Category: Album Reviews

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The Pretty Reckless

The Pretty Reckless

‘Dear God’

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THE PRETTY RECKLESS – DEAR GOD – ALBUM REVIEW

The Pretty Reckless have been part of the rock scene for so long now that its easy to forget how young Taylor Momsen was when the band arrived. Having already experienced fame as an actress prior to the band, it’s not an exaggeration to say that Momsen grew up in the public eye.

That can’t be an easy thing to navigate and the often-perilous journey that Momsen has been on has been packed with highs and lows. Throughout all of her varied career however music has been her escape, the place she feels most able to be herself.

New fifth studio album, ‘Dear God’, may just be her most vulnerable and intense collection as Momsen explores mortality and redemption on a record rooted within self-discovery.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘FOR I AM DEATH’
The Pretty Reckless – ‘For I Am Death’

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Musically her bandmates help bring these themes to life with a further expansion of their polished yet raw rock n roll bombast. Bluesy yet radio rock smooth, these tracks resonate with a band at the peak of their powers.

The fact that the band have been touring with AC/DC over the past year or so isn’t lost on our ears either. This is classic rock done with modern ingenuity and it works incredibly well.

The album itself is paced well to offer the full effect of an album rather than just a bunch of singles. That said the likes of ‘For I Am Death’, ‘When I Wake Up’, ‘Love Me’ and the title-track do standout.

It’s remarkable that Momsen is still in her early thirties yet presents with such maturity. In music, she has certainly found her calling and The Pretty Reckless will surely now go on to assert themselves at the top of their profession.

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Muse

Muse

‘The Wow! Signal’

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MUSE – The Wow! Signal – Album review

Four years on from ‘Will of the People’, Muse are back with their milestone tenth studio album, ‘The Wow! Signal’!

Over the course of three decades the trio have taken themselves from local battle of the bands competitions to the biggest stages in the world. Stadium megastars with a reputation as one of the greatest live bands around, it’s incredible the journey that they’ve been on.

In recent years however you could argue a little of the shine has dissipated as the industry has continued to shift. Despite being a solid effort, ‘Will of the People’ failed to generate the usual levels of excitement for a Muse album and that seemed to translate to a slightly blasé anticipation for this new collection.

If we’ve learned anything about Muse over the years however its that you really can’t afford to sleep on them. Just when you think perhaps they’ve peaked, they deliver something to remind you just how special they are.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘CRYOGEN’
Muse – ‘Cryogen’

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This new album is just that. A reminder that when the band strike the right balance with precision riffs and over the top production, they are simply unstoppable. You want flamboyance from Matt Bellamy; you want Dominic Howard and Chris Wolstenholme to breakdown expectations of what a rhythm section can be. But you want it all to mean something.

We know that musically their skills are unparalleled, but we want music that we will want to come back to time and time again. The inclusion of producer/live member Dan Lancaster in the recording of this album feels pivotal. Whilst Bellamy and co still let loose, they feel kept on course.

With grand themes around cosmic mystery and astronomical possibilities it could’ve been easy to go overboard with the atmospheric soundscape of the album but instead this feels more like a modernised take on their classic sound.

Each element of their sound is on point, and they sound bigger and bolder than ever. Forget then any feelings of Muse fatigue because just when you needed them to, the trio have once again captured the right magic.

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Hard-Fi

Hard-Fi

‘Sweating Someone Else’s Fever’

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Hard-Fi – Sweating Someone Else’s Fever – Album review

Hard-Fi were always a band that stood out from the pack during the noughties indie boom. Their debut album, ‘Stars of CCTV’ shot them to the forefront of the movement and brought them huge success and acclaim.

Their sound incorporated a more expansive palette then their contemporaries but this would also then lead to them getting lost in the shuffle as the industry began to move on to its next genre-kink. Whilst charting well, ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ and ‘Killer Sounds’ didn’t resonate the same way with fans beginning to look for something different.

