Page 30 - Black Velvet Rock Magazine Issue 111

BV111 Albums pg 30.qxp_BV111 pg 30 07/12/2024 19:00 Page 1

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

music. needed The Funeral Por- And then some. The deci- riffs. It takes no more than
‘End Of An Era’ has trait until we heard them. sion to release half of the about 10 seconds of open-
KISS’s ‘God Gave Rock N’ ‘Greetings From Suffocate album as singles prior to its ing track 'The Taste' for
Roll To You’ vibes to it, a re- City’ makes us excited full unveiling is an increas- them to hammer this home
flective look at times past. about music again. They’ve ingly necessary decision and the partnership of
The slower-paced ‘Blood got choruses to die for – for bands given the need to Coxy and Max Horn on
On The Stage’ bears a 70s not literally – but title track remain topical, but is also a rhythm and lead guitar re-
rock muse and tells of how ‘Suffocate City (feat. risky one as it always begs spectively spearhead the
much Tuk puts into his live Spencer Charnas of Ice the question of whether the punishing riff, which will im-
performances. ‘Still A Nine Kills)’ has everything rest of the album will be as mediately appeal to any
Dreamer’ is an inspiring you want in a song – atti- strong or will it just offer lover of good, old-Fash-
KAT VON D gem – ‘In a sea of disbe- tude, emotion and passion. songs not considered good ioned hard rock to them.
MY SIDE OF THE MOUN- lievers, I’m still a dreamer,’ It pulls at all the senses enough to be singles? The Of course, it's pointless
TAIN Tuk sings. He vocalises and will have you singing Warning immediately prove grabbing people's attention
(KAT VON D) some learned truths to the along at the top of your the latter thought couldn't if you cannot retain it, but
Most known for her tat- foot-stomping tune. Songs lungs. ‘Dark Thoughts be further from the truth. there is no worry of that
too art, Kat Von D proves like ‘Little Renegade’ are (feat. Danny Worsnop)’ is 'Six Feet Deep' is a storm- being an issue here, as,
with her second full-length sticks of electric dynamite. another anthem for anyone ing way to get things un- throughout the remaining
album release that her mu- The lyric, ‘It’s a shame the going through tough times. derway and instantly 10 songs on offer, there is
sical art is to be equally as world rewards the cream of You can feel and smell the rewards the listener for plenty to keep your focus.
revered. Kicking off with the cringe’, is half funny, blood, sweat and tears in making the effort to track The heaviness of the
‘Dead’, hauntingly beautiful but half frustratingly true. ‘You’re So Ugly When You down the record. And opener is continued with
melodies, infectious beats There’s a nod of the head Cry’, which features Bert things continue in fine fash- 'Dementia Lounge', a song
and captivating synths flow to David Bowie in ‘Lost McCracken of The Used, ion from there. Dany which, under its surface,
in and out as soundwaves. Boy’. He sings ‘are you while ‘Holy Water’ is a gritty shines in her role on lead will certainly get you think-
‘Dead’ is likely to bring you ever going to find your way stomper – and wouldn’t be vocals and guitar, but the ing and clearly has a
to life. ‘Vampire Love’ has a home?’ This album is, un- out of place on a Shine- incredible support lent by wealth of personal emotion
dark, disco vibe, while questionably, home for any down album. It’s packed Pau on drums and Ale on behind its riffs, a lyric of ‘I
‘H.A.T.E’ has a sound akin long-haired rock ‘n’ roller with power and conviction. bass, as well as their back- have a wife, every day she
to a merging of HIM, Soft that is listening. The whole The album also in- ing vocals, collectively dies twice’ is as close to the
Cell and Depeche Mode, of ‘Rogue To Redemption’ cludes a cover of Tears For forms one powerful sound. bone as you can get and
with gothic vocals over a is packed with tunes that Fears’ disconsolate hit, 'Keep Me Fed' is an album it's a song bound to res-
bed of electronic pulsa- beg to be turned up to 20. ‘Mad World’, which electri- which keeps on rewarding onate and offer strength to
tions. ‘Truth In Reverse’ They will drown out any fies. Opening with deep its audience in different many. But the highlight
