Itâs fitting that Paramore come back to the UK around Easter time as their return has been received much like the second coming. Yes, youâd struggle to find a more engaged and dedicated audience than the hardcore Paramore fanbase.
Tonight their tour arrives in London at the gargantuan O2 Arena. Itâs within this cavernous space that opening act Rozi Plain serenade the early attendees. What I can hear sounds delightful however their sound does struggle to fill the venue.
Our next act donât struggle with that issue however as indie icons Bloc Party deliver a short and succinct set that mixes old and new to good measure. The uninitiated in the crowd seem somewhat unsure of what they are watching, but those familiar like myself have a great time with this gem of the landfill indie era. How can anybody not perk up to the likes of âBanquetâ, âFluxâ and âHelicopterâ?
Soon enough the lights are dimmed and Paramore arrive on stage where they quickly deliver two new tracks âYou Firstâ and âThe Newsâ from recent album âThis Is Whyâ. Soon thereafter classic tracks âThatâs What You Getâ and âPlaying Godâ kick the evening into another level.
The dynamics of arena seating has always intrigued and annoyed me; particularly the perhaps controversial issue of whether fans in seating should stand up during the show. Personally, itâs fine but it needs to be all or nothing â either everyone stands or everyone sits, not little pockets of standing people ignoring the fact they are blocking the view of those around that remain seated.
The other thing that gets me is the disrespect of only standing during certain songs. Tonight it was telling the moment Hayley Williams said âmy band are letting me play a solo songâ or âZac is going to sing a HalfNoise songâ that the vast majority instantly sat down before even a note was played clearly indicating that they werenât interested in even giving these tracks an opportunity.
This was a theme throughout the night with the older hits getting people stood up (usually to just film the song on their phones), and anything more obscure being treated with utter contempt. This isnât of course a new phenomenon but it was very noticeable this evening.
Performance wise though, whether the audience reciprocated or not, the entire set was Paramore on top form. It was great to see the band clearly enjoying themselves again, something else which was evident from the night.
By the encore of âAll I Wantedâ and âThis Is Whyâ, the band have delivered the goods and the fans whether sat down or stood up are all clearly pleased with the show. Itâs great to have the band back!
Some six years have passed since Paramore released their previous record âAfter Laughterâ. A lot has happened in the intervening time and the world is a different place now, a this is reflected in their new record, âThis Is Whyâ, which is their most mature offering yet.
Speculation and conjecture over the last few years attempted to deduce the sonic composition of Paramoreâs next album. Would guitars become more prominent? Would singer Hayley Williams solo direction impact on the band? Well, Williams herself offered Bloc Party as a heavy influence and on the first half of this album that is clear for all to hear.
With their recent releases Paramore have shown that they are far greater than their simplistic pop-punk beginnings, although many fans will always clamour for a return to that style. The band have certainly found themselves entrenched in those circles again through recent festival appearances, but alas those fans will be left unfilled by âThis Is Whyâ.
The answers to the above questions are probably a little of everything. This is distinctly a modern Paramore record, and one that isnât afraid to dig into some wide-ranging influences. The biggest influence (sans Bloc Party!) though may be their own musical identity. This feels like perhaps the most honest album yet from the band, unshackled and ready to fully explore themselves.
The second half of the album particularly feels like a band testing what they are capable of when they work outside the confines of their own past. This being a relatively short album at thirty-six minutes, the listening experience is succinct and the delivery precise. There are tracks that will flourish live such as the title track and âThe Newsâ, but there is also plenty to dissect here beyond the obvious.
This is one of those albums that deserves your undivided attention, just stick in your head phones, close your eyes and enjoy a band mastering their craft.
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
We have plenty of great new music to check out this week and we start with Paramore! This week saw the band debut their latest track from their upcoming album, ‘This Is Why’! You can listen to ‘C’est Comme Ăa’ above ahead of the release of the album on February 10th!
U2 – ‘Pride (In The Name Of Love) (Songs of Surrender)’
Next up, it’s U2 who have announced a new collection entitled, ‘Songs of Surender’. The set includes 40 new acoustic and re-imagined recordings of classic songs from the U2 back catalogue.
The following message accompanied the announcement from the band:
It was a big news week for Enter Shikari this week with the band sharing news that they will release new album, ‘A Kiss For The Whole World’ on April 21st.
The band also debuted their latest single, ‘(pls) set me on fire’, which you can listen to above.
And if that wasn’t enough, the group have also announced a unique monthly residency in the UK throughout February, March and April.
