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Album Reviews

Boston Manor

Sundiver

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BOSTON MANOR – SUNDIVER – ALBUM REVIEW

Conceptually envisioned as a sequel of sorts to 2022’s ‘Datura’, Boston Manor have created a monster with their new album ‘Sundiver’. Designed to be the sunshine to the darkness of ‘Datura’, this new collection finds the group at perhaps their most ambitious.

That in itself is some statement to make because the band have always been driven by a desire to outdo themselves. Rarely are they found stood still with recent efforts ‘Desperate Times, Desperate Pleasures’ and ‘Datura’ expanding upon their signature sound with increasing nuance.

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Boston Manor – ‘Container’

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Thematically ‘Sundiver’ picks up where ‘Datura’ left off with the slow burning opening track aptly titled ‘Datura (Dawn)’. The album then kicks up a gear with three of the pre-release singles, ‘Container’, the Deftones echoing ‘Sliding Doors’ and the soaring ‘HEAT ME UP’.

Musically the record is slightly less foreboding than its predecessor, with the band aiming for more of a summertime aesthetic, without dropping the melancholic undertones. It’s fitting then that the record comes as summer segues into the auspices of autumn. You can feel the heat of the sun still, but you’ll need to wear a jacket!

The band find themselves on a real hot streak of releases and ‘Sundiver’ is more than capable of holding its own. The band have truly mastered how to write a banger as the kids would say, and you just know that these songs will go off live!

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Album Reviews

Kid Bookie

Songs For The Living // Songs For The Dead

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KID BOOKIE – SONGS FOR THE LIVING // SONGS FOR THE DEAD – ALBUM REVIEW

“Maybe it could potentially be a good statement of what rock music can be today”. Those are the words of Kid Bookie as we talk with the man himself for The Full Pelt Music Podcast. As a human being, Bookie is modest and grounded in his self-assessment, as an artist though he is anything but grounded.

Kid Bookie naturally elevates whatever he turns his hand to and as clichéd as it may be, he is groundbreaking. Since moving away from the music others expected him to make into making the music he wants to make, Kid Bookie has found out more about himself with each release.

As he has loosened the shackles of expectation, he has torn up the industry rule book and embraced the freedom that comes with a no f*cks given attitude. This shines through on his new album ‘Songs For The Living // Songs For The Dead’.

Having worked with a who’s who of modern rock producers across the ten tracks, it’s perhaps no surprise that there is an eclectic mix of genres and styles featured. Again, the rule book is thrown out the window when it comes to tracklist and structure. Conforming to any societal or industry norms certainly isn’t Bookie’s thing (not that normal is even a real thing), and that makes this record one of the most interesting and dynamic releases of the year.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘AI (SAVE YOURSELF)’
Kid Bookie – ‘AI (Save Yourself)’

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‘AI (Save Yourself)’ is a great opener which is the perfect example of what new nu-metal should be. The fact that the track then gives way to an acoustic ballad is unique to say the least. But… rather than be a jarring transition, it offers the listener their first moment of intriguing revelation.

This isn’t a collection where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, no, instead this record flows like a ‘Now that’s what I call music’ compilation album. Fusing rock, metal, rap, hip-hop, pop-punk and so much more, ‘Songs For The Loving // Songs For The Dead’ simply defies genre. Despite this, Bookie’s vision brings an irregular cohesion to the album, with each track standing out for its own reason.

As you familiarise yourself with this magnificent collection, you’ll likely ask yourself why can’t all music be so boundless and exciting? You may therefore consider this an exceptional statement of what modern rock music can be! And yes, that is important and adds significance to this album, but above all else, this album is just so damn infectiously enjoyable.

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Magazine

Full Pelt Magazine

Vol. 50

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Album Reviews

Fontaines D.C.

Romance

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FONTAINES D.C. – ROMANCE – ALBUM REVIEW

If it wasn’t already clear that Fontaines D.C. are a band uninterested in standing still, then their fourth album ‘Romance’ leaves you in no doubt of the level of ambition that the group harbour.

That aspiration to explore their sound and bare their soul resonates throughout these eleven stunning tracks. Indeed, if you were to play ‘Romance’ back-to-back with their breakthrough debut collection, ‘Dogrel’, then you’d wonder what happened to a band lumped into the post-punk revolution.

Listen however to their entire back catalogue in sequence and you can sense the growing self-belief and determination to be something bigger, something better!

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘FAVOURITE’
Fontaines D.C. – ‘Favourite’

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‘Romance’ feels like a band establishing themselves on a higher level to their peers, from the pulsing opening title track to the indie anthem closer ‘Favourite’, this album is simply enthralling. The band are methodical in delivering a mesmerising blend of dystopian poetry and an explorative sonic haze.

You can just sense that some albums are special, and ‘Romance’ certainly falls into this category. In fact, each new Fontaines D.C. record has felt special!

The band has an incredible ability to capture magic and if they keep up the consistency shown in their formative years then they are going to be a force to be reckoned with for years to come!

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Album Reviews

AWOLNATION

The Phantom Five

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‘The Phantom Five’ represents the fifth studio album from AWOLNATION and finds creative force Aaron Bruno in fine form. With their legacy already established, it’s time for them to spread their wings and enjoy the artistic freedom that comes when you reach this point in your career.

