Category: Album Reviews

‘Imagine You’ and ‘Survival’ will fully engage your love of synth-pop big hitters like Depeche Mode. But across the album the genre is perfected with a modern update.

It’s easy to get lost in songs such as the hypnotically danceable ‘Boogie Shoes’, and in truth you’ll struggle to turn off what is a thoroughly engaging collection.

Circling back to our starting point, when something stands out as extraordinary then words often can’t do that thing justice. You see it in the most talented sports stars, you feel it while watching the most spectacular movies and you certainly sense it whilst listening to ‘Faux Animaux’.

All we can do is tell you to find that out for yourself and go listen to this album!

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Album Reviews

Tremonti

The End Will Show Us How

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TREMONTI – THE END WILL SHOW US HOW – album review

As we all know by now, Mark Tremonti doesn’t do things by half. Whether he is singing Frank Sinatra songs, shredding with Alter Bridge, breathing new life into Creed or fronting his eponymous band Tremonti, the guitarist is always all in!

New album, ‘The End Will Show Us How’ is another all-out example of the passion, diligence and mastery of one of modern rocks most prolific and talented guitar maestros.

At not much shy of a full hour, the twelve-track record may appear rather daunting on the surface – particularly if you are a new fan looking to dip your toes into the catalogue of the guitarist from the apparently trendy Creed.

Indeed, given that this is the sixth Tremonti album and nineteenth overall album released by the man himself across his various projects, there are more obvious places to begin if you want to take a journey into the creative might of Mark Tremonti.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘THE Mother, the earth and i’

Tremonti – ‘The Mother, The Earth and I’

This isn’t an easy listening record, nor is it packed full of mainstream appeal. It is however stuffed full of glorious riffs, blistering solos, grafting vocals and an intense wall of sonic mortar. In other words, if you are already a fully fledged member of the Tremonti fan club then ‘The End Will Show Us How’ is yet another stunning collection for your mantlepiece.

The more Tremonti pushes himself in different directions, the further he examines his own capabilities, the more we all get to see the continued elevation of a master of their craft.

The ridiculous thing is that with nineteen albums in his repertoire, you must admit (as hard as that might be for old school Creed naysayers) that there is no flat-out dud amongst them. That is an incredible complement to pay and means that once again we shouldn’t be surprised at the quality presented on this latest effort.

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Album Reviews

Lambrini Girls

Who Let The Dogs Out

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LAMBRINI GIRLS – WHO LET THE DOGS OUT – ALBUM REVIEW

For music fans with their finger on the pulse, Lambrini Girls have been on the radar for a few years. Whether it was a ferocious single or a raucous live show that first hit you in the face, as soon as you became aware of the group, you wanted more!

Well, thankfully more is here as the duo finally unveil their highly anticipated debut album. Now that’s an extremely overused phrase – highly anticipated. But ‘Who Let The Dogs Out’ is a collection that has truly been waited on by a growing fanbase ever since Lambrini Girls first struck a chord in anger.

The opening trio of ‘Bad Apple’, ‘Company Culture’ and ‘Big Dick Energy’ have all been front and centre within their infamous live performances. This run eases you into the record with some familiarity and zest.

From hereon in it’s an overarching sense of intrigue that takes over and listeners are rewarded with exactly what they would want – more of the same! Biting vocals from Phoebe Lunny and driving bass from Lilly Macieira-Boşgelmez, which combine with a simple punk hum akin to early IDLES.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘LOVE’

Lambrini Girls – ‘Love’

Lyrically as well, it’s clear that Lambrini Girls are on par with some of their more established contemporaries. There are plenty of clever quips, thought-provoking words and more than your fair share of straight up callouts.

Cynics (predominately from groups receiving those frank callouts) will say that the duo are just playing up to their specific crowd; and they may well know their audience, but more importantly they clearly know themselves and know the harsh realities of the world.

Again, where critics will say they are alienating themselves from a large swathe of possible listeners, the duo will no doubt say that that’s on those individuals and not the band. Ideally those called out in songs will listen and learn – but we know we’re sadly kidding ourselves with that hope.

Ultimately Lambrini Girls have found themselves a home in a scene that is unashamed and unafraid to acknowledge societal injustices and importantly do something about them. The majority of the fans who have already discovered the group will fall in that category, and the thirty minutes of this record will be exactly what they will have hoped for from this album.

