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The Slow Readers Club

The Slow Readers Club

Out of a Dream

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A stream of succulent singles has whetted the appetite of fans for ‘Out of a Dream’, the seventh album from Manchester indie favourites The Slow Readers Club. Now it’s finally time for those fans to savour the record in full.

Those pre-release singles gave a good account of what to expect from the ten tracks that comprise this latest collection and fans will soon fall in love with what is another incredible album from a band showing no signs of slowing down despite their name!

From the early pulses of opening track, ‘Technofear’ to the final echoes of what they dub their divorce song, ‘Our Song Is Sung’, each song on ‘Out of a Dream’ has its own mesmerising lure. When enjoyed as a whole however these sonnets build into something even bigger.

WATCH the video for ‘Boy So Blue’
The Slow Readers Club – ‘Boy So Blue’

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Whilst there are some traditional indie rock roots present on this album, it’s the elements of more unique contemporaries such as Editors and The Coral that ensure this is far from just another set of indie fodder. Combine this special vibe with their more electronic influences ala Depeche Mode and this becomes a truly eclectic songbook.

Thematically the album comes at a time when the themes are all too familiar to us all, with the group exploring the worlds current relationship with the truth. Some thought-provoking and highly engaging lyrics ensure that the sonic gravitas of the record resonates deeper and together creates another set of magnificent melodies.

Ultimately this is very simply an incredibly catchy and hypnotic album which will have those fans playing it on repeat for some considerable time. The Slow Readers Club really have delivered another masterpiece of an album with ‘Out of a Dream’!

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The Wildhearts

The Wildhearts

Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts

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THE WILDHEARTS – SATANIC RITES OF THE WILDHEARTS – ALBUM REVIEW

“…You took a lot of knocks to get where you are today…” – These are the lyrics that echo throughout the final refrain of album closer ‘Failure is the Mother of Success’. Those that know the story of Ginger Wildheart, The Wildhearts and the ups and downs of a chaotic career will realise the weight of those words.

Indeed, The Wildhearts have been to hell and back and over the course of now eleven studio albums they’ve seen and done every rock n roll trope there is. This experience had the band on top form as the pandemic hit but eventually led to yet another breakdown between the members.

The big question heading into new album ‘Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts’ is how would version 999 of the band fair and could they maintain the hot streak of highly credible collections?

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The Wildhearts – ‘Troubadour Moon’

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Well, as the album progresses so does the feeling of appreciation for the talents of the face of the band Ginger. Somehow against all odds, he has done it again and created a very enjoyable set of classic sounding The Wildhearts songs.

It is quite remarkable that we have another quality album from The Wildhearts. It’s often joked about the aftermath of the apocalypse seeing Keith Richards and Ozzy Osbourne still standing. Perhaps it’s time to add The Wildhearts to that list!

Tongue is firmly in cheek as Ginger and co and lyrically dissect various topics including personal and societal issues. The wonderful ‘Kunce’ being a particular moment of high jinks.

As those previously spotlighted lyrics close out this album, you’ll relate undoubtedly to the sentiments and be grateful that despite all of life’s challenges you and The Wildhearts are still standing and ready for the next challenge.

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HotWax

HotWax

Hot Shock

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HOTwax – hot shock – album review

Whilst Brighton is renowned for its vibrant music scene, nearby Hastings is usually associated with a quieter way of life. Alt rock trio HotWax however have been making some considerable noise over the past few years!

A steady slew of support slots and festival appearances has raised their profile but the consistency and impact of those shows combined their initial releases has created an increased attention on their outputs consistent with the definition of hype.

Their debut album is therefore a substantial occasion and one that the group has been stylishly able to navigate. Indeed, much like the record doesn’t take long to make its point, this review is able to jump straight to the fact that this is a fantastic opening gambit from a clearly talented band.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘She’s Got A problem’
HotWax – ‘She’s Got A Problem’

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‘She’s Got A Problem’ and ‘Wanna Be A Doll’ welcome you to their world with succinct abandon, before this collection proceeds to take you on a journey of twists and turns. There is a range of influences can be picked out of these songs, but you very much feel that this is a band trying to forge their own path rather than tread those placed before them.

