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Album Reviews

Jerry Cantrell

Jerry Cantrell

I Want Blood

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JERRY CANTRELL – I WANT BLOOD – ALBUM REVIEW

Given the magnitude of his day job with Alice In Chains, it can be easy to forget the some of the solo work completed by Jerry Cantrell. 2021’s ‘Brighten’ was his first solo effort in almost twenty years and reminded fans that he has more strings to his bow (or guitar in this case).

His 2002 solo album ‘Degradation Trip’ was a hidden gem of an era dominated by nu-metal. It offered the familiar roots of his AIC work but branched out into the popular styles of the time.

Mike Bordin and Rob Trujillo were both key components of that record and they are back for his new release, ‘I Want Blood’, alongside the likes of fellow previous collaborators Duff McKagan, Greg Puciato, Gil Sharone and Lola Colette.

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Jerry Cantrell – ‘Vilified’

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It’s perhaps not a surprise then that this record feels like it has taken the best from each of his previous solo releases, a dose of AIC and a little pinch of experimentation to achieve something of a best of mix.

Indeed, if you are a fan of any of his previous work – you are going to fall in love with this album! If on the other hand you’ve never been a fan, then don’t expect this album that change that.

Either way though there are many worse ways that you could spend forty-six minutes, and you’ll undoubtedly leave with a renewed respect for this iconic musician.

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Album Reviews

Skegss

Skegss

Pacific Highway Music

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SKEGSS – PACIFIC HIGHWAY MUSIC – ALBUM REVIEW

The trio that was a four-piece is now a duo as Skegss release their third album, ‘Pacific Highway Music’. Whilst these changes have all been amicable, there has been a regular theme of change and storm in their now decade long existence.

That does make you wonder if the lyrics “one day I’m gonna get out of my way” in the record opening ‘Tradewinds’ is going to be something of a self-fulfilling prophecy. The remaining duo are after all the two original school friends who started the whole thing – Jonny Lani (drums) and Ben Reed (vocals, guitar, bass).

As this record kicks off with strong vibes of prime Strokes, you certainly feel that if they can enter a period of consistency and stability then perhaps Skegss can become the latest Aussie export to make big waves overseas.

They have after all already had great success on home turf with their last album, ‘Rehearsal’, going one better than their debut ‘My Own Mess’ by achieving number one in the prestigious ARIA Charts.

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Skegss – ‘High Beaming’

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Recorded in iconic studios, produced and demoed alongside leading figures, and written with new freedom, ‘Pacific Highway Music’ is undoubtedly the bands most sonically ambitious and formed release to date.

The likes of ‘Spaceman’ show a real maturity whilst maintaining their playful surf rock roots. Across these eleven tracks, there are emotions, there are sun-soaked guitars, there is playful lyricism and there is a sense of unshackling the past and looking to the future.

What this album lacks in terms of potency when compared to fellow exports The Chats and Amyl and the Sniffers, it makes up with its honest charm. Less the album to mosh to in the pub, more the record to chill out to on the beach with afterwards!

There is clearly something about Skegss, they wouldn’t have made it this far if there wasn’t. Perhaps now though it’s time for them to get out of their own way in order to realise their full potential.

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EP Reviews

PVRIS

F.I.L.T.H

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PVRIS – F.I.L.T.H – EP REVIEW

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Album Reviews

BERRIES

BERRIES

BERRIES

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BERRIES – BERRIES – ALBUM REVIEW

2022’s ‘How We Function’, introduced us to the colourful world of BERRIES, and now the trio are ready to take their quirky sound to another level on their self-titled sophomore release.

With a slight tweak to their line-up and releasing through the always reliable Xtra Mile Recordings, it’s great to hear the band really homing in on what makes them special. Equal doses methodical and chaotic, these ten tracks are another sonic rainbow of delicate melodies and rousing riffs.