Rou Reynolds comments on the singleâs conception: “Honestly, I thought I was f*****. Iâve never felt so detached from my soul, my purpose, my f****** spirit. I didnât write music for almost two years. The longest Iâd gone before that was two weeks. I was broken. Itâs almost as if my brain had asked: âWhat is the point in music if it cannot be shared? What is the point in writing music if itâs not to be experienced with others?â and then promptly switched itself off. â(pls) set me on fireâ grew out of that desperation. This song is a projectile vomit of positive energy. Every emotion trapped inside me for two years, finally set free.”
Reynolds continues: âBack to basics. This band – my best friends – bundled into an old farmhouse, miles away from anywhere. Off-grid, and ready to rediscover ourselves. This album is powered by the sun, the most powerful object in our solar system. And I think you can tell. Itâs a collection of songs that represent an explosive reconnection with what Enter Shikari is. The beginning of our second actâ.
Continued industry delays to vinyl production has resulted in You Me At Six postponing the release of their new album, ‘Truth Decay’, until February 10th.
They did however offer new music this week and you can listen to their track, ‘:mydopamine:’, above!
Hundred Reasons will release their first album in 15 years, ‘Glorious Sunset’, on February 24th. But this week the band shared their latest single, ‘Replicate’, which you can listen to above.
Singer Colin Doran had the following to say about the lyrical theme behind the new song:
“Replicate is about the cycle of thinking that whatever you do just is not good enough despite the person closest to you being forgiving and supportive. It’s also about trying to second guess how a person may feel about an action but not being correct and getting it wrong.
There isn’t long until Black Stone Cherry return to these shores for a headline arena run alongside The Darkness.
Ahead of those dates though, the band has found time to release new track, ‘Out of Pocket’, which you can listen to above.
Talking about the song Chris Robertson says, “Out of Pocket is a song born out of that exact feeling. The song was what I personally, and I think a lot of us, felt over these very trying last couple of years. Facing your demons, knowing that you have to come out the other side stronger than before.”
Black Star Riders will release their new album, ‘Wrong Side of Paradise’ on January 20th, but this week saw the band share new track, ‘Catch Yourself On’, which you can check out above.
Ricky Warwick comments: â âCatch Yourself Onâ is a phrase often used in my home country of Northern Ireland, itâs used to tell someone to âstop being ridiculousâ or âto get realâ. Weâre sadly becoming slaves to technology and social media (guilty as charged). We donât think twice about sharing our inner most feelings and thoughts with a world of strangers⊠We seem to be losing the ability to think for ourselves. Technology is controlling us, instead we should be controlling technology. It feels like itâs already surpassing human interaction.”
There was also new music on offer this week from Delain as they continue to prepare for the release of new album, ‘Dark Waters’. That album may arrive on February 10th, but you can listen to new single, ‘Moth to a Flame’, above now!
Keyboardist, founder and main songwriter Martijn Westerholt on ‘Moth to a Flame’:
“I’m extremely proud of this song. It’s one of the most upbeat songs on the album while also having the heaviest guitar riff, and Diana’s vocals are outstanding! It’s a killer combination that I think fans will love.”
The plethora of great new music continues in our News Report with Lottery Winners. This week saw the band debut new single, ‘Worry’, which you can check out above.
We close this portion of our News Report with ten56., who have released their new EP, ‘Downer Part. 2’, and to celebrate they have released a video for the track ‘Saiko‘.
The band comments, “We’re all extremely gassed up to put out the second and final (?) chapter of the ‘Downer’ saga ; we went all in on Part.1 and definitely felt the pressure to deliver with Part.2, we went in harder and we’re all extremely satisfied and excited to see what everyone thinks.
‘Saiko’ is the kind of energy that we wanted to bring back after releasing ‘RLS’, we hope that everyone enjoys what we’ve put together, and that people will find little pieces of themselves littered around the EP. Downer’ Part.2 is the next step in the continuous evolution of ten56., turn it up loud and get lost in the discomfort. Cheers.”
Grab your copy here, and be sure to follow us on Social Media and subscribe on Youtube here, as we’ll be joined this coming week by the band on our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast!
Goth-pop mistress Harpy has gifted the world with new music, the empowering ‘Swallow’.
