Page 43 - Black Velvet Magazine Issue 98

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the latter pair, acoustic- Jason Spencer’s guitar you what you wanna hear
styled tracks which demon- skills. The album’s third ‘cause we’re so insecure’.
strate the band’s versatility, song sees a shift in gears There are no holds barred,
while ‘Spinning’ carries but it’s one which brings the album is so real it may
such an infectious melody about the highlight of the hurt as it questions and
you’ll still be humming it for album and the quite sensa- suggests. ‘The Stigma
hours after you stop listen- tional ‘Like A Baller’, a song (Boys Don’t Cry)’ is a par-
ing. As good as these the likes of which we’ve not ticularly piercing piece of
tracks are in their own way, heard since Kid Rock’s work that tugs at the heart
it’s when With Confidence heyday and one which is with its emotion as it fo-
does true pop punk that just dripping in bad attitude cuses on the subject of the
WITH CONFIDENCE they shine the brightest, and overconfidence as ‘boys don’t cry’ stigma. The
LOVE AND LOATHING the aforementioned ‘Tails’ Chad Nicefield opens with stunning song begins sen- ENUFF Z'NUFF
(HOPELESS) carrying extra poignancy “I check my dome, I sitively and poignantly be- DIAMOND BOY
In a time where so when you consider the re- straighten my tie, who is fore working up to (FRONTIERS)
many of our established cent tribulations the band that looking back at me hard-hitting, hot-blooded Chicago pop rockers
pop-punk heroes are trying has gone through, the line looking so fly, I’m like, attack. ‘The Question, The Enuff Z'Nuff have been
to find a new or different ‘I won’t fail you, no-one’s damn oh, that’s me in the Answer’ is a thought-pro- going for over 30 years and
sound, are exploring new perfect’ carries extra mean- mirror” you’ve discovered voking pack of questions have released over 20 al-
avenues, or are just, well, ing and while they are right, the perfect mood setting wrapped in a mulling lull- bums during that time; 'Di-
growing up, it’s refreshing no-one is perfect, ‘Love track for a night out. aby, while ‘The Reaper’ amond Boy' is their 14th
for one to stay true to their And Loathing’ is as near as The trouble is, the first (featuring Aaron Gillespie) studio album and also their
roots and even more so damn it. three songs set a standard sees passions rise as first without original vocalist
when we can report that YYYYY the rest of the album, as Aaron kicks it off, spouting Donnie Vie. Founding
the results are tremendous. Michael Coventry enjoyable as it is, just can- ‘I’m staring death in his member and bassist Chip
Much has happened for not match. Patience is re- eyes’ over a powerful musi- Z'Nuff has now taken over
Australian-born With Confi- WILSON warded as several are slow cal arrangement. With the as lead vocalist, with the
dence since their debut LP TASTY NASTY growers, ‘House Of Fuck- album really coming to life rest of the line-up com-
‘Better Weather’ little more (SONY RED) ery’ being another hard- after the death of Chester pleted by long-standing
than two years ago and Life is too serious rocking highlight while ‘Act Bennington, this is relevant lead guitarist Tory Stoffre-
much of what made the sometimes and music can My Age’ will have you in and raw. ‘The Two Tongues gen, former Ultravox
headlines was not positive be too, which is what stitches and ‘Summertime (Screaming Salvation)’ singer/guitarist Tony Fen-
and has played a signifi- makes bands like Wilson, Treat (Tasty Nasty)’ is a sees two sides – the angel nell and drummer Dan Hill.
cant part in their new and their so called ‘global fine sing-along. If your life of life and the devil of Longtime fans of the band
record ‘Love And Loathing’ fuckery’, so refreshing and needs more fun, then you death. ‘I’m just desperate will not be disappointed as
being the product of a their third studio album need Wilson. to belong,’ Patty sings with the album is packed full of
three-piece band, but we ‘Tasty Nasty’ certainly YYYY conviction. It’s something their traditional catchy
are not here to judge, we brings the latter at times Michael Coventry that many will relate to. hooks and strong melodies
are here to review and this but offers plenty more that With ‘The Great Depres- with hints of 60s/70s psy-
is as good as a pop-punk is the former over its 37- sion’, As It Is have really chedelia. After the opening
album as you are ever minute, 11-track roller- become a band that you intro of 'Transcendence',
likely to find. Jayden See- coaster ride. If there was need in your life – and a the title track bursts in like
ley’s voice is perfectly any question as to what band that belong at the top. a burst of adrenaline and is
formed for this kind of kind of ride Wilson has in YYYYY a bit of a departure for the
music and his vocals are store, this is immediately SBV band as it has a fast, chug-
expertly heightened by the answered with the opening ging, punkish feel, and
talented guitar work of cries on ‘Dumptruck’ of ‘this TAILBLOCK feels like a fresh, exciting
Inigo Del Carmen and to- shit bumps, this shit fucks, THINK OR BE way to start the album.
