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Ghost

Skeletá

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GHOST – Skeletá- ALBUM REVIEW

The build towards a new Ghost album is unlike anything else, particularly since their explosion in popularity. Enormous intrigue shrouds every little move that the band makes and they are sonically, stylistically and aesthetically analysed beyond comprehension at times.

What does ultimately make a great Ghost album? Well, this may oversimplify it but great songs. They may make an impression with their theatrics and look, but there is a substance to their music that allows them that platform to expand their imagery.

Their last record, ‘Impera’, was an 80’s inspired romp which took home our Album of the Year Award that year. Their sixth album, ‘Skeletá’, arrives now and instantly opens up in a similar vein. The viral success that the band has enjoyed in recent years has been fuelled by the poppier side of their sound and to that extent ‘Skeletá’ does sound like a natural continuation of ‘Impera’.

The issue that arises as the record progresses however is that it doesn’t quite capture the same magic that we spoke of when reviewing ‘Impera’. The album starts off hot with the three pre-release singles ‘Peacefield’, ‘Lachryma’ and ‘Satanized’. Each track is superb dose of arena pop rock which fits in well with their recent outputs.

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Ghost – ‘Satanized’

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Thereafter the record lulls itself in a disappointing complacency that comparatively will result in most tracks being somewhat forgettable. That however feels more of a testament to the strength of their recent work. These are good Ghost songs, they just aren’t the great songs that we hoped for and the pre-release singles teased.

The likes of ‘Marks Of The Evil One’ and ‘Umbra’ do provide some more memorable moments, and you can’t really pinpoint a bad track. A better song order would probably help expel the feeling of Ghost by numbers that seeps into the middle of the album; but it’s all too easy to criticise. This is actually a decent album, you just enter into it wanting another masterpiece.

We’ve seen the momentum of other next big thing type bands killed by bad albums, but this is absolutely not one of those. The quality of the three singles alone ensures that this won’t stifle their seemingly unstoppable momentum.

Perhaps what this album does more than anything is confirm Ghost in the upper echelons of their world. With that they naturally loose the new toy shine and some of their once captivating buzz. Thankfully for them they can still fallback on a base of substance to ensure they remain liable to worship!

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Luke Spiller

Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes And Wine

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Luke Spiller – Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes And Wine – Album review

With his band The Struts, Luke Spiller has earned his pedigree as a classic rock ‘n’ roll frontman. Wowing audiences across the world, anybody watching Spiller on stage will note his penchant for showmanship. Spiller has always exuded a passion for the theatrical and grandiose and now as he releases his debut solo album, he is able to explore his love for the flamboyant in more depth.

Yes, the prophetically titled, ‘Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes and Wine’, features ten stunning tracks that gently walk the tightrope between intimate and grand. Whilst the instantly recognisable vocals of Spiller lend a small dose of familiarity for fans of his day job, these songs are correctly presented as something entirely different.

Spiller has always given off the vibes of someone you either love or hate. Any hatred however is usually driven purely by jealousy from those incapable of conjuring performances like his. These songs are shrouded in vulnerability and as Spiller sings the chorus of ‘Don’t Be Afraid To Love Me’, you feel he is almost offering this to those haters as much as he is any love interest.

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Luke Spiller – ‘She’s Just Like California’

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Love is at the core of this collection however and the tracks carry a very personal sense of catharsis throughout. ‘The Ending Is Always The Same’, ‘If This Isn’t Love’ and the title track particularly hit that spot.

There is however an extremely cinematic atmosphere to this collection with the epic album closer ‘Angel Like You’ (which by the way features the last recording Taylor Hawkins made before his death) especially sounding like it was written with a Bond movie in mind.

That is the pure ambition and drive of Spiller on full display though, and this record is made by the freedom that he gains from moving away from The Struts formula.

‘Love Will Probably Kill Me Before Cigarettes and Wine’ is the sound of an incredibly talented individual striving for greatness and getting pretty close! It provides a very precise listening experience and sets up a whole new platform for Spiller to explore his childhood influences further than ever before.

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HIMALAYAS

BAD STAR

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HIMALAYAS – BAD STAR – ALBUm REVIEW

HIMALAYAS have been making their mark over the course of a decade worth’s of impressive live shows and increasingly intense releases. On their new album, ‘BAD STAR’, they are ready to complete their evolution into one of the must exciting bands on the circuit.

