Page 43 - Black Velvet Issue 101

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tuneage and vision. Earlier are perfectly suited for this songs still remain fresh and able. It also makes his final
this year, Janet announced kind of music. This also ap- vibrant. At the heart of their cries at the very end of the
her departure from Vixen to plies on single 'Jane' which success is the brilliance of track all the more powerful.
concentrate on her solo adds a little country to the Bill Hobson on vocals. He It's not just Chris who does
music – and this album mix and hopefully this is brings so much to the band his job superbly here, his
shows exactly why. While something we may see with a sound showing he bandmates excel as well,
there is quite an 80s/90s more of in the future. The was truly born to do this. guitarists Andrew Baylis
feel to many of the tracks, final big selling point of He has both the bouncy, and Evan McKeever work
at the same time, Janet JOANovARC is the fun element which any in perfect harmony and
and Justin also add a more acoustic magic which can good pop punk band their work is just sublime,
current tag (‘You Said’ even be found in 'When We needs, but he also brings but much credit is deserv-
JANET GARDNER opens with a funky indus- Were Young' and even bags of vulnerability when ing of Andrew Wetzel on
YOUR PLACE IN THE trial dance beat), so ‘Your more so in concluding needed and does this in drums whose stick work is
SUN Place In The Sun’ could ap- song, 'Go Home', where spades in the sublime EP stellar and adds much
(PAVEMENT ENTERTAIN- peal to many. Give it a spin again Sam's vocals are at closer, 'Tremble', the oomph to his bandmates’
MENT) – and watch it find a way to their best. Her talents are record's most stripped string skills. From the
While Janet Gardner is YOUR heart. aided by the meaningful back song, but one packed opening song, things build
a renowned rock vocalist, YYYY words of the songs which is with emotion and feeling. with the title track such a
most known for fronting the SBV a factor throughout the The bounciness to Bill's headbanger you may feel
all-female four-piece Vixen album, but 'Go Home' tells tones is especially impor- like you've gone three and
and achieving commercial JOANOVARC a tale of a young runaway tant with killer opening half minutes against a
success in the late 80s and JOANOVARC mixed up in drugs, drink track, 'Better End The heavyweight boxer. 'Chain
early 90s, her counterpart (HOLIER THAN THOU) and manipulative charac- Heartbreak', a song which Reaction' and 'Ringworm'
Justin James is a killer gui- Good things come in ters who finally decides to carries some of the several are also both heavy slabs
tarist in his own right and threes and this is certainly return home. Sam does a difficult issues covered of rock and metal. The sec-
has performed with Tyketto the case with female quar- stellar job of selling the throughout 'Under One ond half of the record is a
amongst others. ‘Your tet JOANovARC’s self-ti- emotion throughout the Roof' but if you don't let welcome change of gear.
Place In The Sun’ is the tled second full length song making it a wonderful yourself get bogged down 'Conjure' marks the start of
duo’s second album, fol- album where they hit their way to wrap things up and with the lyrics it's a great the change where Nine
lowing on from Janet’s self- audience with a triple leaves you excited for what party track and one which Shrines take their foot off
titled album, released in header of powerful album number three may will still make you smile the throttle just a little and
2017. Although released weapons from their arse- bring where we trust more which is a great skill for the introduce a more melodic
under the ‘Janet Gardner’ nal. The first is the attention good things will come in band to have. Throughout side to their character and
moniker, this album sees to detail which is especially threes. the album they sing of loss, this is even more so in
both Janet and Justin’s apparent in opening tracks YYYY mental health, suicide, bul- 'Pretty Little Psycho', a fab-
faces gracing the front 'Burning' and 'Waiting For' Michael Coventry lying and addition, subjects ulous slice of US radio
cover. Once you press which feature some mar- which would almost always rock, but also a fine exam-
play, you’ll be whisked into vellous guitar work from spoil a feel good atmos- ple of the kind of music
‘Your Place In The Sun’, lead guitarist Shelley phere but instead they de- which has the potential to
the title track, which opens Walker and rhythm guitarist liver them in a way which make Nine Shrines truly
with an assault of hard rock Laura Ozholl, who work in will make the listener stand out from the crowd.
