Page 46 - Black Velvet Issue 84

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the attention, blending plays everything on the Danny sings ‘You might be bounces along and is quite
dark, twisted storytelling album except the drums. the one tonight’. We Are the mood lifter. Lead single
with fun-loving exuber- He brings class and skill to Harlot’s debut album defi- ‘Labour Of Life’ has a foot
ance. Similarly ‘Off With the rock world. With a wide nitely is the one – that you’ll stomping rhythm and an
Their Heads’ has don’t- range of styles he shows be spinning indefinitely. exuberant style rounded
give-a-damn lyrics and atti- he can put his hand to any- Now when’s the UK tour? out by a brass section for
tude, yet the music initially thing and produce songs We need to see this band huge choruses. Some of
feels restrained. It does that really do sound im- NOW. the harder rockers are
have a cracking guitar solo pressive. He adds in lots of YYYYY among the standout tracks.
and the pace picks up as it interesting sounds too that SBV The rhythms and dirty gui-
progresses, making it a re- you wouldn’t expect on an tars, including a cracking
THE VERONICAS ally well-crafted track. ‘The album, including foot THE ANSWER solo, and slightly darker
THE VERONICAS Ocean’ opens with a stomps, door slams and RAISE A LITTLE HELL vocal tone of ‘Seraphina’
(SONY MUSIC) melancholic intro before wall thumps. His style may (NAPALM) make it a contender for
Sometimes being sin- kicking up a gear and blast- be a little ‘out there’ for Opening with ‘Long best song on the album.
gle has its pluses. You ing out the guitar and everyone but this is what Live The Renegades’ we ‘Beautiful Smile’ plays with
don’t deal with heartache drums, alternating a taunt- makes Bumblefoot ‘Bum- get a stomping beat (cour- vocal effects and a heavier
and breakups. The Veroni- ing vocal with high octane blefoot’. It’s no wonder that tesy of James Heatley), guitar rhythm, and it’s in-
cas’ new album recounts rhythms. Another highlight in between making his own classic guitar riffs and Cor- stantly addictive. The
what seems like a bad is ‘Glue’, a big rocker that albums he was asked to mac Neeson’s trademark Southern Rock edge to
breakup with songs such goes all out on the cho- join one of the most suc- vocals. Each band member ‘One Wrong Turn’, with
as ‘You Ruin Me’ and ruses and has an intense cessful rock bands in the excels in their chosen in- Gun’s trademark catchy
‘Cold’. ‘You Ruin Me’, com- drum beat driving it along. world. He definitely has strument. Paul Mahon rhythms, is another high-
plete with strings, literally As a whole, it’s a strong what it takes, both as a gives us a fantastic solo, light. This is a fine album
rips your heart out while album that benefits from a team player and solo – al- while Micky Waters’ bass and worthy of many listens.
‘Cold’ includes Lisa speak- couple of listens. Hardcore though ‘Little Brother Is thumps along the founda- YYYY
ing as if someone has bro- Superstar have relived Watching’ shows Bumble- tion. The Answer are back Clare Huckett
ken her heart. ‘Cruel’ is their past and fused it with foot being 100% himself, with arguably their most
another catchy number that their present. Here’s to playing what he wants and commanding piece of work ALIEN ANT FARM
shows how what seemed their future, it’s going to be what is in his heart and to date. ‘Aristocrat’ sees ALWAYS AND FOREVER
like a perfect relationship a blast. soul. Ingenious stuff. Cormac sing as if he’s (EXECUTIVE MUSIC)
can fall to pieces. The YYYY YYYY speaking to an aristocratic The increasing popu-
album begins though, with Clare Huckett lady. ‘I am ready’, he sings. larity of crowdfunding
‘Sanctified’, a smooth, With funky tones, he con- records is truly remarkable.
