Tag: Album

Categories
Album Reviews

Jamie Lenman

Jamie Lenman

The Athiest

Follow us on Social Media

JAMIE LENMAN – THE ATHIEST – ALBUM REVIEW

Wow. Ever sit and think to yourself that a certain artist’s latest work has hit upon something special? Well, that’s the feeling we get from listening to ‘The Athiest’, the new solo release from Jamie Lenman!

Having seen the campaign for previous album, ‘King of Clubs’, seriously disrupted by the pandemic, Lenman has emerged from these troubled two years with a masterpiece of an album.

‘The Athiest’ sees a change in direction from Lenman, whilst maintaining his charm and sound of previous records. There is a delicateness and vulnerability to this new material which opens it up as his most accessible work yet.

WATCH ‘TALK HARD’ ON YOUTUBE
Jamie Lenman – ‘Talk Hard’

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

‘Talk Hard’ is an absolute banger of a song, which leads the album by example. Perhaps his most singly single yet, we dare you not to lose yourself in that catchy as hell chorus. Fellow single, ‘Lena Don’t Leave Me’ is further evidence of the pop-esque songwriting on offer on this album.

This is a deeply personal record for the iconic Lenman, as both lyrically and musically he stretches himself further than ever before. Equally, there is plenty here which will be familiar to old school fans, creating a perfectly blended mix for fans old and new to enjoy.

It’s great to see an artist earn a freedom in their career to explore themselves without the pressures of the industry. Lenman has seemingly arrived at this point and the results are spectacular.

Watch Episode 13 of The Full Pelt Music Podcast with guest Jamie Lenman

The Full Pelt Music Podcast – Episode 13 – Jamie Lenman

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of Jamie Lenman live in Hertford

Categories
Album Reviews

Disturbed

Disturbed

Divisive

Follow us on Social Media

DISTURBED – DIVISIVE – ALBUM REVIEW

For people who love to hate musicians they’ve probably never listened to, today is the day! You can rejoice because today delivers new albums from both Nickelback and Disturbed!

Many of the same issues we just identified in our review of that Nickelback album also relate to Disturbed. One big criticism being the ‘by numbers’ approach to their releases, each album a clone of the previous, and that may well be true.

Still, its horses for courses, odds are if I’m hitting play on a Disturbed album I’m after some simple, relentless metal that allows me to sing-along and punch my fist in the air. If I’m after straight rock I’ll go for Foo Fighters, something a little softer then its R.E.M., a bit of indie rock then I may revisit Oasis, radio rock then hey I’m headed for Nickelback!

Well, you get what I’m getting at. If I’m listening to Disturbed, it’s because they’re what I want to listen to. So, how do you review an album by such a divisive band? It certainly helps when they name that very album, ‘Divisive’.

WATCH ‘BAD MAN’ FROM DISTURBED ON YOUTUBE
Disturbed – ‘Bad Man’

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

Opinions will naturally differ on any new Disturbed album. Ultimately, does it deliver for the bands fans? Does it hold up to their previous work? Does it get those fists pumping and voices singing?

Undoubtedly, the answer to all of the above is yes. Everything that you’d want from Disturbed album is here and the band are still doing what they do and they are doing it well!

So there you have it, if you already like Disturbed, check out this album it’s very much for you. If you don’t like Disturbed, why are you reading this review, the chances are that there is nothing I could write that would change your mind on the band!

Share our review on Social Media

Read our review of Download Festival 2022

Categories
Album Reviews

Nickelback

Nickelback

Get Rollin’

Follow us on Social Media

NICKELBACK / GET ROLLIN’ / ALBUM REVIEW

Love them or hate them, and for most it’s one or the other, but Nickelback’s success is incredible. Commercially one of the biggest acts on the planet, the bands creative consistency also should be admired.

Whilst the standard Nickelback formula is one of the cited reasons for the hysterical hatred of the Canadians; if you ignore the repetitive stock sound of their back catalogue and focus on craftsmanship, consistency and catchiness than you really should admire their ability to constantly churn out quality music.

‘Get Rollin’’ is the groups tenth studio album and again from the moment you press play you are greeted by an onslaught of radio-friendly hard rock with foot stomping, head nodding, fist pumping, rifftastic, sing-a-longs throughout.

WATCH ‘SKINNY LITTLE MISSY’ FROM NICKELBACK ON YOUTUBE
Nickelback – ‘Skinny Little Missy’

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

Depending on your viewpoint of the Nickelback blueprint then there either isn’t a bad track on the album or there isn’t a good one! But we encourage you to listen to ‘Skinny Little Missy’ without stomping your foot, nodding your head or humming along to that catchy tune.

