We've listed singles/EPs/demos in order of star rating. Best first.
DREAM THEATER Wither EP (Roadrunner)
Dream Theater release 'Wither' as the single of their excellent new album 'Black
Clouds And Silver Linings'. Dream Theater always produce a couple of radio
friendly tunes on each album to go with the more progressive and longer songs.
'Wither' is a very strong song and in fact the piano version, with James La Brie
backed just by piano works more effectively as it shows what a great voice he
has. It is worth buying/downloading this song alone.
The vocal demo allows John Petrucci to have go but he is not a patch on James La
Brie who similarly wouldn't be much of a guitarist compared to Petrucci!
'The Best Of Times' vocal demo again allows the listener to
hear an album track in a totally different light. You can see the record label
maybe re-releasing the album some months down the line with these songs added as
they are all worthy of adding to any DT fans collection. ****½
Review by Jason Ritchie
01. Wither (Album Version) (5:25)
02. Wither (Piano Version) (5:07)
03. Wither (John Petrucci Vocal Demo) (5:24)
04. The Best of Times (Mike Portnoy Vocal Demo) (13:04)
ZICO CHAIN These Birds Will Kill Us All
Oooooh, I have a severe feeling that this release will most definitely be forced
upon you with great enthusiasm, it's not often a first listen can make you pay
attention! You may have already experienced this release on a certain other
radio station as 'record of the week'.
'Zico Chain' are expanding their sound, leaping from grunge of their debut album
'Food' to an aggressive new take on hard rock. Yipeeeeeee! No more pop punk, no
more pretty sounds, 'Zico' are now converting the disaffection, frustration and
aggression of young British rock fans into killer riff sounds and idyllic mosh
pits.
Whether you would like to have a good old screech, a good old head bang or you
are just in need of a stress release, 'Zico' can chill you out to the bones in
great style.
I am pleased 'Zico' have made the transition into heavier rock; we certainly do
not need anymore commercialised pop crap that seems to be doing the rounds!
Check this out now! See you and 'Zico Chain' at the festivals next year, no
doubt! ****½
Review by Fluffmeister
FRAMING HANLEY Hear Me Now/Lollipop
Straight out of Nashville's rock scene (Paramore, Red, Kings of Leon)
'Framing Hanley' have taken the USA by storm.
'Hear Me Now' taken from the debut release "The Moment" was previously the most
played song of the year on a well known American Radio Station. The successful
ride continued with their cover of 'Lil Waynes's hit "Lollipop", for which the
video also debuted at number 1 on the biggest music channel in the USA.
So now it is time for Framing Henley to try and break into the UK charts.
Like Emo or not, this will be played a lot on mainstream radio, and rather
worryingly, it ain't half bad! Eerie original sounds of the guitar, typical Emo
heart felt vocals and screeches that you can not help but to sing-a-long to,
delicate rock style drumming and catchy lyrics to boot.
Not my usual cup of tea, but I am a secret fan of 'Paramore' (sssh, don't tell
anyone) and whether I like it or not, this is a ruddy good release. (Don't
heckle me). If you like 'Kings of Leon' and/or Paramore, you are simply going to
love this, I promise!
If this doesn't end up in the top 10 in the near future, I will eat my pants!
(Clean ones though). ****½
Review by The
Fluffmeister
EIGHT LEGS - I Understand
Chances are you may have inadvertently heard Eight Legs previous offerings. The
catchy 'These Grey Days' was used on television as part of the anti drinking
campaign. Currently touring, the new single 'I Understand' due for release
October 5th is every bit as good.
It's no wonder these boys have already come to the attention of
XFM and NME. This song is a perfect summer dance floor filler. I dare you to
listen without nodding along. The B-side 'Stay Cool' is more of raw affair with
a sing along chorus and energetically strummed guitars. See them live at the
small venues while you can.****
Review by Darren
Coomber
JULIET THE SUN Time Foe Heroes
www.julietthesun.com
The band features on vocals an Australian cricketer Steve Crook who plays for
Northamptonshire, whose song has supposedly inspired England’s cricketers to
this summer’s Ashes victory.
The song was played in the England dressing room prior to each
match. I bet he’s popular in Australia! The song starts off quietly before
building to a rousing crescendo, think Coldplay but with a bit more bite. A very
enjoyable song now available on ITunes and hopefully the band’s debut album is
not far behind as I’d love to hear more from this band. ****
Review by Jason Ritchie
ISLAND THREE Dark and Empty Spaces
Birmingham five piece Island Three, re-release their debut mini album 'Dark and
Empty Spaces in November. Forget perfect road trip albums, this six track mini
album is like a voyage across a lunar landscape! Atmospheric keys, expansive
guitars and Incubus style vocals are what these guys are all about.
