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WMD Independent Music Reviews

Check out the latest reviews and articles on the WMD Studios website. In a band? Get in touch if you want to be featured!

John Aulabaugh – Of Sins Present and Past

September 29, 2015 by Casey Douglas 1 Comment

Of Sins Present and Past is the debut album from Alt Americana Rock musician John Aulabaugh, a man with a mission to use the healing power of music in the treatment of the bumps on life’s rocky road.

file-1Having seen personally the life-destroying effects of alcohol and drugs on others, John has released his album with the drive to financially support the organizations he works with, such as Transitions, a non-profit that provides recovery treatment services.

While all of his tracks feature soulful vocals and varying mixes of violin, guitar and drums, there are some that stand out more for me than others. The first is “Elasticity”, a shortish track at under three minutes but one that utilises a catchy hook in the form of many lines beginning with “There’s a…” This helps the track carry the listener along, especially with the repetition of words like “It’s gone it’s gone it’s gone.” I really like this lyrical device and enjoy the way it adds heft to the words. The next track that really caught my attention was “Undone”, a track with a languid pace, echoing vocals and a dreamlike quality with lyrics like “My baby, she fell on my gun” and “She’s come undone”. An introspective track that echoes around your mind.

“Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” is another track full of great images conjured by the lyrics. There are more than a few nods to childhood stories like Alice in Wonderland with the lyric “Chasing little rabbits down the tiny rabbit hole”. The lyrics seem quite sad yet the song is quite upbeat in tone, to me at least. I quite like that. The final track I want to highlight is “Awake”, a track full of echoing guitar notes and a more distorted sound. I particularly enjoy the “wailing guitar” solo just after the midpoint of the track; it seems to embody the night-time funk felt in the rest of the track and hints at the strange qualities that night can sometimes contain.

I didn’t find much at all to dislike amongst the other tracks. The only thing I noticed was that in “It’s Coming”, the chorus lyrics struggle a little against the background music in volume. This is only noticeable because the majority of the tracks have a very strong chorus sound. It’s a minor difference but I would like to hear this chorus as crisply as in the other tracks.

Of Sins Present and Past is described as an anthology with themes of hope and empathy and I certainly get that from the sometimes quite dark lyrics. John is joined by Dave Krusen on the drums and Jessy Greene on the violin, the mixture of the three creating a great album containing tracks that feature a variety of pace, tone and sound but that all manage to hang together and make it an album well worth a listen.

You can visit John Aulabaugh’s website at this link for more information.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: alt rock, Dave Krusen, guitar, healing, John Aulabaugh, Of Sins Present and Past, Soul, violin

Sonnet Cottage

September 22, 2015 by Casey Douglas Leave a Comment

Sonnet Cottage are certainly aptly named, the image brought to mind by the words well in line with the alternative folk band sound made by Rachel and Torey Russell.

sonnet_cottage_facebookTheir first album “Another Time” was released in 2012 and received some great acclaim. They have since been joined by guitarist Buddy Speir for their latest album “Half Written Story” which released in June 2015 and on which the bulk of this review will focus.

“Half Written Story” is an album with a relaxed and introspective pace that has a mostly upbeat feel to it, but when it does get a little sad, wraps the listener in warm acoustic guitar melodies and honeyed lyrics. The individual tracks show enough eclecticism to keep the listener engaged. Some feature different lyrical devices, such as Scarborough Fair in which the next line of the song is begun before the last one has reached its end. This creates a great sense of rhythm that is a pleasure to listen to. Other tracks feature things like recorded ambient sound, Half Written Story matching the subway themed lyrics with sounds of an actual crowd in places. I enjoyed this very much and it was something I wasn’t expecting.

The lyrics themselves vary from themes of love lost and isolation to more upbeat and optimistic tales. I particularly enjoyed the last track Find A Way, a steel drum infused track with lyrics that pay homage to famous icons like Bob Marley and Dr. King, throwing in religious phrases like Kumbaya and Namaste. There are also variations in pace in the tracks, slower quieter ones to more spritely energetic ones. The one constant throughout are the lovely vocals and high quality sound of the music. Every note and emotional flourish is clearly audible, with no distracting muddying factors to distract the listener.

