Rumour Mill and Palm Reader are two of the most talked about hardcore acts on the circuit at the moment, with the first being ex-Your Demise vocalist George Noble’s new band and the other receiving critically acclaimed reviews for their debut EP, so as we neared the entrance to tonight’s venue, we delved inside with high expectations, expectations which were more than fulfilled.
Met Lounge is a small venue, usually a rock club most nights where the population of Peterborough endeavours to spend their Friday nights at. Upon walking in, we’re greeted by a almost full venue, something surprising for us in this city.
First band up are Razoreater, formally known as Lilith, they smash through a set of extreme hardcore laced with obscure yet powerful riffs, technical breakdowns and throat straining vocals. Gracing the stage with a unique presence and a style which is reminiscent of rising hardcore outfit, Brotherhood Of The Lake.
Next up were local 3-piece Lets Meet Jesus, a band which blew us away with their theatrical like performance of obscure rock, laced with technical bass riffs and vocals which only could be described as a mix of Skindred and theatrical storytelling, Lets Meet Jesus are definitely worth your attention.
Last local band of the night, Turn and Run were next to grace the stage. This is the second time we have seen these guys perform and to no disappointment, with a performance that has earned them widespread recognition in their hometown. Playing through a blistering set of melodic hardcore, tracks Blossom and Goodbyes highlighting their set pouring every ounce of energy into each song transmitting the emotion of their music. Ending their set on a high, with an EP announcement leaving us with no doubt that we will be hearing from them in no time.
As the local supports chime out the crowd congregates around the stage for the main acts, Palm Reader and Rumour Mill. As Palm Reader walk on casually and burst straight into a perfect rendition of EP track Seeing And Believing Are Two Different Things covering every inch of the stage with their high energy fast paced performance, even getting involved with the crowd attempting to create some movement. Playing through the whole of their debut EP and some unreleased tracks, ending on one of the unreleased tracks titled Harlot, vocalist Josh Mckeown mentions “this song is about sluts and how much I hate them” as the song kicks in, we can see why this band are catching the eye of every critic at the moment, an absolutely blistering performance.
George Noble is an intimidating man at first glance, with what all the news surrounding his departure from Your Demise and the fact that he is well built and very tall. As Rumour Mill jump on stage and kick into the set of ferocious hardcore punk, you can tell that he is comfortable with this change of pace and that’s something that every band should feel within their group. Unfortunately due to transport for us, we were only able to catch the first 3 songs of their set, but from what we did see, they put on a brilliantly aggressive show with music that hits fast and hard.
For more info on all bands visit;
http://www.facebook.com/palmreaderuk/info
http://www.facebook.com/turnandrun
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Razoreater/298069000227049
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lets-Meet-Jesus/193896950645586
http://www.facebook.com/rumourmill616
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With 2 excellent releases already under their belt, headline tours, support slots bands would kill for and with re-releasing their acclaimed record Monuments it’s no wonder why Miss May I are one of the most talked about metal bands at the moment and with the release of their highly anticipated third full length, At Heart, it’s set to be a busy year for the Ohio five-piece.
Opening with the album titled piano intro, setting the eerie atmosphere for the record, from here we jump into the first single titled Hey Mister, a pull-no-punches assault of whirling riffs, roaring vocals and a particularly tasty breakdown!
Opening Wounds further cements why this band is making waves at the moment and why there music is so interesting. With huge riffs and brilliant guttural screams, with their music having tinges of classic metal and not just metalcore which has become a genre which is looked down upon. This is something which has seen Miss May I hit tours with As I Lay Dying amongst many others.
The album provides more of the same, clocking in at just over 40 minutes, be prepared to enjoy a package of modern metal riffs, powerful growls and metronomic drumming, no synths, no pop covers, just straight up heavy metal!
At Heart is out now through Rise Records and available on iTunes.
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Having been around for 4 years now and touring relentlessly, playing with some big names such as The Starting Line, Kyoto Drive have had a good run as a pop-rock band and are likely to see more good times in the light of their mini-album titled The Approach. For fans of Paige and Futures get your iPods out and start listening!
