Page 40 - Black Velvet Issue 96

BV96 albums pg4_BV96 pg40 12/03/2018 00:30 Page 1

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outlook enveloping it. Join gentle soundtrack through- by so many, Project Re- the layering of textures until
Three Days Grace on their out on the drums leaving vise’s offering doesn’t par- the very end of the track,
latest journey and be in- guitarists Jasen Rauch and ticularly stand out, but they when everything drops
spired. Keith Wallen and bassist do what’s been done very away to Andrew’s voice
YYYY Aaron Bruch to add their well. and a soft piano chord. The
Penny Gower stamp with occasional YYY album ends with title track
power chords dotted Athena Kam ‘You’re Not Alone’, an exu-
throughout the song, each berant, inspirational track
perfectly positioned along- that showcases Andrew’s
side the vocals to complete ability to use atypical in-
a quite marvellous piece of strumentation and encour-
THREE DAYS GRACE
OUTSIDER music. aging lyrics to create a
grandiose rock track. The
(MUSIC FOR NATIONS) YYYY
‘I only wanna disap- Michael Coventry spoken word interludes be-
pear, far from here, away tween some of the songs
from everyone…’ sings PROJECT REVISE give you a breather and are
Three Days Grace front- SONGS THAT SOUND very empowering. The king
of partying is well and truly
man Matt Walst during BREAKING BENJAMIN LIKE SONGS
opening song ‘Right Left EMBER (PROJECT REVISE) ANDREW W.K. back with this album.
Wrong’. While they didn’t (HOLLYWOOD) The debut EP of Proj- YOU’RE NOT ALONE YYYY
disappear as such, the Long-serving American ect Revise is a perfect rep- (RED/SONY) Athena Kam
members of Three Days rockers Breaking Benjamin resentation of the high ‘You’re Not Alone’ sees
Grace - Matt, Barry Stock are back with their sixth energy that defines punk Andrew W.K releasing his SCREECH BATS
(guitar), Brad Walst (bass) studio album, 'Ember'. The rock, with six tracks of first proper studio album in WISH YOU WERE HER
and Neil Sanderson vision of the band's pummeling drums, memo- nearly 12 years, and it (SCREECH BATS)
(drums) - did retreat to founder, lead singer and rable riffs and lively tunes marks a resounding return Describing themselves
some remote places while guitarist Benjamin Burnley guaranteed to make your of the self-proclaimed king as having a grungy, riot girl
working on their sixth stu- remains largely unchanged heart race. Hailing from the of partying – and my, does ethos at heart, London-
dio release, ‘Outsider’. here and fans of the band Midlands, the three-piece the album make you want based punk rock quartet
Away from distractions, the will likely lap up everything punk rock band describes to throw on your dancing Screech Bats certainly live
band has crafted an inspir- 'Ember' has to offer as the themselves as being ‘all shoes and party! The up to this description in
ing album that represents unique sound and charac- about the old school catchy album begins with ‘The sophomore EP ‘Wish You
finding your place in a ter the band has cemented choruses and big riffs’, and Power Of Partying’, be- Were Her’. Opening track
crazy world. It’s about es- its reputation on is here in they certainly reflect this cause what else would you ‘Blood In My Hair’ plunges
caping, it’s about moving spades and there is some sentiment in ‘Songs That expect the king of partying you into blood-pumping
forward into the unknown, tremendous material to be Sound Like Songs’. to begin with? Dramatic punk, with displays of ruth-
it’s about survival. Case in enjoyed over the course of Opener ‘Tie Me Down’ and vivid, it’s an instrumen- less, rhythmic drumming
point is the motivational this near 40-minute album. kicks the EP off with high- tal opening track that is in- throughout. ‘Get Better’
lead single ‘The Mountain’. Breaking Benjamin’s infu- energy guitar riffs and un- dicative of the intensity of kicks off with swinging gui-
The sinewy riffs help de- sion of hints of alternative relenting drums, making no the rest of the album, with tars and a swaying bass in
liver the empowering mes- metal into an American apologies for the fiery en- orchestral strings, bells, 6/8, and vocalist Esme
sage that no matter what radio rock foundation gives ergy that dominates the and electric guitars all Baker gets confessional
life throws at you, stay them a very special style track. Playful interactions blending in a flurry of with lyrics such as ‘I said
strong and keep on going. and that is present in the between vocalists Richard notes. ‘Music Is Worth Liv- things I shouldn’t say’. The
Three Days Grace have opening tracks 'Feed The Marshall and Chris Tam- ing For’ follows, and the full vocal harmonies of Baker’s
expanded their sound a lit- Wolf' and 'Red Cold River'. burro culminate in exquisite texture of the piece en- velvety, rich voice really
tle in terms of the addition Benjamin's angsty vocals harmonies, which we see velopes you at once, and add another texture, mark-
of more synths/electronic are used superbly on these repeated throughout the gives way to an anthemic ing this one of the standout
elements, but the band has songs; his voice comes EP. There’s a slightly an- chorus that will make you tracks from the EP. The
not strayed too far from the across like another musical grier undertone to ‘Three want to wave your arms to tone shifts in unapologetic
sound that has made them instrument alongside his Long Years’. An unforgiving it. ‘I Don’t Know Anything’ is ‘Every Good Thing’, where
a multi-platinum success; bandmates and gives the energy pulses throughout, a highly energetic rock and a hint of anger can be de-
that is certainly not a criti- songs even more power which is maintained in the roll number, and the lively tected underneath.
