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White Limo

June 9, 2015 by Amanda Gegg 1 Comment

Always a fan of musicians that broaden their horizons to let their music spread to a wider audience, I was very happy to be introduced to new Swedish rock collective, White Limo, with their inviting mix of melodic rock and unpredictable tempos.

Of course, you must recognise the intentional link of their band name to the world-renowned Foo Fighters song. This is no accident, especially with their sound teaming with inspiration from the Foos, along with very noticeable hints of Queens of the Stone Age and Biffy Clyro. This, as you can imagine, is no bad thing and this stimulus, combined with White Limo’s unique and impressive range, leaves you not knowing what to expect next.White Limo

The opening track on the ‘Magic Formula’ EP entitled Winter Rain, is definitely a commendable choice to draw listeners in with it’s subject matter juxtaposing the upbeat tone in the style of modern day rock bands such as Imagine Dragons. Our introduction to White Limo’s talent begins here with an enticing play on tempo that definitely leaves people like me wanting to hear more.

The next track Girl on Fire is another song I would predict as a popular choice for fans, drawing you in with an instantly catchy riff, leading through some lighter melodies and building to a more powerful chorus. This track, for me, really underlines why they consider themselves much more rock than indie.

Exclusive 2-track free download of White Limo!

The next two tracks Horizon and Black Roses really take you on a bit of a nostalgic train of thought back to ‘the noughties’, with that focal point of the bass guiter that is widely recognisable to those of us who grew up listening to rock in this era. Then low and behold we’re back to the modern day with that last track on the EP, Daylight, and the band once again show us why they are strong contenders to the new strain of melodic rock that has emerged in recent years (which also, of course, incorporates the most influential elements of past inspirations).

I think rock fans would be advised to take note of White Limo, as I have no doubt they will be hitting the mainstream at a rate quicker than they can have ever predicted. And good luck to them!

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: black, daylight, dragons, EP, fighters, Fire, foo, formula, girl, horizon, imagine, limo, magic, melodic, Metal, rain, review, Rock, roses, sweeden, upbeat, white, winter

Sleep Star Ignition

May 26, 2015 by Amanda Gegg Leave a Comment

It’s quite a rare thing to be impressed by a band as quickly as I was by Sleep Star Ignition…

Obviously the main reason for this is their immediately infectious modern take on ‘punk meets post-hardcore’ in their new EP Matters of Heart and the Will to Burn, lead by the diverse range of vocalist Nick Villars. But when you look a little bit closer you can see that their whole ‘get up’ is impressively put together, ranging all the way from their energetic, alternative sound to the slick branding of their website and album cover. These guys are pretty much rock stars on their own terms already and it is just a question of time before the rest of the world sits up to take note, which I have no doubt they will.

So who exactly are the people that make up this four-piece Ohio-based ensemble? Alongside the previously mentioned Nick Villars, there is Bob Tallman on guitar, Zach Madden on bass and Zach Bender on the drums. Moreover, having only formed in early 2013 with the will to spread their profound message through heartfelt lyrics and upbeat melodies, it is hard to believe that they haven’t been together for longer. The chemistry is very obviously in the right time and the right place for these guys.

Sleep Star IgnitionTheir latest EP Matters Of Heart And The Will To Burn is made up of five songs. With first track ‘Lunar Transmission’ immediately alluding to a sound similar to predecessors such as You Me at Six by jumping in the deep end with a more pensive, intense sound that really hooks you in. In the next two songs ‘The Forge’ and ‘Boardwalk’, Nick Villars proves why his vocals are perfect for this genre of music and immediately throws in some impressive and diverse range, with the perfect amount of harmony mixed in.

With the last two tracks ‘Gone Home’ and ‘The Beauty and the Doubt’, we are strongly reminded of the bands main influencers which would definitely include Taking Back Sunday and Brand New and seeing as there now appears to be a gap in the market, it would seem it is the perfect time for Sleep Star Ignition to act. And as I said earlier, they are pretty much there already with the word spreading as we speak. I know I certainly can’t wait to hear the next EP.

