RELOST. Reviews

Female. 19 Years Old. West Midlands. Avid Music Fan. Passionate Writer. Contributor for www.morethanthemusic.co.uk. Contact:[email protected]

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Artist: ROAM Album: Viewpoint E.P Genre: Pop Punk Released: 27th January 2015

After accumulating a cult like following that is growing larger and larger by the day through touring with the likes of Neck Deep and Man Overboard in the coming weeks as well as their first UK headline dates; ROAM grace our ears with their latest offering Viewpoint to demonstrate once and for all what all the fuss is about.

Opening track “Over Your Head” doesn’t mess around with a brief introduction before storming into crashing chords, thrashing drum beats fighting for dominance over a driving bass line and yelping, course vocals that can switch to melodic and heartfelt within seconds in one quick burst of power and one ominous rolling crash of the cymbals. “Warning Sign” has a worryingly similar formula which can give the impression at first that this will be a generic pop punk e.p; though it does offer differentiality as the song continues with a slower tempo and a higher focus on the relatable although stereotypically pop punk lyrics over their musical talent alone. “519” is arguably the strongest track within this e.p with a grittier more punk feel to it with chords deep and dark, reminiscent of the very roots pop punk came from that work brilliantly with gritty shouts and create a pleasing yet strange juxtaposition against soulful and soothing vocals alike instead of just sticking to the tried and tested styles that the band are comfortable with. Closing track “Safeguard” begins broodingly with the warning beat of the drums before plunging into verses to throw your whole body around to built with sharp and screamingly loud guitar hooks, a deep and gloomy bass line that provides the heartbeat that keeps the song alive with the pulse of the beating drums and deafening cymbals although it does not provide a satisfying climax or definitive end that would of finished this e.p off in a neat and tidy fashion, although its rough and abrupt end matches the general style of the songs overall that has been demonstrated.

It would have been easy for ROAM to fall into the pile of generic pop punk bands reaching fame quickly through social network hype and a few brief tours, though this record shows that the band have more than put passion, time and their accumulated talent into proving their worth within the pop punk scene with this well crafted and energetic e.p.

]HT�/!a

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Lanterns “This Is Not My Home” Release Date: 19th January 2014 Label: Middlemist Records

After a year of travelling round and gigging solo and writing songs in the summer of 2012, vocalist Joe Baynard decided to get a rag-taggle band of like-minded individuals together to form a band and this, Lanterns was created. In a short amount of time the Gloucester quartet have managed to achieve much, with singles and a music video fast catching the eyes of fans from all over, and recording with musical mastermind Dave Draper of Tower Studios to produce their debut album This Is Not My Home, which you are not ready for.

“Happiness pt. 1” starts the album off to an unusual start with spoken word encapsulating the whole juxtaposition of this album in which there is a heavy presence of angst and misery battling happiness and a care free spirit. The soulful vocals and upbeat chords quickly jump in to make your head bob and hips sway before plunging into “The Best You’ll Never Have” kicking the pace up a notch with a pounding bass line, racing fret work, ballsy lyrics and a thumping drum beat encapsulating traditional punk roots with their own, unique, melodic twist.

First single from the debut “Moving On” slows the pace right down and has the misery foreshadowed in “Happiness pt. 1” pulsing through its very veins with a slow and ominous acoustic introduction with lyrics that tug at the heart-strings and speak ominously of change and everything getting easier with the passing of time, almost impersonated within the song as the pace quickens, the deep bass line gets swallowed by the soaring guitar hooks before “Happiness pt 2” takes over with a lulling, harmonious song with echoing vocals, a steady pace with repetitive chords that soothes the soul from the tumultuous first few tracks. “Happiness pt 3” completes the sage of transformation within life with a reflective look at how life can change from sadness and misery to happiness and optimism, a common theme within pop punk and emo inspired tracks these days but this is not done in a cliché and stereotypical way, it feels relatable and accessible as the lyrics are not ridden with romanticism and stereotypes, they are raw and almost too close to home making this song and album endearing all the more.

Closing track “Safe With Me” showcases everything that makes this band good at what they do with the thrashing of guitars and symbols alike fighting for dominance over a slow tempo and melodious vocals which could end up sounding chaotic and cacophonous, though Lanterns make it work to their advantage creating an audible struggle that matches the lyrics and overall tone of the album perfectly creating an angry and uplifting crescendo for the album to end on.

I hope to hear a whole lot more for Lanterns if their debut album can display such talent and diversity, daring others to see what they can do with traditional generic conventions and how they can hone them and add their own unique styles to make something new and exciting; and I’m sure many others will too.

www.facebook.com/lanternsuk

8/10

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NEW YEAR NEW EXCITEMENT: 15 TOURS HITTING THE UK THAT WE CAN’T WAIT FOR

Forget New Years Resolutions, forget buffet food and drunken relatives, forget that iconic countdown, we ALL know what we are most excited for the New Year to bring and that is all the amazing tours that have been announced towards the end of 2014 that we are already wishing 2015 away for in the hope they come ever closer. 2015 sees bands from my childhood depart, small up and coming bands make their first trip to our humble little island and musical legends make a heroic comeback. How many of these have you head banging and jumping already?