Opening track 'Dial 51' begins the journey with a beautifully
crafted strung out riff before kicking in with chugging guitars. Elsewhere on
the album, 'Tradition' is a seven minute behemoth featuring a huge instrumental
middle section. 'Secrets' is a booming beat driven heavy affair with jazz like
keyboards at times and the guitar solo sounds like Jimi's covering Pink Floyd.
There is no denying the obvious comparisons to the likes of
Incubus and Tool, but given the fact that they are two of the more experimental
acts to cross into the mainstream in recent years, in my opinion that's no bad
thing. Heavy, melodic, atmospheric and at times beautiful. The Darker side of
the Moon. ****
Review by Darren Coomber
A-Ha Nothing Is Keeping You Here (Universal)
The second to be taken from recent album Foot Of The Mountain, A-Ha are about to
release new single 'Nothing Is Keeping You Here'.
Where as the
album version has a sparser feel to it, the single has been re-mixed to sound
more like the band’s earlier hits- a good idea as A-Ha will be on tour in the UK
at the beginning of November and the current nostalgia for all things ‘80’s will
have no doubt been taken into consideration.
The track itself is 3 minutes of easy to listen to pop that features all the
hallmarks that you would expect from an A-Ha single. Expect to hear 'Nothing Is
Keeping You Here' quite a lot over the coming weeks ****
Review by Nikk Gunns
PARAMORE Ignorance
Taken from their forthcoming 3rd album Brand New Eyes, and produced by
Grammy winner Rob Cavallo (Green Day, Kid Rock) Nashville based Paramore serve
up a Red Bull fuelled piece of classic pop / rock.
With a recent support slot on the US No Doubt reunion tour, word is spreading
fast and Sold Out signs are appearing at numerous venues on the band's US /
European autumn tour.
As for Ignorance, imagine Avril Lavigne jamming with Green Day. And with the
infectious chorus line of 'Ignorance is your new best friend', it has 'potential
smash hit' stamped all over it. ****
Review by Pete
Whalley
ANIMAL KINGDOM Signs and Wonders (Warner Bros)
Tipped by the media as ones to watch, Animal Kingdom don't disappoint. Third
single, 'Signs and Wonders' taken from the album of the same name, is a
beautifully crafted masterpiece in melancholy.
Produced by Phil Ek (Fleet Foxes) this is a perfect example of
how to do a powerful, strung-out ballad. If you're a fan of the likes of
Coldplay, Mercury Rev and Sigur Ros you won't be disappointed. ****
Review by Darren Coomber
SHINEDOWN If You Only Knew
Taken from their third album The Sound Of Madness, Florida four-piece
Shinedown release If You Only Knew to coincide with a brief autumn UK tour.
The Sound Of Madness (produced by Grammy award winner Rob Cavallo) has struck a
chord in the US debuting at #8 on the Billboard top 200. And with their previous
two albums spawning 3 top five hits including the # 1 Save Me, success on these
shores is only a matter of time.
Wonderfully melodic pop / rock - imagine if Gary Barlow had written a song for
Gun or Thunder and you get the idea. An undoubted crowd pleaser. ****
Review by Pete Whalley
THE MEDULLARY PARALYSIS We don't drink, we don't take drugs,
we don't have sex, we feel compassion (Bandcamp)
This Italian three piece serve up their take on industrial sleeze, and by all
accounts do it pretty well. Think Marilyn Manson meets Babylon Zoo (of the
'Spaceman' Levi's advert fame) and you'd be heading in the right direction.
There is also a dose of Nine Inch Nails in here for good
measure. The three song EP released on 16th November, offers uncompromising
heavily distorted guitars over dark futuristic beats. ****
Review by Darren Coomber
BIFFY CLYRO The Captain
The Biffy Boys are back! Taken from their highly anticipated new album Only
Revolutions, The Captain is released to coincide with the start of a headlining
UK tour and a European support slot on the Muse tour.
Once again produced by Puzzle producer GGGarth Richardson (Rage Against The
Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers) The Captain is set to be a crowd pleaser and has
'audience participation' stamped all over it.
