Page 32 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 109

BV109 pg 32.qxp_BV109 pg 32 09/12/2023 14:58 Page 1

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YYYYY Excellent YYYY Very Good YYY Good
YY Listenable, Just Y Poor

the band touch upon sub- title track and 'Into The Fire' a new record, ‘Sunday At ‘Lost In Wonderland’,
jects such as abuse, social are perhaps better still. Foxwoods’. And the excite- something akin to the
unrest, discrimination and These slower tracks on the ment is real. warm smile you make at
depression, and these real album lend to the band’s While it’s not quite the the end of a concert. About
life topics help give even biggest strength, which is original line-up – only front- the touring lifestyle, he
more weight to their music. the sublime vocals of Nick man Martin Johnson and sings ‘when will I see you
Picking a highlight is al- Workman, whose silky- drummer John Keefe are in again?’ After listening to
most impossible, such is smooth tones are perfectly this new incarnation – it’s ‘Sunday At Foxwoods’, we
the standard of songs on suited to VEGA's melodic definitely the core of the definitely hope we’ll see
offer here, but they ar- heart and, when the tempo band. Singer/songwriter/ Boys Like Girls back in the
guably leave the best until slows a little, it allows his rhythm guitarist Johnson UK again soon.
CONQUER DIVIDE last - ‘gAtEkEePer’, where voice to enjoy the spotlight has, in the interim, worked YYYYY
SLOW BURN they let rip on their frustra- a little more and, once on songs for the likes of SBV
(MASCOT) tions and struggles within again, raise the question of Taylor Swift, Ariana
There could not be a the music industry as why this band hasn't Grande, Jason Derulo,
better battle cry or opening women, and it's here the reached higher levels just Avril Lavigne, Daughtry,
five words to describe harmony between Kiarely yet, or indeed, what more Gavin DeGraw and more.
multi-national female quin- and Janel works best. Fu- can they do to get there. We always thought he was
tet Conquer Divide than elled by their emotions, you Certainly, the introduction a talented writer, so it’s no
‘We are not the same,’ hear the desperation and of Billy Taylor on guitars in surprise that others trusted
which sets the mood per- difficulty from Kiarely, the last few years, along- his skills too. He also had a
fectly for the breathtakingly which is complimented side fellow axeman Marcus solo project, The Night
brilliant opening track beautifully by the sheer Thurston, has made a dif- Game, where he stepped
'Atonement' and album rage and turmoil Janel ference. Their musician- into slightly darker, 80s-in-
'Slow Burn'. It is the perfect brings. ‘Keep the gate, ship is as good as anything spired, electro-pop territory.
introduction to the band ‘cause we're coming for the else being recorded at pre- Opening track, ‘Sun- THE RATTLEBACKS
who are here to take no throne’ they cry, but the re- sent and 'Battlelines' is lit- day At Foxwoods’, is an in- KINK
prisoners. It's been eight ality is, the kingdom is al- tered with some superb triguing 2-minute, (THE RATTLEBACKS)
years since the band’s last ready theirs. Just please instrumental breaks, 'Love electronic intro that gains If you’ve been finding
record, their self-titled don't leave it another eight To Hate You' having per- momentum and builds an- yourself a little uninspired
debut, and much has years, ladies. haps the pick of the bunch, ticipation, before the first by music lately, take a lis-
changed, so it's safe to say YYYYY with a guitar solo that ‘real’ song begins. ‘The ten to The Rattlebacks, one
'Slow Burn' is very much a Michael Coventry wouldn't be out of place on Outside’ harks back to the of the most exciting new
hard reset for Conquer Di- a DragonForce record. Boys Like Girls we knew UK rock bands. Kicking off
vide. But the wait has been Overall, 'Battlelines' retains and loved. It’s fresh, vibrant with the single ‘Rattleback’,
more than worth it and their VEGA’s high standards and uplifting, while Martin these guys hit hard and re-
'Slow Burn' approach has when it comes to album Johnson’s vocals sound mind us exactly why and
