Tag: Music

Categories
Live Reviews

Bury Tomorrow

Bury Tomorrow

UEA LCR, Norwich

Monday 31st October 2022

Follow us on Social Media

BURY TOMORROW – NORWICH – LIVE REVIEW

Amber leaves lay sodden on the ground, there is a crisp chill in the autumnal air and there is an awful lot of black clothing amongst the excited crowds gathering at the UEA LCR door. Yes, whilst the ghouls and spooks are out guising across Norwich this All Hallows’ Eve, the city’s metal community are haunting its largest venue.

There are no tricks here this Halloween, just the treat of a hard hitting night of action from the double-headed monster that is the co-headlining Bury Tomorrow and August Burns Red, albeit with a re-jigged undercard.

NOVELISTS FR

Gone just days ahead of the tour are Miss May I, joining Thornhill in departing the tour originally booked some 3 years ago (we all know what has transpired in that time!). Jumping in on short notice however are Novelists FR who receive a warm welcome.

As they arrive onstage in a venue festively decorated with ghostly figures, the early crowd show that they are here for some fun tonight. The French latecomers are able to deliver just what is needed to warm everyone up for the barrage of noise that is set to follow.

AUGUST BURNS RED

Up next is August Burns Red, who instantly rile the audience up with a quick run-through of System of a Down classic ‘Chop Suey!’. Clearly the band have many fans in the audience and those fans are treated to an hour of brutality from a band well versed in serving up crowd pleasing performances.

BURY TOMORROW

Our headliners Bury Tomorrow arrive onstage, dressed in white paper suits, and instantly bring the ferocity and intensity that has earned them their pedigree as a live act. The opening three tracks instigate a hot atmosphere in the crowd, until sadly a lengthy medical incident in the audience derails the momentum.

It has to be said the response from the band, the crowd, the security, the venue and medical staff is fantastic, and hopefully that individual is ok! It naturally takes a short while to find the same level of energy again, but Bury Tomorrow ensure that soon enough the party is back in full swing.

‘LIFE (Paradise Denied)’ particularly does well in getting the atmosphere back on track and helps return the band to their stride. It isn’t just Halloween that has the bodies moving tonight, and by the time the show comes to an end everyone in the venue, be it human, monster, vampire or ghost as had a great time.

Soon this tour heads off into Europe, and next year Bury Tomorrow will return with their seventh album. But right now we return to the dark, cold and creepy outdoors.

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of ‘the classic symptoms of a broken spirit’ from Architects

Watch Episode 34 of our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast with guests As Sirens Fall

Categories
EP Reviews

As Sirens Fall

coming of (r)age

Follow us on Social Media

As Sirens Fall

As Sirens Fall continue to forge their path with a confident and ambitious new EP. ‘coming of (r)age’ is a storming return from a band who continue their musical evolution with five more enormously catchy tracks.

‘cult’ eases us into the record and introduces us to the hook driven melodies that make this EP such an enjoyable listen sonically. Lyrically the record is a relatable and frank indictment on the dark times we find ourselves in and how we can still choose life.

‘boywhatever’ is a dancefloor filler built for the live setting and the title-track and ‘dynamite’ further demonstrate an added maturity within the band’s songwriting. Yes, this EP really is a big moment for As Sirens Fall as they set themselves up for world domination.

The EP closes with the hugely anthemic ‘heaven (spat us back out)’, which we recently featured on our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist. The single is a true breakout moment from the band and can only be described these days as an out and out banger!

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

Read our review of My Chemical Romance live in Milton Keynes

Categories
Album Reviews

The Hunna

The Hunna

Self-Titled

Follow us on Social Media

THE HUNNA – SELF-TITLED – ALBUM REVIEW

The Hunna have been perennial contenders for superstardom since their hugely successful debut album, ‘100’, released back in 2016. Two further albums have followed with neither 2018’s ‘Dare’, nor 2020’s ‘I’d Rather Die Than Let You In’ able to elevate the band to that next level.

It’s a harsh reality of the music industry that the opportunities to truly breakthrough are severely limited these days. Even modern day success stories are never likely to reach the levels attained by their predecessors. It must also be said that audience attention spans are more akin these days to that proverbial goldfish.

That is a callous but pragmatic view on casual music fans. Dedicated, hardcore music fans however are a different animal all together, they are able to engage longer and deeper with the acts that deserve it. That is no doubt why The Hunna have been able to garner such a passionate and dedicated fanbase.

WATCH ‘TRASH’ ON YOUTUBE
The Hunna – ‘Trash’

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

This deep philosophical insight into the depravity of the music industry comes not from a random thought, but from the impactful opening to The Hunna’s self-titled fourth album. Single, ‘Trash’, is an abrasive punk rocker taking aim at the pitfalls of the industry. The storming track takes firm aim at the darker aspects of the industry that most artists are fearful to call out.

