Category: Album Reviews

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Album Reviews

Gun

Gun

Hombres

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GUN – HOMBRES – ALBUM REVIEW

Perennial rockers Gun have been riding the wave of their reunion now for fifteen-plus years, regularly playing solid shows and delivering decent albums. Whilst long-time fans of the group have embraced this new era however, it’s probably a fair assessment to say that they’ve yet to set the world on fire!

That is until now when perhaps their new album, ‘Hombres’, will act as the spark needed to light that fire. That’s because to put it simply, the album is undoubtedly Gun’s best work in decades!

The first half of the album is front-loaded with pre-release singles, ‘All Fired Up’, ‘Boys Don’t Cry’, ‘Take Me Back Home’ and ‘Falling’ – all of which had raised expectations around the record with their slick classic rock sound.

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Gun – ‘All Fired Up’

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When combined with the delicious ‘Fake Life’, the first five tracks on the record set a high standard for the rest of the album to follow; but thankfully the second half of the album is able to carry that mantle.

Each of the remaining five tracks are able to at least maintain the momentum of the album if not push it further. Over the course of the ten tracks, there isn’t a bad apple in the bunch and Gun have managed to set themselves a new standard.

Every aspect of the record from the guitar riffs to the lyrics and vocal work to the production and the driving rhythm represents Gun at their very best. This really does feel like a band who have rediscovered their spark, and that spark is now burning bright enough to attract the attention of the wider musical universe.

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James

James

Yummy

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JAMES – YUMMY – ALBUM REVIEW

When active, James have always been a very prolific bunch and with the release of new album ‘Yummy’, the band’s second era has now yielded the same amount of albums as the first!

‘Yummy’ is the groups eighteenth album (not including compilations, live albums and EP’s!), and it follows last year’s ‘Be Opened by the Wonderful’, which saw the band reimaging some of their favourite tracks in orchestral form.

With a runtime pushing fifty-four minutes, it’s safe to say that the creative juices are still flowing on ‘Yummy’, and the opening salvo of ‘Is This Love’ and ‘Life’s A Fucking Miracle’ offer an intoxicating welcome to listeners.

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James – ‘Is This Love’

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Always willing to experiment and test their artistic capabilities, James once again emerge with an eclectic and enthralling collection of songs which entices the listener to escape the madness of the world and get lost in the beauty of music.

That escapism is pretty key to the enjoyability of the record as the subject matters are pretty depressing when facing up to the realities of life in 2024. Sonically though the album is joyously uplifting and dances through adversity with the band taking aim at environmental disaster, the mental health pandemic, AI, conspiracies and more.

By the time the band say goodbye on the album closing ‘Folks’, they’ve taken you on a wondrous journey through their unique and captivating artistry. ‘Yummy’ is therefore yet another fine example of why James are such an underappreciated national treasure.

With every release James showcase their innate ability to stir something heartening even when surrounded by darkness. Fans of the band are blessed by their current form and ‘Yummy’ is a delightful addition to their stunning back catalogue.

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Feeder

Feeder

Black / Red

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FEEDER – Black / red – album review

Frontman Grant Nicholas has described the making of Feeder’s latest release, ‘Black / Red’ as both a “musical pilgrimage” and a “labour of love” and the care and attention put into this collection is abundantly evident throughout.

The band have been rather prolific recently and it’s been said that this double album is a full stop to this creative period. It shouldn’t be a surprise then that over the course of the eighteen tracks, you can pick out the various era’s of Feeder. This does feel like a celebration of their career and ending rather than a new beginning.

That said, there are some new influences present on the album and the 80’s inspired ‘Hey You’ is one of the standout moments. So there is still a hopeful hint for the future which alleviates some feeling that this is a grand finale for the band.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘HEY YOU’
Feeder – ‘Hey You’

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The various incarnations and sounds of Feeder represented on this collection do make you ponder their career. A huge positive for the band has always been their ability to cross between genres and fandom’s with fingerprints in the indie and Britpop camps and across multiples sub-sections of the rock spectrum.

That dexterity and acknowledgement has meant that they can be step into each world with acceptance, but on the flip side has also meant that they’ve never really been fully adopted by any fan group other than their own hardcores.

