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White Reaper
Only Slightly Empty
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WHITE REAPER – ONLY SLIGHTLY EMPTY – ALBUM REVIEW
Much has changed for White Reaper since the 2023 release of their fourth studio album, ‘Asking for a Ride’. Substantial upheaval has seen a change in record label and the departure of their rhythm section.
With the band feeling the pandemic cut short their hard-earned momentum, burnout and some old-fashioned writers block added to the weight felt by the group. Forging ahead now as a three-piece the remaining members however have hit the fabled reset button.
Their aptly-titled fifth album, ‘Only Slightly Empty’, finds the band concurrently re-examining their previous outputs for a back-to-basics approach whilst also exploring their new direction of travel.
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The results of their rejuvenation are spread openly across the slick ten track, thirty-minute collection. Emotive lyrical delivery, catchy songwriting and a grunge-tinged power pop sound dominate the landscape and remind you of the band’s key qualities.
‘Blink’, ‘Honestly’ and ‘Blue 42’ as the pre-release singles do standout, but in truth there’s not a bad track here with the album helped by its simplicity and breezy length. Heartfelt craftsmanship helps to suck you into this collection, and the quality of the music keeps you invested.
Given the tumultuous build towards this latest album, the results are a testament to the talents of the trio. There may be some cliched concepts held within this review but there is a reason that sometimes bands need to have a refresh. Companies do it all the time with a rebrand, we give our homes a fresh lick of paint and White Reaper have had a needed reset on ‘Only Slightly Empty’.
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Full Pelt Magazine
Vol. 103
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Biffy Clyro
Futique
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BIFFY CLYRO – FUTIQUE – ALBUM REVIEW
Not many bands make it to a milestone as large as a tenth studio album, and even fewer do so having delivered such an eclectic and admired collection of releases as Biffy Clyro have. ‘Futique’ (a portmanteau of Future Antique) finds the trio at a true moment of reflection as they unveil their new landmark record.
The album marks their return from the longest period of inactivity in their history whilst the band took stock and frontman Simon Neil scratched a heavy itch with Empire State Bastard.
This time away from a band that has been a relentless recording and touring machine for over two decades allowed much time for reflection – perhaps too much – as the band would begin to question their future.
This uncertainty seeps into the eleven tracks that make up ‘Futique’ and do make these songs all feel incredibly vulnerable. These are reflective tracks but also harness the glow that begins to light up the darkness.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘A LITTLE LOVE’
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As their previous records have shown time and time again, Biffy Clyro are one of the most unique and undeniably special talents the UK has produced. The light of this record is them once again being distinctively Biffy – that is allowing themselves the space to write from the heart and sonically create something fresh and rewarding.
The quirkiness of Biffy is here, the epic choruses are here, the passion and honesty is still front and centre and the band are again in truly captivating form. There may be a lack of the heavier flashes when they really unleash but that energy still manifests at the most opportune moments.
Given the acknowledgement from the band that calling it quits was on the table, we should all be eternally grateful that this extraordinary trio are able to deliver such an astonishing tenth album. Let’s hope that we are just as excited for album twenty!
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Full Pelt Magazine
Vol. 102
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LASTELLE
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Die Spitz
Something To Consume
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DIE SPITZ – SOMETHING TO CONSUME – ALBUM REVIEW
American alt-rockers Die Spitz have been a regular on our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist in recent months as they released an increasingly impressive string of raucous punk ragers.
Now the Austin, Texas four-piece are ready to unleash their debut album, ‘Something to Consume’ but the question is really – is the world ready for it? We ask because, spoiler alert, good grief is it good!
The quartet uniquely switch-up their songwriting, vocals and instruments and therefore it’s not much of a surprise that the eleven tracks on this record are reasonably eclectic. There is however an intense and chaotic overarching aesthetic that just reaches out and grabs you by the collar.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘POP PUNK ANTHEM (SORRY FOR THE DELAY’
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Opening track, ‘Pop Punk Anthem (Sorry for the Delay)’ explains that “…my visions clear…” before the guttural cry of “…you’re part of me…” and the rawness of the music really does make you feel that you are part of their vision.
