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DARKO
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Panic Shack
Panic Shack
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PANIC SHACK – PANIC SHACK – ALBUM REVIEW
The time has finally arrived for Welsh indie-punks Panic Shack to deliver their long awaited debut album. The band have built a fierce reputation with their riotous live shows and that has left fans clamouring for a first full-length collection.
Those that have been waiting will thankfully be ecstatic with this self-titled offering which somehow manages to capture the energy of those live shows and put it in a nice little package.
That’s often a hard thing to achieve for bands but the fact that their live essence exudes from each of the eleven tracks is simply a testament to the quirky charisma possessed by the group.
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You have to say though that the core component of the band, which is what truly elevates them both on stage and on record, is the fun that they are clearly having. These are songs capable of calling out societal and life problems ala their modern punk-aligned contemporaries, but they are designed to be enjoyed.
The likes of ‘Gok Won’, ‘Tit School’, ‘Pockets’ and album closer ‘Thelma & Louise’ are frankly infectious. So much so that the album should probably feature a warning sticker highlighting the likelihood of a serious need to break into a mosh.
The witty lyricism of their early singles is still front and centre and there are plenty of moments which will make you pop, make you smile and make you laugh. Equally the band haven’t been afraid to address both bigger issues and their own past criticisms.
As we said at the start, their live spirit oozes from these songs and more than anything that makes you want to hear these songs live! Sometimes that early hype can fail to build to anything, but on this debut album Panic Shack have smashed it out of the park!
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Full Pelt Magazine
Vol. 94
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Calva Louise
Edge of the Abyss
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CALVA LOUISE – EDGE OF THE ABYSS – ALBUM REVIEW
The individual stories of how each band member came to form Calva Louise is remarkable and when combined their journey to this point is simply incredible. Never afraid to take huge risks, their gambles have all paid off with the release now of a gnarly new album of epic proportions.
‘Edge of the Abyss’ is their fourth album and sees the trio taking giant strides towards achieving their long-held goals of success. Having each moved across the world with hopes of making music, the fact that this record is the genre-defying earworm that it is should serve as vindication for their bravery and daring to believe in themselves.
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This eleven track, forty minute collection is truly fascinating and will warrant multiple listens in order to experience every aspect. It would be easier to list the genre’s not covered here then the various influences that emerge during the record.
Whereas sometimes that means an album sounds disjointed and lacking direction, it works to the opposite effect on ‘Edge of the Abyss’. As vocalist Jess Allanic segues between English and Spanish lyrics, the sonic onslaught feeds the overarching eclecticism of the records identity.
With Allanic’s self-designed sci-fi world again providing the themes of the songs this album acts as a much needed escape from the real world. Indeed, from opener ‘Tunnel Vision’ to the fantastic finale of ‘Under The Skin’ this is Calva Louise operating on another level.
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Full Pelt Magazine
Vol. 93
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BIG SPECIAL
NATIONAL AVERAGE.
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BIG SPECIAL – NATIONAL AVERAGE. – ALBUM REVIEW
Last year BIG SPECIAL, the Black Country duo of Joe Hicklin and Callum Moloney, arrived in style with an incredible opening offering. Their debut album, ‘POSTINDUSTRIAL HOMETOWN BLUES’, rightly earned high praise from fans and critics alike – including us!
With tour dates and festival appearances still in the diary, not many were expecting a follow-up any time soon. But this week the band surprised everyone when they simply dropped their sophomore collection without any of the now standardised build-up! A brave move indeed, but hey, if Taylor Swift can do it then why not?
That new album, ‘NATIONAL AVERAGE.’ picks up where its predecessor left off with that ominous soulful punk sound accompanying the scathing poetry of opening track ‘THE MESS.’.
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The following twelve tracks all follow that same pathway and are driven by the direct social commentary of the lyrics and that sonic rumble that gained the duo their plaudits in the first place.
The fact that this album follows so closely musically to their debut album is probably to be expected given the quick turnaround. Even then though you can sense elements of evolution in the sound of this album. Some though may argue not enough, but ultimately these songs will do a great job expanding their repertoire for those upcoming shows and at this point of their career that’s actually the most important thing.
Further growth can and will likely come in the future, but for now let’s all just enjoy another heavy dose of the frank BIG SPECIAL fever dream. ‘NATIONAL AVERAGE.’ after all will only solidify their place in the busy landscape of the industry.
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Full Pelt Magazine
Vol. 92
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Hot Milk
Corporation P.O.P
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HOT MILK – corporation p.o.p
The genesis of Hot Milk from noisy upstarts to new hopes and now into genuine contenders has been interesting to follow.
Co-ringleaders Han Mee and Jim Shaw have quickly built up an already substantial back catalogue. Their three EP’s and debut album all showcased a desire aesthetically to establish a clear identity for the band. Something that fans could tie themselves to and truly invest in.
At the same time though you couldn’t help but feel that the band were searching for their own musical identity. An incredible range of styles and influences are presented over those initial releases and that has perhaps made the band hard for industry bods to pigeonhole as they love to do.
On their new sophomore album, ‘Corporation P.O.P’, however it finally feels like Hot Milk have found their sound. Those influences and more can still be picked out from the mechanics of the songs but the overarching sonic vibe feels their most coherent and complete yet.
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Considering there are a decent fourteen tracks here, it’s a huge compliment that each one feels like it belongs. The length of the album doesn’t take away the raw spirit that the band possess and the time listening just floats past.
The themes of the album centre on the state of the world with a particular love for Manchester shining through. Lyrically the duo are happy to shoot from the hip and the band certainly wear their hearts on their sleeves on ‘Corporation P.O.P’.
Hot Milk have been on a journey of self-discovery and an evolution of their artistry. That all sounds little too fancy though, so let’s just say that this is a properly good album from a band living up to their early potential.
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Full Pelt Magazine
Vol. 91
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