The latest issue of the Full Pelt Magazine is here, and you can download your copy for free below!
Volume 25 features our cover stars The Mysterines as reveal details of their sophomore album. We also review new albums from The Snuts, Gen and the Degenerates and Blackout Problems, and we review The Zutons live in Norwich!
Our News Report has all the latest music news including live announcements from Liam Gallagher, Kings of Leon, Bullet For My Valentine, Trivium, Alice Cooper, The Pearl Harts, Greta Van Fleet, Royal Blood and Radar Festival!
Plus all the best new releases including Kasabian, Kings of Leon, Paul Weller, Frank Turner, Linkin Park, Sum 41, Daytime TV, Crossfaith, The Cruel Knives, TheCityIsOurs, Between You & Me, Susan Santos, Raven Numan and The Struts!
Finally, we round up the latest additions to our âDiscoverâ New Music Playlist including Major Moment, Caroline Romano and DeadWax!
As Trivium themselves proclaim tonight, it always feels like a homecoming when the Floridian metallers come to the UK. The band grew up on our island and their success has become intrinsically linked to the response of the UK to each release.
Tonight will see the band at the UEA in Norwich playing a tailored set to include a celebration of âShogunâ. Their fourth studio album, the record arrived at a crucial time for the band as they navigated a lukewarm response to âThe Crusadeâ â an album which was supposed to take the band to the pinnacle of the industry.
When that didnât happen, âShogunâ was the reset moment needed for the band to almost start again. Over the course of the subsequent fifteen years the band have matured into one of the most loved and respected metal bands on the planet with a consistent flow of high quality albums which looking back is quite astonishing.
ORBIT CULTURE
Also astonishing is the bands aptitude for selecting support acts and on this run of shows, they have both Orbit Culture and Bleed From Within along for the ride! Swedes Orbit Culture are a decade into their own career and that comes across with an experienced and assured performance to get the crowd engaged early.
BLEED FROM WITHIN
Having formed back in 2005, Bleed From Within certainly canât be classed as a new band either, but the current momentum behind them is relatively new. Emerging from the pandemic with not one, but two acclaimed albums the band have made of the most of their recent studio time.
Theyâve also made the very most of any stage time given to them and again tonight if you didnât arrive as a fan of the band, youâll most definitely be leaving as one. The group are able to create an instant connection with the audience and the synergy between them is mightily impressive.
TRIVIUM
With both bands having already turned the venue into a sweatbox, itâs soon enough time for Trivium to arrive on stage and close out the evening with ninety minutes of pure majestic brutality.
âIn The Court of the Dragonâ and âDown From The Skyâ quickly ensure that the audience is fully onside as the band flex their muscles early. It isnât long before the likes of âStrifeâ and âPull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyrâ absolutely annihilate venue security with a seemingly endless barrage of crowd surfers.
The love between band and audience is clear for all to see and as the band begin to explore âShogunâ with rarities likes âThe Calamityâ and âInsurrectionâ, an appreciation of the depths of the bands discography is overwhelming.
Newer material like âCatastrophistâ and âThe Heart From Your Hateâ receive just as euphoric responses tonight as classics like âA Gunshot to the Head of Trepidationâ and staple set closer âIn Wavesâ. This is just further evidence both of the bands connection with the UK audience but most pertinently the intense quality of all their releases.
Ten albums and nearly twenty-five years in the band tease a short break is coming after this tour. Whilst this is very much hard earned, on the form the band find themselves in both on record and onstage as evidenced tonight, you are left praying that the gap isnât that long!
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
We start this week with the 20th Anniversary of Download Festival which just got a whole load bigger! Yes 40+ new acts have now joined headliners Metallica (x2), Bring Me The Horizon and Slipknot across the special four day event.
Newly announced acts include Alter Bridge, Halestorm, Neck Deep, Bob Vylan, Jinjer, Hot Milk, The Amity Affliction, Empire State Bastard, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Deaf Havana and more!
Also on tap will be the likes of Architects, Evanescence, Within Temptation, Pendulum, The Blackout, Nova Twins, Disturbed, Placebo, Ghost and so many more!
Ahead of their appearances at this August’s Reading & Leeds Festivals, You Me At Six will perform two intimate warm-up shows in Leicester and Bournemouth.
