The latest issue of the Full Pelt Magazine is here, and you can download your copy for free below!
Volume 22 is features our cover stars Saint Agnes as they take ‘Bloodsuckers’ on tour. We also have album reviews for The Last Dinner Party and Florence Black.
Our News Report has all the latest music news including live announcements from Download Festival, Reading & Leeds, 2000trees, Slam Dunk, Victorious Festival, Beautiful Days, Tomorrow’s Ghosts Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, Demob Happy, Bury Tomorrow, The Last Dinner Party, Troy Redfern, Trophy Eyes and iDKHOW!
Plus all the best new releases including Bowling For Soup, Indoor Pets, Royal Tusk, VENUES, The Cheap Thrills, From Ashes To New, ERRA, Banks Arcade, Aaron West & The Roaring Twenties, Normandie, The Farm and Job For A Cowboy!
Finally, we round up the latest additions to our âDiscoverâ New Music Playlist including Gallus, Loose Articles and IRKED!
Itâs Independent Venue Week and our lifeblood of grassroots music venues are celebrating the community and experience that these rooms provide us. Our escape from the scary realities of life, the breeding ground for the next big thing, without independent music venues the whole ecosystem of the industry is broken.
Itâs incredibly tough out there for these venues, itâs becoming more and more difficult to survive and that is adding to the pressures on young acts trying to prove themselves. Not all is lost though and itâs incredibly refreshing to see this show is sold out!
Tonight is exciting for a number of reasons, of course our headliners Saint Agnes are an enticing prospect as is our support act BEX, but tonight is also the first gig at this newly relocated venue.
Voodoo Daddyâs has been building its name over the past few years and has now given itself an upgrade across town. Unlike the old venue with its music room upstairs, here we head down into the basement and can see the makings for an essential stop off for new acts in Norwich!
BEX
Up first is BEX, who immediately and ferociously grabs the crowd by the horns and commands their attention. The three-piece create one hell of a noise as they conduct a valuable test on the buildings infrastructure!
Last yearâs cutting debut EP âSCUMâ is at the heartbeat of her set tonight and the likes of âFilthyâ, âTrust No Oneâ and âSPDYD4 K1NGâ truly create a primeval connection between BEX and the energetic audience. Letâs face it though, itâs hard not to let go when faced with the otherworldly force emanating from the stage.
BEX ends her set with a new single and youâd imagine that 2024 is set to be a big one for an artist with the youthful tenacity required to thrive in the current landscape.
SAINT AGNES
Another band that has been thriving of late is Saint Agnes, our headliners this evening. Last year saw the group launch their new era with âBloodsuckersâ and theyâve been building momentum ever since. Itâs always good to see a show like tonight sell out and that indicates that their support slots with the likes of Skindred and their festival appearances are paying dividends in terms of new fans.
Of course everyone knows the band here tonight and as they propel themselves into opening duo âBloodsuckersâ and âAnimalâ, you instantly feel the intensity levels turned up a notch.
The crowd have been up for it all night and they really ramp the energy levels up as the evening progresses. âBloodsuckersâ really is an album built to be enjoyed live and the likes of âI Mean Nothing to Youâ and âAt War With Myselfâ go down particularly well.
The Saint Agnes live experience is a visceral, in your face one and singer Kitty Austen is able to enthral the audience with mystifying ease. Indeed, the new breed of rock band is able to create a sense of something bigger than just the music, be that the community around the band or the aesthetic and presence of their artistry.
Our headliners seem to be well on the way with both of those points and again if you were looking to put your money on rocks next stars youâd have to think itâs more than worth a punt on Saint Agnes!
The latest issue of the Full Pelt Magazine is here, and you can download your copy for free below!
Volume 16 is a special edition where we run down our Top 50 Albums of the Year! 2023 has seen some amazing records released, but who will take the coveted number one spot?
Our News Report is still here also covering the latest from Vended, Slam Dunk Festival, Liam Gallagher & John Squire, Teddy Rocks, Brighten the Corners and LeeStock!
Finally, we round up the latest additions to our âDiscoverâ New Music Playlist with Telltale, Shooting Daggers and Fraser Morgan!
The 2023 Full Pelt Awards are here and you can have your say from our shortlists below!
Votes here will be tallied with those on Social Media, plus weighted votes from our Full Pelt staff with the winners all revealed in a special Magazine on New Year’s Day!
Our 2023 Album of the Year will be revealed on our Social Media on Christmas Day! Let us know your favourite album of the year in the comments and be sure to follow us across social media to be the first to see who wins our award!
Our weekly music News Report has evolved into the Full Pelt Magazine, and you can download the ninth issue now for free!
Volume nine includes an update from cover stars The Hunna and exclusive interview with The Pale White. Plus we review Fall Out Boy live in London and album reviews from The Cadillac Three, The Struts, WARGASM and Black Water County!
We have our News Report rounding up new releases from Green Day, Chelsea Wolfe, Beans On Toast, Dead Poet Society, Casey, Mother Mother, The Beatles, New Model Army, Pet Needs, Pendulum, Therapy?, Normandie, Bob Vylan, Amongst Liars, Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard and Kid Kapichi!