gether they spearhead the this shit dumps like a (TAILBLOCK) Chip’s raspy, throaty vocals
record in grand fashion dumptruck’ which will give AS IT IS Kentish trio Tailblock are smoothed out a bit by
with an epic triple header of you a pretty clear indication THE GREAT DEPRES- certainly manage to cram a being multi-layered and
‘That Something’, ‘Sing To of the mayhem and mad- SION variety of styles into their sparkled with effects. Song
Me’ and ‘Moving Boxes’, ness to follow through their (FEARLESS) latest 6-track EP. De- highlights include 'We're All
each fabulously thick slices unique combination of rock ‘The reason we do this scribed as post hardcore, The Same', which sounds
of rocking pop punk which and hip-hop. And while it is is because it’s exciting,’ their title track seems like classic Enuff Z’Nuff
will happily measure easy to be distracted by the said Patty Walters, front- largely in the pop-punk line with a bouncy, poppy 60s
against anything else in the craziness of it all, if you dig man of As It Is, and the of instant appeal. ‘Heavy vibe, the catchy 'Where Did
genre; the latter is one of a little deeper you will re- band’s new album is defi- Arms’ is a solid rocker with You Go', rocker-with-a-
the best tracks on ‘Love veal Wilson’s secret, which nitely exciting. With ‘The a bit of a bounce to the gui- groove 'Fire & Ice', the
And Loathing’, only is they are bloody brilliant Great Depression’, the tar rhythms that seems at Beatlesy, psychedelic bal-
matched by the album con- at what they do. The notion Brighton-based band are odds with the hostile tone lads 'Dopesick' and 'Love
cluding ‘Tails’. In the mid- of mashing rock music and pushing themselves and of the lyrics, while the later Is On The Line', plus the
dle, the band steer away a hip-hop is not a new one listeners’ perception of the ferocity of ‘Blisters’ comes superb out-and-out rocker
little from the stereotypical but not one many have band. The album is set out as a bolt from the blue – 'Metalheart', the heaviest
pop-punk sound, not too tried and even fewer have in stages – rather like a roaring vocals, much heav- song on offer here with
far that they ever lose their succeeded but these De- theatrical play. Lyrically, the ier guitars, yet it still has plenty of attitude but with
way, but just far enough troit boys have triumphed. band delve deep around that catchiness before slid- loads of their trademark
away to bring something ‘Dumptruck’ and ‘Wrong the topic of depression and ing into a melodic close. harmonies, along with
different to the album. Side Of History’ are a pow- life and death. The title Closer ‘100’ goes for a 'Faith Hope and Luv', an
‘Icarus’ is a more aggres- erful start to ‘Tasty Nasty’ track opens the album and plaintive melodic tone and old demo from the late 80s
sive-sounding song than where their hip-hop flavour if you’re familiar with Set It with the acoustic touch given a modern heavier re-
we are accustomed to from is used majestically to Off, you may feel a resem- works well as a calming working. 'Diamond Boy' is
the band and highlights magnify these rocking blance. ‘Hello consumer,’ round-off to what has gone another worthy addition to
their ability to add a little songs, creating tracks we are greeted. The song before. Tailblock handle the the Enuff Z'Nuff catalogue
guts to their music when which you will be unable to is everything you need and different styles with deft- and a very promising first
needed, while songs like resist banging your head more. It’s captivating and ness and confidence. They step in this new chapter of
‘The Turnaround’, ‘Better’ to, all the while grinning catchy with a dramatic are well worth checking their career.
and especially ‘Bruise’ and from ear to ear with the spirit. Patty sings ‘We tell out. YYYYY
‘Paquerette (Without Me)’ sheer stupidity of it all and you it’s okay to die to stop YYYY Ian Trigg
go in the opposite direction, basking in the glory of you giving in’ before ‘we tell Clare Huckett

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