Our News Report moves now to the best new releases from the past week and we get things started with the latest single from Bury Tomorrow!
‘Heretic’ featuring While She Sleeps frontman Loz Taylor debuted this week and you can check it out above. It was also revealed that Bury Tomorrow will join WSS at their huge Alexandra Palace show in September.
The track comes from upcoming new album, ‘The Seventh Sun’, which is out March 31st!.
Speaking on Heretic, lead-singer Dani Winter-Bates states âHeretic is here, and we knew from day one of recording that this song was something we wanted the world to hear immediately. Itâs right up there with the most aggressive and visceral tracks on the album, with an inherently dark feel, both lyrically and musically, which allowed us to delve into some of the more brutal elements of The Seventh Sun. All in all, weâre extremely proud to showcase this track and canât wait to see what people think.â
Dani continues âfrom the off, we knew this song merited a guest vocal spot, and Loz Taylor of While She Sleeps sprang to our minds straightaway. Already an absolute legend in our eyes, working with him on this track has only confirmed that status further. His voice incorporated perfectly and has undoubtedly taken the song to the next level â we couldnât be happier.â
The Raven Age have announced that their third studio album, ‘Blood Omen’, will be released on July 7th. To coincide with that announcement, the band unveiled their new single, ‘Parasite’, which you can check out above!
âParasiteâ is bolstered by a blistering solo from guest guitarist Andy James of Five Finger Death Punch. âI’ve known the lads in The Raven Age for years now,â says Andy. âI really like the direction they are heading with this third record and enjoyed doing a guest solo for âParasiteâ. Itâs a heavy but memorable track that hits you right between the eyes.â
For the Essex quintetâs âall-important third albumâ, as George Harris puts it, they have expanded on every level.
This motivation is written into the albumâs concept. Following the theme of its two predecessors, the raven motif looms large, this time centering on the overthrowing of old masters, with the bandâs Raven King character coming to prominence. Even in the artwork, things are bolder, a close up of The Raven King, says George, âtaking his rightful place on the throne.â
The theme weaves itself throughout ‘Blood Omen’, kicking off with âParasiteâ as MJ explains, âThereâs the legend about the ravens in the Tower Of London, that if they were ever to leave, the monarchy falls. Without being too political, âParasiteâ is hinting at these dark notes of the hierarchy, the bottom feeders that tend to run everything and then screw everything up. Our Raven King, he’s basically ascending to the throne to bring down the monarchy, bring down the establishment, weed out the parasites, as it were.â
âIt’s a heavy track,â MJ continues, âWe knew we wanted to come back with a real punch between the eyes. Itâs the full introduction to our Raven King, and it touches on elements of everything to come. It really shows where weâre going on this album.â
The album also sees the recorded debut of new guitarist Tommy Gentry, the prodigiously talented axeman â whose previous work includes stints with Marco Mendoza and former Judas Priest six-stringer KK Downing.
âTommy was in our sights from day one,â says George. âHe’s, without doubt, the most talented musician I know. Not only is he an amazing guitarist, he’s a grade eight pianist, he can score orchestral music, and all that brings something to the table.â
‘The Price of Progress’, the latest album from The Hold Steady is out on March 31st. This week the band continued to preview the record with new single, ‘Sixers’, which you can check out above.
ââSixersâ was written in the first days of the pandemic,â says frontman Craig Finn. âItâs basically a song about knowing your neighbors. Two young professionals meet up in their building late on a Friday night and spend the weekend partying together. They try to find a love connection, but itâs not quite there. Itâs hard to make friends when your job is so demanding. Tad and Steve chime in with some beautiful guitar harmonies.â
This week saw The View return with news of their first new album in eight years! ‘Exorcism of Youth’ will be released on June 9th and was preceded this week by the single, ‘Feels Like’, which you can check out above!
Frontman Kyle Falconer says, âWorking with Youth on our third album ‘Bread and Circuses’ was one of the best experiences of my career so we jumped at the chance to revisit the opportunity with him in Spain. To be able to go into the studio again as a band with added experience was just magical.”