Opening with Receive This Little Breath a small intro laced with soft pianos and ambient effects, building the atmosphere for what is to come. Jumping right into second track Holiday, typical pop-rock riffs grace the track with vocalist Adam Binders vocals shining through with his powerful melodies and catchy lyricism, making for a listen that will have you hitting the replay button every time each track ends.
Third track So Much Alive is our favourite on the record, having been released back in January of 2011, this track never gets old. With it’s catchy as hell riffs and vocals, imploring you to sing-a-long at every chorus, a typical feel good track.
The Approach is an excellent record from the Kyoto Drive guys, although nothing new, it is everything you would expect from a band like this, brilliant melodies, heartfelt lyricism and catchy-as-hell hooks, an album which has us listening over and over.
The Approach is out now through I Am Mighty Records;
http://www.kyotodrive.bigcartel.com/
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Music has always been associated with religion. No matter what the genre or faith, it seems that nearly every aspect of religion has been covered, inspired and even talked down through music. While many bands have taken this route, with The Devil Wears Prada taking the route of even preaching at their shows, it takes just one listen of Immortal to determine the purpose of For Today’s new tracks of faith filled breakdowns.
The music itself is not just another breakdown churner, much like bands of this calibre are these days, but alike bands such as Miss May I there are elements of different genres of metal. Single Fearless opens up with eerie riffs, followed by a straight hit breakdown, bringing across a Stick To Your Guns vibe more than a metalcore one, a comparison which doesn’t come about often from bands like these.
My Confession shows For Todays use of not just breakdown after breakdown, with As I Lay Dying like melodies supporting the crushing vocals of Mattie Montgomery. A track which just compels everyone listening, to join in alongside Montgomery.
Stand Defiant again shows off the bands creative song writing here and musicianship in the breakdowns. With a gritty feel that bands such as, Like Moths To Flames and Miss May I are being raved about for. Although slow at first, the track picks up to a unrelenting pace, with the chorus melodies supporting Montgomery’s uplifting lyrics.
Immortal is an excellent, surprising 4th effort from For Today, yes we said 4th. Having been around for over 5 years now in an industry which is stifled by many bands trying to hit it big, these guys stuck it out and brought us something fresh in the form of Immortal, where it be with its creative breakdown musicianship or the lyrics itself. Immortal is definitely worth every minute of your time.
Immortal is available now on Razor & Tie.
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Formed back in 2008 in Bedfordshire, In Remission became a big hit within their local scene. Since then the band have had plays through BBC Introducing, played various festivals and are now gearing up to release a second EP titled, The Great & Shallow.
Opening the EP is Fractions with its heavy post-hardcore drums and riffs, kicking straight into the EP with a huge force. Highlighting the musical talent of the band and giving the listener a taste of what the band are all about.
Second track Broken Notes jumps right in with smooth melodic riffs and vocals which convey the emotion of the chorus. Although not as crunching as its previous, this track fits right in with the style of the record.
The Great & Shallow, provides more of the same throughout with tracks such as Discipline and Floodlights showing the band can be versatile in their styles, with some brilliant riff-work showcased in Floodlights.
This second effort from In Remission is sure to please fans and new fans alike with the bands take on post-hardcore, The Great & Shallow is a solid record and provides an enjoyable listen for fans of Young Guns and 30 Seconds To Mars.
The Great & Shallow, drops 16th June.
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Hailing from South Wales, hardcore five-piece Blowgoat have been relentlessly touring since forming in 2010 and it looks like it has paid off having performed with the likes of Shadows Chasing Ghosts and Glamour Of The Kill.
This six-track self-titled EP is something which each and every hardcore-punk fan should own. Packed with super-fast riffs and ripping vocals, Blowgoat take everything that is brilliant about the genre and amplify it ten times more. First track “Slackhole” shows this off with perfect execution.
