Category: Album Reviews

Weezer

Van Weezer

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WEEZER – VAN WEEZER – ALBUM REVIEW

Whilst the wait for ‘Van Weezer’ hasn’t reached ‘Chinese Democracy’ levels, the album felt almost mythical until now. The record was first announced by Weezer in September 2019! Since then the album has seen delays enforced by the pandemic. Along with a release schedule to coincide with the bands participation in the Hella Mega Tour.

With those shows now postponed until 2022 we should be glad that the band has followed through with the album’s release now. After all the band has already released one new album since ‘Van Weezer’ was announced! The surprise release of ‘OK Human’ in January saw the band in chilled mood.

Read our review of ‘OK Human’ from Weezer

‘Van Weezer’ is almost the polar opposite of ‘OK Human’ as the group channel their inner hard rockers. With a sound taking influences from many of heavy musics forefathers, Weezer evidence their dexterity with an uplifting homage to their heroes.

We called ‘OK Human’ an album to chill out to on a Sunday afternoon, but ‘Van Weezer’ is a party album through and through. The riffs and solos that comprise this album will have you bouncing around your living room with an air guitar in hand.

WATCH ‘ALL THE GOOD ONES’ ON YOUTUBE

Weezer – ‘All the Good Ones’

This feels like a love letter to the bands influences, so much so that the likes of ‘I Need Some of That’, ‘Beginning of the End’ and ‘Blue Dream’ feature samples and interpolations of famous tracks from the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Blue Oyster Cult.

From the first mutterings of ‘Van Weezer’ back in 2019, you suspected it would be an interesting album. Over the top, outlandish, brash and most of all fun, the album not only lives up to but surpasses all expectations.

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Tags Album, Album Review, review, Van Weezer, Weezer

Album Reviews

The Coral

Coral Island

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THE CORAL – CORAL ISLAND – ALBUM REVIEW

‘Coral Island’ is the tenth studio album from The Coral. Over the course of their near three decades as a group the band have consistently produced top quality music. Music that almost defies genre as the band embrace a plethora of influences to create what is undoubtedly The Coral.

Expectations for their tenth album therefore may have been mute. Realistically fans know from their track record that the album will be good, meaning that anticipation isn’t based in suspense. Well, that is until you know that for their tenth album the band has set out to create their masterpiece.

WATCH ‘FACELESS ANGEL’ ON YOUTUBE

The Coral – ‘Faceless Angel’

‘Coral Island’ is not just another album from the band. Spread over two disks, this concept album stretches just shy of an hour. Twenty-four tracks including spoken word intervals, ‘Coral Island’ tells the story of a fictional town by the coast.

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You are sucked into this world as the band manage to demonstrate their dexterity whilst showcasing their careers evolution track by track. ‘Coral Island’ is a piece of art, and deserves to be heard as such, so it isn’t worth pinpointing particular songs. This album demands your attention and for a band now so far into their career this is some achievement.

Yes, the group have managed to create something very special indeed. Despite a career built on quality, it turns out that they can still up their game yet higher. It does feel fitting for The Coral that the bands tenth album may just be their best yet.

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Read our review of ‘Sweep It Into Space’ from Dinosaur Jr.

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Album Reviews

Royal Blood

Typhoons

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ROYAL BLOOD – TYPHOONS – ALBUM REVIEW

Royal Blood shot to the number one spot with their self-titled debut album in 2014. They then repeated that achievement with their follow up, ‘How Did We Get So Dark?’ in 2017. Now in 2021, they return with their third studio album – ‘Typhoons’.

The question is can they once again hit the number one spot? In order to do so ‘Typhoons’ will need to match the quality of its predecessors. So, the real question becomes does this album live up to the high standards that the duo have set so far?

LISTEN TO ‘TROUBLE’S COMING ON YOUTUBE

Royal Blood – ‘Trouble’s Coming’

Thankfully for both Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher the answer to that question is evident immediately as ‘Trouble’s Coming’ instantly gets your head banging and your foot tapping. The thunderous drums and ripping riffs that shot the band to fame are still here. In fact, it’s also evident early that whilst this is still very much Royal Blood there is clear evolution.

That’s not to say that they have changed direction, but certain elements of the bands sound are definitely amplified on ‘Typhoons’. The duo however manage to amplify these electronic elements without losing their rock attitude and resonance. Whilst the likes of ‘Limbo’ may feel out of place on their debut album, it doesn’t feel out of place in the bands catalogue. This is a testament to the duo’s ability to craft catchy hard hitting music.

