January 2016 #8 by New Roots Magazine

new roots issue 8 january 2016

drug church plus our most anticipated albums and artist tips of 2016, snapchat, vinyl, uprooted, and much more

Photo by Isha Shah

roam lower than atlantis the story so far renounced jaws

A Note from the team The introduction of a new year means exciting new things for New Roots. We’ve refined our editorial team, so you know exactly who to go to for each section. Chloe has become news editor; Harriet has taken on features, Isha deals with reviews, and Adrianne the design of the magazine. Don’t worry though, the only effects this has on New Roots will be positive, as we become more organised and efficient. We’ve got lots of ideas for things to do in the year that follows, including the launch of our website, and the production of an investigative documentary into being DIY in 2016. We’re also bringing you lots of new features, and continuing to refine each issue. As for January, we have the incredible Drug Church on the cover, with a huge interview on page 26. We look at how artists use Snapchat, as well as Flying Vinyl, an exciting new way to discover upcoming indie artists. We also look at who you need to look out for in the coming year, and the albums we’re most excited about. All this, plus your usual reviews, news, and gigs. Remember you can contact us via any of the ways in the purple box on this page with any feedback or enquiries. If you’re interested in joining our friendly team in any way, please drop us an email. From the New Roots team, we hope you enjoy this issue.

News Editor: Chloe Rose Eaton Features Editor: Harriet Stanley Reviews Editor: Isha Shah Design Editor: Adrianne Goron

Sub-Editors: Chloe Rose Eaton, Amy Jones, Harriet Stanley, Natalie Webb Contributors: Ashwin Bhandari, Arriana Corr, Chloe Rose Eaton, Adrianne Goron, Natasha Groom, Charlie Hill, Isha Shah, Harriet Stanley, Jack Webb, Natalie Webb Photographers: Ashlea Bea, Jonathan Bell, Juliette Carton, CC Photography, Katie Craft, Joni Dusting, Gingerdope Photography, Ryan Dalton Rodrigues, Isha Shah, Adam Wright contact us

All of the material belongs to New Roots Magazine, and may not be reproduced in whole or part without prior permission from New Roots.

Facebook: New Roots Twitter: @newrootsmag Instagram: @newrootsmag Email: newrootsmag@gmail.com

Contents news - highlights of the month

news - soundwave festival cancelled

10 times rou reynolds was great on twitter

uprooted

why you need to know about flying vinyl

add me on snapchat

tips for 2016 - anticipated albums

tips for 2016 - who to look out for

drug church interview

album review - roam

album reviews

ep reviews

single reviews

live reviews

gig guide

Photo by Ashlea Bea

news

australian rock festival

H i g h li g h ts of the month

soundwave

Deftones finally announce a release date for their album (April 8th). The new trailer of Jared Leto playing The Joker in the new Suicide Squad movie. Glassjaw playing a tiny show at The Old Blue Last, London on 30th January.

cancelled, while many other festivals are struggling or are also being cancelled.

Verses splitting up. Brand New putting out rare demos for free download. Slipknot releasing ‘toy’ figures. The new Bury Tomorrow album, Earthbound. Liam from Cancer Bats shaving his head for charity. Round Hill Music purchased the rights to some of The Offspring’s albums for $35 million. Milk Teeth guitarist/vocalist Josh Bannister leaves the band and Hindsights’ Billy Hutton joins. Basement’s new album, Promise Everything. Milk Teeth’s new album, Vile Child.

Photo by Isha Shah

Australia’s biggest rock festival, Soundwave, has been cancelled following a chain of events that led to the festivals eventual demise. Firstly, It was revealed that L7 pulled out of the festival “due to circumstances beyond our control.” Secondly, Bring Me The Horizon announced on Twitter “To anyone hoping to see us [at] @soundwavefest we are awaiting some requested info & hope to 100% confirm our involvement this week. Hang tight.” Despite that, the Sheffield four-piece had already been featured on the festival’s website. Thirdly, according to Music Feeds’ website, the venues for the festival had not yet been confirmed. The situation took a turn for the worst when the festival’s organiser, AJ Maddah announced that there wouldn’t be a festival in 2017, but he was trying to save 2016. Maddah originally tweeted “Definitely no SW17. It’s a lot of hard work, stress & risk in return for which we get hate and stupidity”. He then followed on with “There have been discussions today. I’m waiting on Eventopia/Ticketek to make their decision. We cannot hold [the] festival without their support.” Eric Melvin of NOFX then revealed on social media that the festival has been cancelled, before Maddah had made an official announcement. Eventually, Maddah posted on Twittter “I am devastated to have to announce the cancellation of Soundwave 16 due to poor ticket sales. I am very sorry. I tried my best. #SW16” It was also revealed that he had tried to get Rage Against The Machine back together, in order to fill in line-up gaps, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. It has also been revealed on Music Feeds

website that just before the festival was cancelled, only 20,000 tickets had been sold for the 2016 festival. That amount is far less than were sold in 2013; 45,000 tickets sold in Adelaide and 75,000 in Sydney. Apparently, the same year when Metallica and Blink 182 were part of the line-up, the festival made $63 million. It’s a tough blow for Maddah, who was named the most powerful person in the Australian music industry in 2013. Across Australia, many more festivals have been cancelled, mainly due to poor ticket sales, as well as other financial difficulties, including Harvest festival, Pyramid Rock, WhitSunday Calling. Although it’s not just Australia that has suffered with its loss of music festivals, Britain has also had its fair share of cancellations and struggles. In 2015 Sonisphere, Global Gathering, RockNess, Wild Wood, Wakestock and Oxegen were no more. Coming into 2016 and there will also no longer be Southampton’s own metal and rock festival, Takedown. Other festival’s, while not cancelled, seem to be struggling. Hevy Fest was cancelled in 2013, but was resurrected in 2014 and has continued since. However, there are many festivals that continue to thrive despite the others failing. Reading and Leeds, Bestival and V Festival, all seem to be doing well in the current climate. Refunds are now available for Soundwave festival. Words by Chloe Rose Eaton

10 times

Rou Reynolds was great on twitter

Photo by Isha Shah

o r Up ch

w s d n a b w e n t a e r eck out all the g

Photo by Isha Shah

d e t oo

we've

, r e t h g u a d n r e t s e featuring: rain, w s r e p m u j r e iv r , y it n e r e s o t w o r r o s m fro

n i a r

Jonah Kidd - Vocals / Guitar Harry Steel - Vocals / Bass Rhys James - Guitar James Taylor - Guitar Cam Fisher - Drums

Close To Home sure mothered a great deal of UK bands that are slowly taking over Bandcamp plays. Five young members from Swindon form Rain, an emotionally captivating band that thrives with instrumental daydreams. A day tripping band such as Rain can only be explored in their truest form - live. With such little music released to the public, the band is very secretive with their sound, only recently releasing their debut single ‘Slur’. ‘Slur’ is a release of grunge-pop that coexists

with their DIY ethic. Taken from an EP released in 2016, Symphony Pains captures their hazy music of distorted guitars and 90’s shoegaze punk. Although the track sways towards the six minute mark, Rain manage to maintain their everlasting scent that burns bright like a candle.

While Rain are evidently influenced by My Bloody Valentine and The Smashing Pumpkins, they also take a hit from late 80s/ early 90s post-punk and shoegaze music, which brought the guys together in the first place. Harry Steel explains where the band’s deeper lyrical content derives. “The lyrical content varies, the track ‘Indigo In Blue’ is about trying your hardest to find some kind of beauty in the darkest of things, yet the track ‘Dandelion’ is about my coming to terms

with the death of a family member. There’s no one theme as Jonah and I both write about different subjects. We don’t seem to be a band who write love songs.” As individuals Rain all have varied taste that adds to their sound - not sounding exactly like a specific band or style of music. 2015 brought the band on the road with local friends Wallflower and Water Canvas for a weekender, while also playing a few small shows towards the end of the year. As the new year brings the first release of their EP, the band also are heading straight back to the studio to record a couple of new tracks before they take up a whole lot of relentless touring. Words by Isha Shah

tracks to look out for: Slur Dreamy and delicate the track has a wide range of build ups of explosive fuzzy guitars, with a hell lot of reverbs.

Photos by Joni Dusting

w o r r o s m o fr

y t i n e ser

w to

2010-Present Fraser Smith – Vocals Steven Jones – Guitars Mark McInch – Guitars Andrew Simpson – Bass Kieran Smith - Drums Rising from the ashes of a scene that previously had thought to had died long ago in Scotland, From Sorrow To Serenity are primarily a tech-metal band that with the release of Antithesis in 2013, prove that it’s still acceptable to label bands as djent despite the cringy undertones it once had in 2011. Having played with the likes of Carcer City, Bleed From Within, on the main stage of Tech Fest in 2014, Techabilitation in Croydon and a tour with Nexilva a while back, these guys have exploded onto the scene and are without a doubt one of the most hard working upcoming bands out there at the moment. While undoubtedly the influences of Meshuggah, Heart Of A Coward and early Architects are prominent in their music style, the band are avid listeners to a variety of different artists, such as Seahaven and Title Fight, which of course allows them to develop as musicians and as music fans themselves. Blending elements of classic tech metal with sweeping guitar arpeggios, the band also incorporate atmospheric and layered elements to the music to keep things interesting. The subtle dissonant electronic elements they add into the production of their music is also a refreshing change to a genre overloaded with bands trying to be heavy for the sake of being heavy. There’s never a dull moment when seeing them live due to their synchronized yet almost hauntingly disconnected stage presence, which serves to either stun audiences or have them spinkicking the next unsuspecting dude with four full pints in his hand. Words by Ashwin Bhandari

d n r e west

tracks to look out for: My Room is a Mess A beautiful subtle track that highlights the bands country surrounding with a twinge of indie rock.

