The latest issue of the Full Pelt Magazine is here, and you can download your copy for free below!
Volume 33 features our cover star Dan Patlansky as he brings the blues to Camden. Plus we review the new releases from Pearl Jam and unpeople.
Our News Report has all the latest music news including live announcements from Misery Loves Company, Frank Turner, Boston Manor, Dayseeker, Yellowcard, Stand Atlantic, Motionless In White, Holding Absence, Skinny Lister, The Chats, Amongst Liars, Fontaines D.C. and The Cult!
Plus all the best new releases including Fontaines D.C., IDLES, Loose Articles, Indoor Pets, October Drift, One Step Closer, Pillow Queens, Xandria, Fangclub, Calva Louise, Collateral, downcast, Atomic Life, The Pleasure Dome and The Exact Opposite!
Finally, we round up the latest additions to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist including Shelf Lives, newshapes and LOVELOST!
‘Dark Matter’ represents the legendary Pearl Jam’s twelfth studio album in their storied career. Coming to prominence during the early 90’s grunge explosion, the band have long since proven that there is more to them than the scene that they emerged from.
2020’s ‘Gigaton’ continued a path of exploration and experimentation from a group who, despite realistically having nothing left to prove, still appear keen to showcase their creativity together.
The sonic landscape of ‘Dark Matter’ however, whilst still pushing the envelope a little further, also feels somewhat familiar and almost a retrospective of the bands career. Much of this will be down to producer Andrew Watt who whilst working with a genre-less cohort of artists, has had great success recently with old-school rockers like The Rolling Stones, Iggy Pop, Ozzy Osbourne and most importantly on Eddie Vedder’s 2022 solo album, ‘Earthlings’.
This experience and as Mike McCready terms it, Watt having “kicked their asses” seems to have worked wonders in harnessing the various strong suits of each member. Each aspect of their sound is on point throughout ‘Dark Matter’, with Vedder’s trademark crooning hypnotising as only he can.
The record really does feel like a love letter to Pearl Jam, which considering Watt’s proclaimed affection for the group probably isn’t far from the truth. Not that the band are going anywhere, but this is the sort of album which would be the perfect bookend for their career. In this form however, and with a freshness added to by Watt and guitarist Josh Klinghoffer’s involvement, you could actually see the band going on another golden run of releases.
Pre-release singles, ‘Dark Matter’, ‘Running’ and ‘Wreckage’ were probably the right choices to showcase what the album is all about, but as with most Pearl Jam releases this album deserves to be enjoyed as a collection. You can tell the love, affection and indeed attention that has been put into it, and that’s why every self-respecting Pearl Jam fan will need to take a moment of solitude to savour each moment of this record.
It’s a Saturday evening and it’s the first warm spring evening of the year! Camden is therefore predictably bustling with people checking out the famous market and taking in some street food and maybe a beer or two.
The best way to finish an evening in Camden Town is always by savouring some live music in one of the many famous venues. In an area famous for punk however, tonight is all about the blues! That’s because Dingwalls is welcoming South African maestro Dan Patlansky to one of London’s best small venues.
LEONI JANE KENNEDY
Despite the temptation to sit in the sunshine with a pint by the lock, the venue fills up early with fans anticipating an intense showcase of modern blues rock. Up first though is Leoni Jane Kennedy who takes to the stage solo with just an acoustic guitar for company.
Kennedy however has no issues in grabbing the attention of the blues aficionados in attendance. Her charm and intricate melodies easily serenade the audience and her short set is entirely captivating.
A delightful cover of ‘Tears’ by Rush is a treat, but throughout the set each song offers a glimpse of Kennedy’s songwriting talents. Finishing with ‘Synthetic’, which is the title-track of her upcoming debut album, Kennedy no doubt will have left a lasting impression tonight with her illuminating performance.
DAN PATLANSKY
It’s actually something of a miracle that this show is going ahead, given that our headliner Dan Patlansky has been sick in recent days with a couple of necessary postponements. Patlansky however makes it clear that he was desperate to play tonight, and as his set begins with ‘Lift Off’, those in attendance are instantly grateful that he was.
