ItÔÇÖs safe to say that merely 12 months ago, most people would not have heard of Daniel Avery. A resident of the infamous Fabric club in London, he has been quietly grinding away, producing a handful of EP releases and remixes for larger artists. However, at the end of 2013, following the release of ÔÇÿDrone LogicÔÇÖ, his debut album, he has truly become the man … Continue reading Live Review: Daniel Avery, 10 Feet Tall, 23.01.14
Founded by original Attack Attack! vocalist Austin Carlile and bassist Jaxin Hall in 2009,┬á┬áCosta Mesa, CaliforniaÔÇÖs Of Mice┬á&┬áMen seemed set to make their biggest steps as a band yet, five years on from their formation, following the introduction of bassist and clean vocalist Aaron Pauley. Tipped to be amongst metalÔÇÖs ones to watch of 2014, the band have called their third album┬áÔÇÿRestoring ForceÔÇÖ, in reference … Continue reading Album Review: Of Mice & Men – ‘Restoring Force’
Soon-to-be the hottest duo in British Rock music, Mike & Ben from Royal Blood chat to Marc Mayo about 2014, the bandÔÇÖs setup, and their upcoming tour. A year since deciding to form a band together, it seems all parts of the music industry are taking an interest in Royal Blood. Being nominated for both the MTV ÔÇÿBrand New For 2014ÔÇÖ and BBC ÔÇÿSound of … Continue reading Interview: Royal Blood
London┬áGrammarÔÇÖs UK tour has been eagerly anticipated.┬á Solus is illuminated by a thousand smartphones; Cardiff waits to watch it through a thousand cameras.┬á ThereÔÇÖs a buzz of conversation, which unfortunately fails to subside even after Hannah ReidÔÇÖs opening note. Although a complete sellout,┬áLondon┬áGrammarÔÇÖs live performance is not as gripping as expected. Reid is exceptional, and she sings beautifully, despite her obvious problems with the sound … Continue reading Live Review: London Grammar, Solus, 28.01.13
Since the release of their debut album ÔÇÿI Had The Blues But I Shook Them LooseÔÇÖ in 2008, Bombay Bicycle Club have been quietly working their way to the top of the British indie scene. With the release of ÔÇÿSo Long, See You TomorrowÔÇÖ, perhaps their most inventive and exciting album yet, they donÔÇÖt look set to stop any time soon. The commercial success of … Continue reading Album Review: Bombay Bicycle Club – ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’
The gig was opened by The Kix, a female rock trio from Aberdare in South Wales. Having only a limited amount of material, they only played for around twenty minutes, but they were well rehearsed and keen, making them an enjoyable opening to the night. A medley of Queen tracks including ÔÇÿBohemian RhapsodyÔÇÖ and ÔÇÿWe Will Rock YouÔÇÖ, finished their set on a high whilst … Continue reading Live Review: Electric Six, The Glee Club, 9.12.13
It is 7pm and everyone in line is in high spirits but anxious to enter the warmth of the venue. Finally, doors open and everyone filters into the venue. Only a few people gather by the stage. Most are at the merch table; meeting band members who are hanging around, multi-tasking between meeting fans and selling merchandise. Devin Oliver from I See Stars informs me … Continue reading Live Review: The Word Alive, CF10, 4.12.13
Bullet For My Valentine have been marking WalesÔÇÖ place on the heavy metal map of the UK for some years now, a show at CardiffÔÇÖs Motorpoint Arena seeming an appropriate finish to the Bridgend bandÔÇÖs ÔÇÿRule BritanniaÔÇÖ arena tour. But after FebruaryÔÇÖs disappointingly received ÔÇÿTemper TemperÔÇÖ, would Bullet be firing blanks in the live environment? First on are Buckinghamshire-based melodic rockers Young Guns, who from … Continue reading Live Review: Bullet For My Valentine, Asking Alexandria, Young Guns – Motorpoint Arena – 06.12.13
Upgraded from the Solus to the cavernous Great Hall, the feverishness that surrounds tonightÔÇÖs rare Dillinger Escape Plan UK appearance is palpable. Openers Maybeshewill channel this energy into a gargantuan feast of perfectionist post-rock. Peppered with spoken word samples and strobe lighting, the awed silence that pervades the room somehow speaks volumes. Three Trapped TigersÔÇÖ electronic noise-rock occupies a far different end of the instrumental … Continue reading Live Review: The Dillinger Escape Plan, Great Hall 2, 1.11.12
Upon arrival at Bristol’s Anson Rooms, Frightened Rabbit had already had the busiest and most successful of their ten years as a group. With the release of ÔÇÿPedestrian VerseÔÇÖ – their first studio album since signing to Atlantic Records – countless festival appearances including Reading and Glastonbury, and a mammoth international tour spanning across four continents, itÔÇÖs nothing short of a miracle that Frightened Rabbit … Continue reading Live Review: Frightened Rabbit, Bristol Anson Rooms
