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Album Reviews

Saint Agnes

Saint Agnes

Bloodsuckers

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SAINT AGNES – BLOODSUCKERS – ALBUM REVIEW

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 you’ve been following their development then it’s obvious that ‘Bloodsuckers’ 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 ‘Animal’ undoubtedly set the stall perfectly for the band to catapult themselves into the rock mainstream, and as soon as you hit play on ‘Bloodsuckers’ you have to sit back and admire a band taking things to the next level!

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Saint Agnes – ‘Bloodsuckers’

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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 “…never feel afraid to be the outsider, I promise you’re never alone, because what the fuck do they know…” on the biting ‘Outsider’.

As the album develops you begin to hear a more diverse palate of musical and lyrical delivery with the likes of ‘This Is Not The End’ and ‘At War With Myself’ and ‘Forever and Ever’ 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 ‘Middle Finger’ and the Mimi Barks featuring ‘Body Bag’ 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.

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Album Reviews

Greta Van Fleet

Greta Van Fleet

Starcatcher

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GRETA VAN FLEET – ‘STARCATCHER’ – ALBUM REVIEW

It’s seems almost impossible for anyone to review anything that Greta Van Fleet do either on stage or in the studio without comparing them to a certain mythical classic rock band. Our aim is to not use their name because ultimately, no matter the obvious sonic resemblance, Greta Van Fleet have forged their path through their own talents.

Every release thus far has been exceptional and as they release their third studio album, ‘Starcatcher’, the pre-release singles have again evidenced a band of enormous musical capability. There is an ethereal raw power in their song-writing and this materialises in the most visceral of fashions.

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Greta Van Fleet – ‘Meeting the Master’

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Thematically ambitious, whilst sticking to a tried and tested formula, ‘Starcatcher’ is a continuation of its predecessor ‘The Battle at Garden’s Gate’ and will instantly gratify fans of the band.

There are a plethora of songs which sound like they were born for the live setting and as the band continue to mature and grow their audience that’s a vital element. Lead single ‘Meeting the Master’ teased listeners into the experience that this album presents and arriving at the back end of the record ensures that the album finishes as strongly as it begins.

With this release, Greta Van Fleet continue to prove that they are no mere flash in the pan and no cheap imitation. Yes, rather than another band stuck in the past, this group are literally the future of rock music!

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Blur

Blur

The Ballad of Darren

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BLUR – THE BALLAD OF DARREN – ALBUM REVIEW

‘The Ballad of Darren’ marks the first new Blur album in eight years and only their second in the past twenty years. That other release was 2015 effort ‘The Magic Whip’, which was missing completely from the bands setlists at Wembley Stadium this month.

That point is made because upon listening to this release, ‘The Ballad of Darren’, equally sounds like an album set to be lost to this moment in time. Musically this is of course another solid record from the band, and not many would have expected anything different.

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Blur – ;St. Charles Square’

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Ultimately though the record lacks anything truly memorable. When selecting their setlists for those historic Wembley gigs, there would have been certain songs that it would be unthinkable for them not to play. If in ten years the band make a return again for more huge shows, you don’t feel that any of these songs will be in that conversation.

If you are a dedicated Blur fan then this record is an unexpected new addition to your collection. You will listen to it solidly for the coming weeks and months. Thereafter it may fall back behind the classics but will certainly continue hold its own.

Blur are musically exceptional and this at its core is another stunning collection of songs. Those reviewing this album purely on quality will write words of praise and quite rightly so.  However, to drive home the point, for anyone other than a diehard follower, this will also be an instantly forgettable collection of melancholic hymns.

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James and the Cold Gun

James and the Cold Gun

James and the Cold Gun

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JAMES AND THE COLD GUN – ALBUM REVIEW

It takes a lot of courage and self-belief to walk away from a band experiencing considerable success, but that’s exactly what James Joseph did. Switching from bass player in a well known band to guitar and vocals as the frontman of a completely unknown entity, Joseph teamed up with fellow James, James Biss, and the duo set about building a new legacy under the moniker James and the Cold Gun.

A handful of key support slots and a well received debut EP have led the now five-piece band to their all-important self-titled debut album!

Described as a “…no frills rock n roll ripper…” by Joseph, this fits the narrative from the original duo when we spoke to them in a year ago on our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast. Joseph in particular was clear that his previous band had changed to the point of no longer aligning with his desired creative output, with Joseph wanting a back to basics approach.

