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Album Reviews

PET NEEDS

PET NEEDS

‘Elbows Out! This Is Capitalism’

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PET NEEDS – Elbows Out! This Is Capitalism – Album Review

Colchester punks PET NEEDS grabbed a lot of attention with the charting of their third album, ‘Intermittent Fast Living’, but the truth is that they’ve been building momentum now for the better part of a decade.

Three impressive albums and countless shows have built up a dedicated fanbase and seen them tour around world. Now as they set free their fourth record, ‘Elbows Out! This Is Capitalism’, they take all of this experience and deliver a frank assessment of the industry that they call home.

A key component of the bands charm has always been their innate ability to deliver weapons grade lyrical wit which reflects on the world with astonishing accuracy. Fans will be glad to hear that their collective tongue remains firmly in their cheek and that their alarmingly realistic social commentary is as biting as ever.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘DUCKLINGS’
PET NEEDS – ‘Ducklings’

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Across the sixteen tracks and skits, they tell a tale of the band buying a second-hand punk rock career at auction. The entertaining interludes feature friends and icons and help to guide us through this frenetic fable, whilst bringing the core tracks to life in a unique way.

The album tackles many of the clichés present in the insane music industry and that gives us the opportunity to use one of our own, because ‘there really isn’t a bad track on this album’. As much as the lyrics grab your attention, the musical evolution that the band continues to go through is a joy to behold.

There is again a diverse palette of punk-tinged sounds on what is the most complete PET NEEDS record to date. Beyond the pre-release singles, fans will love the likes of ‘Pixels’, ‘The Ship Is Still Sinking’ and ‘Paintballs’ but you can’t help but applaud the love and affection put into the entire album.

This is a band who may be ‘Tour Worn’, but it’s their experience and continued passion that means that they deserve to break through the clichés and challenges of the industry and into your hearts!

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Magazine

Full Pelt Magazine

Vol. 127

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Album Reviews

Lamb of God

Lamb of God

Into Oblivion

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LAMB OF GOD – INTO OBLIVION – ALBUM REVIEW

‘Into Oblivion’ is the tenth album from Lamb of God and finds the band disillusioned with the state of the world and the fact that their county is heading into oblivion with what they term as the rapid breakdown of the social contract.

Lamb of God have always been a band that musically excelled with the bit between their teeth and as they dissect the ills of living in 2026 this is the Lamb of God we get on this album.

That should be enough to excite fans but the pre-release singles for this record also did a decent job of doing just that. A run of the title-track, ‘Parasocial Christ’ and ‘Sepsis’ therefore provide the album with a big start before ‘The Killing Floor’ gets to settle us in.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘into oblivion’
Lamb of God – ‘Into Oblivion’

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With early 2000’s metal enjoying a renewed spotlight, it’s a good time for the band to sonically revisit their early sound. The fact that this is their milestone tenth record under the Lamb of God name also makes it an apt time for them to reflect on their three decades together.

That’s what this album manages to do so well from a sonic perspective. It captures the essence of their career with nods to their beginnings and expansions of their musical journey blended together to provide a pretty damn good representation not just of Lamb of God in 2026 but of their entire legacy.

‘St. Catherine’s Wheel’ and ‘Blunt Force Blues’ are further highlights, but this is Lamb of God striving to hit their best. They don’t really have anything left to prove but on this album they are proving it anyway!

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Album Reviews

The Fray

The Fray

A Light That Waits

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THE FRAY – A LIGHT THAT WAITS – ALBUM REVIEW

What year is it? I can’t help but feel that I’ve travelled twenty years back in time as I watch new Scrubs on TV and stick a new album from The Fray on my record player (well in 2005 that would’ve been a CD player, but you get the point).

Whilst JD is back guiding us through life at Sacred Heart hospital, there is an obvious gap at the front of The Fray. Lead singer Isaac Slade announced his departure in 2022, so ‘A Light That Waits’ isn’t just their first album in twelve years but it’s also their first with guitarist Joe King on lead vocals.

This presents a mighty challenge for the band if they wish to capture our hearts again. The title-track and ‘Still Got You’ instantly give hope that they can do this however. They have always been a band that tug on your heartstrings and musically this album picks up where they left off.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘ICE COLD LAKES’
The Fray – ‘Ice Cold Lakes’

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They’ve decided not to reinvent the wheel and have stuck with what they know works and work it does. Emotion evoking choruses and easy listening melodies make the eleven tracks and thirty-five minutes flow nicely without causing any offence.

It’s always risky revisiting things we loved in our younger years as they just can’t win. If it’s a carbon copy than it feels like a cheap imitation, but if it dares change too much then it’s just not as good as the original.

With a cast of new characters alongside our favourites Scrubs has managed to straddle this line as well as anything has in the past. There lies the issue with this record though, it’s too safe. Whilst perhaps wise given the change of voice. But King handles his role very well, and that maybe makes this a missed opportunity to grow The Fray into 2026.

Diehard fans will find it easy to get behind this record, and old school fans won’t hate it. It’s unlikely though to generate the desired buzz. A good starting point though for the second coming of The Fray!