Harpy divulges… “Swallow sounds like the traumatised hate f*** child of Sam Smith’s âUnholyâ and Kornâs âTwisted Transistorâ. We wrote this song almost two years ago, and up until this point Iâve really just been setting the scene for this moment. I am calling out abusers and manipulators through this song, some even by name, they had their chance to be better, time to taste the truth. I hope this song gives power to those that have been unforgivably hurt by others, who for too long have abused positions of power.”
ANGER PARTY – ‘Eat You Alive’
Alternative Horror Rock band ANGER PARTY have unveiled their debut offering âEat You Aliveâ.
âBlood, guts, flayed flesh and a shattered smile – these are the things that plague our minds. âEat You Aliveâ explores the surreal, menacing corners of our nightmares and how they breach the lines of reality in a modern world.â â Guitarist Owen Claxton.
Feral Family – ‘Wee Van Bee’
Yorkshire’s Feral Family join our playlist with their track, ‘Wee Van Bee’, which centres on an anti-hero character.
The band say, “Wee Van Bee preys on the weak and vulnerable, shucking his snake-oil remedies place to place. But far beyond being out to make a quick buck – there is something far darker at stake”.
Itâs been another big revival year for the music industry following the pandemic years, and itâs been another year of growth for us at Full Pelt Music! Weâve reviewed 67 albums, 7 EPâs, 6 festivals and 38 gigs in 2022 as some level of normality or even stability has returned to our industry.
That said, there are still many issues facing the industry with livelihoods, venues and organisations at risk for a plethora of reasons. Whilst government action is required in many places, what we as fans can do is support the industry with our money. Times are tough for us all, but purchasing an album, buying a t-shirt, nabbing a ticket and grabbing a drink whilst at a gig does so much to support the industry that we love.
In our now annual end of year awards weâll be giving out seven hotly contested awards looking at both the recorded and live sides of the industry. Adding to our well established Album of the Year award this year will be the new EP of the Year award. Weâll also once again be revealing our Single of the Year. All awards have seen fierce competition, as once again itâs been a high quality year for new releases.
On the live side of things, weâll announce both our Gig and Festival of the Year awards. This year of course provided our first full calendar of music since 2019! We were able to witness many great performances this year and we canât wait to share with you are favourites.
Lastly weâll look at the artists whoâve had special years as we award our Artist and âDiscoverâ New Artist of the Year awards. So without further ado, letâs work through those award catagories!
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
It has been a truly magnificent year for album releases and getting a spot anywhere in our Top 50 was hard enough but in particular the Top 10 was incredibly tightly fought. You can read the full list here.
âIMPERAâ from Ghost was able to take the crown this year but any of the top 10 couldâve taken that spot. âReelingâ from The Mysterines in particular would likely have won in any other year, but the majesty and magnificence of âIMPERAâ proved unbeatable.
Winner:
âImperaâ by Ghost
The contenders:
âReelingâ by The Mysterines, âFTHCâ by Frank Turner, âSkinty Fiaâ by Fontaines D.C. & âThe Price of Lifeâ by Bob Vylan
Previous Winners:
2021 â âBlue Weekendâ by Wolf Alice 2020 â âUltra Monoâ by IDLES
EP OF THE YEAR
For the first time this year, we are separating EPâs out of our main award and giving them their own pedestal. That alone is the truest compliment to the quality of EPâs on offer this year.
Again, all EPâs in our top 5 are worthy of the number one spot, but itâs âcoming of (r)ageâ from As Sirens Fall that pips it. Catchy as hell single, âheaven (spat us back out)â, helps elevate the release to be crowed our first ever EP of the Year.
Winner:
âcoming of (r)ageâ by As Sirens Fall
The contenders:
âFalse Startâ by James and the Cold Gun, âSCPâ by Oakman, âTyrantsâ by IOTA and âBLACKGOLDâ by BLACKGOLD
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
We look now at our Single or Song of the Year. In considering the award this year weâve considered the ear worms that have stayed with us after live performances. Weâve also pondered which songs instantly struck a chord and created a buzz of excitement for the albums and live shows that would follow.
Songs which fell into both of these considerations competed for the award and it was again a tight decision, but ultimately for us this year âDangerousâ from The Mysterines has not just ticked both boxes but also remained on heavy rotation throughout the year despite being an early arrival in 2022. Thatâs why that track is our 2022 Single of the Year!
