Page 41 - Black Velvet Rock Music Magazine Issue 92

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

solo before moving into a that adds to the toughness There’s more than a hint of
brilliant bridge section of certain songs. In title the darkly sinister about
building up to a big finale. track, ‘Selfish Age’, which their modern alt-rock
‘Spell It Out’ is by far one of bubbles with sonic sound, yet there are plenty
the most intimate tracks on prowess, Austin sings, of infectious hooks and sin-
the album, offering lyrics ‘every truth has been be- galong choruses which
such as ‘My darkest days trayed’. If you pick up this give a contrasting flash of
have come and pulled me album, you’re bound to fall light. ‘Poor Disguises’ has
under’, and mixed with the in love with the sound of As a thudding drum-led intro
huge guitar section makes Lions, and as a band, they which builds into another
for a track perfect for pack- won’t betray you. crescendo with strong riff-
YOU ME AT SIX ing out giant venues in the YYYY CAROUSEL KINGS ing. The vocals are more
NIGHT PEOPLE future. The final track on SBV CHARM CITY poppy and there’s an ap-
(BMG) the album is ‘Give’. When (VICTORY) pealing melody which
Things have been this was released as a sin- There’s a professional- works well when inter-
quiet for the past couple of gle, fans instantly fell in ism and succinctness to spersed with the thunder-
years on the You Me At Six love with it and some even ‘Charm City’, the new ous instrumental breaks.
front. Since the release of called it one of the band’s album by Carousel Kings. ‘Wake Up’ is a highlight on
‘Cavalier Youth’ back in best tracks to date, and for If you’ve not yet heard of a strong album, possibly
2014 the band decided to good reason. Starting as the pop-punk four-piece more radio-friendly and
take a break from music for an acoustic, fairly simple from Pennsylvania, they straightforward as a rocker
a while. Then, in August song it quickly escalates have been around since with a lot of appeal and en-
2016, the group an- into a huge anthem, mak- 2008 and this is the fourth ergy. There’s a classic rock
nounced that their fifth stu- ing it a perfect end to the studio album to date, and guitar line leading into the
dio album, ‘Night People’, album. Overall, it is clear to first on Victory Records. finale which is excellent.
would be released in Janu- see the direction this band DEAF HAVANA ‘Charm City’ sees the band Hellbound Hearts have
ary 2017, and released the are heading and ‘Night ALL THESE COUNTLESS reach a whole new level. both energy and ability,
title track along with it. The People’ marks the start of NIGHTS When you look back at a which makes ‘Still We
title track, ‘Night People’, an impressive new chapter (SO RECORDINGS) band’s discography, you Wait’, ‘Silent Horror Movie’
kicks this new record off for You Me At Six. There’s a sumptuous often see that one album and the rest of the album
with a bang and introduces YYYY sound to ‘All These Count- where everything turned such a good listen. Huge
the new era of You Me At Becky Simpson less Nights’, the new album around for them and made amount of potential here.
Six. With its infectious hook from Deaf Havana. Songs their name and ‘Charm YYYY
and funky groove, it sets such as ‘Ashes, Ashes’ City’ certainly gives off that Clare Huckett
the tone for the rest of the have a dreamy, yet very vibe. The album opens with
record perfectly. ‘Plus One’ real, air. The songs come ‘Grey Goose’, a dynamic SHALLOW SIDE
goes slightly heavier, still from the heart of frontman track that you just know will ONE
with punchy guitars and the James Veck-Gilodi and get all of the audience (THERMAL ENTERTAIN-
packed chorus giving a full he’s not afraid to put every- singing and dancing when MENT)
sense of the direction in thing on show. This album on tour. From the slower Taking a mix-and-
which You Me At Six are sees him baring all, expos- ‘Here, Now, Forever’ to the match approach, this six-
heading. We see this again ing every inch of his per- killer solo in ‘Dynamite’, the track EP from Alabama’s
with the upbeat ‘Heavy sona. He sings of hating band, fronted by David Shallow Side is an intrigu-
Soul’, which offers more of himself in the morning in Alexander, have an eclectic ing listen. There’s a fusion
the mature sound we see single ‘Trigger’, a song that mix of skills which they of modern rock, a nod to
from this album, and the AS LIONS wraps its arms around you aren’t modest about, and the classics, bits of elec-
minimalist approach to this SELFISH AGE come the chorus. ‘I’m a rightly so. Not to mention tronica here and there, and
track is a great addition to (ELEVEN SEVEN) drunk and you’re just their lyrical strength across a modern country sound.
this record. You can defi- As Lions release a lonely’, he sings in the entirety of ‘Charm City’, With so many styles it
nitely feel the soul. ‘Take debut album that makes ‘L.O.V.E.’, a stark look into which sees David opening could have been a mess
On The World’ slows things them a band to contend an on the road one night up about the struggles he’s but they’ve pulled it all to-
down. With a simple back- with. It’s powerful from the stand. It’s no surprise that been through. Carousel gether well. ‘Rebel’ comes
ing track and tender, heart- off. The five-piece show ‘Fever’ was picked as a Kings are definitely a band direct from their Southern
felt lyrics, this track is they mean business as single as it has a gloriously you need to see and hear; roots with a heavy, foot-
definitely one to tug at the soon as ‘Aftermath’ kicks lush chorus. ‘Like A Ghost’ they’re currently on the stomping rhythm, while
heartstrings. It leads into in. Frontman Austin Dickin- has a dancier beat, while road in the USA, who ‘Can You Hear Me’ seeks
‘Brand New’, which is eas- son asks, ‘What have we Tom Ogden’s drumbeat is knows where they’ll go to combine every genre in
ily one of the best songs on created?’ In relation to the really brought to the fore in next. Let’s hope this is one one. The electronic vibe
the album, with a great band, it’s a powerhouse ‘Pretty Low’. It’s a song that carousel that doesn’t stop. contrasts surprisingly well
build that leads into a that has the ability to move cascades like a delicate YYYYY with the country/Southern-
bouncy chorus. We see a mountains. waterfall. You relate to Yasmeen Frasso tinged modern rock. ‘Fight
dynamic approach in All the songs on the James in ‘England’ when Or Flight’ is heavier and
‘Swear’ and ‘Make Your album belong in the hard he sings, ‘I still feel awk- HELLBOUND HEARTS played straighter than the
Move’, which incorporate rock category. There’s a ward sober around people FILM NOIR rest, a solid injection of
huge vocal sections and melodic edge, catchy cho- I don’t know’. With ‘All (HELLBOUND HEARTS) heavy rock that’s a real
surely make a statement ruses and fist-pumping These Countless Nights’, Portentous notes over- headbanger. And when a
on the album, with the beats. ‘Pieces’ is one of the Deaf Havana comes laid with a simple piano re- band gets plaudits from
band really rocking out to- most anthemic songs on across as just like each frain float out through the s o n g w r i t e r / f r o n t m a n
wards the end, giving a nod the album, while ‘World On and every one of us – yet speakers before the full- Tommy Shaw for their ver-
of the head to some of the Fire’ begins very mellow the quality and talent that frontal assault of power sion of Styx’s ‘Renegade’
legendary 70s rock bands. before building up into a emanates make them so chords and hammering you know they’ve got a lot
Moving into the latter real wistful lighters-in-the- much more. drums kicks ‘Suffering The going for them.
stages of the album, ‘Can’t air number. The album was YYYYY Radio’ into gear and sets YYY
Hold Back’ has captivating inspired by what’s been SBV the tone for Hellbound Clare Huckett
riffs and an amazing guitar going on in the world so Hearts’ full-length debut.
ALBUMS