As well as having a sick band name, Gnarwolves dropped a cracking EP earlier this summer entitled ‘CRU‘. We really rate these guys and after an awesome performance at Hevy, we totally stress that you should head down to one of their recently announced shows as support to The Story So Far. The dates are as follows:
OCTOBER
01 MARGATE West Coast Bar
02 COVENTRY Kasbah
03 BOURNEMOUTH Sound Circus
Read our full review of ‘CRU’ here.
Every Time I Die killed every show they played on Warped Tour this year, and the awesome hardcore rock’n’rollers are back over on our shores for a ridiculously small gig. The band will play Fighting Cocks, Kingston with only 120 tickets going on sale! As if that wasn’t exciting enough London boys Last Witness are supporting.
The show will take place just ahead of their Reading & Leeds Lock Up stage shows, on Thursday 23rd August. And there’s an added bonus, the guys at Banquet records have kindly allowing every gig goer FREE entry to New Slang, at the Hippodrome, after the show with ETID wristbands. You’ll get there in time to see DZ Deathrays, and after the bands there, room 2 will be playing hardcore / punk tracks till the early hours.
Unmissable.
Grab your tickets ASAP from here.
Death Grips promised they would release two albums in 2012, and it seems they are sticking to their word… First up was the awesome ‘The Money Store’, next up the experimental unit will be back this autumn with the second installment of ‘Epic Records’ releases, with ‘NO LOVE DEEP WEB‘. Death Grips have released a very matter-of-fact statement about the forthcoming album. Here’s what was said:
The album is titled NO LOVE DEEP WEB.
We are working on 20 tracks and looking to narrow down to 13.
It will be released by epic records in the US and Columbia in the UK.
The release is scheduled for fall 2012. most likely late October.
We are in correspondence with Crispin Glover and working toward a video collaboration with him relating to this album.
We’ve been recording the album primarily in Sacramento , CA. and Oakland , CA. for the past five months.
We will be mixing it in Shanghai , Vhina.
There are no manually programmed drums on this album , the beats are being played live on a roland electronic v-drum set or acoustic drum set by zach. There are no features , guest collabs or outside producers.
The material is cold , bass heavy , minimal , rock & roll influenced and could simultaneously fit into a rave or dance club context.
It is essentially rap and electronic music while at times extremely aggressive.
We plan on supporting this release live internationally.
*the track that comes out sept.10 as part of the adult swim series is a previously unreleased track from the Money Store and is totally unrelated to the new album NO LOVE DEEP WEB.
NO LOVE DEEP WEB is another sound and vibe entirely.
– Death Grips
Fresh from a debut festival set at Hevy, Night Verses (hailing from LA and New York) are currently embarking on their first ever tour of the UK along with Flood of Red.
The band have also treated us to their debut music video for ‘Be Happy With Yourself, I’m Staying Here In Hell’ taken their debut ‘Out of The Sky’ EP which is available to download for free from www.nightverses.com
Combining raw energy with progressive soundscapes, Night Verses are ones to watch for fans of Deftones, The Sleeping and Glassjaw. Check them out at the following shows this week:
AUGUST
13th Plymouth – White Rabbit
14th Southampton – Joiners
15th London – Underworld
Words: Emma Wallace
WHILE SHE SLEEPS
This Is The Six
[Search & Destroy]
While She Sleeps have been a dominant force in the UK scene for a while now, so it’s hard to believe that ‘This Is The Six’ is actually their debut full length. Tracks released prior to the album dropping (including ‘Dead Behind The Eyes’ and title track ‘This Is The Six’) give a clear indication of Sleeps’s intent to make this an intensely heavy album. To add variation to the record, Sleeps follow a similar pattern to 2010’s ‘The North Stands For Nothing’, adding piano interludes where appropriate to break up the aggression. Listeners are then treated to powerful riffs that seem utterly brutal after a moment of reflection.
