Page 45 - Black Velvet Issue 89

BV89 pg45_BV89 pg45 29/06/2016 19:04 Page 1

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 45
well done it all is, in partic- an early highlight. Dark and ing attention it sounds like oozes punk attitude from
ular Marco K-Ace’s phe- aggressive in tone and fea- a heartfelt power ballad. the gruff opening riffs and
nomenal guitar work. turing a bass solo as well This is a really strong heavy bass line, although
‘Desperation Alley’ is won- as the brief solo guitar album, production is bril- the vocal is unexpectedly
derfully bombastic and the- burst, it unsettles with liant, the songs are quality, melodic. The soulful ‘The
atrical, more of a melodic minor chords and yet has a and the performances are World Is Gonna Win’ is per-
metal anthem that marks a certain swagger to it. ‘No razor-sharp. What more meated by Angell’s fear for
slight change of pace be- Way Out’ is a classic heavy could you ask for? his daughter growing up,
fore Heavy Star swing con- rocker, all big guitars and YYYYY producing a gentle and
fidently into a cover of Kiss’ drum beats with an infec- Clare Huckett heartfelt number. ‘High
MATTY JAMES ‘Love Gun’, oddly one of tious rhythm. ‘Showgirls’ is Score’ is another with a
THE ROAD TO NO TOWN the weaker tracks. Closer pure sleaze, ‘Full Of Beans’ BLACK NEON KNIGHTS swirly, slightly trippy vibe,
(PIRATE HEART/CARGO) and only ballad ‘Serena’ is just that; high energy, RISE UP! while the focus of ‘If You
Matty James has the drips heartfelt emotion and with a bounce and a great (BLACK NEON Only Knew’ is the hypnotic
soul of a vagabond poet pain, but with only eight solo, while ‘Way Back KNIGHTS) bassline and the drums
and his huge talent as a tracks they leave you want- Home’ is an excellent slow- ‘Rise Up!’ is raw, keeping time, leaving the
singer-songwriter and sto- ing more. This is a great burner. Slower-paced and heavy, guitar-led rock cour- vocal to carry the melody.
ryteller is clear throughout band and they’ve served restrained, it’s about calling tesy of Liverpool’s Black There’s a lot to take in and
this fantastic album. It’s an up a corker of a debut. time on a relationship, and Neon Knights. Much of the a lot to enjoy on this album.
amalgam of styles – rogue YYYY displays a degree of matu- album is largely straight- Angell and co. have made
folk, a bit of country, a Clare Huckett rity that some of the other down-the-line rock, heavy good use of their unex-
Celtic flavour, straight tracks are lacking. The pro- on the riffs, ferocious on pected free time.
down the line rock ‘n’ roll, RED STORM duction lets them down in the drums, a bit of a YYYY
and even a jazzy swing on ALERT places – opener ‘Rockin’ In groove, and a great bass Clare Huckett
the swaggering ‘Money & (ECHOZONE) Stereo’ could have a better line. But there are little
The Devil’. He handles The main focus of this balance for one – but over- twists in there as well
most of the instruments techno-heavy album is all it’s an entertaining, which add to the interest
himself as well, although singer Agnieszka Leśna of hard-rocking album. A bit of levels. Title track and
Pat McManus (Mama’s the band Desdemona. She a mixed bag at times, but opener ‘Rise Up!’, following
Boys/Celtus) lends his fid- has a fantastic voice with the good outweighs the the crashing chords of the
dle to proceedings. Title clarity, strength, and emo- less impressive elements. intro, has a funky groove
track and opener ‘The tional range. The dominant YYY that will get you swaying at
Road To No Town’ is a musical element comes Clare Huckett least. ‘Go To Hell’ is a foot-
whiskey-soaked rabble- courtesy of DJ Bactee, stomper in places, with
rouser with a strong Celtic provider of the electronic some great crunching gui-
rock flavour. It’s incredibly beats and some appealing tars and a strong bass THE FLUX MACHINE
catchy with a devil-may- rhythms which will get a rhythm. For a more metal LOUDER!