Many weren’t surprised when the band entered into a lengthy hiatus in in the early 2010’s. For fans though they were left with a nagging thought of ‘what if’. The band arriving with such promise, then disappearing with nothing more than a whimper.

As the inevitable hooks of nostalgia began to revisit that golden generation of indie rock success however, the band were ready to test the waters. The response to their initial reunion was phenomenal and generated a pro-longed return that now culminates with their first studio album in fifteen years, ‘Sweating Someone Else’s Fever’.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘DIGO NADA’
Hard-Fi – ‘Digo Nada’

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Now older and endowed with the associated wisdom that comes with navigating this troubled world for so long, it’s an album that tries both to show who the band are in 2026 whilst also dialling into what brought them their original success.

Sonically this again means that Hard-Fi are happy to bring a wide-range of influences into the mix, creating a record that simmers, bubbles and boils. The sound brings back their distinctive blend melancholia and euphoria, which again provides the springboard for their direct and grounded lyrics.

These songs lyrically look at the state of the world and deliver observations in a way that feels relatable and accessible to the average listener. This is one of the skillsets that made the band stand out, no pretence, no superiority, just a group of friends from Staines being themselves.

Fans and the band can now get a little closure with this return being undeniably successful both on stage and on record. Hopefully there is more in the tank, and their return will be a long-term investment. But whatever the future holds Hard-Fi have accomplished something worth recognising with this solid return.

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Dea Matrona

Dea Matrona

‘Hate That I Care’

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DEA MATRONA – HATE THAT I CARE – ALBUM REVIEW

Irish duo Dea Matrona released their debut album, ‘For Your Sins’, in 2024 and instantly grabbed the attention of critics and fans alike with their high potential being immediately transformed into tangible credibility.

They’ve continued to elevate their brand over the past couple of years with impressive live shows and festival appearances. Now they are back with their second album, ‘Hate That I Care’ as they expand their sonic palette further.

Their sophomore album is a more sophisticated affair then their debut album. That record was a smorgasbord of style and influence whereas ‘Hate That I Care’ is a far more coherent album.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘Hate that i care’
Dea Matrona – ‘Hate That I Care’

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The album is again entirely written, produced and recorded by the band themselves in true DIY fashion. Mollie McGinn and Orláith Forsythe showcase their varied talents including covering all instruments themselves along with their elegant vocal interplay.

The results are that fabled more mature sound which is rooted in confidence and ability. Lyrically this follows suit with some of their most vulnerable and genuine work to date which fits into the more melodic and harmonious sound of the album.

This is clearly a band still growing and experimenting. Whilst this album might lack the immediate punch of their debut, if offers listeners a far more captivating time and ensures they remain a band you can’t afford to sleep on.

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Evanescence

Evanescence

‘Sanctuary’

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EVANESCENCE – SANCTUARY – ALBUM REVIEW

Evanescence are not known for being prolific when it comes to albums. Indeed, in the past twenty-three years since their debut, ‘Fallen’, they’ve only released four more albums with the most recent in 2021.

That album, ‘The Bitter Truth’ was the first of all new material since 2011 and ten years on was the recipient of much praise. You can probably trace the quasi-nostalgic renaissance of early 2000’s rock and metal to around then too. So now feels like a pretty good time for Amy Lee to bring about album number six!

‘Sanctuary’ is a full-blooded Evanescence record that features much of everything that made the band unique. Whether delivering soaring rockers and tender ballads, the aura of Lee is forever mesmeric.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘WHO WILL YOU FOLLOW’
Evanescence – ‘Who Will You Follow’

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You can easily apply one of the current buzzwords, cinematic, to this wonderful world of symphonic metal and much like a good film, you can easily lose yourself in these beautifully crafted twelve tracks.

Created over a three-year period during which the world has made us all question what is happening, Lee is influenced here by world events, and you can tell that she has poured herself into the record with hope at the very heart.

