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Live Reviews

Thumper

Voodoo Daddy’s Showroom, Norwich

Friday 29th October 2021

Thumper Norwich

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THUMPER – VOODOO DADDY’S SHOWROOM, NORWICH – LIVE REVIEW

Think back to those dark lockdown months and the desire to once again witness the grandeur of live music; you know those huge shows by massive bands in gargantuan venues! Well yes, it’s been great to get back those festival, arena and academy shows since the reopening of live music, but those are just the tip of the iceberg.

The bread and butter of live music is happening across the county in our small and independent venues. The stadium fillers of tomorrow are honing their craft and building their reputations. This is truly where live music comes alive.

Take tonight as exhibit A. The venue is Voodoo Daddy’s Showroom, an intimate room above a pizza bar in Norwich on a vibrant Friday night ahead of Halloween. The headline act will be rising Dubliners Thumper, but up first are the supports – an important part of the grassroots music scene.

This is where young bands just starting out can earn their stripes. Up first this evening are Norwich’s own Space is Big. The young band provide a great start to the night with their politically charged, high-energy punk sound.

Our next support act come from down the road in Essex. Swimsuit Competition proceed to deliver an assured yet pulsating performance that builds towards the fantastic climax of ‘Call Me Up’ and ‘Wasted’. By the end of their set they have the crowd in the palm of their hands making us two for two so far tonight.

As we await this evenings headliners Thumper, you feel at this point that they will need to be very special to live up to the standards set so far. Luckily for Thumper and even more so for those in attendance, the sextet are more than up for the challenge!

WATCH ‘TOPHER GRACE’ ON YOUTUBE
Thumper – ‘Topher Grace’

Flexing their musical muscles, the band are straight out of the traps with the fantastic ‘Topher Grace’. Their controlled ferocity is evident throughout their time on stage as they control the room with their unique brand of indie rock meets post-punk goodness.

Singles ‘Ad Nauseam’ and ‘The Loser’ are somehow majestic and fierce at the same time and leave you thankful to bear witness to them in a small setting while you can. Yes, no doubt about it, Thumper are destined for bigger rooms in the not too distant future.

Listen to ‘The Loser’ on our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist!

As set closer ‘Down’ sends the crowd off out into night, fans can reflect on a stunning evening provided by three great young bands. Of course those arena shows are great, but it’s nights like tonight where friends are made, scenes are built and careers are begun.

Grassroots music creates the superstars of the future whilst independent venues provide a living for bar staff, security staff, sound and lighting engineers, photographers etc. The point being, do yourself a favour and get down to your local venues. Support live music and you might just discover the next big thing!

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Read our review of Fontaines D.C. live in Cambridge

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Live Reviews

Architects

UEA LCR, Norwich

Friday 22nd October 2021

Architects Norwich UEA

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ARCHITECTS – NORWICH UEA LCR – LIVE REVIEW

Architects are a band that have never lacked in self-belief. They have always put their faith in their music and tonight exemplifies that. No support acts, a minimalist stage presentation, just Architects on a stage blasting out their set with little in the way of bells and whistles.

Tonight at the UEA LCR in Norwich is a part of an intimate run of dates hastily arranged after the postponement of their upcoming arena tour. Those five arena shows now takes place in May next year and you’d imagine that there will be bells and maybe even a few whistles thrown in.

What the band do tonight though is prove that actually, they don’t need any of that. Whilst it would’ve been nice for a young up and coming band to get the chance to warm up the audience, the Architects fanbase are able to go from 0 to 100 as soon as the first note is played.

That first note comes from ‘Black Lungs’ which is the first of nine tracks to air from their latest album ‘For Those That Wish to Exist’. Whilst for some bands that many new songs may be overkill, for Architects it once again shows their confidence.

Their confidence is certainly well placed. ‘For Those That Wish to Exist’ will no doubt feature towards the very top of the 2021 Full Pelt Music Album of the Year List. After all we called the album “…a masterpiece of the genre…”.

Read our review of ‘For Those That Wish to Exist’

Fans are therefore delighted to finally get to experience these songs live and whilst the likes of ‘Nihilist’ and ‘Gravedigger’ are savoured it’s the new tracks such as ‘Giving Blood’, ‘Little Wonder’ and ‘Dead Butterflies’ that elicit the best reactions.

