Page 40 - Black Velvet Issue 97

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Featuring 24 up-and-com- and melody intertwining to vocals and, as they have album, their seventh,
ing artists, it’s a great way create a listening experi- done countless times in storms out of the starting
to discover music that you ence that is intense and Skillet, they prove a power- gates with the rip-roaring
may not otherwise come gnarly. Although it’s sweep- ful team. ‘Fake’, a rage-fuelled beast
across. New Yorkers Semi- ing with sadness, the beau- It’s the centre of the EP of a track where vocalist
Pro kick off the album with tiful melodic chorus of ‘The which gives us the most to Ivan Moody spews his
their track ‘Sunny’, where First The Last’ is one of the be excited about and con- venom-filled lyrics and de-
catchy guitar hooks are highlights on the album. firms Jen is not simply try- spite the anger in his words
mixed with anthemic cho- Another surprise standout ing to recreate the sound the song still remains
ruses to create a classic track is the uplifting Foo we have come to expect melodic and doesn’t over-
pop-punk sound, taking Fighters-esque sound of from Skillet. ‘Bold’ and ‘For- step its mark, a unique
AS SIRENS FALL you back to teenage days ‘Take You With Me’. Al- eigner’ bring a more pop craft which the band have
WHERE LOST THINGS of rocking out in your bed- though it doesn’t stray too and electronic feel to pro- mastered over their ca-
GO room. It’s an upbeat start to far from the signature ceedings, the former song reers. The rage remains for
(AS SIRENS FALL) the album, and this is con- sound of Tremonti, ‘A blessed with some beauti- ‘Top Of The World’ and
With Benji Webbe from trasted with second track Dying Machine’ is probably fully crafted lyrics which are ‘Sham Pain’. The former
Skindred featuring on the ‘Stupid In The Dark’, an al- their most diverse release amplified by the perfect brings a bordering pop
track ‘In My Mind’, you ternative rock offering by to date sonically. It is also timing which each and beat to the mix while the
know you’re in for a treat as Scottish band Altered Sky. the band’s first concept every musical note gives to latter at times sounds like a
soon as the vocals kick in, A poignant piano intro- album, since the music her voice. However the rap song with the way Ivan
with refreshingly honest duces the listener, before was inspired by a futuristic show stealer comes in the delivers his contribution to
lyrics and dynamic instru- powerful female vocals story initially dreamed up shape of ‘Ruins’, the most the work giving great vari-
mentals that are sure to get dominate – paired with by frontman Mark stripped-back song of the ety to the music, all the
you pumped up. The high powerful lyrics, it’s a strong Tremonti. With the help of six with little more than Jen while powered by the hard-
energy present in ‘In My track that will make you sit award-winning science fic- and some piano notes and hitting guitar work of Zoltan
Mind’ is contrasted with the up and listen. For those tion novelist John Shirley, it is here where we truly Bathory and Jason Hook,
slightly more sombre ‘Lily’, after something a bit heav- Mark is turning the story hear what wonder has Chris Kael on bass plus Je-
as agony seeps through ier, ‘Enough Is Enough’ by into a full-length book to go been lurking behind her remy Spencer on drums
the speakers through Within Shadows will satisfy alongside the album. ‘A drum kit for so many years. and they are firing on all
Mikey Lord’s passionate your appetite with aggres- Dying Machine’ is a solid This is both a love and a cylinders throughout ‘And
shouting. ‘Lily’ also delivers sive vocals, unrelenting in- album on its own, so you breakup song which will Justice For None’.