Check out the winning single below:
The Mysterines – ‘Dangerous’
Winner:
âDangerousâ by The Mysterines
The contenders:
âTalk Hard’ by Jamie Lenman, âComplianceâ by Muse, âWicked Waysâ by Halestorm, âSpillwaysâ by Ghost
Previous Winners:
2021 â âTest of our Resolveâ from Press To MECO 2020 – âObeyâ by Bring Me The Horizon feat. Yungblud
FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
2022 was the first full festival season since 2019 and what a return it was. All eyes were on Glastonbury once again, British Summer Time curated a stunning line-up, Download Festival breathed fire and 2000trees was able to remind everyone whatâs so great about smaller festivals.
Our winner this year though is Reading & Leeds who went big, sold out and delivered an action packed weekend even with the huge loss of Rage Against The Machine amongst others. Always a perennial contender for this award, 2022 felt like the year the event reclaimed its identity.
Glastonbury Festival, British Summer Time, Download Festival, 2000trees Festival
Previous Winners:
2021 â Download Pilot Festival 2020 â Wild Fields Festival
GIG OF THE YEAR
Weâve reviewed many gigs this year but in reality there could only ever be one winner. Rammsteinâs tour is less of a concert and more of an experience; one that everyone, fan of the band or not, should experience at least once.
Beyond that there was still some incredible, top tier gigs in 2022 and our contenders are all worthy of glory, but Rammstein are currently on a whole different level.
Royal Blood @ O2 Arena, London, Ghost @ Resorts World Arena, Birmingham, Muse @ Eventim Apollo Hammersmith, London, The Killers @ Carrow Road, Norwich, The Hella Mega Tour @ London Stadium, London, Creeper @ Roundhouse, London, Idlewild @ O2 Kentish Town Forum, London
Previous Winners:
2021 â Bring Me The Horizon @ O2 Arena, London 2020 â Frank Turner @ Arboretum, Nottingham
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Artist of the Year now and for this award we look for somebody who has had a huge, perhaps even career-defining year. Previous winners Frank Turner and Biffy Clyro have done so by delivering incredible feats, far above the norm.
This year was a big year for many acts, but weâve gone for Bring Me The Horizon as a band that have had a career-defining twelve months. Long tipped as festival headliners at a major event, many felt that the time would never come for one of the best live bands on the planet. Big releases, sold-out tours, no matter what the group did they never seemed to be given that torch, that is until this year!
Watching Bring Me The Horizon step up and headline at Reading & Leeds this summer felt like a real moment, not just for the band but for the whole scene. For any metal band, let alone one once considered so unfashionable to headline the biggest festivals in the UK is massive.
Already announced to finally headline Download Festival in 2023, 2022 will forever be linked for Bring Me The Horizon to taking that final career-defining set. Throw in their genre-defying collaboration with Ed Sheeran, 2022âs Artist of the Year had to be Bring Me The Horizon.
Winner:
Bring Me The Horizon
The contenders:
Ghost, Rammstein, Biffy Clyro, Muse
Previous Winners:
2021 â Biffy Clyro 2020 â Frank Turner
âDISCOVERâ NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
As a publication we always want to put new music at the heart of what we do, and thatâs why our final award is perhaps our most important! Our âDiscoverâ New Artist of the Year is awarded to the act weâve chosen to highlight on our âDiscoverâ New Music Playlist and Podcast who we feel has made the biggest impact this year.
At the beginning of 2022 we put the spotlight on new Colchester act PET NEEDS as they continued to promote their debut album, âFractured Party Musicâ. From that point on the band never looked back with a world tour, a second album (‘Primtime Entertainment’) and a sold out hometown show all under their belts.
They even found the time to become the first (and only at the time of writing) band to progress from our âDiscoverâ New Music Podcast and appear on The Full Pelt Music Podcast! Yes, fighting off some stiff competition for the âDiscoverâ New Artist of the Year award in 2022 is PET NEEDS!
Winners:
PET NEEDS
The Contenders:
BERRIES, As Sirens Fall, Oakman, James and the Cold Gun, Daytime TV, MOSKITO
Previous Winners:
2020 â Miss Vincent
So, thatâs it! Another year in the record books, itâs been another difficult year and it has again been particularly tough on the music industry. That said, weâve had a full year of live music for the first time since 2019 and the creative juices remain flowing with some absolutely stunning new releases over the past twelve months.
Below you can enjoy some of our favourite gig photos of the year courtesy of our wonderful photographer Denis!
All đž (c) Denis Gorbatov / Full Pelt Music
We hope youâve enjoyed our The Year in Review 2022 and we wish you a very Happy New Year. Hereâs hoping 2023 is a good one!
