Page 46 - Black Velvet Issue 89

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you back. ‘In Case You hooked as you strum your ‘Flood’ features Sydney to listen to, being as catchy
Wanna Know’ sounds sur- best air chords raising your Sierota from the band as it is impressive. It may
prisingly upbeat with a horns and hailing the Echosmith. Her vocals in- not be the most technically
jaunty rhythm for a song 'Demons' of rock. The rest tertwining with John’s give stunning but it doesn’t
about not dealing well with of the EP rocks just as the song a romantic love need to be to create an au-
a break up, while ‘He hard. 'This Is Ours', with its vibe. ‘So Alive’ has an air of thentic pop-punk feeling
Never Cried’ is a heart- infectious chorus and slam- freedom. It’s more of a with tracks that will urge
breaking ballad for a father ming bass will have you worldly pop single rather you to listen to them over
who had trouble showing screaming along 'This Is than rock. Bassist Robby and over again.
his emotions. Sykes has Ours' in no time at all. With Takac sings two songs on YYYY
done a good job with this a nice little bridge rather the album, ‘Free Of Me’ Yasmeen Frasso
STILL SQUARE album. Perfect for a mellow than a solo, accompanied and ‘Prayer In My Pocket’.
HARD ROCK ‘N’ ROLL afternoon. by some heavy crash and As always, Robby’s songs
(RED STONE) YYYY drums, you’ll bang your always change things up a
So many bands Clare Huckett head with joy. 'Easier Said bit and add a second side
choose to perform in Eng- Than Done' is well dis- to the band. The title track
lish that to hear a French FALLEN TO FLUX guised and continues the ‘Boxes’ sees Johnny
band using their native TRANSITIONS rocking feel, with some ex- singing, ‘We’ll have tiny
tongue is a pleasant sur- (FALLEN TO FLUX) cellent guitar work from boxes for memories’. He
prise. Still Square are cele- Brit alt-rock band, Gavin Stevenson. The tone seems to be yearning for a
brating 35 years as a band. Fallen To Flux, release and range of Gavin’s vo- family-based future, and
Their brand of classic hard their debut album this sum- cals really is on show here, dreaming about the memo-
rock has matured like a mer following their two pre- adding another great ries and love that it will
good whisky – and is just viously released EPs. The bridge section and it’s an- bring. ‘I’m looking forward THE WILDHEARTS
as tasty. So, as ‘S & T’ London quartet open ‘Tran- other anthemic winning to the best days we will NEVER OUTDRUNK,
kicks off proceedings, it’s sitions’ with an instrumental track. 'Control' is where we have’ he continues. Goo NEVER OUTSUNG –
immediately clear that this ‘Intro’ track that, for any un- lose it as we go up and Goo Dolls themselves PHUQ LIVE
is no-frills guitar-led rock suspecting listener, builds down, up and down, in a have had many years of (ROUND)
with fast-paced rhythms up a sense of suspense as total frenzy as guitars are awesome memories, and Despite numerous line-
and some impressive to what will follow. It cranking and bass is rum- in years to come ‘Boxes’ up changes over the years,
solos. ‘Flying Dutchman’ smoothly flows into ‘Transi- bling, another heavy rocker will be another album and one thing you can always
has very 70s grinding riffs tions I - Realisation’, a track for sure. time period they’ll look count on when it comes to
underscored by a compli- with a catchy beat from the YYYY back fondly at, showing The Wildhearts is a killer
mentary bassline and a get-go that ponders the Shane Bradley growth, experimentation live show. This new release
sense of the theatrical, norms of daily life, ques- and substance. was recorded during last
while ‘Serial Killer’ has an tioning how ‘vapid and hol- YYYY year’s tour to mark the 20th
interesting intensity. Title low’ they may be. SBV anniversary of ‘P.H.U.Q.’ If
track ‘Hard Rock ’n’ Roll’ is ‘Anchored’ showcases the you attended one of those
an exuberant celebration of band’s ability to combine AS SIRENS FALL gigs, ‘Never Drunk, Never
the sheer pleasure of the heavier metal elements THE HOSPITAL PARTY Outsung’ will no doubt
music, but they can do the with melody, yet ‘Razor’s (AS SIRENS FALL) bring back some great
soulful ballad too. ‘Irréel’ is Edge’ fuses softer guitar Following a year of memories. If you didn’t,
lovely, having a strong har- sounds with an intense touring with their single well this presents you with