With the trademark Biffy vocals unmistakable, The Captain is perhaps more direct
than some of the band's previous output, with a powerful pop melody underscored
with horns. But the anthemic chorus will have fans singing along at each and
every tour date. ***½
Review by Pete Whalley
AMORPHIS From the Heaven of My
Heart
Taken from the album "Skyforger"
First up, this is not heavy metal, it is heavy rock with proper beautifully sang
lyrics (that are understandable), melodies and a wonderful array of light guitar
solos. I can not even compare the sound with any other band release, so this can
only be a good thing.
My problem is, it is quite errrrrrrm, boring, well not boring but it is one of
those releases that makes you "meh" not bothered, take it or leave it. A release
that you can play in the background without being annoyed.
My favourite part of this release is the original and different
sounds of the guitar work, especially on the track "Sky is Mine". The piano is
also a nice little touch and the vocals will become very catchy after a few
listens, I know the first verse and chorus already!
Without sounding ageist, I sternly believe that the older rocker will enjoy this
release, but I do not see any teenagers running out to purchase this single,
unless it is for someone elses Christmas present.
You might have caught these guys that 'The Underground' in London on 10th
October 2009, if not, you can still catch them on tour; for dates go here:
www.nuclearblast.de/tour/
***½
Review by The Fluffmeister
THE A TRAIN Don't Have Far To Go (Vantage Room)
'Don't Have Far To Go' is perfect fodder for a crisp bright Sunday morning. A
soulful, gospel tinged five and a half minutes of musical bliss. Due out
November 9th, London based trio 'The A Train' effortlessly merge the soothing
sounds of the Fleet Foxes with the 60's pop stylings of The Coral. ***
Review by Darren Coomber
HARDREAMS Calling Everywhere (Perris Records)
Originally released in 2004, Spanish band Hardreams are about to re-release
debut album 'Calling Everywhere'. The bands second album 'The Road Goes On...' was
released last year and was received so well that Perris Records have re-packaged
it’s predecessor and added 3 bonus tracks (the demo version of 'Pain', 'Si Tu Te
Vas' (live) and 'Two Shots' (live) - the live tracks proving that the band are
more than capable of recreating their studio sound in a live environment).
Taking influence from the likes of Magnum, Whitesnake and Survivor, the band
have a very ‘80’s melodic rock sound - complete with soaring vocals, sharp
guitar work and big sounding choruses, courtesy of Manu Esteve and David Aguera
respectively.
Highlights amongst the 14 tracks on 'Calling Everywhere' include 'The Right Side
of Mine', 'I Don’t Know', the balladry of 'A Place For Our Love', heavier track
'After Hell' and the live version of 'Two Shots'.
The band are currently writing material for album number 3. ***
Review by Nikk Gunns
TOJA Train Of Life (Avenue Of Allies)
www.myspace.com/avenue_of_allies
Third album from this German outfit and the first impression is of a mature
modern sounding melodic power metal. The opening track nods to Iron Maiden, with
the operatic edge to the vocals that many European power metal bands try.
'Just A Love Song' is an acoustic ballad with strings that nods to Judas
Priest’s 'Before The Storm' or 'Evening Star' but more sickly sweet.
Other more melodic tracks that nod towards big sounding ballads are more
electric and much more enjoyable. 'End Of A Nation' mixes piano and guitar well,
like an 80s AOR hit rather beefed up and modernised.
At the classic rock end of melodic power metal, their better moments sitting
nicely between Masterplan, Kamelot, Judas Priest and Savatage.
There are some moments that could be more consistent though, otherwise well
worth a listen. ***
Review by Joe Geesin
SEASONS LOST After The Storm
www.myspace.com/seasonslost
This Florida band’s debut album kicks off in fine style with some crunching
guitars on 'To Hell And Back'. Solid modern metal with power metal influences,
some good clean vocals and a decent guitar solo too.
Some of the rhythms come in bursts, staccato fashion, the only let down being
the bursts of intelligible growls / screams. Shame as some of the cleaner vocal
harmonies are great.
'Confession' is a more consistent melodic hard rock, a touch of Nickleback.
The tracks mix melodic rock that verge on pop/rock, and others back to the heavy
end with growls, quite a mix. Not an album to please fans of any one genre; the
variation is good but extreme. ***
Review by Joe Geesin
MARTIN NEWNHAM Can't Turn Around
Can't Turn Around is the second single to be released by urban folk singer
songwriter Martin Newnham.
Taken from his critically acclaimed debut album City Folk, it fits neatly into
the resurgent singer songwriter genre. Opening with Hovis ad horns, it's a
jaunty little folk based pop ditty with a catchy beat.