On the single Falconer adds, âThis one felt anthemic from the get go. Even though under the surface itâs about somewhere everyoneâs been in their life before: regret of losing someone amazing due to your inner demons and seeing them moving on with their life, when youâre stuck in a ânightmare not a dream.â When I first sat down to write it I had Holden Caulfield from âCatcher in the Ryeâ in mind. Itâs playing out in his mind and itâs his own paranoia destroying him from the inside out when in reality sheâs the perfect woman.”
Texan singer-songwriter Ryan Hamilton has shared his latest single, ‘Asshole’, which you can check out above. The track comes from upcoming album, ‘Haunted by the Holy Ghost’, which is out March 10th.
A music video for the track features World Champion Barrel Racer, Ryann Pedone & Conor the badger. Ryan says, âItâs not everyday you shoot a music video with a badger! Why a badger? Because badgers are assholes. Theyâre adorable assholes. Haha. So proud of this song. The self sabotaging title will keep it off most radio stations⌠which is a shame, because it deserves to be a big hit.”
The Dollyrots have released a brand new UK single titled ‘Still Holding On’ to kick off their first ever UK co-headline tour with Don’t Panic and special guest Royals.
You can listen to the track above!
ââStill Holding Onâ is the first song weâre releasing off our newest recordings, from the first full album sessions since 2019! Itâs a hint of a flavor for the next LP to be released later this year. Since weâll be touring the UK this month we thought weâd give our friends here a treat and release it exclusive to the United Kingdom.”â says singer Kelly Ogden.
This week saw Millie Manders and the Shutup share their new single, ‘Rebound’, on Valentine’s Day! You can of course listen to the track above!
An ode to toxic online dating, as Millie explains: âRebound reflects my experience with online dating, but most people I have spoken to have had similar and worse experiences with it. I wanted to write a song that was in solidarity with those on the receiving end of a rebound relationship and let them know they were never the problem.â
The comes ahead of the bands upcoming UK Tour in April.
The steady stream of fantastic new music in our News Report continues to flow from iconic Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett. You can check out his latest solo effort, ‘Black Top White Lines’, above now!
This week also saw Pet Needs revealed as the special guests on Lottery Winners upcoming UK Tour. That wasn’t the only news for Pet Needs this week however, as they also debuted their video for ‘Ibiza in Winter’, which you can check out above!
New album ‘Primetime Entertainment’ available here.
Watch Episode 11 of The Full Pelt Music Podcast with guests Pet Needs!
The Full Pelt Music Podcast – ‘Episode 11’ – Pet Needs
Glasgow four-piece Spyres return with their new single, ‘Sleep Forever’.
Vocalist/guitarist Keira McGuire explains:
âSleep Forever is a song about blocking out the realities of life and living in your own world, not wanting to grow up, becoming an adult which puts an end to teenage daydreams and fantasies.â
FUDGE.- ‘Y.F.F.G.’
FUDGE. release their new single, ‘YOUR FALL FROM GRACE’, taken from their forthcoming ‘THATâS JUST IT, THIS IS NOW’ EP!
Commenting about ‘Y.F.F.G.’ singer Cam says: âItâs different to our usual songs but itâs a fan favourite and shows a very atmospheric, abstract vibe and I see it as a rebellious love song. The feeling I get from this song is the same as the almost surreal sensation you get when youâre on your own late at night or early morning. That may sound strange but some of you might get what I mean.â
Guitarist Otto expands: âI call this our quiet song. I wrote it whilst someone was sleeping in the same room as me, so I picked something sweet sounding and played it with compassion. Luckily, the outcome was one of our most palatable songs for the listener and, honestly, one that I never meant to write but am grateful that I did.â
Drummer Angus adds: âYou get to hear Camâs sensitive side on this song, which is usually hidden behind his radginess. Itâs a lot smoother in its ebbs and flows and playing drums to this is actually quite a relaxing experience because, for once, I can sit back and let the song do the work. For that reason, itâs bigger than its constituent parts. A bit of a banger in other words.â
IKONIK – ‘Wall of Stone‘
‘Wall of Stone’ is the debut single from IKONIK, the brainchild of Copenhagen’s Katrine Wachmann.
