Page 40 - Black Velvet Issue 90

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

away for a while but is now tive metal sound. Bassist Daryl. Keep a keen eye out other that gets you, it's safe
back with a new release. Joni Kaartinen and drum- for these talented folks. to say that Chapter And
’From N.Y. With Love’ is the mer Håkan Strind bring in They're going places. Verse picked the right song
follow up to Brijitte West & the right amount of punch YYYYY to leave you wanting more.
The Desperate Hopefuls’ needed to complete the Jessica-Lyn Saunders All in all, these guys are
self-titled album, released gritty and emotional record. doing what they do best,
back in 2010. This Pledge- Tracks like 'Delusion' and which is creating music that
Music-backed album fea- 'A Million Claws' speak of keeps you hooked and
tures tracks such as anxiety and both personal wondering why it took them
'Permanent Ink' and 'We and world conflict while so long to come out and
Didn't Make It' that sing of other songs such as 'Open play.
SAVE THE LOST BOYS romantic woes, while Door' sing of positivity YYYY
TEMPTRESS opener 'Typical Drunken while overcoming downfall. Jessica-Lyn Saunders
(VICTORY) Loser' is a humorous but For an 11-track debut
Pop punk is far from honest tale of an ex-band album, 'Elevation' is every- CHASING CADENCE
dead, at least that's what mate. 'Done It Proud' pro- thing but boring. If there's DESTROY SOMETHING
Save The Lost Boys are vides listeners with a ballsy one record you should be BEAUTIFUL
proving with their debut fist-punching anthem that picking up sometime soon, CHAPTER AND VERSE (CHASING CADENCE)
album. ‘Temptress’ is jam- mixes Brijitte's sugary it's We Are The Catalyst's THE WOLVES BACK If you're looking for an
packed with melodic vocals sweet vocals and punk gift to the metal scene. You HOME EP that will kick off Autumn,
from lead vocalist Lee rock attitude with the WILL be elevated when (CHAPTER AND VERSE) Chasing Cadence's 'De-
Weiss and bassist Josh jagged-edged guitars of you hear it. Chapter And Verse's stroy Something Beautiful'
Hall, while guitarist An- Keef Gibbs, bass tones of YYYYY self-released 'The Wolves is the best place to start.
thony DiCaro's major chord Richie Hudson, and hard- Jessica-Lyn Saunders Back Home' EP puts a spin Tracks like 'It's Not The
crunch and drummer Bran- hitting drums of Robin Guy, on hard rock with the per- Length That Counts, It's
don Koflowitch’s solid while ‘Don’t Wait For To- fect blend of melodic, har- What You Do With It' and
drumming deliver the clas- morrow’ is an inspiring re- HELLO BEAR monized vocals while still 'Harbour' bring Jack Harris'
sic, yet new-school sound minder for everyone with I DON'T KNOW...IT'S FUN putting a punch in your vocals to a whole other
to the 10-track record. Brijitte singing ‘You don’t THOUGH, ISN'T IT? headphones. 'The New level, while the backing vo-
Songs like 'Lost Boy,' know what you could lose, (HELLO BEAR) Breed' and 'Shelf Life' open cals playing along with the
'Whatever You Like,' and today will never come back If Relient K, Saves The up with an unexpected yet leads accompany each
'Dancing' (featuring Tyler to you’. It’s good to see Bri- Day, and Sugarcult had a powerful aggression, other so well. 'Watching
Smyth of Dangerkids) jitte back and she and the love child, it wouldn't even thanks to Darren Gosling's The World' releases a dark
cover the ups and downs of boys are sounding better begin to compare to the brilliant and catchy riffs fol- feel by adding the groovi-
relationships while tracks than ever. wonderfully catchy pop- lowed by Josh Carter's est, smooth-as-butter bass
like 'Nothing's Real Out- YYY rock that is Hello Bear. The ability to bring in smooth riffs from Dan Seager. Rob
side' and 'Wasting My Jessica-Lyn Saunders energetic four-piece from melody while also main- Barlow and Tom Weeks's
Time' deliver an uplifting, Norwich's latest release of taining a raunchy edge. To skills on the axe definitely
yet powerful throwback to 'I Don't Know...It's Fun compare his vocals to do NOT go unnoticed on
the early 2000's. For a Though, Isn't It?’ is chock- those of former Saosin this track either, as well as
band named Save The full of happiness and sheds lead singer, Cove Reber or Alfie Powell's glass-shat-
Lost Boys, the Dayton, a positive perspective on Protest The Hero's Rody tering drumming. It's a
Ohio natives sound far the world, wiping away any Walker would be appropri- track that brings in Djent el-
from lost. Their album of- winter blues that the realm ate, while at the same time ements while also keeping
fers a fresh sound while re- of pop punk throws your incomparable, as Carter a hard, alternative rock
turning to the roots of the way. There's the EP brings in his own flair to the backbone.
