The All Things Loud Blog

Our new website is launching in January 2016 over on www.allthingsloud.com While you wait, feel free to check out old posts and selected new entries below!

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Lemmy Passes Away at 70

Motorhead frontman Lemmy has unfortunately passed away at the age of 70. He was supposedly battling an aggressive form of cancer which he learnt about on Boxing Day. 

Lemmy will be sorely missed by the whole rock community, with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Foo Fighters and Anthrax having all made touching dedications to the legendary, hedonistic frontman. 

RIP Lemmy. 1945-2015.

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2015 in Superlatives

Today is the 27th of December, which marks the start of a four day period in which humans find themselves practically useless. We’re obviously talking about the empty void between Christmas and New Year, a space of four days which need filling up as much as possible. While we hammer away at the brand new All Things Loud website, we thought it would be a good idea to close out 2015 with some superlatives. Find them below.

BEST SHOW OF 2015: Django Django @ Melkweg Amsterdam “As the show came to an end, one thing was very clear – there is no one out there right now who does it like Django Django do it. You’ll be hard pushed to think of a band who sound remotely like them, let alone one who combines music and visuals so beautifully in a live setting. If there were more bands around right now along the lines of Django Django, live music would be very, very exciting.”

BEST FESTIVAL SET OF THE YEAR: Enter Shikari @ Lowlands 2015 Never had we seen a festival set filled with so much vigour, perseverance and energy. Enter Shikari, although arriving 30 minutes before stage time, managed to do something which no other act at Lowlands managed all weekend – tear the whole place up.

BEST SOLO: Ghost – Absolution “Once the song reaches its solo, it’s like heaven has started to coexist on hell. Both guitars come together and play in sync, the high notes so precise that they’re capable of producing happiness-induced tears on behalf of the listener. Everything that Meliora has worked towards comes together on Absolution, with its solo the absolutely monstrous climax point. The song comes to a cataclysmic ending as the guitars crescendo in an absolutely disastrous manner. You’ll be hard pushed to find a hard rock song better than Absolution in 2015, as it really is that good.”

BEST BAND: Nothing But Thieves We can’t shut up about Nothing But Thieves. From the moment that these five guys emerged back in January we knew that they were destined for greatness. It was only a matter of time before the rest of the world caught on, and boy have these lads done well in 2015. Without a doubt our favourite band of the year.

BEST COMEBACK: Faith No More Faith No More, need we say more?

MOST USELESS COMEBACK: The Stone Roses’ 2016 shows If there’s no new music, then why do the band feel the need to cash in further on former glory?

BEST MOMENT: The Beatles finally being able to stream It’s been quite a long time coming, but a few days ago The Beatles were finally available to stream across a diverse range of platforms. House parties can now come with an added hint of Hey Jude if need be – hallelujah.

WORST ARTIST: 5 Seconds of Summer Before you pile the hate on us, please understand that this is our personal opinion. Are the world enriched by these Aussie lads? No. Did we need a band like 5 Seconds of Summer? No. Point out.

OUR FAVOURITE PICTURES: A Day to Remember @ Rock am Ring 2015 (as chosen by Natasja de Vries) It was an honour to shoot a band like A Day to Remember, especially when your first time shooting is at a major festival.

Jungle @ Metropolis Festival 2015 (as chosen by Jack Parker) I think this picture captures the pure essence of what Jungle are all about – having fun. In the picture you see one half of the duo surrounded by smoke, with an outstretched arm. He’s losing himself to the music, and it essentially reflects the nature of a Jungle show: lose yourself in and amongst the mystery.

See you in 2016.

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A Christmas Message From As Lions

As Lions drummer Dave Fee has a special Christmas message for you all...

"To everyone that has shown us support over the past year so far, we wish you the merriest of Christmases and a fantastic New Year! Every one of you means the world to us and we cannot wait to be able to provide you all with more of the music that we've been writing. It's just as exciting for us as it is for you! We've been here, there and everywhere and can't wait to hit more corners of the globe to meet each and every person that makes what we do worthwhile! From all of us here at the As Lions camp MERRY BLOODY CHRISTMAS!"

On that note, we'd also like to wish you a very Merry Christmas on behalf of everyone at All Things Loud! We'll be back in 2016, and we can't wait to share with you everything that we've been up to.

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Thy Art is Murder Frontman Leaves Band

Thy Art is Murder’s CJ McMahon has parted ways with the band. In a lengthy and honest post to the band Facebook page, McMahon beared all. Giving explanation for his separation from Thy Art, McMahon stated:

With a mix of both negative and positive emotions, I inform you all that I have parted ways with my band Thy Art Is Murder. It has been a wild ride I have travelled to over 40 countries around the world and played alongside some of the worlds biggest and best bands, it brings me great sadness knowing I will never perform again for my amazing and supportive fans, this will be the hardest thing for me to deal with. My reasons for leaving: I spend too much time away from my fiancé , family and friends, touring has taken a massive mental, emotional and physical toll on me. One of the biggest reasons is money, I / we have been broke for years and being 32 years old I can’t live like this anymore. I am getting married next year and plan on having a family, these things cost money, to put the finances into perspective for you I /we have earned between $16k-$18k each over 6-7 years, I feel there is something massively wrong with this, I will not live like this anymore. I’m sorry to my fans that I have to go, I have loved you all and I thank you for believing in me supporting me. The money made from my closing down sale of my clothing label will be going to my wedding, I will also be selling my Northface stage jacket I have worn the last two years on stage via eBay soon to try to pay for my wedding for the people interested, again thank you for the love and support, Your Prince Of Darkness Cj

This announcement was followed by the below statement made by CJ’s (former) bandmates:

All this being said, touring as hard as we do does take its toll on you physically, but more importantly mentally and emotionally. We are an underground metal band, and have been so fortunate over the last two years to carve out a small income thanks to so many dedicated and generous fans around the world.

