Author: Dave

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P.O.S. ‘We Don’t Even Live Here’ Album Details


Punk philosopher, rapper and co-founder of Doomtree, Stefon Alexander, aka P.O.S has announced details of his latest record ‘We Don’t Even Live Here’ which will be released via Rhymesayers Entertainment on November 05th.

The album features a star-studded line up with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, Lazerbeak, Cecil Otter, Mike Mictlan, and Sims joining in for the ride. The album was taken care of by all-star producer and mix engineer Andrew Dawson who has worked on platinum releases from the likes of Kanye West, Jay-Z, Beyonce, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne and Fun.

The new album has been gracing our stereo for some time and it’s beyond good. Read our thoughts on Bumper.

P.O.S. discusses his work in more detail in the vid below. The track listing is as follows:

01. Bumper
02. Fuck Your Stuff
03. Where We Land (feat. Justin Vernon)
04. Wanted/Wasted (feat. Astronautalis)
05. They Can’t Come (feat. Sims)
06. Lockpicks, Knives, Bricks and Bats
07. Arrow To The Action/Fire In The Hole
08. Get Down (feat. Mike Mictlan)
09. All Of It
10. We Don’t Even Live Here (Weird Friends)
11. Piano Hits

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Music Music News

Metz’s Previous 7” For Free Download

Recent Sub Pop signing METZ have made all their previous works available for FREE download via their bandcamp. The back catalogue download will give new fans an idea of the musical journey of METZ leading up to their incredible self titled LP, due out on October 15th.

Catch the band live as they embark on a mini tour this autumn:

OCTOBER
21st – Leeds, The Library
22nd – Glasgow, The Art School
23rd – Manchester, Kraak Gallery
24th – London, Old Blue Last

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Music Music News

Amazing New Video From Shields


Rapidly emerging Newcastle based band Shields have put out arguably one of the best music videos of this year for their addictive single ‘Mezzanine’. Even if the music isn’t your cup of tea, the video is undeniably endearing and original and should be appreciated in all its sock-puppet-glory.

Having already performed with the likes of Neon Indian, Theme Park, The Naked and Famous and Gross Magic and touring with Zulu Winter and Wintersleep; Shields will shortly be embarking on a tour with To Kill A King. Tour dates are below:

OCTOBER
20th – Westgarth Social Club, Middlesbrough
21st – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
25th – Cargo, London
30th – Leopard, Doncaster
NOVEMBER
2nd– The Ruby Lounge, Manchester

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Live Reviews Music

Of Mice and Men Live at Electric Ballroom, Camden

OF MICE AND MEN
w/ Memphis May Fire, Secrets
Electric Ballroom, Camden
10th October 2012

After selling out way in advance and with a queue lapping the outside of Camden’s Electric Ballroom, you know for a fact tonight’s show is going to be crazy. From an all-American line-up, Secrets are first to take to the stage. They are the perfect warm up act for this sort of audience, plenty of sub-drops and head bangs get the party off to a fine start.

When Memphis May Fire roar into action its clear that many of the Of Mice & Men fans here tonight are also deeply entwined in a love affair with this band. A vast majority of the crowd go wild. Considering Memphis May Fire aren’t headlining the response they get is very impressive. The room jumps as one to the bouncing riffs, with ‘The Sinner’ uniting the band and crowd in a mass sing along.

Before the show, Matty Mulllins discussed with Crossfire what he feels makes a great frontman, and with this performance he definitely put into practice what he preached; lunging across the stage and fully engaging the audience like the pro he is.

Secrets were impressive, Memphis May Fire took that up a level, but Of Mice & Men are just in a league of their own. Valentino Arteaga is a machine behind the kit. Alan Ashby and Phil Manansala create dirty, dirty riffs which entice permanent pits. Aaron Pauley takes care of clean vocals and finds near vocal perfection whilst pulverising filthy baselines that penetrate ear drums in the most heavy of fashions.

Austin Carlile has the audience in the palm of his hand. There are few frontmen that can work a crowd to this level but it’s not just his showmanship that is impressive, his vocal ability is superb. Holding growls for as long as he can then charging around the stage is no easy task.

With ‘The Flood’ and ‘The Depths’ (bonus tracks taken from the recent reissue of their 2011 release) causing just as much carnage as old favourites its becoming ever more obvious that Of Mice & Men are a dominant force in modern metalcore. No longer will they be playing club shows, surely the next step will be Academy shows. If their success back in America is anything to go by, a UK arena tour in the future isn’t as far-fetched as it may sound. Tonight was hands down one of the best shows of the year.

Words & Photos: Emma Wallace

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Album Reviews Buzz Chart Music New Releases Reviews

We Are The Physics


We Are The Physics
Your Friend, The Atom
[This Is Fake DIY Records]

We are the Physics describe their sound as ‘Mutant science punk rock’ and, to be honest, I would’ve put them in a similar category myself. The sound is a vivid mix of genres which create a very exciting and moreish vibe about it.

It’s hard to explain. Like hipsters that found themselves in a studio after mainlining cocaine. The band explain their stance themselves: “Making a fairly derivative sound more interesting.” . Essentially they sound like an indie band (with the temperament of Battles) who have spent a lot of time listening to bands like At the Drive-In. The end result takes mundane ‘indie’ and kicks it into the curb.

‘Your Friend, The Atom’ is like the soundings of a group of particle physicists working on the Hadron Collider whilst writing some epic music. The album maintains an obvious, and somewhat expected Scientific feel about it. Robotic sounds and weird electronic tinkering is scattered across the entire album, even shouting science jargon like “Subject vs. Subject”!