genre that we've missed for opener, 'We Held Hands track. 'Everyone Relax' takes
several years. Lee, Josh, Once, But Then She Got 'Tunnels' turns up the a slowed-down turn in the
Brandon and Anthony are Embarrassed,' a pogo pace on the EP, with Jonny opening of the track that
four guys with the perfect WE ARE THE CATALYST dancing tune with the per- Hopwood's bass lines re- hits listeners with a solid
amount of chemistry and ELEVATION fect blend of soft melody leasing the right amount of jump-in a few minutes after.
will have you turning your (WE ARE THE CATA- and upbeat, hard-hitting kick and Ash Morton's su- It's definitely the calm be-
speakers up this summer. LYST) rock. Meanwhile, 'Mmm, perb drumming giving lis- fore the storm that is 'Dear
YYYY Sweden is known for Cheque Please!' gives lis- teners the urge to start Life,' which became the
Jessica-Lyn Saunders their death metal, heavy teners a calming dance their own pit in their bed- opening credits to TNA
metal, extreme metal, ballad while still keeping rooms. However, 'Electric Xplosion Wrestling. Pictur-
BRIJITTE WEST & THE sleazy glam rock and their the fun turned up. 'Dirty Tongues' is where the band ing Kenny King taking a
DESPERATE HOPEFULS wide selection of indie rock. Weekend' slows down the takes a different direction, guy to the ground with his
FROM N.Y. WITH LOVE We Are The Catalyst, how- pace a bit, providing addic- starting off with a soft piano Exploder Suplex while this
(BRIJITTE WEST & THE ever, are changing the tive single-note riffs and a intro and a single-note riff is playing? Of course you
DESPERATE HOPE- music game in their home- chorus that will embed it- dancing along Carter's in- do, because this track
FULS) town. 'Elevation,' the self in your head in the best nocent vocals, followed by gives heavy a whole new
The demand for rock band's debut full-length, possible way. But, the ‘I a small build up that leads meaning. The vocals punc-
and roll has been around brings the right amount of want to jump up and down to a beautiful breakdown. ture your speakers while
for decades and only a few heaviness while not shying and hug people’ attitude It's definitely a surprise, but the guitars, bass and
bands have been able to away from emotion. The kicks in with the final track, a great one. The final track, drums are mixed together
combine the perfect ele- back and forth clean, har- 'Attack Hug', a tune that 'Slave,' brings out the best perfectly. So, the question
ments to create an old monious vocals between hits you right in the heart in the band's EP and ends is, why aren't these guys
school record with a new lead singer Cat Fey and after a deceiving swing-like it with a bang. Whether it's more well known yet?
school style. That's where guitarist Kenny Boufadene intro. The only downside of the chemistry between the These guys weren't ‘born
Brijitte West & The Desper- are the perfect combina- the band's first release is brilliant guitar and bass to stand down’, they were
ate Hopefuls come in. tion. Kenny's unclean vo- that it's not long enough, players, the smooth born to stand up.
Many will know of Brijitte cals and warm yet rich but the upside of that is it change between their 3/4 YYYY
from her time in NY Loose sounding guitar takes you will keep you wanting more to 4/4 timing, or the way the Jessica-Lyn Saunders
in the 90s. Brijitte has been back to the classic alterna- from Luke, Mary, Tom and band compliments each
ALBUMS