Plus new live announcements from 2000trees, Isle of Wight Festival, Takedown Festival, Radar Festival, Bearded Theory, Bruce Springsteen, Hayseed Dixie, Feeder, Delain, Saint Agnes, Chris Shiflett, Black Honey, The K’s, Lake Malice, Kaiser Chiefs, King Nun and Blossoms!
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
We start this week with the best new releases from the past week and up first is the latest single from Creeper.
This week saw the band share, ‘Teenage Sacrifice’, which you can check out above. The track comes ahead of the release of new album, ‘Sanguivore’, out on Friday 13th October.
Singer William ‘Von Ghould’ says: âThe song introduces Mercy, the protagonist of the Sanguivore narrative. Sheâs deceptively innocent yet savagely violent, and her ability to make people fall under her spell is just one indication that Mercy is not all that she seems.â
Next up is the return of Lonely The Brave, the band this week sharing their brand new single, ‘The Lens’, which you can check out above.
The track will feature on newly announced upcoming album, ‘What We Do To Feel’, which will arrive on November 10th.
Guitarist Mark Trotter comments: “You can plan it out as much as you want, but you’re just along for the ride. That’s the most exciting part, seeing what it decided to be. With this album, we’re certainly more mature as people and as a band. That makes sense with everything that has happened since our last one.”
Singer Jack Bennett continues about the single, saying it “is a track about the way we value each other. It’s different for everyone and we each have a unique perspective towards the world.”
The Struts are next in our News Report as this week saw the band reveal details of their new album, ‘Pretty Vicious’, which will be out on November 3rd.
The band also shared a live visualiser for their recent track, ‘Too Good At Raising Hell’, which you can check out above.
âThis record showcases each individual member’s strengths,â vocalist Luke Spiller says of their impending album. “Itâs some of my favorite music, hands down, weâve ever conjured up. Itâs the record everyoneâs been waiting for.â
This week also saw Daughtry debut their new single, ‘Artificial’, which you can check out above.
“‘Artificial’ is about the potential nightmare that AI could become and the idea that everything and everyone could eventually be replaced, essentially to perfection, and rendered obsolete,” Chris Daughtry explains. “However, the heart and soul of humanity and the ability to feel love, sadness, and compassion can never be replaced. While there are plenty of applications where AI can improve our lives and assist in many areas of creativity, I feel it’s imperative that we find a way to protect our musicians, actors, writers, and all creative outlets from being destroyed.”
Teenage Fanclub continue to gear up for the release of new album, ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’ on September 22nd.
This week saw the band unveil their latest pre-release single, ‘Back To The Light’, which you can check out above.
The track was written by Norman Blake who says:
âI liked the idea of using being in a band as a metaphor for a personal relationship. They are not entirely dissimilar experiences. Like a few others on the album, this song has saxophone on it. The first time weâve had that since Songs From Northern Britain. Stephen Black (Sweet Baboo) played those parts; we really like the richness it brings to the song. Steve will be with us when we head out on tour in October in Europe.â
Saint Agnes recently released their new album, ‘Bloodsuckers’ and this week the band shared a video for the track, ‘Follow You’, which you can check out above.
The band will be joining us this week on The Full Pelt Music Podcast!
The Pale White have debuted new single, ‘Validate Me’, which you can check out above.
The track will feature on new EP, ‘A New Breed’, which is will released on October 20th.
“Ever felt like the world is against you? It probably is… Look around! Weâre surrounded by social pressures of what is perceived as ânormalââ say The Pale White.
“âValidate Meâ explores the mental tug of war between following your true purpose, and conforming to what society thinks you should be. It was born during the pandemic when we all lost our social identity and this heightened self-sabotaging paranoia was just as contagious.â
Finally for this section of our News Report we have a big hit single from Gen and the Degenerates who have revealed their latest single, ‘BIG HIT SINGLE’, which you can check out above!
Speaking on their new single, vocalist Genevieve Glynn-Reeves comments:
âIf you want the highbrow answer, then BIG HIT SINGLE is about the experience of creating art under late capitalism. If you want the lowbrow âand slightly more honestâ answer, then BIG HIT SINGLE is me trying to wind up our label.â
âTheyâd made quite a reasonable requestâŚâPlease can you write more songs like the song that did well and stop experimenting with every genre under the sun in a completely chaotic and hedonistic manner?â Unfortunately, I have issues with authority…My parents often regale me with the tale of my Year 4 parentâs evening, in which my teacher described me as âtoo wild, in the bohemian sense.â
âIf Mrs Baker couldnât get me to behave, then what chance did Marshall Records have? Luckily, they have a good sense of humour over at Marshall.â
Some festival news now in our News Report and whilst this year’s event was still in progress, Bloodstock organisers have confirmed the first wave of artists for the 2024 event.
Both Architects and Amon Amarth have been confirmed as headliners, whilst they’ll be joined by the likes of Malevolence, Clutch, Flogging Molly, Green Lung and more.
The city based version of Live At Leeds returns on October 14th and this week saw the event share a massive line-up of great acts.
You can catch the likes of Another Sky, Benefits, Big Special, Feet, Hamish Hawk, Hotwax, Jack Valero, Lynks, Pigs x7, Pip Blom, Shame, Snayx, The Mysterines and Wunderhorse.
