Fist City - Everything Is A Mess (2015)

01.Intro
02.Fuck Cops
03.Let's Rip
04.Hey Little Sister
05.Bad Trip
06.Interlude I
07.Shotgun
08.Surf's Up
09.Interlude II
10.Interlude III
11.Rats
12.The Smell
13.End Of The Good Times
14.Losers Never Die
15.Interlude IV
16.The Mess
17.Interlude V

Kier Griffiths (Vocals/Guitar)
Brittany Griffiths (Bass)
Evan Van Reekum (Guitar)
Ryan Grieve (Drums)

Supercharged Southern Alberta quartet Fist City burst from basement studios onto the stage in 2009. The twin sibling duo of Kier and Brittany Griffiths — musical collaborators from the womb to the tomb — found ideal foils in frenetic guitarist/songwriter Evan Van Reekum and powerhouse drummer Ryan Grieve. A solid string of releases from labels such as L.A.’s Dead Beat, Victoria’s La Ti Da, and Transgressive have been coupled with tours at home and abroad, glowing reviews, recording with Don Pyle, a Nardwuar interview, and other thrills.

2014 marked a transitional year, including personal changes among the band members, the reissue of their debut LP It’s 1983,Grow Up! from Transgressive Records (originally issued by L.A.’s Black Tent Press in 2012) and the recording of Fist City’s sophomore salvo Everything Is A Mess. The new album finds them primed to take the future by storm and was recorded at Steve Albini’s Electrical Audio studio in Chicago.


If you take out the intro and interludes, all of which are just very short instrumentals you are left with 11 songs.
These songs are simle, short, almost post grunge pop rock numbers, delivered mainly in the style of say the Pixies.

The sixties influenced (Mainly) instrumentals songs like 'Surfs Up' and 'Rats' are reminiscent of Greg Sage, and have a slightly punky vocal.

Honestly can't think of much to say here, it's a listenable album, nothing to get too excited about.

Rating 7/10
For Fans Of: Greg Sage & Wipers, Pixies, Buzzcocks

Tales From The Attic - Another Fairytale (CD Review)

01.The Chills
02.Trashy
03.Baby Gone Wild
04.When You Realise
05.Dearest Child
06.Another Fairytale


Christian 'Hank' Van Alstine (Guitar)
Simon Laursen (Guitar)
Jesper Wennevold (Bass)
Frederik Weile (Drums)
Emily Stavis (Vocals)

Tales from the Attic are a Danish rock band formed in 2010 originally called ‘Coffee Jam’.
Then the band started to develop a lot and now make its own tales and music. The sound is influenced by various genres of rock music due to the different musical styles of the band members, and together they balance between hard and soft, raw and sweet.

'The Chills' starts with some feedback then this odd little riff, when the rest of the band join in the song starts to take shape, a nice simple little pop rock song with a quirky vocal, but as the song progresses it starts to build up speed and turns into a great rock song, some great raw drumming really drives this along.

A different sound for 'Trashy' with its old school rock n roll drumming mixed with a modern punk vibe, song ends with a riff heavy over the top guitar solo.

'Baby Gone Wild' could almost be a mid 1970's heavy blues song, but this one keeps it feet well and truely in the now.

Strange but catchy vocal sounds give this song 'When You Realise' a real edge, the song itself is borderline modern symphonic rock, but somehow manages to have an indie/alt feel at the same time.

I do so hate soft rock ballads, so this one is not looking good at the moment, 'Dearest Child' is typical of the song genre, slow guitar, heart felt vocals and laid back drumming and yep three minutes in comes the epic guitar solo and then its back to the same to the end.

But seems the best is saved for last with 'Another Fairytale', full on hard rock, solid vocals, furious drumming and riffing all held together by a hard bass line, throw in another guitar solo and we end on a high.


Rating 9/10
For Fans Of: In This Moment, Oath, Gasoline Thrill, Auf Der Maur, Theatre Of Tragedy

Slowcoaches - Thinkers EP (CD Review)

Self titled 'Slack Metal' band formed in 2010 return with a new four-track EP, THINKERS. The EP follows on from their 'Tye Die Tapes' release, We're So Heavy back in May 2012.

Along with a fistful of new songs, Heather and Matty instigated another line up change, with the addition of Mazes' Neil Robinson on drums. The band maintains a fiercely DIY ethic and the past year have performed across the UK and Europe with bands including Mission of Burma and The Thermals.

Opening song 'Thinkers' sounds like L7 back in their SubPop days, its a raw guitar driven, grungey mix with riotgrrrl attitude.

'Total Block' is a distorted faced paced fuzz monster, simplistic in delivery like a classic 3 chord Ramones song.

The weirdly titled 'Biennal Drool' is the first to not feature Heather on vocals, the song is reminiscent of the post punk sounds of Buzzcocks and even a touch of Joy Division.

Finally 'Nightlife' sticks with that new wave vibe, the vocals are full of harmony and the music flows wiyhut becoming complicated.

Neat little ep, good old "DIY" ethics creating good easy to listen too sounds.

Rating 8/10

For Fans Of : L7, Hole, Buzzcocks, Throwing Muses, Sonic Youth

Blood Drive - Besides Expectations (CD Review)

01.Besides Expectations
02.In Limbo
03.Heart Breaker
04.Break At The Bend
05.Idol Sound

Matthew Lee (Guitar/Vocals)
Jon Stevenson (Bass)
Russ Smith (Drums)

Lincoln based band who formed at the beginning of this year, the trio having played together in a previous outfit decided to move into a more rock orientated direction drawing on influences from the Deftones to Alkaline Trio.

