Magnolia Park – Halloween Mixtape II (Epitaph Records)
Less is more, right? It’s a mantra I’ve often referred to in reviews, even if Yngwie would never agree. Nor, so it seems, would Magnolia Park. Seventeen tracks, nine collabs, six hundred and sixty six musical deviations taking in emo, pop-punk, nu-metal, hip-hop, cartoon horror pop and more is testament to the fact that the quintet may be on to something with their embracing of musical diversity.
This band from Atlanta transcended the vest metal tag assigned to them early on, to become one of the most underrated new acts to coast under the radar of mainstream rock. The lengthy seven-year break since their last album did not help this, but Rebuilding The Mountain (Spinefarm Records) finds the band taking inventory of their demons before returning, reconfigured, with drummer Evan Diprima back in the fold.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Having stuck around since the late 1980s, Anti-Flag has become old enough to address the same young, impressionable people they once were when they formed so long ago. Ever ambitious and straight to the point, the Pittsburgh-based punk rock foursome is as approachable as at any other time in their storied career with Lies They Tell Our Children (Spinefarm Records). Rife with on-brand “fuck the system” anthems and guest appearances by like-minded rabble-rousers, the songs pack such an easily consumable punch.
It is hard to believe that the Swedish supergroup, Soen, has only been making music together for ten years. Their first full-length, Cognitive procured high praise for its progressive proficiency and emotional maturity. They have stood out for their Tool-like compelling intensity and wide range of sentiment. They have remarkably managed to expand on these ripened abilities with each album they release. Now this quintet is getting ready to celebrate their tin anniversary by releasing a concert film of their classic numbers and a cover with live orchestral accompaniment.
Finnish Gothic Metal pioneer, Ville Valo (VV) of HIM, will release his debut solo album, Neon Noir, on January 13th via Heartagram Records, distributed by UMG/ Spinefarm. Pre-orders are, at last, live at the link below. The previously announced world tour is quickly selling out. Now he has released a new single, “Ville Valo (VV) of HIM Releases a New Single “The Foreverlost” – which you can stream now!
Formed in 2013, Stone Broken are a quartet who, despite their transatlantic sound, hail from Walsall. Revelation, on Spinefarm, is the British four piece’s third album and it is a polished slab of commercial hard rock.
Nashville rockers Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown will release their new album, Pressure, this week via Snakefarm Records (Spinefarm) and it promises to be strong. To celebrate the new release the band has announced an EXCLUSIVE livestream event on release day, October 16th, 2020. This one-of-a-kind concert will take place in Nashville and will feature the band tearing through songs from Pressure, alongside additional behind-the-scenes footage. Tickets and VIP passes can be purchased below!
It appears that Protest the Hero have got some thoughts on today’s, let us say shit, political climate. When your opening track is called ‘The Migrant Mother’ it’s a bit of a tell that Palimpsest (Spinefarm Records) has some issues it wants to address. I mean, regardless of subject matter I’d still be all for Palimpsest. Come on, it’s Protest the Hero, I could listen to songs about cooking bacon as long as it’s a new album.
Rock supergroup The Dead Daisies (Deep Purple, Journey, Whitesnake) just dropped their new single ‘Unspoken’ from their upcoming new album Holy Ground coming soon via Spinefarm Records! The band just shared a brand new unplugged version of the track, recorded during self-isolation due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Watch it now!Continue reading
Gigs can be as much about people watching as it is about band watching. As well as already converted zealots, gigs are often peppered with people looking for the next big thing, the chance to be able to say that they were there in that really small venue when said up and coming outfit makes the proverbial big time. With this in mind, the diversity of the audience at this kind of homecoming London show believe that Puppy are going to be very big indeed. There are metalheads, indie kids, hipsters, music industry PR types (one of whom sets off a veritable tsunami of stage diving) and middle-aged men who probably should know better (that’ll be me then). Continue reading