Next in our News Report we focus on the best live announcements from the past week and we begin with Neck Deep.
The welsh band will be taking over Alexandra Palace in London on March 28th for a huge headline show.
Sharing the news the band said, “Itâs been a long time coming but weâre stoked to be finally headlining Ally Pally. Weâve always loved the venue, now itâs our turn for our biggest headline show. Weâre expecting it to be the best Neck Deep show ever, & you wouldnât wanna miss that would ya?”
Kerrang have team up with the Music Venue Trust for Conjurer to join the ‘United By Music Tour’ next month!
Support will come from Unpeople.
Conjurerâs Brady Deeprose says: âConjurer simply would not exist without the UKâs extensive network of Grassroots Music Venues. We cut our teeth playing everywhere from Merthyr Tydfil to Barrow-In-Furness for years, and we were lucky to be able to do so. The threat that GMVs are under is an utter travesty, and something that we are so thankful to MVT for getting involved in – without this network, everyone from fans to bands suffers. Throughout my childhood, I would go to The Roadmender in Northampton, The Vault in Rugby (RIP), The Flapper in Birmingham, and Corporation in Sheffield to both play shows and see my favourite bands – that thriving scene inspired me to pick up a guitar and start a band. If we donât protect it, we lose the next generation of musicians. Itâs that simple.
“To come full circle, Kerrang! putting us forward for this tour is a real privilege, their support for not just us but the UK heavy scene in general, has been untouchable over the last few years. We hope that MVT continues to have success, and that the UK can continue to foster exceptional talent with a strong roster of grassroots venues to support it.â
Luke Morton, editor of Kerrang!, says âThe UK heavy music scene is thriving right now, thanks in large part to the community and support of grassroots venues up and down the country. Iâm so excited and proud for Kerrang! to partner with the Music Venue Trust for this very metal incarnation of the United By Music Tour, featuring the mighty Conjurer â a band Iâve seen cause absolute chaos in some of our best independent venues over the years. As fans of rock, metal and alternative music, it’s vital we all champion the homegrown, grassroots venues that are the lifeblood of our scene. Support your local venue and make sure you catch Conjurer tearing it to shreds!â
Mark Davyd, CEO and founder Music Venue Trust, says: âIt’s great to be teaming up with Kerrang on The National Lottery’s United by Music Tour. The team at Kerrang! were so supportive to Grassroots Music Venues during the pandemic, and the heavy music scene is such an integral part of what makes live music in the UK so essential and vibrant.â
Vocalist Elin Allan comments –Â “When we were writing âThe Tideâ, I donât think I realised how much this song was a cry for help. Itâs such an energetic, in your face song and I was so angry at this point in my life that I honed in on a very cutthroat approach to life. I had just gone through a huge, very tough break up and was having one of the lowest points in my life and with time, now itâs finally released, I think I have accepted that anger and turned it into power.“
Bristol rock outfit Little Thief share their latest single ‘Geronimo’.
Vocalist and lyricist Charlie Fitzgerald states: âPeople do incredible things when up against it and true colours often show when everything falls apart. For me, it signifies sticking together through good times and bad.
We spent a few days in the basement of our place on Albany road in Bristol working together on a bunch of new tracks and Geronimo came from that batch. It was one of the first tunes where the music came first and the lyrics followed. I really enjoyed writing the words for this as they are a bit cheesy, fun and simple with a very repetitive nature. We had the demo banging around for ages and really enjoyed playing it live.â
Swear Blind – ‘Still’
Alt-Rock Nottingham natives Swear Blind share new single ‘Still’.
Drew Lawson says: âa certain global event gave us the time to finish a project weâve been working on for many years and to continue our writing. It gave us a new focus in doing the things that we love doing, plus it gave us a good reason to hang out! Weâve been mates for years so that wasnât an opportunity we wanted to miss.â
Nevrlands – ‘Chemicals’
NYC-based trio Nevrlands share a second track âChemicals‘ from their forthcoming debut album, ‘Timeless’.
“‘Chemicalsâ is about catching yourself in the heat of the moment,â shares Neverlands collectively. âAbout painting a portrait of passion and finding that distinction between love and lust in real-time. Thereâs a very fine line that can sometimes be blurry, or sometimes itâs crystal clear. Is this real? Or is it just another fugazi? âChemicalsâ is all about questioning whether or not that perfect chemical connection will last once the moment ends.â
The rise of Saint Agnes to this point has been slow and steady, but post pandemic the band have certainly been growing their cult following and making an indent on the masses. If youâve been following their development then itâs obvious that âBloodsuckersâ is an important release for the band as it could smash down a considerable amount of barriers.
The pre-release singles such as the title-track and âAnimalâ undoubtedly set the stall perfectly for the band to catapult themselves into the rock mainstream, and as soon as you hit play on âBloodsuckersâ you have to sit back and admire a band taking things to the next level!
The record begins with a ferocious defiance interwoven between the gothic aesthetic and modern nu-metalesque sonic exploration. Lyrically this is an angry yet stubborn start with singer Kitty Austen full of hatred but offering hope such as â…never feel afraid to be the outsider, I promise youâre never alone, because what the fuck do they knowâŚâ on the biting âOutsiderâ.