Enter Shikari Support TBC With a live reputation more notorious than Jack the Ripper’s amongst criminals, you would be a fool to miss out of the bone breaking, vocal chord tearing, ear drum exploding live spectacle that is Enter Shikari and the menagerie of chaos that follows

Man Overboard Support from Roam others TBC Following date changes meaning Front Porch Step had to step down from this tour, and the split of Hostage Calm meaning their departure from the tour, it is a wonder Man Overboard have powered through and I for one am glad they have, you won’t catch a more emotional and fun live performance

Neck Deep Support from Knuckle Puck, Seaway and Trophy Eyes The darlings of the pop punk world in 2014, Neck Deep will show whether their hype is deserved within this spectacular line up demonstrating the hotly tipped newcomers into pop punk Knuckle Puck, Seaway and Trophy Eyes. Truly a career defining tour.

Kerrang Tour 2015: Don Broco Support from We Are The In Crowd, Bury Tomorrow and Beartooth An eclectic line up to say the least, again another mash up of hotly tipped bands of 2014 Don Broco, We Are The In Crowd and newcomers Bear Tooth as well as touring veterans Bury Tomorrow (seriously though, do they ever go home?!)

Yellowcard and Less Than Jake Support from Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! Punk veterans Less Than Jake take to the stage with pop punk godfathers Yellowcard and easycore party group Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! If you want to see the evolution of pop punk as well as party your ass off this is the tour to attend.

Dropkick Murphys Support from The Mahones and Blood or Whiskey Ska Punk party animals Dropkick Murphys bring their own brand of lunacy to the UK once more and its pretty much a stone cold fact that they will not disappoint and that you may as well write 2015 off if you miss it

Cancer Bats and While She Sleeps Support TBC There has never been a more lethal combination than this, you could power cities off the energy that will be incited by these two outstanding acts.

Funeral For A Friend Support from No Bragging Rights and Creeper Never one for a line up that makes the slightest bit of sense, Funeral for a Friend with their melodic vs hardcore mash up formula are bound to both break your heart and maybe a few bones to start 2015

Slipknot Support from Korn and King 810 The godfathers of metal are back to show once and for all why Slipknot are still on top of their respective genre decades on. And don’t you ever forget it.

Pure Noise Record Tour 2015: Four Year Strong Support from Hit The Lights, Forever Came Calling and Light You Up I for one cannot name one disappointing performance from Four Year Strong, and this shall surely be another tour to add to the catalogue of lively and exhilarating tours that they have brought to the UK

Real Friends Support TBC Following highly successful festival performances in 2014, Real Friends finally take a huge leap in their career and bring their headline show filled with sadness and sunny hooks to a few choice dates in the UK

The Blackout Support TBC A massive part of my teenage self died with the announcement that The Blackout are calling it a day, but this tour poster kind of softened the blow, and the reminder that The Blackout haven’t been successful for so long for nothing, they do everything with all their heart or not at all. These shows will be no different.

NOFX and Alkaline Trio Support TBC I have never screamed so loud at a tour announcement. Two of the most influential punk bands of all time on tour together, most of the bands on this post may not even have formed if not influenced by these bands. Go back to your roots and sample a slice of history this summer.

The Used Support TBC Its been a long time since anyone has heard anything of the Used and this tour came as quite the shock, a pleasant shock but a shock none the less. Who knows what this tour will bring, and that’s just how the Used like it. Mystery, confusion and no plan whatsoever.

Into It. Over It and Modern Baseball Support from Tiny Moving Parts At the forefront of the emo revival right now, Into It. Over It and Modern Baseball bring their self-loathing wrapped in a sunny cloak and party atmosphere car crash to the UK in intimate venues. Bound to both warm your heart and make you cry.

How many of these shall you be attending? If the answer isn’t all 15, re-evaluate your New Years resolutions. Happy New Year!

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HO HO No? Our Top Ten Alternative Christmas Jingles.

With less than a week to go until Christmas, is anyone else not really feeling in the Christmas spirit all that much? I don’t know if it’s the fact that the Christmas aisles have been open seemingly since October, my ever receding bank account as Christmas present buying gets underway or notably, the monotonous, cheesy, repetitive Christmas singles that have been crawling into my brain again, since October. All is not lost however! As some kind of Christmas miracle, every year some of our favourite bands get together to save the holiday, and our eardrums, with some of the catchiest Christmas singles that don’t tend to grasp the public’s attention all that much, and here is a collaboration of my top ten favourites to hopefully get you in the mood too.

