Page 49 - Black Velvet Issue 88

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that’s the almost religious patrick (songwriter, pro- breath with a mid-tempo with a rawness and energy
euphoria generated by ducer, and sound designer) chorus. ‘One In A Million’ is that packs a punch. It’s a
music in title track and and Rachel Harvey, a vo- a metal monster with an hard-rocking storm of
opener ‘Immortal By calist with a wonderfully unsettling bass line high up crashing cymbals and gui-
Sound’ or the passionate ethereal quality. Stylisti- in the mix, scorching gui- tar shreds. ‘Rattlesnake’
lust of hard rocker cally, this is a vital element tars, and ferocious, growl- slithers up from the swamp
‘L.Y.M.B’. Straight-up to a complex album that ing vocals. C.O.P. UK may and manages to deliver a
rocker ‘Victor’ is a highlight, mixes acoustic and elec- be better known in Europe mid-tempo guitar rhythm
along with the bluesy, tronic instrumentation and than the UK, but this album and drum beat with an air
swamp-infested ‘Back- which explores the fine line could be the one to change of menace courtesy of
woods’, and it is the rockier between genius and mad- that. Brian Gibbs’ rough-edged
SOTO numbers that are the ness, and between love YYYYY vocals. It kicks up a notch
DIVAK strongest. ‘Oh My My’ has and pain. Kirkpatrick’s Clare Huckett for the choruses and the
(EARMUSIC) a bounce and a great bass crafting of the soundscape wah-wah solo lightens the
Hot on the heels of rhythm to it. There are also gives a great deal of depth THE SENTON BOMBS mood a little. ‘Dry Eyes And
Soto’s debut comes this some heartfelt ballads, and is very effective. The MASS VENDETTA A Bottle Of Rye’ has a
second piece of killer such as ‘Days Of Bliss’, haunting vocals make a (7HARD) swing and devil-may-care
riffage and thunderous which has a symphonic- stark contrast with the When the opening swagger that’s quite infec-
drums from Jeff Scott style intro before switching crashing drums of ‘Mask’, chords of an album send tious. For a change of pace
Soto’s latest band. Sticking to power ballad, and piano- for example, whereas the an anticipatory shiver down there’s the more melodic
firmly in heavier territory, led ‘Another Life Ago’ with electro-rock ‘Monochro- your spine, things can go and restrained ‘What Have
the title track ‘Divak (Intro)’ its more plaintive air. It’s a matic’ allows Harvey to in- one of two ways. The You Done’, and a bonus
is wonderfully portentous decent album overall but crease the power and the opening track may be the hard-rocking cover of ‘Su-
instrumental symphonic doesn’t really stand out passion of her voice. ‘Kiss best thing on it so it’s all perstition’ to round things
metal, hinting of the darker from the crowd. The Dark’ takes this a step downhill from there. Alter- off. If you like your rock en-
sounds to come and lead- YYY further by heading towards natively, as with The Sen- ergetic and aggressive,
ing straight into ‘Weight Of Clare Huckett symphonic metal territory – ton Bombs’ latest offering, then this album is for you.
The World’, with its bold not in a particularly heavy it could turn out to be a YYY
anthemic quality. ‘Freak- GAVIN CHAPPELL- way, but enough to in- hard-rocking, ass-kicking Clare Huckett
Show’ brings in an indus- BATES crease the dramatic feel. slab of brilliance. It’s guitar-
trial element and a WE ARE THE ONES This is certainly an album heavy, gritty, classic-and-
dynamic rhythm, although (R*E*P*E*A*T*) that bears repeat listens. blues-based rock, tinged
the soaring solo feels ‘We Are The Ones’ It’s complex, interesting, with punk in places and
lighter in tone than the starts off very promisingly impressive, and deeply played with energy and
snarling vocals. The with the adolescent pop- evocative. flair. There’s some good
melodic sensibilities are punk of ‘Church Of Rock YYYYY use of minor keys for an
such a strength of the ‘N’ Roll’. Gavin Chappell- Clare Huckett unsettling feel to the likes
songwriting, and ‘Unblame’ Bates’ vocals may be more of opener ‘Trailblazer’ and
is right up there with the clean-cut indie than spitting ‘Mainstream’, while ‘Train
best of them. Theatrical aggression, but he has a Wreck’ powers along with a
vocal effects, well-timed great voice and his first full- rhythm like, well, a run- LACEY