has a commanding tone, negativity in your life, and piano key tones, a punchy ways. 'S!CK' is a rip-roaring comes a short while later
while ‘I Am A Machine’ fea- bring a sparkle back into beat soon takes over, punch in the face, where with 'Open Your Mind',
turing Alissa White-Gluz, is your eyes and soul. The along with frontman Lee the ladies show their explo- where the heaviness gives
a real standout number – only sadness is when the Jennings’ evocative vocals siveness, 'Apologize' way to a little more of a
Alissa’s caustic vocals con- final track, ‘When The and the band’s luminous boasts the most spellbind- melodic side and it's noth-
trasting with Kat’s much Party’s Over’, ends. But the musicianship. ing musicianship, which ing short of brilliant, with an
softer tones, creating a party isn’t over if you start Singer/songwriter Lee has the ability to almost ter- incredibly catchy chorus
combative explosion. While the album again… which is has persevered with The rify, 'Que Mas Quieres' is a which will likely still be
Kat asks if it was just an il- what you definitely should Funeral Portrait, losing song in their native tongue, humming on your lips long
lusion in the dreamy ‘Illu- do. One day, Tuk Smith will members along the way, which underlines their con- after you've switched the
sion’, it’s definitely not an achieve the success he de- but never giving up on his fidence, while the double record off. It's not all about
illusion that this fantastic serves. It is well overdue. dream. And now it’s finally header of 'Escapism' and the harder side of hard rock
female has once again YYYYY coming to fruition - right 'Satisfied' show a slightly though with The Rattle-
shown exactly how tal- Shari Black Velvet when the world needs The softer side to the trio. The backs as they do offer lis-
ented she is. Funeral Portrait the most. quality remains throughout teners a softer character
YYYY Hallelujah. the album. 'Hell You Call A and this works just as well,
Shari Black Velvet YYYYY Dream' manages to mix all albeit in a different fashion.
Shari Black Velvet of their qualities and is their 'Please Me' and 'Swing'
best work to date, spear- come as a refreshing
THE WARNING headed by a spine-tingling respite in the centre of the
KEEP ME FED chorus, while 'Automatic album and 'Lazy Brian'
(LAVA/REPUBLIC) Sun' is a close second and concludes the record in
Timing is everything in a fantastic way to end a similar fashion. The second
life. Without timing, even masterpiece of an album. of these three tracks also
the greatest of talent, work YYYYY provides another of the
and effort can go to waste Michael Coventry record’s highlights when
THE FUNERAL POR- or not reach its full poten- Josh Clarke's vocals bleed
TRAIT tial. Therefore, it is an ab- THE RATTLEBACKS into the track's instrumental
GREETINGS FROM SUF- solute delight to see timing SIDEWINDER piece in near perfect fash-
TUK SMITH FOCATE CITY has very much been on the (THE RATTLEBACKS) ion. It truly is a thing of
ROGUE TO REDEMP- (BETTER NOISE) side of Mexican sisters In an age where it is in- beauty. During the afore-
TION My Chemical Ro- Daniela, Paulina and Ale- creasingly difficult to grab mentioned 'Open Your
(GYPSY ROSE) mance left a huge gap in jandra Villarreal Velez who people's attention, UK hard Mind’, Josh encourages
The independent per- the rock world when they collectively comprise The rockers The Rattlebacks do you to ‘Let the temptation
severance of Tuk Smith went on hiatus in 2013, Warning. Their rise to star- exactly what they need to take you’. And you should.
never falters. ‘Rogue To and, while they may have dom has been joyous to with their debut LP Let The Rattlebacks tempt
Redemption’ is arguably since reformed, there’s still watch, but it also added 'Sidewinder' and immedi- you - and give in to their
Tuk’s best work yet, show- room for another theatrical, pressure for their fourth ately inform their audience temptation. You won't be
ing that no matter what emo rock band – at least in studio album, the appropri- of what they are all about. disappointed.
happens in his life, he still Black Velvet Land. And we ately named 'Keep Me One word. Riffs. Big, YYYYY
keeps producing kick-ass didn’t realise how much we Fed', to deliver. And it does. heavy, pulsating, glorious Michael Coventry
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