Like Torches - Shelter Like Torches manage to break out of the generic pop punk that is currently taking over the scene and take it back to its roots. The one thing the genre seems to have lost along the way is the fact it’s an angry genre, it’s not supposed to be happy all the time. From the very beginning of ‘Swing By Swing’ it’s clear these guys want to take it back to this, the shouting vocals in the background of the pop punk vocals introduces this band perfectly. This band have clearly taken influences from a lot of people, there’s essences of old Blink 182 and even touring partners Yellowcard, particularly the funky rhythmic bass line on ‘Bit a Bullet’ or ‘Snowfall Without You’. At points on this album they do seem to take cues from more heavier rock bands and really let loose with the awesome riffs and intense vocals, this is particularly displayed on ‘Coma’ and ‘Walking Home’. One thing about this band is that they’ve managed to cram so much energy into this one album. Every lyric, chord and drum beat just seems to ooze with energy and passion. Like Torches hail from Stockholm but have that American pop punk sound that make them a massive contender in this rock and alternative market. With two albums now under their belt it seems they’re on their way up. RO
MCEG - Self titled (EP) For a band that have been established for no less than four months they’ve managed to create a funky, rocky, rhythmic EP for themselves. While it is refreshing to have the music speak for itself, the quirk behind this band of having no vocals does seem a little misguided. The awesome and intricate guitar work in ‘Murder Party’, particularly near the end when a fantastic climax is built is second to none. The insane drumming in ‘Bonerfunk’ would definitely go a lot better with some singing accompanying it. As I said though, it is refreshing, it just feels like a waste of amazing music to not have any brilliant lyrics to go next to it, I also think a lot of people will overlook them for this fact. ‘Daddies Coke’ starts off with gentle percussion work delicately combined with a funky bassline and slow building guitar before being slammed back down to earth to begin its slow journey again. This song in particular demonstrates the talent this band has, the guitar work alone is fantastic and effortless! It does seem strange in this time of rock to release an EP with entirely no vocals, however MCEG seem to make it work! The amazing rhythms created by this three person band are awesome and with no vocals it does actually allow the attention to be focused on the music. RO
Grumble Bee - Disconnect (EP) From the quiet start of ‘Lapwing’ it was evident that the music Grumble Bee presents is well thought out and complex. It then becomes very difficult to imagine that this whole EP was written by one man, Jack Bennett is the rock genius behind this host of amazing tunes. It’s refreshing to find an EP that genuinely sounds different, while it’s evident that Grumble Bee does take influences from the likes of Brand New, with slow uprising bass tones and Biffy Clyro with high intense guitar solos he culminates it into his own unique brand. ‘Sky Writer’ is the single off ‘Disconnect’ and it’s easy to see why, with a funky dance beat to introduce it before slamming into an intricate and catchy electric guitar solo that any rock fan would fall in love with instantly. This is a total contradiction to the follow up song ‘Soft Filter, Black and White Picture’, which is certaintly the anthem of this EP. The emotional vocals combined with the hard rock instrument work would make this song the perfect festival tune. Grumble Bee’s ‘Disconnect’ is a fantastic piece of original music in a world full of repetitive lalas and nanas. It manages to take influence from some of the biggest acts in the world and somehow create a unique sound all his own. RO