What we have in “Half Written Story” is a fantastic album that would be the perfect accompaniment to any kind of day or activity, a suitable track for the situation around you more than likely findable amongst the eleven that make up its number. You can find out more information about Sonnet Cottage on their website at this link.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: bob marley, dr king, find a way, half written story, Kumbaya, namaste, sonnet cottage

Finally, a band with some Gumshen….

September 15, 2015 by Casey Douglas Leave a Comment

Sometimes what you fancy listening to is some upbeat, faster tempo music that has a lighter feel than some of the other genres. Gumshen’s DigiBites fills that role very well, a mixture of electronica, rock and pop, it makes for an eclectic and layered listening experience.

fileThe Seattle-based band is made up of Ron Hippe, Jan Ciganik, Dennis McCoy and Chip Reno, and sites influences from artists including Pink Floyd and Chromeo. They have had a number of albums released since 2007, DigiBites being their most recent.

One thing that I really enjoyed about DigiBites was the clean and warm sound. I often subjectively find some music that veers more towards electronic beats to be a little cold and clinical but Gumshen’s tracks all seem to have a warmth to them that appeals to me. The next thing that I really appreciated was Ron Hippe’s vocals; they have a kind of echoing magnetism that sits more than comfortably on top of the various sounds contained in the music. His vocals also hold your attention, in tandem with the song writing of course. There are a number of tracks where the flow of the words is interrupted by a change in his tone or pace. The track Be Here Now is a great example of this, the airy first few lines of the chorus followed by the more sudden (but not harsh) exclamation “Look up!”. Pick Up The Slack is also a track that enjoys slightly harder vocals in this manner, the titular line “Pick up the slack!” an order rather than a suggestion.

Now a confession. I have never viewed myself as being a foot-tapper when listening to music. DigiBites’ fast pace and catchy beats did bring this behaviour out in me though, much to my amazement. I might add I have nothing against foot-tapping, I just very rarely do it. To me, that is solid evidence that Gumshen’s music has something to it above others I might have listened to. Most of the tracks on DigiBites have something in them that appeals, whether it is some deep-toned electronic notes or delicately plucked fast-paced guitar riffs, it all comes together in a smooth way that is easy to listen to and satisfying. What more could you want?

You can checkout Gumshen at their website here.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: be here now, chip reno, chromeo, dennis mccoy, Digibites, Gumshen, look up, Music, new music, pink Floyd, review, reviews, ron hippe

BURST by Majentta

September 8, 2015 by Casey Douglas Leave a Comment

When the chorus kicks in, the backing music has a great texture, distortion and grain adding some grit to the main chorus refrain.

MajenttaThe main guitar riff that underpins the track in general certainly gets stuck in the ear, the pace of the notes sitting really well with the slower extended notes that surround it. The lyrics sung by Majentta’s powerful voice are no less intricate, the hook laden chorus filled with questions and lingering words that almost makes the listener feel rude not to answer her.

Burst has all the qualities of a pop-style alternative rock track that would sit comfortably in the music charts alongside more well-known bands and artists. The theme of death and loss sung with panache yet a fairly upbeat instrumental backing is a great listen. While the backing music is layered and interesting, the main draw here is Majentta’s voice, a voice that can instil awe and fear in the blink of a change in tone. So many artists seem to be unwilling to allow their voices a full range of expression, but this is something Majentta doesn’t struggle with one bit.

If you are a fan of strong female vocalists, visit Majentta on Bandcamp at this link and take a listen. There is also a great music video on Youtube for Burst and it is well worth a watch too, giving visual expression to the underlying theme of death and loss writ by the lyrics. If you do check it out, keep an eye out for some great sinister smoke effects.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: alternative rock, Burst, distortion, female vocalists, Majentta, Music, new music, review, reviews

Chand K Nova

September 1, 2015 by Casey Douglas Leave a Comment

If you are a fan of instrumental albums that feature guitar strings beautifully manipulated into producing notes that float and dance in the ear, you would be very wise to check out Chand K. Nova’s music.

chand_skull_facebook A self-taught multi-instrumentalist, Chand has created a tremendous E.P called The Solar Bliss, five tracks that revel in all that is great about the guitar. If you are a fan of the Carlos Santana school of guitar-based melody, Chand will certainly put you in mind of Carlos.