Opening with 'Besides Expectations' the sound is slightly reminscent of Foo Fighters mixed with some pop punk melodies.
A solid vocal performance and well played even if the music is a little simplistic in delivery.

Some nice guitar opens the next song 'In Limbo' and builds into some early grunge stylings creating an almost anthemic feel, throw in a quirky guitar solo towards the end and all in all pretty good stuff.

Some solid drumming drives along 'Heart Breaker', complete with a catchy chorus and a guitar riff perfect for mini mosh pits, this one is no doubt a live favourite.

Now 'Break At The Bend' has a very different feel, the opening has a touch of Metallica's 'One' about it, then it moves into some furious guitaring and agressive drumming with some clever pedal work thrown in.
The song has some interesting timing changes, bordering on Thrash riffs, to QOTSA harmony breakdowns.

Finally 'Idol Sound' has a goth/indie vibe, especially in the riff that could be one of Brian Moloko's.

Overall a good EP, lots of ideas and energy, if it lacks anything its the overall production, at times very "tinny", almost as if the whole thing was recorded live in one take as opposed to a month in the studio, needs a good mix to give it some warmth and depth.That said if this is the first then the second will be something to look out for.

They are already popular on the live circuit and their fanbase in increasing all the time, i would suggest you go check them out and buy a copy!

Rating 8/10
For Fans Of : Foo Fighters, Placebo, Alkaline Trio, Muse, Deftones, Nirvana

FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/blooddriveuk?fref=ts

Esper Scout - Poet Curses (CD Review)

01.Assumpta Tang
02.Swallowing The Sun
03.No Gold
04.Gammal Gubbe
05.Fires
06.Wallet Of Brass Crowns

Sarah Statham (Guitar/vocals)
Kirsty Morton (Guitar/synth)
Rebecca Jane (Bass)
Lou Brinn (Drums)

Esper Scout are an experimental rock/progressive four-piece based in Leeds formed in 2011. They are driven by an enthusiasm for melody, harmony, textures and pedal effects as well as dynamic rhythms.

Having released e-single ‘Assumpta Tang’ in August to positive reviews (with accompanying VHSthemed video by Manchester’s WE ARE WULF collective),they are now releasing their longest collection of recordings to date in the form of ‘Poet Curses’. All six tracks were corecorded, produced and mixed by past collaborator Paul Crompton and Esper Scout at Eiger Studios and Hut 57 (ES’s home studio) on a ‘modest’ budget.

‘Poet Curses’ is an anagram of the band’s name and the artwork is a painting by Paul Crompton’s mother Annette who passed away before in winter 2012 and whose headstrong and
adventurous lifestyle is reflected in the lyrics to Swallowing the Sun. ‘Gammal Gubbe’
is Swedish for ‘old dude’ and is one of the terms the Gothenburg raised producer
taught the band during recording.

Well for experimental/progressive rock, this is a tag that most certainly does not apply in any form i am aware of, this is pretty straight forward indie rock, reminds me more of Throwing Muses than say Sonic Youth who might just fit that tag.

A solid little ep mind you, quite downbeat in places, well put together and a nice production allowing the layering of sounds to come through.

Rating 7/10
For fans of : Throwing Muses, Pixies, Auf Der Maur, Oceansize.

Allus On Drugs - Demo EP (CD Review)

01.Ted
02.Stir
03.How High
04.Sunset Yellow

Jason Moules (Vocals)
Damien Hughes (Guitar)
Tom Peden (Bass)
Andrey Pavlovic (Guitar)
Connor Fisher-Atack (Drums)

Allusondrugs are a 5 piece alternative rock band from Castleford in Yorkshire formed in the autumn of 2012.
Noted for their beautiful vocal harmonies soaring over huge, effect ridden guitars and pulverizing beats, this band will give you a screaming eargasm.
Their wild and intense live show can turn a room full of people into soup in minutes.

The band has spent the last few months gigging heavily and making home recordings of
their material that so far has ranged from psychedelic pop to fuzzed out stoner rock and
have just signed to Clue Records who recently released a limited edition cd single called 'Plasters'.

However this is a promo ep given away at gigs, well packaged and even came with a free sweetie!

We start with 'Ted' a screaming super fuzzed out mix of Mudhoney meets the Hives, a simple song about their friend "ted" who is apparently in heaven and watching porn!

With the catchy lyric "watch him as he shivers" i shall hazard a guess that 'Stir' is not about being stuck out in the cold, but a drug related matter set to some excellent subterranean pop music.

'How High' has a post brit pop sound reminiscent of Stereophonics, a great vocal performance backed by sub psychedelic riffs and solid drum beats.

A chilled out mellow song, 'Sunset Yellow' apparently about "Irn Bru", im not convinced its a homage to the scottish soft drink, i suspect it maybe something more "fun", the song has an hypnotic sound and is one that really stands out.

An interesting mix of sounds and influences all "possibly" influenced by something not musical?
I think they may have hit upon a new sub genre of indie or grunge with a sort of "StonerPop".

Rating 9/10

For fans of : Mudhoney, Nirvana, Stereophonics, Stone Roses, The Hives



FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/Allusondrugs