Hailing from the musical hotbed of New Jersey, Dads offer up the kind of twinkly, guitar-based emo thats nonchalance is its greatest asset. Comparing themselves to ÔÇ£the shitty movie you know is crap but put on to forget about everything else going wrong around youÔÇ£, their lo-fi stylings are perfectly suited to Le PubÔÇÖs sweaty, beery confines. Latest EP ÔÇÿPretty GoodÔÇÖ is much more than … Continue reading Preview: Dads, Newport Le Pub, 16.11.13
At what point between┬áChelsea Dagger and now did The Fratellis lose it? A change of sound for the band has resulted in a mish mash of all the acts that have appeared in the charts over the last twenty years, and not in a good way. ÔÇÿWe Need MedicineÔÇÖ, third album and comeback after a five-year hiatus for the Scottish trio opens with ÔÇÿHalloween BluesÔÇÖ. … Continue reading Album Review: The Fratellis – ‘We Need Medicine’
A soft-rock ballad is probably the best way to describe the latest release from BirminghamÔÇÖs alt-rockers┬áEditors. In other words, itÔÇÖs incredibly dull. A strange choice of single from the band, the track results in not much more than a slight swaying of head and lowering of eyelids. The addition of a brass section gives the tune a slight glimpse of excitement but other than … Continue reading Single Review: Editors – ‘Honesty’
In 2010, Hunstanton-based band Deaf Havana lost their aggressive vocalist Ryan Mellor, and with that a substantial aspect of their post-hardcore sound; their future as a band was uncertain.┬á But the band had been through too much together to just give it all up; too much hard work had been put in and too many hours had been spent on the road to run away.┬á … Continue reading Album Review: Deaf Havana – ‘Old Souls’
In an age where music is plagued by over-production, 808s and dwindling sincerity, Luke Sital-Singh provides an oasis of calm for the British music scene. His third release, ÔÇÿTornados EPÔÇÖ, is chilling and inspiring; a mellifluous soundtrack to a crisp November stroll, perhaps. With previous recognition from The Guardian heralding the 25-year-old as a potential ÔÇ£British Bon IverÔÇØ, his latest four-track offering could indeed propel … Continue reading Album Review: Luke Sital-Singh – ‘Tornadoes’
Have a guess at who was the most played band on the radio in 2006? Got a Feeling you know this oneÔǪ? It was of course The Feeling, who – after forming in the mid-90s – exploded into the British music mainstream in the mid-2000s with the smash hits, ÔÇ£Fill My Little WorldÔÇØ, ÔÇ£Never Be LonelyÔÇØ, and ÔÇ£I Love It When You CallÔÇØ. But their … Continue reading Preview: The Feeling & Yellowire, Solus, 3.11.12
With the Mercury and Welsh Music prizes both taking place this October, Joseph Ainscough takes a look at the relevance and intentions of music awards ceremonies, and who really benefits from them. The Mercury Prize – or The Barclaycard Mercury Prize to give it its full title – prides itself on recognising and rewarding the best of British music each year. Focussing on artists that … Continue reading Feature: And The Winner Is
Sean Smith, the slightly more outspoken half of The BlackoutÔÇÖs vocal partnership, often jokes they are ÔÇ£the best live band in the world.ÔÇØ Taken seriously or not, the statement resonated during their 90-minute set on 24 October, as the post-hardcore sestet left CardiffÔÇÖs Solus throbbing, sweaty and in need of a lie down. The eager teens who had hours before scattered the steps of Cardiff … Continue reading Live Review: The Blackout, Solus, 24.10.13
Since letlive. broke into the UK hardcore scene following the release of their critically acclaimed album Fake History in 2010, they have never failed to impress, especially in the live arena.┬á The bands chaotic, visceral live reputation often precedes them; first arriving in the UK in the summer of 2011 for a few small support slot runs and a couple of festival slots, causing mayhem … Continue reading Live Review: letlive., Clwb Ifor Bach, 15.10.13
Remember Diana Vickers? Semi-finalist on The X Factor 2008? If not, perhaps you should, because take one glance at her impressive r├®sum├® and you’ll see a UK album chart-topper, original fashion line and acting roles in film, television and the West End marking her successes over the past five years. Back now with her second album Music To Make Boys Cry, Vickers claims it’s “the … Continue reading Album Review: Diana Vickers – ‘Music To Make Boys Cry’