Listen to ‘Limbo’ on our Spotify Hot List!

‘Typhoons’, ‘Boilermaker’ and ‘Oblivion’ are amongst the best that the band has produced thus far. On this album they have shown that they are no one trick pony and that their future remains very bright indeed. The band are already arena fillers and with this album they have continued a trajectory to be one of the biggest bands in the world.

Finally, let’s answer that question. Don’t be surprised when this album hits number one. It has the quality of its predecessors in abundance, whilst showing clear progression. It is most definitely a hit!

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Read our review of ‘The Greatest Mistake of My Life’ from Holding Absence

Tags Album, Album Review, review, Royal Blood

Album Reviews

Dinosaur Jr.

Post author By fullpeltmusic
Post date April 23, 2021

Sweep It Into Space

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DINOSAUR JR. – SWEEP IT INTO SPACE – ALBUM REVIEW

‘Sweep It Into Space’ is the fifth new studio album from Dinosaur Jr. since their 2005 reformation, and they continue to justify their return. Recorded back in 2019 and delayed by the pandemic, ‘Sweep It Into Space’ is worth the wait for fans.

J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph have shown once again their knack for producing easy listening yet rough and ready rock music. With a little help this time from Kurt Vile, Dinosaur Jr. once again manage to capture the essence of the alt rock genre.

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There are luscious solos, beefy riffs and catchy vocals all stirred in with the punchy rhythm section. Listening to this album is evidence again of the influence that the band has had on American rock music. You can pick out many aspects that are core Dinosaur Jr. traits that are now standard fare for other such artists.

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Dinosaur Jr. – ‘I Ran Away’

It’s difficult to pick out particular songs as highlights here as the whole album flows perfectly from beginning to end. The likes of ‘I Ran Away’ and ‘Garden’ do however provide a good flavour of what to expect.

With the band still able to produce records of this quality, it must be hoped that the second coming of this iconic band has no end.

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Read our review of ‘The Battle at Garden’s Gate’ from Greta Van Fleet

Tags Album, Album Review, Dinosaur Jr, review, Sweep It Into Space

Album Reviews

The Offspring

Let The Bad Times Roll

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THE OFFSPRING – LET THE BAD TIMES ROLL – ALBUM REVIEW

Was anybody craving a new album from The Offspring in 2021? Where would you set your expectations for such a release? ‘Let The Bad Times Roll’ arrives some nine years since its predecessor ‘Days Go By’.

In fact the band have exercised a very sparse release schedule since their last Platinum record – 2000’s ‘Conspiracy of One’. With ‘Let The Bad Times Roll’ just the fourth album in the last 21 years, how would this record size-up with their early material.

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The answer is teased from the outset with ‘This Is Not Utopia’, ‘Let The Bad Times Roll’ and ‘Behind Your Walls’ capturing the energy of their biggest hits. Theories of a toned down The Offspring are quickly dispelled as the album shows little ease.

There is a maturity on this album that I’d liken to a Bad Religion model of teenage angst through the eyes of a wise old punk rocker. That brings a sense of relevance to the release that may have been missing had the band simply tried to mirror early successes.

The fact is that at this stage of their career The Offspring didn’t need to release an album. They have enough in their arsenal to coast through sell out shows and major festival slots. They could be forgiven for playing on nostalgia until they retire. They haven’t done that however. They have chosen to stick their necks out and release new music for the first time in a long time.

WATCH ‘COMING FOR YOU’ ON YOUTUBE!

The Offspring – ‘Coming For You’

‘Let The Bad Times Roll’ is unlikely to reach the heights of ‘Conspiracy of One’, but somewhat surprisingly that isn’t down to its quality. This album will actually gain the band additional credibility and will sit very nicely with their back catalogue.

Was anybody craving a new album from The Offspring in 2021? Perhaps not, but actually in this messed up world we live in, maybe, just maybe, we needed it!

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Read our review of ‘The Bitter Truth’ from Evanescence

Tags Album, Album Review, Let The Bad Times Roll, review, The Offspring

Album Reviews

Greta Van Fleet

The Battle at Garden’s Gate

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GRETA VAN FLEET – THE BATTLE AT GARDEN’S GATE – ALBUM REVIEW

Greta Van Fleet erupted onto the scene in 2016 and their early releases solidified them as “ones to watch” and “the future of rock”. Their debut album harnessed this early promise and fulfilled exactly what was needed from it at the time.

