It was comedyÔÇÖs answer to the Led Zeppelin reunion. Michael Palin, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones announced in November that, despite the death of Graham Chapman in 1989, Monty Python would be reuniting for a show at LondonÔÇÖs O2 Arena. Selling out the venue in less than a minute to British comedy fans and shameful ticket touts alike, demand for the … Continue reading Review: The Monty Python Show, O2 Arena (London)
Ubisoft Stumbles ÔǪ again.┬áReviewed on: Xbox One Watch_Dogs has without doubt been one of the most anticipated games this year. Stuck in development hell, the game was pushed back several times only to be finally released a full six months after the latest generation of consoles. For this you might expect something great, and while Watch_Dogs does manage to pull off a few good tricks … Continue reading Watch Dogs review
Following up Ed Sheeran’s chart topping album ‘+,’┬á the highly anticipated ‘x’ is set to be just as huge. Expressing his emotions of love, hurt, the pressures of stardom and of course, inebriation, we see Sheeran’s true lyrical talent in his ability to construct depth and meaning whilst keeping each track delightfully poppy. Opening track ‘One,’ whilst a seemingly bleak start to the album, is … Continue reading Review: Ed Sheeran – x
There’s a reason why Every Time I Die are heralded as one of the most consistently brilliant bands in hardcore and their latest output, seventh studio album ÔÇÿFrom Parts UnknownÔÇÖ, is definitive proof. The sombre chords at the outset of opening track, ÔÇÿThe Great EscapeÔÇÖ, signal the calm before the storm. When the song kicks in, it instigates an unrelenting torrent of pure aggression. Vocalist … Continue reading Review: Every Time I Die – From Parts Unknown
To some extent, you know what youÔÇÖre going to get with a Jack White record. ‘Lazaretto’, White’s second studio album, is no exception with most of the old trademarks present.┬áRaucous riffing and squealing solos? Check. Weird, jarring lyrics? Check. And, rising above it all, you get WhiteÔÇÖs signature hair raising yelp. Although, thereÔÇÖs also a marked emphasis on the mellower side of his sound, with … Continue reading Review: Jack White – Lazaretto
Inevitable pressure and expectation: the second albumÔÇÖs labelled ÔÇ£difficultÔÇØ for a reason. Despite extra EPs and deluxe editions, Lana Del Rey has greater expectation than most for her second studio album after breakthrough ÔÇÿBorn to DieÔÇÖ made her a teenage icon.┬á ÔÇÿUltraviolenceÔÇÖ has been received exceptionally well though, as the consensus seem to believe it eclipses ÔÇÿBorn to DieÔÇÖ with its newfound sleepy psychedelica. Del … Continue reading Review: Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence
ItÔÇÖs safe to say that the wealth of festivals the UK has to offer can be a little overwhelming. Do you (providing you get your hands on a ticket) blow all of your savings and head to the father of all festivals, Glastonbury? Or, wander of the beaten track and pay WOMAD a visit? Well, our tip is neither. From July 11th-13th weÔÇÖre heading to … Continue reading Festival Preview: 2000trees
What initially seems like an odd choice of venue becomes painfully clear upon entering SwanseaÔÇÖs Sin City. ItÔÇÖs packed. Perhaps something to do with the Birmingham quartetÔÇÖs recent appearance on E4ÔÇÖs hit ÔÇÿrealityÔÇÖ show Made in Chelsea? Certainly not. This crowd know exactly what theyÔÇÖre waiting for and it is by no means influenced by a controversial TV cameo. An echoing intro sets the mood … Continue reading Review: Peace – Sin City, Swansea 12/06/14
Answering our questions all the way from sunny Mexico (not┬ápictured), we speak to the prolific writer behind MirrorÔÇÖs Edge,Tomb Raider and Heavenly Sword. (Words: Michael O’Connell-Davidson, Research: Michael O’Connell-Davidson & Rhian Carruthers) ÔÇ£You do know IÔÇÖm on Holiday, right? ;)ÔÇØ Rhianna Pratchett┬áhas sent us her responses while holidaying Mexico, after e-mailing┬áthem to her far later than weÔÇÖd initially intended. The excited feeling┬áI get knowing that … Continue reading Interview: Rhianna Pratchett
Chet FakerÔÇÖs career has been one of constant battle with definitions; does he make jazz, soul, house, hip-hopÔǪ Is he where he wants to be? Minutes into his live show, as Faker dances around the array of equipment surrounding him, a wry smile on his face, it becomes abundantly clear that he has no interest in being categorised. HeÔÇÖs perfectly happy to just make music … Continue reading Live Review: Chet Faker – Colston Hall, Bristol