pace changes, and a fre- length album is an excel- away train. ’13 Days’ has I DON’T OWE THE
netic guitar solo – it’s ut- lent showcase for it. There snarling punk vocals and WORLD A THING
terly magnificent. Extended are some previously re- alternates fast-paced riffs LACEY
power ballad ‘In My Dark- leased songs in this line-up in the chorus with a down- Nottingham-based
est Hour’ is a dramatic and – the nostalgic ‘95’ and played verse, before we foursome Lacey give us
masterful epic, bringing in hopeful title track ‘We Are head off into epic territory five dynamic tracks in the
strings and a smattering of The Ones’. Much of the with the mid-tempo and in- form of ‘I Don’t Owe The
Latin guitar, building to an album is gentle and tense ‘Avalanche’. Slow- World A Thing’. The larger-
orchestral crescendo, be- thoughtful, with a lightness C.O.P. UK tempo growler ‘Apex’ than-life ‘Shadow’ pro-
fore dropping us into the of touch and sense of opti- NO PLACE FOR HEAVEN brings proceedings to a claims ‘I won’t chase my
foot-stomping rhythms of mism. Exceptions include (BLOWN AWAY MUSIC) close with a heavy rhythm shadow’. Lacey certainly
‘Forgotten’. This is a phe- the haunting ‘Refugee’, As British as Sheffield and grinding guitars build- don’t chase their shadow
nomenal album, guitars, which speaks of loneliness steel, C.O.P. (Crimes of ing to a thundering finale. on this EP, providing a di-
bass, drums, and above and loss, along with ‘Black Passion) UK have retained Looking for something to verse selection of tracks
all, vocals of the highest Holes’, which has a hint of their early NWOBHM influ- blow up your speakers? which makes a compelling
calibre, and top-notch writ- indie angst to it, and the ences in this third album, ‘Mass Vendetta’ might be record. ‘Hoax’ is incredibly
ing as well. Pure metal heartbreakingly beautiful combined with an injection just the thing. emotive and the meaning
heaven. ‘Last Angel’. By contrast, of modernity which brings it YYYY of the song is conveyed
YYYYY upbeat pop track ‘Dead bang up-to-date instead of Clare Huckett through the heartfelt, in-
Clare Huckett End Disco Streets’ incorpo- being a throwback. That tense vocals. Slow and
rates some lighter club said, the high octane SEVEN SHOTS FROM soothing, ‘Take Me Home’
GABRIEL SANCHEZ rhythms, electronic beats opener ‘The Core’ is oddly SOBER brings the tempo of the EP
IMMORTAL BY SOUND and keyboards, while reminiscent of some Ger- SONGS FROM STEPHEN down, before ‘Ghost While
(GABRIEL SANCHEZ) album closer ‘Starlight’ is man metal bands, and AVE I’m Alive’ storms into mo-
The idea behind this an unashamedly sentimen- Dale Radcliffe gives it full (SEVEN SHOTS FROM tion with its powerful and
album is the visual show, tal, positive ballad. This is blast with his powerful, ex- SOBER) stirring beat. Once again,
with a digital wall in sync an intelligent and very ac- pressive vocals. The Calgary’s redneck the lyrical aptitude and flair
with the live band. To have cessible album from a melodic AOR of ‘Kiss Of An sons Seven Shots From that this band posesss is
the music alone, therefore, hugely talented musician Angel’ is something else Sober go all out for South- made evident in this track.
is to miss out a chunk of and singer. Well worth a lis- though – it’s glorious in its ern rock, with the occa- ‘You Know Nothing’ intro-
the experience and one ten. power and rhythms, the sional forays into heavier duces a soulful piano to
can’t help wondering about YYYY layered vocals, and its ex- metal territory. For these end ‘I Don’t Owe The
the combined impact. As Clare Huckett cellent guitar display. Rapid guys, it’s all about the World A Thing’ with a ballad
an album, then, it’s an en- fire ‘Halo’ captures the at- music, the life, and the al- feel. This is a sterling effort
gaging listen, sitting GLITCH CODE tention with its Latin-tinged cohol, as they take you on from the Lacey boys and a
squarely in the lighter- GIFTED_DAMAGED dual guitar intro and then a wild ride through their sign of good things to come
weight rock category. (BASILICA MUSIC) proceeds to kick ass with a foot-stomping, whiskey- from them.
Gabriel Sanchez is into ex- Glitch Code is a collab- dominant thunderous drum soaked tracks. ‘Doing Al- YYYYY
ploring emotion, whether oration between Paul Kirk- beat, only pausing for right’ opens proceedings Emily Clarkson
ALBUMS