album Reviews Feature albums
hermitude
HyperParadise
aLEKS AND THE RAMPS
Ben Kweller
Last Dinosaurs
Go Fly A Kite
In A Million Years
Elefant Traks
Facts
The Noise Company/Shock
Dew Process/Universal
4.5/5
Rampsassemble!
3.5/5
3/5
I’ll admit I was expecting big things from the Blue Mountains boys’ fourth album HyperParadise after hearing the single ‘Speak Of The Devil’ on high rotation on the Js. They didn’t disappoint. HyperParadise is an eclectic mix of electronica, hip-hop and awesomeness. A drummer myself, I really appreciated the beat work on tracks such as ‘Engage’ and ‘HyperParadise’. The album takes you on a strange journey of electric blips and samples, and the more chilled out tracks such as ‘Let You Go’ conjure heavy emotions. The layering is superb, the production clean and the album as a whole is pretty well faultless. I’m extremely interested to see how Hermitude will spin this little gem in a live situation. Bring on May! ~Cormack O’Connor
3.5/5
Lacuna Coil
Alex Bryant’s voice is the first thing that hits you on listening to this album. It’s a deep, full baritone along the lines of The National’s Matt Berninger or Jonathan Richman. Luckily (or perhaps intentionally) Bryant’s voice is never allowed to overshadow the playful and creative arrangements of Facts, instead adding a zesty layer to the Melbourne band’s whimsical brand of pop-rock. Selfdescribed as, “ridiculously DIY”, Facts nevertheless sounds like a professionally produced pop album full of quirky backing vocals, handclaps and festive horn flourishes. In lead single ‘Bummer’ they have produced one of the genuinely great synth-pop choruses to come out of Australia in recent years. In a just world Aleks and the Ramps would appear on festival posters in the same size font as Architecture in Helsinki. Facts may just get them there. ~Nick Mackay
Century Media
bleeding knee club
Dark Adrenaline 4.5/5
Dark Adrenaline, Lacuna Coil’s sixth full-length studio album shows an incredible maturity. Staying true to the metal genre, the male vocals, guitars and drums give off an edge of intensity and power, nicely counterbalanced by the mesmerising vocals of Cristina Scabbia. With tasteful new components, such as orchestral interludes and synthesiser backtracks, the band have shown they are willing to explore new avenues, without losing track of their beginnings. The result is a superior final product. With standout tracks such as ‘Intoxicated’, ‘Give Me Something More’, a tasteful cover of R.E.M.’s ‘Losing My Religion’, and ‘My Spirit’, a haunting but touching tribute to Peter Steele (Type O Negative Bassist/vocalist), this an album definitely worth indulging in. ~Ashlee kellehear
Sleigh Bells Reign of Terror Mom + Pop
4/5
If you haven’t jumped on the Sleigh Bells wagon yet, you probably should - the Brooklyn duo is back and better than ever. Their new album, Reign of Terror, is more focused then their previous effort, Treats, but brings the same sonic blasts layered with sugary sweet vocals and the gutsiest guitar riffs you’ve ever heard. Reign of Terror is more mature and emotive (like good cheese - and trust me it’s just as tasty). Backing up their stellar debut may have been a hard task but they’ve done well. Standout tracks include ‘You Lost Me’ and ‘D.O.A.’ but every song is loveable. In fact it seems to just get catchier with each listen. ~Cormack o’connor
32 reverb magazine issue #059 — June #067 — March 2011 2012
Nothing To Do I Oh You
3.5/5
Gold Coast trio Bleeding Knees Club introduce debut LP, Nothing To Do - 25 minutes of indie-garage tunes, inspired by surf, sand and sinning. Single ‘Teenage Girls’ is the perfect opening track, with its excitable energy, reckless guitar and party-hardy attitude. Boisterous vocals and a muddy guitar tone contrast with the laid-back summery timbre of the album to create the BKC sound, which, with its themes of high school romance and misfit woes on tracks like ‘Lipstick’ and ‘Boy In Lust’, is bound to excite the indie teen girls. From simple and upbeat distorted riffs to retro melodies and cutesy backing vocals, the BKC are a very now hybrid incarnation of the Ramones and the Beach Boys, for the kids of 2012. ~Charli Hutchison
Jack’s Mannequin People and Things Sire Records/Warner Music
3.5/5
For his third Jack’s Mannequin album, songwriter Andrew McMahon evokes the brighter pop-rock mood of 2005 debut Everything in Transit and filters it through the more sombre lens of his introspective 2008 follow-up, The Glass Passenger. The result is a more versatile package, if perhaps a less exciting one. The proverbial cake is iced with a vaguely folksy tinge that most likely recalls the vinyl heroes of his parents – the rustic strains and newfound predilection for narrative recall Tom Petty and Bob Dylan, albeit packed tightly under the hooky piano jams we’re accustomed to. There’s still significant cheese to his efforts, and the album hardly breaks new ground. But songs as catchy and immediate as ‘Release Me’ and ‘Amelia Jean’ are sure to inspire the affection of proven fans regardless. ~Michael Sykes