loungey, soulful number BUMBLEFOOT tinues ‘lead me to riches’ – With more and more bands
before ‘I‘m A Veronica (Did LITTLE BROTHER IS and you, the listener, are turning to it to release
You Miss Me)’, a poppy WATCHING definitely led to the band’s music, it’s not a surprise
song which includes rap (BUMBLEFOOT) riches, musically. ‘Ciga- that ‘Always And Forever’,
style verses. ‘Teenage Mil- You know when a gui- rettes & Regret’ begins Alien Ant Farm’s newest re-
lionaire’ is a happier song tarist is at the helm of an slightly smoother, but it’s lease, was also funded in
with a dancey uptempo album – it begins with a another that whisks you this way. ‘Yellow Pages’
beat, while ‘Always’ shows solitary guitar riff. But Bum- away. There’s a bit of a kicks the album off in an
a mature devotion to some- blefoot isn’t just a guitarist voicebox in there to add to explosive fashion, with a
one. Retrospective num- – he’s a multi-talented vir- SBV the exotic number. ‘I Am heavy drum presence and
ber, ‘Born Bob Dylan’ tuoso. And he’s not just a Cured’ has a hazy kind of some pretty spectacular
includes the line ‘I wish I multi-talented virtuoso – WE ARE HARLOT awakening. They strip guitar solos. It’s somewhat
stood up like Rosa Parks’ he’s a multi-talented virtu- WE ARE HARLOT things down for the bare of a departure from the
while ‘If You Love Some- oso who can write great (ROADRUNNER) ‘Strange Kinda’ Nothing’, band’s sound which made
one’ is an inspiring track songs that stick in your There aren’t many al- which has a sense of sad them so popular (thinking
about standing up for head. Kicking off ‘Little bums that blow us away reflection in its tale while ‘I back to ‘Movies’ and
someone or something. Brother Is Watching’ is from the very first play, but Am What I Am’ is The An- ‘These Days’). However,
We would definitely stand ‘Clots’, quite a punkish We Are Harlot’s debut swer, pure and unadulter- this new direction certainly
up for The Veronicas as we number with a chaotic and album does. This is full ated. The Answer have works. ‘Homage’ slows the
believe in what they’re quirky paced chorus, and a power, high energy rock ‘n’ definitely not let them- pace of the album down,
doing and can’t believe classical operatic input in roll that hits the spot. You’ll selves or their fans down which makes for an inter-
Warner Bros let them go. places. Fist-punching be wanting to get up and with ‘Raise A Little Hell’. esting and fresh addition to
Kudos to Sony Music for ‘hey’s start ‘Little Brother Is dance on tables in ‘Dirty They’ve stuck to their guns the album’s sound. Includ-
giving them a new record Watching’, the title track, Little Thing’, ‘Someday’ rips yet still produced an ing the lyrics, ‘Even though
deal. These girls are very while ‘Don’t Know Who To holes around your heart, album’s worth of new and I don’t know you, I feel like
talented, with great voices, Pray To Anymore’ has a it’s one of those lighters in exciting tunes. If The An- I owe you’, whether inten-
and are terrific role models KISS ‘God Gave Rock N’ the air numbers, while Jeff swer is your addiction, you tional or not, it feels like a
for young girls (and guys) Roll To You’ vibe. ‘Cutere- George shows off his su- won’t want to be cured! reference to the hundreds
to look up to. bra’ is a weird and quite perb guitar playing talent in YYYY of fans that donated to
YYYY bizarre sounding song – it’s the fast paced ‘One More SBV make this record possible.
SBV a little like going into a Night’ which speeds along The bass-heavy ‘American
warped circus-like play- like a motorcycle at full GUN Pie’ is a highlight of the
HARDCORE SUPER- house. The pace picks up power. Danny Worsnop, FRANTIC record, proving very catchy
STAR as it goes along as if you’re previously with Asking (CAROLINE) from the first listen. ‘Always
HCSS on a scary fairground ride Alexandria, sounds much Scottish rockers Gun And Forever’ is closed off
(GAIN) before eventually slowing older than his years, with are back, and the new in great fashion by ‘Dirty
Swedish rockers Hard- to a stop. ‘Argentina’ has mature cigarette stained album is an upbeat and fun Bomb’, which has a certain
core Superstar returned to influences of bands such and beer soaked vocals. affair with plenty to grab the groove and rhythm un-
their demos from 1994 to as System Of A Down while He sounds like he’s been a attention. Leaning towards heard before in this album,
rediscover their original ‘Women Rule The World’ rock ‘n’ roll singer for pop in a fair few places, again with a heavy bass
motivations. As a result and ‘Eternity’ show his de- decades – despite his there are still plenty of presence. This is an excit-
‘HCSS’ is both retro and votion to his wife. Ron young age. He was no great guitars and drum ing selection of songs
fresh, with some high cali- ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal shows doubt singing in his rhythms to rock it up. which demonstrates the di-
bre songs. The stomping his talent for guitar playing mother’s womb! ‘The One’ Opener ‘Let It Shine’ is a versity of the band’s sound.
rhythm of zombie celebra- in all of the songs with rip- is a hustling wiggler which solid start with its strong YYYYY
tion ‘The Cemetery’ grabs roaring solos, although he blossoms in its chorus. gospel flavour. It just Emily Clarkson
ALBUMS