Features
Features: Tournee De Satanists – Dirty White Fever / Eye of the Liger – Tour diary (part 3)
Welcome to part 3 of Tournee De Satanists.[Parts 1 and 2 can be found by clicking HERE] Last week we left the bands flailing around in a dark windowless room with a cricket bat come broard sword – like you do – here’s what happened next… Day 6: Metz – Le troubadour –22/01/15 The next …
Feature: New Music For The New Year – Albums To Look Forward To In 2015
I know, I know. This should be my favorite albums of 2014, not albums I’m looking forward to in 2015. As much as I love the favorite lists, and as satisfying as it is once I’m done with making my own and sharing it with the world, I have to admit it’s quite a daunting …
List – Jaw-dropping debut albums
The debut album, by it’s very definition is a crucial album for any act, as it’s success or failure will inevitably dictate their future success. Sure, the act may have scored a few hit singles, or maybe had a few well-received EPs, or even a mini-album, but it’s that crucial full length debut which counts. …
Soundtrack of our Lives: We Were Promised Jetpacks
Out this week is the new album from Edinburgh five piece We Were Promised Jetpacks, called Unravelling. Sometimes dour, sometimes uplifting, sometimes epic sometimes understated but certainly all Scottish, its an affecting and brilliant collection of songs. We spoke to Sean from the band to find out more about the songs that inspired them, that …
Feature: Reasons you should respect Mott the Hoople more than you probably do
Remembered primarily as early 70s rockers that struggled for commercial success until they were saved by David Bowie, who donated to them their most iconic song and convinced them that they could be pop stars if they wanted it enough, the story of Mott the Hoople is considerably more subtle and complex than most realise. …
Feature: Spotlight on… Techno producer Alan Fitzpatrick
Having enjoyed a rapid ascent since his emergence as the new kid on the techno block in the latter half of 2008, Alan Fitzpatrick now enjoys a high status as a universally respected and in-demand producer and DJ who has succeeded in carving out a recognizable musical niche for himself within the ever-expanding genre of …
Feature: Cheerio Jethro Tull – thoughts on the ending
Following a particularly demanding day at work, I wandered into Sheffield branch of HMV on Tuesday. As I walked through the doors, my eyes inevitably flicked to my right and across to the new release display. Ninety percent of the time I don’t even recognise the name of at least half of the acts on …
10 Reasons Why I’m Avoiding Record Store Day, again.
Record Store Day (RSD) was a brilliant idea, get artists to release something special on vinyl on a particular day and only release the product to independent record stores, which have been on the decline for well over a decade now. Surely everyone wins? The record stores get exclusive gear to sell and more …
Feature: Britpop – A music fan remembers…
I don’t know when I became aware of Britpop as a ‘scene’. In late 1994 I had read a few articles on a hotly-tipped band called Suede, and then watching Top of the Pops one Thursday evening it featured a band called Blur playing a slightly annoying song called “Girls and Boys”. Personally I was …
Feature: Darker Sound – Helltrash
Helltrash is the scuzzy and sleazy industrial metal project of Vlixx Vaden. Whilst Vlixx is joined by several others for liveshows, Helltrash is in essence Vlixx (in the same way NIN is Trent Reznor). Blending chunky chugging riffs with pulsating synth beats, samples and Vlixx’s intense filtered vocals. Helltrash are a musical tour de force. …