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To label Go Fly A Kite a return-to-form album for Ben Kweller would be somewhat unfair, given that 2009 effort Changing Horses was a sometimes gorgeous foray into Americana and alternative country music. But it sure is nice to have the old Ben back. Kite is by and large an amalgam of what has made Kweller interesting for the best part of a decade - consistent songwriting, heartfelt lyrics, power-pop gloss, and the ‘aw shucks’ optimism that lacquers every BK outing. All that’s really missing is a grand-slam single. Lead-off track ‘Mean To Me’ makes a good attempt, but comes up short of joyous, older cuts like ‘Penny On The Train Track’ (Ben Kweller, 2006) and ‘Wasted and Ready’ (Sha Sha, 2002). A worthy starting point for new fans and a sure-fire smash for the converted. ~Max Quinn
Psycroptic
The Inherited Repression Riot Entertainment
4/5
Psycroptic’s dedication to their craft and machine-like work ethic has reaped rewards on an international scale, propelling them to the top tier of their subgenre. The Inherited Repression is the fifth album from the Tasmanian technical death metal stalwarts. Sonically, the new album veers away from the cold, sterile production of recent albums to return to a more organic sound - especially evident in the natural, robust tones of the bass drums. The most enjoyable aspect of The Inherited Repression is Psycroptic’s willingness to reign in the speed and excessive blasting, in favour of more accessible mid-paced grooves, without sacrificing the heaviness and technicality listeners have come to expect. The more riffbased approach and greater variation in structure and tempo adds a new dimension to their sound. Intelligent song-craft, in place of the self-indulgent and monotonous blasting that plagues lesser bands, is best illustrated in the intense dynamic and necksnapping groove of ‘Unmasking the Traitors’. Capped off with a ‘making of’ DVD for the diehards, The Inherited Repression is essential listening for fans of quality extreme metal. ~Luke Saunders
Kit Bray
The Time He Waits Independent
4/5
My first impression of Kit Bray - this guy’s not a fan of wearing shoes and possibly likes to surf and smoke weed, which isn’t a bad thing at all. I’m a big fan of the finger work on the acoustic. Loving the casual beats and rhythm guitar in ‘Daisy’ - it carries plenty of soul and any fan of Ben Harper will love Kit Bray. I also heard a hint of another well known Kiwi, Tiki Taane. Top sound. At first I thought the reverb was a little overdone on ‘Eyes So Bright’ but I totally get it now and dig it. I’m liking how each track differs from the other in their story line as well as the mix of instrumental techniques. I can easily see this guy travelling in the top 20 and getting loads of smiles. ~Mel Roach
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The debut album from Brisbane-based indierock quartet Last Dinosaurs, In A Million Years, is a solid release, which is lacking stand-out qualities. The first singles ‘Zoom’ and ‘Time & Space’ are highlights and would be magic in a live environment, with ecstatic guitar melodies and upbeat, energetic tempos. However the rest of the album needs something more to make it unique. That said, Last Dinosaurs definitely have potential – with signs of creative genius, especially in their songwriting. Perhaps branching out could prove beneficial in such a competitive local music scene. ~Josh Clements
Tonight Alive What Are You So Scared Of? Sony
4/5
After forming in 2009, Sydney punk rockers Tonight Alive made some serious moves in Sydney’s underground punk/metal scene and released two EPs before being picked up by record producer extraordinaire Mark Trombino and flown to the USA to record their debut album What Are You So Scared Of? The album opens with the introductory ‘Eject, Eject, Eject’ before launching into the punk powerhouse track ‘Breaking and Entering’. Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus lends his vocals on the emo-pop track ‘Thank You & Goodnight’ and 19-year-old frontwoman Jenna McDougall bares all on the deeply emotional ‘Amelia’, which describes the loss of her childhood friend. Every song on the album is catchy as hell, staying stuck in your head long after you finish listening. Tonight Alive are a great young Australian band who have really set the standard on this record. They might just be Australia’s answer to Paramore. ~Mark Henderson
howler
America Give Up Rough Trade
3/5
As far as raw energy, fuzzed-out summer vibes and no-frills rock is concerned, Howler ticks all the right boxes. Clocking in at a concise 32 minutes, the songs blaze by in an urgent blur of surf rock, garage fuzz and a dash of pop-punk spark. The first half of the album is solid enough but fails to raise any real excitement. As the second half unfolds, the gems emerge. Several of the later album tracks are spikier and harder-hitting with greater variation in the vocal department and some truly memorable hooks. ’Pythagorean Fearem’ is a standout - a dark, heavy rocker with killer guitar work and an inspired, deeper vocal from teenage frontman Jordan Gatesmith. The rollicking ‘Black Lagoon’ ends the album on a thumping high note. Howler are a talented young band, and while America Give Up is a slightly flawed and inconsistent debut, there is enough to suggest much greater things to come if they can step out of the shadows of their influences and fulfil their sizable potential. ~Luke Saunders
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