Spotted supporting the likes of Nerina Pallot, Newton Faulkner, Seth Lakeman and
Beth Rowley, Martin Newnham looks set to become an enduring part of the new folk
landscape. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
ADVANTAGE Future Echoes EP
Another day, another band 'set to explode onto the scene' or so we are led to
believe by the promo blurb. This band are not too bad to be honest and add horns
into the mix of crashing guitar riffs and drums. All three songs follow the punk
rock/pop template of catchy riffs and passable vocals coupled with choruses that
stick in the listener's mind after a couple of plays. Worth a listen but not a
band I'd expect to see still around in a few years time. ***
Review by Jason Ritchie
THE RAUDIVE Ghost Box RP (Sugarbeet Stallion Records)
This 6 track EP is the debut release from indie-rock band The Raudive, an act
whose electronic rock has an almost ‘80’s vibe to it as influences such as Sonic
Youth, The Replacements and The Mission are blended with the more modern sound
of bands like Interpol.
'Ghost Box' may be dark and bit of a slow burner, but this 3-piece band are
musically solid and there is an almost simplistic feel to the songs that make
the EP very easy to listen to. Highlights include 'Warning', 'Margins', the more
upbeat 'For The Crows'and 'Torch Song'. ***
Review by Nikk Gunns
VOLCANOES Shaking That Brass EP (Indecan)
The Volcanoes are a highly acclaimed four piece from Sheffield and Leeds. The
'Shake That Brass EP' out October 26th, features five tracks and presumably is
to whet the appetite for an album release in the early part of 2010.
Opening track 'Temple' is perfectly sums up the entire EP. A catchy mix of brash
youth ala 'The Arctic Monkeys' but jazzy and much funkier with a melody that
you'll find yourself whistling along to for hours on end.
The entire EP features this melting point style and the opening riff to 'What
You Came For' would definitely not sound out of place if it had featured on the
last Chili Peppers album.
It's this blend of genre's and ideas that gives the Volcanoes a good chance of
standing out from the crowd. Elsewhere on the EP, 'Eagle Eye' and 'Oliver
Charles Darwin' showcase the band's ability to write the type of catchy indie
Britpop that made 'Space' famous in the nineties.
'Conventional' clearly isn't a word in the Volcanoes vocabulary and the band use
this to their advantage. 'Shake That Brass' is a mischievous, multitude of ideas
that for the most part, works. It will be interesting to see if they can pull
off an entire album though.
***
Review by Darren Coomber
HEY NEGRITA Burn The Whole Place Down
Inspired by the reception to a series of acoustic BBC sessions,
transatlantic country blues exponents Hey Negrita took time out from their 2008
tour to cut as many tracks as they could within 5 hours without any overdubs or
edits.
The result, their forthcoming Burn The Whole Place Down album which will be
followed a week later with the this title track single. The single itself has a
warm 'deep south' feel but for my taste is a little too campfire 'sing along'
and nowhere near as good as the excellent lead single One Mississippi. But by
contrast, the two B-sides feature some wonderful harmonica playing -the pick of
the bunch being the haunting Neil Young style country blues Here I Come. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
MIDDLE CLASS RUT All Walks Of Life
Fresh from successful stints at Download and the Reading And Leeds festival
Sacramento based duo - singer / guitarist Zack Lopez, and drummer / vocalist
Sean Stockham - Middle Class Rut aka MC Rut have a sound far greater than the
sum of their parts.
Raw and visceral they deliver a paint stripping wall of blistering heavy blues /
rock pop. Incessant and 'in your face', the band have been winning over rock
fans across the country. One wonders though, whether just two men can sustain
such ferocity - All Walks Of Life is like hitting a brick wall at 30 mph. Think
early Zeppelin meets Jane's Addiction. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
THE BOY WHO TRAPPED THE SUN Watermark EP
The Watermark EP paves the way for the debut album by this acoustic country
folk now London based singer songwriter from the Isle of Lewis in the outer
Hebrides.
Gentle dreamy folk, you can almost hear the wilderness, open spaces and beauty
of the islands - The Boy's acoustic having, at times - an almost Celtic pipes
charm.
About to set out on a mini tour north of the border supporting Cassidy, these
are acoustic doodlings of the sort early Tyrannosaurus Rex once dabbled in.