The Road is Laced with Something Dangerous Upbeat and high paced, it falls inline with something Tigers Jaw would produce, perfect example of the bands emo side.

Except You A soft Grunge intro kicks off the track into punky hits that are soon layered with stern vocals.

r e t h g u da Taylor Raymond - Guitar Cameron Brizzee - Guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals Jess Hope - Bass, vocals Zachary Sherwood - Drums Taylor R. Hawkins - Vocals, additional percussion This Idaho five-piece may have only just emerged from the duvets of their beds this year, but they have brought a great record to greet you with. Their first issue in the fall of 2015, As The Sun Went Down, is a live recording release. Their music lyrically aligns with Modest Mouse, The Killers, and Neutral Milk Hotel, with abstract verses and bordering themes. The band gather their musical taste to labels such as Deep Elm, Jade Tree, Saddle Creek,

Polyvinyl and Sub Pop. It’s evident in their sound that they can range from a wide selection of genres. Dominated by a west-cost indie trance, they cover the grounds of late Emo and pop punk beats. Western Daughter have a certain atmospherical feel to them. With seven songs to wander through, it’s easy to pick up their homebound routes - producing upbeat music that yearns to be played on a summer road trip. Announced to play Treefort Music Festival in 2016, whilst touring with The Good Life, Big Harp and Neurolux, Western Daughter may have not accomplished those majors support slots, but have shown their closeness to the developing music scene.

2016 brings bigger and better things for the band, as it’s never too early to start releasing more material. Four songs into their next proper full length, the band hope to release another masterpiece later on in the year. Also hitting up the road again, a few spring and summer tours are going to be announced, so stay tuned for that as well as new video for ‘My Room Is A Mess’. If you can’t wait to see them live then wait no more, as Western Daughter have an acoustic set with Adam Wright Media, who has worked with some incredible artists such as Dads, Devil Wears Parade, You Blew It and Donovan Wolfington for his sessions called In The Valley. Words by Isha Shah

Photos by Adam Wright

Nick Davis – Vocals Johnny Cloke – Guitar Mike Scott- Guitar James Kerr- Bass James Bull- Drums Back in the noughties there was the likes of The Offspring, Blink 182 and Sum 41. With bands like Simple Plan releasing a new album, Sum 41 playing shows and also the emergence of UK bands such as Roam, Neck Deep and WSTR, pop-punk is truly at it’s height. Brighton has also offered up it’s own slice of pop-punk in the form of River Jumpers. The five-piece write “bangers about life, love, politics and getting by.” Pair that with their

mix of pop-punk, rock and melodic hardcore, and you get something that is competently innovative to many of the generic pop-punk sounding bands out there. What really stands out about River Jumpers is Nick Davis’ vocals. Despite being heavily influenced by pop-punk, his vocals are a refreshing change from the put-on American accent by many other UK pop-punk bands. The Brighton group are steadily making a name for themselves having played with the likes of Gnarwolves, Sonic Boom Six, H20, OPM and The Flatliners. They have also played both Groezrock Festival and Rebellion Festival. As well as this, they have gained interest from press such as Rocksound, and

have also had airplay on Radio One. The group have one album and two EP’S under their belts, with their most recent self-titled EP released in May this year. River Jumpers are a refreshing change from your standard generic pop-punk sound, as they manage to incorporate intricate riffs within their music that prove far more technical than most pop-punk bands out there. The band have already begun working on a second album, let’s see if it makes them stand out even more within the pop punk scene. Words by Chloe Rose Eaton

river jumpers

tracks to look out for: Playground Politics

Peaks and Troughs

National Divide

An upbeat, catchy pop-punk song. The happy melody gives the song a positive feel.

A slightly more heavier song, whilst also having melodic elements. It showcases the diversity of the band.

An even heavier track and shows the bands hardcore and punk side. However, it still manages to combine the pop punk element found throughout their music.

FEATURE why you need to know about

FLYING l y n i V

If you love indie music, discovering amazing new bands, and listening to it all on fresh pressed vinyl, you need to say hello to Flying Vinyl. Having subscribed to the project for six months now, since it’s debut issue, I could not be more impressed with the quality and content of what they deliver. In their own words, Flying Vinyl “believe that discovering the best new alternative music should be an intimate, personal experience that digital music cannot satisfy”. Despite the ‘vinyl revival’ and the never-ending stream of indie blog posts telling us just how ‘cool’ it is to listen to the medium, streaming and online downloads are still the music consumption method of the masses. That doesn’t mean however, that there aren’t hoards of people that truly value the quality of listening to a record on a turntable for what it is, and the distinctive listening experience and sound they produce. For those for whom music is far more focussed and personal than simple background noise, great quality vinyl is the answer. The future of music is hiding in upcoming talent, and it is these gems that the team personally identify, gifting them a platform they may not necessarily receive otherwise. Vinyl production is a lengthy process, and it’s only getting longer. With the added price, it may not seem effective it for a smaller artist to release their music on vinyl. Flying Vinyl gives them that opportunity. There aren’t enough people whose sole focus is on those at the bottom of the music ladder, but Flying Vinyl consistently manage to track down the finest. I personally have discovered many of my new favourites through the service, including The Amazons, Viola Beach, Black Honey, Juice, and The DuBarrys. So what do you get? Five 7” singles a month, of which at least one will be a coloured vinyl, a leaflet containing information about each of the artists featured, plus some form of merchandise, usually an art print or lyric sheet. All this so you can enjoy a hand picked selection of rising alternative talent without having to leave your house. What’s even better, is how surprisingly affordable it is, without sacrificing the quality; all of this will cost you only £20 a month. This is comforting for appreciators of the channel that may have seen the recent addition of vinyl records at Tesco supermarkets. Not only was little or no thought as to what impact this may have on struggling independent record stores throughout the country, but when they did finally hit the shelves, pictures quickly graced social media picturing the record sleeves punctured with security tags. There is an element of mystery with any service that sends you an unknown product; there comes a sense of doubt as to whether or not someone else will be able to successfully pick out the universally likeable – especially when it comes down to something as personal as taste in music. That said, Flying Vinyl are yet to let me down with their selection. Have I liked every single I have received? No, but has it been worth it? Absolutely. They have taken a brilliant new idea and executed it perfectly, resulting in a smart, reliable way of discovering great music. The revolution will not be digital. Words by Adrianne Goron

FEATURE

add me on

snapchat You're just a 'recently updated' tap away from your idols Imagine waking up and checking your Snapchats, to not only find a recently updated photo of your favourite band throwing food around but to actually see it take place. The next step in a band’s 24/7 social media appearance is with Snapchat. These days the mobile friendly app does far more than letting you send a cheeky selfie to keep your mates updated or allowing you to build an 100 second story of you miming to Justin Bieber’s album. Seeing a tweet explain a really funny story that just happened doesn’t have the same affect as seeing it live in action moments after it’s just happened. I mean, what’s better than seeing DJ Khaled eat his egg whites, turkey sausage and hash browns for breakfast at the same time you are eating breakfast? Mind-blowing, isn’t it? Not only is it a way to stalk the shit out of your favourite band, but a way to notice them on a similar ground. Sure it may come as a shock at first that Enter Shikari accepted your ridiculous snap of all your records and gig tickets, but after a while it becomes less star striking. You begin to notice that these marvellous people who play sold out shows only a barrier away are the same as you and I. They eat the same food as us, go to the same places as us, hell, they bloody use the same apps as us! So why

is it that we get so amazed by putting them on a pedestal? Without the right context and level of tone it’s hard to get anything across on Facebook or Twitter. Everything is just typed: jokes, serious topics, or just a question. With a bunch of bands that hardly use social media, it’s even harder to get a real view of what they are like because their whole twitter feed is basically a massive retweet of tweets they have been tagged in, good comments and even hate. On a rare occasion their PR or manager may even take hold of their account, adding “lol” at the end of every tweet and overly using the crying/laughing emoji, it’s not hard to tell the difference between who’s behind the screen. While Vine died before our darling musicians could get the chance to upload silly videos, Snapchat took over with just ten seconds of regular updates, to be viewed for only twentyfour hours; it’s clear why the app has become overly popular with the younger generation of artists. Enter Shikari and Basement both use the app to their advantage. Showing off tour life, live sets streamed moments after they’ve played, documenting every second of their experience

with you. You feel like you’re basically on tour with them, sharing stories and in-jokes, while getting a sense of what they are like behind the stage. Although social media does play a key role in a band’s appearance, it’s not always crucial. Artists with a large following who are expected to be snapping in between toilet breaks are more on demand to constantly fill our screens with humorous things that we wouldn’t expect them to be doing. So what’s next for the social media takeover? A twenty four hour live stream of their every move? It’s becoming increasingly easier to break down the barriers between a fan and an artist with technology constantly advancing, maybe there will be a return of twitcams? In case you wanted to pry on some of their lives here are some accounts you need to add! Basement- basementband Enter Shikari –entershikarisc DJ Khaled - djkhaled305 Justin Bieber – rickthesizzler Avicii – timbling Miley Cyrus - mileycyrus Words by Isha Shah