10. Yule Shoot Your Eye Out-Fall Out Boy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqGpUcjaVzo

Long back before the dreaded hiatus and sudden sound change, FOB tried their hands at Christmas ditties with a grim side

9. All I Want For Christmas Is You-My Chemical Romance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8rjrPIGZ5U

Forget Mariah Carey, legendary emo rockers MCR add a little bit more guyliner and angst to this classic

8. Snow-New Found Glory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHLkftW2QAA

A new one for 2014 and building on hit “Ex-Miss” this has even more pop punk qualities of sadness and friendship with a bit more festivity

7. I Had A Heart-Real Friends https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHjP4PDxcSU

A song to truly depress you at a joyful time of year, or not, I don’t know how into the new revival of pop punk you are or not

6. Father Christmas-Man Overboard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RzSsrBWIKQ

A cover of the classic Kinks song with all the attitude of the original intact under a new saccharine guise, not one to be missed

5. I Won’t Be Home For Christmas-Blink 182 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sy9_JjLnmZI

What would any alternative list be without Blink 182? Nothing, nothing.

4. Christmas Night of the Living Dead-MXPX https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOgN-aAjh7w

Nothing goes hand in hand with Christmas spirit like a zombie apocalypse scenario

3. Gary the Green Nosed Reindeer-MC Lars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbIj9Wea_u8

What goes better with Christmas than a zombie apocalypse? A deformed reindeer foiling a terrorist plot, obviously.

2. Unwritten Christmas-Sum 41 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwz0UbOKAII

Hidden in plain sight on the Santa Clause 2 soundtrack is this strange little gem

1. Skank For Christmas-Reel Big Fish https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzVF5e0i3o4

Ska is quite possibly the jolliest genre around as well as one of the most depraved; exactly what Christmas is all about!

Merry Christmas to one and all! I hope this countdown sees you through the festive season and happily into another New Year with more amazing songs to come.

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Taking Back Sunday @ The HMV Institute, Birmingham Headline: Taking Back Sunday With support from: Marmozets & Blitz Kids Date: 11th December 2014 Following Taking Back Sunday’s glorious comeback to our stages with the Tell All Your Friends ten year anniversary tour or the making every former emo feel a million years old tour, and the glorious comeback to our ears with 2014 release “Happiness Is…”; the Long Island rockers have hopped over the pond with an eclectic set list of nostalgic anthems and new belters that are bound to infiltrate your everyday listening soon. But first and foremost, come Northern mob Marmozets with their self-titled “rawkous alternative math energy” in the form of debut album The Weird and Wonderful Marmozets to whip the crowd into an early frenzy, and this they certainly achieve. Its easy for every female fronted band to fall into the “oh, do they sound like Paramore?” barrel, yet with Marmozets this could not be further from the truth as instead of a clean cut pop vibe, the band storm onto the stage with raw energy, a grungey, experimental sound and a bold, captivating stage presence which challenges the pre-conception of female fronted band being a front woman with a backing band, and shows a fully united force that demands every inch of your attention and respect. Next up are Nantwich and Crewe group Blitz Kids to change the pace with their melodic pop rock guise. This does not mean however they do not pack a punch like Marmozets by a long shot; with singles “Sometimes” and “Perfect” from new album The Good Youth whipping the crowd into a mix of dancing and thrashing around to every chugging chord and thoughtful lyric relayed to an audience baying for more at every opportunity. It’s not only the crowd’s reaction that makes Blitz Kids such an exceptional experience though, it is the precision and style in which the songs are executed that still manage to maintain a raw and punk-y edge that keeps their sound alive and passionate to encapsulate the ethos of the band itself. With no introduction, no build up, no bull shit, Taking Back Sunday take to the stage in nano-seconds of the lights fading with a storming rendition of “What’s It Feel Like to be a Ghost?”  Taking every single person in the room right back to their 2006 selves when Louder Now was first released along with “My Blue Heaven”, “Error: Operator” and final atmospheric emo anthem “Make Damn Sure” creating an emotionally charged atmosphere full of youths gone by, memories triggered by these heavily influential songs and an overall over-whelming feeling of nostalgia towards a band that many have grown up alongside. Proof that they are not past it however; new tracks such as “Flicker, Fade” and “Stood A Chance” prove that the band can still create songs that make you both wiggle your hips and sing until your throat is sore. Whether old or young, no matter which album is your favourite, no matter what, there is no denying the passion and the heart that goes into a Taking Back Sunday live show. The years of blood, sweat, tears and torture can be felt in every heart breaking yet heartfelt note and it is an experience that will stay with anyone who witnesses this show first hand for years to come, and hopefully, there will be many more shows like this from the group in years to come.

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Artist: Gnarwolves Album: Self-Titled Genre: Punk Released: 15th September 2014

Everyone’s favourite stoner pop-punkers Gnarwolves have been making us laugh, cry and go crazy since their inception in 2011 and debut e.p Fun Club. From this monumental date, they have toiled to bring the party to venues across the UK, I myself have witnessed this first hand as they tore the Asylum Venue apart supporting The Story So Far and have since been one of my favourite live bands, but does this raw visceral energy come across on recording? Self-Titled album Gnarwolves shows that this is more than possible.