The inevitable stories and memes are already making the rounds as the band promote ‘Get Rollin’’, with the focus so often diverted from the fact that actually the band has released another solid album.

Either way you look at it, Nickelback will be in the public eye, you either love them or hate them and as such you’ll either love this album or hate it!

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of ‘Revelation’ from Stone Broken

Categories
Album Reviews

Deux Furieuses

Deux Furieuses

Songs From Planet Earth

Follow us on Social Media

DEUX FURIEUSES – SONGS FROM PLANET EARTH – ALBUM REVIEW

It takes bravery to be overtly political in the music industry these days, heaven forbid musical acts reveal their views and endanger those vital social metrics. deux furieuses have never shied away from addressing socio-political issues, so given the turmoil of the past few years, there should be no surprise that new album, ‘Songs From Planet Earth’, broaches many such subjects.

The duo have spent time recently playing with Brix Smith (The Fall), alongside Debbie Googe and Jen Macro (My Bloody Valentine). Experiences such as this continue to help harness their talents and focus them into the creation of powerful and daring work such as ‘Songs From Planet Earth’, which is the bands third album together.

In any chosen field, experimentation, shared experiences and learning opportunities combined with repetition and endurance are a pathway to evolution, progression and craft mastering. That maturity is borne out on this album.

WATCH ‘BRING DOWN THE GOVERNMENT’ ON YOUTUBE
deux furieuses – ‘Bring Down The Government’

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

Album opener, ‘Isolation Days’ is a slow burning number which gradually ramps up and gently welcomes the listening to the experience which follows. ‘All We Need Is Sanctuary’, builds on this and really pulls you in before ‘Bring Down The Government’ grabs you by the arms and gives you a shake!

The album then takes you on a sonic and thematic journey through many of the issues facing the world right now. Thought provoking and brutally honest, the subject matters on offer are a truly depressing reflection on the state of humanity right now. What ‘Songs From Planet Earth’ does however is offer hope; a glimmer of optimism that the power is in our hands to make positive change.

On this album, deux furieuses, capture not just a snapshot of society’s ills, but a snapshot of where they are artistically. Whilst the former is rather distressing, the latter is a band near the peak of their musical powers.

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of Frank Turner live in Cambridge

Categories
Album Reviews

The Hunna

The Hunna

Self-Titled

Follow us on Social Media

THE HUNNA – SELF-TITLED – ALBUM REVIEW

The Hunna have been perennial contenders for superstardom since their hugely successful debut album, ‘100’, released back in 2016. Two further albums have followed with neither 2018’s ‘Dare’, nor 2020’s ‘I’d Rather Die Than Let You In’ able to elevate the band to that next level.

It’s a harsh reality of the music industry that the opportunities to truly breakthrough are severely limited these days. Even modern day success stories are never likely to reach the levels attained by their predecessors. It must also be said that audience attention spans are more akin these days to that proverbial goldfish.

That is a callous but pragmatic view on casual music fans. Dedicated, hardcore music fans however are a different animal all together, they are able to engage longer and deeper with the acts that deserve it. That is no doubt why The Hunna have been able to garner such a passionate and dedicated fanbase.

WATCH ‘TRASH’ ON YOUTUBE
The Hunna – ‘Trash’

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

This deep philosophical insight into the depravity of the music industry comes not from a random thought, but from the impactful opening to The Hunna’s self-titled fourth album. Single, ‘Trash’, is an abrasive punk rocker taking aim at the pitfalls of the industry. The storming track takes firm aim at the darker aspects of the industry that most artists are fearful to call out.

That sets up the album spectacularly, both sonically and lyrically, as the band are both honest and unashamed. From soaring pop ballads, to indie hits, all out rockers and everything in between, this is a diverse collection that represents well everything The Hunna have been and everything that they want to be.

There are moments that those goldfish will enjoy (albeit temporarily), and there is certainly plenty on this album for the diehards to sink their teeth into. The Hunna are a band that continue to grow and evolve, and this album ensures that they are as relevant now as they were back in 2016!

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of Y Not Festival

Categories
Album Reviews

Asylums

Asylums

Signs of Life

Follow us on Social Media

ASYLUMS – SIGNS OF LIFE – ALBUM REVIEW

Southend rockers Asylums have been one of the best kept secrets in the music world since arriving on the scene with 2016 debut, ‘Killer Brain Waves’. Two more albums have followed in 2018 and 2020 with the band continuing to grow sonically and put themselves on the cusp of mainstream success.