Lawrence Taylor’s snarling screams gives a dark overtone to the whole record, the angst in his lyrics are spat into your face, so much so that you start to worry for his larynx..! It could be said that his vocal range isn’t overly impressive but raw emotion, captivating guitar melodies from Mat Welsh and Sean Long, alongside optimistic gang chants make up for any criticisms.
While She Sleeps have already impressed with their energetic live shows but now with the potential inclusion of tracks such as ‘Seven Hills’, Sleep’s artillery is instantly strengthened tenfold. The band embark on their biggest headline tour to date this autumn with the impressive Bleed From Within, Crossfaith and Polar as support, its going to be one heavy hitting show.
Perfectly combing the raw intensity and bounce of hardcore, with sinister and deafening metal, While She Sleeps are an exquisite example of metalcore. Drawing on strengths from ‘The North Stands For Nothing’, While She Sleeps pack this album full of brilliant tracks forming an album that demands a listen and stands up to the hype.
Catch While She Sleeps at the following shows:
Sep 26 Birmingham The Library @ Institute
Sep 27 Manchester Club Academy
Sep 28 Sheffield Corporation
Sep 29 Glasgow Garage
Sep 30 Newcastle Academy 2
Oct 2 Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Oct 3 Bristol Fleece
Oct 4 Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
Oct 5 London Electric Ballroom
WORDS: EMMA WALLACE
Refused,
London Forum
12/8/12
Finally, ‘The Gig That Would Never Happen’ has arrived. It’s hard to imagine how the Swedish quintet could have emphasised their (arguably premature) demise more strongly than recording a song called ‘Refused Are Fucking Dead’, but it’s amazing what time can heal. Fourteen years later, they’re back, and after incendiary performances at Coachella, Groezrock and Download festivals (amongst others), Dennis Lyxzen’s crew are back in London to play to far many more people than they did in their original incarnation.
London quartet Pettybone are powerful and bleak as hell, and certainly don’t sound like a band on the verge of splitting up. They deserve all the attention they get, but ultimately the crowd are here for one band only.
It’s inevitable that Refused’s set leans heavily on their classic ‘The Shape Of Punk To Come…’ record, but it’s surprising how fresh and relevant these songs sound after all this time; the stop-start riffs of the opening ‘Worms Of The Senses…’ whipping the floor into a frenzy.
The band sound and look fantastic, and set against a simple backdrop with good use of lighting, they’re more than happy to let the songs do the talking. By the time Lyxzen has crouched on an upturned monitor for ‘I’d Rather Be Dead’ and clambered up the Forum’s side staircase for ‘Summerholidays vs. Punkroutine’, the energy levels have gone through the roof – and remain there.
It is, of course, an encore airing of their signature track ‘New Noise’ which truly unites all present, and gives the Forum’s foundations a serious test in the process. Refused are a band who’ve frequently had the ‘legendary’ tag thrown at them in the last decade and a half, and tonight, they more than justify it.
Alex Gosman
Zero Boys
The Dome, London
August 2nd
It’s always a gamble going to see reformed old punk bands. You never know if they’re going to quite cut it, how many original members are left, are they just doing it for the money?
Well, in the case of Indianapolis, Indiana punks The Zero Boys, it certainly can’t be for the money. Whilst they do truly deserve the ‘legendary eighties punk band’ tag (their 1982 ‘Vicious Circle’ album is an absolute classic of the genre – a high octane mix of melodic punk and hardcore, a huge melodic and energetic rush), they are still only really renowned by those who closely follow US punk and have limited appeal having never played in the UK before. Suffice to say, there are only about 60 or so diehards and fans here tonight so any thoughts of cashing in must be long gone! And thankfully, original members drummer Mark Cutsinger and frontman Paul Mahern are still in the band and when they take the stage with two younger hired hands (sorry, I don’t know who they are!) and kick into the set, they sound tight and well-rehearsed.
Admittedly, it does take them a few songs to warm up (drummer Mark thankfully starts hitting a little harder a few songs in, propelling the band forward) and snotty hardcore pop punk anthems like ‘Living In The 80s’, ‘Civilization’s Dying’ and ‘Amphetamine Addiction’ all race past in a flurry of frenzied aggression. And although the venue isn’t exactly filled to capacity, those that are in attendance really get into it and the front area of the stage is soon filled with bodies, hot and sweaty and catapulting across the floor as the band beam back, buzzing on the energy spilling back at them and obviously thoroughly enjoying re-living their youths, casting their minds back to simpler more agile times.
