Vol. 77
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Full Pelt Magazine
Tag: Album Review
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DOROTHY
THE WAY
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DOROTHY – THE WAY – ALBUM REVIEW
It’s a decade since DOROTHY made their mark and were pegged as future superstars of hard rock. Blending the best of modern metal with classic rock swagger and stunning vocals, the group have gone on to establish themselves within their niche but it’s probably fair to say that they haven’t reached the heights predicted for them.
That’s not really a dig at their career, after all 99.9% of bands deemed the next big thing fall completely away and never achieve the success that DOROTHY have. Perhaps though there is a frustration that still the band can go on to do more!
‘THE WAY’ marks their fourth studio album and fans will be greeted with more of the same from the band. Hook-laden rockers with that soaring voice of Dorothy Martin simply captivating. This familiar territory of generic American Rock Radio hit factory songs though may be the problem – it’s all very predictable.
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‘I COME ALIVE’, ‘THE DEVIL I KNOW’ and ‘MUD’ are a fine start to the record before Slash collaboration, ‘TOMBSTONE TOWN’, is intrigue-wise perhaps the pinnacle. The rest of the album is all very good also but doesn’t offer much we haven’t heard before.
You feels like saying that this could be mistaken for the next Halestorm album, but let’s not get too negative here. The positives of this record are that there are no bad tracks, it’s another short shock of adrenaline-inducing rock ragers and all in all it’s better than most of its competitors.
DOROTHY is largely a vehicle for the eponymous singer and luckily for the band she is ferociously talented! It seems that even with their eyes closed, DOROTHY can write a properly decent collection of hits. You do just wonder what could be created if they switched off cruise control and put their foot down.
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Courting
Lust for Life Or: ‘How To Thread The Needle And Come Out The Other Side To Tell The Story’
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Courting – Lust for Life Or: ‘How To Thread The Needle And Come Out The Other Side To Tell The Story’ – album review
Courting continue to grow an underground following that have fallen in love with their unique brand of experimental indie rock. That audience will only continue grow in depth and engagement as the group share their preposterously titled third album, ‘Lust for Life Or: ‘How To Thread The Needle And Come Out The Other Side To Tell The Story’.
The album is as short as the title is long, clocking in at just twenty-five minutes and eight tracks (including a bizarre intro). That intro and opener ‘Stealth Rollback’ showcase their quirky side before ‘Pause at You’ and ‘Namcy’ demonstrate their talent for writing more straight-up indie bangers.
Indeed, you get all elements of Courting on this collection and that ensures that above all else, ‘Lust for Life Or: ‘How To Thread The Needle And Come Out The Other Side To Tell The Story’ is one of the most memorable and interesting releases of the year!
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Whilst at times they may come across as rather chaotic, Courting know how to be very precise and that echoes through the writing of this succinct but impacting new album.
‘Eleven Sent (This Time)’ and ‘After You’ continue the album’s catchy yet elaborate thread before the titular ‘Lust for Life’ changes the pace completely. Slow and methodical, the track illuminates for six and half of the twenty-five minutes which make up this album.
With ‘Likely place for them to be’ closing out the short but sharp album, you’ll be left intrigued and importantly wanting more! In a world where everything feels so cookie-cutter even, it’s nice to enjoy something a little odd.
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Ricky Warwick
Blood Ties
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RICKY WARWICK – BLOOD TIES – ALBUM REVIEW
Rock n roll troubadour Ricky Warwick has been branching out more and more lately with his “day job” of Black Star Riders taking something of a back seat. Successful reunion shows with The Almighty have interspersed between a rejuvenated solo career, and now he is set to release his latest album, ‘Blood Ties’.
From the initial thrust of opening track, ‘Angels of Desolation’ onwards listeners will be greeted by the comforting familiarity of Warwick’s signature playing and iconic vocals. This is after all a musician who has always worn his heart on his sleeve, and you’ll pick up elements of each of his well-known escapades within these ten lovingly crafted songs.
You can sense the care that has been put into this record from the glorious riffs to the meaningful lyrics and even the artwork, which is created by Warwick’s own stepdaughter. This is a personal record in all senses of the word with some deep and insightful themes ensuring that along with his heart on his sleeve, Warwick is also baring his soul.
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Not to hammer a point home at all but Warwick has been around the houses of the music industry and during his respected career he has made a wealth of friends. A clutch of those friends lend their talents to this record with Charlie Starr joining in on ‘Rise and Grind’, Lita Ford adding weight to ‘Don’t Leave Me in the Dark’ and The Cult’s Billy Duffy jumping on both ‘Don’t Sell Your Soul to Fall in Love’ and ‘The Hell of Me and You’.
All of these touches elevate this album into more than just another collection of songs rushed out for an excuse to play shows. You truly can feel the passion for the craft amongst these thoroughly enjoyable tracks.
Despite some naturally downbeat themes at times, the overarching positivity of the album shines through both in the message of the record and the majestic rock n roll rampage that accompanies that voice.
In short, Warwick is in top form and this is another inspired collection of juicy rockers!
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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.
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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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Vol. 76
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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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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
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.
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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
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!
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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
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.
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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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