As the album develops you begin to hear a more diverse palate of musical and lyrical delivery with the likes of âThis Is Not The Endâ and âAt War With Myselfâ and âForever and Everâ making this more of a well rounded record.
There is still plenty of rage on the second half of the album however with the double header of âMiddle Fingerâ and the Mimi Barks featuring âBody Bagâ offering a tonne of controlled fury to maintain the fierce pace.
If this album needed to be big and bold to continue the rise of Saint Agnes, then the band has delivered exactly the record that was called for.
Festival season is in full swing and rock fans once again descend on Upcote Farm in Cheltenham for 2000trees! A true music fans festival, this year there is an absolute smorgasbord of the best new and established acts to savour across three full days of relentless entertainment.
However, before the event proper begins though those with early entry have an additional evening of music on tap in the beautiful forest area. The âForest Stageâ has always been a unique and special feature of this festival which is now on its fifteenth iteration.
Wednesday
The privilege of opening the festivities this year goes to Snayx who, despite playing whilst many are still pitching their tents, still attract an eager and excited crowd. The band are able to seize upon this excitement to whip the crowd up even further with their brand of punk rock. A benchmark is set for the weekend early here and thankfully the organisers have a bill curated to ensure that the quality never drops!
The other stage in operation today is the small âThe Wordâ stage which over the weekend will host various activities such as further bands, live podcasts, comedians and more. Over the next few hours we are able to catch delighted spots from B-Sydes, Masca, Polyanna and Gaz Brookfield.
Over on the âForest Stageâ though, the handful of selected bands combine to deliver a highly memorable evening. Delaire the Liar are up next and are able to continue to build their growing reputation with another assured performance.
A real special moment follows as one of the most talented yet underappreciated bands of the last decade Press To MECO play their final show. Such a moment really deserved a bigger stage and longer setlist but those present are able to bathe in those glorious riffs one more time with an emotional âA Test of Our Resolveâ a highlight of the whole festival.
Next are a band just getting started. Saint Agnes are tipped as the future of rock music by some, and again on the evidence of their set tonight those people are very much correct! Debut album âBloodsuckersâ canât arrive soon enough; thankfully we only need to wait on July 21st!
The latest Tigercub album is already out and next up the band bring âThe Perfume of Decayâ to life with a solid showing as the forest area begins to fill up in anticipation of the nights two headline acts.
Both Holding Absence and Bob Vylan will play two sets over the weekend but before gracing the main stage, they both thrill those packed into the woods! Holding Absence are first and they captivate the crowd with a cleverly selected mix of rarities and fan favourites. This band continues to grow and evolve and itâs scary how good they could be.
Bob Vylan also continue to elevate the game with their headline set tonight they bring carnage to the forest! A spectacular off the cuff collection of on point punk rock more than whets the appetite for their main stage appearance, even showing that they arenât too far away from being able to headline the biggest stage next time they play the festival.
THURSDAY
Each night the now infamous silent disco takes over the site as the party continues into the early hours, but come Thursday morning the arrival of the rest of the attendees ensure even the first act of the day, Blush Puppy on the âForest Stageâ get a good turnout. The duo perform a delightful run-through of adapted favourites which starts the first full day off perfectly.
With the outdoor stage, three tented stages and the âForest Stageâ all rotating throughout each day an avid music fan can fill their boots with live music and literally catch non-stop music for nigh on sixteen hours a day if they wanted to. We donât quite have that stamina but we give it a good go and are rewarded by great sets from Kite Thief, Beach Riot and Gaffa Tape Sandy.
Following that run we then head to first catch recent âDiscoverâ New Music Podcast guests CARSICK over on the âNEU Stageâ. The group proceed to smash through their set to the delight of those present with the likes of âAnaconda Frankâ showing real bite.
Another act to impress early in the weekend are Lake Malice in âThe Caveâ. The group have been winning over all who see them this summer and their future appears to be very bright indeed.
Thank you @2000trees_festival that was incredible đ¤
You made our debut appearance a special one đŤś
Next malicious festival is @rdrfestival on 30th July. Link in bio for đŤ
Lambrini Girls, Graphic Nature and the official debut of new group Unpeople who have formed from the ashes of Press To MECO all follow and continue to hot run of great sets. Unpeople in particular are able to really tease what is to come and make a fantastic first impression.
The main stage soon literally takes centre stage as first Kid Kapichi and then Bob Vylan deliver two of the sets of the weekend. Kid Kapichi are effortless in their delivery of impassioned punk rock which sees an endless sea of crowd surfers on an inflatable burger! Bob Vylan then reinforce the message that their headline set sent last night, that the duo are as advertised â the most important band in the world!
We then head back to the two larger tented stages, firstly for Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun who preview their upcoming new album âColourâ. The record will arrive on July 28th and the band really do a good job of convincing those in attendance that despite the decade plus wait for a new album, the wait will be worth it. All the new material this evening sounds absolutely massive. Then in âThe Axiomâ, The Joy Formidable deliver a delightful little set that evidences the eclectic mix of rock music presented at 2000trees.
Soon enough itâs time for the final run of bands that will close out day one. Skindred are well established as a great live act and tonight they have the crowd at their whim. The Newport Helicopter needs no introduction either as the crowd make the most of the groups big finale.