There is a plethora of influences and genres represented within the tracks, but whilst sometimes that makes a record feel disjointed – the uniqueness of BERRIES instead makes the record an exhilarating rollercoaster. There are plenty of twists and turns, lulls and peaks and an overarching sense of urgency.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘WATCHING WAX’
BERRIES – ‘Watching Wax’

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Working with renowned production wizard Adrian Bushby, who mixes the album with an equal sense of ferocity, clearly adds a layer to this second album.

It is the sublime musical eccentricity and honest and pressing lyrical prowess of the band however that means that somehow they have manged to top what was a fantastic debut record.

You can’t really go wrong with this collection and it’s certainly more interesting than 90% of new music. The trio have a daring attitude and the talent to back it up and with two superb albums kickstarting their career, you can’t help but be excited to hear what the group do next!

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Magazine

Full Pelt Magazine

Vol. 55

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Full Pelt Magazine
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Album Reviews

The Offspring

The Offspring

SUPERCHARGED

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THE OFFSPRING – SUPERCHARGED – ALBUM REVIEW

When The Offspring released their tenth album ‘Let The Bad Times Roll’ in 2021 we commented, “Was anybody craving a new album from The Offspring in 2021? Perhaps not, but actually in this messed up world we live in, maybe, just maybe, we needed it!”. The album was their first in nine years and they’d long been presumed to be fully on the nostalgia bus.

Now they dispel those speculations completely with their second album in three years, ‘SUPERCHARGED’. This new era has sparked even more interest in the band and they find themselves in something of a renaissance period.

Working again with producer Bob Rock, there is a back to basics feel about this record with the band clearly focusing on delivering what the fans have lapped up in years gone by. That worked well for them on the surprisingly good ‘Let The Bad Times Roll’ and does ensure that this new momentum is continued.

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The Offspring – ‘Make It All Right’

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Fans of the band will feel at home with these songs and at just over the half hour mark this is an easy listening experience. Ultimately you do feel though that there is a big lack of standout singles and much like its predecessor you suspect these tracks won’t last long in the bands setlists.

They are good enough however to deserve a chance, which ‘Let The Bad Times Roll’ sadly seemed to lack as the band stuck to that nostalgic approach with their live shows. Naturally, they can’t win here because fans will moan if they leave out old favourites or if they fail to play these songs. Thus is the joys of stardom hey!

Much as we said in 2021, this album is far better than a new Offspring album in 2024 has any right to be and that should mean this record is heralded as a great success. Unfortunately, though the band will always be compared to their best work, and it would be hard for them to ever hits those heights again!

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Album Reviews

Myles Kennedy

Myles Kennedy

The Art of Letting Go

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MYLES KENNEDY – THE ART OF LETTING GO – ALBUM REVIEW

Across his various ongoing projects Myles Kennedy is nothing short of prolific with the frequency in which he lends his incredible voice to new albums. Full Pelt has only existed for four years and in this time he has already released albums with Slash, Alter Bridge and under his own name.

‘The Art of Letting Go’ marks his second solo release in this time and his third overall, and as with any release on which he features, it is his intense voice which is the greatest instrument!

His debut solo release, ‘Year of the Tiger’, found Kennedy showcasing a stripped back blues-tinged sound before 2021’s ‘The Ides of March’ brought a straighter rock sound to a world emerging from the pandemic.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘MISS YOU WHEN YOU’RE GONE’
Myles Kennedy – ‘Miss You When You’re Gone’

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On this new record, Kennedy rachets things up another notch or two with some heavier, bolder riffs making this by far the most Alter Bridge adjacent solo release thus far. A big positive of this is of course that you find Kennedy in familiar territory and therefore the release is an easy digest for his followers.

On the flip side, it has been nice to see the different sides of Kennedy and this release therefore can feel a little safe. Still, any gripes are soon blown away by the sonic onslaught that delivers as many big moments as any Kennedy featuring release to date.

You would imagine that after some nineteen studio albums for various projects, Kennedy would be struggling for ideas, but instead after three decades of songwriting Kennedy shows that he is still thriving.

