Page 45 - Black Velvet Issue 93

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idea and seem to know the tures Of The Past’ heads song are a lot lighter and just more of the same from
direction that they are into ballad territory, upping less forceful compared to the talented frontman are
heading in. This album will the melody and breaking other tracks on the album. quickly dispelled with
do them nothing but out a great but short-lived Racking the energy levels ‘Dancin’ Down Below’,
favours. guitar solo. It retains both up again with 'Insomniac' which is the first obvious
YYYY power and energy and yet the band drop us straight sign of what this band is
Abby Coulson is reflective and packs an back into the action with truly about and it is exciting
emotional punch. From another burst of compelling stuff. Taking the hard rock
SISTERS DOLL here to the close it’s power guitar rhythms and catchy we have come to expect
ALL DOLLED UP rockers all the way, and ‘Lift choruses. The closing track from both Aaron and drum-
HALFLIVES (SISTERS DOLL) Me Higher’ and ‘Never For- on the album, 'A Candle In mer Kev Hickman, previ-
EMPTY ROOMS Melbourne’s Sisters get’ are a couple of the The Window (Please ously of RavenEye, this
(HALFLIVES) Doll are old fashioned best tracks on what is a re- Come Home)', consists of song sets itself apart from
Italian alternative five- glam, more 70s/early 80s ally strong album. a mix of the two different the crowd with a special
piece Halflives are defi- than the down and dirty YYYY sides of Lucky Boys Confu- edge provided by Aaron’s
nitely trying to prove a point Sunset Strip or Swedish Clare Huckett sion. We get a contrast of unique soaring and swirling
with the release of 'Empty scene. That said, opener soft vocals transitioning vocal ability which is given
Rooms'. The band have al- and title track ‘All Dolled into raw-sounding and riff- extra power by the band.
ready established a sup- Up’ has a fast-paced intro filled choruses, and it is a It’s both a song you’ll strug-
portive worldwide fanbase, and heavier air that would- very nice and well thought gle not to bang your head
so much so that this album n’t be out of place in the out track to end the album to but one which will be
was funded by a tremen- more modern Scandina- with. Even during the equally trying to drag your
dously successful crowd- vian offerings. Similarly, slower and more chilled out legs and feet into some
funding. Halflives have ‘Johnny’ has a strong tracks the band manage to dance steps.
played their fair share of melodic storytelling style hold their energy levels The musical skills are
support and festival slots, and sticking towards the and make sure that they again on show in ‘The Devil
but now is their time to lower end of the musical have your full attention. That Needs You’, where
shine through and take scale has a certain inten- Overall, 'Stormchasers' is Aaron’s rocking relative,
control. 'Empty Rooms' sity as well. It’s a very LUCKY BOYS CONFU- an extremely strong and sister Laurie and Tom Mc-
opens with the track 'Lone promising start. From here SION well-presented album; Carthy fully shine for the
Wolf', which is jam-packed it’s straight into overtly an- STORMCHASERS hopefully we won't have to first time with a blistering
with vigorous electronics themic pop-rock territory in (TOWNSTYLE) wait another ten years for and memorable guitar solo
alongside soulful har- keeping with Sisters Doll’s Formed in 1997, new music! which is made all the more
monies, which demon- theatrical bent. ‘Good Day Chicago-based rock band YYY impressive by the support
strate just what vocalist To Be Alive’ is frothy and Lucky Boys Confusion leant to it by Kev’s stick-
Linda Battilani is capable fun, ‘Strutt’ is all arrogant have found themselves work and bassist Chris
of. The track is structured swagger, and ‘Hurricane’ is playing more shows and Guyatt. However, things hit
well, with an introduction full on power ballad. Throw festivals over the years their peak at the halfway
that builds up and issues a in an appearance from ex- than you can keep track of, point where the full power
sense of tension whilst Kiss lead guitarist Bruce and they are back at it once of Aaron’s skills on the mic
waiting for the beat to kick Kulick on ‘Young, Wild & again with their latest re- are unlocked. ‘Journey Out
in. This song is a nice way Free’, a more overt rocker lease, 'Stormchasers'. With Of Here’ is a stripped-back
to open up and introduce with the killer guitars you’d it being almost ten years entity where Aaron’s voice
