Collapse Under The Empire & Mooncake - Black Moon Empire (EP Review)

Merging the combined talents of one of Germanys most influential and well respected post rock bands Collapse Under the Empire with the blissfully talented yet reclusive Russian post rock quintet Mooncake, give us the heady ingredients that are used to make Black Moon Empire, arguably one of this years most eagerly anticipated EPs.

Written by: Patrick Gormley | Date: Thursday, 28 July 2011

Soundgirl - Don't Know Why (Single Review)

Bringing back the feisty sense of feminism that girl bands have been seriously lacking since bands such as The Spice Girls and Sugababes are the brand new British pop group Soundgirl. With certain influences from the likes of Destiny’s child and TLC the girls are bringing back the traditional sounds of Old School R’n’B while creating their own individual and fresh beats, ready to wow the charts.

Written by: Catherine Rea | Date: Tuesday, 26 July 2011

Enter Shikari - Live From Planet Earth (Album) Fizzy Water & Spikey Blankets (DVD) (Review)

For a band that created such a big impact when entering the music scene with their electronic hardcore sounds and visual shows of 2003, is Enter Shikari’s live album too much of an ambitious move? Though Shikari fans have always been loyal, even when the dynamic band was experimenting with different sounds in a never-ending battle with the music industry and an obsession with gaining further popularity, does this new album stand out as good as their previous work?

Written by: Catherine Rea | Date: Tuesday, 26 July 2011

Thrice - Yellow Belly (Single Review)

If you haven't heard of Thrice, I'm not sure I can forgive you. Granted, no album or single has entered the UK top 100, but who listens to the charts anyway?  Last year they played on the main stage at Leeds and Reading Festivals (they were immense) and they supported the outstanding Brand New at Wembley Stadium prior to their own UK tour.  Oh and did I mention they are awesome? They formed back in 1998, they are well known for their heavily distorted guitars, prominent lead guitars and frequent changes in time signatures.

Written by: Kimberley Martinez-Meakins | Date: Friday, 22 July 2011

*shels - Plains of the Purple Buffalo

Rising from the ashes of cult hardcore noiseniks Mahumodo, *shels were formed in 2003 by vocalist Mehdi Safa and drummer Tom Harriman. After a couple of early EPs, the band sent out the first real signal of their obvious talent with the release of their critical acclaimed debut, 'Sea of the Dying Dhow' in 2007. Now four years on and after meticulous care, detail and attention *shels unleash its stunning follow up, 'Plains of the Purple Buffalo'.

Written by: Patrick Gormley | Date: Thursday, 21 July 2011

Olly Murs - Heart Skips A Beat (Single Review)

It’s often the case that the runner up in talent shows go on to have equally, if not more, lucrative careers in the music business than the winners themselves... JLS, Adam Lambert, Diana Vickers... but there is none more so than the man who came 2nd in 2009’s X Factor - Olly Murs. With numerous hits already under his belt including ‘Thinking Of Me’, ‘Please Don’t Let Me Go’ and the more acoustically based ‘Busy’, Olly has teamed up with Rizzle Kicks for a new musical experiment with his latest offering ‘Heart Skips A Beat’.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Wednesday, 20 July 2011

Blink 182 - Up All Night (Single Review)

Six years is a long time to be away from the charts without being forgotten about. Luckily Blink 182 have a hardcore base of fans sticking with them through thick and thin, and that includes a six year hiatus. After last years' hugely successful headline shows at Reading and Leeds festivals, Blink are finally back with some new material.

Written by: Katie Territt | Date: Tuesday, 19 July 2011

Rise To Remain - Nothing Left (Single Review)

Rise to Remain are a five-piece band from London whose new song has been described by some as “a powerful statement of intent". The band have recently been awarded 'Best New Band' by both Kerrang and Metal Hammer and if you have been to one of the heavier music festivals this summer, chances are that you have already seen them as they have played Download, Sonisphere and are due to play Kent's Hevy Festival in August.

Written by: Kimberley Martinez-Meakins | Date: Tuesday, 19 July 2011

Noah And The Whale - Life Is Life (Single Review)

After the success of Noah and the Whale’s re-release of ‘Five Years Time’ - the single that had everyone whistling and learning to play the ukulele - The band went on to release singles from second album ‘The First Days of Spring’. These songs weren’t as celebrated in the charts, but earned five stars from the Sunday Times and was quoted to be ‘Magical’ from Q magazine. It’s understandable then, that Noah and the Whale might have felt pressure from a few different directions as they prepared to release tracks from the ‘difficult third album’ entitled ‘Last Night on Earth’.

Written by: Emma Newlyn | Date: Tuesday, 19 July 2011

Francis Neve - I Wont Make You Better (Single Review)

Multi-instrumental Essex boy Francis Neve is here with new single ‘I Won’t Make You Better’ from his seven track mini-abum ‘The Second Time We First Met’.

Written by: V O'Hagan | Date: Monday, 18 July 2011

Breathe Carolina - Hell Is What You Make It (Album Review)

Breathe Carolina are the prime example of the digital fairytale. Creating tracks on Garage Band for fun then posting them on Myspace took them from making music as a pastime to their more professional status. 2009’s ‘Hello Fascination’ really put the duo out there in the scene, but the question is whether their new release ‘Hell Is What You Make It’ can keep them there.

