Categories
Album Reviews

Black Water County

The Only Life Worth Living

Follow us on Social Media

BLACK WATER COUNTY – The ONLY LIFE WORTH LIVING – ALBUM REVIEW

Over the past decade Black Water County have built their reputation through great live shows and two albums full of traditional folk storytelling delivered with a punk rock attitude. Now they share their third studio album which manages celebrate everything that makes the band who they are but also offers a glimpse of where their story takes them next.

‘The Only Life Worth Living’, is a passionate and urgent stand against life’s pitfalls, trials and tribulations. The music is uplifting and encourages the listener to make the most of the life that they’ve been given. It may be a tale as old as the sun but it’s never been more relevant than it is now and the band deliver the message superbly with their innate ability to craft a fine song.

WATCH ‘THE ONLY LIFE WORTH LIVING’ ON YOUTUBE
Black Water County – The Only Life Worth Living’

Find Full Pelt Music on YouTube!

Sonically this album is an encapsulation of everything you’d expect from the band but dialled up to eleven. There are songs here that go harder than the band ever has before and that adds to the urgency of the overriding themes perfectly.

Four of the albums ten tracks appeared in advance of the release and did give a good insight into what to expect, because the rest of the album is just as stirring. This isn’t a case of the singles standing out above a mediocre album – no, every track here stands on its own and the album as a whole is sublimely inspiring.

Ten years in and Black Water County feel like they are just about to really hit their stride and take themselves to new heights. ‘The Only Life Worth Living’, may just be their catalyst for earning wider respect and appreciation for their talents.

Share this review on Social Media

The Full Pelt Music Podcast – Episode 27 – Black Water County

Read our review of ‘Shanty Punk’ from Skinny Lister

Categories
Magazine

Full Pelt Magazine

Vol. 8

Follow us on Social Media

Our weekly music News Report has evolved into the Full Pelt Magazine, and you can download the eighth issue now for free!

Volume eight includes an update from cover stars Skindred, reviews of Rival Sons and Philip Seth Campbell live, album reviews for Skinny Lister, Rival Sons, The Rolling Stones, Chris Shifflet, Blink 182, Within Temptation and a load more!

We have our News Report rounding up new releases from YUNGBLUD, IDLES, Alkaline Trio, Lonely The Brave, Lambrini Girls, Black Water County, SCALER, Oakman, Blackout Problems, The Struts, The Cadillac Three, LostAlone, DragonForce, Royal Tusk, Dream State and The Cruel Knives.

Plus new live announcements from As Everything Unfolds, Slam Dunk, Grace Petrie, Black Orchid Empire, Slash, Liam Gallagher, The Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, Punk Rock Factory, When Rivers Meet, Kris Barras Band and LostAlone!

Finally, we round up the latest additions to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist with Jarki Monnoheadcage and The Klittens!

Share the Full Pelt Magazine on Social Media

Find Full Pelt Music on YouTube!

Listen to our two Podcasts!

Categories
Album Reviews

Within Temptation

Bleed Out

Follow us on Social Media

WITHIN TEMPTATION – BLEED OUT – ALBUM REVIEW

‘Bleed Out’ represents another evolution for Within Temptation as their sound and lyrical content takes a darker more resilient tone. Across the album the band show that they aren’t afraid to speak about the issues that matter to them, and the result is perhaps the most important record of their career.

It’s a record that was created over a longer time due to the pandemic and has seen the band share over half of the tracks ahead of the release. There’s perhaps not a lot here to surprise fans therefore as they should’ve gotten the gist already but the overall progression is more than enough to capture and hold interest.

WATCH ‘BLEED OUT’ ON YOUTUBE
Within Temptation – ‘Bleed Out’

Find Full Pelt Music on YouTube!

As touched upon, the sonic gravitas of the album is much more encompassing with less emphasis on the expected operatic vocals of Sharon den Adel. Those spectacular soaring choruses are still on here but there are many moments where den Adel hits the lower registers and the band down-tunes with darker guitar sounds.