“Prove It” storms in with a ballzy, off-key introduction and in just over two minutes displays precise guitar work, gritty vocals and energetic and rousing drum beats heavily evocative of their hardcore punk roots, that make you bang your head along to the pounding riffs and angsty beats. “Boneyard”, despite its name, has a slightly more pop punk feel with a style similar to that of Transit and Real Friends with an upbeat tempo, sudden silences to focus on the emotive lyrics and an all over gradual wind down into an atmospheric and ear-splitting outro of feedback and menacing cymbals before “Everything You Think You Know” takes it up another notch with the strange contrast of poignant and thoroughly “real” lyrics mixed with fast-paced and party-vibe instrumentals that make you dance to the misery and angst relayed through the words. “Bottle to Bottle” slows the album right down with a single chord and bellowing vocals leading up to a gradual crescendo, as if the prelude to lead single “Smoking Kills” encapsulating everything that Gnarwolves stand for: a party attitude shown with a fast paced tempo and gang vocals as the band work as one, their love of hardcore punk shown through their vocal style and importance laid on the drum beat and bass line, and pure dedication to music as they blend many different styles and influences to create their own unique style, that they truly master. Another stand out track for me would be “Hate Me (Don’t Stand Still)” as from the grungey bass line that kicks off the track to the last poignant notes it is full of raw energy, heavily reminiscent of bands such as Black Flag and Minor Threat yet has a thoroughly fun and pop punk feel. Its hard for bands that straddle the line of pop punk and punk not to fall closer to either side, but this song proves that Gnarwolves are both fun and pop punk as well as gritty, real and a modern punk band in every respect. “Eat Dynamite Kid” provides the perfect culmination to their debut album; whilst it starts fairly similar to every track within the album, it is a song of two halves, in which it begins with a gruelling and arduously heavy explosion of hardcore which you believe ends in two minutes, before it transforms into a melodic and emotive guise that ends the album on a distinctive high. Gnarwolves truly are a band of two halves; whilst they practice and preach the fun and party side of music, they also show a strong amount of hard work and serious dedication. Whilst these two ethos’ are so opposing they could derail a band, Gnarwolves somehow in their own brand of chaos and lunacy manage to not only balance this but truly make something out of it, something they should be incredibly proud of.

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Heyy thanks for that review on our latest EP. What a bloody great read! - Me & the rest of the lads in Boston Manor x

This means a lot to me as a fan of your band thank you so much!

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Artist: State Champs Album: The Acoustic Things E.P Genre: Pop Punk Released: 6th October 2014

After the release of The Finer Things in 2013, New York pop punk poster boys State Champs have propelled to the forefront of the pop punk uprising amassing over seventy five thousand likes on social networking sites, playing festivals across the globe, touring with the likes of The Wonder Years, Cartel, We Are The In Crowd and pop punk legends New Found Glory. What could possibly top all of these achievements? Well, a re-imagining of our favourite; or my favourite at least, tracks from smash hit release The Finer Things and a few new little treats.

Intro track “Elevated” is given a complete re-vamp taking it from a tumultuous party-going track to a slow and winding ode; drawing focus away from the driving riffs of the original and onto the visceral, heartfelt lyrics that are often detracted away from by the bands feel good style. They can’t sound too harsh however with master of melody vocalist Derek Discanio at the helm with a voice that could break any heart in two whilst also making you fall in love, notably demonstrated in “Deadly Conversation”, an already relatively slow track to begin with, is now an atmospheric ballad with the piercing chords of the acoustic guitars and layered vocals cutting at every heart string coupled with thoroughly relatable and saddening lyrics. Both “Hard to Please” and “Simple Existence” manage to keep the same punch their electric counterparts on the Finer Things held with acoustic guitars thrashing against bellowing vocals from the whole band as one sending shivers down your spine, before moving into the end of The Finer Things part of the album with “closing” track “Easy Enough”, my favourite State Champs song made better with a more noticeable juxtaposition of pop elements in melodic vocals and a soft tempo, and punk elements of the song with gang vocals, lyrical content and the thrashing guitars providing a rich display of musical talent. Brand new tracks “Leave You In The Dark” and “If I’m Lucky” preview a possible softer and almost groovier direction the band may go in, with more explorative and stronger vocal styles, nifty guitar techniques not common in pop punk right now and an all round break away from the generic conventions of pop punk that could prove risky, but I believe they pull off incredibly well for they are not a one trick pony or a generic pop punk band by any definition, they are a group of truly talented musicians, dedicated to making music for the love of it, and it shows through the sheer quality of every release.

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Artist: Boston Manor Album: Driftwood Genre: Pop Punk/Emo Released: 13th October 2014 Since their formation just a mere year ago, Boston Manor have broken out of sunny Blackpool and taken their broad punk, emo and pop punk sound across the country and across the seas with the likes of Landmarks and Montrose, as well as gracing the stages of Deadbolt festival. Continuing on their success, the band builds on their split e.p with Throwing Stuff with Driftwood, showing just how far the band has matured and perfected their sound in just a mere year.