That same logic perhaps also lends itself to this lengthy double collection. Whereas the record as a 66 minute whole achieves a solid four star rating, you can’t help but think that there is likely a five star rated 35 minute showcase held within.

So in that vein, ‘Black / Red’ is another great example of the immense musical talents of Nicholas and partner in crime Taka Hirose. Fans of the band will devour the record for the beautiful love letter that it is. However it’s highly unlikely to draw any new eyes to a band who deserve so much more appreciation then they generally receive!

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Dead Pony

Dead Pony

IGNORE THIS

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DEAD PONY – IGNORE THIS – ALBUM REVIEW

Dead Pony have been doing all the right things since beginning to release music in 2020. That year may go down in history however as the definition of poor timing for a new band to share their art with the world. But even so, Dead Pony have garnered a dedicated fanbase which is growing with every single and every show.

Now they are ready to unleash their debut full-length album on the world with ‘Ignore This’, perhaps a not-so-subtle nod towards the every diminishing attention span of music aficionados. This record however commands attention and is certainly no half-measure at sixteen tracks and nearly fifty minutes of action.

The pace of the album though ensures that there are neither dips nor opportunities for lapses of concentration from the listener. Indeed each track grabs the listener by the collar and drags them into the action alongside the band.

Dead Pony – ‘RAINBOWS’

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Sonically intoxicating and lyrically captivating this collection of full-throttle modern rock mastery is amongst the best opening offerings in recent memory. You can call it making up for lost time, or flying out of the traps but whichever tired cliché is assigned to ‘Ignore This’ will be a positive one.

‘Ignore This’ is an expansive expression of artistry from a group who are able to pull from a diverse palette of influence and produce a fresh sound with a self-assured identity. If you’re somebody that has been sleeping on this band, then now is very much the time to jump on board.

That’s because one thing that is for sure, with this stunning debut album in the bank it’s going to be very hard to ignore Dead Pony moving forward!

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The Black Keys

The Black Keys

Ohio Players

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THE BLACK KEYS – OHIO PLAYERS – ALBUM REVIEW

After a career long gap of five years between ‘Turn Blue’ and ‘Let’s Rock’, ‘Ohio Players’ marks the fourth album from The Black Keys in the past five years! Making up for lost time perhaps the duo have certainly showered their fans with new music lately, so it’s perhaps not surprising that the hype around this record feels slightly muted.

They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder and perhaps everyone is a little Black Keys’d out? It’s good then that the band have brought in the likes of Beck and Noel Gallagher to work with whilst recording this, their twelfth studio album.

The presence of those guest musicians and particularly Lil Noid and Juicy J does help to bring something a little different to the now formulaic garage rock of the duo. That said the structure of these bluesy rockers is still the same that brought the band their acclaim.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘THIS IS NOWHERE‘
The Black Keys – ‘This Is Nowhere’

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At forty-five minutes and fourteen tracks this isn’t a short sharp shock to the system despite the changes. This is another flex by the duo who again showcase their incredible talents over what is a thoroughly enjoyable collection.

What this album doesn’t really do though despite the featured writers is offer much different to any of their previous work. That isn’t a bad thing of course, and if this was outlandishly different then people would no doubt criticise the band for abandoning their roots.

All in all, fans of the band will genuinely get pleasure from this album and that makes it another successful outing from The Black Keys.

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Bob Vylan

Bob Vylan

Humble As The Sun

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BOB VYLAN – HUMBLE AS THE SUN – ALBUM REVIEW

It’s been difficult to ignore the emergence of Bob Vylan whilst the duo have been winning over audiences with their outstanding live shows. Higher festival billings and bigger sold out shows have typified their past few years, all backed by a steady flow of punk-infused rhymes which provide a commentary of a plethora of the world’s problems.

Unfortunately, the world only seems to be becoming unfairer, harsher, more hostile and divided. Bob Vylan meanwhile have never been ones to sit around singing ‘kum ba yah’, and have certainly never been afraid to call a spade a spade. It may not be a surprise then that on their new album, ‘Humble As The Sun’, the band are as frank and forceful as ever.

