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Bruce Dickinson

Bruce Dickinson

The Mandrake Project

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BRUCE DICKINSON – THE MANDRAKE PROJECT – ALBUM REVIEW

Nearly two decades have passed since iconic Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson dipped his toes in the waters of his solo career. The Iron Maiden machine keeps turning but following outside adventures from bandmates Steve Harris and Adrian Smith, Dickinson is once again ready to dive into the deep end with new opus ‘The Mandrake Project’!

Previous solo outings have seen Dickinson broadening his horizons away from the Maiden mould and genuine excitement seems to have broken out for this release. The pre-release singles, ‘Afterglow of Ragnarok’ and ‘Rain on the Graves’, certainly managed to further whet appetites and as the record finally arrives fans appear ravenous.

So, has this album got enough to feed the fans and meet the lofty expectations? Spoiler alert – you’re damn sure it has! Dickinson has always demanded ambition from all of his musical projects and ‘The Mandrake Project’ may be his most ambitious yet.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘AFTERGLOW OF RAGNAROK’
Bruce Dickinson – ‘Afterglow of Ragnarok’

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Partner in crime Roy Z helps to provide an expansive metal powered soundtrack allowing for Dickinson’s dexterous vocals to soar. The duo have had success together in the past, but with both older and wiser this project feels perplexingly both refined and extravagant in equal measure.

The ten tracks sprawl over nearly a full hour but the album never lags, with each track adding something meaningful to the overarching masterpiece. Going back to that earlier question, there is certainly plenty for fans to sink their teeth into. Each listen will highlight new textures and moments of majesty.

Ten minute opera ‘Sonata (Immortal Beloved)’ brings the record to a powerful conclusion and acts as the final course of a mighty feast cooked up by Dickinson and co. The long wait for a solo expedition has been proven worthwhile and Dickinson proves that even at this late stage of his career he can still astonish!

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Album Reviews

Yard Act

Yard Act

Where’s My Utopia?

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YARD ACT – WHERE’S MY UTOPIA?

The post-punk revival of the past half decade helped to thrust Yard Act into the mainstream, seeing them score a number two charting debut album and getting to play bigger and bigger shows. Now the band are ready to unleash their sophomore record as they ask the pertinent question… ‘Where’s My Utopia?’.

The shackles of labels are thrown off this time around as the band produce a genre-less collection of danceable self-aware bops. Whilst the aura of their debut album remains, the swagger is ramped up and the aspiration of sonic brilliance is grasped as tightly as a dropped winning lottery ticket in the wind.

The bands experience of becoming successful runs throughout the threads of the record and ensures that the lyrical themes are not simply a continuation of their political observations on ‘The Overload’.

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Yard Act – ‘We Make Hits’

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What also becomes apparent as the album progresses is the quality of the songs themselves which somewhat ironically are more accessible then their previous work. The likes of ‘Petroleum’, ‘Dream Job’ and the paradoxically titled ‘We Make Hits’ are highly infectious, and throughout the album, the song craft is superb.

The preposterously excellent ‘Blackpool Illuminations’ helps to conclude the record in typically poetic fashion and really showcases just what makes Yard Act a special creative force. Each track feels like it adds something and ‘A Vineyard for the North’ is a fantastic finale to what is an outlandishly good collection.

Yard Act continue to mesmerise and ‘Where’s My Utopia?’ is a truly stunning way to follow up on their initial success. You just can’t help but wonder just what this band is capable of in the future!

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Album Reviews

Kaiser Chiefs

Kaiser Chiefs

Kaiser Chief’s Easy Eighth Album

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KAISER CHIEFS – KAISER CHIEF’S EASY EIGHTH ALBUM – ALBUM REVIEW

As Kaiser Chiefs push into their second decade as a chart-topping entity they find themselves in a holding pattern of sorts. They’ve got a strong back catalogue and can fill decent venues, but they’ve not released anything earth-shattering in over a decade and aren’t likely to reach any higher levels of stardom.