Check out more from Sleep Star Ignition:

Official Website – sleepstarignition.com/
Facebook – www.facebook.com/SleepStarIgnition
SoundCloud – soundcloud.com/sleep-star-ignition

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Alternative, Bob Tallman, EP, ignition, lunar transmission, matters of the heart, Metal, new music, nick villars, ohio, Pop, post-hardcore, Punk, release, review, reviews, Rock, sleep, sleep-star-ignition, star, taking back sunday, will to burn, Zach Bender, Zach Madden

Second Chance Rising: Spreading the Message of Hope

April 21, 2015 by Amanda Gegg Leave a Comment

Although perhaps not for everyone, there can be no argument about Christian rock being synonymous with feelings of love, hope and support. This is very true in the case of Second Chance Rising, the most recent band to emerge from the American South with a very succinct message to share.

Second Chance RisingI’m not sure about anyone else but as someone who used to be an avid follower of 00s American rock bands such as Matchbox Twenty, I found it quite a pleasant surprise to be reunited with this sound in Second Chance Rising. The melodic harmonies of the guitar combined with a distinctly ‘old school’ rock persona certainly make for an uplifting message being sent to the listeners. This is of course alongside a very clear religious resonance, which is undoubtedly the directive of the band’s set up, which some people may chose to take or leave if they are just interested in the music itself.

Second Chance Rising

Copyright: 2013 Big Play Productions

Along with the warm rock feel that Second Chance Rising offer us with their four-track EP, there is a distinct air of melancholia which becomes all the more apparent by the third and fourth songs Celebrate This Life and Cancer Sucks! Furthermore, it sadly turns out the band’s manager and vocalist Ray Oubre has experienced the cruel reality of being diagnosed with cancer and becoming aware of this makes the message about turning to religion and making the most of life all the more prominent for those who connect with the sincerity of the music.

Regardless of whether or not you connect with the religious message of Second Chance Rising, there can be no doubt that their take on Southern American rock is a type of music you can ‘turn to’ when you’re feeling down, in the same way people often turn to religion. Therefore, I would go as far as to say that the band are successful in their aims and will surely appeal to the hearts of many who have experienced tragedy in their lives by spreading their uplifting message of hope and faith.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: cancer, Celebrate, Chance, Christian, Country, EP, Hope, Life, Message, Oubre, Ray, Rising, Rock, Second, South, Southern, Support

Brook Jazz Lawrence – Watch This Space

March 26, 2015 by Amanda Gegg Leave a Comment

At the tender age of just twenty years old, it is safe to say that Brook Jazz Lawrence’s star is definitely rising…

…especially with the impending release of her first single ‘Feel the Fire’. Of course, she’s not the first young star attempting to share her music with the world, nor will she be the last. So what exactly is it that makes Brook and her breakthrough single stand out from the crowd?
Brooke LawrenceFirstly, the stand out factor for me is that, having been born and bred into the world of music at an incredibly young age, Brook actually writes her own music. With the world of pop in the state that it is in this day and age this is something of rarity, not to mention incredibly refreshing. She also happens to play the piano and the guitar so fans of her music can definitely expect to hear some unique all-encompassing hits in the next few years.

The single itself ‘Feel the Fire’ displays a level of production which transcends really nicely to the pop music of this day and age, especially combined with Brook’s ‘soul meets pop’ style of vocal. At the same time, it is also actually very reminiscent of American 00s pop that Brook might have grown up listening to such as Michelle Branch and Ashlee Simpson. This atmospheric heartfelt style of pop music has noticeably made a departure from the scene in recent years to make way for more band ensembles and soulful solo singers. However, it can definitely be argued that there is room for a comeback. It certainly hasn’t gotten any less catchy that’s for sure. And if anyone is going to be the one to reintroduce it, I can certainly see Brook Lawrence leading the way.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: 00s, Amanda, Blues, Breakthrough, Brooke, BrookeJazzLawrence, Feel, Fire, Gegg, Jazz, Lawrence, Pop, review, Single, Soul, Studio, WMD

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