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
This week we begin with a handful of festival announcements including one that is always a hotly anticipation one, who is playing Reading & Leeds Festivals?
Your headliners this year are Sam Fender, Foals, The Killers, Lewis Capaldi, Billie Eilish and Imagine Dragons. They’ll be joined by the likes of Wet Leg, Nothing But Thieves, Slowthai, You Me At Six, Baby Queen, Inhaler, Don Broco and The Snuts.
Sticking to the August Bank Holiday weekend, Victorious Festival also revealed their first acts for next year this week including Friday night headliner Jamiroquai.
Also playing over the weekend will be The Vaccines, Amyl & The Sniffers, The Coral, The Enemy, Crawlers and many more.
Red Hot Chili Peppers extend Stadium Tour into 2023
We move our News Report now onto the best tour announcements from the past week and we begin with the news that Red Hot Chili Peppers will extend their global Stadium Tour into 2023.
Next year will see the legendary act play in London and Glasgow with support coming from The Roots and King Princess.
The Black Keys have this week announced their long awaited return to the UK after an eight year absence.
The band will play arena shows in London, Manchester and Glasgow with support from Spoon.
âAfter 8 long years, we are excited to say The Black Keys are coming back to Europe and the UK. We canât wait to see you at the shows in these iconic venuesâ the duo says.
We have plenty of juicy tours in our News Report this week and next we turn to Deaf Havana. The band have revealed that they will be back on the road in March and April.
DMAâs continue to tease new music from their fourth album ‘How Many Dreams?’, with the release of new track, ‘Olympia’, which you can check out above.
Guitarist Matt Mason comments on âOlympiaâ: ââOlympiaâ was written for a crowd, and is a dedication to all of our fans, especially the ones whoâve been with us from the start. we canât wait to play it for you all.â
Their new album is out March 31st, pre-order your copy here.
Levellers have announced their brand new acoustic album ‘Together All The Way’ will be released on March 10th. You can listen to new single, ‘Down By The River ‘O” above.
Of the album and recording, the Levellers say, âIt was truly a fun record to make, under the rigorous guidance of Sean. Seanâs a musician himself, always bringing ideas and get out of jail free suggestions when we got stuck. Itâs a stripped back, raw iteration of the collective with deep folk leanings. As energetic as the first one but definitely different.â
Blondshell explains, “I was obsessed with the [US teen drama] show âVeronica Marsâ as a kid and I was revisiting it around the time I wrote this song. I wanted to sing about that childhood era when I was being exposed to a lot more than I was comfortable with. âGimme shelterâ refers to the song but Iâm also saying please give me shelter from graphic TV and film, from New York City, overwhelming lyrics, etc. I think the song is just about having my boundaries crossed and the effects of those transgressions (for example, growing up to think men are hot if theyâre assholes).”
overpass – ‘3AM’
overpass have shared their latest single, ‘3AM’.
They commented, ââ3AMâ is an innocent coming-of-age song that I think most people can relate to. Itâs about the excitement you get when youâre going out, knowing you might be able to connect with that person, or at least hope that they will call you back when the night is over and done with.â
Life In Mono – ‘Blackout’
Life In Mono have just shared double A-side singles ‘Blackout/Sex To White Noise’
Speaking about the inspiration behind the singles, vocalist Sarah Clayton says, âBlackout is about people in your life that you know are no good for you but are hard to give up, whereas Sex To White Noise is about trying to find a connection that makes you feel something when youâre feeling really numb. If youâve ever been on prozac youâll know!”
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
Where else could we start this week other than the sensational return of Paramore to the UK?
The newly regrouped band will be heading this way next April for an arena tour taking in Glasgow, London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester and Dublin, Ireland.
Support will come from Bloc Party!
Paramore will release their new album, ‘This Is Why’ on February 10th.
Def Leppard & Motley Crue bring Stadium Tour to the UK
Following a hugely successful joint jaunt across America, both Def Leppard and Motley Crue have announced that they are taking their tour across the world.
In the UK that equates to a Stadium/Festival tour in May and July next year including a hometown show in Sheffield and a date at Wembley Stadium.
âAfter finally getting back on the road and having a monumental summer tour in the US & Canada this year, weâre beyond thrilled to be bringing this massive stadium tour to major cities all over the world, and kicking off Europe in Sheffield where it all started for us 45 years ago. Weâre looking to forward to seeing you out there, somewhere soon!â said Joe Elliott of Def Leppard.