The harsh reality of the music industry is 99.9% of other acts would kill to be in their position, whilst Kaiser Chiefs will likely feel some degree of frustration at their own stagnation. On their new eighth album, cringingly called ‘Kaiser Chief’s Easy Eighth Album’, you feel that the band are trying hard to deliver something fresh.

Unfortunately it really just sounds like they are trying too hard. Heavily influenced by the disco funk of Nile Rodgers who works with the band on opener ‘Feeling Alright’, you have to give the band credit for being willing to try and deliver a new sound. But, and it’s a big but, what they achieve sounds just like you’d expect Kaiser Chiefs playing Nile Rodgers to sound.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘FEELING ALRIGHT’
Kaiser Chiefs – ‘Feeling Alright’

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The songs are all very safe, middle of the road indie funk standard stock. It’s frustrating because Kaiser Chiefs come from the harshly titled landfill indie boom. It’s harsh on the band because they always stood out from the pack with their inimitable sound. Alas this record simply lacks that unique charm. It all feels very by the numbers, when the band made their career on being special.

At just shy of half an hour the album thankfully doesn’t take up much time and these songs shouldn’t eat up much space on their setlists on tour. There just isn’t anything here that stands out, nothing that makes you stick your head up and take note, but the band already have plenty of songs that do that for them.

All in all the Kaiser Chief’s easy eighth album is easily forgettable and will probably be an easy target for reviewers. In its defence, it is far from the worst album ever released, it’s just probably the worst album that Kaiser Chiefs have ever released which is a testament to the previous seven albums!

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EP Reviews

Noah and the Loners

A Desolate Warning

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Noah and the Loners

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Read our review of Noah and the Loners live in Norwich

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Magazine

Full Pelt Magazine

Full Pelt Magazine

Vol. 25

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The latest issue of the Full Pelt Magazine is here, and you can download your copy for free below!

Volume 25 features our cover stars The Mysterines as reveal details of their sophomore album. We also review new albums from The Snuts, Gen and the Degenerates and Blackout Problems, and we review The Zutons live in Norwich!

Our News Report has all the latest music news including live announcements from Liam Gallagher, Kings of Leon, Bullet For My Valentine, Trivium, Alice Cooper, The Pearl Harts, Greta Van Fleet, Royal Blood and Radar Festival!

Plus all the best new releases including Kasabian, Kings of Leon, Paul Weller, Frank Turner, Linkin Park, Sum 41, Daytime TV, Crossfaith, The Cruel Knives, TheCityIsOurs, Between You & Me, Susan Santos, Raven Numan and The Struts!

Finally, we round up the latest additions to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist including Major Moment, Caroline Romano and DeadWax!

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Album Reviews

Blackout Problems

Blackout Problems

RIOT

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BLACKOUT PROBLEMS – RIOT – ALBUM REVIEW

German rockers Blackout Problems have been slowly building their reputation over the past decade and have been threatening to breakout for at least half of that time. Impressive recent support slots and memorable festival performances have perhaps created the highest level of anticipation yet for a new album.

Well, that album has now arrived in the shape of ‘RIOT’. The record is their fourth studio release and is an anagram of trio, signifying their first release as a three-piece. Line-up changes and heightened expectations may surround the album but it’s the band’s continued ambition which shines through.

Originally writing music for a potential solo project, singer and guitarist Mario Radetzky is on record as saying that these songs “sounded like Blackout Problems” and attention soon turned to creating the next chapter of the Blackout Problems story.

Sonically these songs do share the essence of the band’s sound but they feel more expansive and have a greater sense of purpose. Whilst there are many personal themes running through the lyrics on this album, the overarching spectre of something bigger looms large.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘GLOFS’
Blackout Problems – ‘GLOFS’

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The chaos of the current world landscape is explored in cohesion with Radetzky’s own personal discovery and the band shows that they aren’t afraid to get political when needed. It’s perhaps fitting then that current tourmate Rou Reynolds of Enter Shikari features on one of the standout tracks, ‘GLOFS’.