Add us on Snapchat!

newrootsmag

FEATURE

, ic s u m in r a e y e l after an incredib we've rounded up

our tips

20 20

Photo by Isha Shah

r o f s

6 1 0 21

albums

t u o b a d e t i c x e t e to g beartooth

the 1975

tbc

i like it when you sleep for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it

Beartooth frontman Caleb Shomo has recently announced across his social media that a new album for his latest project will be released in 2016. The self-proclaimed “loud” five piece from Columbus, Ohio have been touring relentlessly since the release of their debut album Disgusting in the summer of 2014. As the singer writes and records all of the band’s music himself it shouldn’t be too hard for him to fit this in around the numerous festival appearances that Beartooth already have lined up for the year ahead. Not only are there too few bands who span the genres and fanbases that Beartooth do, there are also far too few bands who touch upon lyrical themes as deep and dark as Beartooth do. In a recent interview on the Lead Singer’s Syndrome podcast, Shomo revealed that the focus of the material for Beartooth’s new record would draw more on experiences he had growing up that led to the dark state of depression and eating disorders we heard laid out on Disgusting, as well as their 2013 Sick EP. After witnessing Beartooth sell out their biggest UK headline show to date at London’s Electric Ballroom in November, the potential for this band to grow is huge and a new record in 2016 could only accelerate that even further. Words by Natalie Webb

The 1975’s massively anticipated second album drops on the 26th February, and features a huge 17 tracks, with two additional bonus tracks. After releasing Bowie infused ‘Love Me’ and the incredibly catchy ‘Ugh’, the band proves they haven’t struggled to maintain momentum following their incredible rise to the top spot off the back of their self-titled debut. The speculation surrounding the album has been building since the beginning of June last year, first with hiatus rumours, and then clues that piece by piece started

roam

backbone

After three EPs it’s about time we hear something a little lengthier. 2016 is the year Roam release their first ever fulllength. ‘Deadweight’ teased our fantasies of hearing a band that are so heavily inspired by Sum 41 put out an all killer no filler album. Full of sharper hooks that challenge their evenly balanced pop punk dual vocals, the

to reveal the details of the release, including the album’s title which was tweeted by vocalist Matthew Healy. Is the album going to be something ground breaking? Probably not. But with a band like The 1975, you know what you’re going to get – a collection of easy to listen to, catchy, hits you’ll find it almost impossible to over-play, and I’m pretty happy with that. Words by Adrianne Goron

new tracks invite an American scented feel, which is expected with their demanding draw to the states. With Hopeless backing the five Eastbourne locals, Roam have stepped up in every way possible. After living up to extreme standards of three solid EPs, Backbone stands with high regards in every aspect. ‘Hopeless Case’ lifts the weight off your shoulders as the guys are still bouncing on positive lyrics that relate to their young fanbase, growing up, and what they have learnt on their journey. Words by Isha Shah

deftones tbc With the release of their 2 previous albums, Diamond Eyes and Koi No Yokan, Deftones have been climbing from strength to strength, appearing high at festivals like Reading & Leeds, even featuring as main support to Iron Maiden at Sonisphere 2014. Their so far untitled new album is scheduled to be released on April 8th takes more of a “out of the box” feel according to frontman Chino Moreno leading on to say that the new release will be “full of

keyboards and a lot of cool, spacey low frequencies” as well as “organic jams”. With their one off show at Wembley as well as main support slot to Black Sabbath at Download on the horizon for the quintet, it looks like this could be one of their most explosive years yet. Words by Charlie Hill

killswitch engage incarnate Announced a couple of weeks ago, Killswitch Engage will be releasing their seventh album in March 2016. Titled Incarnate, the album will “definitely be a little different record than last time,” explained vocalist Jesse Leach. “Last time, it was really, really fast the whole way through. This one doesn’t have quite the same speed to it, but has a different kind of heaviness to it, I think — a little bit of moodiness to it. I don’t really know how to describe it yet.” This album will be the

second release since the return of Leach. The debut single from the album ‘Strength of the Mind’ goes all out and is balls-tothe-wall levels of heavy. Killswitch Engage have proved time and time again with each solid release that this is something to be excited about, hopefully we’ll be seeing a UK tour sometime within 2016 to coincide with Incarnate.

the last shadow puppets tbc Eight years after their debut album The Age Of The Understatement, it has been confirmed that we can expect a follow up in the spring of this year. The super group combining Miles Kane and Arctic Monkeys’ frontman Alex Turner are set to drop their second album whilst things are quiet in other areas of the duos music lives. So in the making, expectations are high for the prodigious pair, their chemistry and charisma together remains strong, if Kane’s appearance with Arctic Monkeys at Finsbury Park last year is anything to go by. What’s also exciting is that neither has any prior tour commitments for 2016, leaving the potential for a run of The Last Shadow Puppets shows, which could only be incredible. On 10th January, they released the first single from the upcoming album, ‘Bad Habits’, which although very Kane heavy and a little repetitive, is refreshing and instantly catchy. Its gratifying riffs leave nothing but anticipation for the songs to come. Words by Adrianne Goron

Words by Charlie Hill

basement promise everything

letlive. tbc

It feels like forever since we received new music from the incredible, political, soulpunk four-piece. The news of a follow up to 2013’s The Blackest Beautiful is exciting for fans, as is the possibility of a muchneeded UK tour. Vocalist Jason Aalon Butler told DIY that the album would be out “sooner, rather than later”, so we can hope to expect the album in the first quarter. Letlive. have always been a very unique and refreshing band, and from the sounds of things, their fourth album is not about to change that. Having explained that there was almost so much individual creativity from each of the band’s members, it was difficult to put it all together; knowing they have overcome the challenge is enthusing,

as the result is set to be something special. As much as I can explain how much I am looking forward to this album, there’s no one that could possibly sell it better than Butler, as he explains to DIY, “I feel it’s the best musically we’ve ever done because it spans across every element we’ve tried to nod to in our previous albums and we’ve enhanced it. We’ve let go of any fear. The idea of a genre or the idea of what’s expected, you just have to abandon that idea, abandon those fears and just write music, which is what we did. That all being said, I think it’s a pretty good fucking album”. Exciting stuff. Words by Adrianne Goron

It’s been four years since the famously emo quintet have released a full-length record. Promise Everything may seem like a dream that has finally come true to the fans that never believed Basement would end. Freeing their title track, which seemed to blend easily in with Basement’s history, came as a massive disappointment. However there is a clear difference from Promise Everything to what is classed as textbook ‘Basement’. When ‘Oversized’ swept into our headphones, a whole new set of eyes reveal a hopeful perception of the new record. Without releasing this crucial track, I would have lost interest in the hype of a new refreshing record. ‘Oversized’ was the icing on the cake for me, expanding my expectation of some hidden treasures that Basement have kept up their sleeve for this massive release. Words by Isha Shah

Photo by Isha Shah

who

to look out for Photo by Gingerdo

pe Photography

creeper milk teeth One member leaves and another is introduced. Milk Teeth, now signed to Hopeless Records, have a great year planned ahead: upcoming tours in the States with Citizen and Turnover, announced to play Download 2016, a five K review for their latest release Vile Child, and supporting Tonight Alive across Europe. Is there anything left that Milk Teeth can’t accomplish? From such a small bedroom band, the four-piece have seen a massive progression within just one year. Who knows what else 2016 will bring. Words by Isha Shah

Already raiding our wardrobes to find the most perfect gothic black outfit ever, the recently formed six-piece are brining emo back. With a massive gap in the market for another My Chemical Romance style band for young fans to look up to for advice on eyeliner and which black t-shirt matches their other black t-shirt, Creeper are made to take over with a large cult following. Signed to Roadrunner Records, the band

have already played a large number of music festivals in 2015, toured with Funeral For A Friend, and been featured in nearly every issue of Kerrang!. With only two EP’s out, Creeper have already set a date for their third, coming out in early February 2016. If that’s not a big achievement in just one year, then I don’t know what is. With a solid plan for 2016, the band are sure to announce tours spanning further afield than the UK. Creeper have started by making 2015 their breakout year, but 2016 is sure to be taken over by the gothic sixpiece.

weatherstate The Bristol four-piece are already well on their way, releasing their strongest EP to date, Dumbstruck, it’s third time luck for the punk rock band. Recently supporting Gnarwolves in Bournemouth, the band are

surely moving on to bigger things in 2016. Words by Isha Shah

phy

ra erdope Photog Photo by Ging

wallflower giants Recently signing with Holy Roar records, the skate punkers are on their way with their first proper full-length record. 2015 was a quiet year for the five-piece, however in 2016 their heavy hardcore breakdowns and punk roots will have you grooving to every beat. Words by Isha Shah

Photo by Isha Shah

Although having nothing to do with the film Perks of Being a Wallflower, their EP Summer Daze could easily have featured on the soundtrack to the film. Wallflower are an alternative rock band from South London who are thriving. With only one release, the five young members put everything they have into four tracks that are perfected to the core by Lewis Johns and Kim Rosen at Southampton’s The Ranch.

recorded towards the end of 2015 is set to be released later on this year, luring ears to the band’s new material. So far Wallflower have appeared at a few low-key festivals such as London Emo fest, Truck, So Punk Fest, and a few local all dayers.