one of the biggest cho- strumentals and a wouldn’t necessarily have tug at the heartstrings of But it’s not all about the
ruses on the EP, a real the- spine-tingling guitar solo in to read the book to enjoy anyone who has gone heavy, heart-pounding,
atrical flourish packed with the bridge. ‘Fire’ by Carry the songs on it, but it’ll cer- through both. It’s a spine- head-thumping stuff be-
soaring vocals and rousing The Crown features a mas- tainly be interesting to see tingling whirlwind of emo- cause increasingly Five
guitars. Vocal harmonies sive chorus that will have the connection between tions and her cry of ‘I just Finger Death Punch are
dominate ‘Like Vultures’, you belting along to it, and the two. don’t know what I’m doing’ showing us their softer side
and a slower tempo com- the speed changes in the YYYY at the end cannot fail to and when they do, the re-
bined with ardent melodic middle display the band’s Penny Gower raise goosebumps. It’s also sults are just as impres-
lines makes it feel like a fearless energy of being an interesting line as with sive. The first glimpse of
rock ballad. The balladic creative with their craft. ‘Ledger EP’ she clearly this comes with the
theme is continued in ‘Get- The album ends with the does know what she is stripped-back but still
away’, where a poignant sound it began with, but doing and is doing it weighty ‘Blue On Black’ but
piano accompanies melan- this time with an offering by tremendously well. Another even more remarkable is
cholic vocals, slowly grow- UK pop-punkers A Few Too noteworthy line comes in the quite stunning ‘I Re-
ing throughout the track as Many, who finish with their ‘Bold’ where she sings fuse’. Stripped back as far
different instruments join in, track ‘Moving Forwards’. ‘there’s a victory I already as the band has possibly
building towards a climax It’s a feel-good track with hold’ and this EP is just ever gone before Ivan’s
before gradually fading memorable riffs, and that. A win. And hopefully words carry even more
away. As Sirens Fall veers leaves the listener on an the first of many victories to emotion with the vulnerabil-
towards a more classic uplifting note. There is such come. ity shown and when he
pop-punk sound in ‘My a broad range of material LEDGER YYYYY cries ‘wake me up when
Only Ghost’, complete with on the album that the LEDGER EP Michael Coventry this is over, I’m tired of liv-
catchy guitar hooks and hunger of any punk rock (HEAR IT LOUD) ing life like it’s a dream’ it
uplifting drumming. The EP and alternative fans are A musician embarking commands the hairs on the
ends on a literal high as sure to be sated, and you on a solo career is not un- back of your neck to stand
Lord displays his impres- are sure to find at least one usual. Drummers doing so, to attention. The lyrics will
sive vocals in closing track new band you will check not so much and it’s even strike a chord with many of
‘She Runs With The out! rarer when they step out their listeners and when
Wolves’. This EP is a tri- YYYY from behind their kit to front you know of the trials and
umphant release and As Athena Kam their new project. Dave tribulations the band them-
Sirens Fall show them- Grohl and Phil Collins en- selves have gone through
selves to be ready for big- TREMONTI joyed tremendous success it only makes them more
ger things. A DYING MACHINE and based on this debut real and strengthens the
YYYY (NAPALM) EP, Skillet’s Jen Ledger FIVE FINGER DEATH connection between band
Athena Kam When Tremonti un- could be poised for the PUNCH and listener and when
leash new music you al- same. ‘Ledger EP’ is very AND JUSTICE FOR added with the power of
VARIOUS ARTISTS ready know that you can much a record of two NONE their music it makes their
TRACKS YOU MIGHT expect to hear shredding halves, bookended by ‘Not (ELEVEN SEVEN MUSIC) work so special.
HAVE MISSED VOL. 3 guitars, heavy riffs and Dead Yet’, ‘Warrior’ and Five Finger Death Overall, although this
(THUMBHOLE) hard-hitting drum beats. ‘Iconic’, a trio of songs Punch have gone through album may not be our
Thumbhole Records, That remains true on the which could easily slot into a great deal in recent times favourite Five Finger Death
the brainchild of Dan All- band’s fourth album, ‘A any Skillet album with their but they say what doesn’t Punch album to date, it is
man, have released the Dying Machine’, and super-slick and even catch- kill you makes you stronger definitely an excellent addi-
third volume of ‘Tracks You Tremonti do not disappoint. ier US radio rock vibes. and this would appear to tion to their CV and will
Might Have Missed’. Com- Songs such as ‘Bringer Of ‘Warrior’ is especially com- be the case here as ‘And greatly enhance their live
pilation albums can some- War’, ‘From The Sky’, parable to the work of her Justice For None’ contin- shows in the coming
times be a bit hit-and-miss, ‘Throw Them To The Lions’ band for the last decade as ues the band’s reputation months.
but this one has definitely and ‘The Day When Le- she is joined by her regular of being one of rock’s finest YYYY
hit the nail on the head. gions Burned’ have speed frontman John Cooper on current acts. The new Michael Coventry

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