With just two pre-release singles (‘Who Will You Follow’ and ‘Afterlife’), this is one of those rarer moments these days when fans can immerse themselves into a new album without having already heard most of it.

That does help the listening experience and ensures that you’ll be left in awe of the fact that Evanescence have delivered another stunning collection and seem more powerful now than ever!

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Shinedown

Shinedown

‘EI8HT’

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SHINEDOWN – Ei8ht – album review

“…A lot can happen in a year…”, Brent Smith sings on ‘Three Six Five’ – the fourth track of a whopping eighteen on new Shinedown album, ‘EI8HT’.

Indeed, it can! The build-up towards what is, yes, their eighth album has been elongated with the pre-release singles stretching back to January last year. In that time the band the have played a huge set at Download here in the UK and well, not played a certain festival in the US which has led to a fair amount of criticism from all sides.

Whilst the lead-up to the album hasn’t been traditional, the band aren’t exactly traditional and have always done things their own way even where that courts elements of controversy. On record though it’s hard to argue with the quality of their work.

They’ve been on a musical evolution throughout their career, and each album or period of releases has had distinct identities. This new album however feels a little different.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘Searchlight’
Shinedown – ‘Searchlight’

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Across the hour and four minutes of music, you get glimpses of everything that has gone into the band over the past two decades, but you also get a band seemingly desperate to not just repeat what they’ve done before.

This does make the album difficult to pigeonhole but that’s not always a bad thing. Over the course of such a long collection however this does mean it can feel more of just that – a collection of songs rather than a fully cohesive album.

There are plenty of good songs on here, so fans of the band won’t be short of highlights, but undoubtedly the album would’ve benefitted by losing twenty minutes or so.

Still, fans of this modern Shinedown are going to get their fill with this album. A steady stream of radio rock friendly songs will have them eating for the next year or two until album number nine arrives.

The band may be marmite and will always have people talking about them. You just sense that they don’t care and will continue to do whatever they want. ‘EI8HT’ is the album of a band comfortable in their skin but happy to cover it with fresh ink!

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Saint Agnes

Saint Agnes

‘Your God Fearing Days Are About To Begin’

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Saint agnes – Your God Fearing Days Are About To Begin – album review

Saint Agnes have already built themselves a solid (and growing) following in the aftermath of their first two commanding albums. Now they are back to triple-down on their signature mix of chaos and power to add an exclamation mark to their potential.

‘Your God Fearing Days Are About To Begin’ kicks off with recent standout singles, ‘Good Boy’, ‘The Ghost’ and ‘The Father, The Son and The Holy Beast’ and never really lets up from there.

This album represents an enormous step up in heaviness and atmospheric style for the band. Sounding like a crossover between modern Poppy, full throttle Nine Inch Nails and hard-hitting Pendulum, these are songs designed for the dancefloor whilst oozing rock energy.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘The Ghost’
Saint Agnes – ‘The Ghost’

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Lyrically the album doesn’t seek to pull any punches, instead covering personal and wider topics with frank and direct vigour.

Whilst the majority of the songs feature that industrial intensity, the likes of album closer ‘Where Do I Begin’, do superbly showcase a more melodic, tender side which adds the depth needed to bring this record to life.

Following on from its vampire themed predecessor, ‘Your God Fearing Days Are About To Begin’, sounds like an underground club just waiting for Blade to arrive and unleash hell!

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A

A

‘PRANG’

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A – prang – album review

The band with the worst name to search for on the internet are back!

For fans of British rockers A, a time when the band were all over radio and music tv and playing shows with the biggest bands around will be a fond memory. One that the brain knows was a long time ago (considering internet algorithms weren’t a concern), but the heart thinks was just yesterday.

Well, as a stark reminder of how old we are all getting – their last album was released twenty-one years ago!! It’s fair to say that even the most ardent fan had probably assumed that another album was a pipe dream and that sporadic shows celebrating the glory days were as good as it would ever get.