care attitude and is fol- dance floor moving. Some- sound, check out ‘Necro- (THE FLUX MACHINE)
lowed by the equally where in the mix is Dario mancer’. The solos are There’s something a
infectious ‘Sticks & Stones’ Chiereghin on guitar, but smoking and the heavier bit special about The Flux
and its sing-along chorus. his part gets rather lost. vibe lets the drums cut Machine. Hailing from New
‘Heavy Heart’ delivers an ‘Famous’ would make a loose a little more. The York City and formed by
inspiring message of self- good dance floor filler, quite track that breaks the veteran rocker Luis Ac-
reliance and finding your a poppy number with a mould, though, is the epic corsi, it feels like a band
own way. On ‘Gunpowder’, lower key beat in the ‘Earth God Mother’, start- with a mission. Certainly
James brings out his inner verses and more exuber- BLACKRAIN ing out with a long acoustic their sound is dynamic,
pirate for a rollicking sea ant layering of sounds in RELEASED section and an ethereal fe- mainly fast-paced, and
shanty, while ‘Hold On’ the chorus. ‘Everything’ (UDR MUSIC) male vocal before the elec- fresh. Mixing punk with alt-
goes down the soulful bal- comes as a complete con- From the throbbing tric guitar kicks in and Paul rock, it’s instantly addictive
lad route. Matty James has trast. It’s quite dark and bass and fast-paced drums Naylor resumes vocals. It’s and infectious. The
come up with a second portentous, complete with of the intro of ‘Back In an ambitious style change rhythms to opening track
phenomenal album that’s unsettling strings and a sin- Town’ through to the clos- that actually works really ‘Run Away’ are almost
both uplifting and terrifically ister choir. ‘Alert’ features a ing notes of anthem ‘One well in this quality rock poppy, although the pace
good fun. Sheer brilliance. song with the same name Last Prayer’, ‘Released’ is album. and lyrics give it the punk
YYYYY as the band themselves, a high calibre mix of heavy YYYY edge. Title track ‘Louder!’ is
Clare Huckett ‘Red Storm’, which opens rock, sleaze, and 80s glam. Clare Huckett big, brash, and plays
with thunder and rain French rockers BlackRain around with vocal layers
HEAVY STAR sound effects but then and American producer JEFF ANGELL’S STATI- alongside the thundering
ELECTRIC OVERDRIVE sticks with a regular beat Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, CLAND drums and frenetic guitars.
(PERRIS) and a slightly cheesy-pop New York Dolls, Alice JEFF ANGELL’S STATI- ‘Toxic Love’ is an anti-love
Break out the hairspray repetitive chorus, before in- Cooper) are a match made CLAND song, the upbeat bounce
and eyeliner, because this strumental ‘Lovely’ brings in rock heaven. There are (UDR) subverted by vocal distor-
Italian five-piece is chan- the album to a close. It melodic elements, such as Finding themselves tions, standing in contrast
nelling the heavier end of doesn’t really feel like a ‘Killing Me’, where strings with time on their hands with ‘Love And Affection’, a
LA glam scene, and what’s rock album, it’s very much weave subtly through the while Walking Papers straight rocker with a rol-
more they have the chops techno focused but it’s a melody, there’s a strong band-mate Duff McKagan licking rhythm. ‘Mess You
to pull it off. ‘Blessed’ decent listen. guitar sound, and while it was otherwise engaged, Up’ is more alt-metal, heav-
stands out as an obvious YYY initially sets a slower pace Jeff Angell and keyboard ier, and with aggressive,
highlight – frenetic guitar Clare Huckett the choruses set machine player Benjamin Anderson roaring vocals. That one is
intro, thudding drums and gun drum beats blasting. got together with drummer a monster of a track. ‘Jack,
edge-of-darkness lyrics, it’s JOLLY JOKER Poppy ‘Puppet On A String’ Joshua Fant, and this self- Jim & Johnny’ has a blue-
the full package. Title track HERE COME…THE JOK- is light-hearted and catchy. titled album is the result. grass feel. Starting slow, it
‘Electric Overdrive’ has ERS!! ‘Eat You Alive’ goes for the It’s a fusion of many styles builds up a head of steam
hooks a-plenty and an im- (THE FISH FACTORY) horror/freak show vibe, – blues rock with a dark and in places races along
pressive rapid-fire guitar Spanish sleaze mer- breaking out the fairground sound, classic hard rock, like an out of control loco-
solo. There’s a familiar feel chants Jolly Joker bring a sound effects and a malev- bit of grunge, modern alt- motive. With both style and
to much of the album and a lot of verve, enthusiasm, olent vocal style along with rock, and a trippy psyche- substance, this is a great
variety of influences are in and a good dose of attitude some excellent guitars. delic groove in evidence on album.
evidence. What matters to their second album. ‘Home’ is lyrically very ‘Band-Aid On A Bullet YYYYY
most, though, is just how ‘Sidewalks’ stands out as dark, but if you’re not pay- Hole’. ‘Phantom Limb’ Clare Huckett
ALBUMS