ââWall of Stoneâ is a song about commitment issues and being stuck in a relationship that is going nowhere, though knowing that vulnerability might be the only way to make a relationship work. Whatever the listeners get from this song Iâm just truly humble, amazed and excited that IKONIK is off on its wings and ready to fly out into the worldâ.
2021 has been another tough year to live through. There have been some signs of normal life, for example the return of live music, but we end it as we started with true normality a distant memory.
This year has however been a stunning year for new music releases. Yes, lockdown musicians and the odds are their creativity will take over. In Full Pelt Music’s first full year of existence we have reviewed 65 albums and the quality of those releases has been exceptional.
Last year we counted down our Top 20 albums of the year, with a special Advent Calendar countdown on our Twitter. This year we have expanded! Our 2021 countdown has taken place across all our social platforms, and has listed our Top 50 albums of the year!
With that social media countdown completed, it’s now time to compile our completed Top 50 in one place. So let’s get started!
What we said:
“there are stunning moments spread throughout the album”
Rob Zombie – ‘The Triumph of King Freak (A Crypt of Preservation and Superstition)’
What we said:
“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!”
“vitality shouldnât be mistaken for relevance and whilst the band may have peaked commercially, they remain of utmost importance to a generation of music fans”
Check out:
Rise Against – ‘Nowhere Generation’
What we said:
“anybody that had any doubts about the natural talents of this group of musicians, they should now acknowledge a new force”
The quality of this year’s releases has been truly phenomenal as our opening 30 albums attests. The competition is extremely tight for the coveted top spot and that is clear throughout the prestigious Top 20 that follows.
What we said:
“a sublime collection of upbeat, heartfelt and powerful songs that is bound to be stuck on repeat for the foreseeable future”
“a rare talent that have now reinforced their passion and ability to create great music for anybody who wants to listen but without concession on their vision”
Well there you have it! What a truly magnificent year for new music 2021 has been. What will 2022 have in store? Remember to discover the best new acts by following our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist’!
Stay tuned for our 2021 Year in Review coming very soon.
We roundup the best music news from the past week!
Every week we roundup the best music news from the past week in our News Report. To stay up to date with the biggest news be sure to follow us on our social channels:
Welcome to another edition of our weekly music News Report. We start this week with a line-up update from Slam Dunk Festival. The event has added the likes of The Story So Far, The Amity Affliction, Dream State and Spanish Love Songs.
They join the likes of the already announced Alexisonfire, Rancid and The Used. Slam Dunk takes place in Leeds and Hatfield over the weekend of 3rd and 4th June next year.
Tour news now and up first is Yonaka. The band will finally head out on a headline UK Tour in 2022, following the release of their latest record ‘Seize the Power’. The tour will finish up at the Forum in Kentish Town and includes nine other stops around the UK and Ireland.
Plenty of tours have had to reschedule due to the pandemic, and Trivium have announced that their tour will now take place in 2023. The tour which runs through Glasgow, Birmingham, Manchester and Brixton Academy in London will see Heaven Shall Burn and Malevolence in support.
After dropping off their support slot with The Darkness, British Lion have quickly revealed a lengthy UK Tour starting next month. Support will come from Airforce.
Slash feat. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators announce album number four!
Slash – ‘The River Is Rising’
New music releases now in our News Report. This week saw Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators announce the release of their fourth studio album, named aptly ‘4’. The album is set for release on February 11th 2022.
Preceding the album is their brand new single, ‘The River Is Rising’, which you can listen to above.
Feeder will be releasing their latest album, ‘Torpedo’ on March 18th. This week the band debuted their new single, ‘Wall Of Silence’, which you can listen to above.
TRIVIUM – IN THE COURT OF THE DRAGON – ALBUM REVIEW
Trivium are on a hot streak following the critical and commercial successes of 2017âs âThe Sin and the Sentenceâ and 2020âs âWhat the Dead Men Sayâ, and fans havenât had to wait long for their next effort!
âIn the Court of the Dragonâ is the groupâs tenth studio album, so can they continue their hot streak on this landmark release?
WATCH ‘IN THE COURT OF THE DRAGON’ ON YOUTUBE
Trivium – ‘In the Court of the Dragon’
Some will have been surprised by the longevity of a band that polarised fans and critics for a time after their initial mammoth success. Trivium however have evolved into a much loved and respected act now embraced by a wide audience.