As one of the first acts signed to Paul EpworthÔÇÖs Wolf Tone label, the excitement around Oxford quartet Glass Animals has been gradually building over the past two years. Following a trio of well-received EPÔÇÖs that have displayed a willingness to experiment and rework their own material, the release of debut LP, ÔÇÿZABAÔÇÖ, proves reason for the aforementioned excitement. Opener ÔÇÿFlipÔÇÖ begins stripped back, with … Continue reading Review: ZABA – Glass Animals
Introducing Thumpers and their debut album ‘Galore’. Released via their own label, the band have┬áshot themselves into the ether of hype surrounding the records release. With the title track and first single from the album gaining recognition from the likes of XFM, Radio 1 and Radio 6 Music, the duo certainly have a lot to live up to. The record starts with the welcoming tones … Continue reading Review: Thumpers – Galore
Not sure where to take your miserable date? Food & Drink editor Emilia Ignaciuk gives some firsthand advice As far as dates are concerned, I might not know what to do, but I sure as hell know where to go. That knowledge came at a steep price: I didnÔÇÖt always have the discerning palate and enviable taste which come as perks of being Food & … Continue reading The Food & Drink Guide to Terrible Dates
Are Britain’s Universities providing enough mental health support to students?┬áAs Cardiff Uni signs the Time to Change pledge, Michael OÔÇÖConnell-Davidson investigates.┬áA separate version of this post with annotations from the author, can be found on the Quench Medium page. Of all the problems facing our society, mental illness is perhaps the least understood. It is an inherently human problem, but not one that should be … Continue reading Picking up the Pieces
Tucked into the UnionÔÇÖs cluttered backstage area with an unassuming air, you would never guess that the synthpop trio were in the middle of their international tour following seemingly instant success with 2013 debut album The Bones of What You Believe. Lead singer Lauren Mayberry is quick to defend the hard work itÔÇÖs taken to get this far: ÔÇÿFor us, it doesnÔÇÖt feel that instant … Continue reading Interview: CHVRCHES
The 17th annual Cardiff Student Media Awards kicked off last weekend, celebrating the contributions of Cardiff Students to gair rhydd, Quench, CUTV and Xpress Radio. CSM has a long and illustrious history, and has been the springboard for a myriad of successful careers in media, publishing, marketing and public relations. The standard of entries this year was one of the highest it’s ever been, and … Continue reading Quench at the Cardiff Student Media Awards 2014: The Results
This year, a group of Cardiff students┬á set out to photograph hundreds of ordinary people in Cardiff to emphasize the importance of the locals in creating a city-wide identity. Quench Culture editor Amy Pay interviewed James Cuddy, one of the project’s members, to find out about whether they achieved their goal of creating art from everyday faces. James Cuddy, You Are Cardiff – – – … Continue reading Interview ÔÇô James Cuddy, You Are Cardiff
Now in its second year, Pili Pala festival is returning to SwanseaÔÇÖs Uplands from 16-17 May. The event will showcase the best of local music talent across four live venues. Regulars on the local circuits include Cardiff-based Houdini Dax with an onslaught of powerful, upbeat rock, while the alternative Tarsiers will be bringing psychedelic influences to the scene. Meanwhile, warm acoustic sets that falter in … Continue reading Festival Preview: Pili Pala, Swansea
ThereÔÇÖs a school reunion going on and you just got invited. You might have not really liked her, but that was the a key foundation of the success of Veronica Mars ÔÇô the teenage detective that kept company to most people post the high school. We meet Veronica (Kristen Bell) during her first year in Neptune High California, popular and happy. She was also dating … Continue reading Veronica Mars’ Journey To The Silver Screen
With the pressure to physically conform now greater than ever, Andy Love takes a look at body image, marketing and our unhealthy obsession with health A quarter of adults in Britain are currently obese. The papers are still trying to find a culprit. Is it sugar? Is it fat? Is it an epidemic? Am I sick? Are you? Supermarkets have started filling their shelves with … Continue reading The Unhealthy Ideal
