Page 33 - Black Velvet Magazine Issue 108

BV108 albums pg 33.qxp_BV108 pg 33 18/06/2023 17:12 Page 1

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album sparks a feverishly yet is put into this power- song. makes this album one you
delighted anticipation for house of a song as the ‘Other Side Of The may want to check out. We
the possibility of the tour to pain in Linda’s voice Rainbow’ has a magically could all do with letting the
celebrate this exciting booms through the speak- serene vibe about finding good times roll – and here
album that is ‘SHAD- ers. Completely different faith in love again. Nuno’s are Heartbreak Remedy to
OWKASTERS’, so go get from the other four tracks, guitar strings really glisten help us do this. The band
streaming, ready for those ‘Oblivion’ is a stunning as he plays. This tune is a are a three-piece from the
sing-your-heart-out live track with a much slower real pot of gold. Lake District, whose last,
moments during the next tempo that will draw you in, ‘The Mask’ reveals a and debut, full-length
tour. tears and all, and, for a funky bassline, courtesy of album, ‘Midnight Groove’,
YYYYY track that nearly didn’t Pat Badger, and a snappy was released in 2015.
THE ROCKET SUMMER Sammie Lynch make it onto the EP, thank drum beat from Kevin They’ve released an EP
SHADOWKASTERS goodness for producer Figueiredo. It’s a groovy since then, making this
(AVIATE) Jack Wilson, who encour- number which sees Gary their second album. It’s an
Bryce Avary, the vision- aged Linda to include this Cherone sing in a com- album which kicks off with
ary and insanely multi-tal- one for us all to hear and manding tone, ‘We’re all their first single from the
ented musician and stand together in the pain. doubters and we’re all 11-track release, ’21
vocalist behind The Rocket How exciting this one will fake, we’re all the things Kings’, a blistering, balls-
Summer, offers a new con- be to see performed live, that we wanna replace’. to-the-wall rocker. While it’s
cept after an unintended lights up in the air, crowd From a female per- not the strongest track for
break away from fans and singing along to every spective, ‘Beautiful Girls’ is vocalist Matty Penn, it’s still
live performances with this word, which is sure to cre- a bit cheesy, with lyrics a fun tune. Luke Blair defi-
new album ‘SHAD- ate a heart-grabbing mo- such as ‘all around the nitely sounds like he’s got
OWKASTERS’. A collec- ment. This is an exciting world there are so many stadiums in mind with his
tion of tracks drawing from HALFLIVES time for Linda and beautiful girls’. There’s loud-and-proud guitar riffs,
alternative, industrial and INFERNO EP Halflives. Go stream ‘In- even a kiss sound at the while Stephen Jackson on
electronic elements that (INDEPENDENT) ferno’ and experience the end. No! The dreamy drums does a great job of
feels like a welcome breath Linda Battilani (vocal- red, hellfire-themed ‘Small Town Beautiful’ is holding down the beat.
of fresh air, quite different ist) of Halflives, an Italian dreaminess of the EP. much better; a sincere, ‘Just A Disease’ has a
from the more alternative alt-rock goddess, is going YYYYY from-the-heart, acoustic tempo you want to stomp
rock albums that have from strength to strength as Sammie Lynch ballad. It has the power to along to, while ‘White Line
come before. You’ll find she embarks on a new era, leave the same sort of Suicide’ is equally as vigor-
yourself unknowingly head- taking the band that is mark that ‘More Than ous, with a brisk, upbeat,
bopping and foot tapping Halflives in an exciting new Words’ did when it was re- rock ‘n’ roll groove. There’s
away during this cohesive direction as a solo project leased in 1990. something about the intro
album, with a let-loose vibe with this new EP, ‘Inferno’. Album closer, ‘Here’s of ‘Rock Me’ that is reminis-
during tracks like ‘Off The An energetic fireball, Linda To The Losers’, begins with cent of the ‘80s. Matty
Hinge’, that draws you in is an exceptionally talented an acoustic guitar and Penn’s vocals bear the
with an enticing slow start musician, songwriter and turns into a lighters-in-the- commanding aura of Ian
and deep, rocky vibe, the live performer who de- air, melodic, soft rock tune, Astbury of The Cult. The
rock lullaby of this striking scribes this new EP as her full of cushy padding that song has some punch-the-
new album. This album will ‘personal descent to hell’ makes you feel safe and air ‘hey hey’s, which add a
make for an exceptional with this collection of tracks snug, and prompts you to vibrancy.