Think Nick Drake, Ed Harcourt, Ray LaMontagne and the like and you're fishing in
the right salmon farm. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
SWEETHEAD The Great Disruptors (Strange Addiction)
If this single is anything to go by, the side project from Queens of the Stone
Age guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen, could be an exciting one. 'The Great Disruptors'
is a sleazy no-nonsense hard rock song. Vampish female vocals from Serrina Sims
chugging guitar with a hint of 'I Wanna be Your Dog' by the Stooges. Based on
this, the album due out end of October could be the perfect soundtrack to a
hedonistic weekend. ***
Review by Darren Coomber
TIN SOLDIERS Just What I Needed
Another rip snorting new rock band from north of the border. Hold on,
rewind. Since when was Kent north of Hadrian's Wall?
Well it might as well be in the case of the second single from Tin Soldiers, the
band's forthcoming album Telling Tales (produced by Greg Brimson and engineered
by Russ Russell (Supergrass / Natalie Imbruliga / The Wildhearts / Bush /
Metallica).
Opening with a rip snorting riff before bursting into a huge slice of sing along
pop rock, it's all swagger, staccato rhythms and fun. File next to Scottish up
and comers Twin Atlantic, and not too far from Biffy Clyro. ***
Review by Pete Whalley
LIMOZINE El Presidente (Open Plan Records)
Within the first ten seconds of this track, 'Never Mind The B*****ks' sprung
immediately to mind. It comes as perhaps no surprise that Limozine are big fans
of punk rock.
Merging pretty much every ingredient of punk history from 'The Stooges' to 'The
Ramones', new single 'El Presidente' is unlikely to win any awards for
originality. That said, taken a face value, it's a lively little tune to let off
a bit of steam to. ***
Review by Darren Coomber
THE KUT Doesn't Matter Anyway
London based female punk/pop band whose debut single is a lively affair and the
other song on here ‘Closure', shows the band in a more subdue, reflective mode.
It's been done before but they have plenty of energy and on the evidence of
these two tunes a band to keep an eye on in the future. ***
Review by Jason Ritchie
LITTLE REDDE Spellbound (Three Coins Music)
Scottish band Little Redde are about to release their new single 'Spellbound',
the lead single from debut album 'Tuesdays and Thursdays'.
Vocalist Amy Anderson-Law has a voice that bears a resemblance to Debbie Harry,
and with the band’s guitar orientated pop, they will no doubt draw many
comparisons with Blondie.
Second track, 'Mr Hamilton' is more a combination of The Beatles and Blondie -
nonetheless, both tracks are catchy enough to appeal to the ears of the record
buying public. ***
Review by Nikk Gunns
BITCHES SIN 'Sound OF Silence' www.bitchessin.co.uk
NWOBHM band who first surfaced in 1980, called it a day in 1987 to return nearly
twenty years later in 2006 following journalist and fan demand, releasing two
albums since reforming.
They are based around original guitarist Ian Toomey and as well as producing
this EP, Chris Tsangarides also plays guitar. This single is a cover of the
Simon & Garfunkel classic given a radical classic metal sound.
In fact with vocalist Tony Tomkinson sounding at times like Jon Olivia it sounds
not unlike Savatage. Not a bad version and I do like the quiet musical effects
at the end of the song, nice touch.
'What Loving Means' and 'Red Skies' make up the single release, both being solid
metal songs, nothing special but decent enough to warrant repeated plays.
Worth downloading but they may have been better off having this on a compilation
CD put out by say 'Classic Rock' magazine to gain more exposure as I can only
really see their existing fanbase going out to buy this. ***
Review by Jason Ritchie
RICHARD WALTERS Weather Song
The second single to be released off 26 year old multi instrumentalist
Richard's delicate and beautifully constructed debut album, The Animal.
Released to coincide with a short UK tour supporting Moriarty, and backed by a
new track - Needless Advice - the single (like the album) is produced by David
Kosten (Bat For Lashes). It's a gentle and haunting acoustic soundtrack for
quiet despair sung in Richard's plaintive falsetto .
Unlikely to be a big seller, but then melancholy sometimes strikes unexpected
chords. **½
Review by Pete Whalley
FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND Wrench
Welsh 'legends' Funeral For A Friend are I band I've seen plenty of albums
sleeves of, but somehow never felt compelled to investigate further.
Wrench is one of 4 new tracks featured on the forthcoming retrospective
collection Your History Is Mine 2002 - 2009. And, I'm sorry to say, despite
their 3 gold albums, 9 hit singles, and effusive plaudits I found it a complete
turn off.
Raucous, semi melodic(?) heavy rock, and reminiscent of the anthemic Motorhead
approach to subtle song writing, the only thing good about the track is that
it's short - running out at only 2:34. And having visited the band's Myspace
page, it does seem uncharacteristic. On the other hand, if speed punk metal is
your bag ….**
Review by Pete Whalley
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