The title track “Solar Bliss” features sweeping guitar notes and a nice moderate pace, the odd note ending in distortion but nothing to distract from the rhythm. In a number of places, the backing notes die down and Chand unleashes his guitar, letting the notes climb and fall in a relaxed and entertaining manner. This is a common theme amongst all of the tracks on this E.P, the guitar tickling taking the place of where a traditional chorus might be.

Chand K Nova“China Man Blues” is another great track, the early plucked guitar notes soon moving into lots of vibrato as the slow beat carries it all along. “Zetetic” is a more melancholy track that has all the qualities of the end credits after a film in which the happy ending didn’t quite pan out as people had hoped. “Trouble in Paradise” is another track that made me think of TV or film, its ominous heavier undertones and distortion making me think of criminals about to do a heist. That tone did seem to shift later in the track however, the feelings turning to the prospect of things being resolved. The final track “Daydream” is a good track to end the album on with a punchy beat and a slightly heavier sound brought about by distortion and a more prominent use of the drum cymbals.

I must admit that I am more a fan of the heavier use of guitars but Chand’s music is such a chilled and pleasing listen that it makes me wonder if I shouldn’t have looked into this more mellow kind of guitar music sooner. You can check out Chand K. Nova on his ReverbNation page here where you can also listen to his other songs.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Carlos Santana, Chand K. Nova, China Man Blues, Daydream, instrumental, The Solar Bliss, Trouble in Paradise

Scott Mahoney

August 25, 2015 by Casey Douglas Leave a Comment

Many people chase the prospect of having a relationship like a thirsty person looking for water. The trouble is, sometimes that water turns out to be great at first, but after a while it might make you sick and bloated.

Scott MahoneyScott Mahoney’s song “What I Want When I Want” is based on the less desirable side of relationships, the break-up, and it handles it in an upbeat way, the lyrics reveling in the freedom of separating from someone that you no longer want to be with.

The track starts quietly, the gentle strum of guitar quickly joined by Scott’s clear and warm vocals. The chorus jumps in after the lyric “I need you like a need a heart attack” and brings with it harder strums and a punchy beat that seems to underline almost every word. The main hook of the chorus is the lyric “I do what I want when I want…So I get what I want when I want” and it certainly has ear-worming potential to rattle around your head for the rest of the day.

Another thing that I particularly liked about “What I Want When I Want” is that there are backing vocals that chime in when the drum beat turns a little bit “military”, the simple addition of the voices shouting “Hey…Hey oh oh” giving the track a pleasing rhythm that melds into the chorus sections well and adding an extra layer to the music.

“What I Want When I Want” has a lighthearted feel but covers a subject matter that can be anything but. Whether you believe the song is about someone that might be a little commitment phobic or just someone exercising their personal choice to be free of someone else, I think you will agree on hearing it that this pop track is certainly catchy in the extreme and wouldn’t sound out of place if it came on the radio sandwiched between some other chart hits.

You can check out Scott Mahoney on Music Xray at this link.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Relationship, Scott Mahoney

Xander Demos puts his best shred forward!

June 23, 2015 by Casey Douglas Leave a Comment

Master guitar soloist Xander Demos puts his best shred forward!

Xander DemosSome modern rock/metal bands seem to throw everything and the kitchen sink into their music. Something that may be overlooked in their zeal is the guitar solo: sometimes short, sometimes long and meandering, but both give space in the track where someone can truly shine. Shred guitarist Xander Demos doesn’t overlook this and hearing him play reminded me of what other bands sometimes gloss over.

Fronting his own band XDB and performing in various tribute bands, he’s certainly an adaptable busy guy. I checked out the songs on the XDB Reverbnation page and certainly enjoyed what I heard: songs that harken to some of the giants of rock and metal, and instrumental tracks that allow the shredding to truly shine.