The band will still tour next year, joining Parkway Drive and Architects on a stretch throughout Europe. Molotov Solution vocalist Nick Arthur will take McMahon’s place temporarily.

Watch the video for Thy Art is Murder’s Holy War below.

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Soundwave Festival Cancelled

Australian touring festival Soundwave has been cancelled indefinitely. The announcement follows a spate of accusations made against the event, with certain acts still owed money. The likes of Bring Me the Horizon and Disturbed were set to headline this year.

The official reasoning behind Soundwave’s cancellation is “poor ticket sales”, yet an open editorial by Australian website Music Feeds seems to gather up far more evidence. 

Over the last few weeks, the problems surrounding Soundwave have slowly been building up. Amongst a host of accusations from artists who claimed not to have been paid for recent apperances at the festival, the likes of Bring Me the Horizon and L7 both either did not have 100% confirmation of their attendance, or pulled out for other reasons. It’s been further claimed that participating venues were also not completely locked-in.

All of the controversy surrounding Soundwave has centred on organize AJ Madden, who has already announced the end of not just Soundwave, but also his retirement from live event organizing. From this point on, all people can do is hope that financial problems are settled and Soundwave is peacefully put to bed. 

You can read a second Music Feeds piece here regarding artist debt.

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All Things Loud is Relaunching!

Since September, we’ve been working hard on a brand new project which intends to change the way All Things Loud looks forever. Today, we’re able to announce that we’ll be going offline for a little while in order to prepare for a brand new relaunch in January 2016! It’s been a long time coming, so we’re extremely excited to announce everything.

When we relaunch, we’ll be bringing you five exclusive interview with Nothing But Thieves, Hinds, Mystery Jets, Alberta Cross, Shearwater and one more surprise artist! Alongside that, we’ve also got two great competitions which we’re excited to launch, as well as a few other bits and pieces which we can’t tell you about yet.

You’re currently reading this post on our Tumblr page, which will serve as a back-up ‘blog’ during our downtime. We’ll still be posting news articles, reviews and features here while we work on the new site. Keep an eye out on our Facebook page for more developments on the future of All Things Loud! We hope you’re as excited as us. 

Jack Parker Owner, All Things Loud

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The Top 75 Songs of 2015: #25-#1

Yesterday we announced the second part of our Top 75 Songs of 2015 countdown, with the likes of August Burns Red, FFS and El Vy all passing by. Now, it’s time to round off the year with the final part of our countdown - the Top 25. Read on to discover which song is our favourite of the year.

25. Coldplay – Adventure of a Lifetime (Listen)

24. Courtney Barnett – Elevator Operator (Listen)

23. Deerhunter – Snakeskin (Listen)

22. BC Camplight – Thieves in Antigua (Listen)

21. Alabama Shakes – Gimme All Your Love (Listen)

20. Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear (Listen)

19. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Can’t Keep Checking My Phone (Listen)

18. Parkway Drive – Vice Grip (Listen)

17. Mayday Parade – One of Them Will Destroy the Other (Listen)

16. Palma Violets – Gout! Gang! Go! (Listen)

15. Will Butler – Witness (Listen)

14. Can’t Swim – Your Clothes (Listen)

13. Django Django – Shot Down (Listen)

12. Drenge – We Can Do What We Want (Listen)

11. Neck Deep – Can’t Kick Up the Roots (Listen)

10. Eagles of Death Metal – Oh Girl (Listen)

9. Ghost – Absolution (Listen)

8. Editors – All the Kings (Listen)

7. The Mysterons – Thunderbird 1 (Listen)

6. Of Mice & Men – Broken Generation (Listen)

5. Enter Shikari – Myopia (Listen)

4. Nothing But Thieves – Itch (Listen)

3. Pond – Man It Feels Like Space Again (Listen) 

2. Muse – The Handler (Listen)

1. Tame Impala – Let it Happen Why did we choose this song? From the moment that we heard Let it Happen earlier this year, one thing was instantly clear - this is the best thing we’ve heard in a very, very long time. From its disco-ready intro through to its warbled outro, via a stop-start mid-section, Let it Happen is the ultimate epic. There is no other song which comes close to the emotion Let it Happen is able to evoke, both live and off stage. This was always going to be the biggest contender for #1, and Kevin Parker could not have done better had he tried.

Our Song of the Year is thus Let it Happen by Tame Impala. This rounds up both of our countdowns, as well as a busy year. Listen to Let it Happen below.

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Best Kept Secret Announces First Artists

Holland’s best small festival, Best Kept Secret, have announced the first 13 artists set to descend on Hilvarenbeek next summer. Read on for more details. 

Beck and Editors have been confirmed as the first headliners for next year’s festival. Joining them are: Two Door Cinema Club, Wilco, Beach House, Bloc Party, Caribou, Half Moon Run, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Destroyer, Explosions in the Sky, Yeasayer and Yelawolf.

(c) Jack Parker

Ticket prices for the 2016 festival will remain unchanged, with weekend tickets costing €147,50. Tickets will go onsale this week Saturday (19 December) at 11:00, when bungalow tickets will also go onsale. This year, the organization have also included a special ticket action - buy five camping tickets and you’ll get the sixth one absolutely free. 

(c) Jack Parker

For more information about the festival, click here. Click here for an atmosphere impression of last year’s festival.

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Paramore Part Ways With Bassist

Paramore have announced the unfortunate news of their parting with longstanding bassist Jeremy Davis. The former quintet will now continue as a duo.

