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Pale Waves

Pale Waves

Unwanted

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PALE WAVES – UNWANTED – ALBUM REVIEW

Pale Waves only released their second album last year, but with momentum in their favour they are back already with album number three. ‘Who Am I?’ was a huge release for the band, taking them to number three in the charts and taking them into larger venues and bigger festival slots.

Eighteen months later and the band are ready to capitalise on their hard work and push for greater success. With a date already set for the legendary Brixton Academy this November, could new album, ‘Unwanted’, be set to push them into arenas?

Well, opening with the epic, ‘Lies’, is a very good start for the album, and the pace doesn’t really ease as the group let their pop punk side out!

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Pale Waves – ‘Lies’

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Across their three albums the band has now shown strong evolution and confidence in creating an eclectic mix of sounds. That being said each album has been distinctively a Pale Waves album with a familiar sonic undertone throughout.

With Heather Baron-Gracie at the helm their sound continues to feature an uplifting element despite the often dark and personal themes. This album fits a continued narrative of relatable music which helps to create a strong connection between band and listener.

Tracks such as ‘The Hard Way’, ‘Jealousy’ and ‘Reasons To Live’ have given a accurate view into the make-up of ‘Unwanted’ as a whole. If you’ve enjoyed the pre-release singles then you’ll love this uninterrupted tour de force of an album.

If ‘Who Am I?’ was the album to put Pale Waves on the map, then ‘Unwanted’ is raising their flag aloft and stating their ambitions for world domination!

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Kasabian

Kasabian

The Alchemist’s Euphoria

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KASABIAN – THE ALCHEMIST’S EUPHORIA – ALBUM REVIEW

To say that Kasabian’s seventh studio album, ‘The Alchemist’s Euphoria’, comes with a burden of added pressure would probably be an understatement. When one of the biggest bands in the country loses an iconic member then eyes will naturally be on what comes next, this is amplified when that iconic member is the singer!

Not to mention that it’s the nature of the world that we live in that those eyes watching are bound to be highly critical. No doubt, there will be many looking on and hoping to see Kasabian fail for various reasons.

Thankfully for the band they have already taken the time out to prove the doubters wrong in the live setting, with the band confirming that they are still one of the best live acts on the scene, the question is now turned to their studio output.

One of the reasons for Kasabian’s success over the years has been their adaptability and willingness to experiment. This works in their favour when reflecting on ‘The Alchemist’s Euphoria’, as whilst it doesn’t give the band a free pass it certainly allows extra freedom to explore their sound.

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Kasabian – ‘CHEMICALS’

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With guitarist Serge Pizzorno moving to the vacated lead vocals position, some clearly wondered if he would take the band down the more electronic route of his SLP side project. Alternatively would the band return to their early sound or maybe just continue on the path of 2017’s ‘For Crying Out Loud’.

The answer here is the one that probably should’ve been expected from the start – all of the above!

You can certainly feel the Pizzorno influence taking a bigger hold, there are nods to the early lad-rock leanings of the band and there are some playful festival favourites the likes of which emerged from the albums predecessor.

To an extent this is clearly Kasabian pressing the reset button. With ‘The Alchemist’s Euphoria’, the band has reassured fans that the past isn’t forgotten but the future remains one of exploration just as it would of done.

This album does what it needs to do to shore up the ship, but it almost leaves you now asking what’s next. This isn’t a forgettable album but it is a cleansing album to purge the difficulties of recent years and set up what’s to come.

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The Interrupters

The Interrupters

In The Wild

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THE INTERRUPTERS – IN THE WILD – ALBUM REVIEW

You’ll likely have seen The Interrupters name gracing many festival bills over the past five years. You may also have noticed their name moving higher and higher up those line-up posters. Yes, there has been a slow but meaningful buzz building around the band for a while now.

It hasn’t been overnight success for the band and new album, ‘In The Wild’, is their fourth album; their debut self-titled release coming in 2014. As with many bands the pandemic came at the worst time as far as career momentum is concerned, with the hype surrounding The Interrupters fully taking hold.

Now then is probably the ideal time for the band to release a new album and get back on that horse, there has also never been a better time than now for you to jump on the bandwagon!

‘In The Wild’ sets its stall out early with ‘Anything Was Better’ and ‘As We Live’ which features Tim Armstrong and Rhoda Dakar. This is another anthemic riot of ska punk that will grab you by the hand and pull you onto the dancefloor.