Dancing Through Daggers features frenetic fingering accompanied by clear and epic vocals that set this song up as a great partner to fantastic mental scenes. Under a Darkened Sky is home to a fast solo that rises and falls in tone and tempo but grabs the ear and won’t let it go. Boys of Summer has a grittier sound than the others, the song interspersed with solo flourishes that grow in duration and intricacy each time they occur. I enjoyed these songs, the lyrics painted pictures and the sounds and rhythms were catchy to the ear. Where Xander really shines in my opinion however, is the instrumental tracks.

White Knuckle Driving has a grainy sound that alternates between bass segments of relative calm and fast fingering solos that increase the pace once more. I loved the periods of peace where things breathe before being launched back into the soloing. If you keep the title of the track in mind, it’s easy to imagine a souped up Mustang crunching and shaking as it turns suicide bends, the quiet parts of the song accompanying when the driver momentarily loses control, the frantic parts giving a soundtrack to when control is regained once more.

Woodshed Sonata is another purely instrumental track. It begins with the sound-byte “Grab some wood there bub!” before the listener hears a deeper, heavier sound than the previous tracks: pounding drums and lower notes accompanied by periods of blistering soloing. I feel these instrumental tracks truly let the listener appreciate the finger work put into this kind of track, unhampered by vocals or other distractions.

Check out Xander Demo’s Reverbnation page below!

Xander Demos on ReverbNation

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: casey, Darkened Sky, douglas, guitar, knuckle driving, Metal, review, riff, shred, studios, WMD, Xander Demos, XDB

Whoa Mama!

June 16, 2015 by Mehdi 'Eddy' Hassan Leave a Comment

Whoa… I actually had to wait (at least) for 30 minutes to write anything after ‘Whoa’ to let my goose-bumps subside! The first 12 bars of the first song (The Way You Do It) I played on my stereo system were enough to blow my mind.

Whoa MamaThe paper-weights on my desk are still dancing, riveting on the groovy rhythm. My mind still looks for some signs of conclusion. Still unable to admit, I try to find some info about the band ‘Whoa Mama’, but there isn’t much; except the three released songs. Finally, I contacted my editor and –to my pleasure- I was told that ‘Whoa Mama’ is actually a new band, not some uncut rough diamonds from the 1970’s.

Without getting a peak at their looks or attire, I would dare to guess (and comment) that the band must be living in the 70’s: every single note they play or sing, every rhyme they make, even the tones of their instruments (tuning of the snare on the drums for example) screams loud about the classic blues rock era!

And the three gems of polished songs (available on the YouTube) are enough to tell that the members of ‘Whoa Mama’ know every hit classic rock song by heart. You would find colors of every 70’s hit act in their songs, from Ted Nugent to Tommy Bolin for guitar sounds to Jim Morrison-Janis Joplin-David Coverdale vocal frolics.

Whoa MamaThe first song I heard ‘The Way You Do It’ is a gut wrenching ballad, with intoxicating and dreamy vocals. It is more like messy love making and frantic day dreaming, packaged in a crazy but lucid flowing vibe. Apart from vocals, I absolutely adore the guitar chops… riffs, sweet phrasing with articulate runs, and an enchanting tone on the top of it.

Song ‘All for Nothing’ is more like an orgy between Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) and David Coverdale (White Snake) signature styles and sound. It is a rejuvenating representation of classic blues rock.

The song ‘Bloody Mary’ is drifting somewhere between the giant rockers Black Sabbath and Free. Immense feedback drenched guitar tone, swift and subtle changes in the groove and timing; it is enough to get you drunk without the need to indulge in any other substance.

‘Whoa Mama’ is absolute Rock, absolutely psychedelic…

I am eagerly waiting for more material from this great band.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: 70s, Black Sabbath, bloody mary, blues rock, David Coverdale, free, groovy, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, Music, new music, review, reviews, Rock, Ted Nugent, the way you do it, Tommy Bolin, White Snake, whoa mama

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

Best of Enemies

May 19, 2015 by Mehdi 'Eddy' Hassan Leave a Comment

Best of EnemiesThe kind gents from The Best of Enemies are offering music on bandcamp for just £0.99. Why aren’t you there yet?