Given the subject matters including war and women fighting oppression this tweak in sound fits well and shows a greater range from the band than we’ve fully experienced before. It’s refreshing for a band pushing three decades in and with such a distinctive sound to be brave enough to do things differently.

With ‘Bleed Out’, Within Temptation continue to grow their brand, so it’s also valiant that they are willing to call out issues and to sneak a pun in ‘stand their ground’! Whether you are a fan already or just picking up on the band, ‘Bleed Out’ is well worth your time.

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of Within Temptation live in London

Categories
Album Reviews

Blink 182

ONE MORE TIME…

Follow us on Social Media

BLINK 182 – ONE MORE TIME… – ALBUME REVIEW

 “from strangers into brothers, from brothers into strangers one again”. The Blink 182 story doesn’t sound real when you recount all the trials, tribulations and brushes with death. “I wish they told us it shouldn’t take a sickness or airplanes fallin’ out the sky”.  

It is real however and now for the first time in twelve years (and only second time twenty years!) the iconic trio of Tom DeLonge, Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker are releasing a new studio album. Anticipation is therefore extremely high, even if expectation is relatively low following the much maligned ‘Neighborhoods’ and initial lukewarm response to first single, ‘EDGING’.

Since first returning with ‘EDGING’ however, the band have released a string of singles which have increasingly established greater excitement for new album ‘ONE MORE TIME…’.

WATCH ‘ONE MORE TIME’ ON YOUTUBE
Blink 182 – ‘ONE MORE TIME’

Find Full Pelt Music on YouTube!

At 17 songs and 45 minutes, the band are certainly making up for lost time on this album and it’s a clichéd back to basics approach all round. There are some great songs on the album and there are a handful which could’ve probably been left off, but ultimately you just can’t help but smile and be glad that after all this time these three are making music together again.

As with the quoted lyrics at the start of this review, there are more than a few tellingly knowing nods to their own past and the heartstrings are tugged hard when DeLonge sings “Do I have to die to hear you miss me?”.

There are also lighter moments here too including traditional shorter jams such as ‘FUCK FACE’ however, and whichever era of Blink 182 you jumped on board with there will be something here for you.

It’s great to have Blink 182 back (although you do feel sorry for Matt Skiba who delivered some great moments), and ‘ONE MORE TIME…’ is leaps and bounds ahead of ‘Neighborhoods’ as a comeback album. You just have to hope this time that Tom, Mark and Travis can keep it together to further explore their creativity!

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of Blink 182 live in London in the Full Pelt Magazine!

Categories
Album Reviews

Skinny Lister

Shanty Punk

Follow us on Social Media

SKINNY LISTER – SHANTY PUNK – ALBUM REVIEW

Over the past decade, Skinny Lister have established themselves as a phenomenal live act and a consistently creative band on record. Now on their sixth studio album they do their best to merge these two qualities.

‘Shanty Punk’ has been written and recorded with an aim of capturing the essence of the bands live shows and putting it on record. This is a notoriously difficult thing to do but is something which Skinny Lister has managed to achieve well here.

Over their previous albums fans have come to expect drunken sing-a-long anthems full of folk punk crossover with a sprinkling of shanty call and response fun. This album goes all in on the themes and musical overtures that the band have perfected. ‘Shanty Punk’ is the most ‘Skinny Lister’ Skinny Lister album that the band have made, and it’s glorious!

WATCH ‘MANTA’ ON YOUTUBE
Skinny Lister – ‘Mantra’

Find Full Pelt Music on YouTube!

There are plenty of those famous sing-a-longs on ‘Shanty Punk’ with the likes of ‘Company of the Bar’, ‘Down on the Barrier’ and the Party George featuring ‘William Harker’ sure to be set staples for years to come. Shanty’s are covered with ’13 Miles’ and ‘Mantra’ acts as a traditional poignant tale.

If you’ve ever seen Skinny Lister live then you’ll know what the band are all about, and if you haven’t – where have you been! The bands reputation has already been well earned, but if any album could act as an introduction for the uninitiated it would be ‘Shanty Punk’.