As is the nature of this beast, we’ve only just finished shouting about our 2024 Album of the Year list, and already our attention turns to 2025’s. A week or so into the year ‘Who Let The Dogs Out’ takes a big lead in that list. Who knows if it will still be up there come December, but right now who cares? Just enjoy what is a barrage of an album!

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Album Reviews

Franz Ferdinand

The Human Fear

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FRANZ FERDINAND – THE HUMAN FEAR – ALBUM REVIEW

Franz Ferdinand have always been a band that have done things their own way. They haven’t perhaps fulfilled their early promise in terms of mainstream success, but they’ve undoubtedly delivered on the sonic ambition of their early work.

At times it has felt that the bands creative functionality has been in spite of their own success. Not content to just rework the same album on repeat even when that would’ve been the business logic. The group have never been afraid to play with their sound and showcase what some might call a mystical knack for the exuberant.

Others though might instead term their approach as pretentious, and in all honestly there is a fair mix of all of the above on their new album, ‘The Human Fear’. Conceptually exploring the human fascination with fear, it’s ironic that again the band clearly have no fear in the recording studio.

A track like ‘Black Eyelashes’ for example isn’t ever going to be a big hit, but it’s got a quirky charm that endears it to a follower of their work. That feeling is central to the sound of the album, even though there are a handful of classic Franz Ferdinand bangers for good measure too such as opener ‘Audacious’ and the fun ‘Hooked’.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘AUDACIOUS’

Franz Ferdinand – ‘Audacious’

The album itself ebbs and flows with a weird, disjointed connection. This though is just another example of how Franz Ferdinand can make things work that just shouldn’t.

Front and centre of course is frontman Alex Kapranos, who along with bassist Bob Hardy, stand firm amongst a newer cast of characters compared to their early big hitters. These line-up changes have probably contributed to the continued unpredictability of the beloved indie stalwarts but won’t help the perception that perhaps Franz Ferdinand are operating in a limp-mode of sorts.

As we all get older, we have to acknowledge that perhaps our best years are behind us, but Franz Ferdinand are able to retain a special allure like that weird friend that you never truly understand but always have a good time with.

‘The Human Fear’ is simply another memorable night out with that friend where you can’t remember what happened but you know you had a good time!

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Album Reviews

Beans On Toast

Post author By fullpeltmusic
Post date November 28, 2024

Wild Goose Chasers

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BEANS ON TOAST – WILD GOOSE CHASERS – ALBUM REVIEW

It can’t be easy keeping things interesting when you make a pledge to release a new album every year, either for your fans or yourself. Still, Beans On Toast always manages it, helped of course by his in the moment lyrics but also of late by his increasing musical exploration.

His latest album, ‘Wild Goose Chasers’ finds Beans applying his wordsmithery over the fantastical piano wizardry of Matt Millership (aka Tensheds, aka King Killership) to beautiful effect.

Described enigmatically by the man himself as “a collection of newfangled pagan hymns to coincide with the end of truth”, these songs again find this cherished musician mixing personal experiences with his signature social commentary. Big thinking mixes with delicate thoughts and comes out as another vital set of engaging songs.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘VARIETY’

Beans On Toast – ‘Variety’

The gentler melodies and softer vocals present on this record showcase a different side of a songwriter of cult-like status. Familiar yet different, ‘Wild Goose Chasers’ is certain to register as amongst Beans best ever work.

As much as you can follow his growth as a person across his extensive back catalogue, recent releases have really demonstrated exponential development of Beans On Toast the artist.

Naturally these are intertwined enormously but to return to our opening point, it is truly incredible that seventeen albums down the line Beans On Toast is still standing on a chair as a master of his art!

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Album Reviews

Linkin Park

Post author By fullpeltmusic
Post date November 15, 2024

From Zero

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LINKIN PARK – FROM ZERO – ALBUM REVIEW

The mere fact that on the cusp of 2025, seven years post the tragic passing of Chester Bennington, we’re reviewing an album of brand-new Linkin Park material is of course surreal and highly emotive.

As you’d expect with any decision to continue after the loss of an iconic and much-loved singer, the move hasn’t been without controversy. But, as we’ve seen with the pre-release singles and their return to the stage, nobody can argue the fact that Emily Armstrong sure can sing (and indeed scream!); but this isn’t blasting out a rendition of ‘Numb’… so how does Linkin Park 2.0 hold up on record?