“We had an incredible time playing The Stadium Tour in North America this summer and we truly can’t wait to take the show around the globe with The WORLD Tour in 2023. CrĂŒeheads in Latin America and Europe: Get ready! We’re coming for you next and can’t wait to finally see all of you out there again next year!” Mötley CrĂŒe said in a joint statement.
DMA’s also announced a new UK tour this week with the band on the road next April where they will finish up at Brixton Academy.
The band have also revealed that their fourth album, ‘How Many Dreams?’, will be out March 31st. You can check out new single, ‘Everybody’s Saying Thursday’s The Weekend’ below.
DMA’s – ‘Everybody’s Saying Thursday’s The Weekend’
Guitarist Jonny Took comments: ââEverybodyâs Saying Thursdayâs The Weekendâ, weâve all thought it, weâve all felt it. This song is about letting go of the things that weigh us down and embracing the future with a sense of optimism. Stepping in the âRight light in the dark timesâ.â
Another band revealing a UK tour for 2023 this past week was Those Damn Crows. Fresh from touring with Monster Truck, the Welsh rockers will play a run of shows next February including a huge show at Swansea Arena.
The band will be releasing their new album, ‘Inhale/Exhale’, on February 17th.
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes debut ‘The Drugs’ feat. Jamie T
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes – ‘The Drugs’ feat. Jamie T
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes also had new music to share this week as they teamed up with Jamie T. You can check out the T featuring single, ‘The Drugs’, above.
Commenting on the collaboration, Carter says; “Jamie and I had been talking about making music for years and when he asked me to sing on his tune ‘British Hell’, I jumped at the chance.
When I asked him to sing on ‘The Drugs’ he returned the favour in perfect style, and we filmed a video at Rose of Mercy.”
Norway’s SlĂžtface this week shared new single, ‘HAPPY’, which you can check out above. They also revealed that a new EP is on the way in February next year.
Shea had the following to say about the new single and EP release:
“For this upcoming EP the main themes Iâve been exploring are really joy, happiness and all of the opposites of these feelings – what it means to feel happy or content. “Happy” is one of the first songs we finished writing together with the new band who perform the SlĂžtface songs live and also contribute on most of the recorded music. Tobias, our guitarist, came up with the riff, and he, Nils, Marie, Simen and I just jammed around that in the rehearsal space, which was a positive change after working in a studio setting for a lot of the other new SlĂžtface songs.
Lyrically, the song is very direct, simple and honest. I was working on how to write about the themes of the EP and thought Iâd try saying it as simply as I could. I truly do just want to feel happy. And after a few years of soul searching as to what that could mean, this felt like the most direct way to express those feelings.”
Showcasing the end of an era, Mimi Barks has shared her sinister new ear shattering single ‘ABYSS‘. The single will feature on her recently announced mixtape âDEADGIRLâ which is set for release in December 2022.
ââFrom hatred for myself and the world, narcissistic & delusional aloofness and chaos in my brain, to self-growth through spirituality. From self-hailing to self-healing; this is the final dance for letting go of the past.
Itâs the rebirth of a broken child, a DEADGIRL. Now reborn as a leader, as her own god; indestructible and inviolable.This is revenge.â – Mimi Barks
Void of Vision – ‘HELL HELL HELL’
Melbourne’s Void Of Vision unforgettably spiral headfirst into the the abyss with a brand new single ‘HELL HELL HELL ‘
“HELL HELL HELL is a brand new world of Void Of Vision that has definitely been hinted at or given a nod in previous work,” shares Void Of Vision vocalist Jack Bergin, “But this is where we truly get to showcase our own raw and explicit take on it. Itâs been so insanely fulfilling to create, feeling so foreign yet strangely just as much at home within our discography alongside all our other works“.
“To let this creativity flow so effortlessly and be able to share this with the confidence we would alongside any other piece of work we share is truly a full circle moment for us,” Bergin continues. “Feeling as if weâve been working to bury old material and leave it in the past and adding a whole new style for us into the mix at this stage has been almost therapeutic, challenging ourselves and pushing each other to new levels is now the norm for Void Of Vision and exactly where youâll find the best material from Void Of Vision“.
SAFIRE – ‘OUT FOR BLOOD’
‘OUT FOR BLOOD’ is new solo artist SAFIRE‘s debut single and epitomises the singerâs rage and desire to shift gender dynamics.