2016 is a promising year, as a two track EP

Words by Isha Shah

A band that continues to support the growing UK scene, Wallflower tweets will soon feature in every Brand New fan’s timeline.

renounced boston manor If getting signed to Pure Noise Records was any indication of the band’s sudden demand to be on every single new tour, then 2016 holds great things for Boston Manor. Being picked up by the same label that caters for Counterparts, Forever Came Calling, Gnarwolves, Four Years Strong and Seaway, the quintet are in safe hands. Announced to support, Knuckle puck, Speak Low If You Speak Love and Crooks,

in the coming year, Boston Manor have already excited us for better things. 2015 has been an uprising year for the five young lads, as they have played a run of shows with their mates in Trash Boat, WSTR and Homebound. Boston Manor have also supported Chunk! No Captain Chunk!, Man Overboard and Creeper, whilst sharing the stage with Don Broco, Alkaline Trio, and Me Vs Hero. Words by Isha Shah

press to meco

hunter kill hunter

This genre-crushing trio have had a great year. Crawley/Croydon’s Press To Meco have played a whole plethora of festivals in 2015, including Hevy Fest and Download. They’ve also played with bands such as Don Broco, Acoda and Allusondrugs. The release of their debut album, Good Intent has seen them gain even more popularity, with them being featured in Kerrang! and getting video play on Scuzz TV. Combing heavy music, with boy-band style vocals isn’t something you’ve heard before and their innovative approach to music seems to have paid off. The band will be playing the UK Throwdown Tour with Allusondrugs and Max Raptor in 2016, and it’s clear there will be many more big things to expect from this band.

Hunter Kill Hunter, may not have made a big name for themselves yet, but all in good time. While they may not yet have the credentials of many other bands, they are still very much in their infancy and have still made somewhat of a name for themselves. Having only been a band for a year, they have still managed to produce a great debut EP, Find A Way Home. Their interesting take on alternative rock with some emo sounding elements is perfect. If you’re a fan of Alexisonfire or Finch and waiting for the next wave of bands like them, look no further than Hunter Kill Hunter. The politically charged lyrics from the Londoner’s will also prove popular with fans of Enter Shikari and Hacktivist. Hopefully 2016 will see the band performing at festivals and maybe even a hint at an album.

Words by Chloe Rose Eaton

rain With very little music out to sample, the London emo five-piece have teased us with their mesmerising single ‘Slur’. The UK scene is always thriving, and with this

After recently playing a run of shows in the States including FYA Fest III, and receiving such a huge reaction, the London five-piece are doing UKHC proud, moving upwards to achieve greater things. 2016 is surely their year, already announced to play Amongst The Chaos, supporting Knuckledust in early 2016. Words by Isha Shah

black peaks Having played with bands such as Lonely The Brave, Tigercub and Arcane Roots, Brighton’s own Black Peaks are steadily paving their way to the top. Incorporating elements of mathcore, alternative rock and post-hardcore, their sound is a mix of Deftones and Arcane Roots. They’ve played festivals such as Reading and Leeds, and have even played on the main stage at Hevy fest. Not only that, but they have gained positive interest from the likes of Zane Lowe and Daniel P Carter. Their tracks have even featured on Radio One. The question remains... why weren’t they the tip of 2015? Well, the answer is simple. The alternative rock trio haven’t yet released their debut album. Statues, which is due for release in April, will surely propel the band further into success, which should cement them as a tip for 2016. Words by Chloe Rose Eaton

muskets Who doesn’t like a bit of punk grungers rocking about in your living room, playing a run of house shows? Muskets have already claimed 2015 with a bunch of tours including some very low key kitchen shows around the UK, but 2016 is going to be the rising year for them. Words by Isha Shah

new addition to our ears, Rain are sure to make a solid impact in the coming year. Signed to Close To Home Records, the guys are putting out their debut EP, Symphony Pains early this year, so watch this space. Words by Isha Shah

otography

Photo by CC Ph Photo by Isha Shah

interview

drug church We caught up with Patrick Kindlon at The 1865 in Southampton where they supported The Story So Far

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drug church is an agenda-less, fun exercise in playing music, strictly for the fun of it 26

Photo by Isha Shah

interview WHEN IT COMES TO TOURING WITH BANDS, DO YOU GET A BIG SAY IN WHO YOU WAnT TO TOUR WITH? This was a support offer that we were happy to take. But typically if we come over, we’ll say no to some things, we’ll say yes to other things. We’ll do a few headliners. I think next time we come over it will probably be a headliner. In which case, we’ll select the bands. Generally, we’re mostly a “yes” band. There‘s very few things we’ll say no to. If it sounds like fun, we’re pretty much in. WHEN YOU’RE OVER HERE, WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO FIRST, TO TICK OFF YOUR BUCKETLIST? You know, if it’s not the dead of summer, all I’m doing in the UK is hiding from your miserable, cold as hell, damp, unfortunate climate. If I can find a fireplace, that’s my bucketlist entirely. I’d just like to sit in front of a fireplace. ‘Cos you guys… I was saying this to somebody today. I don’t mean to disparage you. The people here are nice, but… You chose maybe one of the worst locations on the planet to set up an empire!? You know what I mean, it’s like… It is always damp. It’s like a rainforest but freezing. It’s bizarre! SOME OF YOUR SONG TITLES HAVE UNUSUAL NAMES, LIKE ‘SHOPPING FOR A BELT’, ‘READING YOUTUBE COMMENTS’. WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO CALL YOUR SONGS THAT? So, that record, written and recorded before Paul Walker’s death, just for anybody interested - the record’s called, Paul Walker but it’s not a tribute, it’s a living tribute at the time. Those song titles are actually names of things that I thought Paul Walker might be doing at that moment. That is the only answer. COULD YOU GIVE US A FEW BANDS TO LISTEN TO? There is a hardcore band from Boston called Free, which is a very difficult to Google name. I’ve been playing and releasing music, and booking shows for hardcore music for a long time. And it’s difficult to get me excited at this point. But I really liked their new demo a lot. There’s a Canadian band that was called Viet Kong that’s changing their name to something. I guess a lot of people know about them here, they tour here. They put out an excellent record. These are not small bands now. There’s a band called Deluxe from Los Angeles, that plays kind of like… It’s like disco for nerds. And I thought they put out an exceptional record. Oh! And, Zones. Zones, which is an international effort. One member lives in Switzerland, I might be ignorant, and the other is from Maryland. Their record, Near Unison, is the best record of the

Photo by Isha Shah

year, I advise everybody to pick it up. SOCIAL MEDIA PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN BANDS’ LIVES. DO YOU GUYS THINK IT’S A HIGHER IMPORTANCE TO GET YOUR NAME OUT THERE? So, I run a twitter for another band that I’m in and it’s a constant source of getting us in trouble. Things that I think are funny are not funny to everyone. So I opted out of handling the Drug Church twitter. But we find it funny with Drug Church to retweet everything good or bad. So, if somebody says we’re terrible that’s getting retweeted as soon as if someone says that we’re good. Drug Church is not like we’re pushing politics. I’m not trying to force anything down your throat with twitter. And at that point, what can you do? You can, er, talk about your day? You can pump your product? So, occasionally, we’ll tweet about hockey. But I’d rather the Drug Church twitter be a mirror of what people say. Nice or foul, it doesn’t matter to me, it’s funny. YOU’VE BEEN COMPARED TO QUITE A LOT OF OTHER BANDS. DO YOU THINK IT’S A COMPLIMENT OR INSULT WHEN PEOPLE COMPARE YOU? You know, I have a bit of ego on this matter. I get, not angry, but I just… I get confused. I know all of our references, I know where we steal our riffs from, I mean, I know who we’re stealing. And I know they’re not current bands! So, when somebody compares us to something really current, I assume they have a pretty limited frame of reference. Which isn’t a crime. But when I don’t know anything about anything, I try not to talk about it. ‘Cos there’s a million apt comparisons for Drug Church, it’s not like we’re reinventing the wheel. Sometimes I read ones that are really not where we’re stealing from at all. TOUR LIFE IS PRETTY HECTIC AND YOU DON’T REALLY KNOW WHERE YOU’RE STAYING EACH DAY. DOES THAT WORRY YOU? We could get hotels each night. But at certain points it’s more fun to just let it play out. Sometimes we end up on couches. Other times, rarely - we’ll end up in a hotel if we have to. But, you know, we’re cheap people. We’re not used to making a lot of money as a band. So, even when we do make decent money, we kind of act like we’re broke. So it is rare that we’ll opt to get a hotel. We’ll usually hotel only as a last resort. And typically, we know somebody somewhere, or a friend of a friend and we’ll sleep on a floor or a couch and we’d prefer to save the hundred bucks as pathetic as that sounds. WHAT’S THE LONGEST PERIOD OF TIME

