Instores Now |
FORGIVEN
RIVAL - THIS IS A WAR [EL-SHADDAI]
The sooner band's throw away wanky bio's the
better, reading through this one you'd think the sun was about to
start shining out of the disc as soon as you press play. It's great
to have confidence in your product and all, but it should be the
music doing the talking and not a bunch of words on paper that more
often than not, don't match up to the product. Anyway, wankery aside,
these guys play melodic rock with a bit of a punk influence and
the generic sing/scream formula every third band tackles. Thing
in these guys favor is that when they do scream, it doesn't sound
like a dying cat, and it's not every 2nd line. Still, it's something
that is very overdone and doesn't really appeal to my ears. When
they are singing normally, things sound a little overproduced vocally,
but not painful, and they have some solid ideas musically. Sitting
in a crowded genre, these guys are probably in the top bracket,
but still have work to do, things are pretty predictable in the
whole sing/scream thing, given time they might find the right formula,
worth a listen if the style is your thing.
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[MYSPACE]
- Available Through Amphead -
Buy Instores Now |
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Instores Feb
25 |
THE
PHOENIX FOUNDATION - HAPPY ENDING [FLYING
NUN]
One of New Zealand's biggest indie rock bands
are The Phoenix Foundation, this is their third album and has earned
them rave reviews in the homeland. If you aren't in the mood for
long, slow songs, then it won't be for you, but if you have the
patience to sit down and absorb what they offer, then you are bound
to be pleased. Not everything is slow though, there are a few upbeat
tracks such as '40 years' that drop just at the right time when
you are getting a little bored, they drop these in and renew your
interest. Definitely not something i'd pull out and listen to regularly,
but for what they do, they do it well. Indie kids should check them
out.
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Instores Now |
VARIOUS
- X-BOX PRESENTS... START [UNIVERSAL]
Another excuse for a bit of cross-promotion
i guess. X-Box have made a compilation CD with a bunch of alternative
artists, the soundtrack for gaming maybe? Or maybe these tracks
are all in recently released X-Box games? I dunno really. Filled
with all the usual bands, The Killers, Wolfmother, Fall Out Boy,
Kings Of Leon, Kaiser Cheifs, Scissor Sisters, Enter Shikari, Sum
41, Razorlight, Kasabian etc.. chances are you probably have all
these tracks anyway in some form, or are totally sick of them if
you are a radio listener. So charging full price is a bit of a jip.
Obviously an attempted extra revenue raiser for bands on the labels
catalogue as it certainly isn't something that will introduce people
to new bands, or new music. I'll stick to the soundtrack of me beating
the crap out of someone on a game as opposed to a bunch of tunes
we've all heard a million times.
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Available Now |
DORA
MAH - DORA MAH [INDEPENDENT]
They say first impressions are a big thing,
and it took me only a matter of seconds to feel like I was listening
to something from The Police as 'Look Back' opens. Not in a rip-off
kinda way either. A nice melodic rock tune that holds it's own all
the way through keeping your attention. A good start to this five
track EP from these Melbourne lads. 'Don't Run' is a nice powerful
rock tune that really grows after a few listens. Good choice to
go for an EP's worth of tunes as it's clear the band is still finding
it's ground sound wise, they try their hand at a few different styles,
some parts very solid, others struggle a little, but for the most
part they have done a great job. A name to look out for.
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Available Now |
SUBWASTE
/ TOMMY GUSTAFSSON & THE IDIOTS [WARBIRD]
Subwaste are a Swedish punk rock band influenced
by the original era of punk. They play an anthemic, in your face
style of punk that is always great to hear, when it's done well,
and these guys don't let us down. They contribute the first 6 songs
of this disc and they are all crackers, especially 'Twentyfour Seven
Timebomb'. Listen to them [Here],
you will not be disappointed. Also hailing from Sweden is Tommy
Gustafsson & The Idiots who play a more rock influenced punk
sound, the vocals are more gravelly, the riffs more prominent [Here],
'Dead End Street' is a ripper of a track, just oozing balls, while
still being catchy as all fuck with a decent organ part thrown in.
The rest of the tracks are just as decent, leaving you having just
discovered two different styled punk bands that chances are you've
never heard before. Time to do some investigating, because these
two are worth it.
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Instores Now
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THE
REASON - THINGS COULDN'T BE BETTER [SMALLMAN]
These Canadian lads have been developing a
bit of a buzz of late. It certainly doesn't hurt when you score
Sara Quin of Tegan & Sara fame to join you on your single to
give you a little boost of popularity. Part rock, part pop-punk
i guess is where you would slot them in a pigeonhole system, very
vocally driven sounds that claw onto you and grow with each listen.