The band shared the following statement to their Facebook page:

“These last few years have held some of the most fulfilling moments we’ve had yet... as people, as friends, and as a band. The Self-Titled era was one that we knew would be important for us but also one we'd eventually have to move on from. In moving forward, there is growth, pain, and change... and sometimes the change is not at all what you hoped for. We’ve written and re-written this countless times and there’s just not a good way to put it... Jeremy is no longer going to be in the band with us. To be honest, this has been really painful. After taking time to consider how to move forward, we ultimately found that we really do believe Paramore can and should continue on. And so we will.

We’re really thankful for the people who have helped see us through hard times before and what we’ve discovered is that those people are just as much a part of this as we will ever be. We’re hopeful for Paramore’s future and we’re also excited for what Jeremy’s going to do next. Thank you all for your support and your belief in us. It’s kept us going. We will see some of you really soon on Parahoy. If you’re not coming on the cruise, we will still see you in 2016.”

A replacement for Davis has not yet been unveiled. So far, the only information gathered is that Paramore will continue as a two-piece. New music from the band is expected in 2016, which is something the above message also alludes to.

Listen to Daydreaming by Paramore below.

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The Top 75 Songs of 2015: #50-#26

Yesterday, we announced that Drones by Muse was our Album of the Year. Today, we continue our Top 75 Songs of 2015 countdown with numbers 50 through to 26. Read on for more.

As ever, click on the link to listen to the track.

50. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Downtown (Listen)

49. La Pegatina – Una Mirada (Listen)

48. State Champs – All You Are is History (Listen) 

47. God Damn – Horus (Listen)

46. King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – Papier Mache Dream Balloon (Listen)

45. The Maccabees – Spit it Out (Listen)

44. Blur – Ong Ong (Listen)

43. August Burns Red – Majoring in the Minors (Listen)

42. Slaves – Cheer Up London (Listen)

41. Arcade Fire – Get Right (Listen)

40. Black Honey – Madonna (Listen)

39. BØRNS – The Emotion (Listen)

38. Ezra Furman – Wobbly (Listen)

37. CHVRCHES– Clearest Blue (Listen)

36. John Coffey – Broke Neck (Listen)

35. Balthazar – Then What (Listen)

34. Faith No More – Sunny Side Up (Listen)

33. Twenty One Pilots – Stressed Out (Listen)

32. Bring Me the Horizon – Doomed (Listen)

31. Foals – What Went Down (Listen)

30. PAUW – Glare Pt. 2 (Listen)

29. Frank Turner – Get Better (Listen)

28. FFS – Piss Off (Listen)

27. Jacco Gardner – Find Yourself (Listen) 

26. EL VY – I’m  the Man to Be (Listen)

Check back tomorrow for our Song of the Year.

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Django Django Celebrate Busy Year With Euphoric Amsterdam Show - Live Review

As the days get colder and nights become darker, opportunity to get loose and have yourself a crazy evening are becoming seldom. However, that hasn’t stopped Django Django from ending their year with another frenzy of summer-y, art-pop infused electro. Taking to the stage in front of a sold out Melkweg, the London-based quartet played their last show of a busy 2015 in front of one of the most energetic crowds Amsterdam has seen all year. Read on for a full live review.

Joining the band on tour were the Liverpool-based trio Stealing Sheep, who last played in Holland when they supported Alt J at the Tivoli Leidsche Rijn a couple of years ago. With new album Not Real having been released earlier this year, the trio took to the stage wearing matching neon leotards and sunglasses. The more electro-heavy emphasis which the trio placed on Not Real was definitely present through, particularly on recent single Apparition. Stealing Sheep are currently one of the most intriguing underground bands around, although it’s not very evident whether they’ll be able to smash through the glass ceiling they’re very close to reaching. Set closer Shut Eye, taken from 2012’s Into the Diamond Sun, gave the set an energetic and rocking ending which ensured that Stealing Sheep definitely have a future on Dutch stages.

As the lights dimmed thirty minutes later for Django Django’s arrival, a video screen projected a monochrome version of new album Born Under Saturn’s artwork, with 2012’s self-titled album opener Hail Bop opening the set. A fuzzy synth preceded the track on Introduction as frontman Vincent Neff’s Tarantino whistles and drummer Dave MacLean’s tribal percussion lead into Hail Bop’s jangly guitars. “Hail to the bop, believe me” sang Neff during the chorus as people instantly lost themselves to the music. Bassist Jimmy Dixon’s pulsating rhythms underpinned the song nicely, whilst keyboardist Tommy Grace proved a pivotal piece in the Django Django puzzle over the following 90 minutes. Storm, one of 11 songs played from their self-titled debut, followed instantly with an emphasis on percussion and Neff’s in-your-face vocals. “You always run when I try to run” he sang, before his almost ‘trademark’ guitar jangles appeared. This hard-to-describe guitar sound is present on so many of the band’s songs, having become a quintessential part of their output.

Over the course of the evening, the band played a mere five songs from new album Born Under Saturn. Shake & Tremble was the first new track to be pulled out of the bag, building up intriguingly thanks to pulsating snares and an ear-shattering fuzz warble. Throw in a lilting bassline and some trademark guitars and you’ve got yourself another classic Django Django track. As the verses kicked in, MacLean’s percussion switched from pulsating along to shuffling along as rhythm showed its face more predominantly. The more electronic lead single First Light followed, making use of wobbly synths and a swirling chorus to entice an already-into it crowd. Reflections’ opening synth arpeggios were subsequently accompanied by a jazzy saxophone melody, ensuring that plenty of danceable elements were yet again on show. Although you might get the feeling that a lot of Django Django songs sound similar, there’s always something going on to set it apart from other songs and make it exciting. Whether it be hip-shaking percussion, head-nodding synths or Neff’s classic guitar sound, Django Django have it all. Love’s Dart slowed down the pace slightly, introducing a more Western-sound which Slow West subsequently built upon. Here, MacLean positions himself behind a cardboard box intended for percussive purposes (using coconuts as drumsticks), whilst Neff switches his usual guitar for an acoustic one. Slow West forms part of the soundtrack for a movie of the same name, directed by Michael Fassbender.