The four-piece have gradually evolved their sound from more indie beginnings into a now all-out thunderous rock bombast. The riffs are heavier, the grooves are cooler, and the overall package is grander. The band have stepped up on this new collection and they’ve done it in style.

Album opener, ‘Beneath The Barrel’, slowly builds over two and a half minutes to an atmospheric crescendo which perfectly captures the aesthetics of the record. There is a precision in the delivery of these modern rock anthems which only serves to elevate the album.

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HIMALAYAS – ‘Afterlife’

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Whilst pre-release singles such as ‘What If…?’, ‘Surrender’, and previous Full Pelt Single of the Week ‘Nothing Higher’, all act as benchmarks for the remaining tracks; this is a record you can break out the clichéd ‘not a bad track on here’ remark.

It’s always refreshing to see a band such as HIMALAYAS demonstrating their growth and long time fans of the band will certainly relish in the grandiose nature of ‘BAD STAR’.

At ten tracks, it also feels important to note that this album doesn’t overstay its welcome. It’s here to deliver a knockout blow and that’s exactly what it manages to do. This is a band high on confidence and ready to kick down doors, so brace for impact and immerse yourself in this fantastic record!

Watch Episode 65 of The Full Pelt Music Podcast with guests HIMALAYAS!

The Full Pelt Music Podcast – Episode 65 – HIMALAYAS

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The Pale White

The Big Sad

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THE PALE WHITE – THE BIG SAD – ALBUM REVIEW

The Pale White are proud to represent the Northeast of England and much like Newcastle United, the trio have had to overcome a lot of turbulence in order to reach for the stars!

Whilst Eddie Howe’s men have finally lifted a major trophy, The Pale White have focused on creating something memorable themselves in the shape of their sophomore album, ‘The Big Sad’.

Frontman Adam Hope of spoken openly of the brave creative strides taken to muster up what can correctly be described as an eclectic record. It would in fact be easier to list the genres not in scope on this collection then try to pigeonhole this set of songs into any singular pre-conceived genre or style.

Hope, alongside drummer brother Jack and bassist Dave Barrow, has built a musical merry-go-round which will command your attention over the course of thirteen tracks and a solid forty-five minutes of sweet sonic madness.

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The Pale White – Lost In The Moment

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To keep the metaphors coming after that sweet reference, you could liken this to a pick ‘n’ mix bag of goodies. That helps to ensure that this is an interesting and engaging listen but perhaps hampers any real continuity across the record.

You can sense the incredible passion poured into the album however and the results are simply astonishing. For a band who had established something of a signature sound, ‘The Big Sad’ sees them almost completely tear up the rule book and throw everything they have to offer onto a new blank page.

There are still some familiar moments but in general fans of the band will need to enter this experience with an open mind. There are lots of ideas spread across these fascinating tracks… some of them work, and naturally others don’t. You have to admire however the guts of the group to do things their way and bravely forge ahead with their renewed vision for the band.

The Toon Army didn’t win their first cup final of this new era, but the experience pushed them on to become the behemoth that they are now. ‘The Big Sad’ may not be their magnum opus, but it will surely be a key lesson on their way to future successes!

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OK Go

And The Adjacent Possible

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OK GO – AND THE ADJACENT POSSIBLE – ALBUM REVIEW

OK Go are something of an anomaly in the music world, in that they are probably more famous for their videos than for their music. In a world that’s now consumed by TikTok and shortform videos, maybe that wouldn’t be such an oddity these days, but OK Go did it twenty years ago!

Yes, the original viral sensations are back with what is only their fifth studio album. This represents pretty lean offerings in what has been a 25+ year career, but for the first time in eleven years we have a new album, ‘And the Adjacent Possible’.

You could say that OK Go are very much a quality over quantity type act and this latest album again follows that mantra. Twelve tracks spread over forty-five sumptuous minutes; this is a record that will resonate well with their fanbase.

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OK Go – ‘Love’

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Easy to digest, these songs pull from across the unique OK Go soundscape and represent therefore a fantastic snapshot into their special musical mix. Alt indie rock with overriding pop pizazz, each track feels like it has its own identify and that only adds to the value of the overall record.