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The Interrupters – ‘Anything Was Better’

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Musically this album is packed full of the upbeat ska infused punk that has garnered The Interrupters such attention. They really do seem to have perfected a mix of these genres that works to elevate that basic punk sound without reaching the potentially comical capabilities of ska.

Lyrically this a personal, unshackling record in which singer Aimee liberates her troubled past. It can be tricky to tackle difficult subjects whilst pumping out ska punk, but on ‘In The Wild’, Aimee and the Bivona brothers have managed to do so faultlessly.

There isn’t a bad song on this album and too many highlights to bother listing. Realistically the best thing for you to do, is go and find ‘In The Wild’ and press play. You won’t regret the time spent savouring these incredible songs and you will get to jump on that bandwagon just before the band takes that final leap to superstardom!

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The Kooks

The Kooks

10 Tracks to Echo in the Dark

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THE KOOKS – ’10 TRACKS TO ECHO IN THE DARK’ – ALBUM REVIEW

The Kooks have been busy celebrating their seminal debut album, ‘Inside In/Inside Out’, on recent tours, but they are a nostalgia act just yet!

New record, ’10 Tracks to Echo in the Dark’, is the group’s sixth studio album, which isn’t the most prolific discography but is on par with most of their contemporaries. What the band has done however is deliver consistency with each of their previous efforts showcasing their talents well.

Over the course of these releases The Kooks have evolved sonically and the differences between that debut and this latest release are clear. ’10 Tracks to Echo in the Dark’ features the bands now signature expansive sound and bursts straight to life with opening track ‘Connection’.

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The Kooks – ‘Connection’

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At just over half an hour this isn’t a long album, which I feel helps it maintain the listeners attention. There is much ground broken on the record, now that you’re really expecting or wanted experimentation from The Kooks in 2022. That said there is enough here to fend off that nostalgia scene for a little longer.

The band do appear to have found their groove which is far removed now from the sound that broke them into the mainstream. Of course, those songs still exist and feature heavily in their live shows but if you are expecting another ‘Inside In/Inside Out’ from The Kooks you’ll be disappointed.

Expectation therefore is key when approaching ’10 Tracks to Echo in the Dark’, something which the slightly ostentatious title does assist with. This was never going to be the so called “classic” Kooks sound.

That’s not a bad thing though and this isn’t a bad album by any stretch of the imagination, it just needs a little perspective. The album isn’t a bad way to spend half an hour, but it won’t leave much of a lasting impression either.

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Deaf Havana

Deaf Havana

The Present is a Foreign Land

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DEAF HAVANA – THE PRESENT IS A FOREIGN LAND – ALBUM REVIEW

The entire career of Deaf Havana has been rather stop/start with vulnerabilities and insecurities often holding back; ironically though it’s also those same traits that have made the band such essential listening in the past.

The band has had many highs but their previous effort, ‘Rituals’ and the touring that followed saw the band perhaps at their lowest. The band clearly had high hopes for the record and hoped the pop direction and polished visuals would contribute to their greatest successes, only to be demoralised when the album fell flat and the bands momentum actually faded instead of escalated.

Watching some of their final UK shows on that album cycle, it was clear there were issues. The passion appeared to be gone and it felt as though the band were simply going through the motions. It was not really a surprise then at the end of last year that James and Matthew Veck-Gilodi revealed that the band had planned to split in early 2020.

Instead the duo announced that they were now the only remaining members but that new music was coming. That new music comes now in the shape of the bands sixth studio album, ‘The Present is a Foreign Land’.

It’s been a turbulent musical journey from their post-hardcore debut, through their folk rock and alt rock albums to the pop sound of ‘Rituals’. The first question for me was, which Deaf Havana would appear on this album, and secondly would whichever version appearing be any good?

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Deaf Havana – ‘Going Clear’

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The brutally honest lyricism of their finest work presents itself instantly on the opening track, ‘Pocari Sweat’, and their peak ‘Those Countless Nights’ vibe comes out on early highlight, ‘19dreams’. Soon enough some of those folk influences emerge, before the pop sound makes its presence known also.

The answer to that first question clearly being, E. All of the Above! This certainly feels like a fresh start for the band, a new beginning, but one that recognises just where they have come from.

On the second point of quality, this is leaps and bounds ahead of the poorly executed experiment that ‘Rituals’ felt like. This feels more like the band that many tipped for huge success. The pop sensibilities are here to stay but they have been intertwined with the sounds that made you fall in love with the band.