Now as 2021 creeps into summer, the band return with their highly anticipated second album with many questions to be answered. Can they maintain the quality? Are they a one trick pony? Can they dispel the critics that they are Led Zeppelin copycats?

From their previous releases you know that the band aren’t afraid to be themselves, despite those comparisons to Plant and co. Whilst they have managed great commercial success they don’t appear to chase the mainstream as it were. Before even starting to listen to ‘The Battle At Garden’s Gate’, I clock the runtime of over an hour. I know that this will be a journey, but what will I find on the way?

Well, this is most definitely a Greta Van Fleet record! Their sound, unique or not, is distinctive and there is no escaping that here. This does however feel like an album whereby the group have made a conscious effort, perhaps not to escape comparisons, but to outgrow them.

WATCH ‘HEAT ABOVE’ ON YOUTUBE!

Greta Van Fleet – ‘Heat Above’

‘Heat Above’, ‘My Way, Son’ and ‘Broken Bells’ welcome us on our journey through the evolution of Greta Van Fleet. These songs typifying what will follow, packed with delicious riffs and hauntingly powerful vocals.

The album flows well as it really needs to at this length. There is enough variation and distinction to retain your attention as the record progresses through the fantastic ‘Age of Machine’, ‘Stardust Chords’ and ‘The Barbarians’.

Listen to ‘Age of Machine’ on our Spotify Hot List!

For anybody that had any doubts about the natural talents of this group of musicians, they should now acknowledge a new force. This band are no longer the future of rock, they are now very much the present!

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Read our review of ‘Waiting For Good Luck’ from The Treatment

Tags Album, Album Review, Greta Van Fleet, review, The Battle At Garden's Gate

Album Reviews

Holding Absence

The Greatest Mistake Of My Life

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Holding Absence – The Greatest Mistake Of My Life – Album Review

Holding Absence have come of age on their second album. As soon as you press play, you are welcomed by a more mature sounding band. By the time you finish listening you feel that the band may have just created their masterpiece.

The Welsh group has seen a number of line-up changes since their formation in 2015, with the most recent being the loss of bassist James Joseph at the start of this year. Oddly that means that there are now no founding members remaining in the group. This may be a problem that often befalls older acts of yesteryear, but rarely a child age band.

This is however the same group of members that released their self-titled debut album in 2019. Now returning with their follow up album, this is the group that should take the band into the future. And with a release like ‘The Greatest Mistake Of My Life’ that future is set to be bright.

WATCH ‘CELEBRATION SONG’ ON YOUTUBE!

Holding Absence – ‘Celebration Song’

This is an uplifting, soaring effort from the band with ‘Celebration Song’ and ‘Curse Me With Your Kiss’ setting the tone early. That’s before the magnificent ‘Afterlife’ bursts out of the pack as the anthemic highlight of a very good bunch of songs.

Listen to ‘Afterlife’ on our Spotify Hot List!

There are moments of grandeur that harness the bands expansive sound spread throughout ‘The Greatest Mistake Of My Life’. These help to capture a moment in time when a band takes a step up to the next level.

Holding Absence have been a band with great promise, now they are a band that has delivered on that promise. The world is there for the taking and you couldn’t go far wrong by betting on this band to capture it!

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Album Reviews

The Treatment

Waiting For Good Luck

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The Treatment – Waiting For Good Luck – Album Review

‘Waiting For Good Luck’ is an apt title for the fifth studio album from Cambridge rockers The Treatment. Since bursting onto the scene and being hailed as the next big thing, the band have suffered a somewhat Spinal Tapesque rotation of members.

Unlike that group, it’s not the drummer that’s the problem! Dhani Mansworth being one of only two original members left from their 2008 foundation. Together with guitarist Tagore Grey, Mansworth has seen a revolving door of members including latest addition, bassist Andy Milburn.

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This has included three singers, with current vocalist Tom Rampton joining in 2017. Completed by Tao Grey on guitar, the band will be hoping for some stability and good luck moving forward. They will hope that ‘Waiting For Good Luck’ is the start of that process.

From the beginning of opening number ‘Rat Race’ onwards, you grow a sense that they may be in luck after all. Whilst this album delivers exactly the sound that you would expect from The Treatment, it delivers it very well.