90’s swagger, garage rock fuzz and punk attitude make this a thoroughly enjoyable album, which at ten songs and sub-thirty minutes simply flies by. Indie lovers, punks and rock fans will all feel home with this album and that’s where the charm here does lie.

There is an aura and tenacity exuding from the record which belies the youth of the band. That only serves to further the excitement that exhibits when you consider what this trio could be capable of. ‘Hot Shock’ is a great introduction from a band ready to smash any expectations and pre-conceptions that are placed in front of them.

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Spiritbox

Spiritbox

Tsunami Sea

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SPIRITBOX – TSUNAMI SEA – ALBUM REVIEW

The rise and rise of Spiritbox since their introduction in 2017 is a fine example of what can happen when you bet on yourself. Formed by Courtney LaPlante and Mike Stringer when the couple decided to leave their established band for something they could call their own, they haven’t looked back since.

A handful of EP’s led to the arrival of their 2021 debut album ‘Eternal Blue’ which was met with great acclaim and cemented their status as not just future but present stars of the heavy music world. Now, they are looking to capitalize further on the hype that continues to surround them with the release of their sophomore full length release – ‘Tsunami Sea’.

Forging their path in a genre which can often feel eerily similar, Spiritbox have done well to develop their own identifiable sound, and this album sees them continue to embellish that sonic gravitas. No need to worry about them being confused for Poppy or anyone else here!

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘SOFT SPINE’
Spiritbox – ‘Soft Spine’

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Whilst pre-release singles ‘Soft Spine’ and ‘Perfect Soul’ do shine bright, this is a record that is greater than the sum of its parts. Those prog influences still structuring the aesthetic of this dynamic group.

The plaudits from ‘Eternal Blue’ will undoubtedly continue to flow again with its successor as the Spiritbox identity is fully manifested on an album which feels like a celebration or culmination of their early years.

That’s not to say that the band have hit their peak, but you do sense we are now moving into a new era for a group now solidly placed in the upper echelons of their scene.

Indeed, sometimes you do just need to take a leap of faith and bet on yourself!

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OVERSIZE

OVERSIZE

Vital Signs

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OVERSIZE – VITAL SIGNS – ALBUM REVIEW

As the cold of winter dissipates into the slow warmth of spring, the debut album from South West alt-rockers OVERSIZE is perfectly timed to help you with that transitional rebirth of life!

Packed with a hazy aesthetic which feels perfect for the time of year, this group of like-minded dreamers are ready to launch themselves into the consciousness of the UK rock scene. Indeed, as far as opening statements and debut albums go – ‘Vital Signs’ is ideally situated to capture your imagination and make a lasting impression.

Oozing gloriously fuzzy riffs, 90’s alt-rock attitude and that grunge era aura, these songs each stand up to be counted with the likes of ‘Fall Apart’ and ‘Salt’ ready to grip a new wave of rock fans.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘VITAL SIGNS’
OVERSIZE – ‘Vital Signs’

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You can feel the love and passion that the band have put into these ten ethereal tracks and the trust that they’ve placed in them to make this milestone first record is well placed. The album is structured delicately and deliberately to deliver a visceral listening experience and that is punctuated perfectly by the closing thrust of the title track, ‘Vital Signs’.

As the sun begins to reclaim the sky in the coming weeks and months, music fans will find themselves mysteriously pulled into fields of music and as you inspect your festival clashfinders and local venue listings you will absolutely want to put a big red circle around the name OVERSIZE!

It’s somewhat disingenuous to proclaim that every band is going to be massive and despite the fantastic punning opportunity here we won’t do that… still you wouldn’t bet against it either!

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Doves

Doves

Constellations for the Lonely

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DOVES – CONSTELLATIONS FOR THE LONELY – ALBUM REVIEW

Beset amongst a backdrop of cancelled tours and the need for singer Jimi Goodwin to seek support for his mental health struggles, Doves last album cycle ended somewhat chaotically.