All in all, a worthy reformation. Let’s hope they make it back again one day.
Words: James Sherry
GALLOWS
S/T
(Venn/PIAS)
www.gallows.co.uk
So, your bicycle has been in the repair shop, getting a new front wheel fitted (the old one unexpectedly broke loose after six-odd years of loyal service). You’re excited, but slightly nervous, mainly because it’s an awesome bicycle, and you’re hoping that it’ll give you as much joy with the new wheel as it did with the old one. The guys at the shop say that this new wheel is pretty impressive, though, so you’re waiting with bated breath.
You’ve probably figured out the analogy by now. Gallows are back with album number three; their first with former Alexisonfire guitarist Wade MacNeil at the helm, and probably as good a riposte to their critics and doubters as we could have hoped for.
Make no mistake, this is a Gallows record through and through. From the moment ‘Victim Culture’ kicks in after a sinister spoken-word intro, those signature raw rock n’ roll riffs, squalling guitar solos and raucous gang vocals are all present in abundance, and sounding more muscular than ever. Frank Carter left large shoes to fill, but MacNeil proves himself more than capable; a hardcore screamer among the best of them, but able to hold a tune when it’s called for (most notably on the intro of the gloriously anthemic ‘Outsider Art’, which is sure to incite mayhem live).
None of this would matter much if the songs were substandard, but among the eleven tracks on offer here are some of Gallows’ best songs to date. ‘Everybody Loves You (When You’re Dead)’ matches anything from ‘Grey Britain’ or ‘Orchestra Of Wolves’ in ferocity alone; a stinging indictment of the ‘don’t speak ill of the dead’ mentality. ‘Depraves’ surfs in on a jagged Laurent Barnard riff before exploding into a carpe diem chorus that will have you howling along with conviction. Elsewhere, ‘Vapid Adolescent Blues’ and ‘Cult Of Mary’ are hardcore belters shot through with shards of melody, seething and writhing exactly as they should.
Long viewed as plucky underdogs who have survived (and prospered) through no little determination, it seems that the adversity of Carter’s departure has resulted in Gallows returning angrier and hungrier than ever. Mark my words: this bicycle has what it takes to go the distance.
They’ll be playing the Lock-Up Stage at this year’s Reading/Leeds festivals, before embarking on a full UK tour in October.
Words: Alex Gosman
Terror Danjah provides this exclusive mix for the Urban Nerds carnival special at Scala on the 25th August, London. Catch him representing in room two alongside The Heatwave, Ragga Twins, Uncle Dugs, Fonti & Bushkin and Champion. Get your tickets now.