“Salt Water” immediately shows Driftwood is a force to be reckoned with demonstrating powerful and gritty vocals that can switch to blissful and lulling in the blink of an eye, which is exactly how quick the track is as it is over in a short burst of energy in just over a minute, before “Peach State” picks up the pace with a fist pumping, chest beating anthem akin to the works of Brand New mixed with New Found Glory making for an anthemic feel with nostalgic punk riffs, scathing lyrics and booming drums that leave you breathless. Album titled “Driftwood” is arguably the strongest track on the record, as it manages to straddle genres from emo, pop punk and traditional punk without falling short of the mark at any point. The chugging bass, harsh vocals and guitars would not be out of place on a hardcore punk album; the tempo and sunny hooks would make influences Blink 182 proud and the tone and emotion wrought through every lyric hails the emo revival. There are many bands that dip themselves into different genres, but what makes Boston Manor so different? Songs like “Wolf” and “See You In Three Years” will show you why as musically there is not much that does make them stand out amongst similar bands, it is their thoroughly personal and cathartic lyrics that add heart and soul to the body of the songs. They let you in to their own personal experiences and connect on a deeper level than purely enjoying their sound, and that is something special. “Square One” takes the album full circle with a very similar pace, introduction and all round sound as opening track “Salt Water” just extended and with extra oomph to really provide the best possible ending to a strong release with guitars and drums crashing in unison over commanding vocals, each grasping for attention though instead of sounding chaotic and confusing, this struggle works and reflects the overall feeling of struggle and turmoil expressed throughout the lyrics of this release.

If this is the improvement that Boston Manor can make in just a year I am incredibly excited to see what heights the Blackpool boys can reach, especially with a solid release like Driftwood under their belts which is sure to grant them some incredibly positive attention from existing fans and new fans alike.

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Artist: Moose Blood Album: I’ll Keep You In Mind, From Time To Time Genre: Emo/Ambient/Pop Punk Released: 7th October 2014 In just two years since their formation, Canterbury boys Moose Blood have made quite an impression; securing an upcoming tour with the likes of Mallory Knox and My Chemical Romance legend Frank Iero, headlining their own shows across continents and e.p Moving Home drawing in their aggressively passionate fan base. Debut album I’ll Keep You In Mind…Has a lot riding on it, and it does not disappoint. It is typical Moose Blood: lyrically belligerent and to the point, ruthless musically with a layering of ambience and thoroughly memorable.

“Cherry” demands your attention from the off with grunge inspired chords reaching a steady crescendo introducing breathy vocals and an easy tempo before “Anyway” takes the helm and ups the ante with its feel good vibes mixed with abrupt and frank lyrics that makes the tapping of your toes and nodding of your head you immediately start subconsciously seem slightly out of place. “I Hope You’re Missing Me” slows the album right back down again with a spine tingling, high pitched introduction before a brooding bass line and drums enter the mix and guitars propel the mix into a nostalgic emo ode that makes your head bang in time with every angst-filled word. For fans of old Moose Blood, I say old lightly; both “Boston” and “Bukowski” have been given a sleek revamp and despite the obvious sound change and musical maturity within the band, the tracks with their sunny hooks, punk-inspired riffs and emotive lyrics are right at home years later. Personal highlight track “Swim Down” shows true diversity in the band being an almost pop rock or even pop punk track with a faster tempo and more hopeful feeling within its every note it offers diversity within an otherwise sombre and serious release; similar to this is earlier track “Chin Up” with its New Found Glory-esque introduction and continued pop punk attitude with yelled vocals of loves lost and instrumentals that wouldn’t be out of place on a The Story So Far record. The release closes with raw track “I Hope You’re Miserable” that pulls on the heart strings from the off with tales of drowning in the bottle over those that have screwed you over, delivered in passionate yelps with pain sewn into every syllable and carried with the crash of cymbals, the cruel twang of guitar strings, the cold thud of the bass and the back bone of the song, the thrashing drums that bring the whole cacophony together in harmony before it steadily dissipates into a poignant silence, signalling the end.

This record is sure to be in many people’s ears over the coming months, and Moose Blood’s name will be on many people’s tongues as their talent is recognized within this debut release. The instrumentals will capture the attentions of many, and the relatable lyrics will capture the hearts of many and rightfully so after so much time and devotion has gone into the crafting of I’ll Keep You In Mind, From Time To Time.

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Artist: Duologue Album: Never Get Lost Genre: Electro-Rock Released: 8th September 2014 From their humble beginnings with their first full length e.p Song & Dance and the break into better things with astounding and electric e.p Memex, the London electro-rockers are back with their first full-length Never Get Lost, a lucid versus punk aural journey that you are not likely to forget in a hurry with its juxtaposing elements of chaos and tranquillity battling for dominance.

