Page 51 - Black Velvet Issue 94

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ous Goldfinger album, You’, that has a barnstorm- the skins, pounding them tionship, almost in the vein
‘Hello Destiny…’ ended ing, low-slung, sleazy gui- like machine gun fire of Radiohead at their most
with a song called ‘Julian’, tar kind of feel to it and throughout the album and powerful. “I’m still in love
for John’s first child, so it would be the perfect way to they are accompanied with you,” Jonny screams.
was only fair that second close a live set. With the beautifully by the guitar In Nothing More fashion,
child, Milla, had her own different styles of music on work of Danny and Martin the band have interspersed
song. You can picture John display, there is a danger of Shepherd on bass and to- songs with some shorter
singing this to her in their having a disjointed feel to gether they create a truly instrumental interludes and
home. ‘Tijuana Sunrise’ be- the album but Brown just bad-ass sound which is an philosophical quotes,
gins like a crackly record, about pulls it off and has ideal fit for their singer. This showing how much thought
before horns provide a ska delivered a collection of is by far Skarlett Riot’s and effort goes into every-
GOLDFINGER tone and a sunny holiday tracks that show off his heaviest work and, while it thing they do and making
THE KNIFE kind of feel. And this album vocal and songwriting skills is a triumph, it is also the them stand out from the
(RISE) is just the album to put on well. sole drawback of ‘Regener- pack. ‘Go To War’ is a fo-
It’s been nine long on a sunny day while you YYY ate’, which lacks a little light cused battle cry and, in re-
years since the last just want to chill out and Duncan Everson and shade to go with the leasing this as the first
Goldfinger album. Obvi- have fun. It will perk you up heavy, full-on stuff. Ten single, showed the band
ously John Feldmann is a and put a smile on your SKARLETT RIOT slices of full-on rock power meant business. If the
busy man. His day job has face, that’s for sure. REGENERATE is something to enjoy, but band themselves ever go
seen him producing al- YYYY (DESPOTZ ) the lack of variety between to war, we know which side
bums for the likes of Andy SBV ‘Regenerate’ is a per- the songs means some of we’ll be on – we’ll be right
Black, Good Charlotte, All fect choice of album title for the work loses a little of its there behind them.
Time Low, Blink-182, REX BROWN rising British rockers Skar- impact, whereas a slower- YYYYY
Sleeping With Sirens, Biffy SMOKE ON THIS lett Riot, as the sound of paced tune or two could SBV
Clyro, 311, 5 Seconds Of (STEAMHAMMER/SPV) their second full-length have helped them shine
Summer and many more, This is the debut solo album represents not only even brighter. THE EMPIRE STRIKES
and he continues to be a album from former Pantera a much heavier and com- YYYY HIGH TIDE
wanted man in the music and Down bassist Rex plete sound than their Michael Coventry (BOOTLEG BOOZE)
production world. So it was Brown, who has decided to debut LP, but one which is Hailing from Helsinki,
quite a surprise when a explore his influences and bursting with greater confi- Finland, is a four-piece
new Goldfinger album was write music expressing his dence from a band who band called The Empire
actually announced. The love for a range of different have not only grown but Strikes. The band are part
band line-up has changed. musical styles. The album have developed much faith of the new and upcoming
John is now the only origi- starts with ‘Lone Rider’, in their abilities. Much has wave of Finnish bands that
nal member, as his ex- which begins with the happened since the Scun- are eager to follow in the
bandmates have now gone sound of a Zippo lighting thorpe-based outfit re- footsteps of Michael Mon-
on to other projects. So, for and then ‘Smoke on this,’ leased maiden album ‘Tear roe, HIM and other suc-
this album, John enlisted Rex Brown drawls in his Me Down’ in 2013. They cessful Finnish acts that
some of his musical friends deep, gravelly voice, show- have brought out two EPs have made their mark on
whose albums he’s pro- ing immediately he’s more which creates a nice bridge the music scene. ‘High
duced to perform duties. than just ‘that bassist out of between the two LPs but a NOTHING MORE Tide’ is the band’s second
Travis Barker brings his tal- Pantera’. With a charis- quick listen back to their THE STORIES WE TELL album and sees the band
ent to the drum stool, while matic vocal style and a de- 2013 effort and you might OURSELVES really finding their stride
MxPx’s Mike Herrera plays lightfully chunky guitar find it difficult to believe this (BETTER NOISE/ELEVEN with both their songwriting
