rock/metal albums
Album Review: Little Steven – Soulfire
For anyone to successfully step out of the shadow of one of the iconic figures in American popular song is a rare thing. To do so and return to the familiar shadow later, with their own career in full swing and successfully diversified, is a rare thing. While Little Steven will forever be associated with …
Album Review: Paramore – After Laughter
It’s been a good four years since Paramore released any new music to the world and with a few member changes (including ex-drummer Zac Farro re-joining the band); they’re back and as strong as they’ve ever been. Opening track Hard Times has been doing the rounds for a few weeks now; the jaunty sound to …
Album Review: Motionless In White- Graveyard Shift
Halloween’s biggest advocates are back- Motionless In White are here; a wealth of their trademark macabre in tow, along with their fourth full length album. Graveyard Shift indeed does see Chris Motionless and co. visit sounds on paths they’ve not tread before- but ultimately it proves to the world that Motionless In White can still do …
Album Review: Me And That Man- Songs Of Love & Death
Ordinarily, Nergal finds himself at the helm of one of the black metal scene’s biggest staple bands, Behemoth. However, his side project- a collaboration with rock musician John Porter- Me And That Man couldn’t seem more different on the surface. While still encompassing an evocative, dark aesthetic, Songs Of Love & Death has allowed Nergal …
Album Review: Thunder – Rip It Up
There has always been something comforting about Thunder. Perhaps it’s their no frills approach to the classic hard rock sound, perhaps it is down to their reliable quality in terms of output (from 1990’s Back Street Symphony to Rip it Up, they’re still recognisably the same band in terms of their sound, with relatively few …
Album Review: Vukovi – (self-titled)
Neon-rock band Vukovi have exploded onto the scene with a brand new debut album, self-titled, released on 10th March 2017 (LAB Records). The album will be supported with a 7-date tour of the UK, beginning in hometown Glasgow on the day of its release, before going on to Leeds, Manchester, London, and wrapping things up …
Album review: Xiu Xiu – Forget
From the howled opening lyrics to ‘The Call’ it’s very clear that Xiu Xiu’s latest project is a giant step away from last year’s Plays The Music Of Twin Peaks. Forget takes the project back into original songwriting, yet keeps the haunting atmosphere that they created on their last record. From the leads singles ‘Wondering’, …
Album Review: Order of Voices – Constancy
Sheffield’s rock scene has always been one we are proud of as a city. The likes of While She Sleeps and Bring Me The Horizon have been the jewell in the crown in recent years, but the underground scene has continued to breed an abundance of bands with equal chances of making equally big waves. …
Album Review: Son Volt – Notes Of Blue
I think if you went back 22 years to 1995 you’d find the running thoughts on the trajectories of Son Volt and Wilco would be significantly different than what actually ended up happening. While Wilco’s debut album A.M. was decent enough, it didn’t hold a candle to the gritty and windswept Midwest epic that was …
Album Review: The Sly Persuaders – The Sly Persuaders
After building up something of a reputation on the London live music scene, neo-rockabilly upstarts The Sly Persuaders are about to release their debut self-titled album, unleashing their brand of Gun Club / Bad Seeds / Cramps infused psych tinged rockabilly-garage onto an unsuspecting world. Decamping to the Music Complex in Deptford, frontman Chris Blake …