Ben Harper, Shalah Fearing, BEGINNERS featuring pre-release single, ‘A Good, Good Day at Last’ is sublime and fellow focus tracks ‘A Stone Only Rolls Downhill’ and ‘Take Me with You’ also standout. There isn’t a bad track in sight though, on what is a convincing return from the band.

With more fun videos in tow along with this record, the band will again have eyes on them, but again the music will likely to a backseat to the overall package. That’s a shame as the group have proven they have a real knack for this whole music lark!

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Air Drawn Dagger

A Guide for Apparitions

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AIR DRAWN DAGGER – A GUIDE FOR APPARITIONS – ALBUM REVIEW

At a time when it can be really difficult to be heard, Sheffield’s Air Drawn Dagger have cut through the noise and garnered much early affection. Now they are ready to take fans on a journey in every sense of the word as they release their debut album, ‘A Guide for Apparitions’.

The album is a passage of the mystic, the macabre and the spiritual which will unwittingly cast a spell on you with its chaotic charm and its atmospheric assault on the sonic senses!

This lyrical book of fables and defiant hymns is soundtracked by a genre-busting noise that embraces a range of musical influences which are all conjured up in an electro-rock cauldron.

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Air Drawn Dagger – ‘Apparitions’ feat. Tobi Duncan

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Legend has it that vocalist Maisie Manterfield and guitarist Lewis Budden began writing songs in the back of a cake shop… well with drummer Ross Dore completing the trio, they’ve certainly found a delicious recipe for their debut album!

There isn’t a bad track on the collection which starts out strong with recent single ‘Sanctifound’ and weaves it way around the senses until the emphatic Toni Duncan featuring ‘Apparitions’ and ‘Bellyaches’ serve as a memorable conclusion.

A stunning modern rock record served with generous slice of pop punk goodness; this debut album is an enormous opening statement from a band with potential of equal magnitude. Expect this to be just the beginning of what promises to be an epic journey for Air Drawn Dagger!

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The Darkness

Dreams On Toast

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THE DARKNESS – DREAMS ON TOAST – ALBUM REVIEW

“…We haven’t stopped making hit albums, it’s just that nobody buys them anymore…” says a line in the insanely catchy ‘Walking Through Fire’, the ninth track on the latest album from The Darkness.

Yes, the band who shot to stardom before exploding like a SpaceX rocket continue their second leash of life with their eighth studio record – ‘Dreams on Toast’!

Whilst many still remember then for their outlandishly memorable debut album, the fact is that the band have been consistently releasing great new albums for the past decade or so.

“…I can’t help falling in love with Rock n Roll…’ proclaims the same song and that feels like a statement fitting of this album. Often painted as caricatures, the talent of the band is often passed over due to their unashamed exuberance.

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The Darkness – ‘Walking Through Fire’

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Well, as the squealing ‘Rock and Roll Party Cowboy’ bursts out of the traps, this instantly feels like an album on which the band are embracing that absurdity and turning the thermostat up to full. This does indeed feel like the band falling in love with themselves and embracing what makes them such a thrilling act.

The results are frankly stunning as the quartet produce what is perhaps their best album yet! Whilst nostalgia will always place ‘Permission to Land’ on top of any list ranking their works, the reality is this is a band now who have learnt more than their fair share of lessons and are firing on all cylinders.

Through a range of styles and influences, The Darkness showcase their unique talents through ten superbly crafted tracks that all carry the essence of what makes this band so special. Fans will surely love the Hawkins wit and self-aware humour that adds its charm to this fantastic release.

There is no doubt about it, even after all of this time, The Darkness are indeed still making hit albums!

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Benefits

Constant Noise

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BENEFITS – CONstant noise – album review

In a relatively short time, incendiary Teessiders Benefits have managed to create quite the buzz, and that clatter is sure to continue as they unveil their sophomore collection, ‘Constant Noise’!

This new album is fifty-one minutes of visceral poetry set amongst a sonic onslaught which is at times is both haunting and euphoric. An essence of Balearic house is given a punk makeover to create a framework for the trademark verse of frontman Kingsley Hall.