There are a number of tracks which push the album forwards and ‘PUZZLE’ and ‘WHALES’ are both also good introductions for new listeners wanting to test the waters. Ultimately though, ‘RIOT’ has been crafted to take you on a journey of sorts, so it’s worth taking the time to enjoy the full album in all of its majesty.

Whether or not this is the release to take the band to the next level or not, only time will tell but ‘RIOT’ is certainly a solid album which further establishes them as a band worth taking a punt on!

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Album Reviews

The Snuts

The Snuts

Millennials

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THE SNUTS – MILLENNIALS – ALBUM REVIEW

‘Millennials’ marks the third studio album from The Snuts in as many years – quite the exceptional work rate for any band these days. Work ethic isn’t something that this group have ever lacked though and their grind has seen those first two records reach number one and three respectively upon release.

You’d instantly think then that there is a level of pressure for ‘Milliennials’ to emulate that success? Well, that pressure intensifies when you consider that ahead of this release, dissatisfied with their major label, the band branched out on their own setting up their own independent label Happy Artist Records!

That decision would be enormous for any band but in this day and age it’s an incredibly brave decision. The Snuts are clearly happy to bet on themselves though; and why not? Those first two albums produced an endless stream of indie rock anthems and lead single, ‘Gloria’, instantly demonstrated that their knack for creating festival ready sing-a-longs remains very much intact.

WATCH the video for gloria!
The Snuts – ‘Gloria’

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With ‘Millennials’, the mould is unbroken and fans will feel safe in the familiar sound that the band have perfected in the past five years. There isn’t much in the way of evolution here, which is the smart play by a band taking giant leaps on the business side of things. ‘Milliennials’ may be The Snuts playing it safe, but that’s exactly what they needed to do with this album.

The record is short, sharp and on point. With ten tracks and a run-time of almost exactly thirty minutes, ‘Millennials’ feels like it is something of a statement from the band. They may have moved house but they have decorated their new house in the same sonic colours.

This is fantastic news for lovers of sun-soaked indie anthems and this album produces more sure-fire live favourites like ‘Millionaires’ and ‘Dreams’. The rise of The Snuts continues and they will continue to climb those festival bills and play bigger shows until they are recognised as one of the biggest indie bands on the circuit. After all they have already created a strong community around them and as per the lyrics of ‘Millionaires’ – “if love was money, we’d be millionaires”!

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Album Reviews

Gen and the Degenerates

Gen and the Degenerates

ANTI-FUN PROPAGANDA

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GEN AND THE DEGENERATES – ANTI-FUN PROPAGANDA – ALBUM REVIEW

Gen and the Degenerates have been infecting music lovers with their striking live shows in recent years. The band have appeared on many a festival bill, winning over fans instantaneously and garnering a fair amount of hype.

Now it’s time for the band to show just what they can do on record as they share their debut album, ‘ANTI-FUN PROPAGANDA’. The tone was set with the record’s lead single, ‘BIG HIT SINGLE’ and tongues are firmly planted in cheeks throughout much of the album.

It’s not all laughs though as the socially conscience group tackle some big topics with the overarching theme that being a human in 2024 is tough. Their response to that darkness though is to introduce light. The concept that fun is the best medicine for the toxicity of modern life isn’t necessarily new (after all we’ve just reviewed an album from a band who popularised joy as an act of resistance), but the way that Gen and the Degenerates deliver that fun is refreshingly uplifting.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘KIDS WANNA DANCE’
Gen and the Degenerates – ‘Kids Wanna Dance’

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These songs are incredibly contagious and the likes of ‘Kids Wanna Dance’ and ‘Famous’ will have you bopping away all night long. This new bubblegum-punk sound is ferociously catchy and these songs will excel in the live environment.

On the penultimate track ‘Post-Cool’ singer Genevieve Glynn-Reeves proclaims that “cool is dead – this is post-cool”, and that term is a perfect description of how Gen and the Degenerates fit in the punk landscape. At a time when it’s cool to be punk, Gen and co take the brooding out of the scene and inject it with a heavy dose of fun!