cism by the way, they are and are among the high- next track. ‘Time Will Carry piano accompaniment Screech Bats hone in on
great at what they do. The lights of 'Ember'. Of course, You’ leans towards a pop- marks the triumphant feel- this emotion, creating an
pulsating anthem ‘I Am An there is plenty to enjoy punk sound, with an instru- ing of the track. An 8-bit emotional, impassioned
Outsider’ includes the here rather than just these mental bridge that slows and piano introduction track that listeners can re-
lyrics, ‘I don't wanna be two songs; the wild open- down harmonically and starts off ‘Party Mindset’, late to. The quartet then
anybody's scene, I don't ing to 'Psycho' is hugely gives the listener some which sounds like it could leans towards slightly more
believe what you believe. enjoyable and suitable to a space to breathe whilst be the rock cousin of Elton pop rock sensibilities in
I'd rather be faceless in the track of its name but it's maintaining the intensity of John’s songs. It’s one of ‘Just Like You’; with a solid
dark, than be so fake like where the band rein them- the previous tracks. ‘Every the slower, grander tracks beat for listeners to latch
the way you are…’ The selves in a little that the re- Time Breaks’ is more fo- on the album. The piano on to, you’ll catch yourself
song is powerful, proud sults are even more cused on the vocals, with rock feel continues in ‘Keep subconsciously nodding
and infectious. Another spectacular. 'Tourniquet' is harmonies throughout as On Going’, which features along to this track. The EP
stand-out track is ‘Infra- an example of this and opposed to in small sec- one of the most motiva- ends with ‘That Valentine
Red’, a song about con- their more melodic work, tions like in previous tracks, tional choruses in the Song’, which, despite its
nection. The atmospheric while 'Torn in Two' is a gut- and ‘Take A Moment’ has album with lyrics such as title, is more of an anti-
tone is supported with wrenching track where some intense snare drum ‘When they tried to push Valentine track with lyrics
pounding drum beats and a Benjamin's clean vocals build-ups to quicken your you down, you just stood like ‘My lover hates me and
driving guitar riff. Whether are showcased superbly. heartbeat. The EP ends your ground, you kept on that’s fine’. Soaring lush
they are singing about the But it's 'The Dark Of You' with the same amount of going’. The motivational vocals dominate the cho-
state of the world right now where the band truly ex- energy it started out with in energy is then transformed rus, and it’s a great way to
(‘Strange Days’) or how cels. Stripped down to the ‘Fire Burns Out’, and with into a classic rock spirit in end the EP. While not
crazy social media gets bare essentials, Benjamin's an anthemic chorus, it ‘The Devil’s On Your Side’, breaking musical bound-
sometimes (‘The New lyrics encourage every hair ends the EP on a high. Al- full of explosive vocals, gui- aries, you’ll want to keep
Real’), the subject matter to stand to attention as he though the music is good, tars and bass. There’s a an eye out for any future
on ‘Outsider’ is pretty encourages his audience there’s little variation musi- war-like feel to the drum- music by this quartet.
heavy, but has a positive to ‘save this selfish world’ cally between the tracks. In ming in this track, and the YYY
while Shaun Foist offers a a genre that’s been done intensity is maintained with Athena Kam
ALBUMS