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Magazine

Full Pelt Magazine

Vol. 126

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EP Reviews

fakeyourdeath

fakeyourdeath

‘(NON)ENTITY’

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FAKEYOURDEATH – (NON)ENTITY – EP REVIEW

fakeyourdeath emerged with their debut EP, ‘null/void’, in 2024 and started to make a noise with their visceral live shows. Now as they unshackle themselves on new EP, ‘(NON)ENTITY’, you can’t help but truly hear them.

Comprised of four new tracks, this EP is evolutionary for the duo with their electronicore sound fusing an industrial heartbeat with post-hardcore and electronic elements to create something entrancing.

With raw and penetrating lyrics which open up on mental health and the state of the world, these are songs you can identify with. ‘X/Y’ and ‘Shapeshifter’ set the EP up strongly and now ‘R.I.P.M.E’ and ‘The Parasite That Never Gives In’ bring it home superbly.

Make no mistake, this is big. What a statement from a band increasingly developing into something you can’t afford to ignore!

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Album Reviews

YONAKA

Yonaka

‘Until You’re Satisfied’

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YONAKA – UNTIL YOU’RE SATISFIED – ALBUM REVIEW

Despite releasing an EP and a Mixtape in the intervening years, it’s somehow been seven years since YONAKA released their debut album, ‘Don’t Wait ‘Til Tomorrow’, which feels an age ago.

The time is finally here though for the band to unleash their long-awaited sophomore album, ‘Until You’re Satisfied’. A run of pre-release singles has piqued fans ears with a sound reminiscent of their early work which was typified by its passion and urgency.

With the band recording the album without the context of industry pressure, the trio took their time to search themselves individually and collectively to see where the process took them.

The result is an album which thematically is tied to that sense of self-discovery and revelation. The lyrics are open, frank and fraught with the scars that a decade in such a harsh industry will leave.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘PROBLEMS’
YONAKA – ‘Problems’

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There remains however a fierce defiance which ensures that these songs ooze empowerment. YONAKA are unapologetic and it’s marvellous. As the lyrics to ‘Bite The Bullet’ say “…I’ve always had the vision, you just didn’t listen, I’m gonna do it how I like and don’t need your permission…”.

That attitude shines through too in the genre defying sonic gravitas of the album. This feels like a fully energised YONAKA and when they are is this kind of mood, they are unstoppable!

It may have taken awhile for this album to arrive, but the wait is undoubtedly worth it. The pre-release singles may have whet the appetite but the likes of ‘Best Of Me’, ‘Stay A Little While Longer’ and ‘At The Beach’ ensure that ‘Until You’re Satisfied’ is a truly must-listen record.

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Magazine

Full Pelt Magazine

Vol. 125

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Album Reviews

Charlotte Sands

Charlotte Sands

‘Satellite’

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CHARLOTTE SANDS – SATELLITE – ALBUM REVIEW

Charlotte Sands continues her musical journey with new album, ‘Satellite’, which represents another evolutionary step for the LA-based artist.

Sands isn’t your typical alt-pop singer though, with a steadfast DIY attitude and direct hands-on approach to everything that she creates. Every detail from the accompanying aesthetics of her output to the heart of the music itself is derived from painstakingly passionate dedication.

This new release again oozes with the love poured into its making and this shines through with immaculate modern pop-rock hooks comparable to artists such as PVRIS and Olivia Rodrigo.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘BACK TO YOU’
Charlotte Sands – ‘back to you’

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From the title-track onwards, each track brings something to the table and adds new layers to a record that ebbs and flows particularly well.

At just shy of half an hour and a succinct ten tracks, the album passes by in a flash but leaves a lasting impression which will have you returning to it just as quickly. This is an absorbing collection with the capacity to captivate ingrained into its sonic aura.

Many of these tracks feel made for the stage and with momentum growing for Sands, it’s good to know fans will have the opportunity to hear some of these songs live in the UK this October. Now certainly feels like the ideal time to join Sands on her journey!

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EP Reviews

Black Stone Cherry

Black Stone Cherry

‘Celebrate’

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BLACK STONE CHERRY – CELEBRATE – EP REVIEW

Black Stone Cherry are eight albums into their career and given their usual release schedule we should be expecting another album right about now. Instead, the Kentucky rockers are returning with something a little shorter – a seven track EP!

‘Celebrate’ is comprised of six originals and as fun cover of Simple Minds classic ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me)’. Whilst it may be a shorter than their usual releases it doesn’t lack in any other area.

These tracks are still packed full of monstrous riffs, driving rhythm, heartfelt lyrics and one heck of a punch. That punch comes both from the heavy rockers and the tender ballad ‘Need’ which is an incredibly personal track that in true Black Stone Cherry fashion is able to speak to your soul.

There’s a reason why the UK has adopted Black Stone Cherry as their own, and this collection is able to sum that up perfectly. So, in the truest sense, ‘Celebrate’ is a celebration of Black Stone Cherry up to this point!

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