YOU’VE GONE WITHOUT SHOWERING? Ah, damn. I’m embarrassed to say probably four days. You stop feeling like a human being after about three. So four is pretty excessive. I’VE NOTICEd YOU HAVE SOME TATTOOS. DO YOU HAVE ANY THAT YOU REGRET? You know, I’ll be honest. I don’t feel strongly about tattoos. If they all went away tomorrow it would be weird obviously to wake up without tattoos. It’s just something I sort of do if I fall into a couple hundred bucks. I apologise, I can’t get too heavy on the subject. I’d get’em covered, I’d get’em removed if it was just easy… Er, I’d get more, I’d get less. They’re not a big part of my life. AS A KID OR NOW, HAVE YOU EVER DONE SOMETHING WHILE REALLY EXCITED, YOU KNOW, LIKE WAITED OUTSIDE A STORE FOR 24 HOURS FOR A VIDEO GAME OR TO SEE A MOVIE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? Er, well you know… Not because I was excited,

but… In the US… Do you guys have black Friday here? I don’t know if you get the insanity. But, I decided to participate in the insanity that was black Friday this one time. To get a TV, but mostly just to hang out and see what the hell that was like. And it is as weird as you think. There is like a community of people that recognise each other from year to year. That will be like, ‘Oh hey, we spent six hours on a sidewalk last year.’ ‘Oh yeah, that’s great.’ ‘Like hey man, would you watch my spot? I got to use the bathroom!’ ‘Yeah, sure.’ I found it to be, not anything I’m going to repeat anytime soon... But I found it to be pretty damn interesting that there’s this unspoken bond between people on the sidewalk who are then going to murder each other to get a flatscreen when they get inside the store. I thought it was cool! SO WHAT are THE FIVE MAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE US AND THE UK? You don’t heat your homes, your gas is too expensive, your food isn’t great. Er… Your shower and your toilet are often in the exact

s a m e p l a c e , there is no divide in the shape of a tub. And… I think you still like dubstep here? I think those are the fundamental differences. COULD YOU SUM UP WHAT DRUG CHURCH MEANS TO YOU IN A FEW WORDS? For me, it is a complete regression into childhood. It is an agenda-less fun exercise in

playing music, strictly for the fun of it. And I’m not saying that to sell the band at all, that is how it started, that is just how it stays. It is really just boner stupid fun. Interview by Isha Shah

ALBUMs

roam backbone 8/10 After 3 EP’s, the Eastbourne quintet have finally released an album that makes a statement. We’ve all been waiting for a full length and with ‘Deadweight’ teasing us in early weeks, it was clear the band have stepped up their game. Producing a hit track that uplifts the whole record, Roam has strayed to the not so typical pop punk bands that are currently dominating the music scene, (The Story So Far, Neck Deep). Focused on childhood sweethearts, a strong Sum 41 vibe ponders within the banging track that is filled with heavier and sharper vocals produced by Alex Costello. Right from the very first note, we are hit right in the face with nostalgia, something Roam has mastered flawlessly. Musically ‘Cabin Fever’ captures light melodic melodies that keep you filled with a warming glow. Introducing the new album to a fresh set of ears, the track stands out from what you’d expect. We are soon reminded of the bands signature sound, as Costello and Adam’s vocals remain bold in the chorus. Backbone certainly lives up to its title, holding a strong theme of growing positivity that has been maturing throughout every release. Backbone stands as the bands mark in life, a full length that truly expresses their process from being five young Eastbourne boys to five growing men. ‘All The Same’ has an instant Fall

Photo by Elliott Ingham

Out Boy guitar riff to the opening chords of the track. However its quickly forgotten alongside ‘Bloodline’, another track that does not surface. Banging it’s way in; ‘Hopeless Case’ is another brilliant execution of Roam’s developing is constantly surprising us. Filled with an uplifting glow, that gives you motivational power, the quintet make you bounce around singing along every lyric. The songs main pull is found within the slower paced bridge that gives the song a greater depth, involving an emotional talk between the two vocalists. It’s never a good idea to rerecord a song that is held on such high regards. Including ‘Head Rush’ within their latest release, fails to add anything more than a bad choice. It’s alerted structure seems to be rushed and screechy, losing its original effect when it was released in Head Down. ‘Tell Me’ and ‘R.I.P In Peace’ resemble the earlier work of Sum 41, still keeping their number one influence present. Although the song does offer a lovely solo piece for Costello to thrive in, showing off his beautifully composed voice in the bridge, emotions are thrown all over the place. Throwing us off guard once again, an acoustic track that highlights Adams and Costello’s voices through ‘Tracks’. It’s emotionally captivation song is filled with

“

i think people wi definitely so

personal memories which they share along the sweet guitar strums. Bridging onto the latter end of the album, the down tempo tracks shine through with ‘Tell Me’ and ‘Leaving Notice’. There’s a clear sweet poppy essence that surrounds the record but doesn’t overpower it completely, nor makes it sound like another generic release. For Roam, this record could be taken as a great risk, as each song is structurally so varied, there’s something in here for everyone. Ending on a high with the heavier sounds of the guitars causing riffs of rackets and Adam tearing his heart out to the final words to ‘Tell Me’. ‘Leaving Notice’ is the final vent the band can truly rage before ‘The Desmond Show’ is over. A nice little narrative to allow the album to flow, it begins where it ends, wit the radio turning off air. Backbone has shown the significant growth Roam through a collection of tracks that express intimate lyrical that put us in their place. It’s a major leap from producing short upbeat EP’s to a record that holds a greater positive outlet. Words by Isha Shah

ill be shocked for sure, there are ome things we've not done before

- alex adam 31

ALBUMs secrets everything that got us here

6.5/10 A line-up change will inevitably see any band’s sound venture into new directions, but much of the experimental content on Everything That Got Us Here feels awkwardly put together, jarringly disjointed and out of place - especially the intro. Worse still, many wonderful verses clash into disappointingly flat and cliché choruses and one-liners, like “I’m sick of being the one / The one with no one”, that would leave anyone cringing. Nevertheless, this song and many others, are as catchy as Taylor Swift pop ballad melodies and the vocals sound as if they are infused with As It Is relatable pop punk prettiness. The second half of the album kicks in with renewed power and strength and showcases beautiful, compelling messages. ‘Turn The Page’ combines tones of Underoath with heavier Hundredth hardcore screaming, “sit back, relax and release all your pain,” offering more than catharsis, for possibly the best song on the album. ‘The Man That Never Was’ is also heavier in a We Came As Romans’ style, coming across passionate and energetic, with witty yet poignant lyrics: “Open my chest, to dig around and tell me why I’m such a mess / Got a feeling my heart got up and left”. Remarkably light otherwise, Everything That Got Us Here in places feels devoid of the conviction, energy and anger that carry Secrets across in Fragile Figures and other pre-2015 releases. Post-rock influences try to make up for this instead, in tracks such as ‘Rise Up’ and ‘Half Alive’ but without passionate execution this falls flat and feels very run-of-the-mill.

Richard Rogers finishes these tracks with studio perfect vocal performance. However, the album seems to rely almost too heavily on the strength of these to hold it together, as at times the guitars and drums appear as just a backing band without offering any of their own charm or fuel to the mix. This is incredibly sad, especially considering the quality of the lead guitar melodies and the heavy, straight to the pit chugging bass and drums that boomed explosively to life in older Secrets material. Addictive in its chart-pop catchiness meets A Day To Remember style guitars whilst taking influence from As It

Is, We Came As Romans and Issues, combined with the wacky out there experimentalism Everything That Got Us Here is definitely not like anything you will have heard before and is certainly not a bad album. The pure and heartfelt messages behind the songs are positive, inspiring, tearjerking at times and motivating. Secrets do have great intentions, potential and are bravely trying something new.

would be just what they need. Only time will tell. For now, the better parts of this album and incredible songs such as ‘Turn The Page’, ‘The Man That Never Was’ and ‘In Loving Memory’ are very worthwhile listening to. And if Secrets continue to work this hard and produce more songs as good as these, their inspiring, positive messages will surely be coming across more flawlessly and powerfully very soon.

Once the group has had time to establish the new styles they have played with, it is almost given that their future sound will be less unbecoming. Provided they don’t have another line-up change. Or maybe another line-up change

Words by Arriana Corr

the obsessives heck no, nancy

7/10 Ten perfect, dusty tracks to sit back, relax and listen to on a Sunday afternoon or a down day. The Obsessives breathe some young post-modern life into the comeback genre revived by cherished ‘90s emo group American Football. Mildly infused with math-rock that echoes the technical genius of CHON and the brightly colourful And So I Watch You From Afar, laden with retro reverb and shoegaze effects. Relatable sadness and depression are strung out on a laid back, grunge, gritty amplified sound that takes you to a place where you can calmly reflect on darkness or troubles. The lyrics are to the point, feeling candid and straight out of someone’s mouth or a handwritten letter, highlighted in ‘Am I High’, which begins with,

“My mum asked if I’m in love… with you.”