Back in the big tent next for Eagles of Death Metal who give a festival friendly, crowd pleasing set including the likes of âI Only Want Youâ, âComplexityâ, âCherry Colaâ and âI Want You So Hard (Boyâs Bad News)’.
Finally itâs over to the returning Soft Play (the artists formerly known as Slaves) to close out the day. The duo pick up where they left off and play as if theyâve never been away. Itâs great to have the band back and fans revel in the likes of âCheer Up Londonâ, âFeed the Mantarayâ and âThe Hunterâ.
Friday begins with an early run of Beauty School, RXPTRS, The St. Pierre Snake Invasion, BLACKGOLD and New Pagans all of whom play their rules well and make the most of their short sets.
After an overcast first couple of days, today is a scorcher and the heat is intense as LostAlone arrive on the stage. The band donât let that phase them though as they pull out all the stops to get the crowd engaged. Itâs mission accomplished by the time they deliver the double header of âThe Final Call For Foreverâ and âThe Last Drop Of Foreverâ.
2000trees do very well to bring together the best new music from home and abroad and the next run of Militarie Gun, Zulu, Microwave and Kublai Khan TX shows the keen eye for upcoming talent that the organisers have.
Itâs this mix of new with the established acts that perfectly balances out the line-up and Hell Is For Heroes are a great nostalgic party next on the main stage. The quality overall is again on show when you can then head immediately to the âNEU Stageâ for an excellently run set from As Everything Unfolds, before returning to the main stage for a very enjoyable Dinosaur Pile-Up show and then jumping straight to the always intense Cancer Bats in âThe Caveâ!
Bullet For My Valentine are the act who close out the night with a huge headline performance. Attracting one of, if not the biggest crowd of the weekend, the band are in confident mood as they showcase their headlining credentials. Older tracks such as âScream Aim Fireâ and âHearts Burst Into Flamesâ naturally receive big reactions, but itâs telling newer tracks also are well received.
A surprise AxeWound reunion with Liam Cormier is another festival highlight before âTears Donât Fallâ and âWaking the Demonâ ensure that come the next morning everyone is talking about how great Bullet were tonight!
The festival has been a whirlwind as per usual for 2000trees and itâs a testament to the quality of line-up that to this point there hasnât been a bad performance. Of course some ultimately standout more than others such as that headline set last night or Bob Vylan destroying the forest but the chilled out atmosphere amongst attendees is reflected by the respect the bands pay the crowd. The reciprocal ambience creates a synergy that elevates every aspect of this event.
SATURDAY
Come Saturday the crowd may be sapped from the previous days heat but over on the âForest Stageâ Xtra Mile Recordings acts (and previous âDiscoverâ New Music Podcast guests) Hannah Rose Platt and Guise are serenading the early crowd with their beautiful music. They are both well received despite the heat being supplemented today by a lot of the wet stuff!
Xtra Mile Recordings has a great relationship and past with 2000trees and new Xtra Mile favourites (and double Full Pelt Podcast guests!) PET NEEDS attract a big crowd to âThe Axiomâ next. This is no doubt due to some guerrilla advertising from their fans, but everyone that ventures into the tent leave hailing the band as one of the bands of the weekend.
Thank you @2000trees_festival for the most insane midday slot.
Thank you FRACTURED PARTY PEOPLE (official PET NEEDS fan group) for being the best street team in the world.
That concludes three months of touring across 11 countries.
One of the elements that makes the âForest Stageâ so special are the sets from acts playing on the biggest stages which are often acoustic and unique. Next, Electric Six frontman Dick Valentine does a great job of distracting the audience from the deteriorating weather with a highly fun acoustic set.
After catching Dead Poet Society and Enola Gay strutting their stuff we are then able to catch Electric Six themselves who attract another big crowd to the main stage. The crowd lap up the likes of âGay Barâ and âDanger! High Voltageâ as youâd expect, and the band do their job with aplomb.
One Step Closer then cement their hype in âThe Caveâ before Black Honey demonstrate why they are one of the best newer live acts in the country. Tracks from new album, âA Fistful of Peachesâ sound massive as the band achieve another of those more memorable sets of the weekend.
The reshuffled Dream State then show that they still have a big future ahead of them in âThe Caveâ before Deaf Havana battle through a torrential downpour which decimates their crowd at the main stage. We brave the rain until the end before heading into the forest for a short but very fun set from Lynks.
Talking to people across the site, the opinion is unanimous that this has been a spectacular weekend. You feel as the weekend comes to a close that it canât get any better, but then Hundred Reasons deliver perhaps the best set of the weekend. The band get the audience onboard from opening number âIâll Find Youâ and never lose them despite more heavy rain. One of the moments of the weekend comes when Enter Shikari man Rou Reynolds joins the band for a superb âSilverâ.
Jamie Lenman then plays his latest masterpiece âThe Atheistâ in full over in the forest before Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes come out of hibernation to finish the festival with a welcome career-spanning set.
Whilst the band may lack a certain volatility of their early days they donât lack in swagger or controlled ferocity when required. The final run of âMy Townâ, âDevil Inside Meâ, âJuggernautâ, âLullabyâ and âI Hate Youâ is the perfect way to bring an incredible weekend of music to a close.