Firewater’s obscure percussion and groove-laden bassline followed, making way for the massive Waveforms. Whereas Firewater is a bit slower, Waveforms throws the rulebook out of the window and focusses itself on one thing – having fun. If the crowd reaction was anything to go by, then Waveforms absolutely blew the roof off. Skies Over Cairo’s waspy synths followed in similar fashion, utilizing more oriental sounding rhythms and sounds to add a hint of obscurity to proceedings. As the main set slowly worked its way towards an end, Pause Repeat made for one massive party which saw Stealing Sheep re-join the band onstage to add percussive value. From Pause Repeat onwards, it felt almost as though Django Django were unstoppable. Default followed, and it garnered the biggest reception of the whole evening. Neff’s well-recognized guitar lick was underpinned by hands-in-the-air percussion and hip-shaking bass, making it one of the biggest moments of the evening. Penultimate main set track Life’s a Beach was more laid back and guitar-centric, before WOR’s bright red lighting and chaotic closing brought the main set to a manic end. During the breakdown, Neff successfully orchestrated a sit-down which saw the whole crowd eventually jump up as the song kicked back into gear.

Returning for a two-song encore, the band first pulled one more Born Under Saturn track out of the bag – 4000 Years. This one’s a bit more laid-back, however it nonetheless makes use of interesting percussion and rhythm combinations. The second half of the track really let itself go, making way for show-closer Silver Rays. Upbeat synth melodies and obscure sounds were present throughout, before the show ultimately came to an absolutely cataclysmic ending. Not one person was left standing still as the whole floor lost themselves in the music. As the show came to an end, one thing was very clear – there is no one out there right now who does it like Django Django do it. You’ll be hard pushed to think of a band who sound remotely like them, let alone one who combines music and visuals so beautifully in a live setting. If there were more bands around right now along the lines of Django Django, live music would be very, very exciting.

Click here for more pictures from Saturday’s show.

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The Top 50 Albums of 2015: #10-#1

It’s been an exciting two weeks, but now the time has finally come for us to unveil our #1 album of 2015. Over the course of the countdown, the likes of Northlane, La Pegatina, BC Camplight, In Hearts Wake and more have submitted written contributions about their record, with two more artists and a visualist contributing to our Top 10. Find out after the jump who made it.

10. Django Django – Born Under Saturn Best Song: Shot Down What we said: “With Born Under Saturn, Django Django have proven that they aren’t merely a one-trick pony. The record, which clocks in at just short of an hour, is one which can hardly be faulted. Born Under Saturn is a masterpiece, falling nowhere short from the mark whatsoever. The guitars are jangly and happy, the bass is infectious, the synths are powerful and the percussion is instantly danceable. What more do you want from a record? Exactly.”

9. Ghost – Meliora Absolution What we said: “Meliora’s dark ending means that the three-part story of the anti-Christ has technically come to an end. He came, he saw, and now he has finally conquered. So where can Ghost go from here? Only deeper; deeper into the darkest depths of hell. Here, they’ll be able to reach back into the underworld and present you with their darkest wishes effortlessly. Unfortunately, Meliora lacked this slightly. It had too many ‘positive’ vibes which don’t entirely suit Ghost’s music. It also featured somewhat lacking lyrical content, particularly in terms of topics. Aside from the fact that it only has eight full songs, though, Meliora is a masterpiece. It’s the pinnacle of Ghost’s career, and definitely a record which not only the band can be proud of, but one that rock music can be proud of. Never has the instrumentation on a hard rock album spanned so many different styles whilst still remaining ‘metal’, and never has a rock album itself sounded so tight-knit and precise. Translated into English, Meliora means ‘better’, and Ghost have definitely achieved that here.”

8. Will Butler – Policy Something’s Coming What we said: “Despite the vast success which Arcade Fire has registered in the last years, Will Butler’s solo output might one day be just as successful if Policy is anything to go by.”

7. Palma Violets – Danger in the Club Peter & the Gun What guitarist/vocalist Sam Fryer had to say about recording with John Leckie in remote Wales: “Employees at Rough Trade (Palma Violets’ record label) knew John, who came to Studio 180 and listened to the songs we wrote. He said he was really interested in making a rock & roll album again. We wanted some more songs, and our tour manager (Milo) recommended us a place in Wales. Without any hesitation, we got on a bus and went straight there. We were greeted by a friendly hippy couple who showed us the place and let us do what we wanted to do.”

6. Pond – Man It Feels Like Space Again Man it Feels Like Space Again What we said: “One thing we can definitely be sure of, is that Pond are a unique band whose sound will seldom be replicated by others. Allbrook is a master of his craft, with every song on the album standing out in one way another. Whether it be the energy we feel in Zond, or the euphoria in Waiting Around for Grace, Man It Feels Like Space Again will be one of the best records of the year.”

5. Editors – In Dream Our Love What we said: “On In Dream, Editors have provided what could well be their masterpiece. It might not exactly be the upbeat indie rock of debut album The Back Room (their breakthrough as a band); rather, it’s the sound of a band who learnt how to grow up and make proper use of everything in their power. Whether or not it’ll send them into stratospheric reaches across new territories remains to be seen, but it’s still worth noting that this record can only see the band head in one direction – upwards.”

