Album Reviews
Album Review: Harvestman –‘Triptych: Part One’ : a breath-taking opening to an epic drone-folk series.
Steve Von Till (aka Harvestman) has always been a deep thinker who aims to reach beyond the surface level with his music. Probably more widely known as guitarist/vocalist/lynch pin of seminal post metal pioneers Neurosis and their experimental avant offshoot Tribes Of Neurot, his wider creative intentions have necessitated the release of a vibrant catalogue …
EP Review: Motions – The Paralysis EP
After wowing with their debut album (read our review here), Teesside’s metal titans Motions, have returned with their new EP entitled The Paralysis. A concept EP covering the “dark journey through the psyche of a person suffering with suicidal ideation after losing everything they love” With vocal cord-destroying screams, ‘Deathgrip’ kicks things off in true …
Album Review: The ‘Heathen Sound’ of Big League is a deliciously fuzzy onslaught filled with melody and chainsaws.
Much loved here at Backseat Mafia, Naarm/Melbourne band Big League began as a series of lounge-room recordings by husband and wife team Travis (guitar, vocals) & Marie Velthoven (bass) before expanding into a full band and an even fuller sound. And the sound is bigger than Ben Hur. Big League have released a new album, ‘Hethen Sound’, and according to …
Album Review : Arthur Melo – ‘Mirantes Emocionais’ : a dazzling alt pop escapade from the Brazilian guitarist and composer.
In the same way that last year Bala Dejeso and Ana Frango Elétrico swung the spotlight back on the wild creativity of the Brazilian pop scene, 2024 looks like it’s facing a repeat. Alongside the whispers of the enigmatic Sessa, gathering a new album together, there’s another name filtering through to the surface, the multi-talented …
EP Review: ‘Accelerator’ – life speeds up for the brilliant HighSchool in this haunting epic release ahead of European tour.
Today, the imperial HighSchool release their EP ‘Accelerator’ via [PIAS] Australia, and it fulfils all promises made by the series of singles that anticipated its release. Based in London but coming from Naarm/Melbourne the band normally consists of brother and sister Rory and Lilli Trobbiani (related to Frank Trobbiani from The Wreckery) and Luke Scott, but Lilli …
Album Review: Big|Brave – ‘A Chaos Of Flowers’ : The Montreal rock trio craft a post-metal touchstone.
Ever since Big|Brave‘s core members Robin Wattie (vocals/guitar) and Mathieu Ball (guitars) experienced a ‘loud can be quiet’ epiphany over a decade ago, ditching the acoustics and plugging in, their elemental sound has set the aerobatic thrill of Wattie’s singular voice within a swirling storm of riffs, distortion and pummelling rhythms. In some ways their …
Album Review: Ramblin’ Preachers – Sins & Virtues
Sin and Virtues is the debut album from Southern Rockers Ramblin’ Preachers. Chock full of Americana bluesy rock riffs and screaming solos that the band have become known for, produced and recorded by Nick Burns, with further production, mixing & mastering carried out by Wayne Proctor. The album portrays aspects of the ‘7 Deadly Sins’ …
Album Review: Benjamin Samuels – ‘Dissensation’: New name, nu jazz, new thrills – an album set to make an impact.
Straight after any hugs or handshakes the first thing musicians ask each other when they meet up is ‘Are you busy’? For sax-player, clarinettist and composer Benjamin Samuels the answer for some time now has been a ‘yes’. He’s worked with Californian fusionist Balkan Bump and Brighton’s own global beat pioneer Seb Taylor (aka Kaya …
Album Review: The Rah’s – Common Ground
After wowing with the debut album ‘When Does It Become Real’ the East Lothian rockers have returned with 2024’s explosive ‘Common Ground’. Sighting bands like The Arctic Monkeys, The Enemy, RHCP, Black Keys, BRMC as influences, Jack Mcleod (vocals), Neale Gray (drums), Jordan McIntyre (guitar), Lee Brown (bass) and Jack Miller (keyboards and acoustic guitar) have dropped …
EP Review: Melanie Baker – Burnout Baby
Newcastle-based indie newcomer Melanie Baker has released her new EP ‘Burnout Baby’ via Daemon T.V. the EP follows on from the recent singles ‘All My Plants Have Died’, ‘I Don’t Cry Like I Used To’, and anthemic latest effort ‘Double Decker Death Machine’ that announce the EPs arrival. Detailing the origins of ‘Burnout Baby’, Baker revealed: “This EP is about …