2000trees has established itself at the heart of the summer as a trusted and respected event. From their humble beginnings to now fifteen events later, the festival lays on the infrastructure but the audience makes the event the special weekend that it is!
Ash and The Subways will combine forces for a special co-headline tour lat this year!
Also in a big news week for Ash, the group have announced that they will release a new album, ‘Race the Night’, on September 15th.
The band accompanied the announcement with the release of the title-track as lead single, and you can listen to the song below.
Ash – ‘Race The Night’
Wheeler comments: âRace the Night is the sound of the band reveling in the sheer joy of being a band after being separated by time and distance through the insanity of the early 2020s. Lyrically it’s all about seizing the crossroads moments in life with both hands. Take every chance as if it could be your last.â
Continuing about the video he says: âRace the Night video is the product from the fevered mind of long time friend and horror director Jed Shepherd. He’s taken a song about seizing the moment and had the band seized by a super fan who proceeds to force the band into doing her bidding. Enjoy the MiseryâŚâ
Continuing the fantastic live announcements this week in our News Report is a new run of UK and EU dates from The Struts.
Regarding the tour frontman Luke Spiller says, “Finally we are returning to the UK and Europe! We can’t wait to play you some new material and a new show we’ve been putting together for the last year. Get your tickets as fast as you can! Love you all! X”
As December Falls revealed a spectacular new tour this week which will see then head out later this year with support from both Dream State and Lizzy Farrall.
The tour is in support of new album, ‘Join the Club’, which is out July 21st.
We move our News Report on now to the best new releases from the past week and we begin with Kasabian.
The band have shared new single, ‘Algorithms’, which you can check out above.
On the track, frontman Serge Pizzorno says:
“Some tunes take months to write and some take 10 minutes. Itâs as if theyâve already been written and all youâre doing is dictating your subconscious. Thatâs how Algorithms came together. Iâve been thinking how important gigs are and how they make us all so happy through the good times and the bad and especially festivals, those moments when people get on shoulders and itâs glorious chaos. Thatâs what Algorithms is to me, weâre not here for a long time just here for a good time. Thatâs what separates us from the robots. We live in the moment and if weâre lucky enough to feel that, then we are in ecstasy. What makes us special is that we canât live forever, we have our time and then we are gone. Itâs why real flowers are beautiful and plastic ones, are just plastic. Hope you enjoy the tune see you in the mosh pit”
The legendary Alice Cooper returned this week with news of a brand new album coming later this year.
Cooper confirmed that ‘Road’ will be released on August 25th, and accompanied that announcement with new single, ‘I’m Alice’, which you can check out above!
âFor ‘Road’, I wanted the band to be involved in the foundation of all the songs,â says Alice. âI only see these guys when weâre on the road. So, I wanted them to be as tight as they are for the show but on all new material. When you have a band this good, I believe in showing it off, and this is my way of doing so.â
Coinciding with their massive Arctic Monkeys Stadium tour slot, The Hives have debuted new single, ‘Countdown to Shutdown’, which you can check out above.
The track features on upcoming new album, ‘The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons’, which will arrive on August 11th.
Duff McKagan this week announced the release of new album, ‘Lighthouse’, on October 20th.
McKagan also shared the title-track from the album, which you can check out above.
“The crashingâŚ.the cresting waves, the falling through of all that surrounds you. Life sometimes tosses us around, and we feel the want of comfort and the pull of home.  A ship tossed like a toy through the Cape, sails ripped and the wood groaning with the scraping of its ballastâŚ.a soul trying with all its might to find peace and a center.  Find a lighthouse. I have my lighthouseâŚ.its beacon swirling in the darkness with her warmth and promise of nurture, love, laughter, and all that is true.  Wonât you be my lighthouse, give me light,âŚand bring me home.” – Duff
Black Water County debut ‘The Only Life Worth Living’
Black Water County – ‘The Only Life Worth Living’
Next up in our News Report are Black Water County who this week debuted new single, ‘The Only life Worth Living’, which you can check out above.
The track begins a string of singles leading to the release of a new album of the same name later this year.
âThe Only Life Worth Living is about keeping an open mind, opening doors and moving forward,â explain the band, âThe song summarises our feelings coming out of a hard couple of years for both the band and the industry as a whole. To us, it means full âballs-to-the-wallâ energy because life is too short.
âAs times have become tougher our writing has reflected some of these struggles and weâve found ourselves focusing on what really matters to us. This track was initially conceptualized pre-covid but was refined over many video calls during lockdown, forcing us to think outside our normal writing process. Because of this, we think that it has grown into a track that longs to be shouted from the rooftops and, now that weâre back out on the road, weâre so thrilled to be performing again to our audience, knowing that theyâre stoked to be back out in the wild too.â
Dream Nails have announced details of their new album, ‘Doom Loop’, which will be released on October 13th via Marshall Records.
You can listen to the lead single, ‘Good Guy’, above.