‘Holy Hell’ tracks ‘Royal Beggars’ and ‘Doomsday’ also naturally see bodies flying in the packed audience. It’s left to two more new songs however to close the show and the encore of ‘Meteor’ and ‘Animals’ perfectly round out a stunning evening of music provided by Architects.

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Album Reviews

Will Varley

The Hole Around My Head

Will Varley The Hole Around My Head

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WILL VARLEY – THE HOLE AROUND MY HEAD – ALBUM REVIEW

Folk troubadour Will Varley has once again sat with his acoustic guitar and plotted the creation of a collection of songs. His latest album is entitled ‘The Hole Around My Head’ and it finds Varley in typically defiant and reflective mood.

There is a real tenderness to this album however that finds Varley unafraid to address the vulnerability of life. It’s a sombre reflection of life, love and the world that we live in, as always crafted with care and designed to captivate.

Watch The Full Pelt Music Podcast with guest Frank Turner

The likes of ‘Colour TV’ and ‘Dreamland’ will be held up to as standout moments, but the reality is that this isn’t the collection of songs we mentioned. ‘The Hole Around My Head’ is a singular piece of art that is perfectly melded together by Varley and deserves to be consumed in its entirety.

The name Will Varley is criminally underappreciated and the sad reality is that this album isn’t likely to trouble the very top of the charts. Put a name on the cover such as Ed Sheeran, James Blunt et al and ‘The Hole Around My Head’ is being touted as the best thing since sliced bread.

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Will Varley – ‘Pushing Against Us’

There is an incredible pool of talent in this world that are plugging away and deserve a spotlight and Will Varley typifies this. ‘Live Again’, ‘Pushing Against Us’ and ‘The Lonely & The Brave’ close out an album of beautiful and powerful songs that deserves all the praise it will hopefully receive.

‘The Hole Around My Head’ is a delicate masterpiece from a songwriter of the highest level.

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Read our review of ‘A Matter of Life & Love’ from Skinny Lister

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Album Reviews

Skinny Lister

A Matter of Life & Love

Skinny Lister A Matter of Life & Love
Skinny Lister – ‘A Matter of Life & Love’

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Skinny Lister have spent the past decade building a solid following on the back of their fun-filled live shows. They have also managed to accumulate an impressive run of albums and now they return with their fifth studio album, ‘A Matter of Life & Love’.

What follows is another collection of tales, witticism and shanties which again capture the magic of the band on record. Whilst some acts with a live show as revered as theirs might struggle to trap that lightning in a bottle when putting music on tape, Skinny Lister manage it perfectly.

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From the very beginning the likes of ‘Shout It Out’, ‘Tough Stuff Like Us’ and ‘Like It’s the First Time’ showcase the unique Skinny Lister branded folk/punk sound that fans have come accustomed to. At the same time however, it’s nice to hear that sound evolving throughout the record.

This is a well rounded record that doesn’t just capture their live energy but also captures all the various influences that make up each element of their sound. It’s almost like this album is a statement from the band saying we are Skinny Lister and this is what we do!

WATCH ‘DAMN THE AMSTERDAM’ ON YOUTUBE
Skinny Lister – ‘Damn the Amsterdam’

The album is also home to ‘Damn the Amsterdam’ their shanty single featuring The Longest Johns who will be touring with the band shortly. The title track, ‘Embers’ and ‘Bavaria Area’ are all worth a mention too, but it’s the album as a whole that once again highlights the talents of the band.

‘A Matter of Life & Love’ is a well crafted and superbly delivered album that is well worth your time and attention, so pour yourself a drink, put on your dancing shoes and have a little sing-a-long!

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Read our review of Skinny Lister live at Lost Evenings Festival

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Album Reviews

Don Broco

Amazing Things

Don Broco Amazing Things
Don Broco – ‘Amazing Things’

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DON BROCO – AMAZING THINGS – ALBUM REVIEW

As with many album releases in the pandemic era, the release of ‘Amazing Things’ from Don Broco has seen its fair share of issues. With the arrival date for the record already delayed once, the date of the physical release has again been delayed, but thankfully the digital release is now here.