Yes, there are political undertones but the songs here act more in defiance of the ever-surreal realities of life. This is music to escape in, to believe in and its visceral nature is truly captivating.
At a time when it has never been easier to release music, it has never been harder to actually be heard but on ‘Something to Consume’ Die Spitz are screaming so loud that it’s impossible not to hear them. This is a genuinely exciting album that signals the groups arrival as ones to watch.
This is a very bold statement from Die Spitz and everybody needs to sit up and listen.
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Twenty One Pilots
Breach
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TWENTY ONE PILOTS – BREACH – ALBUM REVIEW
Ten years ago Twenty One Pilots released their fourth studio album, ‘Blurryface’. The band who had achieved moderate success to that point, suddenly solidified themselves at the top of the industry with an album that captured imaginations, won hearts and beckoned a new era of creativity for the duo.
Since then singer Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun have lived and breathed the overarching story told across their following albums, ‘Trench’, ‘Scaled and Icy’ and ‘Clancy’. Now though after ten years, a fifth album, ‘Breach’ allegedly brings an end to these conceptually intertwined releases.
Sure to elicit mixed emotions from fans, this series has become entrenched within the bands identity so it will be sad for some to move on. Equally there will be those excited to hear what the band create next.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘THE CONTRACT’
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In the meantime, though there is this new album, ‘Breach’, to get our heads around. After another teasing series of easter eggs sent fans into a frenzy, the band dropped lead single, ‘The Contract’ at the start of summer and recently followed it up with ‘Drum Show’ (which happens to be the first to feature lead vocals from Dun).
Both of these singles are standout moments on the album, but in pretty typical Twenty One Pilots fashion are just the tip of the iceberg. The forty-seven minute, thirteen track collection is sonically explorative and lyrically ambitious with plenty of callbacks and nods to the series as a whole.
Indeed, if this is actually to be the end of this concept, the album in its entirety and the finale of ‘Intentions’ feel very well crafted. Given the success that this series has provided the band, you’d think it would be hard to do the period justice but somehow on ‘Breach’ the duo have managed to do just that!
The question soon though will turn to the obvious – what comes next?
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Full Pelt Magazine
Vol. 101
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Suede
Antidepressants
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SUEDE – ANTIDEPRESSANTS – ALBUM REVIEW
Britpop summer may be quickly disappearing into the rear-view mirror as the first chills of autumn slowly bite but there is still plenty for 90’s indie aficionados to get excited about!
Continuing their regular post-reunion releases, Suede are here to provide a comforting warmth just like your favourite jumper. The band continue to be daring in their song writing however and ‘Antidepressants’ is a darker record focusing on the tense state of modern life.
Despite the much-publicised nostalgic feel of the summer, and unlike their contemporaries Suede are very much living in the now and not off past glories. Opening track ‘Disintegrate’ is superbly brooding before the band instinctively broaden the scope of the themes across the entire forty-minute collection.
WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘DISINTEGRATE’
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The incomparable Brett Anderson guides listeners through the record with a more spoken style of vocals akin to modern day contemporaries of the post-punk movement. Apt then that Anderson has called ‘Antidepressants’ the bands post-punk record when comparing it to predecessor ‘Autofiction’ which he terms the groups punk album.
The album is the perfect encore for ‘Autofiction’ and really is quite remarkable considering the band originally wanted to pursue a mellower direction. Like the song of the same name on this album however this is ‘Broken Music for Broken People’.
The ominous ‘Life Is Endless, Life Is A Moment’ is a fittingly chilling finale to a collection which sonically and lyrically feels far more relevant than a Suede album should do in 2025. The band continue to show themselves to be timeless with this incredible latest masterpiece!
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