âDoom Loop is an exploration of the repeated cycles we find ourselves in,â comments vocalist Ishmael Kirby, âfrom political injustice and patriarchal systems to the negative spirals of our minds. A doom loop is a crisis that starts to feed on itself. It feels like there is no escape. But there is. This album is a reflection of ourselves, the world we live in, and the one we want to create.â Â âSpecifically, Doom Loop delves into masculinity in its many formsâ expands drummer Lucy Katz. âThe good guy, the lads at school, the narcissistic politician, the incel, the sexual predator, the police officer. It looks into gender-based oppression from childhood; how isolation can breed violence against women and the rhetoric that spawns incels.â Â Elaborating on the themes, guitarist Anya Pearson adds: âOn the album we also celebrate masculinity by telling stories about butch and trans masculine identities. We show the shared responsibility we have in fighting misogyny. Empathy is hard to find in a divided world, but we seek it out, advocate for it, and ask how far it goes.â Â The title of the riotous new single highlights the phrase as a fake ID used to lull people into a false sense of security. âItâs as if we couldnât possibly believe there could be danger if someone describes themselves as the good guy.â says Ishmael. âIt reinforces that gender-based violence and attacks are one-off occurrences, denying our lived experiences as women and non-binary people.â Â Bassist Mimi Jasson recounts: âIncel terrorist Elliot Rodger killed six people in a stabbing and shooting spree in California in 2014. The final section of his manifesto, where the 22-year-old complained about not being able to get a girlfriend, Rodger declared âI am the true victim in all of this. I am the good guyââ
Heavy Lungs this week shared new single, ‘All Gas No Brakes’, which you can check out above.
The song is the title-track for their newly announced upcoming album which arrives 29th September.
Of the news, the band say: âWell, well, well⌠they said it couldnât be done, but look what just kicked you in the ass. Our debut album is coming out. Itâs a dancer and itâs a prancer, and hopefully itâs a life enhancer. We recorded it way back in 2021 with head wizard, Wiz, and his jester Stan for some extra magic and spice, and itâs been a long old wait, but only another 3 months and itâs yours!â
Commenting on the song, front man and vocalist Danny Nedelko says: âThis high-octane, dance floor firecracker is all about giving it absolute beans. Itâs about knowing you are the big cheese. Youâre the main course.â  The official video was directed by good friends Holding Hands With Horses. âItâs a â70s B-movie, Paul Thomas Anderson-inspired depiction of a roller disco gone full Twin Peaks,â say the band of the visuals. âYou are seriously in for a wild ride. 69% on Rotten Potatoes. The rewatchability of this one is off the scale. Letâs goooooo.â
Finally for this section of our News Report we have the latest single from Conquer Divide. You can check out ‘the INVISIBLE‘ above.
The song is taken from upcoming new album, ‘Slow Burn’, which is out September 8th.
“the INVISIBLE.” has many lived-in, emotional layers that paint a picture that takes you right back to your youth, especially if you are part of an alt scene and made to feel like an outcast,” the band explains, offering insight into the song.
“It confronts the dynamic between your true self and your desire to be accepted by the ‘cool kids.’Â One day, you realize that you don’t need to seek validation from those in a sad state of affairs. They project their insecurities onto others because they lack emotional maturity and self-esteem.”
BIG SPECIAL share their latest single ‘THIS HERE AIN’T WATER’.
The band says “Itâs basically an inward sermon, when youâre stuck in your head egging yourself on about how rough times feel. Itâs about media and politics. Itâs about self-medication. Itâs about a lack of options. Itâs about the thinning of the common understanding between the social classes of England, and feeling stuck, watching it all happen.”
Keep This Up – ‘Lost’
Keep This Up share ‘Lost’ prior to new EP ‘Paper Houses’.
The band says “Lost is a song about the pain you face in a toxic relationship â be it a friend, family or relationship. Itâs hard to understand why we care when we shouldnât sometimes and lyrically this explores those feelings whilst ripping through some post-hardcore riffs, nice harmonic melodies and a very fast breakdown.”
Raisin Awareness – ‘Never Ending Story’
UK pop punk trio Raisin Awareness unveil their debut single, ‘Never Ending Story’.
In the words of Jo D, the band’s lead vocalist, and guitarist, “When you actually sit down and think about how fucked the world is and that youâre part of that mess, it can feel overwhelming. Some of us have gotten very good at justifying our actions due to their convenience, or some of us simply stick our heads in the sand.â
âLyrically, Never Ending Story comes from my own battle with feeling helpless about the state of the world and not wanting to give up hope that if we come together in solidarity, we will prevail
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
We get started this week with the latest from Reading and Leeds Festivals which as is tradition take place this August Bank Holiday weekend.
This week saw the likes of Lauran Hibberd, The Royston Club, Somebody’s Child and Bilk.
They will join names such as The Killers, Yard Act, The Amazons, You Me At Six, Frank Turner, Imagine Dragons, Don Broco, The Snuts, Hot Milk, The Murder Capital, Yonaka, Normandie and Sleep Token.
The View recently announce that their new album ‘Exorcism of Youth’ will be released on August 18th. Now the band have revealed a full Autumn UK Tour in support of the album.
Kyle Falconer commented, âTouring has always been what weâve done best, we just needed some time to refuel. Canât wait to get back to it!â
PJ Harvey has announced her new album, ‘I Inside the Old Year Dying’, will be out on July 7th.
Ahead of her first album since 2016, Harvey has also debuted brand new single, ‘A Child’s Question, August’, which you can check out above.