Written by: Heather McDaid | Date: Monday, 18 July 2011

Dead Letter Circus - This Is The Warning (Album Review)

Having already earned themselves a Number One album in their native Australia and supported the likes of Muse and Linkin Park over on that side of the planet, Brisbane’s Dead Letter Circus finally made it over to our own humble shores for a quick visit earlier this month. The short run of shows provided the band with the chance to introduce us to their debut album ‘This is the Warning’ following its UK release, over a year since its original unveiling back home in sunny Oz. Like fellow Antipodean rockers Karnivool and Cog, Dead Letter Circus have opted to pursue a similar brand of prog-metal in the vein of American heavyweights like Tool, Deftones and The Mars Volta. ‘This is the Warning’ deservedly achieves such categorisation and helps to place Dead Letter Circus in the worldwide arena alongside alt-rock’s most notable big players.

Written by: Rob Sleigh | Date: Sunday, 17 July 2011

Saxon - Call To Arms (Album Review)

The meritorious success of Saxon’s latest touring extravaganza – characterizing of festivals such as Sonisphere and Download – has proven, without a shadow of a doubt, that these classic British metal masters can still quench the parched lips of rock and metal fans from all over the globe. A 19th studio album doesn’t just appear on the shelves of your nearest record shop, these old-timers have journeyed down the path of an extraordinary career, spanning for more than 30 years.

Written by: Ryan Tinslay | Date: Friday, 15 July 2011

Radiohead - Little By Little (Caribou Remix) & Lotus Flower (Jacques Green Remix) (Review)

The King of Limbs, to be honest, is the prime example of a record ready to be manipulated into remixes by the experimentations of DJ’s and electronic artists. While talk of a full album remix by Flying Lotus circulates, Radiohead have announced a series of summer remix releases. The first of which sees Canadian artist Caribou (Dan Snaith) tackle 'Little By Little', while new boy Jacques Greene gives 'Lotus Flower' a going over.

Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Friday, 15 July 2011

The Mountaineering Club Orchestra - A Start On Such A Night Is Full Of Promise (Album Review)

Concept albums nearly as a rule can either go breathtakingly right, Pink Floyds 'Dark Side of the Moon' and Nine Inch Nails 'The Downward Spiral' for example, or can go hideously wrong, think Pete Townshends 'Psychoderelict' and Styx 'Kilroy Was Here'. So, 'A Start On Such A Night Is Full Of Promise', the debut album by The Mountaineering Club Orchestra, takes a brave leap into this arena with its icy tale of 17th century Norwegian explorers.

Written by: Patrick Gormley | Date: Friday, 15 July 2011

The Horrors - Skying (Album Review)

Let us be honest, 'Strange House' was a little bit shit. Made by five people who seemed to be more obsessed with their glam-goth appearance then attaining any real music credibility. They were thus given a Chelsea boot up the arse by their record label and kicked to the curb. Surely that was the end of this all too long gothic nightmare. It wasn’t. In what has turned out to be an inspired decision by some fucking genius at XL Records, The Horrors signed a new record deal. The image was played down and through some clever PR we found out that this five-piece really know there stuff. Then they delivered it. Then they delivered not only the greatest album of 2009, but a landmark album for British music. 'Primary Colours' was everything that nobody was expecting.

Written by: Rhys Morgan | Date: Friday, 15 July 2011

Grey Reverend - Of the Days (Album Review)

This record really doesn’t sound like it is a new release at all. It sounds like it has come straight out of the sixties, out of the glory days of folk music when Dylan was taking on the world by accident (and winning). L. D. Brown is a singer-songwriter who has stripped music back to arguably its purest form here and his music works all the better as a result.

Written by: Lee Johnston | Date: Thursday, 14 July 2011

The Worldonfire - ...Music To Leadership (Album Review)

There is something undeniably frustrating about this album. It seems to be trying to be something that it is not and, considering that this is a debut record that is a tad worrying to say the least. You see The Worldonfire are an alternative rock band from Essex, with touches of Yourcodenameis:milo-esque post-hardcore to make them a slightly more exciting prospect. In fact, at times the vocal acrobatics of bassist and vocalist David Walsh do sound a lot like Paul Mullen from the aforementioned band and this would have been a great thing for those who miss yci:m...except Paul Mullen has now formed Young Legionnaire, who fill the yci:m shaped void in the music scene pretty comfortably. That doesn’t mean there is no place for The Worldonfire however, although they seem to have taken a dodgy hint that the scene is full and that they should try and sound a bit more ‘different’ and ‘interesting’.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 14 July 2011

Blacklisters - Swords (Single Review)

If you like noisy music then Blacklisters might become your new favourite band. These West Yorkshiremen cite influences as early Deftones, Shellac and The Jesus Lizard. They sound a lot like these bands mixed into a cocktail of unholy sonic destruction. 'Swords' is a typical Blacklisters track...except it’s available for free download from their Bandcamp page, which is pretty awesome.

Written by: Ben Bland | Date: Thursday, 14 July 2011

Warm Brains - Let Down (Single Review)

Warm Brains is the new solo project by London based DIY Producer Rory Attwell, who is best know for being a member of Test Icicles and other bands and is now highly sought after as a producer. The 18th July sees the release of his latest offering, a double-A side single ‘Let Down’/ ‘Stone to Sand to Glass’.

Written by: Lee Johnston | Date: Thursday, 14 July 2011