Best of Enemies is a four piece band from London. Although the energetic four haven’t been together for too long they are already playing to packed fanatic crowds, their debut single “Brother” was released in July 2014. The press has taken heartily to the band, and it is already being nicked as ‘the new face of English Rock’. Considering their relatively new arrival, it is a big achievement.

Best of EnemiesI just went through the debut EP ‘Stay Young, Trust Me’ by Best of Enemies: the first thing that rings through my mind is that it must be a real worth listening to them live. Not to say that they are any way behind when it comes to studio recordings, the EP is very skillfully created and the production is on par with any modern outfit.

The four tracks presented on the debut EP are full of interestingly carved professional pegs, for example; all the songs are upbeat (which is a must to entice younger audience). There are some great harmonies supporting the lead vocalist, and especially the chorus part is well designed for a great sing-along, pretty clever!

The first song on the EP, ‘You are a Good Mate, Really’ is a brightly packaged song about the bond of friendship. Second song (Ignorance is Bliss) is a dark –darker- but energetic piece about mindsets of neglected youth; nothing could be more appropriate for a youth oriented output. Third song ‘Hope and Dreams’ is again a collective mantra about the fancies and disappointments of youth, and the fourth song (Wasting Away) is just a personalized anecdotal version of the ‘Hope and Dreams’.

The rhythm section is punchy and stable, and the best thing about Best of Enemies is the singing of the lead vocalist Sam Christmas, he is absolutely on the tune and his -delivered to perfection- vocal dynamics tell me, that Best of Enemies have quite rightfully started fast, and they are here to stay long!

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: band, bands, Best of Enemies, energetic, English, harmonies, ignorance is bliss, London, Music, review, reviews, Rock, Sam Christmas, stay young, trust me, wasting away, you’re a good mate really

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

Full-bodied sound from Sentinel

April 16, 2015 by Casey Douglas Leave a Comment

Pectus Excavatum is a condition that causes the chest to look hollow due to deformity in the growth of the ribs. It can lead to cardiac and respiratory problems but I’m thankful to say, from the sound of Sentinel’s album Pectus Excavatum, there is no sign of the latter in Tom Watson’s vocals, nor any lack of heart in Louie Penfold, Dom Skinner, Richard Shearing’s playing.

Consisting of three tracks, the album is a compact and incisive mix of catchy hooks, fast-paced beats and crisp riffs. New Dawn has an infectious drumbeat, melodic guitar swells and a great expansive chorus. Even though the band lists Killswitch Engage, Bury Tomorrow and Trivium as influences, this track made me think a little of Tool in places. The Crown is a gritty track with an even faster-pace, growled lyrics and a blistering solo followed by a swaying heavy riff pattern. I Am Lucifer begins like a gentle breeze but suddenly turns into a gale as full-strength sound and distortion erupts into a pounding assault that is only punctuated with, you guessed it, another hook-laden chorus.

SentinelSentinel tick the boxes for me when it comes to giving an opinion on a metal band. I love brutal music and harsh, shouted lyrics, but I always have a soft spot for a catchy and sweetly sung chorus. I guess I like the storm followed by the calm, before the next storm. Music without this dynamic grows a little boring and tedious for me. Sentinel avoid this pitfall and give the listener a saliva-filled gust of feeling, carried in the space that the more relaxed chorus gives.

The band has a couple of gigs coming up at South Sea live, Broomhill, Sheffield in the next few months. The first is on the 19th April, the next the 30th April. I highly recommend you go and see them if you can, as if Pectus Excavatum is anything to go by, you are in for a treat.

Pectus Excavatum can be purchased on Bandcamp for any price you decide here : http://sentinelbanduk.bandcamp.com/releases

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Bandcamp, Broomhill, brutal, casey, douglas, free, harsh, heavy, I am Lucifer, Killswitch, Metal, New Dawn, Pectus Exactum, review, Sentinel, Sheffield, studios, Trivium, WMD

Call me when you’re famous

April 10, 2015 by Casey Douglas Leave a Comment

“I won’t waste my time on you…” is a key lyric from Call Me When You’re Famous’ song Dirty Little Secrets. One thing you should spend your time on is letting your ears sup on their punchy hook-laden sound.