That’s because despite battling through illness, Patlansky is able to channel something otherworldly to deliver a mesmerising performance alongside his band. Accompanied by bassist Greg Van Kerkhof and drummer Andy Maritz, the power trio is scorching at times, delicate at others and always meticulous.
That tantalising talent especially shines through on new material from Patlansky’s latest release ‘Movin’ On’. The title track and ‘Who I Am’ are highlights but the songs from the album all shine tonight.
Another special treat this evening sees Patlansky joined by teenage blues prodigy Rhys John Stygal for a fantastic rendition of the Howlin’ Wolf song ‘Tell Me’ in the style of Stevie Ray Vaughan!
Patlansky has a rare ability to make his guitar sing and his blistering blues are relished by the adoring crowd this evening. Over the course of one-hundred glorious minutes, Patlansky and co forget illness and the outside world and simply let the music do the talking.
A glorious day has been punctuated by two superb sets from Kennedy and Patlansky and the crowd can disperse into the Camden nightlife to reminisce on a memorable evening.
The latest issue of the Full Pelt Magazine is here, and you can download your copy for free below!
Volume 32 features our cover stars The Hives as they show just why they are regarded as one of the greatest live bands. Plus we review the new albums from James and Gun.
Our News Report has all the latest music news including live announcements from Reading & Leeds Festivals, Graphic Nature, Rise Against, Mammoth WVH, Elles Bailey and St. Vincent!
Plus all the best new releases including The Meffs, Delilah Bon, James and the Cold Gun, Slash, Joanne Shaw Taylor, The Commoners, NOTHING MORE, FM, Like Moths To Flames, Dea Matrona, Robert Jon & The Wreck, Black Country Communion, The Lemon Twigs, Cane Hill, Royal Republic, The Treatment, The Mysterines, Kasabian, Gaffa Tape Sandy and Giant Walker!
Finally, we round up the latest additions to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist including The Rolling People, Regent and DeadWax!
Perennial rockers Gun have been riding the wave of their reunion now for fifteen-plus years, regularly playing solid shows and delivering decent albums. Whilst long-time fans of the group have embraced this new era however, it’s probably a fair assessment to say that they’ve yet to set the world on fire!
That is until now when perhaps their new album, ‘Hombres’, will act as the spark needed to light that fire. That’s because to put it simply, the album is undoubtedly Gun’s best work in decades!
The first half of the album is front-loaded with pre-release singles, ‘All Fired Up’, ‘Boys Don’t Cry’, ‘Take Me Back Home’ and ‘Falling’ – all of which had raised expectations around the record with their slick classic rock sound.
When combined with the delicious ‘Fake Life’, the first five tracks on the record set a high standard for the rest of the album to follow; but thankfully the second half of the album is able to carry that mantle.
Each of the remaining five tracks are able to at least maintain the momentum of the album if not push it further. Over the course of the ten tracks, there isn’t a bad apple in the bunch and Gun have managed to set themselves a new standard.
Every aspect of the record from the guitar riffs to the lyrics and vocal work to the production and the driving rhythm represents Gun at their very best. This really does feel like a band who have rediscovered their spark, and that spark is now burning bright enough to attract the attention of the wider musical universe.
When active, James have always been a very prolific bunch and with the release of new album ‘Yummy’, the band’s second era has now yielded the same amount of albums as the first!
‘Yummy’ is the groups eighteenth album (not including compilations, live albums and EP’s!), and it follows last year’s ‘Be Opened by the Wonderful’, which saw the band reimaging some of their favourite tracks in orchestral form.
With a runtime pushing fifty-four minutes, it’s safe to say that the creative juices are still flowing on ‘Yummy’, and the opening salvo of ‘Is This Love’ and ‘Life’s A Fucking Miracle’ offer an intoxicating welcome to listeners.
Always willing to experiment and test their artistic capabilities, James once again emerge with an eclectic and enthralling collection of songs which entices the listener to escape the madness of the world and get lost in the beauty of music.
That escapism is pretty key to the enjoyability of the record as the subject matters are pretty depressing when facing up to the realities of life in 2024. Sonically though the album is joyously uplifting and dances through adversity with the band taking aim at environmental disaster, the mental health pandemic, AI, conspiracies and more.