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There are plenty of songs on this album that rate amongst the best that the band has produced. ‘Take It or Leave It’, ‘Lightning in a Bottle’, ‘Hold Fire’ and ‘Wrong Way’ lead the way but the rest of the album isn’t far behind.

You almost wait for a dip in quality that thankfully doesn’t come. From start to finish ‘Waiting For Good Luck’ delivers on the promise that has always surrounded The Treatment. The hope now has to be for that good luck to arrive and for the band to be able to push ahead as a group.

After all fans of Tuckman’s Theory of Group Development know that to perform you need to work through the forming, storming and norming stages. (I bet you didn’t expect to see Tuckman reference in a music review!).

With this fifth album you finally feel that The Treatment are ready to deliver their best performance!

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Album Reviews

The Snuts

W.L.

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The Snuts – W.L. – Album Review

The release of The Snuts debut album really has been a long time coming. The band initially hoped to release the album once the pandemic was over. Of course that appears some way off, and having released the first single ‘All Your Friends’ back in May 2019, the time has come for ‘W.L.’.

The Snuts – ‘All Your Friends’

The Snuts have steadily built a solid fanbase and ‘W.L.’ will only continue the upwards trajectory of these young Scots. Whilst much of the album was already ‘out there’ due to the prolonged release, this is still a significant milestone for a band with great potential.

‘W.L.’ is a strong debut album that lays the foundations of what will likely be a long and successful career. The album is packed full of charm and idiosyncrasy which helps to distinguish it from being just another indie record.

The likes of ‘Juan Belmonte’, ‘Somebody Loves You’ and ‘Glasgow’ are destined to grace setlists for years to come. That said it’s hard to single out tracks for praise due to the overall quality of the album.

Listen to ‘Juan Belmonte’ on our Spotify Hot List!

The deluxe edition of the album features four additional unreleased tracks which help to ensure that ‘W.L.’ feels fresh. In total across the seventeen tracks there is plenty to get your teeth around and savour.

This does feel like the start of a great journey for the band. Expect The Snuts to continue to grow when they are able to take this album on the road. Then, who knows, perhaps we won’t have to wait as long for album number two!

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Album Reviews

The Fratellis

Half Drunk Under A Full Moon

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The Fratellis – Half Drunk Under A Full Moon – Album Review

Since returning from their three year hiatus in 2012 The Fratellis haven’t been shy about releasing new music. Whilst many bands of their generation are now happy to milk the nostalgia cow, The Fratellis have now released four albums in eight years.

The case of The Fratellis is an interesting one when you consider that upon their break in 2009 they were on the cusp of bigger things. They had worked towards the top of major festival bills and were playing larger and larger shows.

Their break coincided with the peak of the indie boom of the mid-2000’s, and the band returned when the world was declaring guitar music dead. It does make you wonder where the band would be without that break.

The Fratellis – ‘Half Drunk Under A Full Moon’

The quality of the bands releases since their reconvention has been high but, probably more as a sign of the times, they haven’t enjoyed the same mainstream success. Listening to their latest effort ‘Half Drunk Under A Full Moon’, it’s a different listening experience to that of their first two albums. That isn’t a bad thing however.

In reality it seems that the band are writing for themselves now. There are no megahits such as ‘Chelsea Dagger’ to be found and that feels as though it’s by design. The Fratellis aren’t a nostalgia band but they also aren’t a band striving for the bright lights. They appear comfortable in their own shoes and that allows them the freedom to create quality music without needing to be pigeonholed.

Listen to ‘Six Days In June’ on our Spotify Hot List!

‘Half Drunk Under A Full Moon’ is able to suck you in and hold your attention. You get lost in the pleasant and subtly upbeat tempo of the title track, ‘Strangers In The Street’ and ‘Living In The Dark’. These songs are perfect for a late afternoon festival slot, sat with a drink, tapping your foot. There isn’t anything to really get you up and bouncing, but let’s face it The Fratellis have those songs in abundance.

This album is a lovely addition to the catalogue of a band happy to be different. It may not break any doors down but it doesn’t need to. Where would The Fratellis be without that break? Probably not here, but here is where they seem comfortable and happy, which is actually a pretty good description of this album!

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Tags Album, Album Review, Half Drunk Under A Full Moon, review, The Fratellis