That sets up the album spectacularly, both sonically and lyrically, as the band are both honest and unashamed. From soaring pop ballads, to indie hits, all out rockers and everything in between, this is a diverse collection that represents well everything The Hunna have been and everything that they want to be.

There are moments that those goldfish will enjoy (albeit temporarily), and there is certainly plenty on this album for the diehards to sink their teeth into. The Hunna are a band that continue to grow and evolve, and this album ensures that they are as relevant now as they were back in 2016!

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of Y Not Festival

Categories
Album Reviews

Asylums

Asylums

Signs of Life

Follow us on Social Media

ASYLUMS – SIGNS OF LIFE – ALBUM REVIEW

Southend rockers Asylums have been one of the best kept secrets in the music world since arriving on the scene with 2016 debut, ‘Killer Brain Waves’. Two more albums have followed in 2018 and 2020 with the band continuing to grow sonically and put themselves on the cusp of mainstream success.

Now, the prolific group return with their fourth studio album, ‘Signs of Life’, prepared to conquer the world once again!

Recorded at the legendary Rockfield Studios (in the room that Queen recorded ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ no less), with the revered producer Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers, Idlewild), you can sense that level of creative genius running through this superb collection of songs.

There is a real diverse palette of genre-bending output spread across an album that rocks hard, has indie mainstream appeal and leans into some off the cuff influences as well.

WATCH ‘INSTANT COFFEE’ FROM ASYLUMS ON YOUTUBE
Asylums – ‘Instant Coffee’

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

Whilst tracks such as ‘Instant Coffee’ and album opener ‘Scatterbrain’ are instantly gratifying just like those much needed early morning gulps of caffeinated goodness, every track on this album deserves attention.

In fact, there is so much here to sink your teeth into that you could describe this album as a real smorgasbord of music.

From start to finish ‘Signs of Life’ is a joy to listen to and is most definitely Asylums at their very best. Perhaps it’s finally time that the secret gets out and Asylums make an indelible mark of this hyperactive industry!

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of Pulled Apart By Horses live in Norwich

Categories
Live Reviews

Sum 41

Sum 41

Alexandra Palace, London

Friday 21st October 2022

Follow us on Social Media

SUM 41 – LONDON – LIVE REVIEW

Outside the venue its wet, miserable and 2022 is kicking our ass. Once inside Alexandra Palace in London however, well, its summer 2001, we’re with our friends and we don’t have a care in the world!

Yes, tonight the venue plays host to not just headliners Sum 41 but also special guests Simple Plan as we all get to relive our youth. But up first, some fresh blood and local artist Cassyette, who has been busy making a name for herself over the past couple of years.

With tonight’s show sold out well in advance, there is a decent crowd in early for her to impress and impress she does. Owning the stage like a seasoned veteran, she is able to stir up that early crowd and get them engaged fully in proceedings.

Tracks such as ‘Dear Goth’ and ‘Mayhem’ sound huge in this large venue and intimate that hers is a name that will become more familiar for the masses in the future.

WATCH ‘DEAR GOTH’ ON YOUTUBE
Cassyette – ‘Dear Goth’

After a short gap, Simple Plan are ready to launch into a barrage of pop punk goodness. With a full production behind them, and the audience lapping up every moment, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Simple Plan were the headliners tonight.

All the fan favourites are present as the band commence our journey back in time. This is an immensely fun show that reinforces just how iconic Simple Plan are in their field.

Finally it’s time for headliners Sum 41 to arrive on stage to huge levels of expectation. With the band celebrating the anniversaries of their first two albums, ‘All Killer No Filler’ and ‘Does This Look Infected?’, fans are ready for a party.

WATCH ‘WAR’ ON YOUTUBE
Sum 41 – ‘War’

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

And it’s a party that they get with barely any lull in pace or atmosphere. Fan favourites such as ‘Motivation’, ‘The Hell Song’, ‘We’re All to Blame’, ‘War’ and ‘Underclass Hero’ dominate the setlist.

Whilst those two early albums are focused on, it’s a career spanning set from the band. Add to this pyro galore and you have a sensational show. ‘In Too Deep’, ‘Pieces’ and ‘Still Waiting’ all feature later in a relentlessly good set.

By the time the evening ends with ‘Fat Lip’, the band have succeeded in removing all our cares and have done their legacy justice.

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of The Hella Mega Tour

Categories
Album Reviews

Architects

Architects

the classic symptoms of a broken spirit

Follow us on Social Media

ARCHITECTS – THE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS OF A BROKEN SPIRIT – ALBUM REVIEW

Just 18 months removed from their stunning and evolutionary ninth album, ‘For Those That Wish To Exist’, Architects are back album with their tenth album, ‘the classic symptoms of a broken spirit’!

