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Trail of Dead

‘Lost Songs’
Superball Music

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AndYouWillKnowUsByTheTrailOfDeadLostSongsAnd You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead are arguably the most consistent alternative rock band of all time. Formed back in 1995, the two members that formed the band have never delivered an album that you can fob off. All of their eight studio projects have delivered their unique sound at the highest level mixing apocolyptic guitar punk with rock and roll at the highest level and then stripping it down to melodic undertones big enough to fill a desert.

This endless quest that Jason Reece and Conrad Keely have been on since meeting in Hawaii all those years ago, through non-stop touring, smashing equiptment and giving their all at every show brings us to today’s unveiling of their new video for ‘Lost Songs‘. It was filmed over six weeks on three continents in nearly twenty countries proving just how much this band put into their quest to share their music. It’s the title track from their new album featuring two minutes of rolling drums and lost souls and even though it may not be the strongest song on the album, it’s a perfect introduction before hearing the mammoth ‘Catatonic’ that you can hear below.

The record was dedicated to Pussy Riot when released last year, pick it up here and support this band as they have supported our ears superbly for years.

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Crossfaith

Crossfaith
‘ZION’
Search & Destroy Records

Many bands find it very difficult to mix metal and electro/dubstep together, but not Crossfaith. They mix the two into pure beauty.

The Japanese 5-piece use electric sound effects to add catchy melody and unique, well formed structures and have clearly developed since their debut album ‘The Dream, The Space’ released back in 2011.

‘Jagerbomb’ was recently released as the band’s first single from ‘Zion’. The song consists of head-banging riffs and deadly screams that can drop a man dead. They somehow manage to make heavy screaming music into something that you can jump around as if you were a kangaroo.

‘Dialogue’ starts with a slow, tense electronic beat which reminds you of old school rave reminiscent of the late 80’s scene and ends with some epic wob. Only time will tell whether they’ll fit in with the UK’s hardcore scene, as they are set to support Bring Me The Horizon on their UK tour this April so put that in your dairy and look out for the EP which is out now.

Sean Hendrie

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Wildmen

Wildmen
‘Haters Gonna Hate’
Shit Music For Shit People

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wildmen_hatersgonnahateThose who picked up the limited edition, spaghetti stained ‘I Spit On Your Graves‘ 7″ that was released by the Italian based label Kuma Records will be stoked to know that the duo known as the Wildmen are ready to release a full length in February and this is the first offering.

The band bring their own version of 60’s garage-punk back with a tashe-tinged groove similar to our favourite four-piece, the Black Lips but brings a dose of goodness that we keep coming back to this month. The duo simply rock and roll at the perfect temperature.

‘Haters Gonna Hate’ is the latest slice of Wildmen magic that is served up with a message to go fuck yourself. You know Haters Gonna Hate. So just keep walking down the road. Get some of this here.

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Pure Love

PURE LOVE
‘ANTHEMS’
(Vertigo/Mercury)

purelove_albumcoverListen without prejudice, as George Michael once said. After all, it’s tempting to view this record through a prism of ‘What Frank And Jim Did Next’, given their pedigree in Gallows and The Hope Conspiracy, and given Frank’s assertion that he’s “so sick of singing about hate” on first single ‘Bury My Bones’. That track is included here, and although it’s a decent tune with a great riff, there are more rewarding treasures to be found on ‘Anthems’.

Frank is blessed with a kind of cold croon that, when paired with Jim’s chiming, often Johnny Marr-esque guitars, creates a sound that will lodge in your consciousness whether you like it or not. The soaring choruses of ‘Handsome Devil’s Club’, ‘Riot Song’ and ‘The Hits’ will sound absolutely epic live, and they even manage to pull off a decent ballad in ‘Heavy Kind Of Chains’.

That’s not to say that all the duo’s rough edges have been smoothed over, though. Opening track ‘She’ rides in on a spiky riff reminiscent of early Manic Street Preachers, whilst ‘Scared To Death’ sees Frank howling away like in the days of old. “All’s fair in love and war/And I’m a soldier in both” he asserts, over a barrage of jagged power chords from Jim, to exhilarating effect.

Ultimately, ‘Anthems’ is an album brimming with addictive, unadulterated rock n’ roll songs and no little confidence. Only time will tell if that’s enough to gain Pure Love the same kind of rabidly devoted fanbase that the duo’s previous bands enjoy, but there’s definitely enough quality here to merit them being taken seriously as a band in their own right.