‘At Least Nobody Got Hurt’ is not a great choice of track to open As The Sun Went Down. Not because it’s not a great song, but because it’s not a great indication of what is to come on the rest of the album. It’s filled with vocalist Taylor Hawkins’ emo style vocals accompanied by sombre music, and if you’re a fan of modern emo, this is definitely the track for you. In some ways it almost feels out of place considering the next song, ‘Except You’, is filled with catchy riffs and has an upbeat melody throughout. It’s reminiscent of 2000’s garage rock paired with indie-pop.

in a more pop sound with ‘The Road Is Laced With Something Dangerous’. Even though the lyrics are somewhat sombre, the happy guitar melody gives the track a more positive feel. The lyrics may possibly highlight the happiness and sadness within love.

The rest of the album treads a very similar path, with a more indie-pop vibe. However, Hawkins’ emo style vocals still continue throughout even on the more indie sounding tracks. ‘My Room Is A Mess’ is no exception but has a kind of 90’s grunge feel to it, almost sounding similar to Third Eye Blind. The Boise five-piece even dabble

Critically speaking, it would be nice to hear more melodies and other instruments incorporated, or to have some breaks of acoustic or broken down solo elements to disrupt the consistency. But The Obsessives are understandably not concerned about experimenting with new stretches of sound and are more focused on creating a steady soundscape to sit back and dream along to. And they do so excellently. For a young new duo from Washington DC, The Obsessives’ debut LP is as stylistically coherent as the old-timers and beloved groups in this scene, making them sound like a long-established,

As The Sun Went Down gets even more indie with the opening of ‘Downtown Again’, sounding almost as if Adam Lazzara (Taking Back Sunday) were to sing on a Kings Of Leon track. However, the album goes back to the more emo sound it started with on ‘Graphic Novel’. The guitar riff that plays throughout is very similar to a lot of riffs played within songs in this genre and Hawkins’ vocals on this track are almost identical to those of Brand New’s Jesse Lacey. ‘Don’t Ever Leave’ follows in the same vein, being very emo sounding but also drawing on 90’s grunge elements.

larger band. It’s hard to believe this is their first full-length release and that there are only two of them. ‘Home’ calls out, “The daisies aren’t a metaphor anymore, I don’t know what to do / I don’t know what to do”, and the lovely, gritty quality to Nick Bairatchnyi’s voice sits this faded yearbook imagery snugly alongside the likes of Have Mercy, Basement, Citizen and Modern Baseball. Later in the album, ‘Bored’ opens up with happy chords, getting you bobbing your head along to a sad song about a couple growing bored of each other, flawlessly executed with dusty and shiny snares and cymbals. Every song places you as if you were in the basement with the band, giving the album

to incorporate pop, indie, emo, punk and grunge into one very diverse album. It has a kind of older traditional vibe with the 90’s elements, but also feels contemporary with the modern emo aspects. Being so varied, As The Sun Went Down is sure to appeal to music fans of multiple genres. Words by Chloe Rose Eaton

an irresistible raw intimate quality. A little weary to first-time listeners only due to the lack of difference in tempo, structure and melody when listened to back-to-back – Heck No, Nancy is very tactfully crafted with love and skill, and laced with words that come across naturally but are descriptive. An emo punk release that, like a modern classic, will no doubt be treasured for many years to come by more die-hard fans as well as those who are well versed in the genre or have time for careful listening and can appreciate the smaller, beautiful things and details each song has to offer. Words by Arriana Corr

western daughter as the sun went down

7/10

Western Daughter have managed

Photo by Ashlea Bea

ALBUMs continents reprisal

9/10 If you have a single drop of interest in the UK hardcore scene at present then you will be well versed in who Continents are. For those out of the loop, Continents are a five-piece band from south Wales. Their first album Idle Hands had the underground scene foaming and now they are back with Reprisal – the mature follow up. Vocalist Phil Cross bounces through each track with pure angst and fury, pushing the

envelope for what hardcore vocalists can do. Backed up with an almost grindcore-esque guitar tone, it makes Continents sound culturally underground, but then out of nowhere a vocal hook or an instrument break will kick you in the gut and remind you that Continents are destined to be bigger. With massive tracks such as ‘Scorn’ and ‘The Stand’, it isn’t hard to see why Reprisal was hyped up as a sure fire album of

the year by some. It expands what UK hardcore is about whilst still retaining its roots. Whilst some will call it out for its modern take on production, others can see that this is a band aiming for the sky and perhaps even beyond. ‘Life of Misery’ draws upon American influences, whilst the title track is a slow burner more akin to UK heavyweights Feed the Rhino. But for pure fury and throwback hardcore ‘The Defeatist’ takes the award by a

country mile. Album closer ‘II’ shows what Continents can do with just a simplistic idea, and it still sounds better than what 90% of the UK scene is turning out. At the end of the day, Continents play dirty downtrodden hardcore with touches of other genres and ideas peppered in for good measure. Reprisal deserves to be the band’s step onto larger stages. Words By Jack Webb

the maine covers

10/10 When it comes to songs from the 90s, usually they’re just that good that it’s a pretty daring job to try and cover one without getting immediate backlash for fucking up the original (Punk Goes 90s, for example). However, in those very rare little moments, you get a song that might even be better – or, in The Maine’s case, you’ll get three. New Radicals, Backstreet Boys and Len – three artists with three very iconic songs that are sure to jog a nostalgic memory in there somewhere. ‘Steal My Sunshine’ is a summery one-hit wonder by Len; whilst the original is fairly slow in its pace and the vocals are low and nasally, The Maine provide

Photo by Ashlea Bea

an upbeat, faster track with a modernised twist. Their pop-rock twangs are apparent throughout and the added voice of Mayday Parade’s Derek Sanders lifts it up further, adding to the element of fun. ‘You Get What You Give’ is another popular track that most people will recognise, yet few could pinpoint that it belonged to altrockers, New Radicals. Again, the modernised take on an already iconic song brings the older track to life; a breath of fresh air but ultimately, it’s still the same catchy melody that’ll stick in your head. Brennan Smiley of The Technicolors offers his vocal

talents, hitting the high notes in the chorus with ease whilst providing a perfect harmony that blends with John O’Callaghan’s husky voice and even outshines him at points. Finally, the Backstreet Boys are a band that many are aware of and most probably find themselves singing along to even if they want to deny it. A boy band that featured on thousands of girls’ walls ten years ago, they were famous for their cringey love songs, matching dance routines and the cheese that would drip from each and every lyric. It comes as a surprise then that The Maine have managed to twist ‘As Long As

You Love Me’ into a crooning ballad that really tugs at the heartstrings. With O’Callaghan’s haunting voice upon the gentle keys of the piano, it’s hard to imagine that this is the same song until the chorus hits and you realise that those are the same sappy lyrics as before, yet this time they sound fucking beautiful. Never would you think that a tear could be shed over a Backstreet Boys song, yet The Maine have proved differently. It’s not often a band can produce covers this good, and as the EP itself is called Covers (Side A), here’s hoping for a Covers (Side B). Words by Harriet Stanley

eps

singles authors

drawstring

terminal

three

Hands Like Houses, Verses and Crooks have all shared stages with them. So it comes as no surprise that rugged, warm vocals from Adam Cullen partner vigorous clean-cut lead guitar that is as sharp as it is melodic. Immediately attention is gripped in the vice of the admirable power and drive behind the music.

8/10

This Birmingham-based alternative rock quintet, Authors are alive and electric, with tension drawn high by every note. Recently featured on BBC Introducing, the group is still considerably unknown. But with the sterling production and quality of their latest single, they appear to be on their way to discovery. Poetic lyricism and technical brilliance brings these skilled musicians to the top of the game. Not to mention the dynamically flexible range of Cullen’s voice, which has a distinct character that sets it apart from the smooth, middlerange vocal performances recently dominating the UK scene. Brilliant and pure, not laden with hooks or sweetness, their melody dominates through difference, which stands Authors out from the crowd. Words by Arriana Corr

tuskens dissolve

The emo/ punk duo from Kent have been extremely busy in 2015, releasing three short EP’s as well as two singles which feature within. Self-producing DIY enthusiasts, Sam and Ben have been behind all their previous releases until Three. ‘Chill Pill’ starts with a racketing intro between the guitars and the drums, easing you into the record with a funky melody. Soft sweeping vocals step in, blending with the chilled aura of the track, while the instruments progressively immerse them. Adding a twist to the latter end of the song, a soft guitar breakdown allows the track to slow down before picking its self-backup with its upbeat melodic chorus. Three is an EP that weights more on the instrumental side of the bands noise, as found within ‘Blister’, a pure release of soft tension. Unusually placed within

the record, the track adds to the Drawstring’s never expecting suspense. It’s not until we reach the very end, that vocals are bounced in quite dramatically, creating a rioting statement. Filmed in their very own bathroom, ‘Clubhouse’ captures the duos summer daze sound with catchy guitar strums and intriguing tempo. The chorus just makes you want to “run away on a holiday’, as the vocals already suggest this brilliant idea, it’s planted in your head over and over. Drawstring have perfected the craft of mastering EP’s with Three holding their reputation at its highest, the band have seized the emo pop chant with four solid songs. Words by Isha Shah