By the time the band say goodbye on the album closing ‘Folks’, they’ve taken you on a wondrous journey through their unique and captivating artistry. ‘Yummy’ is therefore yet another fine example of why James are such an underappreciated national treasure.
With every release James showcase their innate ability to stir something heartening even when surrounded by darkness. Fans of the band are blessed by their current form and ‘Yummy’ is a delightful addition to their stunning back catalogue.
The latest issue of the Full Pelt Magazine is here, and you can download your copy for free below!
Volume 31 features our cover stars Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators as they infiltrate the masses at Wembley Arena. It’s also a bumper week for new releases as we review Feeder, Bob Vylan, The K’s, The Black Keys, Dead Pony and ANIIMALIA.
Our News Report has all the latest music news including live announcements from Noisy, The Dandy Warhols, The Black Angels, White Reaper, Militarie Gun, Tom Morello, Gun, Mothica, Glass Animals and The Commoners!
Plus all the best new releases including Bob Vylan, Dead Pony, The K’s, Boston Manor, Paul Weller, Oakman, Marisa and the Moths, Between You & Me, Raven Numan, Within Temptation, Thomas Nicholas Band, Tom Jenkins, Susan Santos, The Zutons, BLACKGOLD, Millie Manders and the Shutup, TORA DAA, Dayseeker, Mimi Barks, Alien Ant Farm, Better Lovers, BIG SPECIAL and Glass Animals!
Finally, we round up the latest additions to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist including HRTLSS, BEX and QUEEN LAYA!
Frontman Grant Nicholas has described the making of Feeder’s latest release, ‘Black / Red’ as both a “musical pilgrimage” and a “labour of love” and the care and attention put into this collection is abundantly evident throughout.
The band have been rather prolific recently and it’s been said that this double album is a full stop to this creative period. It shouldn’t be a surprise then that over the course of the eighteen tracks, you can pick out the various era’s of Feeder. This does feel like a celebration of their career and ending rather than a new beginning.
That said, there are some new influences present on the album and the 80’s inspired ‘Hey You’ is one of the standout moments. So there is still a hopeful hint for the future which alleviates some feeling that this is a grand finale for the band.
The various incarnations and sounds of Feeder represented on this collection do make you ponder their career. A huge positive for the band has always been their ability to cross between genres and fandom’s with fingerprints in the indie and Britpop camps and across multiples sub-sections of the rock spectrum.
That dexterity and acknowledgement has meant that they can be step into each world with acceptance, but on the flip side has also meant that they’ve never really been fully adopted by any fan group other than their own hardcores.
That same logic perhaps also lends itself to this lengthy double collection. Whereas the record as a 66 minute whole achieves a solid four star rating, you can’t help but think that there is likely a five star rated 35 minute showcase held within.
So in that vein, ‘Black / Red’ is another great example of the immense musical talents of Nicholas and partner in crime Taka Hirose. Fans of the band will devour the record for the beautiful love letter that it is. However it’s highly unlikely to draw any new eyes to a band who deserve so much more appreciation then they generally receive!
Dead Pony have been doing all the right things since beginning to release music in 2020. That year may go down in history however as the definition of poor timing for a new band to share their art with the world. But even so, Dead Pony have garnered a dedicated fanbase which is growing with every single and every show.
Now they are ready to unleash their debut full-length album on the world with ‘Ignore This’, perhaps a not-so-subtle nod towards the every diminishing attention span of music aficionados. This record however commands attention and is certainly no half-measure at sixteen tracks and nearly fifty minutes of action.
The pace of the album though ensures that there are neither dips nor opportunities for lapses of concentration from the listener. Indeed each track grabs the listener by the collar and drags them into the action alongside the band.
Sonically intoxicating and lyrically captivating this collection of full-throttle modern rock mastery is amongst the best opening offerings in recent memory. You can call it making up for lost time, or flying out of the traps but whichever tired cliché is assigned to ‘Ignore This’ will be a positive one.
‘Ignore This’ is an expansive expression of artistry from a group who are able to pull from a diverse palette of influence and produce a fresh sound with a self-assured identity. If you’re somebody that has been sleeping on this band, then now is very much the time to jump on board.
That’s because one thing that is for sure, with this stunning debut album in the bank it’s going to be very hard to ignore Dead Pony moving forward!