Now, the prolific group return with their fourth studio album, ‘Signs of Life’, prepared to conquer the world once again!

Recorded at the legendary Rockfield Studios (in the room that Queen recorded ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ no less), with the revered producer Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers, Idlewild), you can sense that level of creative genius running through this superb collection of songs.

There is a real diverse palette of genre-bending output spread across an album that rocks hard, has indie mainstream appeal and leans into some off the cuff influences as well.

WATCH ‘INSTANT COFFEE’ FROM ASYLUMS ON YOUTUBE
Asylums – ‘Instant Coffee’

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

Whilst tracks such as ‘Instant Coffee’ and album opener ‘Scatterbrain’ are instantly gratifying just like those much needed early morning gulps of caffeinated goodness, every track on this album deserves attention.

In fact, there is so much here to sink your teeth into that you could describe this album as a real smorgasbord of music.

From start to finish ‘Signs of Life’ is a joy to listen to and is most definitely Asylums at their very best. Perhaps it’s finally time that the secret gets out and Asylums make an indelible mark of this hyperactive industry!

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of Pulled Apart By Horses live in Norwich

Categories
Album Reviews

Architects

Architects

the classic symptoms of a broken spirit

Follow us on Social Media

ARCHITECTS – THE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS OF A BROKEN SPIRIT – ALBUM REVIEW

Just 18 months removed from their stunning and evolutionary ninth album, ‘For Those That Wish To Exist’, Architects are back album with their tenth album, ‘the classic symptoms of a broken spirit’!

Momentum is certainly on the bands side, so striking while the iron is hot, the band are right to release their follow up so soon after such a well received record. This is borne out through the substantiated quality of this album.

A dud of an album at this point could be a momentum killer – see ‘Temper Temper’, so this is a calculated risk from the band. That calculation however was right with them clearly knowing the quality of the music they had.

WATCH ‘DEEP FAKE’ ON YOUTUBE
Architects – ‘deep fake’

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

The album is straight into the action on opener ‘deep fake’, and manages to keep a relentless pace throughout the next forty plus minutes. There is no dip in either ferocity or excellence as the likes of singles ‘tear gas’, ‘when we were young’ and ‘a new moral low ground’ demonstrate.

The depth on this album is truly impressive though as beyond the singles you still have tracks as good as ‘spit the bone’, doomscrolling’ and ‘all the love in the world’. In reality there isn’t a bad track on another superb offering from one of heavy music’s biggest hopes.

They may now be ten albums in, but over the past three, Architects are shown their development and progression to something much bigger than their beginnings. Their upcoming tour with Biffy Clyro will introduce them to an even more diverse audience, and as they continue to break the mainstream and pickup fans, the world very much is their oyster!

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of Architects live in Norwich

Categories
Album Reviews

Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys

The Car

Follow us on Social Media

ARCTIC MONKEYS – THE CAR – ALBUM REVIEW

Arctic Monkeys are undoubtedly one of the biggest, most talented bands on the planet. They have very much earned the right to do whatever they want musically… but wow.

How do you follow up an ill received, lacklustre, bloated, flop of an album such as ‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’? Well if you are Arctic Monkeys, you double down and again ditch your signature sound and attitude to release another collection of boring lounge pop dirge.

WATCH ‘I AIN’T QUITE WHERE I THINK I AM’ ON YOUTUBE
Arctic Monkeys – ‘I Ain’t Quite Where I Think I Am’

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

It’s difficult to write a balanced review of new album, ‘The Car’ in all honesty. If everybody is honest with themselves, this is not the album we wanted from the band this time around. Although I’m sure that many old school fans would love a return to the sound of their first two albums, that was never going to happen.

But after the enormous success of generational release, ‘AM’, which appeared to be the perfect middle crowd, ‘The Car’ just sucks the enjoyment out of this once formidable band. This stubbornness from the band has though, as we said earlier, been earned. It’s their well earned right to record and release the music that they want to.

It just makes you wonder what happened to that rock ‘n’ roll, eh? You know that rock ‘n’ roll, that singer Alex Turner said just won’t go away, that will never die and there’s nothing anybody can do about it! Well after these past two albums, you can’t help but wonder did Turner think to himself – challenge accepted!

