Page 52 - Black Velvet Issue 94

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just haven’t happened to A Rockstar’ is a slower, the entirety of ‘Ain’t No ing whore,’ while ‘Lisa’ is a
have heard before. It’s a brooding song in which Rest’, but each song is funny, humorous tune in
real earworm of a song Alex Cooper’s voice is not unique enough that nothing the vein of Bowling For
with a great rhythm to it only dripping with the sounds repetitive and the Soup. If you haven’t
and the sparingly used sleaze a song like this songs are so good that you checked out MAKEOUT
keyboards are really effec- commands, but is bol- never feel yourself wanting yet, you definitely should.
tive. ‘Honey Do’ has a stered by the work of his something different. The One of the most exciting
great, blues-based rock bandmates, in particular slow burn introduction to releases of 2017 so far.
and roll feel to it, similar to guitarists Baz Blackett and ‘Hit It ‘n’ Quit It’, driven by YYYYY
‘Smokin’ In The Boys Richard Bloomer-Davies, the combined guitar skills SBV
Room’, complete with ex- who introduce a hard rock of James, Ryan and James
ALL TIED UP cellent honky-tonk piano edge to the song. ‘Lay It On is spellbinding and when THE DUST CODA
BREAKING SILENCE EP that just fits so well it’ll The Line’ offers an instru- Joe sings, “put your back- THE DUST CODA
(STACK-IN-A-BOX) make you smile. By com- mental which is among the bone in it” there is no deny- (THE DUST CODA)
Milton Keynes pop- parison though, ‘Hideaway’ highlights of ‘Dark Manoeu- ing that is exactly what the From the second John
punks All Tied Up give us strips it back to basics and vres’, where the work of the whole band are doing. This Drake opens his mouth on
five rip-roaring tracks on is an old-style, soulful blues aforementioned guitarists sublime chemistry between the self-titled debut album
their new EP, ‘Breaking Si- number, reminiscent of is beefed up tremendously the band is topped in of The Dust Coda, it’s clear
lence’, although the first some of the best Aerosmith by bassist Davey Bennett penultimate track, ‘The we are in for something
track, ‘So Enthusiastic’, tunes. Another of the blue- and lent extra power from End’, which opens with a special. Merged beautifully
takes a while to kick in. sier songs is ‘Well, Alright’, the sticks of drummer Lars blistering near-minute wall with the swirling and
Andy Davies's perfect pro- which makes great use of Wickett, producing impres- of sound which builds like a smooth guitar work of him-
duction hits you with full harmonica and is another sive results. But the best is tornado ready to rip apart a self and partner in crime
force, clean, crisp and example of the band’s yet to come with ‘Kill Your town, which it truly does Adam Mackie plus bassist
punchy and as soon as the sound being just right. Love’. Alex has said, “It when the instrumental hits Tony Ho, ‘The More It
whole band come in you There’s nothing added just seems to me as a writer I'm a couple of minutes later Fades’ is a tremendous
know this is going to be for the sake of it, each in- prone to putting my heart when their guitars scream opening track, offering a
one hell of good listen. strument is used only on the page” and if the re- at the tops of the throats. great insight into what this
Dave Palfreyman's Lower where it’s needed and for sults of that is this song The album weighs in at 45 London-based band is all
Than Atlantis-eque vocals just long enough as is nec- then hopefully we will hear minutes and this is nearly about. You can hear a hint
work well with the driving essary, whether it’s the har- much more of this in their spot-on, especially given of Australian-born John’s
guitars and catchy cho- monica, Hammond organ future work as this is heart- the intensity of the songs, homeland in his singing,
ruses. ‘Better Day’ kicks or guitar during the brilliant breaking melodic rock at its which never outstay their which offers The Dust
straight in, perfectly struc- solo. ‘Don’t Take It To very best; again, their injec- welcome. Forget the stone, Coda a little something
tured verses and a huge Heart’ features a terrific tion of hard rock giving the this is simply wicked. special, but what truly
sing-along chorus, while solo, while Vincent Mar- song that extra something YYYY makes the work here re-
the A Day To Remember- tinez’ vocals have a hint of to make it shine. These Michael Coventry markable is their ability to
style middle eight fits in Deep Purple-era Glenn standards are nearly neatly infuse their take of
nicely. ‘Asbestos Box’ car- Hughes that suit the song matched on ‘(You Gotta) hard rock with a dash of the