us to the album. 'Mayday', expect, and there’s a lot to since the release of their becomes the star of the
has a similar structure and like on this album. There last album, you would think song and his melodic har-
sound to 'Lone Wolf', which are tracks that could have that their sound would Abby Coulson monies towards the end
is no bad thing because it been trimmed from the 13 have changed quite dra- are totally hypnotic. The
shows that Halflives have because it feels a bit over- matically, but this is not the AARON BUCHANAN album’s title track ‘The Man
found a style that suits long, but it’s a decent lis- case. Lucky Boys Confu- AND THE CULT CLAS- With Stars On His Knees’
them perfectly. 'Burn' is a ten. sion introduce us to 'Storm- SICS follows. Stripped back even
standout track among the YYY chasers' with 'I Slept With THE MAN WITH STARS further, Aaron’s voice trem-
rest of the album - the intro- Clare Huckett The Devil', which is an ex- ON HIS KNEES bles with honesty and hu-
duction is pretty low-key tremely lively track filled to (AARON BUCHANAN mility before exploding
but as we work our way MAYBURN the brim with fast-paced AND THE CULT CLAS- when he sings of meeting
into the chorus the song NO HORIZON traditional rocky sounding SICS) the man with stars on his
demonstrates everything (ALSTER) guitar riffs and vigorous vo- It doesn’t take long for knees. It is a triumphant
that Halflives are capable Described as power cals to match. Lucky Boys the mission statement of five minutes. Having
of. The contrast between rock, Mayburn’s second of- Confusion definitely aren't the debut album from slowed the tempo of the
serene vocals and com- fering is a high-octane fu- afraid of making them- Aaron Buchanan And The album down, the pace
pelling instrumentals is car- sion of hard rock and metal selves heard. Track two, Cult Classics to be made gradually builds back
ried out so well during this with a strong melodic influ- 'It's After Midnight', holds clear, with introductory throughout the second half
track, and Linda Battilani's ence. Opening with ‘Sur- the energetic up-beat piece ‘Show Me What of “The Man With Stars On
vocals seem to reach an- rendering’, it has instant tempo, but this time with You’re Made Of’ adding the His Knees” and ends with
other level. Another stand- appeal with fast paced slightly calmer vocals in cry of ‘give me all you’ve the surprise of a bonus
out track is 'Echo'. The drums and solid riffs. The places which is a good got’ and it’s quickly appar- 11th track. ‘Firing In The
chorus is extremely catchy instrumentals are as impor- thing to include, especially ent that everything has Fields Of Mayhem’ ends
and full of energy and tant as the vocals and are when an album is so po- been pumped into making things on a glorious high
when mixed with the laid- given the space to really let tent. Another song that this a triumph. Having com- note taking the band’s abil-
back verses it creates an- rip, incorporating duelling demonstrates this more pleted the band’s war cry, ity to make you nod your
other very strong piece of guitars with great aplomb. tranquil side to Lucky Boys the album blasts off with head and shake your hips
music. The album closes Peter Janda’s vocals are Confusion is 'Name In first single ‘All The Things in equal measures to new
with 'Collide', a slower- excellent, especially when Lights' which is a song that You’ve Said And Done’ and levels, this is a fantastic
tempo track. Halflives have demonstrating an emo- gives Stubhy Pandav a those familiar with Aaron’s party song which is well
an incredible instrumental tional intensity in the cho- chance to show off his vo- previous work with justified as this first effort
ability and it's great when it ruses on ‘Rising Tide’. Title cals a little more than Heaven’s Basement will be from Aaron Buchanan And
gets to shine through on track ‘No Horizon’ is more usual. We start off with a at ease straightaway as The Cult Classics really is
slower tracks like this. All in metal, with more aggres- slow intro leading us in, this is a track which could something to be cele-
all, 'Empty Rooms' is a su- sive vocals and a heavy and it isn't until the chorus have easily come from brated.
perb release and Halflives guitar refrain opening out that it really kicks in, but their back catalogue. But YYYY
definitely have the right into soaring choruses. ‘Pic- even so the guitars in this any suspicions that this is Michael Coventry
ALBUMS