In the build-up to the release of their fourth album Lower Than Atlantis released a short, ten minute documentary (watch here) through their YouTube account, as some artists do, and I watched it, because I had a bad feeling about the record based on a few of its singles, and I wanted an explanation. I… Read More Lower Than Atlantis – Lower Than Atlantis (Self-Titled) [Review]
Very few bands have been able to build themselves a reputation as solid as Marmozets have preceding the release of their debut album. The West Yorkshire five-piece made one hell of a mark with chaotic second EP Vexed and from there have only gone from strength to strength, and should continue to do so with… Read More Marmozets – The Weird And Wonderful Marmozets (Review)
I’ll admit that when A Social State first got in touch with me just over four months ago and I saw that they were from Scranton, Pennsylvania my mind immediately went straight to The Office (US). I can’t imagine a scenario in which I’d hear / read the name and not immediately picture Steve Carrell… Read More A Social State – How To Get To Heaven (Review)
2014 has been a pretty good year for Scottish music, or at least looks to be. During the last eight months or so Fatherson have released potentially the year’s best debut record, with the likes of Lonely The Brave and The Xcerts yet to release highly anticipated albums during the next four months. Things are… Read More Twin Atlantic – Great Divide (Review)
After a debut release as utterly brilliant as Now, Voyager three years is a fair amount of time to wait for a follow-up, but after some doubts about whether it would ever see the light of day Home, Truths , the first full-length from Manchester band The Cape Race is well worth the wait, living… Read More The Cape Race – Home, Truths (Review)
The Gaslight Anthem aren’t one of those bands who constantly need to alter their sound massively in order to stay relevant. They probably never will be, but frontman Brian Fallon’s interviews during the build-up to the bands fifth studio album Get Hurt suggested that the band were branching out, trying some extensive new things and exploring their… Read More The Gaslight Anthem – Get Hurt (Review)
Linkin Park are a proper rock band again. It’s okay, let out a sigh of relief; nobody’s going to blame you for being apprehensive during the build-up to The Hunting Party, a record the band have openly described as ‘heavy’ numerous times pre-release. They were right, mostly, because the bands sixth studio album sounds like… Read More Linkin Park – The Hunting Party (Review)
The hype surrounding a new Say Anything record has become more hopeful trepidation over the years, and it’s understandable as to why. When the second record you release is likely to always be the high point of your career those that follow seem to fall short in comparison. …Is A Real Boy was, and still… Read More Say Anything – Hebrews (Review)
Very few releases have made a mark on the melodic hardcore scene over the past few years in the way that 2012’s Dear G-d did, putting Being As An Ocean on everyone’s radar regardless of whether they wanted them there or not. After a few line-up changes How We Both Wondrously Perish marks the bands… Read More Being As An Ocean – How We Both Wondrously Perish (Review)
There was a time when I used to like Steel Panther, which seemed increasingly strange to me the more I listened to All You Can Eat. When I was 14, admittedly, I probably used to find dick jokes funny, and there was probably something crudely interesting about Steel Panther and their authentic yet twisted take… Read More Steel Panther – All You Can Eat (Review)
‘Being cool means fucking up / hanging out means getting drunk / what was wrong with the way it was?’ The above lyrics are taken from the opening track on Rose, the aptly named Dead Days, and they set the stage well for the nine that follow it. Picture Perfect aren’t particularly happy with the way… Read More Picture Perfect – Rose (Review)
Taking Back Sunday have never really released a bad record, New Again coming closest for myself. It’s one of the reasons that the band have continued to grow and gain popularity after they dropped their Tell All Your Friends sound and moved on to more mature ventures, even if they did divide in between. With… Read More Taking Back Sunday – Happiness Is (Review)
And so it ends, as all good things eventually do. After announcing their split last March Fake Your Death marks My Chemical Romance’s final entry into their discography – if final still means anything where splits are concerned. Hopefully My Chemical Romance do return one day because, for me, they played a huge part in… Read More My Chemical Romance – Fake Your Death (Review)
I thought I’d try something different for this review and as a result it may not be the review you’re looking for. I usually try not to write too personally but this review wasn’t the one I intended to write after purchasing this album, but it seems fitting. If you’re here looking for an honest… Read More Of Us Giants – Nova Scotia (A Review Of Sorts)
The last collection of B-Sides and rarities I probably listened to more than once was Lonely Revolutions, Biffy Clyro’s accompaniment to the stellar Only Revolutions. I think the main reason I enjoyed it was because of how good Biffy are, and some of The Gaslight Anthem’s collection is good for similar reasons, but most of… Read More The Gaslight Anthem – The B-Sides (Review)
It may have taken a while but it seems that You Me At Six have finally come of age. Over the course of their last three studio albums they’ve gradually matured and if Cavalier Youth is the final push towards fully fledged alternative-rock stars then they’ve nailed it. It may not carry the charm or… Read More You Me At Six – Cavalier Youth (Review)
The middle of December always seems like a strange time to put out a record, but that being said, if a release is good enough then people will find it and love it regardless. Everything Between Paint and a Wall is definitely good enough, and although it won’t make any end of year lists because… Read More Grandview – Everything Between Paint and a Wall (Review)
Topshelf Records sure know how to pick ’em. They have a knack for churning out incredibly talented artists who release equally brilliant albums. A prime example would be Have Mercy and A Great Big Pile Of Leaves’ exceptional releases on the label earlier in the year, so I had high hopes for Jess Abbott’s latest… Read More Tancred – Tancred S/T (Review)
Deaf Havana’s last album ‘Fools And Worthless Liars’ was always going to be a tough act to follow, with it being one of my favourite releases in recent memory. For me ‘Old Souls’ isn’t better than its predecessor but it’s still a brilliant record, that sees the Norfolk band truly find their comfort zone, being… Read More Deaf Havana – Old Souls (Review)
I’m one of those people who prefer the youthful energy and bite of Arctic Monkeys first two albums to their latest two preceding ‘AM’. Until I heard ‘AM’ in full I’d always viewed their musical maturation as a step backwards in terms of quality, but their latest album makes full use of the bands new… Read More Arctic Monkeys – AM (Review)
Craig Reviews Music 