Opening with Tom Morello-esque volume swells and kicking into a raw and stately Karnivool-style groove, The Trap is one of my favourite scene-setters in some time. I knew Everything Is Fine would be sick, but Read more…
Some bands spend their entire careers stuck in the shadows of others. Female-fronted rock bands are constantly compared to Paramore; prog-metal acts are weighed up against Dream Theater and Periphery; and political rock bands get pinned with the “RATM Clone” tag as soon as they hit a proper groove.
Third-group members Djevara have done more than most to Read more…
UPDATE: TMMP has been reborn! This video has the full story:
Click here to subscribe for free on YouTube!
Of all the shows I caught during Independent Venue Week, Jamie Lenman’s Saturday night acoustic set at the Boileroom in Guildford most effectively captured the community spirit celebrated by IVW. Intimate, emotional, and packed with Lenman fans old and new, it was a genuine experience made truly special by Read more…
UPDATE: TMMP has been reborn! This video has the full story:
Click here to subscribe for free on YouTube!
Genres and scenes can be separated into three groups: those who lead, those who follow, and Read more…
Fuck Suzuki. Their cars are crap. My formerly faithful four-wheeler failed at completing a function even more basic than going forwards, and refused to even start. While Throatpunch City were getting through their set, I was pretty much doing this:
One train journey later, and Parachute For Gordo were, as always, goddamn incredible. Few instrumental post-rock bands infuse their music with Read more…
Sharp, snappy, and serious, Cheltenham-based post-hardcore up-and-comers I, The Lion really nail things down on Run. Fat riffs, some cheeky Whammy pedal squeals, gritty guitar tones, gut-busting drums, wicked tapping sections – all of the above and more can be found just in first track Hold Strong! Fans of Biffy Clyro, Reuben, Arcane Roots and Read more…
Howls occupy the straight-ahead, no-nonsense end of the post-hardcore spectrum – and it won’t be long until they’ve carved out their own niche down there. Listening to No Living feels like riding an ancient rusty rollercoaster on the edge of falling apart; sophisticated, smooth, and genteel this is absolutely not. Read more…
Acoda have spent the last few years forging a real reputation for pushing themselves right to the edge of their abilities – and Truth Seeker sees that edge extended even further than before. Injecting a post-hardcore core with guttural guitar tones, syncopation aplenty, wickedly snaky grooves, and extra-strong songwriting chops, Acoda are going to make a serious mark on the rock world’s 2015 with this album. Read more…
Hailing from the edge of Cornwall and pissed off beyond reason, Patrons have set out to shatter skulls with their upcoming EP The Momentary Effects of Sunlight – and in that mission, they will absolutely succeed. Comprising four tracks of harsh and raw post-hardcore, The Momentary Effects of Sunlight is an absolutely essential set to add to your collection if you like your music made of 100% pure catharsis, with just enough light/shade contrast to prevent it all from becoming overwhelming. Read more…
The “death of the album” has been declared many times in recent years – but nonetheless, musicians keep making them and are showing no signs of stopping (and thank God for that!). Almost a decade and a half into the twenty-first century, there still exist bands and artists capable of composing immersive, engaging, and fully satisfying collections of songs that stand up to repeated, unshuffled listens. Here are fifteen of them. Read more…