From the opening riff of ‘Chewing Glass’, it’s abundantly clear that Joseph has accomplished his desire. This is good old fashioned rock n roll and this album does exactly what it promises, repeatedly punching you in the face with another dirty riff, another bouncing chorus and all round gloriously effortless rock.

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James and the Cold Gun – ‘Chewing Glass’

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This is a well-rounded debut album, which shows that the band have plenty to offer other than just noise. The songs are well crafted and have an accessible enough sound that they should cut across in bigger venues just as well as they will in tiny clubs.

The likes of ‘Something to Say’, ‘Bittersweet’ and ‘My Silhouette’ may lead the pack but whilst it may be cliché, there really isn’t a bad track on what the band can be proud of as a memorable debut album.

In thirty-eight minutes of pure rock n roll adrenaline, James and the Cold Gun ensure that the bravery and confidence talked of in our opening sentence was well placed and fully justified!

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Read our review of ‘False Start’ from James and the Cold Gun

Watch Episode 18 of our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast with guests James and the Cold Gun!

‘Discover’ New Music Podcast – Episode 18 – James and the Cold Gun

Read our review of James and the Cold Gun live in Norwich

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Album Reviews

Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun

Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun

Colour

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JIM LOCKEY AND THE SOLEMN SUN – COLOUR – ALBUM REVIEW

It’s over a decade ago now that Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun released their two stunning albums, ‘Atlases’ and ‘Death’. At the time the band seemed to be on the cusp of much bigger things following a series of big support slots and important festival appearances.

Then in 2014 the group rebranded simply as Solemn Sun and tweaked their musical output for a new EP. When this change was met with apathy from their fans though the band soon disappeared into the ether and it appeared to be the end of a group that had shown so much promise.

A hero’s return under the full Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun name occurred at 2000trees in 2019 but then the pandemic hit! Now the band make their full-scale return with their third album, ‘Colour’, following another huge set at this year’s 2000trees.

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Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun – ‘Reno’

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The album starts with fantastic recent single, ‘Reno’ and quickly gathers pace with the euphoric ‘Medicine’ and ‘Conditional Love’ following. It’s soon evident that their sound has evolved greatly from both their first two albums and their 2014 EP.

This may be Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun but this is a splendid new version that takes the best elements of their past and combines them with a gloriously pop-tinged new sonic palate.

As the album progress through its ten tracks, it becomes very clear that the band are operating on a level way above anything they’ve done before, and given the quality of those early albums that is quite astonishing!

‘Colour’ is a truly remarkable return for a band that always felt like it had unfinished business. Well, the ten year wait has been more than worth it because this masterpiece of an album deserves to take the band to highest echelons of the industry. Simply magnificent!

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PVRIS

PVRIS

EVERGREEN

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PVRIS – EVERGREEN – ALBUM REVIEW

The last few years have proven to be a highly transitional time for PVRIS. Pandemic navigating releases, line-up changes, record label moves and expansions of their sound have all compounded a period of tumultuous change.

Throughout all of this Lynn Gunn has steered the ship through stormy waters and PVRIS remain on a steady course towards delivering on their enormous early promise. Now with the release of their fourth studio album, ‘EVERGREEN’, it feels like PVRIS are ready to show the truest form of themselves.

This candid and refreshing record is a stunning journey of sonic exploration across eleven tracks, all of which add something significant to the album as a whole. That said, it’s worth noting that this may be the most cohesive collection from the band yet.

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PVRIS – ‘GODDESS’

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Whether delivering heavy rock hooks, serenading us with delicate moments of melancholy or exploring recent EDM influences, ‘EVERGREEN’ sees Gunn at her creative peak. Gunn has always shown great ambition musically and that shines through intensely on this album.

Having caught PVRIS live at Slam Dunk Festival this summer, we can attest that the likes of ‘ANIMAL’ and ‘GODDESS’ sound absolutely huge live and you feel listening to this album that plenty of other tracks will also excel in the live setting.

After a period of upheaval, ‘EVERGREEN’ is the perfect statement needed from Gunn that the project remains not just viable but also striving for greatness!

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Queens of the Stone Age

News Report

In Times New Roman…

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QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE – IN TIME NEW ROMAN… – ALBUM REVIEW

With a global pandemic, a divorce, a bitter custody battle, the loss of friends, a rehab stint and a recently revealed cancer diagnosis to contend with since the last Queens of a Stone Age album, it’s fair to say that Josh Homme has had a turbulent few years.