That was until the band announced that they will be releasing, ‘PRANG’. I mean, the phrase long-awaited is probably overused but this certainly feels like an acceptable circumstance to break it out!

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘WALKOVER‘
A – ‘Walkover’

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Four pre-release singles, ‘Hello Sunshine’, ‘Walkover’, ‘Bring On The Likes’ and ‘Shit Summer’, have given fans an indication of what to expect and those tracks make up the first four on the record, giving fans an easy introduction.

The album as a whole does continue with the same charm however that fans would expect. With their famously catchy choruses, witty lyrics, and signature sound all intact this is exactly what old-school fans will want to hear from a new A album.

Of course, the fact that the world has changed and we’ve all got older is explored across the songs along with some personal themes. Produced by frontman Jason Perry, who is now a Grammy winning producer after all, the album maintains the DIY feel and has that loveable A personality at its core.

This is A in 2026 and its just a fun as it was in 2005!

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Marmozets

Marmozets

‘CO.WAR.DICE.’

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MARMOZETS – CO.War.dice. – Album review

The return of Marmozets has been greatly received by those that had them pegged for big things around their two albums in the mid-2010’s.

A band who have had to overcome plenty of obstacles in their career, the wait for album number three has been an arduous journey, but also one with that has seen them able to grow their family. Eight years though is a long time between releases, so how does ‘CO.WAR.DICE.’ stack up to their early work?

Many after all clammer for the weird and wonderful chaos of their debut album compared to the more straightforward sound of their sophomore record. Well, the deeper this new collection progresses the more you sense that album number three is a genuine mix of the two – a controlled chaos.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘A KISS FROM A MOTHER’
Marmozets – ‘A Kiss From A Mother’

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Frontloaded with pre-release singles ‘A Kiss From A Mother’, ‘New York’, ‘Cut Back’ and ‘Running With The Sun In Your Eyes’, the first half of the album gives a warming familiarity. The band then begin to stretch their legs again with the second half of the album becoming much more eclectic.

The likes of ‘Dandy’ and ‘Flowerz’ show the more tender side of the band, whilst ‘Mes Désirs’ shows they can still write big arena rock songs just fine.

The album reaches its finale with the seven or so minute epic, ‘Keep Going Darling’, which simply encapsulates the album itself so well.

‘CO.WAR.DICE.’ delivers in all the ways that it needs to. To go with a title that feels rather What3Words like, we’d call it, Eclectic.Frenetic.Ambitious.

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The All-American Rejects

The All-American Rejects

‘Sandbox’

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THE All-american rejects – sandbox – album review

If we flashback to 2008, The All-American Rejects were one of the hottest bands in rock music with a string of big hits making them mainstays of radio and music TV. The band seemed to have the world at their feet.

Whilst 2012’s ‘Kids in the Street’ didn’t set the world alight; it also wasn’t a terrible album by any stretch of the imagination. Nobody would’ve predicted back then that it would take fourteen long years for the band to release their next record!

That is the case however with the band having been in and out of hibernation over the intervening years with a splattering of singles and some occasional touring. Album number five is finally here however in the shape of ‘Sandbox’.

A stream of singles has built to the release in recent months, so fans already have a very good idea of what to expect, but it’s nice to have the album in our hands at last.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘King Kong’
The All-American Rejects – ‘King Kong’

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With themes of aging and understanding adulthood, it seems too obvious to point out that this is a mature album. Sonically as well as lyrically the band have grown and that means that some of that old playful appeal is gone. But that doesn’t mean that their overall charm has faltered with these songs still more than capable of stimulating a range of emotions.

The charismatic allure of frontman Tyson Ritter remains untamed but with their fanbase now older as well, these songs are all too relatable. Getting older is scary and navigating what the world has become is terrifying. Music however has the power to centre the psyche and ground our emotions.

Having The All-American Rejects back in our lives and providing that essential escape is therefore a wonderful thing, and with ‘Sandbox’ delivering so well; let’s hope that album number six isn’t another fourteen years away!

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