On the sound that SAFIRE has honed, she tells us: âYou can always expect me to be energetic and singing/screaming about something I feel passionately about. Iâm all about female empowerment and my tracks are coming from that place. They are as much a reminder to me as they are a message to my audience! I want my audience to feel uplifted, empowered and strong and I write music in that frame of mind most of the time.â
Iron Maiden announce new Triple Vinyl to commemorate 40th Anniversary of ‘The Number of the Beast’
The legendary Iron Maiden have announced the release of a commemorative triple black vinyl album in honour of the 40th Anniversary of seminal third album, ‘The Number Of The Beast’, which was also the first to feature Bruce Dickinson on vocals and was to become the record which catapulted the band to international stardom.
Included in the new vinyl package is ‘Beast Over Hammersmith’ – available now officially for the very first time on vinyl – featuring the live concert from March 1982âs now legendary Hammersmith Odeon London show from the ‘Beast On The Road’ World Tour.
Recorded only days before the release of ‘The Number Of The Beast’ album, itâs remarkable to think these now classic songs at that time were still brand new, unfamiliar and being heard live by fans for the very first time. A real piece of history in the making.
Steve Harris comments, âOn this vinyl release we get the chance to put âTotal Eclipse’ in its rightful spot on the album for the first time. The reason it didnât make it in the first place was that it was all a mad rush when we were finishing the record and we had to get the âRun To The Hillsâ single out before the tour and we basically had to pick a B-side and it was between âGanglandâ and âTotal Eclipseâ and we just picked the wrong one, really! I think âTotal Eclipseâ is a stronger song and the album would have been stronger if it had been on there.â
With new album, ‘The Calton Songs’, out soon on October 14th, Gun have shared the new reinvigorated version of firm fan favourite ‘Inside Out’, which you can listen to above.
As Jools Gizzi says: âWhen the pandemic hit we realised that it was the perfect time to try and counteract the bleakness that was all around. It felt like we couldnât write anything, or of course tour. Out of that darkness came a desire to completely rework these songs that we know the fans love, and bring a different, stripped down vibeâ.
Dante Gizzi added: âItâs ironic that those feelings of negativity led to something so positive, a celebration of our career up to nowâ.
VUKOVI will be releasing their new album, ‘NULA’, on October 7th. This week saw the band share the latest single, ‘QUENCH’, which you can listen to above.
Willie J Healey has announced that his new album, ‘Bunny’, will be out March 24th. Healey, who support Florance + The Machine on tour this November, also debuted new track, ‘Dreams’ which you can listen to above.
Willie says, ââDreamsâ is a song I wrote when thinking about the cost of an ambition. The idea behind the video is, what would life be like if you had to carry all of the money you made on your back, and that if you did have to carry it you probably wouldnât want as much.ââ
Asylums have this week debuted their new single, ‘Instant Coffee’, which you can check out above.
The track comes from upcoming album, ‘Signs of Life’, which is out on October 28th.
Producer Dave Eringa says of âInstant Coffeeâ:âItâs like all of Lukeâs songwriting to date has been leading up to Instant Coffee, a beautifully melancholic perfect pop song with real depth! Late 90âs Albarn meets the great bits of American indie at a classical concert & they all get together for a party!â
Incredibly talented youngster Nandi Bushell took the next step in her musical evolution this week but debuted her first single, ‘The Shadows’, which you can listen to above.
“Early in 2022 my Dad fell into a depression as his autoimmune disease worsened. It was a difficult time for our family. I wanted to help cheer my Dad up by writing a song for him. He would describe his feelings to me and I would put them into lyrics letting him know, I would be there for him.
My Dad is now doing much better, he is on medication that is helping with his autoimmune disease and has recovered from his depression.
If you are suffering from mental health issues, please reach out for help. If you know of any good charities, groups or organisation in your area please share them in the comments for others.
Razorlight frontman Johnny Borrell this week debuted his new musical project, Jealous Nostril. The trio also includes Mystery Jets Jack Flanagan and drummer ELLiS D.
You can watch the video for their debut single, ‘Phase 6’, above.
The group also announced their first live dates in St. Albans and London, with tickets available here.
After a successful debut event this year, Firestorm Festival will return to Manchester in August 2023 for a second edition.
The first waves of acts include Kris Barras Band, When Rivers Meet, Hollowstar, Jack J Hutchinson and former ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast guests Scruffy Bear.
Desertfest returns to London in May and this week revealed the first acts for the festival including Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, Graveyard, Kadavar and more.
We bring our News Report towards a close now with the best tour announcements from the past week and start with Tom Grennan.