Momentum is certainly on the bands side, so striking while the iron is hot, the band are right to release their follow up so soon after such a well received record. This is borne out through the substantiated quality of this album.

A dud of an album at this point could be a momentum killer – see ‘Temper Temper’, so this is a calculated risk from the band. That calculation however was right with them clearly knowing the quality of the music they had.

WATCH ‘DEEP FAKE’ ON YOUTUBE
Architects – ‘deep fake’

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

The album is straight into the action on opener ‘deep fake’, and manages to keep a relentless pace throughout the next forty plus minutes. There is no dip in either ferocity or excellence as the likes of singles ‘tear gas’, ‘when we were young’ and ‘a new moral low ground’ demonstrate.

The depth on this album is truly impressive though as beyond the singles you still have tracks as good as ‘spit the bone’, doomscrolling’ and ‘all the love in the world’. In reality there isn’t a bad track on another superb offering from one of heavy music’s biggest hopes.

They may now be ten albums in, but over the past three, Architects are shown their development and progression to something much bigger than their beginnings. Their upcoming tour with Biffy Clyro will introduce them to an even more diverse audience, and as they continue to break the mainstream and pickup fans, the world very much is their oyster!

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of Architects live in Norwich

Categories
Album Reviews

Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys

The Car

Follow us on Social Media

ARCTIC MONKEYS – THE CAR – ALBUM REVIEW

Arctic Monkeys are undoubtedly one of the biggest, most talented bands on the planet. They have very much earned the right to do whatever they want musically… but wow.

How do you follow up an ill received, lacklustre, bloated, flop of an album such as ‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’? Well if you are Arctic Monkeys, you double down and again ditch your signature sound and attitude to release another collection of boring lounge pop dirge.

WATCH ‘I AIN’T QUITE WHERE I THINK I AM’ ON YOUTUBE
Arctic Monkeys – ‘I Ain’t Quite Where I Think I Am’

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

It’s difficult to write a balanced review of new album, ‘The Car’ in all honesty. If everybody is honest with themselves, this is not the album we wanted from the band this time around. Although I’m sure that many old school fans would love a return to the sound of their first two albums, that was never going to happen.

But after the enormous success of generational release, ‘AM’, which appeared to be the perfect middle crowd, ‘The Car’ just sucks the enjoyment out of this once formidable band. This stubbornness from the band has though, as we said earlier, been earned. It’s their well earned right to record and release the music that they want to.

It just makes you wonder what happened to that rock ‘n’ roll, eh? You know that rock ‘n’ roll, that singer Alex Turner said just won’t go away, that will never die and there’s nothing anybody can do about it! Well after these past two albums, you can’t help but wonder did Turner think to himself – challenge accepted!

If you enjoyed ‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino’, congratulations, you will also very much enjoy, ‘The Car’. It demonstrates just how musically talented and dexterous the band are. If however that last album wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t even bother hitting the play button on ‘The Car’!

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of Arctic Monkeys live at Reading Festival

Categories
Live Reviews

The Snuts

The Snuts

UEA LCR, Norwich

Monday 17th October 2022

Follow us on Social Media

THE SNUTS – NORWICH – LIVE REVIEW

When the industry is always looking for the next big thing, The Snuts have certainly thrown their name in that hat over the past couple of years. A huge debut album has now been followed up with a brave, adventurous and importantly well received sophomore record.

To really breakthrough though artists need to back up what they do on record when taking to the stage. Tonight we head to the UEA LCR in Norwich to see what progress the band have made on this front.

Up first however are local favourites Youth Killed It who command the stage as if they were the headliners. Full of genre-bending rifftastic sing-a-long anthems, the band control the stage with utter ease. Whilst just the opening act tonight, there would be worse bets to place than one predicting that Youth Killed It will return to headline this stage.

Next, the audience are serenaded by young singer-songwriter Heidi Curtis who is able to charm the baying crowd with her uplifting performance. Curtis is most definitely one to watch in the coming years.

Finally the venue get the group that they’ve been waiting for as The Snuts arrive onstage to a powerful politically charged video. Yes, video… the band instantly showcase their intentions to raise their live credentials with a elegant stage set up.

It’s not all style and no substance however, as The Snuts are able to back it up with a stunning performance full of effortless cool swagger. The audience are held in the palm of their hand as they mix material from their two albums.

WATCH THE RODEO ON YOUTUBE
The Snuts – ‘The Rodeo’

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

Fan favourites such as ‘Glasgow’, ‘All Your Friends’ and ‘Always’ sound absolutely huge while newer tracks ‘The Rodeo’ and ‘Zuckerpunch’ show that new album ‘Burn the Empire’ is also full of anthems.