With catchiness that could rival Knuckle Puck and a racing tempo that is alight with readiness that convinces anyone listening that Tuskens are ready to take on the world, ‘Dissolve’ hits hard. Hailing from Bristol, the UK pop punk group have gone from strength to strength over the last few years, playing alongside WSTR, Best Years, Moose Blood and Handguns; to name a few. ‘The world that fell apart,’ sings James Pope, whose vocal performance has taken shape since their earlier releases and now holds its own, stapling the piece together. Breakup songs are about as common as you get, but Tuskens never fail to take on a different angle and still paint a relatable story. Acknowledging all is temporary and coming to face the inevitable fear of loss, this single makes a painful situation something you can work with and provides lyrics, melody and energy to get you off your feet and moving on. Words by Arriana Corr

basement oversize Basement continues to surprise us with every teaser they release to their upcoming record, Promise Everything. Newly featured, ‘Oversized’ dips into their dated bluesy outlets, with a constant instrumental base that isn’t overjoyed with excitement. This signature tempo Basement thrive at is altered with ‘Oversized’, as the band branch out and leave behind their overpowering anger. Softening up on the guitars a little and focusing on a drum and bass rhythm, they have neatened up their aggressive racket to something that suits Andrew Fishers vocals. Words by Isha Shah

eps

catch fire the distance i am from you

campfires

8/10

campfires

6/10

As 2015 drove the so-called ‘easycore’ revival underground, we saw its pop punk counterpart go onwards and upwards, but branch out into increasingly diverse sub-genres. Any mass expansion of a genre would inevitably inspire crossovers. Taking into account an also expanding audience, even beloved pop punk would arguably soon grow boring without such stylistic diversions available. With bands like Boston Manor, Trash Boat and Chunk! No, Captain Chunk sailing high across the UK scene at the end of the year however, it is clear that fans of pop punk are warming up to a sound that has dipped its toes into easycore. This muchdebated genre finally sees some critically acclaimed spotlight as a sidekick, hopping aboard the No Sleep Records, Neck Deep, Real Friends and The Story So Far takeover. Maybe 2016 will see it to the top. Campfires take note, but colour this in their own unique shade. Nostalgically warm as we would expect, their debut EP is short but certainly sweet. Emo notes ring clear throughout what is sonically drenched in the

flavour of 2009 MySpace demo material, with some whiny vocals and mildly depressing lyrics especially coherent in ‘The Hardest Part’. Although the song ‘Like a Cancer’, and the Man Overboard-come-Parker Canon-esque spitted lines in the verse of ‘The Hardest Part’ alongside the angry, punchy breakdown in ‘Such Gold’ give the release a much needed edge, with more post-rock and hardcore influences. Here, the boys demonstrate how easycore bounce compliments harsher melodies and more violent energy. Bursting into an explosion of clichéd but remarkably pleasing lead-guitar melodies driven by passionate drums, a heartfelt rendition of words reflect on the way life tends to come full circle. Opener, ‘Same Streets’ is an incredibly catchy and relatable pop punk wonder. Overall, the young UK group show off cross-genre songwriting skills that could see them sharing stages with the bands they take influence from in no time - if they take a little time to solidify the bite of their own take on the sound. Words by Arriana Corr

Nottingham may not be known for producing pop punk geniuses, however Catch Fire are the newbies to emerge from the ‘rock city’ marque. Debuting their latest EP, the five young guys can only be described to be “posi as fuck”, taking on all stereotypes from the genre. ‘Introspective Pt I’ creates a slightly generic intro with heavy bashes from the drums, as the guitars follow with this fast pace circuit. Vocalist, Miles Kent proves that the UK is not just filled with bands trying to rip off each other, losing the basic whiny vocals that we seem to overuse, his balanced voice creates a slightly a grander sound for the band to follow. The Distance I Am From You artwork certainty reflects their lyrical content, appealing to a younger audience, the band are musically built for a wider audience, actually keeping you woke with complex structures that don’t rely on predications. Catching all the highlights and feel good beats, ‘Bad Behaviour’

triumphs to stand out of the short EP. Pelted with harsh bashes that drummer Ash Wain lets out, his role appears to catch the bud of your ear within every track. Closing with ‘Introspective Pt II’ an acoustic utterance of beautifully strummed words. The quintet have compacted a variety of elements within each song, giving us a broader picture their musical ability to create an EP that explores many different sounds. Overusing the instrumental intro is becoming a constant habit within the record, as some parts become too expected. Despite this small drop, Catch Fire have produce four tracks that don’t make you want to press skip because you think it’s the same song that just came on. They stray every so slightly from what UK pop punk has become and reinforced classic rhythms and Americanised vocals that toy around with your ears before settling. Words by Isha Shah

eugene quell i will work the land

9/10 No Stranger to grabbing the UK’s niche underground music; Tobias Hayes thrives with his latest project Eugene Quell for a second EP. Within just four years he has produced six LPs, two EPs and a book, pretty impressive for just a solo man. After just a year from A Great Uselessness, derives I Will Work The Land, an EP that takes a firm direction from mistakenly being the soundtrack to Daria.

Opening track ‘London Pollen’ brings an overwhelming subtly of peacefulness. Eugene Quell maybe a born and bread Londoner, however Hayes’s voice strings together essences of Northern American. For such a DIY record, Quell has mastered every single ethic point into his music, but making it feel and sound like a record you would find buried under the pile of clothes in your bedroom. ‘Song

for Marlan and Lucas’ picks up previously revised guitar rifting with a harder punch line. Instantly matched with a warm presence, their music feeds into small outburst of experimental grunge which stream along soft fuzzy vocals. With just four tracks, Quell makes sure that each one varies with a strong easy listen. Ending the EP with a similar start, ‘RRW’ leans towards Grandaddy, with small

mumbling utterances. Sometimes it’s just really refreshing to listen to a small collection of songs that are not constantly being recycled among every single band you come into contact with. If you’re one of those people, then anything Eugene Quell births will be remarkable. Words by Isha Shah

potty mouth potty mouth

7/10

Bringing back 90’s inspired alterative pop rock to our ears are Potty Mouth, with their first self tilted, self released EP. If around in their inspired decade of the 90’s, the band would easily feature in the soundtrack of One Tree Hill, or even Daria if you’re feeling real angsty. Popping a glimpse to the first track off the EP ‘Cherry Picking’, vacaumes the popier side of the decade’s thriving sounds. Polished to suit the twenty-first century,

the track does allow a fresh perspective to appreciate the true beautify of what Potty Mouth are all about. Gleaming with hooks that compliment front woman Abby Weems’s crystal clear snarls; it gives the track a spoken word punch line. Drawing darker lines with ‘Creeper Weed’, Weem’s vocals are bolder with haunting utterances. The two-year gap seems to have made a strong mark with the bands sound, graduating from

Hell Bent; the EP is perhaps a re-introduction to the band’s mastered noise. Straying from the messy punk tones that were found all over the place, Potty Mouth has cleaned up their act with just a sort collection of tracks that separate themselves from another. Highlighted especially in ‘The Bomb’, a song that weights so little, it’s hardly recognisable by the bands previous work. Ringing out the mid-tempos’ of the 90’s, the chorus captures nostalgic utterances that are a constant

theme within the record. Self-celebrating and truly admiring yourself are planted within each song; the EP does not float to the very top of your mind, with a lack of emotions. With no real aggressive stance that shapes the band to be aggressively punk, Potty Mouth have come out with an overly dominated pop EP that is filled with pretty hooks and fuzzy guitar riffs that act as fillers. Words by Isha Shah

