Tag: Album Review

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.

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‘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

Album Reviews

Smith/Kotzen

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Smith/Kotzen – Smith/Kotzen – Album Review

It’s that age old question. What do you get when you put Iron Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith and the much travelled Richie Kotzen in a studio together? Well, perhaps not; the answer however is magic!

Yes, all too often much heralded partnerships or so called supergroups are over hyped only to under deliver. That isn’t the case here as Smith and Kotzen combine for the creatively titled Smith/Kotzen. Together they have created an album of superb blues infused hard rock, equally creatively called ‘Smith/Kotzen’!

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Perhaps all their creativity was used up in recording this brilliant album and when it came to promotion they were all out of ideas! Seriously though, this is an impressive collection of songs that echoes the shere talent involved.

It feels as though the duo complement each other perfectly. They are able to stretch their legs without stepping on each other’s toes. Smith excels from the comfortable confines of house Maiden and Kotzen demonstrates his unrivalled talents.

Smith/Kotzen – ‘Taking My Chances’

From the openings of ‘Taking My Chances’ all the way to the closing moments of ‘Til Tomorrow’, there isn’t much let up in quality. Smith and Kotzen can be proud of what they have achieved on Smith/Kotzen; even if they can’t be proud of their naming abilities!

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Tags Adrian Smith, Album, Album Review, Iron Maiden, review, Richie Kotzen, Smith/Kotzen

Album Reviews

Evanescence

The Bitter Truth

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Evanescence – The Bitter Truth – Album Review

Evanescence are an interesting entity. Officially a group for over 25 years but with only three all original studio albums if we don’t include 2017’s ‘Synthesis’. Amy Lee remains the only original member, and only member to survive from 2003’s breakthrough debut album ‘Fallen’.

It can’t be argued that the band are not absolutely huge despite this lack of new material. In fact, you are left to wonder what a more prolific band could have achieved. Now in 2021, the band are back with their first all new studio album since their self-titled 2011 release.

What should we expect from the band? Can they produce anything as good as their early albums? Well, it’s evident from very early on that this is a return to form for the band. There is plenty of what we have come to expect from Evanescence but there is also a good deal of experimentation. Certainly enough to keep the album interesting as it progresses.

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‘Feeding The Dark’ and ‘Better Without You’ remind you how gloriously heavy yet anthemic the band can get. Meanwhile ‘Use My Voice’, ‘Take Cover’ and ‘Far From Heaven’ help to explore the versatility of the band.

Evanescence – ‘Use My Voice’

Having gone ten years since their last album you could be forgiven for questioning the bands drive. With a release like ‘The Bitter Truth’ however you must now question what could have been had the band managed a more regimented release schedule.

What ‘The Bitter Truth’ does is make you remember just how good Evanescence can be, and hope that it’s not another ten years before they follow it up!

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Tags Album, Album Review, Evanescence, review, The Bitter Truth

Album Reviews

Black Honey

Written & Directed

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Black Honey – Written & Directed – Album Review

Black Honey arrived on the scene about five years ago full of swagger and energy, and their second album, ‘Written & Directed’ does exactly the same. The record bursts into action from the very start with ‘I Like The Way You Die’ and ‘Run For Cover’ packing a huge punch.

If their 2018 self-titled debut album was a statement of intent, then ‘Written & Directed’ is the band delivering on their promise. The band manages to maintain their unique throwback sound that has been their trademark since their 2014 inception, whilst ensuring that there is demonstrable progression.

That is achieved through adding a grandness to songs such as ‘Beeches’ and ‘Believer’. While much of the bands early work managed to sound huge in small venues, you sense on this album that many of these songs are born to engulf much larger spaces.

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What is great to see here is a band that refuses to compromise. They are also a band that are hard to pigeonhole by any particular genre. They produce a distinctive sound that can only be classed as Black Honey. Thankfully that identity is embraced fully here as they navigate that sometimes troublesome second album.

‘Disinfect’ is fantastic example of a song that could have gone various routes. Instead it manages to merge these elements to great effect, creating a sonic blast to your ears!

Black Honey – ‘Disinfect’

Black Honey are a rare talent that have now reinforced their passion and ability to create great music for anybody who wants to listen but without concession on their vision. ‘Fire’ and ‘Gabrielle’ close ‘Written & Directed’ out perfectly and bookend this short but powerful release from a band growing in confidence.

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Album Reviews

Pet Needs

Fractured Party Music

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Pet Needs – Fractured Party Music – Album Review

Pet Needs hail from the ancient town of Colchester, and their debut album features the ancient sound of punk rock. Let’s face it, we all have plenty to be angry about right now and the band capture that angst perfectly on ‘Fractured Party Music’.

But whilst the mood of the nation’s youth is represented in the musical and lyrical content, don’t assume this album is just another angry, shouty record. There is plenty of depth on this album taken from a wide range of influences.

