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7 out of 10
In true punk rock'n'roll style, The Yalla Yallas tear their way though three minutes and two seconds of power chord pop wizardry on this single release which echoes the sentiments of a lost era of defiance and rebellion. This certainly isn't groundbreaking stuff, but it's a lot of fun and noise and to that end and though there's not much else to say, I salute it.
Punk on dudes.
Listen: www.myspace.com/theyallayallas
Tracklist:
1. Retaliation
2. Stand Up
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7 out of 10
The accompanying press release is shiny, and in comparison to many of the fairly standard A4 columned pieces I receive, the glossy nature of the flyer serves nicely as a metaphor with which I can describe the music of F5. There is some clear talent in this band - apparently named after part of a computer keyboard, and some crushingly heavy guitars provide the backbone of a melodic metal act that features two former members of Dave Mustaine's formidable outfit Megadeth.
Apparently though, they took some of that sound with them into F5. The songs themselves are fairly formulaic for the most part - widdly guitar intro, big vocal verses, riffy chorus into widdly bridge.and so on. and unfortunately there are more than a few horrifically cheesy clichés mixed into the album - but I can't help but like it. It reminds me of what metal used to be - before 9 mask wearing dudes could bang beer barrels in time and long before Metallica became a dirty word. It takes me back to a time of proper metal, of leather jackets and devil horns. good times dude. Good times.
Listen: www.myspace.com/f5thebandaz
Tracklist:
1. No Excuse
2. I Am The Taker
3. The Reckoning
4. Rank And File
5. Love Is Dead
6. Through Hell
7. Wake Up
8. Cause For Concern
9. My End
10. Control
11. Final Hour
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8 out of 10
Ah. there is something so horrible about the offspring of famous parents isn't there? I mean, take Miley Cyrus for instance - daughter of Billy Ray. you can't help but wonder whether the kid would still have made it without Mum or Dad's influential friends. However, that said, I would like to think that Lauren Harris is different. Daughter to Iron Maiden founder Steve Harris, Lauren is, according to her press release, "The British answer to Pink and Avril Lavigne". I think she can aspire to be better than that though and "Your Turn" is a nice, tight, punchy pop tune that would nestle well towards the top of a chart dominated by hopeless rubbish. I had the privilege of seeing Lauren live at Download Festival a few years ago and she was brilliant, and by the way, sooooo hot. Lauren Harris, it is indeed "Your Turn".
Listen: www.myspace.com/laurenharrisuk
Tracklist:
1. Your Turn
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10 out of 10
I first came across Thrice back in the days of the "Artist in the Ambulance" - I then made it my mission to get hold of "Identity Crisis", "The Illusion of Safety" and finally "Vheissu". Frankly, "Vheissu" blew my mind. "Live at the House of Blues" represents a kind of greatest hits (plus more) in a way, but made all the more special because of its live nature - and again by the fact that not only do we get the audio of this awe-inspiring performance, but the DVD of the complete live set is a nice touch too.
From the explosive start to "Cold, Cash and Colder Hearts" to the delicate rendering of power ballad "Red Sky", and everywhere in between, Thrice possess a sense of musicianship that is grossly underrated, and shine, absolutely shine through in this special triple disc set stuffed full of more than two hours of quality tunes. "The Earth Will Shake"? Damn right.
Listen: www.myspace.com/thrice
Tracklist:
Disc: 1
The Lion & The Wolf
Firebreather
The Messenger
Of Dust and Nations
Digital Sea
Flags of Dawn
Burn the Fleet
Open Water
The Earth Isn’t Humming
The Artist in the Ambulance
Trust
Cold Cash and Colder Hearts
Disc: 2
Broken Lungs
The Whaler
All That’s Left
Silhouette
Come All You Weary
Star at the Sun
Daedalus
Don’t Tell and We Won’t Ask
Hold Fast Hope
For Miles
Red Sky
Deadbolt
The Earth Will Shake
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3 out of 10
God, this is dull. When Gym Class Heroes first broke, they were a bit different and stood out nicely from the crowd. I can't help feel now that they are simply trying to fill the hole left by the Black Eyed Peas since their hiatus began. There is nothing new here, nothing challenging, nothing special and stands stuffed full of clichés. "I'll be gone before they know what I hit them with" sings Estelle on her bouncy chorus. Let's hope so Estelle, let's hope so.
Listen: www.myspace.com/gymclassheroes
Tracklist:
1. Guilty As Charged
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7 out of 10
Pounding their way out of my speakers like a steroid infused Motorhead comes the new offering from Danko Jones, stuffed full of mega-decibel riffage and sexual overtones. 'Never Too Loud' is a no holds barred, balls out slab of rock which covers all manner of booty related themes such as love, lust and sex and continues on a relentless path of mayhem and destruction.
Stand out tracks include 'Let's Get Undressed' and 'Still in High School' as well as title track 'Never Too Loud'.
The trio hit the road with the immortal metal God Lemmy and his crew in October alongside Saxon, so get down there and feel the power for yourself!
Listen: www.myspace.com/dankojones
Tracklist:
1. Code of the Road
2. City Streets
3. Still in High School
4. Take Me Home
5. Let’s Get Undressed
6. King of Magazines
7. Forest for the Trees
8. Your Tears, My Smile
9. Something Better
10. Ravenous
11. Never Too Loud
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7 out of 10
I cannot believe how far Attack! Attack! have come in just a year. From the outskirts of Cardiff, the band's reach has already hit the main UK summer festivals as well as a solid tour with Welsh compadres Funeral for a Friend. When I first reviewed the album a few months ago (8/10) I knew I was on to something a bit different, a bit special - and 'You And Me' is one of the stronger tunes on the disc. Check it out; you won't regret it - even though you might get tired of it banging around and around your head for the rest of the day.
Listen: www.myspace.com/attackattackband
Tracklist:
1. You And Me