The band should be proud to have managed to truly capture their spirit and soul across the eleven tracks and ultimately ‘Shanty Punk’ must be heralded as possibly their very best collection of songs so far.

Share this review on Social Media

Watch Episode 39 of The Full Pelt Music Podcast with guests Skinny Lister

The Full Pelt Music Podcast – Episode 39 – Skinny Lister

Read our review of Skinny Lister live in Norwich

Categories
Magazine

Full Pelt Magazine

Vol. 7

Follow us on Social Media

Our weekly music News Report has evolved into the Full Pelt Magazine, and you can download the seventh issue now for free!

Volume seven includes an update from cover stars The Xcerts, reviews of Blink 182 and Funeral For A Friend live, album reviews for Creeper, REWS, Beartooth and The Dollyrots and a load more!

We have our News Report rounding up new releases from Bring Me The Horizon, Feeder, Blossoms, The Sleeping Souls, Thornhill, MOSKITO, Waterparks, Delilah Bon, South of Salem, Powerwolf, Gama Bomb, Employed To Serve, PLAIINS, Scott Stapp, END and Lord of the Lost!

Plus new live announcements from Bryan Adams, YONAKA, Stonedead Festival, Casey and Haunt the Woods.

Finally, we round up the latest additions to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist with SpyresFuture Static and Crushed by Waves!

Share the Full Pelt Magazine on Social Media

Find Full Pelt Music on YouTube!

Check out our two Podcasts!

Categories
Album Reviews

REWS

Meridians

Follow us on Social Media

REWS – MERIDIANS – ALBUM REVIEW

Like all too many, REWS aka Shauna Tohill found the promotion of previous album, ‘Warriors’, disrupted by the pandemic. After initially deciding to allow time to take stock and reassess, REWS now present their third studio album, ‘Meridians’!

The record picks up where ‘Warriors’ left off with a fierce and soaring collection of hard rock hooks and elegant pop melodies. The drip fed pre-release singles ‘The World That You Left Behind’, ‘Pretty Face’, ‘Not Your Soldier’ and ‘Misery’ give the album a very strong first third and showcase the well established talents of Tohill.

WATCH ‘LOCK YOUR HORNS’ ON YOUTUBE
REWS – ‘Lock Your Horns’

Find Full Pelt Music on YouTube!

REWS has proven to be an incredibly consistent project in terms of quality since the release of debut album, ‘Pyro’ in 2017. As the album progresses with ‘Tears of a Lion’, ‘Addicted to You’ and ‘Psycho Maniac Killer’, you’ll once again be astonished at the sonic and vocal dexterity of Tohill.

The inspiring anthem ‘Lock Your Horns’ will then smack you right in the face with its huge chorus and stirring message. This song in particular is a testament to the songwriting capabilities of Tohill as the album hits new levels.

As the record reaches its conclusion through ‘Breathe Into Me’, ‘On My Back (Giant’s Roar)’ and ‘Everything’, it finishes as big and bold as it began. There really isn’t a bad track on another astonishing album from the ever evolving REWS, and ‘Meridians’ is well worth your time and energy to check out.

Anybody familiar with REWS will know the sheer talent on offer, you just have to hope that ‘Meridians’ will reach a wider audience because this is as good of an album that you’ll hear this year!

Share this review on Social Media

REWS will be joining us on The Full Pelt Music Podcast – Subscribe now wherever you get your Podcasts!

Categories
Album Reviews

Creeper

Sanguivore

Follow us on Social Media

Creeper – sanguivore – album review

The evolution of Creeper from their early EP releases to now is quite astonishing. Each release has seen the band grow exponentially and now on their third full studio album, ‘Sanguivore’, we see the band ascend to a higher plane of creative mastery. What other band out there would dream of opening an album with a grandiose nine minute saga!

Yes, this album is a work of sheer majesty and magnificence. ‘Cry To Heaven’ follows the epic ‘Further Than Forever’ and sees the band fully embrace the synth-laden, 80’s-esque, theatrical sound that emerged over the course of ‘Sex, Death & the Infinite Void’ and the ‘American Noir’ EP.