Gen and her degenerates have made a truly fantastic debut album, and by the time that the band show off their musical dexterity with the six and a half minute slow burning album closer ‘Jude’s Song’, you are left wanting to do one thing and one thing only – hit play again!

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‘Discover’ New Music Podcast – Episode 63 – Gen and the Degenerates
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Magazine

Full Pelt Magazine

Full Pelt Magazine

Vol. 24

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The latest issue of the Full Pelt Magazine is here, and you can download your copy for free below!

Volume 24 features our cover stars IDLES as they celebrate the release of new album, ‘TANGK’, which we review inside. We also review ‘Intermittent Fast Living’ – the new album from PET NEEDS. On the live side of things we catch Enter Shikari in London, IDLES in London and Noah and the Loners in Norwich!

Our News Report has all the latest music news including live announcements from AC/DC, Pearl Jam, Gary Numan, Gaffa Tape Sandy, Boston Manor and Willie J Healey!

Plus all the best new releases including Pearl Jam, REWS, High On Fire, While She Sleeps, Boston Manor, Gaffa Tape Sandy, Bears In Trees, Seasick Steve, The Dandy Warhols, Mad Caddies, Stand Atlantic, Greywind, Gun, Blackout Problems and The Longest Johns!

Finally, we round up the latest additions to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist including Cosmic Ninja, Exploring Birdsong and paradise fell.!

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Live Reviews

Noah and the Loners

Noah and the Loners

Voodoo Daddy’s, Norwich

Thursday 15th February 2024

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📸 (c) Denis Gorbatov / Full Pelt Music

NOAH AND THE LONERS – NORWICH – LIVE REVIEW

No matter where you look these days the world is a mess. The political landscape is bewildering, the news is horrifying, the economy is a disaster and communities are being divided for the benefit of those creating the mess in the first place.

It’s at times like these that communities need to stay resolute and, to steal from a popular post-punk band, use joy as an act of resistance. Punk has always led the way on this front and there are thankfully some great young bands out there building that sense of community back.

BROKEN PROMISES

It’s in venues like Voodoo Daddy’s in Norwich where this war is being waged, and that’s where we head tonight to witness the emerging force that is Noah and the Loners!

On first this evening are young sibling duo Broken Promises who embody the DIY punk ethos perfectly. Their career may be in the embryonic stages but their rough around the edges ruckus shows its own promise and gets a good response from the early attendees.

SETTLEMENTS

The main support slot is taken by local alt-rockers Settlements who represent a cleaner, more technical prospect compared to the rest of the bill. Their sound encompasses a number of influences but they give off real early-QOTSA vibes.

Yes, whilst they may appear and sound more straight-edge then our headliners, they still have an enchanting quirk that reminisces of Biffy Clyro at their ludicrous best. Their time on stage flies by, which is always a good sign and it will be interesting to see where the group can take their talents.

NOAH AND THE LONERS

There seems to be a consensus forming on where our headline act are going, with little doubt remaining that Noah and the Loners have everything needed to truly breakthrough. With their debut EP coming imminently, and a fanbase growing with every show, this has the potential to be one of those “I was there” moments!

The band only have four tracks available on Spotify but they already have a healthy crowd in a decent sized grassroots venue many of which are adorned in Noah and the Loners t-shirts. When you speak of good signs, this is absolutely one of the most trustworthy ones.

It doesn’t take long for the band to justify the hype as they blitz through their opening few songs with a youthful energy that will get even the most battle-tested old punk up and down the front.

And many do! The crowd clearly have their finger on the pulse and are up for a fun night of genuinely rallying punk rock stories of finding the way through the challenges faced by young people.

The closing run of ‘Hell of a Day’, ‘Crash Landing’ and ‘Protest Anger’ is as good as it gets and provides a glimmer of hope that for as long as communities such as this remain defiant, then there is still hope for the future.

Noah and the Loners will soon release that debut EP and those switched on enough to be here tonight will soon be able to proclaim “I was there” at the very beginning!

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