4. Nothing But Thieves – Nothing But Thieves Hostage What we said: “All in all, Nothing But Thieves’ debut album is an absolute stunner. From Excuse Me’s slow build-up to Tempt You (Evocatio)’s thoughtful closing, the album is full of surprises. Every song touches on anthemic elements at one point or another, in particular during the likes of Wake Up Call, Itch and Trip Switch. Over the course of the album’s 12 songs, Nothing But Thieves leave no stone unturned as they touch on a wide variety of styles – alternative radio rock (all the singles), heartfelt balladry (Lover, Please Stay), electro funk (Hostage) and hard rock (Painkiller) are all thrown into the mix. Alongside this, the album’s four bonus tracks (including the previously released Honey Whiskey and Hanging) also touch on a selection of exciting sounds, serving as an extra treat for diehard fans. If Nothing But Thieves haven’t taken over the world this time next year, then something has gone drastically wrong. This band are the next big rock band that this planet needs, and they’re more than ready to serve up to the challenge.”

3. Tame Impala – Currents Let it Happen What we said: “In Currents, Kevin Parker and Tame Impala are sitting on a flawless masterpiece. From the opening synths on Let it Happen to the fade out on New Person, Same Old Mistakes, Currents is faultless beyond belief. The significant lack of guitars may have already been a given (Parker worked with producer Mark Ronson on January’s Uptown Special), but that the six-string was left alone for a while doesn’t mean that the tracks are any less good. Don’t be surprised if you see Currents topping plenty of year-end lists this year, because that’s exactly where it deserves to be.”

2. Enter Shikari – The Mindsweep Myopia What we said: “The Mindsweep just goes to show that Enter Shikari are still one of the most consistent and impressive bands of our day and age. It may only be January, but this album is an early contender for album of the year. 2015 is the year of the Shikari, whether you like it or not.” What frontman Rou Reynolds said to All Things Loud about The Mindsweep’s concept: “The importance of the scientific method being employed in all areas of life is a main theme. For too long our society, our institutions and our behaviours have been left without analysis or criticism purely because they are ‘traditional’, thought of as immutable, or protected by those who profit from them. It’s becoming clear that capitalism is not conducive to maximising human wellbeing and environmental sustainability as profit is to be made to the detriment of both. This is one of the running themes.”

You can also watch our interview with Rob Rolfe (drums) and Chris Batten (bass) here.

1. Muse – Drones The Handler What we said: “If there’s one thing that Drones has taught us, it’s that Muse are back to their absolute best and have just put out a full-on masterpiece. Everything about Drones is nigh-on perfect, from its concept all the way through to its instrumentation. It sees the reintroduction of elements which made Muse the band they were, as well as the introduction of elements which Muse can certainly use to their advantage on future recordings. It may not be an Origin of Symmetry just yet, but let’s keep in mind that that record also wasn’t considered a classic until a handful of years and successful tours later. Welcome back, Muse.”

What Matt Mahurin, the man behind Drones’ artwork, wrote in a column for All Things Loud earlier this year: “It’s been a thrilling and fulfilling experience to be trusted by the guys in Muse to visually support their music and message. My background is in social and political art. Be it the prisoner abuse in Abu Ghraib or the threat of global warming, I have done many TIME magazine covers and illustrations for Rolling Stone Magazine and other publications on issues that confront society. I consider myself a “visual journalist” - meaning the ideas behind my images are what matter most. I met with the band to show them a collection of my published images on a variety of concerns, and was pleased that we shared many viewpoints.This connection created the opportunity to bring my images to their songs. In regard to process, I simply read the lyrics and listened to the songs, then went about conceiving a concept that supported the song’s intent. After showing my concepts to the band for their approval, I was then set free to bring the images to life.I am designing and illustrating the record package - and will have the pleasure and challenge to create many more images that support the band’s powerful mission.I am grateful to Matt, Dom and Chris for entrusting me with their talent and hard work. I have also been blown away by the passion and commitment of their fans, and have received countless good wishes and support - which only heightens an already amazing professional and personal adventure. As an Imagemaker, these are the kind of jobs one dreams of; the validation to be respected for what one loves to do - and the opportunity to produce a creative product that will be sent out into the world to be shared.”

We’re thus glad to announce that Muse’s Drones is our #1 album of 2015. See you next year.

All Things Loud would like to thank the following people for their assistance in compiling the list and/or providing the means for its respective content: Ruben van der Horst, Sezen Groenen, Natasja de Vries, Ianthe van Hengel, Denise Pedicillo, Eros Pasi, Lobke de Boer, Ingmar Jahn, Aldo Perotti, Brian Christinzio (BC Camplight), Josh Smith (Northlane), JB Brubaker (August Burns Red), Romain Renard (La Pegatina), Josephine van Schaik (The Mysterons), Ellie Rowsell (Wolf Alice), Heath Fogg (Alabama Shakes), Ben Nairne (In Hearts Wake), Samuel Fryer (Palma Violets), Matt Mahurin (Muse’s visual designer), and Rou Reynolds (Enter Shikari).

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Artists to Look Out for in 2016 - Our Picks

During 2014 and 2015, we closely followed three bands per year who we’d tipped for big things. Two years ago, Kettering psych-quartet Temples proved better than The Family Rain and Saint Raymond, whereas this year Wolf Alice have definitely trumped both Alvvays and Marmozets. We’ve spent the last couple of weeks intensely searching and identifying our top tips for success in 2016, ultimately deciding to select five acts instead of three. You can find out who we selected after the jump.