WATCH ‘CRY TO HEAVEN’ ON YOUTUBE
Creeper – ‘Cry To Heaven’

Find Full Pelt Music on YouTube!

The influences on this album though stretch far and wide, with the scope of its sonic exploration only matched by its ambition. As the record progresses the listener is taken on a musical and mythical journey of vampires, horror and intrigue.

The word masterpiece is overused these days, but the urge to use it for ‘Sanguivore’ is just too irresistible. The problem that Creeper have produced is that with every release you think that they’ve peaked and couldn’t possibly top what they’ve created… and then they go ahead and do just that!

It should probably be illegal to have this much imagination and ingenuity because it’s simply not fair on the competition. The reality is though at this point, certainly in their chosen sphere, there is no competition and Creeper are in a league of their own.

It’s easy to wax lyrical here about this album, because it’s such a well rounded record. There are fantastic singles, or bangers as the kids would say, yet there is also such depth present as well. Pre-release singles such as ‘Teenage Sacrifice’ and ‘Black Heaven’, certainly gave a good insight into what to expect, but listeners really need to dig deep and immerse themselves into ‘Sanguivore’ to fully comprehend its brilliance!

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of Creeper live in London

Categories
Album Reviews

Dream Nails

Doom Loop

Follow us on Social Media

DREAM NAILS – DOOM LOOP – ALBUM REVIEW

Dream Nails have been slowly building momentum and breaking down doors since their formation in 2015. Their self-titled debut album emerged mid-pandemic and gave a glimpse of a band ready to breakout. Sadly, as with all bands releasing music at this time, they were unable to properly capitalise with the world hiding away.

Well the world is now back in full flow for better or for worse and with new vocalist Ishmael Kirby in place so are Dream Nails, ready to smash boundaries once again!

New album, ‘Doom Loop’, opens with a bang as the band call out toxic masculinity on ‘Good Guy’, and continues as it means to go on. This may be deemed a political record due to the various subject matters highlighted but respecting fellow people for who they are without question shouldn’t be a divisive ideal.

Dream Nails – ‘Good Guy’

Find Full Pelt Music on YouTube!

To that point ‘Doom Loop’ is a celebration of the power and resilience of diversity, putting the spotlight on the mutual accountability that our communities share in tackling misogyny and discrimination of all kinds. And given recent political statements, you may feel that an album like ‘Doom Loop’ has never been more relevant.

Musically the album is a clear evolution to the sound offered by that self-titled album. Despite the serious and sinister themes of the lyrics, sonically ‘Doom Loop’ is a fun and bouncy record which emphasises the happiness as an act of resistance mentality. This is perhaps best demonstrated on another of the albums singles, ‘Ballpit’.

Dream Nails convey a vitally important message through great music and despite promotional frustrations with their debut and subsequent line-up changes, it would appear with ‘Doom Loop’ the band are still on a trajectory to shatter any glass ceilings above them.

Share this review on Social Media

Watch Episode 37 of The Full Pelt Music Podcast with guests Dream Nails

The Full Pelt Music Podcast – Episode 37 – Dream Nails

Check out Dream Nails on the cover of the Full Pelt Magazine!

Categories
Magazine

Full Pelt Magazine

Vol. 5

Follow us on Social Media

Our weekly music News Report has evolved into the Full Pelt Magazine, and you can download the fourth issue now for free!

Volume four includes an update from cover stars Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, reviews of new albums from Black Stone Cherry and King Nun, a live review of Theory of a Deadman plus a special feature on the upcoming Ash vs The Subways tour!

We have our News Report rounding up new releases from Neck Deep, Within Temptation, Europe, Lake Malice, Filth Is Eternal, Nervosa and Sum 41!

Plus new live announcements from Yard Act, James, Nothing More, VUKOVI, Lynks and The Longest Johns.

Finally, we round up the latest additions to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist with Spiritual CrampButterfly Hurricane and Grove Street!

Share the Full Pelt Magazine on Social Media

Find Full Pelt Music on YouTube!

Read our review of 2000trees