This is the fourth studio album from a band that has grown naturally over the course of their career to the point of headlining Wembley Arena in February 2019. Continued momentum is essential for bands and the pandemic has played havoc for many.

Don Broco have a tour scheduled to happen imminently so the release of ‘Amazing Things’ now is very important for the groups trajectory. More important though is the quality of the album. After all we’ve seen poor albums completely kill the momentum of much heralded bands in recent years.

WATCH ‘GUMSHIELD’ ON YOUTUBE
Don Broco – ‘Gumshield’

The long process of getting this album out has seen a number of tracks come out ahead of its release. ‘Gumshield’, ‘Manchester Super Reds No.1 Fan’, ‘Endorphins’, ‘One True Prince’ and ‘Uber’ all whet the appetite and hinted at the quality and ambition of ‘Amazing Things’.

Listen to ‘Manchester Super Red No.1 Fan’ on our Spotify Hot List!

Thankfully for the band the preview, glimpses and hints all manifest themselves as an album of pure, unadulterated, adrenaline-filled pop rock pleasure. This is a fun collection of songs which all present as being built to be played live.

As you listen you can visualise the crowd reactions that the songs are bound to elicit. Far from being a momentum killer, ‘Amazing Things’ is set to push the band on to… well, amazing things!

Whilst that may be a cheesy pun, it fits, because Don Broco have always had a cheesy coolness about them. They may not take themselves too seriously, but the music industry should certainly take them seriously as the future of rock.

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Read our review of VUKOVI live in Norwich

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Album Reviews

Biffy Clyro

The Myth of The Happily Ever After

Biffy Clyro The Myth of The Happily Ever After

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BIFFY CLYRO – THE MYTH OF THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER – ALBUM REVIEW

How does the saying go? Eat. Sleep. Release Album. Tour Album. Repeat? Well, it’s something like that normally isn’t it, but a certain pandemic has thrown best laid plans out the window for artists.

Take Biffy Clyro as a prime example. The release of ‘A Celebration of Endings’ was set to see the band play an arena tour which was even announced to the public. Alas the tickets never even went on sale due to the impact of the pandemic. Then the ‘Fingers Crossed’ tour was announced, a run of intimate dates that fingers crossed would go ahead.

Read our review of ‘For Those That Wish To Exist’ from Architects

Well, even that got postponed until the end of this month. Now before even that tour gets to happen we have another album from the band! ‘The Myth of The Happily Ever After’ is said to be the sister album for ‘A Celebration of Endings’. The fact is the band will now be touring the albums hand in hand so how do the records sit with each other?

Biffy Clyro have never really had a set formula, the very thing that identifies their sound is their lack of boundaries, their quirkiness and willingness to experiment. ‘A Celebration of Endings’ was already an album packed with musical nuance and ‘The Myth of The Happily Ever After’ gleefully continues to ebb and flow.

This is a band that has been pretty prolific both in quantity and quality for some time now, so it’s no surprise that this is another solid album which only adds to their legacy. It’s unlikely to be held up like Simba by Rafiki as the future king, but that’s due to its unique birth and relationship to its predecessor.

WATCH ‘A HUNGER IN YOUR HAUNT / UNKNOWN MALE 01’ ON YOUTUBE
Biffy Clyro – ‘A Hunger In Your Haunt / Unknown Male 01’

The description as a sister record feels right. This is a continuation of the creative process for ‘A Celebration of Endings’ and is basically the second record of another double album for the band. When held together the two albums are certainly up there in terms of the bands releases.

‘A Hunger In Your Haunt’, ‘Witch’s Cup’ and ‘Unknown Male 01’ lead the way for the record and ensure the likely dynasty for the album in future set lists. All in all this is another Biffy Clyro album that earns your attention and continues the bands momentum on their path to glory.

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Live Reviews

Salem

Waterfront Studio, Norwich

Tuesday 19th October 2021

Salem

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SALEM – NORWICH WATERFRONT – LIVE REVIEW

It’s almost a year since Salem released their debut EP. An EP that was never intended to be released but a pandemic and a lockdown or three saw Will Gould and Matt Reynolds pull the trigger.

Of course, Gould is normally associated with being the charismatic frontman for Creeper. That original EP was born out of the creative process for the latest Creeper album ‘Sex, Death & the Infinite Void’; with Gould looking for a different outlet for some of his punkier output.

