Slam Dunk Festival have announced 13 more bands who will be playing the 3 date festival around the UK this May. With headliners All Time Low, Four Year Strong and Deaf Havana already announced to play the festival, the festival will now host the likes of
Kids In Glass Houses, Bury Tomorrow, Cancer Bats, Heights, Heart In Hand, Tonight Alive, Heroes For Hire, House VS Hurricane, The American Scene, Gnarwolves, Blitz Kids, Captain Chunk! and [spunge]
Slam Dunk Festival dates:
25th May – Leeds University
26 May – The Forum, Hatfield
27th May – Civic, Wolverhampton
For ticket information visit www.slamdunkmusic.com.
If you feel as if your life is lacking some fun pop punk turn your heads to I Call Fives. The quintet from New Jersey left their distinctive sound tickling everyone’s taste buds with their debut album ‘First Things First’ back in 2008. Two years later came the release of ‘Bad Advice’ and now they’ve unveiled their self-title album.
‘Late Nights’ is a confident start to the eleven track album. From the bold, crunching riffs to drums that are full of power providing a true dose of pop punk. Frontman Jeff Todd’s tremendously lively vocals are fitting for such genre. The energy is undeniably contagious and should find its home to all pop punk fans record radar.
Setting I Call Fives apart from other bands in the genre is how they have managed to maintain a certain power throughout their band, despite a change in singer. Jeff has so far made a splendid first impression with this release. ‘Obvious’ seems like the perfect sing along with chorus lyrics ‘When it all comes down to the facts/you can’t admit when you’re wrong’.
From first listen ‘Back Up Plan’ is at the heart of I Call Fives style, bringing attention to a greatly memorable melody. Fourth track ‘The Fall Guy’ stays true to their pop punk roots, avoiding a mature style that the likes of All Time Low and Hit The Lights have recently adopted, yet what still exists with I Call Fives is a genuinely raw sound that the five guys have mastered throughout this record. There doesn’t seem to be any intension of pleasing the mainstream radio stations or setting their sights on playing big production shows at arenas across the globe, it still feels sincere.
‘Stuck In ‘03’ and ‘Enemy’ are a tornado of energy which never gets boring. The lyrics remain stubborn, youthful and fun with lyrically the best chorus emotive pop punk has to show:
‘Sometimes you just can’t wait , I’m more than happy to not fit in (with your friends), I hope you don’t make it home , Someday that you’ll face it, Cause the world doesn’t spin for you’.
If there’s anyone still waiting to be won over, ‘Two Sides Of Every Story’ can guarantee to do the job. With an irresistible intro, layered vocals and an effortless tougher edge, I Call Fives are carrying the flame for a genre they are taking lead of. Closing songs ‘Regrets and Setbacks’ and ‘Sleep Well’ have the potential to stay stuck in many an existing fan’s head, they’ve also got the potential for them to spread their wings and gain interest from a wider audience.
I Call Fives