Yo Bitch…I’m Tom Waits showcases their more aggressive side, with a heavier intro compared to other tracks on the record. But much like the rest of the EP this is just track after track of adrenaline fuelled hardcore-punk.
Fourth track Rhino, in which a video is due for release in July, again solidifies what Blowgoat are all about even further, ferociously fast and aggressively energetic. With similar bands such as Polar creeping further into the industry for their similar style of music, there’s no doubt that Blowgoat are definitely well on their way to achieving this.
Blowgoat is out now and available to buy here;
http://blowgoat.bigcartel.com/
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Baby Godzilla are now over 2 years old as a band and well just like a baby Godzilla, they’re ready to unleash a tonne of rage and energy on their new EP titled “Oche”, Imagine, Clutch meets Everytime I Die meets The Dillinger Escape plan, I know right?!
If you can make it past the somewhat questionable intro At The Oche then you’re in for a bumpy and well quite angry ride. With Powerboat Disaster thrashing its way through your skull and everyone else’s at that, with a sea shanty gang vocal and the rising and falling of the chaotic instruments adding to the anarchy and ferocity of this track.
The Gleiwitz Incident is a track which we are sure will see people throwing themselves into each other and various objects flying across the room. The sheer chaos of the instruments and the energy sapping vocals vying for attention from each and every listener. Supplying more of the same is Braille For An Axeman, layered with technicalities which seem to come with ease to the band and an energy which again were sure culminates into an impressive, one of a kind live show.
Oche is full on in your face hardcore metal, with the energy of bands like The Chariot and the musical prowess of Everytime I Die x a thousand, this is a brilliant release and something which these lads should be very very proud of.
Oche is out now and available to buy here;
http://babygodzilla.bigcartel.com/
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This Calamity or Martyn Crocker is a pop/indie artist who set out to make music in 2010. Influenced by huge names such as Weezer and Death Cab For Cutie, This Calamity released his debut EP in 2011 for free download in an attempt to reach out to a vast audience as quickly as possible before the release of mini album, I’ll Paint You A Picture If You Promise To Put It Up, due for release June 17th.
I’ll Paint You A Picture starts the album off with wonderful melody. Martyns vocal input here showcases a distinctive soft British accent. The interesting use of piano and eerie guitars build to the atmosphere, showing us what is to come through the record and although being influenced by big names, This Calamity has managed to forge his own musical style.
Moving Away conveys more of his sound he has managed to create, providing a beautiful acoustic rhythm, blended with female harmonies. Closing the track with birdsong, further solidifying his uniqueness. The rest of the album offers up more of the same with In Need Of An Exit Strategy’s haunting rhythms and with This Carousel Just Keeps On Turning showing off Martyns excellent composition.
I’ll Paint You A Picture If You Promise To Put It Up, shows This Calamitys unique sound and his aspiration for this with an atmospheric and eerie follow up to his debut. The brilliant instrumental work and rhythms supplied on this record makes this an interesting and exciting listen.
I’ll Paint You A Picture If You Promise To Put It Up is released June 17th.
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Hailing from Teeside, Not In Portland, have been on the circuit for just under 2 years. With a debut EP under their belt and this year set to be full of shows, including an appearance at Make A Scene Festival and a weekender with Attention Thieves and Golden Tanks.
Inherit Yourselfis the groups debut release of their humorously named “Southern Fried Post-Hardcore” music. Clocking in at 12 minutes of ferocious hardcore punk, tinged with influences of bigger named bands, Every Time I Die and The Chariot. Their influences are clear here and definitely have inspired the band on opening track Brocorematic with gritty southern sounding riffs, throat tearing vocals and a solo thrown in for good measure.
Notably throughout the EP is the variation between melodic and the aggressive parts, throwing out mathcore riffs with ease , while still enjoying the groove parts of melodic hardcore and surprisingly not littering chug like breakdowns, which has become a staple for most hardcore bands these days.
Overall, Inherit Yourself, is a great first try, showing their influences clearly here and showcasing their own style, very southern, very fast and just down right gritty.
Inherit Yourself is out now for free download;
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