Following the positive reception to that first EP it was almost inevitable that another should follow and soon enough ‘Salem II’ arrived. At that point Salem became somewhat more than a creative outlet and more of a full blown side-project from Gould’s perspective. The collaboration between Gould and Reynolds appears to have given them both a new lease of life.

Read our review of ‘Salem II’ from Salem

With two EP’s it was again an inevitability that live shows would follow. So with a band in place Salem revealed a lengthy trek around the UK and tonight they arrive in Norwich at the Waterfront Studio.

Opening on the tour are Welsh rockers James and the Cold Gun. Creeper have always carefully curated their support acts and it’s clear Salem will follow suit. James and the Cold Gun are an ideal opener that deliver a blistering opening set that gets the audience ready for the main event.

The likes of ‘Plug Me In’, ‘Cheating on the Sun’ and ‘Long Way Home’ showcase the quality that the band possess. With great material, confident stage presence and plenty of energy, the future should be bright for the band.

Clearly the future is also looking bright for Salem. Yes, the weight of Gould’s name does some heavy lifting, but there are not many bands who could play a 19 date UK Tour within a year of their debut EP! The fact is again it’s the quality of the material which helps convince people to leave their homes and check out this new prospect.

Listen to ‘DRACULADS’ from Salem on our Spotify Hot List!

With just the two EP’s and a bonus cover of The Damned classic ‘New Rose’ making up the set list, tonight is short but very sweet. Gould is on top form clearly enjoying the change of pace, and the band as a whole are well knit.

By the end of encore track ‘Destroy Me’ it is well and truly a case of mission achieved for Salem. The crowd go home thoroughly entertained and Salem continue to build their own legacy.

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Read our review of ‘American Noir’ from Creeper

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Album Reviews

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes

Sticky

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes Sticky
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes – ‘Sticky’

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FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLESNAKES – ‘STICKY’

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes certainly have no issues in adapting and evolving. Each of their now four albums has managed to have its own identity in almost every way except one! That is that they are all clearly Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes records.

The trajectory of this band has often been signposted for the top since their initial inception just six years ago. With their headline performance at the special Download Pilot Festival this year, predications of headlining the main festival soon followed.

Read our review of Download Pilot Festival

There is no argument that this band is one of the most exciting live prospects on the circuit, but great live acts need great material to perform. ‘Sticky’ is the group’s fourth studio album and continues the hot streak of albums released in such a short time period.

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Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes – ‘Sticky’

On this record the band focus on their punk capabilities with something of a throwback album. That is in that the ten songs are all on the shorter side and the album as a whole clocks in at just 28 minutes. This is a fast paced punk rock record for sure, but sonically it’s a progressive punk record which leans into the pop sensibilities of the band.

This is an album packed with rock club dancefloor fillers, designed to get you moving. The album blends perfectly as a singular piece of art but each song is also allowed to shine. This is helped by the array of special guests with Lynks, Joe Talbot, Cassyette and Bobby Gillespie all featuring on the album.

Following their stunning performance at Donington Park, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes are heading to huge band status and a top notch album at this point is now surely going to solidify their status. ‘Sticky’ is exactly the album that the band needed to release at this point in their career.

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Live Reviews

VUKOVI

Waterfront Studio, Norwich

Tuesday 12th October 2021

VUKOVI

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Have you ever left a show with that euphoric feeling, knowing that you’ve just witnessed one of those special life-affirming shows that remind you why you love live music? SPOILER ALERT: this was one of those shows!

Let’s unpack the evening from the beginning then shall we? It’s cold, winter as they say is coming, but that means gig season is in full flow. The venue for the evening is the Waterfront Studio in Norwich, which is a great little room above the main venue and regularly plays host to these extra special intimate shows.

Tonight is sold out with roughly 200 eager music fans in attendance for a bill set to feature 3 bands all with growing reputations and raring to get back out on the road after the pain of the past 18+ months. This show also happens to be the first night of the tour with the element of the unknown thrown in.

Read our review of Download Pilot Festival

First on stage is a band that has been honing their craft for a few years now and appear ready to push on to the next level, Delaire the Liar. They are fast, heavy and archaic and ensure that the crowd are warmed up suitably having been stood out in the cold a few minutes before.