The upbeat tunes and strong bass-lines are impressive, and the vocals match in pace. With standout tracks on the album, the heroic and aptly named intro ‘Go Go Nucleo -> For Science‘ and the more relaxed, but incredibly catchy ‘There Is No Cure For The Common Cold So Don’t Expect A Cure For Cancer’; ‘Your Friend, The Atom’ is an excellent scientific discovery.

Words: Arif Noor

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Album Reviews Buzz Chart Music Reviews

White Lung

WHITE LUNG
‘Sorry’
(Deranged)

‘Sorry’? Don’t make me laugh. Judging by this record (the band’s second), Vancouver quartet White Lung aren’t afraid to hurt your feelings and their raw, blistering punk rock attack will rub salt into your wounded heart. Strangely enough, you’ll thank them.

Belting through ten songs in less than 20 minutes, the pace is Ramones-relentless, but they never sound less than convincing. Vocalist Mish Way could match most typical punk screamers for power, but her piercing howl has the clarity and melodic edge that lingers long in the memory after ‘Sorry’ has run its course. Guitarist Kenneth William is no slouch either, whether scratching out a brittle melodic line on ‘Bag’, an ace spidery riff on ‘The Bad Way’ or unleashing bursts of screeching sonic warfare on ‘Those Girls’.

The overall impression is of a mix of early 90s alt-rock and riot grrl (Mish Way is a self-confessed Courtney Love devotee) fed through an 80s hardcore blender; the end result being as addictive and uncompromising as you could hope for. Granted, they’re not offering up anything particularly new, but they certainly infuse these old sounds with fresh rage and vitality. Check them out – you won’t be sorry either.

Words: Alex Gosman

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Music Music News

New Deftones Songs and Album Artwork Revealed

Deftones have announced the track-listing for their forthcoming album “Koi No Yokan” which is set to be realeased 12th November 2012. In addition, Deftones have posted two new songs from the record, ‘Tempest‘ and ‘Leathers‘. Both are available to stream below with ‘Leathers’ also available for FREE download if you follow the Soundcloud links.

The band have also revealed the artwork for the record, seen to the right. The track listing is as follows:

KOI NO YOKAN
1. Poltergeist
2. Romantic Dreams
3. Leathers
4. Swerve City
5. Entomb (Dazzle)
6. Graphic Nature
7. Tempest
8. Gauze
9. Rosemary
10. Goon Squad
11. What Happened To You?

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Music Music News

Foals Announce UK Tour Dates


Indie Math-rock band Foals have announced details of a UK tour to take place this November/December via their official website.

Foals will be playing some of the smaller cities and towns in the UK that are often overlooked on touring schedules. For a band that can pack out the NME tent at Reading & Leeds, these shows are very intimate. Here at Crossfire we can’t stress enough how strong Foals are live. Tickets go on sale this Friday and are expected to sell out quickly. The dates are below:

NOVEMBER
28th – SHEFFIELD Queens Social Club
29th – LEICESTER Lock 42
30th – STOKE Sugarmill
DECEMBER
02nd – DONCASTER Leopard
03rd – DERBY The Venue
04th – GLOUCESTER Guildhall
06th – SOUTHAMPTON Cellar
07th – BOURNEMOUTH 60 Million Lights
08th – ALDERSHOT West End Centre
10th – BRIGHTON Concorde 2
11th – TURNBRIDGE WELLS Forum

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Music Music News

Funeral For A Friend Announce Sixth Studio Album

Funeral For A Friend Promo 2012Much loved Welsh band Funeral For A Friend have announced details of their sixth studio album, ‘Conduit’.

Front man Matthew Davies-Kreye reveals the album is about what being in a band, and Funeral For A Friend, means to the members…

“Five people on a stage, a conduit for the message and the music, delivering that to people who want to listen in, be a part of whatever it is that we’re doing and being involved. It’s purely about delivering the message. After 10 years of being a band, we see how much what we’ve done has effected people who care about our stuff. Whether it’s lyrics or whatever, these songs transcend us and become something more to a lot more people. It sounds lofty I know but that’s how it feels to us when we meet the folks who dig our band and who treat these songs with so much love and respect. It blows our minds constantly.”

‘Conduit‘ will drop on 28th January 2013 through Distiller Records. The first single from the album ‘Best Friends And Hospital Beds’ will be released on 12th November following the band’s appearance at the now sold out Vans Warped Tour UK date at London’s Alexandra Palace on 10th November.

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Music Music News New Releases

Stream Converge Album In Full

Converge-All-That-You-Leave-Behind-Artwork-CrossfireIn preparation for 2012’s most anticipated metal/hardcore album of the year, Boston’s Converge are streaming their 8th studio album, ‘All We Love We Leave Behind’ in its entirety via Youtube (embedded below).

The album has been spinning on the Crossfire HQ stereo for sometime, and let us tell you now, its intensely heavy. No one quite channels aggression in the same way as Converge. Front man Jacob Bannon comments:

“All of our albums are emotional but I feel this is our most potent album to date… Success to me is creating something that’s moving and fulfilling and I truly feel both of those things when I listen back and experience this album from start to finish.”

‘All We Love We Leave Behind’ will be released October 8th via Epitaph Records (vinyl on Deathwish). Fans can pre-order the album here. Converge will be performing at the following dates:

NOVEMBER
25th, London @ Koko
26th, Birmingham @ O2 Academy 2
27th, Colchester @ Arts Centre
28th, Glasgow @ Classic Grand
29th, Manchester @ Academy 2
30th, Dublin @ The Button Factory
DECEMBER
1st, Brighton @ Concorde 2