“Memex” encapsulates birth, whether that be literal or of an idea with muffled vocals slowly becoming clearer, a slow building and hopeful tempo climaxing to ultimate clarity with the introduction of sharp keys and harmony, before taking a turn for the off-putting and spine-chilling with “Correctness” and its whining, sombre vocals and off-key beeps that make an almost uncomfortable listen as its heavily reminiscent of childhood gaming music, though it takes these happy childhood visions and turns them evil and off-putting.”Forest” and  “Sibling” feel incredibly reminiscent of Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails with punk credentials in the content and delivery of the vocals and the all out weirdness and experimental elements of the instrumentals that are quite unlike anything within mainstream or even underground music right now, but would be more at home in a strange underground horror or fantasy game. “Traps” and “Drag and Drop” however have a slightly different feel with faster tempos, stronger vocals, crashing beats with passion and devotion seeping out of every single note building up to two incredibly raw and jaw-dropping crescendos which re-enforces their reputation as scatty and unpredictable electro-rockers, unlike anybody else. “Parts of the Blame” encapsulates death and ends the album in a poignant style. It begins full of life with soulful and deep vocals before storming into the ether with a truly terrifying middle eight like the roaring of the wind or screaming of souls exiting the body, then the tempo slows, the mood becomes calm as if departing to the afterlife and the album plunges from its initial chaos, to everlasting peace.

With perfect fluidity, the perfect balance of genres and ideas that are expertly crafted and executed with time and precision instead of rushed and flustered; Duologue show true mastery of their style but also keep their passion and love for their craft evident instead of stale and purely professional. Never Get Lost, ironically, is an album you can get fully immersed and lost in its cacophony and dreamy vibes, and surely many will be.

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Artist: The American Scene Album: Haze Genre: Emo/Ambient Released: 9th September 2014 One of the most under rated bands going at the moment, California based group The American Scene have been busy since their formation in 2009 perfecting their lucid yet visceral sounds and taking it across the continents, touring with the likes of The Story So Far, Man Overboard, Tonight Alive and Balance and Composure. Previous release Safe For Now fell under the radar slightly, with releases from other bands in the scene, with a larger following receiving a lot more attention, though Haze is a release that demands your attention and for all the right reasons.

Title track “Haze” storms in with a brooding introduction stereotypical of the group then jolts you out of your comfort zone with abrupt vocals, the harsh thump of the bass, disjointed chords and the heartbeat of the drum keeping the tempo alive, miles away from the wistful and lulling vibe of their previous releases. This effortlessly blends into “Royal Blue” and then “Nails of Love” with their similarly intertwining bass and guitar work creating a haunting and wistful aural journey through the loss of youth and love with catchy hooks and spine chilling riffs. “4th and Broadway” and “Over To You” pick the pace right up with a heavy punk influence evident in the quick tempo created with racing guitars, pounding bass and drums piercing at the ear drums and vocals packing way more confidence and passion than previously demonstrated by the American Scene, proving they are not just a one trick pony and will be over looked no longer. Personal highlight track “Drone” packs more of a ballsy rock and roll feel to it with an ominous lone beat of a bass drum to introduce the track before plunging into a dark assault of instruments intricately layered and pure, talented musicianship that shows just how far this band has come in the five years they have been together. “Brume” closes the album in the bands traditional fashion, with sombre and echoing vocals, controlled and compressed drum beats and bass lines barely audible over the screeching guitars but present enough to create an atmospheric and “big” feeling to the track and the album as a whole.

The American Scene will no longer be a band that fall under the radar and are written off as just another soft, sombre emo band but rather as talented, diverse musicians that produce albums that will grasp your attention and hold it firmly, over and over again with repeated listening, and hopefully through future releases.

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Who?: Losing Sleep, Spraynard & Modern Baseball Where?: The Asylum 2, Birmingham When?: 19th September 2014 After winning the hearts of many with their heartfelt, quirky and melancholy lyrics; Modern Baseball have propelled themselves into the limelight with debut release Sports, various shows with the likes of The Wonder Years, Real Friends and Mixtapes as well as securing slots on festivals all over, notably Slam Dunk, Reading & Leeds and Riot Fest. Leaving all this behind, they continue to propel themselves forward and embark on a UK headlining tour with friends in Spraynard and Losing Sleep to bring their nerdy energy to unsuspecting venues

First up are Losing Sleep, or rather first up is Liam of Losing Sleep as an emergency leaves them without a drummer, yet instead of cancelling their set their vocalist Liam powers through with a moving and still vibrant acoustic set that despite playing to a small crowd, gets everybody swaying along to their punk meets indie odes, and manages to encapsulate the energy the whole band can generate despite how much of a daunting task it must have been.

West Chester mob Spraynard take to the stage with puerile jokes, plenty of crowd banter and a raucous attitude that comes across in their Gnarwolves-esque punk/emo mash up style. Their set is a set of two halves featuring songs from Cut and Paste, Funtitled and The Mark, Tom and Patrick show, all incredibly different releases, it is evident to see the change in this bands style and the fine tuning of their sound, though both stages of their career are executed in a passionate and exciting way which has the crowd pulsating just from fun and vigour in every word shouted.