Rumours of a new Queens of the Stone Age album had first emerged prior to the pandemic in 2019, but it’s certainly understandable given the above that it has now been the longest period of time between two QOTSA albums.

Self-produced over a couple of years and studios, you might fear that an extended and unsupervised creative process would lead to a disjointed outcome but that is thankfully not the case here on ‘In Times New Roman’.

The bands eighth album is a dark and groovy collection of heavy blues numbers which sonically tap into some of the bands finest earlier work. There is clearly less of the over-polished shine produced by working with Mark Ronson on predecessor ‘Villains’. This is a plain and honest sound from a band settled in their skin.

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Queens of the Stone Age – ‘Carnavoyeur’

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The overall cohesiveness of the tracks mean that there aren’t really any standout tracks but the catchy patter of pre-release single ‘Carnavoyeur’ is undeniably infectious. This though is a record for the album connoisseurs rather than those with short attention spans.

The well established fan base of the band have another great album in their collection, but those not already on the Queens of the Stone Age train are unlikely to be enticed onboard, which is a shame as with most QOTSA albums this is an elegantly thumping ride!

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Demob Happy

Demob Happy

Divine Machines

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DEMOB HAPPY – DIVINE MACHINES – ALBUM REVIEW

Over the past eight years Demob Happy have quietly released two solid albums which have seen the bands stock rise but not necessarily to the levels they deserve.

The same though could be said about many bands in the oversaturated market these days. Sadly quality isn’t always enough to reach the levels of success needed to make music a sustainable career.

Whilst we lose far too many talented bands around the position that Demob Happy find themselves in, the Brighton-based trio aren’t one and have now delivered a stunning statement of a third album!

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Demob Happy – ‘Token Appreciation Society’

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Yes, ‘Divine Machines’ is an album that instantly breeds a sense of the supermassive. Be it the thumping bass, solid rhythm, elegant guitar work or transcendent vocals, everything about this album exudes a band elevated to a higher level.

Each song is packed with mesmerisingly delicious psychedelic grooves and leaves an indelible mark on the conscious of the listener. Yes, the likes of ‘Voodoo Science’, ‘Super-Fluid’ and ‘Run Baby Run’, will be stuck in your head for days after absorbing this record.

In short, this third album is very good indeed and if all is right with the world will be the album that pushes Demob Happy further up the echelons of the musical hierarchy.

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Rancid

Rancid

Tomorrow Never Comes

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RANCID – TOMORROW NEVER COMES – ALBUM REVIEW

Punks rejoice! Rancid are back with their first new album in six years, ‘Tomorrow Never Comes’.

Pre-release singles ‘Don’t Make Me Do It’, ‘Devil in Disguise’ and the title-track, all hit well and let listeners know exactly what to expect upon release of the album.

Packed full of typical short and punchy punk rockers, this is actually the bands shortest album at just shy of 29 minutes, yet it still contains 16 tracks of fun filled, foot kicking, head banging joy.

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Rancid – ‘New American’

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The album once again finds the band working with producer Brett Gurewitz who again helps them deliver another solid and true Rancid record.

You aren’t looking for anything earth shattering if you are hitting play on a Rancid album, and the band know that. By now they have the formula down to a tee and ‘Tomorrow Never Comes’ will give the listener exactly the experience that they are after.

What does stand out on this album though is the band do what they do very well indeed. Whilst it may be unfair and a stretch to call this a fabled return to form, it must definitely be said that this is probably the best new Rancid album this century.

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Tigercub

Tigercub

The Perfume of Decay

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TIGERCUB – THE PERFUME OF DECAY – ALBUM REVIEW

A decade into their career, Tigercub release their third album, ‘The Perfume of Decay’, which sees the band in melancholic mood whilst embracing an ostentatious sonic aura.

Yes, the themes of the album may be dark and moody but the musical ambition is extraordinarily theatrical and grandiose. The juxtaposition of the two helps to embellish the album into an absorbing anthology.

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Tigercub – ‘Show Me My Maker’

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The subtlety of the experimental expansion of the band’s sound is what helps to ensure that the record stays on point and harnesses its gloomy visceral roots to great effect. Whilst the band have clearly sought to reach new heights musically, they’ve managed to control the narrative of the album well.

Tigercub have long been a band that have offered glimpses of their full capabilities but perhaps lacked the final touch. With ‘The Perfume of Decay’, the band have found that touch and delivered the stunning collection of their very best work.

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