Back now with ‘Constellations for the Lonely’, an album written in the aftermath of that chaos, there is a feeling of peaceful reflection, and a wistful vision of hope entangled throughout these ten carefully crafted songs.

‘Renegade’ and ‘Cold Dreaming’ welcome fans to a record which is certainly on the more thought-provoking and tender side of what the band do so well. This is a running theme throughout a record which only really unleashes the throttle at controlled intervals, but that sombre undertone complements the subject matters incredibly well.

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Doves – ‘Renegade’

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Whilst the spotlight could’ve naturally fallen upon Goodwin, bandmates Jez and Andy Williams take on their fair share of the workload here, each lending their vocals to select tracks across the album, which makes this album feel like a truly collaborative collection.

Musically this is a very strong set of expansive soft rock songs which all hold their own amongst the impressive back catalogue already created by one of UK indie’s most interesting bands. Fans of the trio will find a familiar warmth to this record which is only emboldened by the knowledge of what the band have gone through to make it.

As the lyrics to ‘Saint Teresa’ say – “…there’s beauty inside of the pain…”, and that line by itself does more to sum up this album then any review ever could!

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Architects

Architects

The Sky, The Earth & All Between

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ARCHITECTS – THe sky, the earth & all between – album review

The Architects fanbase has had a lot to say about their musical direction over the past decade. The band have evolved their sound and embraced a more mainstream sonic aura which has drawn a truck-load of obvious comparisons to their friends Bring Me The Horizon.

The irony there being that early year’s fans of that band also developed a hyper-critical mindset as they undertook the journey that led them to superstardom. Funnily enough, for both bands, their success only grew as they pushed their boundaries further and further.

Now, Architects follow the growing list of acts recruiting the production services of ex-BMTH genius Jordan Fish. It’s unlikely then to be much of a surprise as we reveal that their new album, ‘The Sky, The Earth & All Between’ sounds exactly as you would expect it to!

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘Blackhole’
Architects – ‘Blackhole’

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Whilst those pesky BMTH comparisons will only echo louder, the group are unlikely to care as this record finds its way into more ears than ever before. Yes, to use a tired cliché – this is probably their most accessible work to date and also probably their most coherent release in recent years. Indeed this album will be an enjoyable and absorbing listen for modern day Architects fans.

It also has a few moments which will extend a hand to some of those lapsed fans, offering them an avenue back into the fold. To that extent, something this album does well is try and accommodate every aspect of their arsenal.

Critics will perhaps rightly point out that a negative of Fish’s sudden availability is a seemingly relentless stream of similar releases looking to exploit his signature aesthetic. You can forgive artists though for wanting to get in on the action and Architects truly have more right than anyone else to do just that.

The overall verdict therefore is that this is a strong release from Architects that is well worth your attention – be you a new school or old school fan or perhaps a complete beginner. Remove yourself from the growing noise that surrounds the band and you’ll find a decent album underneath.

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The Murder Capital

The Murder Capital

Blindness

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THE MURDER CAPITAL – BLINDESS – ALBUM REVIEW

Ever since arriving whilst treading the path forged by the likes of IDLES and Fontaines D.C., The Murder Capital have seemingly done all they can to distance themselves from that much hyped scene.

After the success of their 2019 debut album, ‘When I Have Fears’, the group reinvented their sound on the self-examining ‘Gigi’s Recovery’ in 2023. Despite their sonic transformation, the record stood its ground and demonstrated a dexterity that the band now seem keen to flex even further.

On their new third album, ‘Blindness’, The Murder Capital once again create a standalone aesthetic which sets this collection apart from anything that they’ve done before – or at this rate will ever do again!

LISTEN TO ‘WORDS LOST MEANING’
The Murder Capital – ‘Words Lost Meaning’

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This exploration is admirable given the success that the post-punk noise continues to garner. Artistic integrity is great and all, but more often than not the need to eat and pay bills sees ambition wane into a whimper of diluted experimentation.

