Page 5 - Black Velvet Magazine Issue 105

BV105 pg 05.qxp_BV105 pg 05 27/12/2021 20:59 Page 1

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 5
YYYYY Excellent YYYY Very Good YYY Good
YY Listenable, Just Y Poor

great way to finish a live brow of writing material. best rock export, Seether coming of sorts, featuring
show, confetti and all. But all that has mark their 20th anniversary plans for a Lowestoft pub
‘Between Fiction And changed with album IV, 'In- with Shaun Morgan’s care- crawl. Title track ‘Motor-
Friction I’ sees Jean-Ken travenous', cunningly re- fully curated selection of heart’ is pleasingly bom-
Johnny, Kamikaze Boy, DJ leased as two EPs, and some of their most suc- bastic, switching up martial
Santa Monica and Spear while their writing style has cessful songs. These are rhythms and portentous
Rib showcasing their tal- changed, their approach to all Top 5 multi-format radio choral backing vocals with
ents. Guitar, bass guitar, the music has not, and the hits and include 16 #1 a power ballad-type chorus
drums and DJ samples all combination of the two has chart-toppers, taken from in a song about sex with
come together whilst still worked wonders making the band’s eight full-length robots. Classic rocker ‘No-
being distinct throughout easily for their finest work albums. As such, it’s a body Can See Me Cry’ is a
MAN WITH A MISSION the track. It feels like it yet. good flavour of the breadth particular highlight as the
BREAK AND CROSS THE shouldn't work, but it just The second EP, 'Ve- of influences and styles guys play it somewhat
WALLS I does. A mix of rock, dance nous', blasts off in grand that Seether have demon- straight and demonstrate
(SONY MUSIC) and alternative metal is fashion with 'Circles', which strated over the years. just how talented they re-
'Break And Cross The prevalent during the rest of is instantly one of the From the post-grunge of ally are, a fact that can
Walls I' is certainly a unique the album. 'Subliminal' is band's finest cuts, ramming ‘Remedy’ and ‘Nobody sometimes get buried
album; with influences easily the heaviest track of into your eardrums from Praying For Me’, the foot- under their knowingly
pulled from all directions the album, but it's not with- the word go with the band's stomping, swampy riffs of Spinal Tap-esque image.
and a feature from Patrick out its place. With such a trademark no-nonsense ‘Country Song’, the highly This is a fun, fast-paced
Stump, its charm is undeni- unique sound running take on classic rock and melodic ballad ‘Broken’ and bonkers album; it’s
able and every track leaves throughout all 14 tracks, this is supported immedi- (featuring Amy Lee), their going to make you smile.
you on edge for the next. some heavier rock fits right ately by 'Fade Out', and in brilliantly heavy-rocking YYYY
The inspiring and elec- in. Patrick Stump has a two songs the band has cover of Wham’s ‘Careless Clare Huckett
tronic vibes are a great short but sweet segment had a say on mental health Whisper’, to the industrial
start for anyone who hasn't on '86 Missed Calls', but it's and politics in a way none edge of ‘Words As DOBERMANN
listened to this Japanese a nice addition to the song of the previous work ever Weapons’, and powerful SHAKEN TO THE CORE
pop-punk five-piece before. and the album overall. We has. It gives the music alt-rocker ‘Rise Above (WILD MONDAYS MUSIC
The switch between finish on the only slow song extra edge and power with- This’, it’s a really strong se- / HORUS MUSIC UK)
Japanese and English is of the album and whilst you out taking away any of the lection. Album closer ‘Dan- Italian trio Dobermann
smooth in every transition would initially think that it enjoyability. gerous’ brings us right up are a determined bunch,
and Tokyo Tanaka's enthu- would be out of place, it However, it's later in to date in darkly complex making a mark on the live
siasm makes you want to couldn't go anywhere else. the album where the ge- style with a hit from their music scene with relentless
join in from the first listen. All other 13 tracks have nius of SKAM is on full dis- most recent album. This touring and major festival
The whole album is incred- such a high energy and are play. 'The Cure' is collection is a great intro for appearances. Their fourth