NOTHING BUT THIEVES Over the course of the last twelve months, Nothing But Thieves have slowly but surely made a name for themselves. Hailing from Essex, the Conor Mason-fronted quintet released a stellar debut album in October which is set to be one of the year’s highlights. It didn’t top the charts much like Wolf Alice (our One to Watch for 2015) did, but it did incorporate an abundance of elements which injected a fresh sense of energy into modern day rock. Hit single Wake Up Call followed an anthemic route, whereas early track Ban All the Music goes full-on Jack White in its manic riffage. Combine that with the likes of the glam-infused Hostage and Painkiller’s pit-ready riffs and you have a band sure to take over the world one day. Other than Nothing But Thieves, there isn’t any other band around right now who are more likely to explode next year.

CAN’T SWIM Filling in the heavier slot on our list this year is the brand new Can’t Swim, who debuted on Your Clothes’ infectious punky grooves last week. Having recently been signed to Pure Noise Records, the New Jersey quartet will release their debut EP Death Deserves a Name next February. Frontman Chris Loporto’s intense vocals are the focal point on Your Clothes, with his vocals underpinned by abrasive rhythms and gritty guitars courtesy of drummer Danny, guitarist Chez and bassist Greg. Although the quartet haven’t got a lot to say for themselves just yet (as it stands, the band have a mere 500 fans on Facebook), their signing to Pure Noise Records says enough about the promise which is accompanying their subtle rise. Can’t Swim will be one of your favourite heavy bands next year, and there’s no way of stopping them.

JEREMY LOOPS Jeremy Loops is not your usual musician. The South African multi-instrumentalist cut his teeth in the city of Cape Town, combining his musical endeavours with his organization Greenpop. The organization battles deforestation in South Africa, and sees Loops (who supported Twenty One Pilots earlier this autumn) travel to the deepest corners of South Africa in pursuit of his goals. Smash hit Down South (featuring Motheo Moleko) is already a fan favourite, also forming an integral part of his interaction-heavy live show. During them, he’s accompanied by a backing band for some parts, whereas other parts see him go solo and utilize samples. Loops is by no means conventional, but he’s definitely exceptional.  

BØRNS Now, BØRNS have already been around a little while, yet 2015 really was the year in which people started taking notice. Fronted and helmed by the treehouse-loving Garret Borns, his music sways between soothing pop and electro-tinged indie. Debut album Dopamine came out back in October, and its eclectic combination of the aforementioned styles lived up to all the hype which debut EP Candy (and its accompanying tours) built. The fascinating thing about BØRNS’ music is its ability to reach such a varied selection of audiences, with the potential reach ranging from indie festivals (see this year’s set at Down the Rabbit Hole) to pop compilation CDs. BØRNS have already been conquering the airwaves in some territories, however don’t be surprised if this extends well across the globe in 2016.

FORMATION Closing out our list this year is the London-based duo Formation, who have slowly but surely been setting the UK on fire with their infectious blend of electro funk and soul. “Only got six bullets left, gotta keep one for herself” sings frontman Will Ritson on Under the Tracks, with his brother Matt forming the other half of the sibling team. Standout track Hanging is a perfect mixture of disco bass, rhythmic percussion and anthemic vocals, whereas debut track Young Ones makes heavy-use of cowbells and visceral club beats. Whereas the former would fit in extremely well alongside a selection of the finest retro funk circa 1982, the latter sounds like the kind of banger which fellow sibling duo Disclosure would’ve come up with. Formation are probably the least likely to break through instantly, however don’t be surprised if they suddenly start popping up out of nowhere.    

Compared to last year, our 2016 list was extremely hard to put together. This obviously means that there are quite some bands who didn’t make the final cut. Amongst our remaining choices, you’ll find some of the hottest acts in Holland, as well as some of the most exciting bands from around the world. Representing Dutch music we’ve got The Mysterons and PAUW, both of whom spent this year proving exactly why they deserve a chance outside of Holland. Elsewhere, WSTR and Boston Manor are both flying the pop-punk flag, whereas indie favourites Kassassin Street are yet again frontrunners for success next year. The Southsea-based band featured in our longlist last year, and the hype is still bubbling up. There are obviously plenty more bands to look out for in the coming months, however we think that the aforementioned ten are definitely going to do 2016 justice.

Listen to a full playlist with all ten bands below.

[thisisallthingsloud-blog]

The Top 50 Albums of 2015: #20-#11

Next week, we’re going to be announcing our #1 album of 2015! Now, though, it’s time to get acquainted with the first half of the Top 20. Read on for more.

20. Coldplay – A Head Full of Dreams Amazing Day What we said: “On A Head Full of Dreams, Coldplay look set to divide plenty of opinion. Gone are the old elements which made Coldplay so unique, original and special; in are pop sensibilities, guest stars and a more manufactured sound. The good thing about the record, though, is that Martin and co. have ensured that they won’t be completely swallowed up by the pop world. Sure, they seem to be more American than they are English nowadays, but they’re still the kind of band who know how to stay true to themselves. A Head Full of Dreams has some very special moments (Birds, Adventure of a Lifetime, Amazing Day), but it also has the kind of downfalls (Hymn for the Weekend, the instrumental interludes) which the good moments do well to silence. You may not love Coldplay any more because of it, but A Head Full of Dreams isn’t going to make you despise them either.”

19. Wolf Alice – My Love is Cool Bros What we said: “It’s clear that Wolf Alice aren’t in it to make it big; they don’t want to be the next big anything. They are simply a bunch of incredibly gifted musicians that happen to have made one of the best debut albums in recent memories. Folk, pop, grunge and dreamy guitars come together on this work of art, sounding like bands from the 90’s while also capturing the catchy pop vibes of American colleagues Haim. Above all, they are Wolf Alice and My Love Is Cool is guaranteed to end up high on many album of the year lists.”