A somewhat unnecessary intro isn’t the best start to ‘From Zero’, but as soon as the familiar strains of comeback single, ‘The Emptiness Machine’ kick in a sense of hope and intrigue takes over. From there, the gravity of what this record is helps to both elevate and hold back the songs.

This isn’t old Linkin Park, but it never truly could be, and it’s certainly not ‘not Linkin Park’ as many will say. Armstrong intertwines with Mike Shinoda as well as Bennington ever did and vocally, she manages to both pay homage to Bennington and offer something new (well beyond the tired gender trope).

That could be the overarching takeaway from this record in fact, the past is acknowledged, and key elements of the Linkin Park identity are here and turned up to eleven, but ultimately is feels like the foundations for what will no doubt come in the future.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘HEAVY IS THE CROWN’

Linkin Park – ‘Heavy is the Crown’

This, in terms of keeping old school fans warm, is perhaps therefore a little safer than Linkin Park themselves would actually have ever embraced. This is a band remember that were happy to abandon their early fame producing sound in favour of the greater sonic experimentation in their later records.

The reality though is the likes of ‘Heavy is the Crown’, ‘Over Each Other’, ‘Casualty’ and ‘Two Faced’ make this the best Linkin Park album since 2007’s ‘Minutes to Midnight’. That said there is definitely room for improvement with some questionable moments and some distracting extras.

Realistically you can say that this record had no right to be this good. As painful as it is that Chester is no longer with us, it’s great for fans of the band that the Linkin Park legacy continues into this new era. If this is just the start, then we can’t wait to hear what comes next!

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Album Reviews

The Virginmarys

Post author By fullpeltmusic
Post date November 8, 2024

The House Beyond The Fires

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THE VIRGINMARYS – THE HOUSE BEYOND THE FIRES

Since breaking through with their debut album, ‘King of Conflict’ in 2013, The Virginmarys have spent a decade earning themselves a hardcore fanbase with stunning albums and intense live shows.

Even whilst transitioning from a trio to a duo, the band has proven themselves time and again and have shown themselves as artists that just do not miss. Every release to this point has been a bombastic rock n roll explosion and now they are back again with their latest album, ‘The House Beyond The Fires’.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘WHEN THE LIGHTS GO DOWN’

The Virginmarys – ‘When The Lights Go Down’

So, is now the time that the band miss?

Spoiler alert – no!

Of course not, the string of tracks previewed either live or as a single had probably indicated that fans anyway, but to put it in black and white – this is The Virginmarys at their very best yet again.

There’s an impassioned ferocity that runs throughout these eleven songs as the duo provide a scathing commentary on the state of the world. There is a fire that burns in both the sonic onslaught and the frank lyricism on this commanding record. The fast pace makes for a blistering collection which needs to be played loud and ideally heard live!

All of the previously unheard tracks, ‘White Knuckle Riding’, ‘My Nettle’, ‘Dance To The City’ and ‘Urban Seagull’ are single quality and there genuinely isn’t a bad moment within any of the thirty-nine gloriously rambunctious minutes.

Their dedicated fanbase must feel like they are in on some powerful secret, because it’s truly unfathomable how this band isn’t absolutely massive!

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Album Reviews

The Cure

Post author By fullpeltmusic
Post date November 1, 2024

Songs of a Lost World

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THE CURE – SONGS OF A LOST WORLD – ALBUM REVIEW

It’s important to note that this review is written by someone who, despite such a passion for music that they write reviews of albums, has never gotten into The Cure. I can’t actually say that it’s not for a lack of trying, because the reality is that I’ve never tried!

Something always felt a little intimidating about trying to dig into their near five-decade long career. Where would I start and what order would I go in? What if I didn’t like what I heard? What if I did?!

Well, with the band releasing their first new album in sixteen long years and facing the reality that with the members of the band in their mid to late sixties, ‘Songs of A Lost World’, could be their last ever, it feels like a now or never situation!

At just eight tracks, but a fifty-minute run time, on the face of it this album can again look rather intimidating, especially when you clock the 10+ minute album closer, ‘Endsong’! Musically though the album is instantly welcoming as the band usher you into this lost world of theirs.

Whilst the album is easy to listen to in the sense that it doesn’t turn you away, it has to be said that thematically it is heavy listening with a foreboding darkness shrouding the lyrics focused on mortality and loss.