Photo by Ashlea Bea

Live

s o t o h p in

the story so far + drug church + turnstile cardiff - 1.12.15

Photos by Ashlea Bea

the story so far

turnstile

drug church

Live

lower

than atlantis + moose blood + as it is + black foxxes the roundhouse, london - 14.12.15 9/10 Tonight sees Watford four-piece Lower Than Atlantis at Camden’s striking Roundhouse, their biggest headline show to date, and it’s sold out. A huge crowd stands ahead of the venue’s vast stage long before any of the bands are due to appear. That first band are Black Foxxes, who kick-start the evening with songs from their debut EP Pines. Opening with ‘Maple Summer’, the band’s strong grunge-rock sounds fill the spacious dome with ease, managing to pack as much energy into their short, five-track set as possible. Following them are Patty Walters fronted pop-punkers, As It Is. The five-piece are incredibly energetic, with Walters prancing back and forth, his tongue seemingly glued to his chin. Musically, the band give a sturdy performance, and there are a reasonable number of people that appear to be getting into it, but unfortunately Walters’ Kellin Quinn-esque vocals held them back. The American vocalist seems, if anything, to be trying too hard resulting in the performance feeling fairly amateur. If there’s one thing Moose Blood are far from, however, it’s amateur. The fast growing emo ensemble play a mix of tracks from their phenomenal 2014 debut album, I’ll Keep You In Mind From Time To Time. They kick things off with ‘Bukowski’, instantly joined by the voices of the fans before them. The band manages to make everything they do seem professionally effortless, with Eddy Brewerton’s faultless vocals lacing together catchy hooks and poetic lyrics as if it’s nothing. At last it’s time for Lower Than Atlantis, although not before crew attempt frantically to unravel a curtain dropped at the front of the stage, which was caught on one side. The powerful sounds of ‘Get Over It’ grace the speakers against their silhouetted figures, before the crowd receives their cue to move as the material drops to floor. The four-piece pace through hits from their recent, hugely successful self-titled album such as ‘Criminal’ and ‘Emily’; the dynamism both on stage and off being something to be reckoned with. It’s a family affair for infamously moody vocalist Mike Duce, as he laughs at the fact that a heckler at the barrier is in fact his aunt, before noticing his own brother atop someone’s shoulders further back. As the rest of the band leaves the stage, Duce is left alone clutching an acoustic guitar. Performing a beautiful rendition of ‘Deadliest Catch’, followed by ‘Another Sad Song’. His performance is emotional and the sound of the crowd’s voices echoing each and every word is exceptional. The raw power of the band returns as they finish their set with crowd favourites and damn brilliant rock songs ‘English Kids In America’ and ‘Here We Go’. Delivering on their usual live quality, the band are faultless in their performance, watched by an incredibly lively, bordering on exhausted crowd. The set concludes with an exceptional drum outro from Eddy Thrower, who is last to leave the stage. You can always guarantee that Lower Than Atlantis will put on a solid show, playing all of their biggest songs with ease and tonight has been no exception. Words by Adrianne Goron

Photo by Juliette Carton

Live

s o t o h p in

nai harvest

jaws

jaws + nai harvest joiners, southampton 9.12.15 jaws

Photos by Gingerdope Photography

Live

gnarwolves + such gold + spryanard sound circus, bournemouth - 17.12.15 7.5/10 Doing a full run of UK tours twice this year, the Brighton skaters are back to end 2015 with some mates from the States. This had been THE year for Gnarwolves, travelling all across the world, but now they have returned to their homeland - giving us more crowd surfers and finger pointers than ever before. Also making a rapid return are New Yorkers Such Gold. Making an appearance at Slam Dunk festival, as well as a run of shows with Transit, the four members are now back to tell a few jokes and sweep the crowd into their melodic punk noise. The Sound Circus Bournemouth is a very strange venue: there’s an incredibly small stage, separated by a ‘baby barrier’, while a rectangular floor space is basically bare for the first two bands set. Things soon start to pick up as Gnarwolves enjoy one last smoke; they arrive onto a stage lit by expressional faces. ‘Smoking Kills’ make a hectic start as the

crowd move eagerly towards the tiny barrier, practically leaping over it. Not quite sure if one song has finished or if another had started, the band has a tendency of playing very short songs one after another without a break. Judging by the fans reactions, as they leap into the air, before realising they have nowhere to go but down, they had moved on to another punk song. The venue itself is not great for sound, but then again it’s Gnarwolves, is the sound ever on-point? Vocalist Thom Weeks keeps idly to his position on stage, making the occasional dance towards his brother Max on drums. This is where Charlie Piper steps in, picking up the action for the whole band, as he begins to share tour stories and the general, “how are you doing Bournemouth” speech before ‘Party Jams’ starts. If anything has changed, it’s definitely the crowd. Gnarwolves seem to remain the same in every way possible, except some new songs

that don’t quite kick a double ollie. Now looking down on some pretty young faces, which regardless still scream back every word to ‘Community, Stability, Identity’, the band perform with speed and actually remember the words to the songs they once wrote. The trio has perfected a setlist that was sure to please everyone in the room - young or old, nothing seemed to matter to the bodies who try to open a pit up, to what Piper declared “I see you’ve opened a pit, but to what? Nothing.” Sure it was super cliché to do the walking off stage and walking back on just for the encore, as the already stoned wolves remains in their position with ‘Limerence’. “GNARWOLVES CRU, FUCK YOU,” and a whole bunch of wolf calls end their tour of 2015 with a herd of sweaty bodies. Words by Isha Shah

Photos by Isha Shah

Live

s o t o h p in

venom prison

Photos by Ryan Dalton Rodrigues

venom prison

renounced + venom prison + employed to serve diy space, london - 11.12.15

employed to serve

Live

yearbook + weatherstate + faux + nervus power lunches, london - 1.12.15 7/10 Hidden away in the depths of Dalston, tonight’s basement venue Power Lunches plays host to a DIY show featuring some of the South East’s finest rock bands spanning a small range of genres. Opening band Nervus are a pleasant surprise. Having formed at the beginning of the year, the Watford five-piece have been playing shows in and around the capital for the last nine months, making a modest name for themselves. Their take on the current emo/indie/punk trend is as good as any, although the persistent dual vocals feel a little unnecessary at times but definitely do not detract from the music at all. Closing track ‘Bones’ was by far Nervus’ finest and sounds as though it really has the band’s own stamp on it. Faux are the most “commercially” upbeat of all the bands playing tonight and are probably the best sounding instrumentally of the three supports. Their more indie laden tracks are a slightly odd fit for the bill overall but the five-piece do put on a good show. Although, does a band ever really need three guitarists? Maybe they do if it’s what they excel at. It’s just a shame that their vocals are the only thing that let this Southampton based group down. Weatherstate’s mid-set cover of Green Day’s ‘Burnout’ says it all for tonight’s main support act. They are your standard run of the mill pop punk

band who definitely live up to the likes of their peers - but unfortunately don’t offer anything more enticing than that. Luckily for Weatherstate the line-up this evening is diverse enough in genre that they do have a place here, and despite having a far thinner crowd, the audience are up for hearing something a little different to the previous two bands. Yearbook, tonight’s main attraction, have the small dark room waiting in anticipation as they begin their set. Opening with a new song can sometimes be risky but for Yearbook, ‘15’ is peculiar enough to keep everybody captivated before the fourpiece dive in to two tracks from their latest EP, Old Bones. The quartet’s set this evening does seem like a bit of a showcase for new material, as we’re treated to two more new songs - one of which is still untitled. They definitely hold a lot of promise for what the band have in store for 2016. “Gang vocals” and general group shouty bits are something that Yearbook do live really well and it adds an interesting dynamic to their performance on stage during the likes of ‘I Could Be Anyone’ and ‘Sinker’. Closing with old favourite ‘Visionary’, it’s clear to see why Yearbook are headlining tonight’s show. They take the best elements of the other three bands on the bill, roll them into one, put their own spin on it and execute it perfectly. Words by Natalie Webb

weatherstate

Photos by Isha Shah

Live

s o t o h p in

grim existence

+ grim existe

the al

ence + realm of torment

lex, southampton - 7.12.15

realm of torment

ithaca

realm of torment

Photos by Isha Shah

gigs Monday

Tuesday

cancer bats 12 11 @ Southend on Sea (ON TOUR 11-28TH)

Wednesday

PANIC AT THE DISCO

20 turnover

defrence tdan + edan lake + follow the water @ The Joiners, Southampton

giants

CREATE TO INSPIRE + LOCAL SUPPORTS @ Edge Of The Wedge, Southsea (ON TOUR 25-31ST)

Photo by Isha Shah

Teen brains + claws + faux @ The Joiners, Southampton

26 lisbon THE AMAZONS + PILOT HOUSE + SHALLOWS @ The Joiners, Southampton

bun d

Ironed Mouth + r Throu @ The Unicorn C

@ O2 Academy Brixton, London

Thurs

roam

album release show @ Banquet Records/ New Noise, Kingston

beach slang

petal + local supports @ Barfly Camden, London (ON TOUR 19TH-30TH)

21 suede

album releas + Nic Bennett @ New Slang, Kin

MIL

ALBUM RE PIPEDREAM +

@2 P

sday

dem out

d out + Nil By reaper + Hope ugh Hostility Camden, London

Friday

ELEASE SHOW + + EAT ME + ALL EARS AVOW Pigs, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Sunday

five miles north of nowhere Parallaxis + These Septic Stars + Everything For Some @ Talking Heads, Southampton

the winter passing + losing sleep

+ local supports @ Birthdays, London (ON TOUR)

h20 Petrol Girls + Darko + Three months to kill @ The Underworld Camden

16 faux Sad blood + fresh @ Planet Sounds, Southampton

GUILT TRIP + STRIKE BACK + vaults + CALLOUT + DISBELIEVER @ The Haygate, Telford

@ Boston Music Rooms, London

roam

HUNTER KILL hunter Calls Landing + Canons @ Surya , London

the maine

mayday parade + have mercy @ The Ritz, Manchester (ON TOUR 26TH-7TH FEB)

bowels

Matthew North Band +Twin +Lucy Muir @ O2 Islington, London

the holiday + sIX time champion+ the gospel youth @ Eastbourne

TEMPERS FRAY

Hindsights 23 + Landscapes + bad news 24

se show t ngston

LK TEETH

Saturday

CITIZEN + TURNOVER FADE + lOCL SUPPORTS @ The Dome, London (ON TOUR 28TH-31ST)