You might need to give it a few listens to appreciate what's offered,
it's not a matter of love at first sight, but once they lay it on
you, you are hooked. They say the simple things in life are often
the best, The Reason don't get fancy, they keep things very simple
yet so very effective. If you like pop punk, but don't like the
overall cheesiness associated with the most of it these days, then
The Reason are your answer. Smart, a little quirky and fun.
|
|
| THE
BEER SCALE |
| |
Beer
is good, this though, was not. |
|
Like
a match with no head, didn't spark a flame. |
|
Not
bad, give it a go, might appeal to you. |
|
Solid
effort, worthy of a spot in your collection. |
|
The
beer can wait, go buy this now! |
| |
Don't
just take our word for it, our thoughts aren't the be all and end
all and are just that, our thoughts, go check out these new releases
for yourself and make up your own mind! |
| UPCOMING
RELEASES |
FEBRUARY
18 - Time Again - Darker Days [Order]
18 - Boys Like Girls - S/T [Order]
18 - Scary Kids Scaring Kids - S/T [Order]
18 - Simple Plan - Simple Plan [Order]
18 - This Is Hell - Misfortunes [Order]
18 - Battletruk - Born To Kill [Order]
18 - Further - Tactics [Order]
18 - Kora - Kora [Order]
18 - Nunchukka Superfly - If Ya Not Careful
With Electricity... [Order]
23 - Dirtbombs - We Have You Surrounded
[Pre-Order]
23 - Kottonmouth Kings - Greatest Highs
[Pre-Order]
23 - Various - The Alternative Album
Box Set
25 - Rocket From The Crypt - R.I.P [CD/DVD]
[Pre-Order]
25 - The Gaslight Anthem - Senor And
The Queen [Pre-Order]
25 - A Cursive Memory - Changes [Pre-Order]
25 - The Starting Line - Direction [Pre-Order]
25 - The Phoenix Foundation - Happy Ending
[Pre-Order]
25 - Receiving End Of Sirens - The Earth
Sings Mi Fa Mi
25 - The Dear Hunter - Act II: The Meaning
Of....
25 - Envy On The Coast - Lucy Gray
25 - My Disco - Paradise [Pre-Order]
MARCH
3 - Flogging Molly - Float [Pre-Order]
3 - Our Last Night - The Ghosts Among
Us [Pre-Order]
3 - Billy Bragg - Mr Love And Justice
3 - Murder By Death - Red Of Tooth &
Claw [Pre-Order]
3 - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig,
Lazarus, Dig!!! [Pre-Order]
3 - Die! Die! Die! - Promises, Promises
3 - Smashing Pumpkins - American Gothic
[Pre-Order]
8 - As Tall As Lions - As Tall As Lions
8 - Angelas Dish - War On Time [Pre-Order]
8 - In The Face Of War - We Make Our
Own Luck
10 - Gyroscope - Breed Obsession [Pre-Order]
10 - Various - Triple J Hottest 100 Volume
15 [Pre-Order]
10 - Panic At The Disco - Nine In The
Afternoon [Pre-Order]
10 - Moneen - DVD
10 - Presidents Of The USA - These Are
Good Times People
10 - Her Nightmare - Come Anarchy, Come
Ruin
10 - Less Than Jake - Losers, Kings..
[Re-Issue]
10 - Less Than Jake - Pezcore [Re-Issue]
10 - Less Than Jake - Goodbye Blue &
White [Re-Issue]
10 - Less Than Jake - Peoples History
Of [DVD Re-Issue]
10 - Jeff Buckley - Live From The Road
[CD/DVD] [Pre-Order]
10 - Mike Patton - A Perfect Place [CD/DVD]
15 - The Matches - A Band In Hope
17 - Spazzys - Title TBA
17 - DeVotchKa - A Mad & Faithful
Telling
22 - Millencolin - Machine 15
22 - Even - Even [Pre-Order]
28 - R.E.M - Accelerate
29 - Pennywise - Reason To Believe
29 - Panic At The Disco - Pretty.Odd
31 - Anti-Flag - The Bright Lights Of
America
31 - The Black Keys - Attack & Release
APRIL
7 - Bad Religion - New Maps Of Hell [Deluxe
Edition]
21 - Story Of The Year - The Black Swan
Details are correct to the best of our knowledge
at time of publishing, some titles might hit shelves 2-3 days before
the published release date, if you have a date to submit or correct,
email us! |
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PANIC
AT THE DISCO - NINE IN THE AFTERNOON
The much anticipated new release from Panic won't surprise many,
we know they can write awesome pop tunes and this one is no different.
It sounds like the theme song for a US sitcom or something. Many
layers of instruments, catchy vocal lines will ensure this one is
a hit, just like their previous singles. Bring on the album!
[WEBSITE]
[LABEL]
[PRE-ORDER] |
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SHIHAD
- ONE WILL HEAR THE OTHER
An interesting sound from Shihad this time around, a little more
pop-rock as opposed the heavier melodic sounds we're used to. After
a very disappointing last album, it's good to hear a bit of quality
coming out this time around, makes you look forward to what is coming
as they release a new album in the coming months.
[WEBSITE]
[LABEL] |
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