At this point, and especially following their recent releases, nobody should really be surprised by the quality of âIn the Court of the Dragonâ. The title track and fellow single âFeast of Fireâ had already teased that the hot streak was still in effect, but with the entire record now available itâs clear the answer to our question is yes.
There are ten tracks on the bands tenth album including instrumental opener âXâ, and it must be said that once again there isnât a bad track on the record. There are naturally tracks that will lean themselves to being added to the bands live shows, but this is also an album to be savoured as a whole.
It has been a long and at times difficult road for them but at this point Trivium have well and truly earned their place at the top table of metal. As a tenth album, âIn the Court of the Dragonâ does justice to the bandâs legacy as well as keeping the future looking very bright for the band.
We roundup the best music news from the past week!
Every week we roundup the best music news from the past week in our News Report. To stay up to date with the biggest news be sure to follow us on our social channels:
It’s all about new music releases as we commence our News Report for this past week. We start with the return of the legendary Iron Maiden! This week the band started the latest era in their historic career with the release of a brand new single.
‘The Writing On The Wall’ comes complete with stunning video and provides the first glimpse of what to expect from the bands rumoured next album. You can check out the song above or on your platform of choice here.
Manic Street Preachers unveil new track ‘The Secret He Had Missed’
Manic Street Preachers – ‘The Secret He Had Missed’
Another act of legendary status to debut new music this week was Manic Street Preachers. The band unveiled their latest single, ‘The Secret He Had Missed’ this week.
This comes ahead of the release of their new album, ‘The Ultra Vivid Lament’ on September 3rd. Check out the new track above, and pre-order the album here.
Within Temptation release video for ‘Shed My Skin’
Within Temptation – ‘Shed My Skin’
This week has been a week for stunning video releases as Within Temptation exemplify with their latest offering. Check out ‘Shed My Skin’ featuring Annisokay above.
This week saw party icon Andrew W.K. reveal his metallic new track, ‘Everybody Sins’. The song comes ahead of new album, ‘God Is Partying’ which arrives September 10th.
Check out the video above and you can pre-order the album here.
This week also saw Seether share their new track ‘Feast or Famine’, which you can listen to above. The song comes ahead of their new record, ‘The Purgatory EP’ which is due on July 30th.
Moving onto the live section of our News Report now as we all anticipate the return of live music. This week saw Nothing But Thieves announce a short run of intimate dates, taking in Oxford, Norwich and Liverpool.
Support comes from Kid Kapichi and tickets can be found here.
Green Man gets go-ahead and reveals line-up
Festivals now in our News Report roundup, and first up is Green Man. The event was this week given the go-ahead to proceed next month and fans have finally been shown the long-awaited line-up.
The stunning bill includes Fontaines D.C., Mogwai, Working Men’s Club, Shame, Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, John, Jose Gonzalez, Black Midi, Teenage Fanclub, Self Esteem, Snapped Ankles, Porridge Radio and The Goa Express.
The full line-up for the 2021 edition of Wild Paths Festival in Norwich has now been revealed. Some 200 acts will grace 20 stages over the course of 4 days in the fine city.
Those acts include Sports Team, The Big Moon, Billie Marten, Bessie Turner, Gaffa Tape Sandy, Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, The Mysterines, Feet, Press To Meco, John, Anorak Patch, Gabby Rivers and The Islas.
Full Pelt Music launches new ‘Hard & Heavy’ Playlist on Spotify
Finally this week, we can announce the launch of our brand new ‘Hard & Heavy’ Spotify Playlist. This playlist will showcase the best new releases from the world of hard rock and heavy metal – so PLAY IT LOUD!
First additions comes from Iron Maiden, Wayward Sons, Fozzy, Bullet For My Valentine, The Wildhearts, Volbeat, The Fallen State, Massive Wagons, Gun, Danko Jones, The Datsuns, The Treatment and Trivium!
Who is going to make the Full Pelt Music Top 20 Albums of the Year List?
2020 – a year we would all much sooner forget. Certainly not the year we had all envisaged. Real life has been traumatic and upsetting for many. The effects of the virus have been disastrous for the music industry, with the collapse of live music and many delays and production issues for albums.