The record begins with the anthemic ‘Jump Sit Stand March’, which features guest vocals from Emily Armstrong of Dead Sara who combines to great effect with Bruno. The song instantly enthrals and sets the tone for what’s to come, which is an all-encompassing sonic exploration of the AWOLNATION sound.

A little bit of everything goes into these ten tracks with ‘Party People’, a fast-paced and playful pop rock number, before the lead single, the slow burning ‘Panoramic View’ then showcases Bruno at his soaring best. The Del the Funky Homosapian featuring ‘I Am Happy’ then changes speed with an uplifting beat that will get you moving.

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AWOLNATION – ‘Panoramic View’

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The remaining tracks follow the recipe of mixing all aspects of the AWOLNATION sound with a sprinkle of fresh epicness. ‘The Phantom Five’ is sure to be a winner for fans old and new, and is right up there with the best of AWOLNATION.

‘Outta Here’ acts as the sublime album closer and finishes off what really is a perfectly rounded AWOLNATION record. With hints from Bruno that this could be their last album, you can’t help but feel it would be a great send-off, whilst also hoping that it isn’t!

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Magazine

Full Pelt Magazine

Vol. 49

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Album Reviews

Twin Atlantic

Meltdown

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TWIN ATLANTIC – MELTDOWN – ALBUM REVIEW

Twin Atlantic have long proven that they have a special ability to create soaring rock anthems in which you can lose yourself. Indeed, as they release their seventh studio album, ‘Meltdown’, they are well and truly past their discovery phase.

As the band released a run of four magnificent albums between 2009 and 2016, they were on a clear trajectory to the top. Big shows and huge festival slots followed but come January 2020 their upwards curve began to flatten… and that, despite the year, isn’t a pandemic reference.

Whilst the world closing down weeks after releasing ‘Power’ wouldn’t have helped, neither did the lacklustre response to an album which sought to expand the sonic palate of the band. Then 2022’s ‘Transparency’ came along and compounded the issue. Despite an obvious ambition to journey somewhere outside of their comfort zone, the band simply sounded lost, and that flattened curve threatened to head downwards.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘SORRY’ ON YOUTUBE
Twin Atlantic – ‘Sorry’

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That does put a lot of pressure on new release, ‘Meltdown’, to stop the rot. A steady series of pre-release singles has teased a fabled return to form and as you progress through these eleven new tracks, you’ll be reminded of exactly why you fell in love with Twin Atlantic in the first place!

The charm of frontman Sam McTrusty once again shines through and helps to elevate these songs to new heights. Their trademark guitar-led emotive rock sound is back in full force, but with the lessons of their past two albums making this their most mature and well-rounded collection to date.

The haunting ‘Snow In Texas’ is a stunning finale to an album which feels like a greatest hits effort in terms of the various strong points of Twin Atlantic being on full show. This is a battle-hardened band re-establishing what makes them special.

The lyrics “I wanna make you proud” close out the record and the band have certainly done themselves proud with this great collection.

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Full Pelt Magazine

Vol. 48

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Album Reviews

Millie Manders and the Shutup

Wake Up, Shut Up, Work

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MILLIE MANDERS AND THE SHUTUP – WAKE UP, SHUT UP, WORK – ALBUM REVIEW

It’s about time that any self-respecting punk rock aficionado has Millie Manders and the Shutup on their radar. Since releasing their debut album, ‘Telling Truths, Breaking Ties’ during the pandemic, the band have made full use of the reopened world, playing countless headline shows, notable support slots and a strong smattering of festival appearances.

Indeed, you’ve probably been living under a rock if you haven’t at least noticed their name on a poster of some sort. There has however been no better time than now to get onboard the good ship Shutup and take on the rewarding journey of their sophomore release, ‘Wake Up, Shut Up, Work’!

As Millie recently discussed on The Full Pelt Music Podcast, this record sees Manders and her cohorts enter into a much more collaborative writing process and the outcome is their trademark sound turned up to eleven.

A more expansive sonic palette is used to create a greater sense of depth throughout the twelve engaging tracks. The range of emotions evoked almost rivals the amount of different vital topics covered, with Manders’ lyricism again simple yet incredibly powerful.

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Millie Manders and the Shutup – ‘Can I Get Off?’

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There is fearlessness in calling out various toxic and unjust elements of society and some of the hypocrites that virtue signal without the willingness to speak out if it risks alienating their audience. Millie Manders and the Shutup certainly can’t be accused of failing to speak up, and this record is another call to arms for listeners to at least step back and educate themselves properly on subjects before arriving at any easy conclusions.

Of course, it’s important to pay attention to the topics highlighted across the album, but equally we’d be remiss if we didn’t spotlight the musical results of the groups shared inputs. The sometimes-heavy lyrics are perfectly framed by a mixture of brash punk and uplifting ska – all of which is designed to get your feet moving whilst your head is thinking.

The simple fact here is that this is an album which is made to be played live, and these songs will live forever on stage. With more dates already in the calendar, you’re sure to see the name Millie Manders and the Shutup on many more posters, as this album will undoubtedly act as a new springboard for the group.

Which brings us full circle to our main point – there has never been a better time than now to dive into the world of Millie Manders!

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The Full Pelt Music Podcast – Episode 53 – Millie Manders and the Shutup

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Full Pelt Magazine

Vol. 47

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