After wowing crowds across the UK in support slots for the likes of Therapy?, Creeper and Salem, rockers James and the Cold Gun unleash their debut EP, ‘False Start’!
Fans who have caught the band live over the past months will have had a taste of these five tracks, but it’s great to finally get to hear the studio versions. A debut release is always a statement for any act, but ‘False Start’ feels like a full statement of intent from the band.
This is their manifesto of hard and fast rockers designed to get you moving, and you’ll find it hard not to vote with you feet and your head! There is great potential in James and the Cold Gun and thankfully they’ve delivered a fantastic start with a superb debut release.
The time has arrived for North Yorkshire fuzz rockers Scruffy Bear to unleash their new EP, ‘Face The Rain’ on the world.
The release features four hard hitting tracks which together signify the arrival of a band capable of wonderous things. Harnessing the power of singer Georgy Eaton’s voice and coupling it with a mixture of melodic licks and raucous riffs to create fierce blues rock sound.
If this is a taste of what is to come, then the future should be bright for this young band.
Following his self-imposed exile from music, former Mallory Knox vocalist Mikey Chapman is back. After a period of self-evaluation Chapman has joined forces with guitarist Luke Hicks to create Black Sky Research. Having debuted the single ‘Light up the Sky’ earlier this year, the band have now released their first EP ‘One’.
With Chapman’s distinguished vocals at the forefront there are of course Mallory Knox comparisons to be made, but on ‘One’ the band show an expansive sound that truly harnesses Chapman’s vocal power. Opening with ‘Light up the Sky’ the EP is full of peaks and valleys, crashing guitars and melancholy preludes punctuated by Chapman’s soaring vocals.
The EP is conceptual in nature and over the course of five songs details the protagonists fight to find his love during the chaos of the end of the world. ‘Midnight’, ‘Twilight’ and ‘Transmit’ all continue the story whilst laying the foundations for the band’s future sound.
There is plenty here for fans of Chapman’s previous band, equally however there is plenty to dissect from the storytelling point of view. Some lyrics almost feel autobiographical in nature as Chapman makes a statement of intent. On the EP’s finale ‘Dawn’, Chapman sings of second chances and this EP feels like a second chance for Chapman to showcase his immense talents.
Bring Me The Horizon – ‘Obey’ with YUNGBLUD from ‘Post Human: Survival Horror’
“Bring Me The Horizon aren’t heavy anymore”.
If I had a pound for every time I’ve heard this said over the past five years, I’d definitely be able to buy a ticket to their 2021 tour. Well, based on ‘Post Human: Survival Horror’ that’s just what their critics need to do. Hopefully this would show them just how silly this statement is.
Bring Me The Horizon are a band that have constantly evolved throughout their career, and yes that means that not every song is a head banging, scream your lungs out belter. It doesn’t mean however that they have lost their teeth. This new EP takes the best elements from throughout their career and combines them in one stunning masterpiece of an album.
The release of ‘Ludens’ back in 2019 was lauded as a return to form and ‘Paradise Eve’ released mid-lockdown teased a heavy edge to this release. Even I’m surprised though as the band come straight out of the gates with the ruckus ‘Dear Diary’. ‘Paradise Eve’ and the Linkin Park tinged ‘Teardrops’ follow and by the time you reach the fantastically mad YUNGBLUD collaboration ‘Obey’ even the most disillusioned old school fan will have their foot stomping and their head banging.
There has certainly been a quirkiness to Bring Me The Horizons recent releases such as the much maligned ‘Amo’. On ‘Post Human: Survival Horror’ that quirkiness is embraced and even emboldened. The combination of ‘Itch for the Cure (When Will We Be Free?)’ and ‘Kingslayer’ featuring Babymetal is insane. Insanely good that is. I dare anybody not to have the chorus stuck in their head after listening.
‘1×1’, ‘Ludens’ and the curious Amy Lee collaboration ‘One Day the Only Butterflies Left Will Be in Your Chest as You March Towards Your Death’ close out this brilliant EP. It’s a relentless statement from the band from start to almost finish. ‘One Day…’ is an interesting choice to end on and is probably the weakest track on the EP when held in context of the EP. As a standalone piece of music however it’s an enjoyable if unexpected composition. Adding it to the end of this EP however has done both the song and the EP a disservice.
I very much doubt however that Bring Me The Horizon will care. This EP continues the evolution of a band very much willing to experiment and test the boundaries of their capabilities and their fans patience. Quite possibly this EP represents the most complete sample of the band to date and I for one cannot wait to witness the majesty of these songs live.