Grennan revealed an Arena Tour set for March next year which concludes at the O2 Arena in London.
The news follows new single, ‘All These Nights’ and comes ahead of new album ‘What Ifs and Maybes’.
Speaking about the new album, Tom said:Â âI’ve called my new album What Ifs & Maybes. It’s about going with your gut, not your head, because you never know what’s going to happen. I’m not afraid to jump into the unknown – because it’s exciting! It’s about rolling the dice and living your best life with nothing to lose. I’m in a new creative space, and I know I’m finally the artist I want to be. I’m so buzzing for these shows, my biggest gigs to date. I can’t wait to get out and play these new songs to everyone. Let’s go!”
The tour announcements keep coming in our News Report this week, and next up is Elles Bailey. Bailey will be playing a lengthy run of dates early next year including a date at Lafayette in London.
Von Hertzen Brothers are in the UK for Planet Rock Winter’s End Festival in February. Fans will now have additional chances to catch the band with headline shows now added in Manchester and London.
Our final tour announcement in our News Report this week comes from Sleep Token and it’s a massive tour for the band as they step into venues such as Brixton Academy.
TikTok star and queen of angsty pop/rock, Charlotte Sands, has released her hard-hitting, fan favourite single âTantrumâ.
On the track, she said, ââTantrumâ is so special to me because since the first time I played it live, people immediately latched onto it and have been fighting for its release ever since. This song not only represents experiences of anxiety, panic, and rebellion throughout my life and career but also the journey and relationship between me and the people who have made my career possible. Iâve been playing it live for over a year now and Iâm thankful for the people who have pushed me out of my comfort zone to release a song that without them would still be sitting in a folder somewhere on my phone. I am overwhelmed with excitement for this song to finally be out in the world, itâs been a year in the making (almost to the exact day) and I canât wait to finally be able to throw a tantrum together.â
As Sirens Fall – ‘heaven (spat us back out)’
As Sirens Fall share their new single, ‘heaven (spat us back out)’.
âi started writing heaven (spat us back out) just as our last ep âlâappel du vide (part 1)â was releasing. that ep was a project about grief, and âheavenâ very much comes from that same place. itâs about giving up on the hopeful delusions that often come packaged with grief. itâs about realising youâre coming of age in a dark world and choosing to face it all and grow up anyway – choosing to live.â Mikey Lord, Vocals
Arliston – ‘Hold My Wine’
Arliston return with the stirring and spirited new single, ‘Hold My Wine’, taken from forthcoming EP âEven In The Shadeâ.Â
Vocalist Jack Ratcliffe says, âWeâve been wanting to make something a bit more playful for a while, so when we first hit on that chorus idea and made a silly middle-class pun on âhold my beerâ, everything just fell into place around it. This one was a lot of fun to make.â
Jack adds,âThe song is about that occasional moment of recognition when you look up from the narrow corridor of your own thoughts and are seized by the idea that everyone else has progressed and developed, while you are stuck in an unchanged rut. The protagonist attempts to do something about it in the chorus â but inevitably, he gets it wrong.âÂ
Hayley Williams – FLOWERS for VASES / descansos – Album Review
Last year Hayley Williams shed her Paramore bandmates for her first solo effort âPetals For Armorâ. We enjoyed her debut so much, that we included the album in our Top 20 Albums of 2020.
Williams has now returned with a surprise release for her second solo record âFLOWERS For VASES / descansosâ.
As with its predecessor âFLOWERS For VASES / descansosâ is far removed from the sound of early Paramore as Williams looks to cement her own musical path. Williams’ distinctive voice does however lend a sense of familiarity.
Hayley Williams – ‘First Thing To Go’
Williams recorded the album at home and the record is heavily intertwined with âPetals For Armorâ. But, whilst Williams’ first album brought together a plethora of musical talent, this album sees Williams credited as âAll songs written and performed by Hayley Williamsâ.
This album certainly feels like a statement from Williams, who has been targeted with many criticisms over the years in relation to her role in Paramore.
The record flows perfectly whilst journeying through folk, country and pop. Itâs tender and warm. Itâs thoughtful yet uplifting. Really it is a stunning piece of art. Its simplicity creates a majesty that elevates the music to powerful heights.
On this album, Williams has managed to truly showcase her songwriting and musical talents for the world to admire. The word masterpiece is thrown around too often, but when the dust settles on Williams career, this album will be held up like Simba in the Lion King signalling the dawning of a new era.