Listen to ‘Tracy Emin’s Bed’ on our Spotify Hot List

One thing that raises this album above its contemporaries is its knack for catchy pop driven choruses that wouldn’t feel out of place on a mid-noughties indie anthem. With that said there is much more substance on this album than you’d expect from those indie by numbers hit makers.

That is what’s great about this record. Whilst it’s unashamedly brash punk rock at its heart, it journeys through many terrains to reach its peak. If we look simply at Pet Needs Xtra Mile Recordings labelmates, you get elements of Mongol Horde, Skinny Lister and Sean McGowan on this album.

This is anything but one-dimensional but it flows sweetly from the opening track ‘Outline’ to its finale ‘Embers’. ‘Fractured Party Music’ feels like a statement of intent from a group that has masses of potential.

Pet Needs – ‘Pavlovian’

With singles like ‘Tracy Emin’s Bed’, ‘Toothpaste’ and ‘Pavlovian’ bursting out of the album, it won’t take long for people to stop and take notice of this great young band. ‘Fractured Party Music’ promises to be just the start for Pet Needs.

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Tags Album, Album Review, Fractured Party Music, Pet Needs

Album Reviews

Rob Zombie

Post author By fullpeltmusic
Post date March 12, 2021

The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy

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Rob Zombie – The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy – Album Review

You have got to love the length of Rob Zombie song and album titles. I’ll be approaching my word count by simply saying that his new album ‘The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy’ features both ‘The Triumph of King Freak (A Crypt of Preservation and Superstition’ and ‘18^th Century Cannibals, Excitable Morlocks and a One-Way Ticket on the Ghost Train’!

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Seriously though, we’ve come to expect the weird and wonderful from Mr. Zombie. So, anybody expecting otherwise on his seventh studio album would be gravely mistaken. This is over the top, crazy and full on Zombie at his best.

It’s not like we want anything else from Zombie either. We have thrashing guitars, thumping drums, bizarre lyrics and plenty of bells and whistles to emphasise his brilliantly quirky musicianship.

Rob Zombie – ‘The Eternal Struggles of the Howling Man’

Whilst this is definitely an album that deserves a full play through due to its strength from start to finish, it also has standout moments. ‘Shadow of the Cemetery Man’, ‘The Eternal Struggles of the Howling Man’ and the slow burning ‘Boom-Boom-Boom’ are fantastic and showcase Zombie perfectly.

This album is up there with the best that Zombie has produced. So sit back, strap in, and let Rob Zombie take you on a wild ride!

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Tags Album, Album Review, review, rob zombie, the lunar injection kool aid eclipse conspiracy

Album Reviews

Kings of Leon

Post author By fullpeltmusic
Post date March 5, 2021

When You See Yourself

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Kings of Leon – When You See Yourself – Album Review

Anyone looking for Kings of Leon to reinvent the wheel on their eighth studio album should probably temper their expectations. Whilst ‘When You See Yourself’ may be the bands first record since 2016, they haven’t spent the intervening years perfecting a new sound.

This is Kings of Leon doing exactly what Kings of Leon do. The good thing for the band is that what they do is create music for the masses, and they are very successful at it. Single ‘The Bandit’ gives you a flavour of what to expect from the album. It’s standard Kings of Leon stock. It’s trusted stock that people will buy in bulk.

Listen to ‘The Bandit’ on our Spotify Hot List

A once very exciting young band, Kings of Leon have reached a level of success that is unattainable to all but a very select few. The fact is the band could rest on their laurels and simply rely on their back catalogue. It should therefore be applauded that the band, albeit sporadically, feel the need to get creative.

Whilst remarking that they haven’t broken the wheel, it should be noted they that also haven’t “phoned it in” as it were. This is a very Kings of Leon record, but it’s also a very good Kings of Leon record that will sit well within their back catalogue.

Kings of Leon – ‘Golden Restless Age’

There are plenty of moments on the album that remind you just why you fell in love with the band. ‘Golden Restless Age’ in particular manages to stand out as just as good a song as the band have produced.

This is more unoffensive output from the band. Stick it on in the car on a Sunday afternoon leisurely drive and let Kings of Leon remind you who they are.

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Album Reviews

A Day To Remember

You’re Welcome

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A Day To Remember – You’re Welcome – Album Review

The fact that the first single from ‘You’re Welcome’ was released roughly twenty months ago in 2019, should suggest immediately that A Day To Remember have faced issues with this album. Over the near two year period that has followed the release of ‘Degenerates’ a lot has happened.

A Day To Remember – ‘Degenerates’

There have been a further four singles released. There have been numerous delays with the scheduled release date kicked around, reported delays with artwork and delays with the albums mixing. The band sub-headlined Reading & Leeds Festivals in 2019, and oh yes there has been a pandemic!

