ALBUM REVIEW: Polar – Five Arrows


It seemed as if it was the end for the Guildford-based Metalcore stalwarts Polar after having lost a lot of members of the original band in 2023. 

Not content with letting the band be put to rest, Adam Woodford decided to bring on a whole new team and carry on the passion project. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Black Oak County – III


The world of Post-Grunge and Octane-Hard Rock is often looked down upon in the alternative scene with phrases like “buttrock” and “divorced-dad rock” now part of the common lexicon when referring to such highly esteemed bands like Nickelback and Shinedown. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Des Rocs – Dream Machine: The Lucid Edition


It’s been a year since Des Rocs unleashed his sophomore effort Dream Machine to the world. Seemingly not content with this full package, Danny Rocco is back bringing forth Dream Machine: The Lucid Edition (Sumerian Records) to eagerly waiting ears. 

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ALBUM REVIEW: The Funeral Portrait – Greetings From Suffocate City


Despite this being only their sophomore release, the emo rock outfit’s previous release, A Moment Of Silence was released almost a decade ago. Since then, The Funeral Portrait have been hard at work, honing their craft putting out singles here and there, all culminating with their second album, Greetings From Suffocate City. Looking to spin a tale across the album, the band are bringing theatrical charm and themes into their works. It’s clear from this that devising a story across the album has eaten most of the years since their last efforts, will this long passage of time be what the band are needing to take their music to the next level into the scene?Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Mondo Cozmo – IT’S PRINCIPLE


Josh Ostrander has had a unique and eclectic career stretching back the majority of this millennium so far. Beginning with Laguardia, to working with Eastern Conferences Champions, each one of his projects has brought something completely new and interesting to the table. Now having produced three solo albums under his moniker, Mondo Cozmo, it was time for the solo artist to explore even further into his sonic repertoire with his fourth studio album, IT’S PRINCIPLE (Last Gang Records). With the tragic passing of his namesake’s dog, Cozmo, it was clear that this was set out to be one of his most emotional and vulnerable material to date.Continue reading


FESTIVAL REVIEW: Radar Festival 2024 – Part 2 Live at O2 Victoria Warehouse


Sunday

The final day commences, and although there has been some hiccups in the form of bands dropping out (Oxymorrons and Siamese), this was fixed instantly with replacement acts Mike Dawese and Pintglass. Pintglass, who stepped up to the task having only performed the afterparty the night prior. Rock-influenced metalcore quintet, Ashen were first to take to the main stage. Displaying an eclectic mix of melodic metalcore tracks, with giant choruses. Whilst having only visited the UK once for their last tour, the French band were determined to leave a mark, performing a unique cover of Nirvana’s iconic single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” getting the early bird crowds to sing in unison, with Ashen’s frontman Clem Richard, who put on one of the best vocal performances of the weekend.Continue reading


FESTIVAL REVIEW: Radar Festival 2024 – Part I Live at O2 Victoria Warehouse


 

Back for its 4th iteration and 2nd time in Manchester’s own O2 Victoria Warehouse, Radar Festival has returned to provide a wide array of progressive rock and metal performances for the masses again. With no clashes between either of the 2 stages, this gave audiences the ability to see all of the acts on the bill.Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Tim Montana – Savage


After spending a long time away from his childhood state of Montana, Tim Montana decided to return to create his awaited fifth album, Savage (Music Knox Records / BBR / BMG Nashville), inspired by his previous life there, and the state itself. In interviews, Montana has said that Savage was an attempt at being lyrically brutally honest”. For an artist whose words were already quite poignant, this next level up could be the thing that pushes him to whole new horizons when it comes to his music, but will this new writing process and inspiration become fruitful for Montana?Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Oh Hiroshima – All Things Shining


Over the past decade, Oh Hiroshima have made a name for themselves in the Swedish music scene, taking inspiration from the likes of This Will Destroy You and numerous other bands in the Post-Rock genre, the band have made themselves stand out, and now four albums later, the band are once again looking to stretch out their horizons on the fifth album of their catalog, All Things Shining (Pelagic Records). Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Alarm! – Alarm!


Not content with the tunes created over the previous couple of decades with previous band Victims, members turned to new pastures with the latest hardcore punk collective, Alarm! Crossing over the sounds of melodic hardcore with previous endeavours in crust punk, Alarm! are set to make an explosive hit onto the Swedish punk scene with their debut self-titled effort via Armageddon Label.

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