [Review]

Keep in mind EPProgressive music should live up to its name. In other words, it should progress and look forward rather than lazily gazing backward into retro-ville. With that in mind, it’s great to hear Falsense getting it right once again. Read more…

Posted on 30 August 2014

Marmozets / Drones [Live Review – The Boileroom, Guildford, 19/8/14]

marmozets boileroomWhen a Saturday night bill is only two bands long, that’s a lot of pressure for the musicians involved. Many acts would crumble like month-old birthday cake at the thought of it. These guys were more than up for the challenge: Read more…

Posted on 22 August 2014

Into Color – ‘Brothers’ [Review]

into color press 1This is incredible. Very, very few tunes stun me rigid from beat one – but when the rhythms are as tasteful and complex as they are on this track, I’m powerless to resist. Read more…

Posted on 13 August 2014

Shrine / Throne / LYGER [Live Review – Electrowerkz, London, 7/8/14]

shrine electrowerkzMaking the jump from the practice room to the stage can be a worrying proposition, more of a leap of faith than anything else. Onstage, you’re not only relying on your own skills, or even those of your bandmates; you’re also putting the success of your show in the metaphorical hands of the venue and its equipment.

Last night, technical issues came close to ruining it for everyone – but the following bands still got the job done, and deserve your time and respect simply for getting through this show with their sanity intact: Read more…

Posted on 09 August 2014

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