This has been the longest delay between two new A Day To Remember albums in the bands eighteen year career, and that delay clearly can’t be blamed simply on world events. The band are on record talking about the high amount of material demoed for the record and the debate around experimentation of their sound and potential alienation of their fans.

Many of the bands peers have experimented with their music in recent years with varying levels of success. As a band pushing towards festival headline slots, there would clearly be pressure on A Day To Remember to produce an album that would appeal to the mainstream. What we have in ‘You’re Welcome’ however appears to be a compromise from the band.

They have tried to appeal to the mainstream world, whilst reining in certain elements as not to disappoint old school fans. Sadly what we get is a clearly compromised effort that feels forced and disjointed.

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This is a shame as A Day To Remember are a band that were always ahead of the curve when mixing up their sound to appeal to both traditional and mainstream fanbases. That is what brought them to the level they are at.

‘You’re Welcome’ is not a bad album, there are some songs that will slip neatly into forthcoming setlists. The problem with the album is that at this point in the bands career they didn’t need to compromise. After the time it took to finally release an album, you would expect a band the quality of A Day To Remember to have released a masterpiece.

Instead what we have is a collection of songs that doesn’t do the band justice and when held accountable with their back catalogue are sadly forgettable. Call it a mid-life crisis or a band struggling with their identity, but on this album A Day To Remember feel lost. Let’s hope that they find themselves soon as they can do so much better.

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Tags A Day To Remember, Album, Album Review, review, You're Welcome

Album Reviews

Maximo Park

Nature Always Wins

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Maximo Park – Nature Always Wins – Album Review

Because Maximo Park shot to prominence during the indie boom period sometimes harshly described as the landfill-indie generation, they are often lumped in with the other artists from this era with little thought. That generalisation does a disservice to a band that has always been a step above, artistically speaking.

Whilst the band has had their fair share of commercial success, it never felt like the aim from the band. Their longevity perhaps now provides the evidence that they were in it more for the music than the money. With the release of their seventh studio album they are once again bucking a trend from bands of that era, that is to simply rely on nostalgia.

‘Nature Always Wins’ is another trademark Maximo Park album and delivers another slice of quality over quantity from the band. I’ll say that there is nothing that upsets the applecart here. This is standard Maximo Park. But, that’s not a slight on the band. That’s because their albums have always featured an element of exploration of their sound.

Maximo Park – ‘All Of Me’

This isn’t a crude attempt to relive past glories. There is craftsmanship and care on this record that is so often found lacking by bands looking to simply put out another album to plug. From start to finish this album provides a fluid listening experience with the likes of ‘Baby, Sleep’ and ‘All Of Me’ showing that the band still has a knack for creating catchy indie pop magic.

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Fans of the band now have another solid album to fit into their collection. ‘Nature Always Wins’ is right up there with anything the band has already given us. Yes, Maximo Park continue to buck trends and demonstrate that they were always a cut above most of their contemporaries from the mid-noughties indie scene!

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Album Reviews

Architects

For Those That Wish To Exist

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Architects – For Those That Wish To Exist – Album Review

It feels like there is a lot of pressure on this album for Architects. This is after all a band who has been seeing increasing success in recent years. They are a band that has evolved their sound with recent releases. So, does ‘For Those That Wish To Exist’ continue this evolution? Will the band push on to a higher level on the back of it?

Architects – ‘Meteor’

The first thing to note is that at 15 songs and just shy of an hour this is a meaty album that demands attention. That attention is grabbed almost immediately with ‘Black Lungs’ and ‘Giving Blood’ delivering a statement of intent. A reminder to listeners of what this band is all about.

As the album progresses the expansive elements of recent Architects albums is clear for all. There are grandiose ambitions spread throughout the album with the band obviously striving for more. Some may feel that it’s mainstream exposure that the band is striving for. If that is the case then there is plenty on offer to achieve this. Whilst this may be the end result, this doesn’t smack of being a money grabbing, sell out album.

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It’s clear that care and effort has been put into creating an album which both pleases fans and satisfies the creative cravings in the band. There is a great deal of experimentation on this album, with Architects also recruiting some A list guests from the world of hard rock.

The three tracks which feature these artists all deliver the goods. ‘Impermanence’ featuring Winston McCall (Parkway Drive), ‘Little Wonder’ featuring Mike Kerr (Royal Blood) and particularly ‘Goliath’ featuring Simon Neil (Biffy Clyro) all help underpin the ferocious elegance of the album.

Overall the album gives Architects fans old and new something to enjoy without sounding disjointed; with ‘Dead Butterflies’ and ‘Animals’ showing that the band has perhaps struck upon their optimal output stylistically.

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‘For Those That Wish To Exist’ is everything that Architects need it to be. Whilst it may alienate a small portion of their fans, the majority and many new fans will hold it up as a masterpiece of the genre.

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Tags Album, Album Review, Architects, For Those That Wish To Exist, Mike Kerr, Simon Neil, Winston McCall