bass and Phil Sneed is sound, this is great classic is the same band. The cat- SEVEN) and playing. The album
now on lead guitar. The rock and not the heavier alyst of this change is sim- Nothing More always opener, ‘All Hope is Gone’,
album also features special music some may have ex- ply that everything is better. impress, both in the live and songs like ‘Rid of You’
guests such as Mark Hop- pected. ‘Crossing Lines’ is The vocals, the musician- setting and in the studio. and ‘The Fix’ are bursting
pus (Blink-182) and 311’s a very Gene Simmons- ship and, perhaps just as This follow-up to their self- with energy, hooks and that
Nick Hexum. Despite the penned classic Kiss-style importantly, the chemistry. titled album is full of sub- infectious late 60s’/70s’
change of band members, song, with the bass echo- Skarlett Riot have found stance, intelligence and garage sound that sees
the Goldfinger sound is still ing the guitar riff and even their stride and this is with- complex creativity – as we this record fitting nicely into
what we know and love. It’s the vocals have a touch of out question their best work know and expect from anyone's collection some-
uptempo poppy punk, full ‘The Demon’ about them. If to date and this in no small Jonny Hawkins, Mark Vol- where in between the likes
of bouncy melodies and a you’re having a bad day part to the obvious self-be- lelunga, Daniel Oliver and of The Hellacopters and
sackful of fun. ‘Am I Deaf’ then throw on ‘Train Song’, lief that ‘Regenerate’ has. A newest member, Ben An- Imperial State Electric. De-
is a look at the music which is one of those “Yes- criticism of their live shows derson. ‘The Stories We spite being a high-energy
scene, with John commen- I-Know-I-Was-Doing- from a few years ago was Tell Ourselves’ is packed rock n’ roll record there are
tating about how music is 90mph-Officer-But-Have-Y a hint that confidence was with real raw emotion. some quieter moments,
now and how fans video ou-Heard-This-Fucking- lacking, especially with the ‘You’re ripping me apart,’ such as ‘You Won’t Go
shows without really being Riff” guitar-based tracks obviously talented Skarlett Jonny screams in ‘Ripping Away’, where the band re-
‘there’. ‘Am I just a little left that just makes you put and her lead vocals which Me Apart’, a song that in- ally manage to show their
of what they listen to your foot down – very haz- were often drowned out by corporates primal rock in- 60s’ pop sensibilities.
today?’ he sings, before ardous to your license, be her band mates. But that is struments with futuristic ‘Devil’s Gospel For The
catchy ‘na na’s whisk you warned. More relaxed and not the issue here and the electronics. The album was Wicked And The Rude’ is a
away. ‘Put The Knife Away’ even psychedelic in places, more mature front woman written during and after a catchy highlight, with a
slightly reminds us of Andy ‘Get Yourself Alright’ has leads by example in open- long-term relationship had mellow chorus and groovy
Black’s ‘Put The Gun Brown cleverly showing off ing track ‘Break’, where ended for Jonny and that guitars. The band are build-
Down’ from ‘The Shadow his Beatles influence to she shows she means obviously inspired some of ing an enviable reputation
Side’ album that John pro- good effect without ventur- business before raising her the songs. ‘The Great Di- as a great live band and
duced last year, while ‘Or- ing wildly away from the game even higher in vorce’ begins as a schizo- ‘High Tide’ captures a lot of
thodontist Girl’ is an album’s feel and sounding ‘Closer’, the stand out track phrenic soundwave of that spirit and should defi-
amusing ditty. ‘I dream out of place. Another track of ‘Regenerate’ where her echoic and tortured souls nitely see the band increas-
about what your mouth that displays his roots is soaring vocals are a joy. before kicking into a chorus ing their following. Here’s
looks like, you must have ‘Best Of Me’, which is won- Her talent is leant even with a dancey backbone. hoping they can make it
perfect teeth’, he sings, derfully Pink Floyd-inspired more oomph from her ‘Let ‘em Burn’ scathes and over to the UK and the rest
ever so slightly stalkerishly. – his Brown Side Of The equally talented band pummels, while ‘Still In of Europe for a few shows
‘Milla’, the final track of the Moon, if you’ll excuse the mates, in particular the fe- Love’ is a heartbreaking, in the near future.
album, is an ode to John’s awful pun. One of the best rocious drum work of Luke, almost indie rock plead, re- YYYY
daughter Milla. The previ- songs though, is ‘So Into who is a force of nature on lating to the broken rela- Saara Planting

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