Whereas ‘Rituals’ felt forced, ‘The Present is a Foreign Land’ feels like the natural evolution of Deaf Havana. This band is far too good to disappear, so let’s be glad that they’ve emerged from this latest change still with important things to say!

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Shinedown

Shinedown

Planet Zero

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SHINEDOWN – PLANET ZERO – ALBUM REVIEW

Shinedown’s stock continues to rise album by album, with their previous effort, ‘Attention Attention’, being the first to crack the UK Top 10. They just performed a huge main stage slot at Download Festival and later this year they will headline Wembley Arena for the first time as part of a UK Tour.

Yes, their trajectory in the UK finally appears to be matching that of their homeland so it would be a good time now for the band to release a top quality album wouldn’t it?

Well, within a couple of tracks it’s pretty clear that their seventh studio album, ‘Planet Zero’ is just that. With 20 tracks, including 7 short interludes, and sitting at just shy of the 50 minute mark, I did have my trepidations, but the album simply breezes by.

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Shinedown – ‘Planet Zero’

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Everything that has got Shinedown to this point is present with thronging guitars and soaring vocals met by moments of melancholic captivation. This is also an expansive album however with the band continuing to explore the further reaches of their signature sound.

This means that there is a pleasing familiarity to the album whilst your interest is routinely piqued. The themes on this conceptual release are highly relevant, daring and thought provoking which engages the listener from the beginning with ‘No Sleep Tonight’ and ‘Planet Zero’; all the way through to the records climactic run of ‘Daylight’, ‘The Saints of Violence and Innuendo’, ‘Army of the Underappreciated’ and ‘What You Wanted’.

This is the second album to be produced by bassist Eric Bass following ‘Attention Attention’ and that dynamic appears to work well for a band who have always appeared direct and assured in their self-belief and faith in their artist approach.

‘Planet Zero’ is peak Shinedown and the album does exactly what the band need it to do at this point in their career. They may be seven albums in now, but the future remains very bright for this empowering band.

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Nova Twins

Nova Twins

Supernova

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NOVA TWINS – SUPERNOVA – ALBUM REVIEW

Nova Twins have been slowly building their fanbase with impressive support slots and festival appearances. In February 2020, you know just before the world stood still, the duo released their debut in ‘Who Are The Girls?’.

Despite the difficulties for music promotion over the next year or so, stock in the band has only risen with their debut album a critical success. The quality of that first album helped to back up the hype that had begun to surround Amy Love and Georgia South.

Now, the duo are unleashing their sophomore album on the world as they continue to lay the groundwork for stardom.

The potential for this band is unlimited with their genre-defying sound making them a true crossover act. Fans of various musical types will find comfort in ‘Supernova’, which sees Nova Twins once again delivering a slice of action-packed, adrenaline-fuelled, electro-punk groove.

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Nova Twins – ‘Antagonist’

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Single, ‘Antagonist’, is straight in your face and sets the tone for what’s to come from the rest of the record. ‘Cleopatra’, ‘K.M.B.’ and ‘Fire & Ice’ are highlights but there really isn’t a bad track on ‘Supernova’.

The duo are clearly growing in confidence with every record, and this album is a timestamp of a band transitioning from having potential to delivering the goods.

If you like music with attitude, passion and ferocity then this album and Nova Twins are most definitely for you. ‘Supernova’ really is a half hour of power and it will do nothing but continue to push this incredible band on their upwards trajectory!

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Def Leppard

Def Leppard

Diamond Star Halos

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DEF LEPPARD – DIAMOND STAR HALOS – ALBUM REVIEW

With their huge American Stadium Tour on the horizon, Def Leppard have returned with their first new album in seven years. ‘Diamond Star Halos’ is actually only their 12th studio album since their inception some 45 years ago.

The band certainly hasn’t been prolific then, and there has been some mixed results amongst those 12 albums from the sublime and iconic, to the flat and forgettable. How then will this new release stand up?

Well, it starts off very well indeed with ‘Take What You Want’, ‘Kick’ and ‘Fire It Up’. I’d say that ‘Kick’ is up there with the catchiest songs of their career, which is a high compliment indeed.

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Def Leppard – ‘Kick’

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I’ll note now the length of the album, sitting at just over an hour, and admit straight away that this feels too much. Cutting a few tracks to get the album around the 45 minutes mark would benefit the overall ease of consumption a lot.