Jumping straight into “Fine, Great” Modern Baseball are everything live you expect them to be; they seem almost awkward with the love they receive from the crowd, the delivery is a strange mix of both lively and oppressed with punky instrumentals cut down with solemn and serious lyrics relatable to seemingly every angsty teen in the room with the reaction they receive. Songs such as “Apartment”, “The Pothole” and oldies like “Weekend” have people leaping for the microphone, bouncing off the walls and diving overhead, though this is nothing compared to the reaction closing song “Your Graduation” receives as the room erupts, a carpet of bodies envelopes overhead the crowd as people stage dive one by one for a solid three minutes. The temperature of the room soars through the roof, I for one measure this by the fact my industrial strength make up was absolutely everywhere, but does anybody stop? Of course not, and why? Modern Baseball and their messages and lyrics are completely infectious as well as their feel good style juxtaposing their not so feel good lyrics. The same can be said about Spraynard and Losing Sleep, they are all of the same style yet have enough differences and quirks to provide a diverse and compelling show in which every attendee leaves sweaty and all smiles.

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Artist: Frontier(s) Album: White Lights Genre: Emo/Ambient Released: 4th August 2014

Featuring members from Elliott and Mouthpiece, on that piece of information alone you know any music that comes out of this outfit is going to be a powerhouse of ballsy, emotionally wrought lyrics wrapped in a gritty and sombre package; perfected in the four years since their formation. After wild success with their first full length then disappearing into the ether, the Louiseville gang are back with the White Lights e.p and better than ever.

The soft rock introduction of “Higher Hills” with mellow guitar riffs and gravelly vocals seemingly sets the precedence of the album as, well, exactly the same as Elliott and Mouthpiece; though the twists and turns of psychedelic hooks and dramatic style changes take you on an aural journey telling the story of the bands musical career and its ever changing guise. “33/3” grabs you straight by the throat with a sinister bass line and atmospheric guitar work creating an ambient and mellow feel despite the jarring vocals, leading into a mellow and distinctive “Our March” reminiscent of Balance and Composure with lucid and resonating chords warbling into silence whilst the bass chugs along in time with your heartbeat in the background as if you are at one with the track in a hypnotic and beautiful dance with your psyche. “The Low High” cuts the artsy crap with its straight, no nonsense rocker vibes with a fuck you attitude with simple, harsh guitar work, crashing drums and dark lyrics; it encapsulates the power than goes hand in hand with Frontier(s) and always shall do. Closing track “Bare Hands” starts with an ominous and slow building introduction that slowly winds into a full blown explosion of energy and misery entwined relayed in their typical blend of harsh vocals that scrape at the ears, ambient guitars that capture the imagination with their off-key chords and general weirdness, a baseline harder than both the rock and the hard place that works perfectly with the low boom of the drums; take this blend then push it right up to eleven and you have “Bare Hands”, the effortlessly climactic end to White Lights.

It now becomes evident that that time away from the forefront of their respective genre has been worth it, as they have returned triumphantly with a new, more refined and experimental sound that shows they are not just moulding together the success of former projects, but instead carving out a new place in history for Frontier(s), one that will surely continue to grow and reach new heights.

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Artist: Joyce Manor Album: Never Hungover Again Genre: Indie Rock/Emo Released: 21st July 2014

Somewhat underdogs in their respective scene, Joyce Manor have always fallen just under the mainstream radar despite achieving acclaim with release Of All Things I Will Soon Grow Tired and touring across continents both headlining their own packed out rooms and supporting various festivals. Despite never reaching the same heights of others, this does not mean this band lack talent and passion, as Never Hungover Again builds on the impressive foundations they have previously laid down.

 “Christmas Card” kicks the album off to a slow start with clanking repetitive chords with yelping, ropey vocals over the top creating a DIY, home grown feel that can come across as lazy and under produced but also personal and raw. “Falling In Love Again” kicks up the pace with an ominous and punk bass line introduction before dropping into soaring hooks and poignant lyrics setting the hopeless yet still trying tone of the album encapsulating the emo revival. “Victoria” and “Heart Tattoo” however break this stereotype of being just another wannabe grunge band that Joyce Manor could fall into by being effortlessly upbeat with fast tempos, light hearted lyrics with a cynical edge, crashing drums and melodic vocals that make you shake your hips and swing your head side to side. Highlight tracks “In The Army Now” and “Catalina Fight Song” both push the band to their limits and they out do themselves, perfectly reviving a New Romantic feel straight from the 80s with a new, more punk twist, think The Cure meets The Sex Pistols and you’re almost there, they both offer impressive musical strengths that attempt to warp the mind in “In The Army Now” with psychedelic synth effects against the chugging bass juxtaposing perfectly, as well as the gradual crescendo present in “Catalina Fight Song” that has you hanging off the end of your chair. “Heated Swimming Pool” closes the album perfectly with a dreamy introduction with chiming chords and echoing vocals throughout despite the love equals pain theme throughout. Even though it is just less than two minutes long it still manages to provide the adequate last burst of energy and excitement to leave a lasting impression on your mind and leave you waiting eagerly for the next release, and wondering why you have never heard of this band before.