There isn’t a modicum of fear in the delivery of this elegant set of alt-indie sonnets. The result is an album which showcases the abundance of talent which this group very clearly possesses, but one that for this reason may pass over the heads of those just looking for a quick fix of rousing throng.

That said there are parallels to be drawn with recent Fontaines D.C. which could again work in the favour of a band deserving of bigger acknowledgement. Ultimately though as The Murder Capital double-down on their self-belief, the legacy of this album may be the solidification of evidence that you can’t pigeonhole this fascinating band!

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Killswitch Engage

Killswitch Engage

This Consequence

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KILLSWITCH ENGAGE – THIS CONSEQUENCE – ALBUM REVIEW

After everything that the group have been through over the past quarter of a century, it’s a surprise that we still get to enjoy new Killswitch Engage music. You can probably pinpoint half a dozen times where the band could’ve called it quits, but their endurance has instead distinguished them as one of the most loved bands from their scene.

‘This Consequence’ represents their ninth studio album and finds the band on autopilot somewhat. With a (rare for these days) limited amount of pre-release singles, play was pressed on this album waiting to be wowed, but whilst the listen is enjoyable enough it fails to deliver the sucker-punch expected.

2019’s ‘Atonement’ did a lot to establish Killswitch Engage as an unyielding creative force, and this record follows largely in the same vein. For a band tough that carry a, perhaps unfair, weight of expectation you can’t help but want a little more.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘I Believe’
Killswitch Engage – ‘I Believe’

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More energy? More diversity? More personality? It’s hard to narrow down what’s missing but undeniably a spark of some sort is lacking. That said, at just ten songs and thirty-five minutes the album doesn’t drag. It has that Killswitch Engage heart and will hold its own against offerings from lesser bands.

Killswitch Engage have always combined their heavy sound with some heavy themes and again on ‘This Consequence’, the group channel their recent challenges and experiences into their art. It’s a safe release which does well to capture their established melodic brand of metalcore and document their passionate monologue.

This isn’t what you’d class as a bad album by any stretch of the imagination, it’s just very formulaic for a band that has always managed to set themselves apart.

The album will sit fine in their arsenal, but the lack of a spark will eliminate it from any conversations regarding what their best album. That though, is a testament to the incredible body of work that the band have already created more than a criticism of this latest record.

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Manic Street Preachers

Manic Street Preachers

Critical Thinking

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MANIC STREET PREACHERS – CRITICAL THINKING – ALBUM REVIEW

‘Critical Thinking’ is the fifteenth album from Welsh icons Manic Street Preachers. A run that started back in 1992 with ‘Generation Terrorists’ has seen the band releasing a new album a least every four years, and whilst there may be peaks and troughs, somehow the band has never released a dreadful record!

That is some achievement and – spoiler alert – ‘Critical Thinking’ is certainly not going to buck that trend. Keeping things interesting when this prolific as a recording group must be the most difficult aspect of maintaining course. Both for themselves as creators and their fanbase as consumers.

This album takes an interesting pathway from the very beginning as Nicky Wire takes on lead vocals for the albums title-track. His direct lyrics have renewed vigour and the track sounds like New Order writing a Pink Floyd song!

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Manic Street Preachers – ‘Brushstrokes of Reunion’

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Pre-release singles ‘Decline & Fall’ and ‘Brushstrokes of Reunion’ are more recognisable as modern-day Manic Street Preachers offerings and together are a hell of a start for this collection.

This album actually features three tracks with lead vocals provided by the mercurial Wire and both ‘Hiding in Plain Sight’ and album closer ‘OneManMilitia’ standout on what eventually does blend somewhat as another solid but standard Manics release.

That though is a backwards complement, because the reason that each of their albums starts the feel eerily similar is because they are all so well written and enacted. Whilst the ferocity and urgency of some of their earlier work may not bite the same way, this is a naturally mature and more methodical group who are still able to drive a point home.

‘Critical Thinking’ therefore has the undertones of classic Manics, the shine of their more glamorous work and an overarching beauty which always seems to befall one of the greatest bands of their generation.

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