Then it’s time to bring the riffs as Press To MECO arrive on stage for their first show with their new line-up. Trusted fan favourite ‘A Quick Fix’ kicks off an impactful set before the band bring their latest album, ‘Transmute’ to life on stage.

Read our review of ‘Transmute’ from Press To MECO

‘A Test of Our Resolve’ sounds absolutely massive live and deserves to see the band gracing much bigger stages in the future. The crowd are really up for it tonight and as the band close out their short but oh so sweet set with ‘Gold’ and ‘Sabotage’, everybody is left wanting more from the band.

Press To MECO were always a force to be reckoned with live and this new line-up appears to have taken them up another notch or two. So, at this point the evening is progressing extremely well and is already a great gig, but we said it was special didn’t we?

There is still one act left and that act is VUKOVI. From the moment the band take to the stage to the moment they leave, VUKOVI have the audience in the palm of their hands. There must be something in the air, because a cold Tuesday night in Norwich has no right to have a crowd so up for it.

Over the next hour or so the band blast out a set of fast-paced, highly moshable songs that can only really be described these days as bangers! The control of the stage exerted by singer Janine Shilstone is uncanny and helps to make that special atmosphere needed for this to become an elite level gig.

WATCH ‘HURT’ FROM VUKOVI ON YOUTUBE
VUKOVI – ‘HURT’

The likes of ‘C.L.A.U.D.I.A’, ‘HURT’, ‘Run/Hide’ and ‘La Di Da’ are incredible tonight but really it’s the whole set that stands out and ensures that fans are sent out back into the cold feeling warm inside.

All three bands brought it tonight and the audience reciprocated in kind. With this only being night one of the tour, do yourself a favour and grab a ticket to one of the shows, get down there early and savour three bands all proving that the future is bright for British rock music!

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Live Reviews

Manic Street Preachers

Cambridge Corn Exchange

Monday 11th October 2021

Manic Street Preachers

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MANIC STREET PREACHERS – CAMBRIDGE CORN EXCHANGE – LIVE REVIEW

Manic Street Preachers are a legendary act at this point so it’s no surprise that their show at the Corn Exchange in Cambridge is sold out well in advance. A well-received new album doesn’t hurt either and that’s exactly what the band has in the shape of ‘The Ultra Vivid Lament’!

Read our review of ‘The Ultra Vivid Lament’ from Manic Street Preachers

Before the band grace the stage however we get the support act, Low Hummer. Seasoned gig goers have all experienced unknown support acts that surpass expectations, and sadly also those that sound like they’ve never picked up an instrument before that night. Thankfully tonight it’s the former as Low Hummer deliver an fantastic opening performance.

Confident and assured the band are given a generous 40 minute opening set and they make the very most of it with a performance that will have won over many new fans from the packed audience. Low Hummer, remember the name, definitely ones to watch.

There really isn’t any surprise however in what comes next, as Manic Street Preachers have grown their reputation on the back of live shows. Starting tonight with ‘Motorcycle Emptiness’, ‘Orwellian’ and ‘Your Love Alone Is Not Enough’ they instantly bring the crowd into play.

There are plenty of sing-a-long anthems to get through tonight with ‘You Stole the Sun From My Heart’, ‘Everything Must Go’ and ‘If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next’ all coming in the first half of the show.

Tonight is also an opportunity to witness the glory of some of the best from ‘The Ultra Vivid Lament’. ‘The Secret He Had Missed’, ‘Still Snowing in Sapporo’ and ‘Complicated Illusions’ all shining in amongst the established fan favourites.

WATCH ‘THE SECRET HE HAD MISSED’ ON YOUTUBE
Manic Street Preachers – ‘The Secret He Had Missed’

As the evening gets deep the band then break out a cover of Guns N Roses hit ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’. Why you might ask, but this is the Manic Street Preachers and as we touched on in our album review of ‘The Ultra Vivid Lament’ they have earned the right to do whatever they want.

There is still the likes of ‘Tsunami’, ‘You Love Us’ and ‘A Design For Life’ left to bring the evening to a close and as always send the crowd home happy. Long live the Manic Street Preachers!

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