Definitely in my top five list of bands that are hugely under rated and deserve all of the praise under the sun, Joyce Manor pull it out of the bag once more and deliver and charming and artsy release with a dark and sombre under tone that creates an awkward ode to love and pain that will be resonating in the ears and lives of all that listen to it.

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Who?: Headroom, Diamond Youth and Citizen Where?: The Flapper, Birmingham When?: 22nd July 2014 Birmingham is fast becoming notorious for its legendary line ups, avid fan bases and raucous shows. With a show every single week if not every single day across the town you are never spoilt for choice if you’re a diehard music fan, but some shows just pull out all the stops. In a venue which is quickly becoming “the usual” setting for fantastic shows, a quaint little pub beside the main line canal, the eclectic line up of Headroom, Diamond Youth and Citizen rock up to bring their unique blend of emo, grunge and punk to our ears.

Kicking off proceedings are Manchester emo mob Headroom playing songs from their upcoming release Carry Me Away, creating quite a stir and excitement surrounding its imminent release despite being a relatively unknown band purely from the passion they deliver it in. They are not fazed by playing first and the slightly lacklustre turnout that goes hand in hand with this, they deliver an energetic and atmospheric set regardless with each song blending lucidly into the next whilst maintaining a harsh, raw edge lending itself perfectly to the dark and dingy setting they played within.

Next up are Baltimore crew Diamond Youth with their frenzied grunge/punk hybrid that captures the crowd in the palm of their hands within seconds. They have a quirky and awkward stage presence which weirdly intrigues the crowd rather than disconnecting them from the act entirely, as it matches the feel of their latest release The Shake E.P perfectly with it’s weird coupling of punk ideals over grunge and psychedelic instrumentals, it is an aural treat live and the crowd is throwing themselves around in seconds, right up until the final abrupt end to their set.

Citizen however, is the band that energy is measured on. The Ohio band doesn’t even need to play a single note before people are pacing in anticipation for the eventual outburst that is sure to ensue. If you thought Youth was a passionate album just to listen to through headphones, you would not believe the reaction it evokes when played live. I saw tears stained on people’s faces induced by the heavily relatable and raw lyrics, I saw bodies flinging themselves with no regard for their  own safety just to get close to a band they adore, I saw a room that resembled a tornado within seconds of the introduction to every single song they played and only dissipated when the band left the stage, and touchingly, I saw every single fan want to wait at the merchandise tables to congratulate and connect with every single band that played and give them something back for their effort.

There’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing a band create such an electric atmosphere live, it is even more touching when it is little known bands in a small venue in a large area that put their heart and soul into a performance for just a few people and for what? Just to bring something they love to the people who love them. It makes for the most intriguing and successful shows, and this show was no exception.

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Artist: Four Year Strong Album: Go Down In History E.P Genre: Pop Punk/Easy Core Released: 21st July 2014

Since the release of Rise Or Die Trying in 2007, Massachusetts band Four Year Strong’s success has been cemented as they continued to release solid albums such as Enemy Of The World and In Some Way, Shape Or Form which landed them on tours with the likes of Blink 182 and The All-American Rejects, on festivals all over the world and headlining their own sold out headline tours…Then they disappeared off the radar. After a brief quiet period, they come back with Go Down In History, a five track e.p hailing their roots and possibly even taking the title of the best thing they have written in seven years.

“What’s in the Box” is a perfect opener for such a nostalgic release as it is heavily reminiscent of Rise Or Die Trying’s intro track “The Take Over” in the respect that they both pack a lot of punch, as if Killswitch Engage discovered pop punk, with killer riffs, face-shredding vocals, powerful drums and wistful lyrics taking you right back to where these guys started. “Living Proof of a Stubborn Youth” propels the release into modern days with a track that wouldn’t sound out of place on a The Story So Far or Neck Deep release with sunny hooks and an upbeat tempo full of positive vibes, though it still maintains the gritty edge that Four Year Strong are known for with gravelly vocals and the complete breakdown of the song after a soft interlude as the track divulges into a dark and punky cacophony of screeching, bellowing and instruments down tuned to hell fighting for dominance. “Tread Lightly” jumps straight back into the past with its heavily punk influenced simple yet punchy chords with a heavy influence on the bass and drum work pulled off effortlessly by this multi-talented band, before album titled “Go Down In History” kicks in grabbing you by the throat with atmospheric gang vocals, nifty breakdowns, motivational lyrics and enough vigor to knock you off your feet and remind you why Four Year Strong have reached the inspirational status they maintain even now. Closing track “So You’re Saying There’s A Chance…” closes the album in a perfect, aggressive finish with unusually visceral lyrics accompanied perfectly by cutting guitars and gang vocals (obviously) to burst the ear drums wide open, it is a perfect final release of pure, raw energy to leave the album on an effortless high, just like every other release this band have ever put forward.

It’s refreshing to see a band who have always produced quality releases continue to exceed all expectations and propel the pop punk and easy core genres into new, innovative grounds. For such a hard working and passionate band, it must be a huge personal achievement to reach such a high level of quality. Four Year Strong are back, and better than anyone could have anticipated.