The manner in which they deliver their message of empowerment however has evolved as the duo look to stretch their musical legs. Punk rock may still provide the backbone of the sonic ambience of the record, but the extent of their ambition feels far greater. A line in statement song ‘Reign’ quips that the band were robbed of the prestigious Mercury Prize, and the care and attention put into this record makes you feel that the duo are trying to prove a point.

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Bob Vylan – ‘Reign’

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Critics and naysayers are increasingly going to be unable to ignore the noise coming from the Bobs. Artistically this album marks a significant declaration of self-belief and natural talent. Thematically the album typically wears its heart on its sleeve and continues to address the world’s wrongs with a thunderous rage.

As you’d expect the lyricism is clever and there are countless memorable witticisms and easter eggs over the course of the ten tracks. Long term fans will feel at home with this record, but perhaps vitally these tracks are more than capable of reaching a wider audience.

‘Humble As The Sun’ has to legitimately be recognised as Vylan’s best and most diverse album to date, and more so the record opens up a new sense of intrigue as to where the duo can go in the future.

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The K’s

The K's

I Wonder If The World Knows?

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THE K’s – I WONDER IF THE WORLD KNOWS? – ALBUM REVIEW

There has been a subtle indie revival in recent years and it’s becoming somewhat cool to like music with guitars again. One young group to have grabbed moderate levels of attention is The K’s and that hype has slowly built towards the release of their debut album.

The return of festivals in this post-pandemic era seems to have heralded this new found fondness for sing-a-long ready, flare-lighting indie rock anthems and it’s in these fields that The K’s have helped to forge their own path.

It’s a positive then that straight out the bat you feel that ‘I Wonder If The World Knows?’ has been summoned by the festival lords for the good times ahead. As you listen, you can shut your eyes and feel the summer sun (or rain!) beating down on your face as you lose yourself in the music.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘LIGHTS GO DOWN’
The K’s – ‘Lights Go Down’

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That feeling should serve the band well as we head into another festival season, and is a key takeaway from this record. It would however do the quality of songs a disservice to simply marry them to the good time vibes of a festival main stage.

Indeed, there is a depth to these tracks which provides a firsthand social commentary of surviving the current pitfalls of modern life. The lyricism is clever and relevant, strengthening the credible indie soundtrack and creating a collection of indomitable melodies.

Whilst there is more than a knowing nod towards the icons of northern indie, The K’s have been able to establish their own identity with a superb debut album. With the likely success that this record will bring, the band will no longer need to wonder, because the world will most definitely know!

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The Full Pelt Music Podcast – Episode 29 – The K’s

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Sum 41

Sum 41

Heaven :x: Hell

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SUM 41 – Heaven :x: Hell – Album Review

When bands announce hiatuses, splits or disbandment’s these days the news is usually greeted with a heavy pinch of salt and much scepticism. The news that Sum 41 were calling time on their near three decade long career was no different and ultimately only time will truly tell if this is indeed it for the Canadians icons.

Their career has certainly been eventful and they’ve had more than their fair share of ups and downs. As recently as September, singer Derek Whibley was hospitalised again, there have been line-up comings and goings, heralded and maligned releases and shows and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. It definitely hasn’t been boring being a fan of the group.

So, with a farewell tour underway and a final double album, ‘Heaven :x: Hell’, out now, it’s time to celebrate the legacy of Sum 41, and that’s exactly what this record sets out to do!

Broken into two halves, ‘Heaven’ commemorates the pop-punk sound that served as the launching pad for the band at the turn of the century; whereas the second half, ‘Hell’, is a more lineal continuation of their recent heavier output. Together ‘Heaven :x: Hell’ truly captures the best of what the band have served up over their previous seven studio albums.

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Sum 41 – ‘Landmines’

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‘Waiting On A Twist Of Fate’ and ‘Landmines’ set the tone of ‘Heaven’ and the following eight tracks all help give this side a classic feel which concludes with the melancholic ‘Radio Silence’. In isolation ‘Heaven’ is a short and fun pop-punk romp akin to their breakthrough EP ‘Half Hour of Power’.