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Benefits – ‘Blame’

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This lyricism presents the grim realities of the world with frank and inescapable purity. “…it’s continual, everyday new shit, new shifts, new grifts, promises become lies become promises and then they die, forgotten about, time after time…” scythes Hall.

We all know that feeling, that the shower of brown stuff is just relentless, that there appears to be no relief. The words spoken on this album therefore will reverberate with relativity. This is a sonnet for the beaten, the betrayed and the damned. Benefits at times are providing a voice for the voiceless but more than that they are asking you to think… to care.

A slew of collaborators have helped Hall and electronic maestro Robbie Major to create this record and ensured together that it is a genuine evolution of their art. Of course, there remain similarities to their astonishing debut ‘NAILS’, but on this new album Benefits are a different beast entirely.

‘Constant Noise’ is a horrifyingly accurate assessment of modern life and how if feels to live it. It may be a little too cliched to say that Benefits are one of the most important bands of this time… but what they have to say has a vital necessity to it for damn sure!

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Lottery Winners

KOKO

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LOTTERY WINNERS – KOKO – ALBUM REVIEW

The Lottery Winners have captivated and entertained countless music fans in the past few years. Whether as a headline act, support band or festival regular the group have won over every audience that they’ve performed to with their wit and their musical charm.

That hard work led their third album, ‘Anxiety Replacement Therapy’ to the coveted number one spot in the Official UK Album Charts! This unprecedented success was achieved not just through their relentless work ethic but through catchy songs defined by a refreshing honesty.

As they unleash their fourth studio effort, ‘KOKO’, it’s notable that the band haven’t broken that mould. That’s simply because the mould was broken when Lottery Winners were made. The band are once again showcasing their unparalleled ability to create an genuine connection with their fanbase.

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Lottery Winners – ‘Superpower’

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There is indie swagger, punk attitude, folk sensitivities and all out pop hooks galore across these twelve delightful tracks. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll dance, and you’ll sing your heart out as the band double down on their ability to above all else make you feel something!

Past releases have been punctuated by a range of guests and ‘KOKO’ is no different with the customary Frank Turner feature joined by appearances from Reverend and the Makers, Shed Seven and even Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger!

The positive messages of this album are only endorsed further by the fun and uplifting sonic vibrance that Lottery Winners have again created – “…We’ve got to keep on keeping on…” the band sing on album closer ‘Keep On Keeping On’!

Somehow, Lottery Winners keep on keeping on also. They keep on spreading joyful and inspirational songs and they keep on proving their doubters wrong. This band has the ability to make a lasting impression in a world in need of real role models rather than fake influencers.

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A Day To Remember

Big Ole Album Vol. 1

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A DAY TO REMEMBER – BIG OLE ALBUM VOL. 1 – ALBUM REVIEW

Momentum is a funny thing in the music industry. You either have it or you don’t. A Day To Remember had the world behind them as they blitzed through five albums in eight years. The future was theirs and 2016’s ‘Bad Vibrations’ had them on the verge of major festival headline slots and playing bigger and bigger shows.

After that release though the brakes seemed to slam on. New album, ‘Big Ole Album Vol. 1’ marks just their second album in the nearly nine years since ‘Bad Vibrations’ and follows what was the must critically panned record of their career.

Indeed, ‘You’re Welcome’ just wasn’t good enough for a band who have previously shown a relentless capability to write banger after banger. Many therefore will be looking for this new album to right the ship and put them back on course for their destined top tier status.

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A Day To Remember – ‘Miracle’

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Whilst this collection may not be the fabled return to form, it certainly does a good job in acting as a reset for the band. This is true in many ways with this being noteworthy as their first album without founding member Josh Woodard after his departure in 2021.

This refreshed version of A Day To Remember certainly do enough here to remind everyone why they garnered such momentum in the first place and thankfully after the disappointing ‘You’re Welcome’, they’ve not embarrassed themselves.

In fact, the likes of lead single ‘Miracle’, the Ollie Skyes co-write ‘Die For Me’ and the Gojira influenced ‘Silence’ are top quality A Day To Remember songs. Much of what the band do on this album works really well and the few moments which don’t quite hit the spot are still interesting enough.

Whether their time has passed to nail down that top tier status or not, only time will tell but this album ensures that they aren’t written off completely!

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