Dirty Little Secrets is the first single from the band’s Organised Chaos EP and I think it’s a promising taste of the kind of music they are capable of producing. The band has a crisp and large sound with that punchy pop punk flavour that worms into your ear and forces your mind to repeat little tidbits of lyric over and over, particularly the chorus. The vocals are strong enough to easily ride above the high-tempo accompanying music, the other instruments distinct yet all coming together with a seemingly casual ease. I’m not a great fan of punk bands that mash everything together into a cacophony. Call Me When You’re Famous are safe from my scorn in this respect.

I always think that it’s nice when a punk band looks like they’re enjoying what they’re doing, rather than swimming in a sea of angst. Call Me When You’re Famous’ Dirty Little Secrets video certainly looks like they had fun making it. They put a call out to any fans who wanted to join them, provided free beer and made excellent use of a bouncy castle…what more could anyone want?

Call Me When You're FamousThe six-piece band from Leeds has created a fast-paced song with easy to listen to lyrics and a style that would easily complement any activity taking place in the summer sun, be it driving, bike riding or…bouncing around on an inflatable castle in someone’s back garden.

Check out their Facebook page to keep up to date with what they are up to and where they are playing next. They interact with fans regularly so they should be applauded for this.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: album, Call me when you’re famous, casey, dirty little secrets, douglas, EP, leeds, organised Chaor, Pop, punchy, review, Single, Studio, studios, WMD

You’re Smiling Now But We’ll All Turn Into Demons

April 7, 2015 by Casey Douglas Leave a Comment

Demons

Population IV is the Portsmouth band’s latest album and it’s certainly a textured and flowing listening experience. From the airy vocals of The Sorcerers to the easy rhythm of Hothouse, the album takes you on a fuzzy and infectious trip through the hills and valleys of wah wahs and deep riffage.

I like my music to conjure images in my mind and to that end, Population IV doesn’t disappoint. There were two tracks that did this especially well. Chapel Perilous starts with a laid back and light melody that eases you into a pleasing rhythm before turning heavy as hell around the midpoint. If there was ever a soundtrack for a weary traveller climbing to a mountaintop temple only to find it has been overrun with demons, this is it. The other track I wanted to mention is Hothouse, the almost sun-infused riffs igniting the images of a long desert highway and a roaring biker riding into the sunset, relaxed and cruising before gunning the bike to even greater speed as the track tempo ramps up towards the end.

DemonsAll of the tracks are enjoyable, expansive and a great accompaniment to whatever you might be up to, infusing the air with the psychic feelings of flow, ease and groove. They’re also a great listen as the main focal point of your attention; the textures and flourishes in the rhythms and guitar enough to hook your mind like a floundering fish and still its motion as it dangles on each note.

The band formed in Portsmouth in 2002 and consists of Thomas Bone, Steve Hanby, Ryan “Howitzer” Howarth and Richie Troughton. They have a number of gigs coming up in the next few months: March 8th at the Shacklewell Arms, London, and on May 2nd at the Kraak Gallery, Manchester. Go and see them if you can, you owe it to yourself!

You can hear Population IV on the band’s BandCamp page here.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: band, bone, casey, chapel perilous, douglas, hanby, heavy, hothouse, population IV, portsmouth, psychedelic, Richie, riffage, Rock, Shacklewell arms, steve, studios, the sorcerers, Thomas, troughton, WMD, YSNBWATD

Shoot The Duke’s “The Blackwell Incident”

April 2, 2015 by Mehdi 'Eddy' Hassan Leave a Comment

Imagine a singer/performer carrying around a grand piano or a cello as accompaniment, while he drifts from town to town, singing melodies and narrating great tales of future and past; not a really sexy picture, right?