Indeed, it’s undeniable that this is Kennedy at his very best and that is saying something because Kennedy has long established himself as one of the artists of his generation.

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Live Reviews

Pale Waves

Pale Waves

The Waterfront, Norwich

Thursday 3rd October 2024

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PALE WAVES – NOrwich – live review

If the length of the queue outside The Waterfront in Norwich is anything to go by, then anticipation is high for the opening night of the ‘Smitten’ tour!

Hot on the heels of the release of their fourth album, Pale Waves are back on the road and many shows on this run are sold out as fans clamour to see how these charming love songs translate to the stage.

SWIM SCHOOL

Before then however, the packed venue is treated to an opening act making waves of their own. swim school are one of those bands that have built some good early momentum and now need to ensure that they capitalise on their potential.

Despite a rather polite Norwich crowd this evening, you are still able to see the impression that the trio leave on the crowd. Singer Alice Johnson quips that they have been referred to in the past as a “sh*t version of Pale Waves” before adding “hopefully we aren’t so sh*t anymore”. Tonight the likes of ‘give me a reason why’ and ‘see red’ certainly dispel any such thoughts. Instead you are left further rooting for the band to succeed!

swim school – ‘BORED’
PALE WAVES

That concept is evidently ingrained into the fanbase of Pale Waves. Again, as they arrive onstage you can see and feel the special connection they share with their audience. It’s a beautiful thing to witness and even when kicking off with two new tracks, ‘Perfume’ and ‘Not a Love Song’, the crowd sings back every single word.

‘There’s a Honey’ and ‘Change’ then take it up a notch or two and by the time Pale Waves deliver rarer number ‘Drive’ the symbiosis between fan and artist is complete. This remains extant throughout the rest of the performance and ensures an uplifting atmosphere is enjoyed by all.

We spoke in our recent review of ‘Smitten’ about the prolificacy of Pale Waves, and as the set progresses the sheer amount of standout tracks that the band now possess is another testament to this.

Particularly noteworthy is that the new tracks can undeniably hold their own amongst old favourites ‘Television Romance’, ‘Eighteen’, ‘Easy’ and ‘She’s My Religion’. Finally, an encore of ‘Glasgow’ and ‘Jealousy’ is more than enough to send the audience back home happy.

It has been an engaging night with both acts delivering on the promise of the evening. Pale Waves are operating at a consistently high level across their studio and stage outputs and swim school are hot on their heels!

Pale Waves – ‘Perfume’

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Magazine

Full Pelt Magazine

Vol. 54

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Album Reviews

FEVER 333

FEVER 333

DARKER WHITE

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FEVER 333 – DARKER WHITE – ALBUM REVIEW

Intrigue was always going to surround the first FEVER 333 release post their extensive line-up shake-up which left frontman Jason Aalon Butler as the sole original member.

In truth though this group has always been a vehicle for the charismatic singer and the pre-release singles certainly didn’t lead anyone in to thinking that ‘DARKER WHITE’ would see any substantial change in direction.

As you delve into the fourteen tracks on this album, you’ll find a familiar sonic explosion of rap, rock, punk and more. Yes, FEVER 333 have always carried an element of the genre-defying, and they’ve again captured a smorgasbord of influences and explorations.

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FEVER 333 – ‘PIN DROP’

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Aalon Butler is in typically ferocious form as he continues to call out social injustices and personal experiences within his biting lyricism. As a writer Aalon Butler has always been as fearless as he has as a performer and that conviction helps to maintain the impetus of the new look groups sound.

There may be those that feel given the propensity of Aalon Butler to push boundaries this is something of a safe release and maybe this is all overly familiar despite those line-up changes; but the counterargument would be that this collection is exactly what FEVER 333 needed to deliver.

Fans can be assured that everything they value in the output of FEVER 333 remains as potent as before. Perhaps with that some excitement can build in wanting to see where they go next!

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