Watch the video for ‘alone’

The Cure – ‘Alone’

Given the fact that this could be their last album, many of the words sung so hauntingly by Robert Smith feel very apt. This despite the fact that the majority of the album was recorded and ready to go five years ago.

There is something mesmeric about this album though, and it’s no surprise that both the band themselves and the music press are confident that it’s up there with their best ever work.

Perhaps in hindsight, for someone unqualified in their back catalogue, but with a knowledge of their biggest mainstream hits, this probably wasn’t the best place to start a deep dive into the musical journey of The Cure.

That said, if this album was presented to me with no name attached, no burden of history or pre-judgement of quality then I’d still be saying this is a magnificent, reflective and absorbing collection which is well worth investing some of your time towards.

So, if like me, you feel a little intimidated when considering a jump into The Cure or ‘Songs of A Lost World’, then I’d suggest you just throw away those inhibitions and explore this lost world!

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Album Reviews

Interlaker

Post author By fullpeltmusic
Post date October 26, 2024

Interlaker

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INTERLAKER – INTERLAKER – ALBUM REVIEW

The sheer talent of David Jakes deserves to be heard, but his crippling anxiety for the stage life ultimately led to him stepping away from Lonely The Brave in March 2018, whilst they were at the peak of their powers.

For Jack Wrench, he has shown himself to be an incredibly skilled drummer with Arcane Roots, but his own time in the limelight came to end in late 2018 as the band played their final shows.

Fast forward to spring 2022 and the two musicians linked up on Instagram and bonded over shared influences. Soon the duo found themselves sharing new music and a special collaboration was born!

Since then, Interlaker have released a steady stream of atmospheric singles and even wowed a few crowds by bringing these songs to life on stage.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘END UNKNOWN’

Interlaker – ‘End Unknown’

Given the pedigree of the musical chops on display, it should be no surprise that their self-titled debut album is an even bigger dose of magnificent alt-rock radiance.

Early releases ‘The Hunger’ and ‘Ghostride’ ease listeners into this collection, before the duo flex their creative muscles even further. Each of the ten tracks on the album are engaging and full of sonic gravitas. Once you’re sucked in, you aren’t going anywhere!

As far as debut albums go, this one is simply gargantuan and you can’t but hope that it signals only the beginning of what promises to be a spectacular journey for two supremely talented musicians.

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Album Reviews

Kids In Glass Houses

Post author By fullpeltmusic
Post date October 26, 2024

Pink Flamingo

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KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES – PINK FLAMINGO – ALBUM REVIEW

There was naturally an air of sadness when Kids In Glass Houses split in 2014, but equally there was a sense of things running their course. Like many of their peers, momentum had slowed, and the unforgiving music industry was taking its toll.

A wave of bands hyped as the next big thing, because just another thing and the world seemed to be moving on without them. The funny thing though is that what is once thrown aside and labelled out of time eventually turns into nostalgia and again following trend Kids In Glass Houses emerged from their self-imposed hiatus in 2023 to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of debut record ‘Smart Casual’.

That reunion hype continued past those original shows and eventually led to news of new music on the way. Well, now that music is here as they release their fifth studio album, ‘Pink Flamingo’!

The first thing to note about this album is that it’s anything but a standard “we’re back” type of release. It seems that even though they are technically still riding that wave of nostalgic momentum, they are keen to pick up where they left off rather than go all the way back to the beginning.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘THEME FROM PINK FLAMINGO’

Kids In Glass Houses – ‘Theme From Pink Flamingo’

There is a clear desire to expand on their sound and do something new and purposeful rather than just rely on what brought them to the dance in the first place. It’s ironic though that it’s a different breed of nostalgia that provides the soundscape for this album. Much love exists of late for the music of the 1980’s and that influence is worn with pride on this collection.

This does mean that much of the guitar driven impetus of their earlier work is sidelined and a more measured synth-laden sound surrounds each of these delicately crafted songs. You have to admire the ambition of the band, but with that there is a risk that ‘Pink Flamingo’ ultimately feels like it just tries too hard.

A similar sonic transformation has killed the momentum of a number of similar acts in recent years – Deaf Havana we’re looking at you! This album however is well produced and comes at a different career point for Kids In Glass Houses.

This album certainly deserves your respect and attention, it’s far from a bad album, indeed it’s a pretty damn good album – time though will tell if it’s the right album at the right time for a band looking to re-establish themselves in what is now an even harder industry than the one they left!

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