If you enjoyed ‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’, congratulations, you will also very much enjoy, ‘The Car’. It demonstrates just how musically talented and dexterous the band are. If however that last album wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t even bother hitting the play button on ‘The Car’!

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of Arctic Monkeys live at Reading Festival

Categories
Album Reviews

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Return of the Dream Canteen

Follow us on Social Media

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS – RETURN OF THE DREAM CANTEEN – ALBUM REVIEW

Just 6 months ago Red Hot Chili Peppers released their first record having reunited with iconic guitarist John Frusciante. It was something of a surprise therefore, in July, when the band announced another new album, ‘Return of the Dream Canteen’ would be coming.

Well, that album is already here and it’s time to see whether the band were correct in saying it isn’t just a b-side record. Now, for context it should be noted that these songs were written and recorded during the same Rick Rubin produced sessions that spurned ‘Unlimited Love’.

Given that album ran to almost 75 minutes and 17 songs, and this album runs to 75 minutes and 17 songs, those were some hefty recording sessions!

The worry here, before even pressing play is that ‘Unlimited Love’ felt a handful of songs too long. In reviewing that album we also commented; “this feels like four old friends reconnecting and testing the waters”. So again, is this more of the same?

WATCH ‘THE DRUMMER’ FROM RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS ON YOUTUBE
Red Hot Chili Peppers – ‘The Drummer’

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

The first half of the album harks back to some of the bands earlier funky and psychedelic work and is very digestible with time moving quite quickly. Sadly as the album progresses into the depths of its 17 songs, time does start to lag and the songs all blend in together.

I would agree with the band that this isn’t a b-side record and is of similar standard to ‘Unlimited Love’, unfortunately that means that again it feels too long. Cutting four or five tracks would greatly improve the album, and just picking the 12 best songs from across the two albums would’ve given us a superb return from the band.

Instead we have two lengthy albums full of good yet uninspired songs with a splattering of single quality tracks mixed in. On the positive side this is an easy listening album that you could happily work away to with it on in the background.

Ultimately this is one for the diehard fans to enjoy, but it won’t do anything for the casuals, which really makes it feel unnecessary!

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of Red Hot Chili Peppers live in London

Categories
Album Reviews

Alter Bridge

Alter Bridge

Pawns & Kings

Follow us on Social Media

ALTER BRIDGE – PAWNS & KINGS – ALBUM REVIEW

What an incredible story Alter Bridge are when you sit back and think about it; forming from the ashes an enormously successful band, with a relatively unknown but highly talented singer, with said singer even later auditioning for Led Zeppelin.

That singer then joining the legendary Slash for a new project and the original act briefly reforming; and then both the singer and guitarist of this band pursuing very successful solo careers. There is even a Frank Sinatra covers album in the mix now, but throughout all this Alter Bridge have remained ever present and ever evolving.

Now regrouped again, the band have bestowed upon us their seventh studio album, ‘Pawns & Kings’. Despite all the distractions, this continues their record of a new album every three years having started that pattern with debut album, ‘One Day Remains’ back in 2004 – which is somehow almost twenty years ago!

During this time the band have delivered many hits and a few misses, but this album feels important. The band have established themselves in rocks arena filling ranks, but haven’t shown any measurable growth in a decade or so. Whilst charting reasonably well their previous two albums have met mixed reviews and it does seem like Alter Bridge need an injection of momentum.

WATCH ‘THIS IS WAR’ ON YOUTUBE
Alter Bridge – ‘This Is War’

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

‘Pawns & Kings’ may well be just what the doctor ordered. Starting out fast, heavy and soaring, the band set the bar high with ‘This Is War’, ‘Dead Among The Living’ and ‘Silver Tongue’.

‘Sin After Sin’ and ‘Stay’ then demonstrate that evolution we mentioned. Myles Kennedy as a vocalist and Mark Tremonti as a guitarist are often ranked as amongst the best in their fields. In recent years the two have proven themselves well equipped in each other’s departments and on ‘Pawns & Kings’ the two show just how far their dexterity has come.

Throughout the second half of this album, Alter Bridge maintain the quality that has perhaps tapered off on recent albums. This isn’t a token effort with a handful of quality singles. This is an old school Alter Bridge album which shows the cohesion that made sophomore album ‘Blackbird’ such a success.

The story of Alter Bridge is truly unique and it’s a testament to the talents of those involved that this far into their career, even with multiple side projects, they can still deliver a album as magnificent as this!

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of ‘The Ides of March’ from Myles Kennedy

Read our review of ‘Marching In Time’ from Tremonti