You’d think therefore that selecting an Album of the Year list would be difficult due to a lack of new music! We are however talking about the most creative and adaptable industry and in fact compiling this list has been hard for the opposite reason. Even through all the sadness and despair this year, we have been graced with some amazing new music.
More so, the uniqueness of this year has created a special connection to the music released during the most troubling times. This is therefore a highly competitive list and all 20 entries deserve high praise!
We have been counting down the list as part of our #AdventCalendar of music over on our Twitter Page. Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by clicking the icons below!
Finally, before we talk through our Top 20 Albums of the Year, a special mention to Yungblud and his new album ‘Weird!’ which we recently reviewed here. Released after the compilation of this list, the album is a stunning piece of work and had it been released earlier would have been competitive at the top of the list! But, now to the countdown…
20
HAYLEY WILLIAMS ‘Petals For Armor’
In a year that doesnât seem to want to end, January seems a lifetime ago when Paramoreâs Hayley Williams announced her debut solo album âPetals For Armorâ. By the time that album arrived, the world had descended into chaos and all touring plans had been cancelled. When the album did emerge in May it represented a ray of light in dark times, and showed Williams has a lot to offer outside of Paramore.
we suggest you check out:
Hayley Williams – ‘Simmer’
19
DOVES ‘The Universal Want’
When Doves returned from an eight year hiatus in 2018 the band initially basked in that reformation glory. Thankfully for fans though it hasnât taken long for the band to head back into the studio and the resultant album âThe Universal Wantâ is a timely reminder of what we had been missing.
we suggest you check out:
Doves – ‘Prisoners’
18
AC/DC ‘Power Up’
After a tumultuous few years with the tragic loss of Malcolm and departures of Cliff, Phil and Brian, AC/DC could have been easily forgiven for riding off into the sunset having had one of the greatest careers of any heavy rock band. But then that wouldnât be the AC/DC way of doing things would it? Instead we get another classic AC/DC album in âPower Upâ with Williams, Rudd and Johnson back in tow!
we suggest you check out:
AC/DC – ‘Shot In The Dark’
17
REWS ‘Warriors’
The Shauna Tohill led REWS have somehow managed to equal if not surpass their debut album with sophomore release âWarriorsâ. Packed with punchy, catchy, bouncy rock and roll, we challenge you not to throw your heart and soul into this album just as Tohill clearly has.
we suggest you check out:
REWS – ‘Birdsong’
16
THE STRUTS ‘Strange Days’
With The Struts you should always expect the unexpected. This is not a band that plays by any kind of rule book. So why wouldnât they team up with guests as diverse as Tom Morello, Phil Collen & Joe Elliott, Albert Hammond Jr and yes the actual Robbie Williams? âStrange Daysâ solidifies The Struts reputation as the future of rock.
we suggest you check out:
The Struts – ‘Strange Days’
15
ALL TIME LOW ‘Wake Up Sunshine’
âWake Up Sunshineâ is somehow the eighth studio album for All Time Low, which makes me feel very old. Thankfully this isnât an album that rests on any laurels and the band continue to deliver the goods with another very solid album added to that back catalogue.
we suggest you check out:
All Time Low – ‘Monsters’
14
THE KILLERS ‘Imploding The Mirage’
By now we know exactly what to expect from The Killers and thankfully their first album without lead guitarist Dave Keuning still delivers that classic feel. With the likes of Lindsay Buckingham instead contributing on âImploding The Mirageâ, there is even an air of freshness to their sound.
we suggest you check out:
The Killers – ‘My Own Soul’s Warning’
13
PHIL CAMPBELL AND THE BASTARD SONS ‘We’re The Bastards’
When Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons released their debut album, to the surprise of many they delivered a classic rock masterpiece. Any doubters thinking they couldnât do it again have now been proven wrong with the release of âWeâre The Bastardsâ In our recent review (here) we stated âThe bands fans are the loyal kind hence their lyrics proclaim â…âcause weâre the bastards, and youâre a bastard too…â. If youâre in to good old fashioned rock and roll, give this album a listen and you too will be in that clubâ.
we suggest you check out:
Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons – ‘Son Of A Gun’
12
GREEN DAY ‘Father Of All…’
âFather Of All…â may not sit highly amongst the bands back catalogue if we are being honest, but an average Green Day album is still a very good album in the grand scheme of things. Despite this album pre-dating national lockdowns the album has remained on rotation throughout the year which is a testament to its real qualities.
we suggest you check out:
Green Day – ‘Oh Yeah!’
