Vol. 143
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Full Pelt Magazine
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The XCERTS
‘i think i want to go home now.’
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the xcerts – i think i want to go home now.’ – album review
The XCERTS are back with their sixth studio album, and the band again move in a different direction on ‘i think i want to go home now.’.
Following the success and acclaim of ‘Hold On to Your Heart’, the trio offered something much blunter with follow-up ‘Learning How to Live and Let Go’. The album probably didn’t make the impact that the band desired however and now they are returning with a sound more reminiscent of their early work.
Raw, emotive and engaging, these songs are instantly going to hit a home run with long time fans of the group. The XCERTS exude a heartfelt passion that is hard to come across in the age of hyper-produced songs designed for superficial likes.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘SINKING FEELING’
Instead, each of the tracks burrows itself under your skin and roots itself in your consciousness with a sense of cathartic release. Nobody can make you feel the way The XCERTS can and it’s so good to have them at their evocative best.
The album has been created at a time when the band have experienced loss and turmoil and that has driven them to explore the type of songwriting that connected them to fans in the first place.
For that reason this record is an absolute must for fans and can also act as a great hopping on point for anybody just discovering the magic of The XCERTS!
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Vol. 142
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Full Pelt Magazine
Vol. 141
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The Pretty Reckless
‘Dear God’
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THE PRETTY RECKLESS – DEAR GOD – ALBUM REVIEW
The Pretty Reckless have been part of the rock scene for so long now that its easy to forget how young Taylor Momsen was when the band arrived. Having already experienced fame as an actress prior to the band, it’s not an exaggeration to say that Momsen grew up in the public eye.
That can’t be an easy thing to navigate and the often-perilous journey that Momsen has been on has been packed with highs and lows. Throughout all of her varied career however music has been her escape, the place she feels most able to be herself.
New fifth studio album, ‘Dear God’, may just be her most vulnerable and intense collection as Momsen explores mortality and redemption on a record rooted within self-discovery.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘FOR I AM DEATH’
Musically her bandmates help bring these themes to life with a further expansion of their polished yet raw rock n roll bombast. Bluesy yet radio rock smooth, these tracks resonate with a band at the peak of their powers.
The fact that the band have been touring with AC/DC over the past year or so isn’t lost on our ears either. This is classic rock done with modern ingenuity and it works incredibly well.
The album itself is paced well to offer the full effect of an album rather than just a bunch of singles. That said the likes of ‘For I Am Death’, ‘When I Wake Up’, ‘Love Me’ and the title-track do standout.
It’s remarkable that Momsen is still in her early thirties yet presents with such maturity. In music, she has certainly found her calling and The Pretty Reckless will surely now go on to assert themselves at the top of their profession.
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Muse
‘The Wow! Signal’
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MUSE – The Wow! Signal – Album review
Four years on from ‘Will of the People’, Muse are back with their milestone tenth studio album, ‘The Wow! Signal’!
Over the course of three decades the trio have taken themselves from local battle of the bands competitions to the biggest stages in the world. Stadium megastars with a reputation as one of the greatest live bands around, it’s incredible the journey that they’ve been on.
In recent years however you could argue a little of the shine has dissipated as the industry has continued to shift. Despite being a solid effort, ‘Will of the People’ failed to generate the usual levels of excitement for a Muse album and that seemed to translate to a slightly blasé anticipation for this new collection.
If we’ve learned anything about Muse over the years however its that you really can’t afford to sleep on them. Just when you think perhaps they’ve peaked, they deliver something to remind you just how special they are.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘CRYOGEN’
This new album is just that. A reminder that when the band strike the right balance with precision riffs and over the top production, they are simply unstoppable. You want flamboyance from Matt Bellamy; you want Dominic Howard and Chris Wolstenholme to breakdown expectations of what a rhythm section can be. But you want it all to mean something.
We know that musically their skills are unparalleled, but we want music that we will want to come back to time and time again. The inclusion of producer/live member Dan Lancaster in the recording of this album feels pivotal. Whilst Bellamy and co still let loose, they feel kept on course.
With grand themes around cosmic mystery and astronomical possibilities it could’ve been easy to go overboard with the atmospheric soundscape of the album but instead this feels more like a modernised take on their classic sound.
Each element of their sound is on point, and they sound bigger and bolder than ever. Forget then any feelings of Muse fatigue because just when you needed them to, the trio have once again captured the right magic.
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Vol. 140
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Hard-Fi
‘Sweating Someone Else’s Fever’
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Hard-Fi – Sweating Someone Else’s Fever – Album review
Hard-Fi were always a band that stood out from the pack during the noughties indie boom. Their debut album, ‘Stars of CCTV’ shot them to the forefront of the movement and brought them huge success and acclaim.
Their sound incorporated a more expansive palette then their contemporaries but this would also then lead to them getting lost in the shuffle as the industry began to move on to its next genre-kink. Whilst charting well, ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ and ‘Killer Sounds’ didn’t resonate the same way with fans beginning to look for something different.
Many weren’t surprised when the band entered into a lengthy hiatus in in the early 2010’s. For fans though they were left with a nagging thought of ‘what if’. The band arriving with such promise, then disappearing with nothing more than a whimper.
As the inevitable hooks of nostalgia began to revisit that golden generation of indie rock success however, the band were ready to test the waters. The response to their initial reunion was phenomenal and generated a pro-longed return that now culminates with their first studio album in fifteen years, ‘Sweating Someone Else’s Fever’.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘DIGO NADA’
Now older and endowed with the associated wisdom that comes with navigating this troubled world for so long, it’s an album that tries both to show who the band are in 2026 whilst also dialling into what brought them their original success.
Sonically this again means that Hard-Fi are happy to bring a wide-range of influences into the mix, creating a record that simmers, bubbles and boils. The sound brings back their distinctive blend melancholia and euphoria, which again provides the springboard for their direct and grounded lyrics.
These songs lyrically look at the state of the world and deliver observations in a way that feels relatable and accessible to the average listener. This is one of the skillsets that made the band stand out, no pretence, no superiority, just a group of friends from Staines being themselves.
Fans and the band can now get a little closure with this return being undeniably successful both on stage and on record. Hopefully there is more in the tank, and their return will be a long-term investment. But whatever the future holds Hard-Fi have accomplished something worth recognising with this solid return.
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Vol. 138
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Dea Matrona
‘Hate That I Care’
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DEA MATRONA – HATE THAT I CARE – ALBUM REVIEW
Irish duo Dea Matrona released their debut album, ‘For Your Sins’, in 2024 and instantly grabbed the attention of critics and fans alike with their high potential being immediately transformed into tangible credibility.
They’ve continued to elevate their brand over the past couple of years with impressive live shows and festival appearances. Now they are back with their second album, ‘Hate That I Care’ as they expand their sonic palette further.
Their sophomore album is a more sophisticated affair then their debut album. That record was a smorgasbord of style and influence whereas ‘Hate That I Care’ is a far more coherent album.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘Hate that i care’
The album is again entirely written, produced and recorded by the band themselves in true DIY fashion. Mollie McGinn and Orláith Forsythe showcase their varied talents including covering all instruments themselves along with their elegant vocal interplay.
The results are that fabled more mature sound which is rooted in confidence and ability. Lyrically this follows suit with some of their most vulnerable and genuine work to date which fits into the more melodic and harmonious sound of the album.
This is clearly a band still growing and experimenting. Whilst this album might lack the immediate punch of their debut, if offers listeners a far more captivating time and ensures they remain a band you can’t afford to sleep on.
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