Vocalist Ellie Rowsell on the recording process: “We went to a studio in north London called Livingstone studios for a month, and worked with Mike Crossey. He’s worked with lots of guitar bands before. We went in with around 18 songs and chose the best ones, subsequently recording the ones we were most excited to record. We tried to not limit our creative freedom”

18. Blur – The Magic Whip Ong Ong What we said: “If there’s one thing which The Magic Whip has taught us, it’s that Blur are back for good. It’s not only one of the finest albums of 2015, but also one of the best records Blur has ever put out.”

17. The Mysterons – The Mysterons Thunderbird 1 A brief history on The Mysterons, by frontwoman Josephine van Schaik: “The Mysterons was formed at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. At first, the idea was to write songs in the style of Ennio Morricone’s ’60 spaghetti western soundtracks, but soon the band was influenced by all other sorts of music like Bollywood, minimal and trip hop. This resulted in a new, unique sound often referred to as Pop Noir. After the first show in underground club Pacific Parc, they decided to record songs. The band wanted the recordings to sound gritty and old school, and chose to create an EP in the fashion of “do-it-yourself', as a reaction to the clean, hi-fi productions nowadays. The EP was fully recorded on tape in Studio Greenfield (a hidden analogue garage studio in the centre of Amsterdam, owned by saxophonist Rinus Groeneveld). The members of The Mysterons used an analogue mixing desk to do live mixing. The artwork, made by me, consist of a photograph of an overpass turned upside down, creating an outer space interior with weird creatures roaming the scene. Excelsior Recordings picked up the song Echoes by chance, and offered the band a deal. What started out as a fun project on the side, soon got serious.”

16. Chvrches – Every Open Eye Clearest Blue What we said: “Every Open Eye is by far a fantastic record which has once again proven Chvrches’ ability to thrive on whatever they have at their disposal, and create a fantastic end product.”

15. Twenty One Pilots – Blurryface The Judge What we said: “On Blurryface, Twenty One Pilots have proven themselves to be an incendiary, unstoppable force. The record switches between so many different styles and genres at such a rapid pace that it’s sometimes hard to keep up. Blurryface has already the #1 spot in America, with the rest of the world likely to follow suit one day. Look out world, Twenty One Pilots are coming.”

14. La Pegatina – Revulsiu Una Mirada Accordionist/keyboardist Romain Renard on the story behind Revulsiu: “Our fifth album, Revulsiu, was imagined and written on the road. Since the very beginning of La Pegatina, the songs we’ve made were created during a tour. For this album we wanted to make a harder party, with more powerful music than ever. The electric guitars and keyboards are more aggressive, and the explicit lyrics help people to connect more sincerely with us. The song that the album is named after, El Revulsiu, is about how to make things change.”

13. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Chasing Yesterday Lock all the Doors What we said: “If there’s one thing that Chasing Yesterday has taught us, it’s that Noel has no need (nor intention) to chase yesterday. His Oasis days are firmly behind him, with the future being the only thing we need to look forward to.”

12. Bring Me the Horizon – That’s the Spirit What You Need What we said: “This band are not going to put out the same record time after time just to satisfy Aaron from Wyoming because he loves Count Your Blessings. No, the band are going to keep reinventing themselves because they see opportunity in different genres that they equally love. To be successful in the heavy scene, reinvention is key, and Bring Me the Horizon have opened the lock to success.”

11. Faith No More – Sol Invictus Superhero What we said of Faith No More’s set at Pinkpop Festival this year: “Legendary American prog metallers Faith No More are a band who can’t be pigeonholed into a genre that easily. Prog metal in itself is a very broad description for a band whose heaviest songs are as borderline absurd as their ballads are sickly sweet. The Mike Patton-fronted group, whose billing was unusually low for a band of such stature, took to the flower-covered stage as they kicked into the brooding Motherfucker. “Get the motherfucker on the phone” sang the crowd enthusiastically as Patton emerged with a megaphone. Smash hit Epic appeared later on, receiving the best crowd reaction of the set before classic Commodores cover Easy made for a mass sing-a-long. There was onstage banter aplenty, particularly between Patton and keyboardist Roddy Bottom, whose discussions about yoga caused the crowd to laugh a lot. Faith No More aren’t legends for no reason, just look at their back catalogue. A band whose music spans such a wide variety of genres that still have as much relevance in 2015 as they did in 1989 is a band who deserve to be massive. Faith No More are a perfect example of this musical relevance, which is just as encapsulating as their personal nonchalance. They’re easy, just like Sunday morning.”

Check back on Monday for the full Top 10.

[thisisallthingsloud-blog]

Down the Rabbit Hole Announce First Ten Names

June festival Down the Rabbit Hole have announced the first wave of artists set to hit Beuningen next year. Read on to find out who will play in 2016.

The festival’s third edition will see the following acts appear: The National, Mac DeMarco, Glen Hansard, Courtney Barnett, Ty Segall & the Muggers, Mura Masa, Dubioza Kolektiv, The London Souls, Pat Thomas & Kwashibu Area Band and Sonido Gallo Negro.

Down the Rabbit Hole will take place from 24-26 June next year at the Groene Heuvels complex in Beuningen. Tickets for the festival will go onsale on Tuesday, 5 January at 11am. Click here for more details.

[thisisallthingsloud-blog]

New Music Alert, 10 December - A Christmas Special

For our last New Music Alert of the year, we’ve chosen five of the Christmas season’s best releases. We only stuck to one criterion this week: it must be a Christmas song, or else it won’t be covered. This means that new tracks by Cage the Elephant, Secrets and Coldplay have all missed out for once. Instead, read on to listen to 2015’s five best festive cuts.