01) Body Fresh – Daddy Screw
02) Cock Up & Ride – Jigsy King
03) Position – Terror Fabulous
04) Body Work Shop – General Pecus
05) Wife – Joseph Stepper
06) Coca Cola Bottle Shape – Simpleton
07) Shot No Talk – Mad Cobra
08) When I See You Smile – Singing Sweet
09) Do You Wanna Dis – Beenie Man
10) Up Close & Personal – Buju Banton
11) Nah Bligh – Sean Paul
12) Everyone One Falls In Love – Tanto Metro & Devonte
13) Bashment Girl – Wayne Wonder
14) Dangerous – Barrington Levy
15) Sycamore Tree – Lady Saw
16) Yuh Ready Fi Dis Yet – Tanya Stephens
17) Joy Ride – Wayne Wonder & Baby Cham
18) Weak – Tony Curtis
19) Skin To Skin Connection – Jigsy King
20) Mr Pressure – Mad Cobra
21) Overboard – Ninja Ford
22) Lodge – Bounty Killer
23) Skeng Teng – Riko Dan & Chimpo
24) Dark Crawler – Terror Danjah ft Riko Dan
25) Red Eye – P Jam
26) Jump Up – Admiral Bailey (Terror Danjah)
27) Champion VS Jekyll – Buju Banton VS Terror Danjah
28) Slap Man – Champion
29) Dj Sticky – Terror Danjah
30) Fruit Punch – Terror Danjah
31) Silo Pass – Bok Bok (Sir Spyro remix)
32) Reloadz – Terror Danjah
33) Arsonist – Urban Shakedown
34) Burial – Letivicus
35) Code Red – Conquering Lion
36) Raw Dogs – The Dreem Team (Shy FX relick)
37) Junglist – Peter Bouncer
38) Special Dedication – Dj Nut Nu
UK Subs/Anti-Nowhere League/Discharge
100 Club, London
31st July
Part of a series of gigs that Converse are promoting at the 100 Club (the tickets are free to those who could grab them first online), tonight was the brand’s homage to all things spiky and snotty, bringing together three UK punk legends under one roof. And not just any roof at that – seen by many as the birthplace of UK punk (the 100 Club hosted the first punk festival in 1976) this is, as Captain Sensible put it whilst having a beer outside – ‘the scene of the crime, this is where it all began.’ He explains as the doorman tries to move him away from the entrance with a shove. “Can’t believe I’m still getting into trouble here all these years on,” laughs Captain.
Inside the venue is a funny old mix of gnarled old punks mixed with guests and staff of Converse, but there’s a great atmosphere and energy in the room at odds with what some more cynical types may refer to as ‘penshioner punk’. But as Charlie Harper once said, ‘born a rocker die a rocker’ and nothing is going to stop these old punk bands from continuing to play, not even nuclear war – something that Discharge have been shouting about since the early eighties when everyone thought the bomb was about to drop at any second. Discharge’s paranoid anthems of war, death and destruction inspired a whole new generation of punks (as well as many metal heads too, their then ultra-raw and fast punk was a big influence on the likes of Metallica, Anthrax etc). These days, Discharge are fronted by The Varukers frontman Rat, original singer Cal having parted with the band long ago. And considering the dodgy metal direction Cal took the band in before, this is probably no bad thing. Discharge are a harsh, bellowing, distorted mess of noise. Bones’ guitar tone makes your teeth rattle and all in all, they make a horrendous noise, that somewhere underneath lurks classic punk anthems like ‘Protest And Survive,’ ‘Fight Back’ and ‘Never Again.’ All good fun!
Next up, Anti-Nowhere League (made most famous for Metallica’s cover of their filthy-anthem ‘So What’), take the stage, fronted by the snarling, towering biker-punk monster that is Animal, an apt nickname if ever there was one! He stalks and prowls that stage like a caged lion (he has quite a mane of hair to boot!), spewing obscenities out of his mouth to songs, mainly drawn from their early eighties debut album ‘We Are The League’. Tracks like ‘Streets Of London’, ‘Woman’, and of course, the revolting ‘So What’ all provide dumb, drunk, moronic punk fun that’s certainly not meant to be taken seriously.
Tonight the UK Subs are a revelation. So many musicians, both good and bad, have passed through the bands ranks over the years that their live shows can sometimes be a hit and miss affair, depending on who is in the band at the time. The band that frontman Charlie Harper can proudly call UK Subs in 2012 is shit hot. With original member Alvin Gibbs on bass, Charlie is joined by drummer Jamie Oliver and guitarist Jet who both inject a massive dose of energy into the barrage of classics that pile from the stage.
It’s a complete mystery how Charlie, now well into his sixties, keeps going with such rampant energy and enthusiasm. The man is an absolute inspiration for those that never want to give up, and just keep on going. And it tonight’s gig is anything to go by, let’s hope there’s many more years left in the UK Subs yet. The set is back to back absolute classics – ‘Warhead,’ ‘C.I.D.’ ‘I Live In A Car,’ and many more are all played with total conviction and passion from a band who deserve far more respect than they get. The UK Subs are the kings of UK punk and long may they reign over us!
WORDS: James Sherry