11
BOSTON MANOR ‘Glue’
Nobody should be surprised at the quality of Boston Manorâs albums anymore. With the release of their third album âGlueâ, the band have now delivered three high quality albums with plenty to unpack.
we suggest you check out:
Boston Manor – ‘Liquid’
10
HAIM ‘Women In Music Pt. III’
With âWomen In Music Pt. IIIâ, Haim have let it all hang out with a statement of an album that takes listeners on a musical journey of wonder. Taking elements of various genres and given them that now classic Haim twist, this album is a stunning piece of musicianship.
we suggest you check out:
Haim – ‘Now I’m In It’
9
PVRIS ‘Use Me’
With the release of third album âUse Meâ, PVRIS have continued their evolution into something majestic, enormous and vital. The bands growth had been put out there for all to see and this album just encapsulates the power of Lynn Gunn.
we suggest you check out:
PVRIS – ‘Dead Weight’
8
BLACK STONE CHERRY ‘The Human Condition’
On âThe Human Conditionâ we get the Black Stone Cherry that we all love, just doing what they do best. Full of head banging and foot stumping this record sees the band confirm that they are here to stay, and that they have plenty left in the creative tank.
we suggest you check out:
Black Stone Cherry – ‘Again’
7
TRIVIUM ‘What The Dead Men Say’
âWhat The Dead Men Sayâ is a stunning piece of work that captures a band that has hit their peak. Trivium have mixed the lessons learnt from their past with their recently rejuvenated vigour and have come out the other side with an album that stands up that anything that they have previously released. Â
we suggest you check out:
Trivium – ‘Catastrophist’
6
CREEPER ‘Sex, Death & The Infinite Void’
The release of âSex, Death & the Infinite Voidâ was a rocky road for Creeper, and not just because of a global pandemic. Various internal struggles and personal demons had to be overcome before Creeper could make their grandiose return. Sadly this return coincided with a certain virus which hampered the typical over the top promotion of a Creeper release. Thankfully for the band the record itself is brilliant enough to shine through even the darkest times.
we suggest you check out:
Creeper – ‘Born Cold’
5
BIFFY CLYRO ‘A Celebration Of Endings’
As we hit the top five Albums of 2020, things are very tight. A terrible year has thankfully seem some amazing music emerge to see us through. Biffy Clyro are another band whose plans were destroyed by this horrible virus, with tours cancelled and the album delayed. The early single releases from âA Celebration of Endingsâ however provided much joy in the early period of lockdown.
When the full album finally found his way into the public domain, little did fans realise the treat that was in store for them. Biffy Clyro always evolve with each release, but they somehow manage to retain that Biffyness to their music. This is a unique band and âA Celebration of Endingsâ is a unique record that mixes both the beautiful and the heavy as only Biffy Clyro seem to be able to.
we suggest you check out:
Biffy Clyro – ‘End Of’
4
ENTER SHIKARI ‘Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible’
Another band whose releases were a small positive in the huge negative that was the first national Lockdown was Enter Shikari. It was clear from the start that âNothing Is True & Everything Is Possibleâ was going to be a very special album. The connection felt now with certain tracks only serves to ensure that this album will forever be seen as one of, if not the best Enter Shikari album.
All the normal quirkiness is there, along with the more mainstream elements incorporated into 2017âs âThe Sparkâ. In fact, on this album Enter Shikari may have actually made the perfect Enter Shikari recipe and in turn the perfect Enter Shikari album!
we suggest you check out:
Enter Shikari – ‘satellites**’
3
BRING ME THE HORIZON ‘Post Human: Survival Horror’
Yes, âPost Human: Survival Horrorâ is technically an EP, but it is just so outrageously good that it had to feature and feature high. Precursors such as âLudensâ and âParasite Eveâ had promised something special but I donât think anybody predicted anything this good.