On the other hand, a guitar has always been a comfy and reliable tool for story-tellers; ‘Shoot the Duke’ is a valid example. Simply put: It’s just two friends playing guitars together, as they pour their hearts out….

Boosted with large guitar sounds, their music slowly gets you moving, as you are drawn in by the groovy rhythms and catchy lyrical ideas. The musicians in this dynamic and nifty entity are: Tommo Bryan and Neil Cripps, both of them are relatively young but immensely talented and mature. Their coherence is evident in their musical taste and in their lyrical concepts, as well.

Like any other folk/pop/acoustic rock outfit ‘Shoot the Duke’ is producing raw, clear, and straightforward vibes; with lots of room for improvisations. Their influences range from Ed Sheeran to Jamie T, Passenger and Johnny Cash. It is clearly evident that they want to keep the old and new inspiration together.

Shoot The DukeTheir first single ‘Top dog’ (released in early 2014) made it to the top five slot and it was also broadcasted on BBC Radio 6 Music.

‘Shoot the Duke’ also won the ‘Change Tracks Battle of the Bands’ in 2014. Shortly after winning the competition they completed and released their four track EP ‘The Blackwell Incident’ and afterwards toured the circuit with fellow folk artists.

Out of the four songs on the EP, ‘Top Dog’ has generated the biggest following. The springy rhythm and well-crafted lyrical poetry reminds one of the late 70’ folk-progressive-rock movements, a bit low key Robert Plant or ELP, if I must say. The song is about simple pleasures of ‘Modesty’, and how to stomach success without losing yourself in the glitter and dime.

The full EP (The Blackwell Incident) can be heard streaming live at: soundcloud.com/shoottheduke

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: acoustic rock, BBC Radio 6, Change Tracks Battle of the Bands, ed sheeran, ELP, groovy, guitars, Jamie T, Johnny Cash, Neil Cripps, Passenger, Robert Plant, Shoot the Duke, Singer, The Blackwell Incident, Tommo Bryan, top dog

Time for your Jagged Little Thrills

March 31, 2015 by Mehdi 'Eddy' Hassan Leave a Comment

It’s sexy! Not the pretty polished back street boys sexy, but the real deal; if you know what I mean, wink, wink.

If (you think) your musical taste is slightly mature, then, you might play it once and move on to some other links about n-sync reunion hoax. But, Jagged Little Thrills are like the ‘hot mama’ you may not notice at a mere glance. Don’t be afraid! Take another look, play the songs once again, get over the numbness of cheesy songs you have been hearing till now, and you will be bulldozed by the voluptuous raw energy floating to –and through- you.

Well I -might- acknowledge, the vocals may not pass the tuner test (or guitars might go off tune/tempo) here and there. But, when was the last time you heard such raw and energetic voice? I can’t remember anything like this; it’s been a long, long time.

Like every –meaningfully- successful rock act Jagged Little Thrills are a strange mix, the stability of Tom Wright (bass) and ‘Late Night’ Rob Gray (drums) is providing a hot platform for the searing vocals of Thomas Wright (vocals) and, Dave Vegas and Matthew ‘Weg’ Wetherill’s combined beefy guitar chops.

Jagged Little ThrillsReportedly, these five friends got together in the early 2014 to put forward their own blend of Punk/Indie/Rock sound, and it seems that they manage to get it right. It didn’t take them long to establish in the big league, right from the start, when they performed in a little pub in Northampton back in the early 2014. The inspirations are quite wide: from Nirvana to The Clash and from Queens of Stone Age to White Stripes.

It is no wonder that renowned producer Alan Emptage (who has worked with artists such as Adam Ant, Eric Clapton and Skunk Anasie) will be working with them on their first EP (starting early 2015)

I am already addicted to their single ‘Streets of Berlin’, as I look forward to hear a ‘Big’ and thrilling complete album from the Jagged Little Thrills. I just hope it comes out sooner!