On the new single: âI think the album is about searching, looking – the intensity of first love, and seeking meaning,â says Harvey. âNot that there has to be a message, but the feeling I get from the record is one of love â itâs tinged with sadness and loss, but itâs loving. I think that’s what makes it feel so welcoming: so open.â
Grian Chatten, vocalist of Dublinâs critically acclaimed band Fontaines D.C., has shared his debut solo single, âThe Scoreâ, which you can check out above.
Commenting on the track, Chatten explains, ââThe Scoreâ is a heavyweight bated breath of lust. I wrote it in Madrid between an electric fan and a dying plant and I intend to keep it there. It was inspired by sugar and sunset.â
Very first German rock/metal Eurovision Song Contest representatives, Lord of the Lost, have released an official music video for ‘Destruction Manual’, which you can check out above.
The band on the new video: âA video where the whole band is represented by women. That is something I’ve wanted to do for half of my life. But it wasnât the right time until now: the moment has come! Next to Louisa, we have four outstanding female musicians from all over the world at our instruments, and we love the energy that all five of them radiate here. What can I say? We’ve never looked so stunning!”
Next in our News Report is K.Flay who this week released her latest single, ‘Raw Raw’, which you can check out above.
Regarding the single K.Flay says, ââRaw Rawâ is the start of my next chapter. After losing half my hearing last fall, I was faced with a sudden and intense episode of fear and vulnerability. Like, could I even make music again? Once I got into my recovery and started writing and recording, I knew that I could. And what I wanted to create was music that felt properly rock but also properly future oriented. Uninhibited and different.
âWith âRaw Rawâ I wanted to capture what vulnerability really feels like. Outwardly it might seem tender, but on the inside itâs messy and bloody and somewhat terrifying. Itâs a chainsaw buzzing at your throat.â
Loose Articles share video for ‘Sinead Loves Bitcoin
Loose Articles – ‘Sinead Loves Bitcoin’
Manchester indie punks Loose Articles this week shared new single ‘Sinead Loves Bitcoin’, which you can check out above.
âThe song is about our pal and local legend Sinead Ferguson, who’s a band photographer,â say the band of the story behind the track. âShe had her instagram account hijacked by Bitcoin hackers who were posing as her and trying to sell everyone Bitcoin for ÂŁ10,000. For a split second everyone thought Sinead was a Bitcoin dealer, so we turned it into a song where she was stealing your wifi and hacking your social media accounts to sell Bitcoin.â
The band have launched a spoof NFT scheme to accompany the track, alongside Sineadâs Bitcoin Fund, which will offer fans the ability to donate money to the band to unlock perks.
Tiers range from ÂŁ0â20+ and include incentives like a specially recorded B-side short story, a cassette tape of the release, a DTG Ape Loose Articles shirt, and more special gifts TBC.
Salisbury punk rockers CARSICK have shared their latest single, ‘Anaconda Frank’, which you can check out above.
The band are also set to drop their forthcoming debut EP ‘Drunk Hymns’ on 30th June.
Anaconda Frank is our biggest rager yet,â the band said of the song. âWe wanted to capture the chaotic energy of our lives right now and so we’ve drawn on a bunch of real experiences we’ve had recently – covering everything from addiction to giant exotic snakes. It’s about being in a transitional stage of your life and figuring out what exactly it is you want to do and the kind of person you want to be.”
New York-based punk band Oxymorrons continue their genre-bending revolution with their latest single, ‘Last Call’ featuring Troi Irons.
When asked what inspired them to write such an honest song and share themselves so openly, the band explained, ââLast Callâ is an exercise in vulnerability and using our music to help us better understand ourselves and our coping mechanisms. Too many times weâve all found ourselves drowning at the bottom of a bottle, using alcohol to help us feel something different or feel nothing at all. Whether youâve struggled in the past or are struggling right now, we hope this song helps you feel seen and plays a role in helping you not struggle in the future.â Â Featured artist Troi Irons brought a different perspective to the track, sharing, âIâve long been a fan of the Oxymorrons and what they do so I was thrilled to hop on this song. I donât really drink but itâs more a metaphor for how humans tend to reach for the closest thing to help us feel less alone. Itâs not always healthy. Hopefully people reach for the music to feel less alone with this one.â
DETHRXNER – ‘STAY COLD’
Copenhagen’s DETHRXNER share their new single, ‘STAY COLD’ featuring Aaron Matts of ten56..
“âStay Coldâ is a track about resilience and perseverance in the face of challenges. The lyrics convey a determination to stick to one’s plan, despite past failures and missed opportunities – itâs ultimately a declaration of staying strong, staying true to oneself, and staying focused on success, no matter how tough the journey may beâ – Vocalist Neema RadÂ
Tribe of Ghosts – ‘Sunburner (Deny the Rot)’
Tribe Of Ghosts share their brand new single ‘Sunburner (Deny the Rot)’.
âWhen my mental health began severely declining before my diagnosis, I always associated the Sun as some kind of aggressor or enemy as it would cause emotional and physical discomfort whenever I saw it… This discomfort would bring on these intense feelings of anxiety and intense physical pain that I would daily attempt to mask and ignore as I didnât want to accept that I was mentally unwell.â – Guitarist Adam Sedgwick.