When we recently reviewed the record (here) we told you âThis new EP takes the best elements from throughout their career and combines them in one stunning masterpiece of an album.â. Bring Me The Horizon prove with this album that the best is still to come!
we suggest you check out:
Bring Me The Horizon – ‘Obey’
2
FONTAINES D.C. ‘A Hero’s Death’
The battle for the number one spot this year was fierce. Actually, the battle for the top 5 was fierce this year. Fontaines D.C. are the band that gets the number two spot, but this album deserves Album of the Year. âA Heroâs Deathâ shows that the band are no flash in the pan and builds on the basis of debut âDogrelâ. This album actually feels a step above that debut album, and is another that has created a huge personal connection during this tough year.
This record has already rightfully brought the band much acclaim and we canât wait to hear these songs live. Fontaines D.C. are an unstoppable songwriting force and with âA Heroâs Deathâ they have placed their claim to be the band of their generation.
we suggest you check out:
Fontaines D.C. – ‘I Don’t Belong’
1
IDLES ‘Ultra Mono’
It has been a crazy year, and this list has been heavily influenced by that. As mentioned the top of this list is massively impacted by new music I heard during the height of the initial lockdown. âUltra Monoâ was an album that I was already extremely excited to hear; and the stream of songs released during Lockdown only served to raise that excitement to a fever pitch.
Thankfully IDLES didnât disappoint and when the album arrived it was a pure masterpiece. It shows a natural progression on the bands first two records and grows the bands sound. It still captures what made us all fall in love with the band but by incorporating new elements into the bands sound the album shows that IDLES are no one trick pony.
Above all other releases this year and those that feature in this list, this was the album that we needed this year. In a year where we have all been knocked down one way or another, IDLES and âUltra Monoâ has been a call to arms, to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and keep going.
we suggest you check out:
IDLES – ‘Model Village’
So, there you have it, the Top 20 Albums of 2020 as considered by Full Pelt Music. We are sure that your lists will be different to ours and we want to hear them, so why not share yours with us on social media!
With news of vaccinations we are all hoping that by next summer we will be in a position to safely stand in a muddy field with thousands of strangers. Clearly, a number of promoters feel the same, as this week has seen a string of tour announcements.
Up first were metal titans Slipknot announcing their return to Europe with a list of summer dates including headline shows and festival appearances. There is no sign of any UK dates as of yet, however the band had been set to debut their own Knotfest in the UK before COVID-19 intervened. Fingers crossed!
Tickets for their European dates are available here.
Trivium to return to the UK
Trivium UK Tour
One celebrated metal band that are actually coming across to the UK are the always stunning Trivium. The band will play 4 shows in November 2021 with an impressive supporting bill including Heaven Shall Burn, Tesseract and Fit For An Autopsy.
This is a tour not to be missed and you can grab tickets here.
All Time Low announce 3 headline shows for 2021
All Time Low to play London, Manchester and Glasgow
Another American group heading to the UK is All Time Low. The band has revealed a run of 3 dates in London, Manchester and Glasgow. Tickets for these shows will not hang around long, grab yours here.
Wayward Sons return with new song and UK Tour
Wayward Sons UK Tour Dates
It hasn’t just been American bands announcing tours this week, as British classic rock group Wayward Sons, led by Toby Jepson, have revealed a full UK Tour for November 2021. Tickets are available here.
Alongside the tour announcement, the band also unveiled their new single ‘Even Up The Score’, which you can check out here.
The Pearl Harts deliver new EP ‘Live At The Drive-In’
The Pearl Harts release new live EP
Speaking of new music, we also were treated to a new live EP this week by the fantastic The Pearl Harts. That EP, entitled ‘Live At The Drive-In’ is available here.
You Me At Six unveil Hot Sauce
You Me At Six Hot Sauce!
Finally this week we bring you something a little different. Having recently highlighted the new version of MetallicaMonopoly, we bring you another unique Christmas gift idea. If you like You Me At Six and enjoy a little Hot Sauce on your meal, you are most definitely in luck!
That’s because You Me At Six have announced the release of their own Hot Sauce, which you can pick up here. You can also pick up a ticket to catch the band live here.