If tonight The Snuts were auditioning to be the next breakout indie megastars then they’d have been given the part before they even finished their routine!

An encore of ‘Burn the Empire’ and ‘Fatboy Slim’ is really just the icing on what has been a delicious cake. The Snuts it would appear are ready to take over the world.

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of ‘Burn the Empire’ from The Snuts

Categories
Live Reviews

Pulled Apart By Horses

Pulled Apart By Horses

Waterfront Studio, Norwich

Saturday 15th October 2022

Follow us on Social Media

PULLED APART BY HORSES – NORWICH – LIVE REVIEW

All 📸 (c) Denis Gorbatov / Full Pelt Music

Perennial contenders Pulled Apart By Horses have just released the fifth studio album of their near fifteen year career. ‘Reality Cheques’ features a more streamlined sound and tonight in Norwich we get to see how that translates on stage.

MAGNOLIA PHOTOS

Opening the early evening show at the Waterfront Studio are local newcomers Magnolia. It’s difficult to find much about the band online and even harder to pigeonhole them into any genre.

Describing themselves as psychedelic post-punk, there are certainly elements of those genres present in amongst their experimental sound. There are also many others as killer riffs segue into moments of pure randomness. There are times of brilliance and times of dreadfulness in their short set. Only a young act, there is something here, I’m just not sure what it is yet!

THE HOWLERS PHOTOS

Next up are a band clearly further along their discovery path. Londoners The Howlers recently released new EP, ‘Further Down the Line’ and songs from that record are highlights tonight.

The group own the stage like they are industry veterans and the crowd are left in awe of a top quality support slot. These are the shows where newer acts can win new fans and build their audiences and the likes of ‘The Boy I Was Before’ and ‘El Dorado’ will have done some excellent building work tonight.

PULLED APART BY HORSES PHOTOS

Finally, our headliners Pulled Apart By Horses take to the stage and from the first angry guitar strum the intimate audience are raucous! To say that both band and crowd are up for it tonight would be an understatement and that makes for a fantastic atmosphere on this Saturday night.

New album, ‘Reality Cheques’, naturally features heavily in the set list for Pulled Apart By Horses and as they open with ‘Pipe Dream’ and ‘First World Problems’ it’s clear that the album passes the live test. The new songs sound massive as do older tracks such as ‘The Haze’ and ‘The Big What If’.

During a cost of living crisis, small shows such as this are superb value for money and our headliners deliver an energetic and engaged display from start to finish – something often found lacking with arena shows.

As Pulled Apart By Horses close their set with fan favourites ‘V.E.N.O.M.’, ‘I Punched A Lion In The Throat’ and ‘High Five, Swan Dive, Nose Dive’, they reaffirm themselves a standout live act and rubberstamp the fact that five albums in they remain a creative force.

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of ‘I Don’t Belong Anywhere’ from October Drift

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

Categories
Album Reviews

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Return of the Dream Canteen

Follow us on Social Media

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS – RETURN OF THE DREAM CANTEEN – ALBUM REVIEW

Just 6 months ago Red Hot Chili Peppers released their first record having reunited with iconic guitarist John Frusciante. It was something of a surprise therefore, in July, when the band announced another new album, ‘Return of the Dream Canteen’ would be coming.

Well, that album is already here and it’s time to see whether the band were correct in saying it isn’t just a b-side record. Now, for context it should be noted that these songs were written and recorded during the same Rick Rubin produced sessions that spurned ‘Unlimited Love’.

Given that album ran to almost 75 minutes and 17 songs, and this album runs to 75 minutes and 17 songs, those were some hefty recording sessions!

The worry here, before even pressing play is that ‘Unlimited Love’ felt a handful of songs too long. In reviewing that album we also commented; “this feels like four old friends reconnecting and testing the waters”. So again, is this more of the same?

WATCH ‘THE DRUMMER’ FROM RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS ON YOUTUBE
Red Hot Chili Peppers – ‘The Drummer’

Find Full Pelt Music on Youtube

The first half of the album harks back to some of the bands earlier funky and psychedelic work and is very digestible with time moving quite quickly. Sadly as the album progresses into the depths of its 17 songs, time does start to lag and the songs all blend in together.

I would agree with the band that this isn’t a b-side record and is of similar standard to ‘Unlimited Love’, unfortunately that means that again it feels too long. Cutting four or five tracks would greatly improve the album, and just picking the 12 best songs from across the two albums would’ve given us a superb return from the band.

Instead we have two lengthy albums full of good yet uninspired songs with a splattering of single quality tracks mixed in. On the positive side this is an easy listening album that you could happily work away to with it on in the background.

Ultimately this is one for the diehard fans to enjoy, but it won’t do anything for the casuals, which really makes it feel unnecessary!

Share this review on Social Media

Read our review of Red Hot Chili Peppers live in London