riffing. This song and the perfect unison throughout happy while still highlight- YYYY
entire album really shows the songs and add several ing these vital topics, which Michael Coventry
Justin’s impressive playing subtle brilliant little notes is a massive triumph.
as well as Janet’s vocals. and quirks to the songs’ in- YYYY OHNOVA
You’ll find encouragement strumental pieces. These Michael Coventry I CAN’T SLEEP
and advice with lyrics such touches help establish the (OHNOVA)
as ‘Don’t waste your time songs after a few listens as NINE SHRINES Glasgow trio OHNOVA
on their petty ways, making initially the tracks don’t YOUR LIFE & MINE RETRIBUTION THEORY believe that when life
up for what they lack’. grab your attention like UNDER ONE ROOF (MASCOT) knocks you down you need
Long-time Vixen fans will album openers should, (YOUR LIFE & MINE) US metallers Nine to get back up again. They
love ‘A Way To Your Heart’, which makes them per- In a time where it is in- Shrines certainly know how are looking at the harsh-
which could almost be the haps unusual choices to creasingly difficult to do to grab someone's atten- ness of life but with deter-
follow up to ‘Edge Of A Bro- open with, especially when something that hasn't been tion and they waste ab- mination to push on and a
ken Heart’, with a smooth 'This Way' and 'Slipping done before and be differ- solutely no time in not only positivity captured in en-
and romantic soft rock vibe. Away' are the better of the ent from the rest, some- turning heads with their gaging rhythms and their
Janet’s lyrics come across traditional rock songs the times it can be just enough debut album, 'Retribution sheer energy. ‘Banjo Mac’
as memories from her life. ladies produce on the to be bloody good at what- Theory', but they do so in a has such an upbeat, drum-
She sings ‘walking outside album and would have ever it is you do. This is manner which nigh on led intro that immediately
the bar, trying not to step done a far better job of certainly the case for pop tears it clean off. The hooks you in, yet it’s about
on cracks, and I trip on my kicking things off rather punk five-piece Your Life & record explodes into exis- a really bad time in
heels and you break my than playing a massive part Mine, who have struck gold tence with the fearsome fe- singer/bassist Paul Mor-
fall’ as if she’s remember- on its satisfactory conclu- with their second EP, rocity of 'Nimrod', an ton’s life and carrying on
ing a night exactly as it sion as they do. The sec- 'Under One Roof'. A quick absolute stormer of a song pretending everything’s
was. ‘Try’ is an acoustic ond point of attraction here listen to their latest work re- capable of waking an entire fine. They are good at play-
ballad with a classic rock is the mid-record double veals an immediate im- graveyard with its nu-metal ing with this contrast be-
style, while ‘Standing’ is a header of 'People Coming provement from their 2017 vibe which won't just have tween lyrics and rhythms.
strong, ballsy song. ‘Kicks Up' and 'Take It Out' which debut, 'Emotions Aside', in you snapping your neck The heaviest track, ‘Easy
Me Back’ is a driving the band affectionately fact it's quite remarkable when the chorus kicks in, Way Out’, contrasts bleak,
rocker, while ‘Should Have refer to as disco rock and just how much better this but you'll want to be careful screamed verses with
Known’ is another heartfelt it's an apt title as both EP is; the songs, vocals, not to break it. Vocalist soaring melodic choruses,
tune full of feeling and songs are guaranteed to musicianship, everything is Chris Parketny does a the dark and the light with
emotion that begins softly have their audiences mov- just better, a lot better. Pop tremendous job of balanc- the big riffs and powerful
before turning into a more ing in some way, shape or punk fans will rejoice at the ing the venom as he deliv- drum rhythms eventually
edgy number and eventu- form. The punchy and emergence of Your Life & ers his vocals. They are giving way to a reflective,
ally morphing, via a dancey imaginative guitar work on Mine and the void they are heavy, but they are never slow-paced instrumental
keyboard and vocal mes- both songs is wonderful but capable of filling because too heavy and there is al- outro. It has a lot going on.
sage, into quite an epic tale so too is the vocal work of the five songs on offer here ways a melodic edge to his A very promising EP.
of highs and lows that re- lead singer and bassist are all excellent and even singing which makes the YYY
ally rises in passion, Sam Walker whose talents with repeated listens the track so much more enjoy- Clare Huckett

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