‘Rise Up’ soon delivers the overall package a kick up the backside however as ‘Hell’ hits much harder over the second half. Whilst sonically bigger than ‘Heaven’, ‘Hell’ is again a thoroughly enjoyable listen and the inclusion of former live favourite ‘Paint It Black’ is a nice touch.

If future history does ultimately prove this to be the grand finale from Sum 41 then the band can rest assured that they’ve done their great career justice. Whilst this may not be their magnum opus, it’s a true to heart celebration of everything that they’ve achieved and that’s all anybody will really want from ‘Heaven :x: Hell’!

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Crushed By Waves

Crushed By Waves

More To Life

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CRUSHED BY WAVES – MORE TO LIFE – ALBUM REVIEW

Manchester’s Crushed By Waves have been making, well… waves over the past few months with a string of impressive modern rock singles. Now the time has arrived for the group to unleash their debut album and for ‘More To Life’ to be judged! Will the band soar or be crushed (sorry) under the weight of expectation.

Well the first hurdle that the band must overcome is the crowded scene in which they find themselves. Where everybody is trying to stand out, often that means that nobody does. The blame can perhaps be placed at Bring Me The Horizon’s door (or Linkin Park’s if we go further back), as their innovation has inspired no end of copycats.

Whilst it’s almost inevitable that new bands breaking through will get lost in the shuffle these days, you instantly feel that there is enough on ‘More To Life’ to elevate Crushed By Waves above the parapet. Opening duo ‘Nothing Left’ and ‘Dangerous’ set the tone early and act to dispel any worries that this is just another cookie cutter new age rock album.

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Crushed By Waves – ‘Nothing Left’

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The band have touched on a feeling of imposter syndrome whilst discussing the album but the fruits of their labours here should give them vindication. They’ve managed to produce a thoroughly enjoyable set of hard hitters that can more than hold their own in the current congested climate.

‘You Know’, ‘Won’t Get Out Alive’ and the title track all highlight that ambitious sound which is the sonic template for rock bands in the 2024. They do so however in an assured manner which belies the relative inexperience of the group.

Indeed for a debut album, Crushed By Waves couldn’t really have wished to have delivered anything more resolute and intriguing. Whether they can cut through the noise or not only time can tell but with ‘More To Life’ the band have managed to deliver a notable opening gambit.

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Kid Kapichi

Kid Kapichi

There Goes The Neighbourhood

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KID KAPICHI – THERE GOES THE NEIGHBOURHOOD – ALBUM REVIEW

Kid Kapichi have certainly made an impression in this desolate and austere post-apocalyptic landscape. Whilst they are far from the only band to gain popularity by mixing punk attitude, indie swagger and witty lyricism, they’ve certainly been one of the most prolific.

Prolificacy and quality though don’t always go hand in hand and with some high profile peers fending off some lacklustre reviews recently, it’s an interesting time for Kid Kapichi to be releasing their third studio album.

Let’s face it, there is not absence of source material for musicians looking to call out government incompetence, social injustice or horrifying world affairs, but in an election year at home and abroad there’s also a risk of political statement fatigue from music fans.

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Kid Kapichi – ‘Zombie Nation’

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Well, that’s where Kid Kapichi seem to find their niche… in finding balance between heavy subject matter and playful output. ‘There Goes The Neighbourhood’ unapologetically continues where ‘This Time Next Year’ and ‘Here’s What You Could Have Won’ left off, with a razor sharp tongue and catchy beat.

Any listeners looking for some ambitious sonic exploration on this album will be disappointed, but anybody hoping for more biting, frank and ferocious bangers will get their fill! The ability of the band to create this steady stream of passionate and astute songs is really quite canny, and at times like these their music should be classed as essential listening.

If we were to pick one track here to highlight, we’d be amiss not to guide you towards to fabulous Suggs featuring ‘Zombie Nation’, but this album is one of those ones where we get to say that there really isn’t a bad track.

The gentler ‘Jimi’ is a charming way to close out an album which will be defined by that now well established brashness. All said and done this is just the latest statement from a band marching relentlessly towards revolution.

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