live performance, with that contain all her EXTREME sway along, side to side. ‘Hurricanes & Hand
tracks like ‘M4U’, that are demons. Fire, having been SIX Some group singing and Grenades’ has a barroom
made for you, the fan, as a part of Halflives since the (EARMUSIC) cheering at the end, in the groove, with Luke taking
you are drawn into the debut album ‘Empty It’s only taken 15 years distance, rounds out the over from Matty for some
album from the start. An Rooms’ (2017), continues for the follow-up to album. It’s an album that guitar soloing halfway
album with an anthemic to play a part in this catchy, ‘Saudades de Rock’, but some may have never ex- through the song. ‘Working
feel throughout, hypnotic diverse and creative the wait has been worth it pected when the band Man Blues’ is, as the title
and sonic tones in tracks alt/pop-rock EP that you’ll (although we do wish it went on hiatus, but thank- suggests, a bluesier tune,
like ‘Stuck Inside Your find yourself having on re- hadn’t taken quite as long). fully, has finally come to while ‘Goodbye’ has more
Light’ and ‘Do You See peat. Linda presents a raw, Extreme’s sixth album, fruition. When Gary of a sullen feel. There’s
Dreamscapes In Your unapologetic and artistic vi- imaginatively titled ‘Six’, Cherone, Nuno Betten- something about Heart-
Dreams Before The sion with ‘Inferno’. Opening pushes the well-known court, Pat Badger and break Remedy that brings
Dreams Escape When The track ‘Everybody Knows It’ Boston band back into the Kevin Figueiredo get to- to mind the likes of Dogs
Sun Beams’ showcase talks about the world and spotlight again, allowing gether, magic truly hap- D’Amour and LA Guns.
moody synths and some global warming and yet is them to reclaim a spot pens. Now, here's to the Final track ‘Drowning’ is an
crazy, cool, fuzzy vocals super catchy, despite the amongst the list of rock’s next one – may it not take acoustic track that sees
and yes, wickedly inspiring harrowing lyrics. You’ll find finest. another 15 years! Matty mulling about the
and lengthy punk track ti- yourself singing ‘la la la’ for The 12-track release YYYYY voices in his head telling
tles. This expressive album a long time once hearing opens with punchy beats Shari Black Velvet him that he’s useless and
reveals an experimental this one, for sure! The ex- and razor-sharp riffs in the that he’ll never amount to
evolution of a journey plosively popular track ‘Dy- form of ‘Rise’. Gary anything. ‘I’ve got this mon-
Avary has gone through namite’ talks about love Cherone’s vocals have a key on my back, he just
during the isolating time of being hell and is one of the persuasive manner in this won’t leave me be,’ he
the pandemic. A time rockiest of the songs on the addictive and charismatic sings. ‘I’m spiralling out of
where Avary stepped into EP, with striking drum and tune, while Nuno Betten- control’. The evocative
the likes of the wardrobe guitar elements to get you court’s guitar-playing tal- number rounds the album
and Narnia, or the upside bopping along. Finishing ents soon shine with an off in a slightly subdued
down, emerging with this the EP off with what feels outstanding solo – and tone. While they did let the
epic, electronic, alternative like the standalone track continue to do so through- good times roll, the good
album that is, without a that is ‘Oblivion’, the vocal- out the album. times seem to have said
doubt, going to draw in ist describes this one in ‘#Rebel’ gives arena goodbye before ‘Drown-
even more fans, at the particular as the ‘hell of rockers Shinedown a run HEARTBREAK REMEDY ing’. We hope these guys
same time as taking the old being alive without your for their money, with an au- LET THE GOOD TIMES don’t drown though, as ‘Let
ones on a new journey, loved one’, which you can thoritative beat and menac- ROLL The Good Times Roll’ is,
with what Avary describes agree, is a difficult and ing vocals – and again, (HEARTBREAK REM- overall, a rousing release.
as ‘this enchanted little challenging thing to go with the spotlight on Nuno’s EDY) YYYY
monster that I love’. This through for anyone, and guitar playing later in the Just the title alone Shari Black Velvet
ALBUMS