Alex Gosman

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Fidlar

Fidlar
‘Fidlar’
(Wichita Recordings)
[8/10]

FIDLAR_Album_sleeve_artFidlar, formed of four guys from LA, bring their self-titled album to our shores, and it’s nothing short of memorable, rowdy rawness. The 14 tracks make up a gritty backbone that will soon if not already establish this band, dragging them out of the back streets of the underground scene and placing them fearlessly and certainly confidently on the radar of new music for 2013.

From when ‘Cheap Beer’ kicks in, there is a riot between the squealing ear-piercing guitar vs the chanting vocals full of bold, head strong ambiance. ‘Stoked And Broke’, ‘Whore’ and ‘Max Can’t Surf’ are quite frankly, about being young, free and drunk. Track after track, it fills to the rim with intentions of trouble and havoc. These guys aren’t reminiscing, they’re living the good times and ‘5 To 9’ is the mob telling us in under 70 seconds that they have no plans on growing up any time soon.

Despite tracks like ‘Gimme Something’ overflowing with opinion they’re just a bunch of kids that are telling it how it is, but simply, they balance being too chilled to start a revolution but have the energy and balls to shout down many of the big dogs also releasing music this year. It’s the huge intro in ‘White On White’ and the sing along melody in ‘Blackout Stout’ that are going to make Fidlar a house hold name, raging even the biggest veterans of punk and hardcore.

Stand out track ‘Wait For The Man’ could even one day play host to that beer ad, just put Fidlar in a beach hut with surf boards and a few pints and off they go.

Each of the 14 slices have been produced with liberty and commotion in mind, and despite being mixed and handled by Rob Schanapf (previous duties: Elliot Smith, Beck, Guided By Voices) what remains is consistent freedom to do whatever the hell they want.

Catch Fidlar on their UK tour in February

21st Birmingham Academy 3
22nd Dublin Academy 2
24th Bristol Louisiana
25th London The Garage – NME Awards show
26th Oxford Academy 2
27th Brighton The Haunt
28th Leeds Cockpit

Jenny Chu

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Bad Religion

Bad Religion
‘True North’
(Epitaph)

I think pretty much every superlative to describe the uber-lengthy career of Bad Religion has by now been well exhausted. So, let’s cut to the chase; having dusted themselves down in the mid-Eighties, following a brief loss of direction (read; ‘Into The Unknown’) these guys have been going hard at it ever since, and gaining a rabid global following along the way. ‘True North’ is their 16th studio album, and a landmark in stubbornness and perseverance, if nothing else.

Recorded in summer 2012, the assembled 16 tracks pretty much tick every Bad Religion box, with intelligent satirical vocals played out to a 2 minute burst of concise guitar filled melodic exuberance, and layered with their by-now infamous backing vocals – “In Their Hearts is Right” particularly indicates opportunities in Barbershop, if all else fails.

Yes indeed, there is energy aplenty in these songs, and the impassioned social message they shout about is one I relate to; a world of money hungry bankers and corporations, lying politicians, and a bitter realization that humankind is slowly but surely destroying the planet that sustains us. I had “Land of Endless Greed” running thru my head earlier, listening to the latest developments on Goldman Sachs, and their attempts to take advantage of a fall in the top rate of income tax, and stuff their pockets with further millions in bonuses. Incidentally, the song smokes.

Funnily enough, one of the standout tracks for me, “Dharma and The Bomb”, is the least stereotypical Bad Religion sounding song on the album, a sun drenched, good time garage rock ‘n roller, that I could have done with at least another 60 seconds of. And those with a sharp ear will note references to The Adolescents, Germs, and Sham 69. I’ve had this album now for a few days, have spun it regularly, and can declare it a top notch Bad Religion album, a band that still do it for me, talk my language, sing my song.

Pete Craven

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Mallory Knox

Mallory Knox
‘Signals’
A Wolf At Your Door Records
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mallorysignalsaLBUMThe eagerly anticipated debut album of Cambridgeshire rock band Mallory Knox is almost here with a release date of 21st January. The album is being released through Wolf At Your Door Records.

Opening song ‘Beggars’ is easily one of the most catchy songs on the album, with a very upbeat tone to it, it is clear that Mallory Knox’s style is fitting into the new trend of upcoming rock bands such as Don Broco and Deaf Havana – but Mallory Knox are much heavier. It’s a fast paced and exciting album for sure.

Mikey Chapman’s easily recognisable and unique voice will make you remember who Mallory Knox are as he uses his lungs to their full capacity; some ‘singers’ scream and shout, but not Mikey, he can actually sing, which can sometimes be rare from a rock band nowadays. Bassist and backing vocalist Sam Douglas’ voice mixes in perfectly in all songs, it’s sort of like soft whispering in your ears.