monised chorus that injects chorus and solo that will ‘From Across The Waves’, an opportunity to turn the
an emotional, almost reli- captivate any listener. ‘This most recently playing a volume up loud, soak up
gious tone. Still Square are Crushing Fear’ further small set at Download Fes- the atmosphere and imag-
still rocking, and showing shows their versatility with GOO GOO DOLLS tival, West Yorkshire rock ine you were there. With
just how it should be done. a stronger mainstream BOXES band, As Sirens Fall, have the success they achieved
YYYY pop-sounding vibe that is (WARNER BROS) brought out their ambitious with ‘P.H.U.Q.’ - which en-
Clare Huckett done so masterfully that it Think of ‘Boxes’ and debut EP, ‘The Hospital tered the Top 10 in the UK
doesn’t detract from their what do you think of? Party’. Opening with previ- charts - it’s not surprising
JOEY SYKES skill. Another notable men- Something brown, some- ously released single, that the band reformed to
CLASSIC NEW ROCK tion is ‘To The Wolves’, with thing plain? This album, the ‘Where You Are’, the pop- celebrate such an occa-
(PURPLE VIRGO) its killer riffs and the un- 11th studio album from punk yet polished tone of sion. The ability Ginger has
Joey Sykes, guitarist nerving vocals of frontman Goo Goo Dolls, is anything the EP is set. ‘Lonely To- at composing quality songs
for The Babys, stretches Oli Clipsham. The album but. If you know and love morrows’ has soft rock with catchy choruses sug-
his musical muscles on his as a whole has an evident Goo Goo Dolls, you will not verses progressing into a gests that sing-alongs are
pop-driven modern rock range of influences and the be disappointed by ‘Boxes’. fast-paced chorus. The fol- both essential and ex-
solo album. Writing (all bar guys have used them all to It carries many of the simi- lowing track, ‘Smoke’, pected. This live recording
‘He Never Cried’, written create a professional range larities of previous albums ramps up the intensity of not only captures the viva-
with Don Rollins and ‘Go of work that further grows – lush melodies, heartfelt the EP, creating a tone that ciousness of the shows but
All The Way’ by Eric Car- on you with every listen. lyrics, songwriting that has is more serious than the it also highlights just how
men), playing guitars and YYYY earned the band awards others and is easily the lyri- solid The Wildhearts’ live
bass, and providing the vo- Yasmeen Frasso and obviously proficient cally strongest track on the show is. Rocking their way
cals, Sykes is the heart and playing from the music EP with vocalist Mikey Lord through the songs from
soul of it all. These are all STAND ALONE business mainstays. The bellowing ‘Does he know start - ‘I Wanna Go Where
snippets of life, little stories NOTHING IS FORGOT- album kicks off with ‘Over my sin, does he even know The People Go’ - to end -
about the everyday. Some TEN And Over’, a hopeful, life- my name?’ More heavy ‘Getting It’, the band sound
themes are darker than (STAND ALONE) affirming song with a reflec- rock/metal elements are in- just as good as they do on
others, but even then there Yorkshire rockers tive vibe. It begins rather corporated into ‘State Of the studio versions. For
is a spark of light in them. Stand Alone reboot their mellow before picking up The Artist’ which begins fans of The Wildhearts, this
‘When Life Goes Right’ debut EP 'Nothing Is For- pace for the chorus. It with ‘Ladies and gentle- commemorates the mo-
takes pleasure in the small gotten' to coincide with a comes from the heart as all men, boys and girls, I want mentous second album in
things, a mid-tempo, reflec- host of festival appear- of Goo Goo Dolls’ songs to welcome you to the end the best possible way.
tive appreciation of life ances and tour dates. The do. ‘Souls In The Machine’ of the world’. The final ‘Never Outdrunk, Never
going well. ‘Hide’ is about latest single release, bares frontman John song, ‘Last Goodbyes’, Outsung’ really is a must
being in a bad place and 'Demons', which is the last Rzeznik’s honesty. ‘All this reignites the spirit of the have for your collection.
retreating from the world, track of this 5-track EP, is a time I was losing control, opening track and is a YYYY
while asking if someone is monster; it’s an air gui- chasing a life that would memorable song to end on. Penny Gower
prepared to try and bring tarist’s dream. You will be steal my soul,’ sings John. ‘The Hospital Party’ is easy

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