ibly catchy and after the completely in a world of dedicated to Steve and anyone new to Seether, album gets off to a strong
first listen, you'll find your- their own that anything younger brother and drum- and an anniversary treat start with title track ‘Shaken
self either humming your slower in the middle would- mer Neal's mum who for their legion of fans. To The Core’, fast-paced
favourites or wanting to lis- n't have worked. passed from cancer last YYYY and exuberant with an in-
ten to certain songs over It's hard to get over year, but, while most Clare Huckett fectious rhythm and
some old-time faves. how fun and refreshing memorial songs such as sparkling guitar licks. ‘Star-
Dramatic and inspiring 'Break & Cross The Walls I' this would be slow, heart- ing At The Black Road’ is
vibes feature throughout actually is. Man With A wrenching ballads, the more laid-back with a
the album and are almost Mission make a very com- band pay their tribute in bluesy-funk bass underpin-
like a running theme in this pelling argument as to why hard-rocking style to raise ning the guitar and vocal
release. Having said that, you need to be listening to smiles and inspiration melodies, while ‘Stiff Upper
the band’s cover of 'Thun- something outside your rather than draw tears and Lip’ goes for a sleazy
derstruck' is very different regular listening habits and 'Deadliest Sin', which is the swagger. There is a crack-
to their own music, which venturing into the weird EP’s slower track, is heavy ing extended break in the
shows how diverse Man and wonderful. enough that it cannot be heavier, metal-edged
With A Mission are. Tokyo YYYY described in that way, ‘Dropping Like Flies’, with
Tanaka's voice works for Hope Small something SKAM typically what initially sounds like
every genre they choose, achieve better than most. THE DARKNESS duetting guitars launching
whether that be pop punk, SKAM The EP is completed MOTORHEART off into a soaring solo.
rock or dance. 'Change VENOUS by 'I'm Not The Only One' (COOKING VINYL) Funky hard rocker ‘Rock
The World' is arguably the (SKAM) and 'I Didn't Know' - both It has been a tough 18 Steady’ and the more fre-
album's showstopper; lis- To grow old is in- tracks add another dimen- months for everyone and netic ‘Run For Shade’ are
tening to the chorus, you evitable, but to grow up is sion to the band that we've what we all need is some- the strongest tracks of the
can imagine a live crowd optional, and for some time yet to see, both being more thing to lighten the mood, a second half. What’s clear,
going wild for it. We're SKAM remained, to some melodic than most of their bit of fun to be injected though, is that Dobermann
given more inspiring degree, the Peter Pan back catalogue but still re- back into life. Fortunately, have crammed a lot of in-
soundtrack vibes during comparison of the British taining the hard edge you out of The Darkness fluences into this album.
'Break And Cross The rock scene. expect from their work, comes the light of ‘Motor- The guitars throughout re-
Walls’ and 'Remember Me'. As Steve Hill, one of which further underlines heart’, as upbeat, raucous, ally are excellent, the
Both songs make you want the finest lead singers and the talent on display and and lyrically silly an album strong bass lines add rich-
to get up and do some- lead guitarists in the game, how encouraging the future as one could hope for. ness, and the drum
thing, you're not sure what, tells us, for the longest time is. Opener ‘Welcome Tae rhythms are a blast. It may
but something. Speaking of their material was based YYYYY Glasgae’ pays homage to bounce through too many
'Remember Me', this is on drinking and chasing Michael Coventry Scotland’s second city with styles to make a coherent
also another song that an women while their last an energetic, old school, whole, but overall it is a
audience would eat up. album was a concept one SEETHER riff-heavy rocker complete solid listen, with some clear
Whilst there may be two telling the tale of a time VICENNIAL – 2 with bagpipes and banging highlights.
songs left, track 12 feels as travelling World War II pilot. DECADES OF SEETHER rhythms, while ‘Eastbound’ YYY
though they're saying As Steve confesses, (CRAFT RECORDINGS) feels nostalgic in stripped Clare Huckett
goodbye and would be a maybe not the highest Possibly South Africa’s down rock style, a home-
ALBUMS