ries on in the same vein perfectly. ‘Revenge Of Revolution’ and ‘Devil In blues. The element of soul-
with loud gritty guitars, Rock And Roll’ doesn’t re- Your Eyes’, which are the fulness gives the songs an
great harmonies and an- invent the wheel but that’s standout songs of the sec- infectious boost. The pace
other great middle break- not what Carousel Vertigo ond half of this solid 13- steps up with the quite bril-
down. The EP finishes off are trying to achieve. They song maiden LP from a liant ‘All I Got’, which, like
nicely with ‘Master Of Dis- are a band confident band who have a great the opening track, features
guise’, another upbeat, enough that they can pro- deal to offer. a blistering instrumental,
well-crafted sing-along duce new music that YYY during which the drumming
song that never gets tiring sounds instantly familiar Michael Coventry of Scott Miller comes to-
to listen to. If you like fast- without it being a rip-off of gether with the guitar pro-
paced, energetic guitar anything that’s come be- WICKED STONE MAKEOUT vided by his bandmates in
music, this is going to be in fore. This is a great album AIN’T NO REST THE GOOD LIFE a quite marvelous cocktail
the CD player constantly that gets better with re- (WICKED STONE) (RISE) of sound. The superb stan-
and the repeat button will peated listens and if there’s ‘Ain’t No Rest’ is an The debut album by dard of musicianship is
definitely get a lot of use. any justice will help to give ideal name for the debut of Rhode Island’s MAKEOUT also present in ‘Weakness’,
Great stuff. the band the opportunities album of hard-rocking UK is such a refreshing album, John’s sublime vocals
YYYYY they deserve. act Wicked Stone, as one packed with fun, bounce being made all the more
Andy Nicklin
YYYYY listen to it and there’ll be no and youthful vibrance. wonderful by the fabulous
Duncan Everson rest as you’ll be playing it These guys could really be companionship of his in-
CAROUSEL VERTIGO over and over again. The the next big thing. Pro- strument and those of his
REVENGE OF ROCK DEVILFIRE album title is not the only duced by John Feldmann, bandmates. ‘Sun Goes
AND ROLL DARK MANOEUVRES thing Wicked Stone has got ‘The Good Life’ will Down’ and ‘Rock N Roll’
(MOLANO MUSIC) (DEVILFIRE) right here, the balance be- brighten your mood. Songs continue the hard pace, the
Carousel Vertigo may The devil is in the de- tween the band is perfect, like single ‘Crazy’ are like latter treating the listener to
not be a familiar name to tails, so they say, and for between Joe Hawx’ finely sunshine at the end of a a blinding riff which will
many yet but this sopho- Birmingham based melodic honed hard rock voice storm. If you’ve been a fan work its way into your brain
more release from the hard rock outfit Devilfire it which is precisely accom- of All Time Low, Good and permanently position
band aims to change all might be where they need panied by the impressive Charlotte, Blink-182 and itself in your memory bank
that. The band are made to focus, as a little more at- chemistry between gui- other pop punk bands, then while the album closes in
up of three Frenchmen and tention to the details could tarists Ryan Stageman and meet the new generation of emotional fashion with the
an American but far from be what they need to capi- James Forrister, bassist pop punk – MAKEOUT. slow and sensitive burner
being the start of a poor talise on their undeniable James Amos and powered ‘Where’s My Charger’ of ‘Will I Ever See You
joke, these guys are seri- talents. Their debut album, by Olly Smith on drums; to- (which almost sounds like Again’ and while this ques-
ous about taking their ‘Dark Manoeuvres’, com- gether they produce ten ‘Where’s My Todger’!) is a tion may be asked of
music to the next level. mences with the battle cry; fantastic slices of rocking short ditty like Blink-182’s someone in the band’s life,
Album opener, ‘No More ‘Ready For War?’ The goodness. Charging out of ‘Built This Pool’, ‘Secrets’ is it’s one we will be asking of
Hesitatin’’, is a fine advert opening seconds hit you the gates with the title track more of a stripped-down them as well and hopefully
for the album and a great with a face full of AOR for the album, this is no- acoustic emo song – quite the answer will be yes. And
choice for the first single, blissfulness, but the execu- frills, no-nonsense, full- an angry song where Sam very soon.
being a familiar-sounding tion isn’t quite as strong as steam, flat out rock music. Boxold sings, ‘You blew it YYYY
classic rock song that you
the song title. ‘Waiting For The pace does not drop for with your bullshit, you fuck- Michael Coventry
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