been more than rewarded, production, and best of all, both smooth and exhilarat- how we fell in love with
with 13 hard-hitting, thick listening to it just makes ing. The reminiscing vibe of rock music. It’s fast-paced
slices of in-your-face, hard you smile, which is per- the lyrics remind you of the and feverish, fueled with
rock from what is surely haps the best gift of all. days Boys Like Girls were energy and ambition.
one of the most explosive YYYY first in action, and it brings ‘Amon’ will have you remi-
all-female acts in music Michael Coventry a twinkle to your eye. With niscing about the time that
right now. 'Atonement' sets a catchy beat, ‘The Out- Guns N’ Roses unleashed
the tone, the majestic vo- side’ will make you move ‘Appetite For Destruction’
cals of Kiarely Taylor doing VEGA and glide. into the world. ‘Burn It
more than grabbing your BATTLELINES Now, if you didn’t know Down’ is the younger, evil
attention, but, paired with (FRONTIERS) that Martin was a fan of twin of Skid Row’s ‘Monkey
the unclean vocals of Battlelines are well and The Police, you’d probably Business’. Just check out
bassist Janel Duarte they truly drawn by English realise that during ‘Lan- the intro! Rock ‘n’ roll hasn’t
have assembled a dream melodic five-piece VEGA guage’. This is where his tasted this delicious in quite
duo who lean on each with their eighth studio love of 80s pop rock really a while.
other wonderfully. Their album, which, once again, comes into its own. Packed With big, fiery riffs and
partnership is a joy to be- strengthens the argument with ‘Na na na na na na’s, passionate conviction, you
hold. While they are the of them being the country's the song toys with your may be surprised when vo-
heartbeat, the crushing gui- finest when it comes to this BOYS LIKE GIRLS heart, while following track, calist Josh Clarke sings,
tar riffs of Isabel Johnson kind of rock ‘n’ roll, while in- SUNDAY AT FOXWOODS ‘Blood And Sugar’, is an- ‘I’m scared of the dark and
and Kristen Sturgis are the creasing their claim to (FEARLESS) other dance-pop gem with the loneliness’ in the blue-
lifeblood, and, powered by being the best at what they The sad reality is that a funky edge. sier ‘Favourite Son’. The
Samantha Landa on do from anywhere in the many bands go their sepa- ‘New Love’ flutters like final of the four tracks fea-
drums, the talents of these world in 2023. rate ways. Staying together an all-absorbing attraction, tures some quality guitar
incredibly gifted performers The near-hour of forever is hard, especially if as Martin’s well-estab- soloing. Max (lead guitar)
come together in a perfect melodic majesty proves you’re not selling out are- lished songwriting really and Coxy (rhythm guitar)
storm. And there is so once again that this band is nas or making a good liv- shines, although it’s ‘Cry’ both give the song its
much more to their music, not a flash in the pan and ing. Once in a while, which sees a change in groove, their talent doing
which will all but guarantee are richly deserving of members will reunite after pace. The gentler, melan- the talking. It rounds off a
a powerful connection be- greater plaudits. Top to bot- a number of years, but it’s choly ballad is quite heart- scorching EP that kicks ass
tween the band and album tom, the new record is full usually quite the same. The wrenching. Grab a tissue – from start to finish. With an
and almost anyone who lis- of great music, opener magic has gone, and we you may need it. album in the works, these
tens to its songs. Who 'Heroes and Zeroes' and (and they) have moved on. ‘Hourglass’ is an guys are definitely going to
won't resonate with words 'Don't Let Them See You But, one band that we’ve exquisite design that become the favourite of
like ‘You watched us fight- Bleed' are highly-energized really missed are Boys Like shows how Martin’s song- many.
ing hard against the cur- songs which are bound to Girls, and now, over a writing has matured over YYYYY

rent’ in 'Atonement'. boost their live set tremen- decade after they first went the years, while the album Shari Black Velvet
Throughout 'Slow Burn', dously, while the album's on hiatus, they’re releasing ends with the acoustic
ALBUMS