Acoustic guitars and slow drum beats are proven to be a a new development from the band as we are introduced to songs such as ‘1949’ and ‘Bury Your Head’ which are a work of art. One thing a rock band can never go wrong on is having a slow intro to a song into full on headbanging with thrashing guitars.

Loud, uncompromising and bold is an easy way to describe this album. One outstanding song on Signals is ‘Bury Your Head’, this being the first ever “slow” song by Mallory Knox, it is sung with emotion and has is truly stunning. The soft piano is something new from the band that have never shown a calm side that is quite like this.

The only trouble to Mallory Knox is that some of their songs can sound very familiar, and that is because a lot of the songs sound the same, but that isn’t to say they aren’t fantastic. Signals is a difficult album to review as it clearly shows the band incredible development since filming ‘Resuscitate’, their second ever music video, in a potato warehouse in the middle of nowhere in early 2010.

Expect a lot more from Mallory Knox in 2013.

RATING: 10/10
FOR FANS OF: Young Guns, Don Broco, Deaf Havana, You Me At Six

Check out Mallory Knox’s latest single ‘Lighthouse’:

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P.O.S

P.O.S.
We Don’t Even Live Here
(Rhymesayers Entertainment)

www.doomtree.net

pos_we_dont_even_live_hereIt had been a little while since the last album from Minnesota’s P.O.S but, like all the best artists, the wait was well worth it. His new album, ‘We Don’t Even Live Here’, is the natural progression from its predecessor, ‘Never Better’, seeing the rapper embrace the electronic side of music that he loves whilst maintaining his punk rock ethics, melding them into another powerful statement against authority.

From the opening track Bumper, where fuzzed distortion and thunderous drums smash through the speakers, Stefon Alexander lays down his values – “They on some nonsense, we on some non-stop”. He loves his family, his crew and his friends, he hates being told what he should do and how he should live within walls and his lyrics get right to the root of the problem. His greatest triumph on this record however is that he delivers his ideas without becoming a preacher, it’s not tired and it doesn’t feel like you’ve heard it all before.

There is plenty for hip hop heads to get involved with too, ‘Fuck Your Stuff’ reps his crew brilliantly on a ridiculously big beat, ‘Wanted/Wasted”s beat has a classic Doomtree sound and the stripped-down ‘Lockpicks, Knives, Bricks and Bats’ could easily find itself on earlier P.O.S. albums, sonically speaking. The variety never stunts to flow of the record either, the Bon Iver assisted ‘How We Land‘ is the standout track and ‘Get Down’ three-quarters of the way through the album is as big a dance track as you’ll hear all year.

We love P.O.S., always have, always will and when he drops albums like this, it’s hard to see that ever stopping. The chorus line from Get Down sums it up perfectly:

“No-one gives a fuck about shit, so fuck your shit, we fuck shit up cos shit’s fucked anyway, shit is run into the ground (I know right?), I don’t wanna think about it, I just wanna get down”

So what are you waiting for? Get down then!

Abjekt

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100s – Ice Cold Perm

100s
Ice Cold Perm

(Free Download)

I love rap that talks about being a gangster, I love backpacker rap that talks about life and social consciousness, but sometimes, just sometimes, I get a need to listen to filth. Back in the day there was Too $hort delivering unutterable smut but what about the new generation? Well, thankfully it looks like there’s a new kid on the block that’s going to take that crown, get it drunk, lay down with it and do something most definitely X-rated to it.

100s is a 19 year old from Cali and has a mouth on him that would make even the most hardened pimps blush. His mixtape, Ice Cold Perm, is one of the best albums of the year without a doubt, showcasing both his lyrical talent and his ability to flow elegantly over the beat. The content is mostly about bedding ladies, but at no point does it get one-dimensional.

Whether he’s talking about Romeo and Juliet getting down or the difference between his old hood-dwelling flames and his new mink-coat wearing, expensive carpet having conquests, 100s is a rapper you’ll immediately be down with. He has character, swagger and let’s not forget that hairstyle of his. The record is free to download and you can get a sample in the video below – It’s not politically correct, you have been warned, but it is brilliant. Get involved.

Abjekt

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The Wytches

The Wytches – Digsaw

tthewytches_brightonBrighton has a strange but pleasant scene. Be it, music, skateboarding, art or general culture, you can pretty much discover something interesting on the coastline down there without having to dig too hard. We discovered The Wytches at a show in London last week, a new band that have just released this new video and are making themselves heard in the run up to the 2013.

If you take the psych garage-rock vibes of the 13th Floor Elevators and MC5, then pound them into your ear canal with a dose of Bleach era Nirvana, you will be somewhere close in finding their sound. Of course though, every band has it’s own unique formula and The Wytches deliver noise filled, catchy tunes that are worthy of your time.

Keep an eye out for them.