Check out Jagged Little Thrills on Facebook – www.facebook.com/Jaggedlittlethrills

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: alan emptage, guitar, hassan, Indie, Jagged, Jagged-little-thrills, Little, medhi, Music, nirvana, northampton, Punk, queens of the stone age, recording, review, Rock, rocknroll, studios, Thrills, wmd. wmdstudios

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

The Amplifires

March 24, 2015 by Mehdi 'Eddy' Hassan Leave a Comment

The first and forthright comment I can give about The Amplifires’ music is: it is very digestible, and a wide spectrum of music listeners can enjoy their songs; it pans in between Alternative Rock and Punk, with all the classic shades added to it. From Blondie to Ramones, and even Jim Morrison at times, so there is something for young listeners, as well as old trained ears of the 70’ and 80’ era.

Songs are short, crispy and punchy. You wouldn’t need to leave some out to a make a play list as they all appropriately melt into one another, although the lyrical (or conceptual) content varies.

The AmplifiresLike all great Alternative outfits, rhythm section is providing a solid ground for the punchy guitar work over it, but my interest lies in the beautiful (and natural) tone of the vocalist Sharon Clancy. She has a gifted voice, and in my opinion, she could have picked any genre and her voice would have adjusted to it; it has a certain feel to it. No wonder a huge number of listeners are drawn to it. That also explains the growing number of followers for The Amplifires, on the both sides of Atlantic.

The UK based band (Matlock to be precise) was found in 2005, when David Brunt (guitarist) and Steve Rawlinson (bassist) accidentally met and realized that they have some common interests (in terms of music) shortly they were joined by Sharon Clancy (vocalist) and an improvisation of Blondie’s ‘Call me’ led to the solidification of the act. There had been quite a few replacements on the drums, but currently Sandy Mitchell is holding the seat; and he is holding it steady.

The Amplifires has been quite active ever since: the first album ‘Fire On The Moon’ was released in 2008, followed by ‘S.W.A.L.K’, 18 month later. Their latest album ‘Grace and Danger’/Life’s a Gamble’ has been released, available both on musicxray.com and reverbnation.com, as well as on apple’s itunes.

And the new fans looking for a chance to hear them live can check their performances on youtube.

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: alternative rock, Blondie, Fire On The Moon, Grace and Danger, Jim Morrison, Life’s a Gamble, new music, Punk, Ramones, review, reviews, S.W.A.L.K, the amplifires

It’s eerie… It’s dark… It’s progressive… Or just simply, It‘s Froskull

March 17, 2015 by Mehdi 'Eddy' Hassan Leave a Comment

Listening to Froskull may not be an easy feat, for those of you who want their peanut butter and jelly on separate slices…

Froskull Album CoverOn the other hand, if your musical choices go beyond easy listening, and if you are looking for something that is as interesting and as compelling like the Milky Way, then you have reached the right planet.

The Nashville original; composer, musician and producer Stephen Hammond is the mind (and skull) behind all of it, as he conjures up the bending wizardry that compiles all -possibly known Rock oriented- genre you can find in a deviously drafted and produced album (of the same name)

It should sufficiently entice any music lover’s interest: I have found the traces of Enigma to Metallica and Priest to Crow on just one track (The road to Sto-Vo-Kor) which was enough to draw implicit attention from me.

(If only they had added a flute player I would have added Jethro tull in the list, especially with the sir name Hammond of the founding member)

Reportedly, Stephen Hammond has been producing professional music (putting out music albums) ever since 2008, afterwards; he add bassist Jason Schond, his brother Brett Hammond on guitars, and Adam Dennis on drums (in the respective order). The actual band (with the name Froskull and current line up) settled in 2012.

All of the musicians in the lineup are equally polished; exploring wild eccentric pan-genre compositions, laden with intricate beats and timings, trickily infused bass lines, topped with searing guitar solos and plenty of meat in terms of riffs!

The four piece band has enough zeal and skills to seriously equate with a 24 piece orchestra.

The phrase ‘Flight of the imagination’ is ringing through my head, as I have just finished listening to the Froskull playlist, a 4th time in a row.

I wonder if they can come up with a song based on it…

Cherries on top!

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Crow, dark, eccentric, Enigma, Froskull, Metallica, Nashville, new music, Priest, Progressive, review, reviews

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