Sonically the album is something of a throwback to their past glories and more than just a doff of the hat to their influences. Whilst this leads to some enjoyable moments, it also sees the band linger a little too long in others.

This is a difficult album to review, because there are plenty of high points and not many bad parts to pinpoint; it just feels bloated. It’s around twelfth track, ‘Angels (Can’t Help You Now)’, that I really begin to sap and feel the album needs to wrap up, but I’m daunted when I see that there is another thirteen minutes left!

‘Diamond Star Halos’ is worth your attention and patience, it is a solid album from a band with nothing to prove. I just feel with a few tweaks to the tracklist it could’ve been a great album.

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Liam Gallagher

Liam Gallagher

C’MON YOU KNOW

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LIAM GALLAGHER – C’MON YOU KNOW – ALBUM REVIEW

The resurrection of Liam Gallagher has truly been an incredible thing to witness. Anyone placing bets on Liam becoming one of the largest solo acts in the UK following the dissolution of Beady Eye would have gotten more than a few sideways looks.

But… that is exactly what has happened with Gallagher selling out arenas, festivals and huge outdoor shows consistently over the past five years. He has two solo number one albums to his name, and now you’d be a fool to bet against him gaining a third with new record, ‘C’MON YOU KNOW’.

There is no doubting the iconic status that Gallagher holds, but what he has achieved in recent years will change his legacy forever for the better. Out from the shadows of Oasis and his brother, Liam has shocked many with the way he has carried himself musically and personally.

A new generation of fans has discovered his iconic voice, not just for his past successes but also for his current output and that is a beautiful thing.

His first two solo albums have been more than solid, whilst sticking closely sonically to what his has always been known for. ‘C’MON YOU KNOW’, however sees Gallagher opening up musically to incorporate wider influences.

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Liam Gallagher – ‘Everything’s Electric’

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Perhaps not genre-bending in the truest sense, as the album is still rooted in familiar territory, but this is the most diverse collection of songs to feature Liam’s name. Perhaps slightly ironic given his jovial jousting at his sibling, although I do doubt there is any scissor playing present here.

The singles have been well selected and in fact the likes of ‘Everything’s Electric’ and the title track are literally the standout tracks. The rest of the album is once again solid and task achieving but perhaps slightly underwhelming in the grand scheme of things.

What saves this album from mediocrity and raises it to the standards expected is the diversification. This is perhaps the most interesting album of Gallagher’s solo career, if not the best in quality. What is does do is once again prove the critics wrong and demonstrate that Gallagher is a viable solo artist.

More than that he remains one of the biggest names in the industry and somehow retains relevance some thirty years into his career. Gallagher is remarkable and of course iconic!

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The Black Keys

The Black Keys

Dropout Boogie

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THE BLACK KEYS – DROPOUT BOOGIE – ALBUM REVIEW

Flashback almost 10 years ago now and the already well established The Black Keys were on the cusp of real superstardom after the incredible success of ‘El Camino’. Then the disruption began.

Whilst touring follow up album, ‘Turn Blue’, drummer Patrick Carney dislocated his shoulder and several shows were cancelled. Once that tour concluded the band went on an extended hiatus, returning in 2019 with ‘Let’s Rock’ to somewhat of a whimper.

A covers album followed last year, and any momentum the band still had seemed to dissipate. Neither, ‘Let’s Rock’ or ‘Delta Kream’ were bad albums, but neither lived up to the high standards and expectations of the band.

On now to March this year and a fantastic single, ‘Wild Child’ peaked interest again. Could The Black Keys rediscover the magic that established them as one of the biggest and best live bands rock bands on the planet?

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The Black Keys – ‘Wild Child’

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Well, here we are in May 2022 and we now have their eleventh studio album, ‘Dropout Boogie’, and thankfully that special touch seems to have returned. ‘Wild Child’ and fellow single, ‘It Ain’t Over’ open the album superbly and remind fans just why they fell in love with the band.

Yes, this truly is a clichéd return to form for The Black Keys, who have seemingly benefitted from returning to basics. This is a simple yet effective hard rock stomp capturing the elements of blues and garage rock that helped define their sound.

Billy F Gibbons featuring track, ‘Good Love’ is another highlight, but really there isn’t a bad song on the album. Carney and Dan Auerbach have their synchronicity back, and fans have The Black Keys back on top form.

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