Excuse the watermark, we did it for the Christmas hat. 

THE KILLERS – DIRT SLEDDING (Stream here) If there’s one band who are no strangers to releasing a track at Christmas, then it’s The Killers. Since 2005, Brandon Flowers and co. have supported the RED charity by putting out a song for the festive season. This year, the band have released the third track in their Santa Trilogy, Dirt Sledding. As always, Ryan Pardey plays the part of a disgruntled Santa, whilst Richard Dreyfuss also makes an appearance. The verses are borderline rockabilly, placing emphasis on Flowers’ delicate vocals, before the chorus sees everything explode. “Pretty girls, Christmas lights, mistletoe, holy nights” sings Flowers during the chorus, with the video seeing Santa attempt a reconciliation with his former enemies. Oh, it sure wouldn’t be Christmas without The Killers.

PALMA VIOLETS – LAST CHRISTMAS ON PLANET EARTH (Stream here) This year, Lambeth-quartet Palma Violets have really put effort into their Christmas activities. For the whole of December, their website will display an advent calendar with different treats and surprises for fans. The first of the planned treats comes in the shape of a brand new track titled Last Christmas on Planet Earth, which is equal parts classic Christmas and classic Palma’s. Fuzzy guitars underpin the whole affair, with Pete Mayhew’s twinkly keys adding some genuine Christmas cheer in and amongst the melancholic lyrics. “Rudolph got shot down flying over Georgia” sings co-frontman Chilli Jesson, his vocal partner Sam Fryer joining him in sounding extremely emotive. Who knows, maybe Christmas has got another indie classic on its hands.

LOOSE TAPESTRIES – CAN’T WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS FT. IDRIS ELBA (Stream here) If you’re doing anything whilst reading this, then stop now. Loose Tapestries, the musical collaboration between comedian Noel Fielding and Kasabian’s Serge Pizzorno, have just outdone themselves by releasing the song of the festive season (or as they put it, “a gift to the nation”). As you’d expect, Can’t Wait for Christmas is absolutely bonkers and packed with the kind of stocking-filling surprises you’ve come to anticipate from Fielding. His creative paws are all over the lyrics (“a snowball fight with the local hard man” / “baby Judas putting on a show, pocket full of Haribo”), with Pizzorno’s oddball verses and jangly guitars giving the track a funk edge. Actor Idris Elba raps his way through a darker breakdown, speaking of boxer shorts and wanting a new Xbox. As the song comes to a children’s choir-led ending, you feel like there’s only one thing which you’re able to do, and that’s dance. “And all the children sing” declares Fielding, and that’s exactly what they’re going to do.

PHOENIX & BILL MURRAY – ALONE ON CHRISTMAS DAY (Stream here) Up until last week, it’s likely that most people had never listened to Beach Boys rarity Alone on Christmas Day. That’s where French outfit Phoenix step in, having recently released a specially recorded version of the track together with actor Bill Murray. On the recording, which was released as part of a brand new Netflix special, Bill Murray starts off by asking Phoenix to play something “that nobody knows”. Over the course of the next three minutes, Phoenix frontman Thomas Mars sings of loneliness during festive days, with his vocals being underpinned by positive sounding piano lines and a progressive tambourine beat. During the chorus, Mars engages in a call-and-response section with Murray, their sense of unity reflecting on both the band and the listener. It’s a nice, easy going Christmas song which is likely to put a smile on many faces over the next two weeks.

AUGUST BURNS RED – HOME ALONE THEME (Stream here) Our fifth and final selection comes courtesy of metalcore outfit August Burns Red, who have re-recorded the famous Home Alone Theme for this year’s Punk Goes Christmas collection. Joining the likes of All Time Low and Set it Off in recording Christmas covers, August Burns Red’s festive rendition encompasses swirling guitar lines, upbeat percussion and that ever so famous Home Alone theme tune. Roughly a minute and a half in, the drums slow down and make for a rather danceable beat section, before slowly speeding up and leading back in to circle pit territory. It’s not a conventional cover (there are no vocals), but it’s a certainly a nice alternative to your usual Christmas music.

We’ll be back in 2016 with a new edition of New Music Alert.

[thisisallthingsloud-blog]

The Top 75 Songs of 2015: #75-#51

Some of you may have already been following our current Top 50 countdown of 2015′s best records. Now, we’re giving this countdown a little brother in the form of our Top 75 Songs of 2015. Read on to find out which songs made the first part of the list!

You can listen to each song by clicking on the link.

75. Circa Waves – T Shirt Weather

74. Foo Fighters – Sean

73. Titus Andronicus – Lonely Boy 

72. Jeremy Loops ft. Motheo Moleko – Down South  

71. Black Peaks – Glass Built Castles 

70. The Wonder Years - Cardinals 

69. Mac DeMarco – The Way You’d Love Her

68. Tonight Alive – Human Interaction

67. Little May – Home

66. The National – Sunshine on my Back 

65. The Tallest Man on Earth – Sagres 

64. Cage the Elephant – Mess Around 

63. CHIC ft. Nile Rodgers – I’ll Be There 

62. The Amity Affliction – Shine On

61. The Neighbourhood – Prey 

60. Gengahr – She’s a Witch 

59. Viet Cong – Silhouettes 

58. Mark Ronson & Kevin Parker – Daffodils 

57. Half Way Station – Sister Don’t You Cry 

56. Kassassin Street – Yeah, It’s On

55. All Tvvins – Thank You

54. FIDLAR – 40oz. on Repeat 

53. Wolf Alice – You’re a Germ 

52. Seasick Steve – Sonic Soul Boogie 

51. Beck – Dreams

Check back next week for part two.