Arctic Monkeys - 'Leave Before The Lights Come On'
Justice vs Simian – ‘We Are Your Friends’
Hailing from the Midlands, WITR’s sound divulges one aspect throughout and that’s power. The band prove strong with their fast paced heavy pounding beat and gripping guitar riffs whilst still maintaining melody channelled in the vocals. This creates heavy beat-down verses with fantastic sing along choruses to boot, showing off the band’s ability to craft some well thought out and meaningful songs. As well as turning the intensity up, Whisper can also tone down to create a good melodic part before cranking it back into full throttle metal. The band has a niche with their talent and I can honestly say Whisper… are one of the best prospects I have heard for the UK’s reply to the over flowing US hardcore metal scene, and the best thing is, they are more original than 99% of those bands. If they can boot awe inspiring live performances, then this band will be well on the way to success and the whisper will indeed be getting louder!
Coming from Oxford, Shake Appeal bring to the table a good brand of versatile indie rock. ’We Are Soldiers’ provides a consistent and laid back approach throughout. It draws you in with the great melodic guitar work and unconventionally catchy lyrics, but what they do works, with the vocal providing direction for the song. ’Take Another Picture’ proves a more upbeat rebellion sounding song, splattered with vocal charm, that again makes the track unusual yet catchy. ’Eatella’ provides a more edgy and emotion packed song, it builds then disperses within the chorus, which is probably the most anthem like or sing along chorus of the three tracks. Shake Appeal have a lot of talents, their songs are versatile and well crafted, a lot of bands popped into my head whilst listening but if you could imagine the passion of The Libertines, the drive of The Rakes and the emotional content of The Doves or Athlete, yet not being too much like any of fore-mentioned bands, than as you can expect, you have quite a package in this band. I hope to hear a full album from this band as soon as possible!
Manchester based metal band Allerjen, come to light with this three track EP and what can I say about this band? Well the back of the CD says it all “Any breach in copyright may result in loss of kneecaps” and to be honest, I can readily believe that, with the devastating sound this band produce. Their sound is bound by heavy drum beats that for all we know could be some random’s cranium being used as a drumstick, mean cutting guitar riffs that wields like it’s strings are barbwire and a vocal that beats you into oblivion! A combo that makes Allerjen a force to be reckoned with, as their brand of metal is brilliantly heavy and ready to make you want to bounce off the walls! With the band signing to Sonic Wave International, you can expect their debut album to cause a fuss in the metal community!
Hailing from LA, Sleeper City are on the rise in the states, this EP shows off their talents well. The band conduct a set of well crafted songs on this 5 track EP, each song compromises of hard wheeling guitars that soar throughout yet also work well against the more melodic parts, that contribute to their ‘post-rock’ sound. The band use their song structure well, switching between downbeat verse to uplifting melody filled choruses, while still maintaining a somewhat tortured soul effect, especially on the track ‘Just Remembered’. Overall, the band certainly have something with this release, and from what I take from this EP, they also have the potential to push things forward and grow on it too.. Sleeper City perhaps a band to look out for in the next 12 months.
The phenonemon band of the 2006 come back with a new single not featured on their multi-platinum album or their more recent 'Who the f*ck are Arctic Monkeys?' EP. No this is another assault aimed at the singles charts, and quite a succesful single it should be to, as the track proves another brilliant piece of genius from the band, with thought provoking lyrics aimed at the culture of nightlife and how fake romance comes about within the club scene, where anything has changed by the next morning. 'How can you wake up, with someone you don't love, and not be phased by it' sings Alex, perhaps leaning towards the opinion that there is few true relationships formed within this arena and a lot of unneccesary drama caused because of it. The single also includes a cover of 'Put Your Dukes Up John' where the band up the tempo and also a cover of 747's 'Baby, I'm Yours' which unleashes a softer side to the Arctic Monkeys, who bizarrely sing in barbershop!! Overall, a single most indie rock fans will want to buy, as it's the Arctic Monkeys at their best.
Let’s get one thing straight from the start, this is not what I’d usually
consider as alternative, but in exception Jamie T has managed united many genres
to use in this great hip-hop esque track. Another one of those ‘bedroom made’
efforts, that sees Jamie T use his rhyming skills to good use, he spits out the
lyrics with ease, talking up his views on various nightlife scenarios that will
probably remind you of a person you know, or a story you’ve heard before and
know all too well! A talented young artist, his music is honest and to the
point, but will remind you of marmite, either loving the single… or not!!!
You really start to wonder whether Simian called it a day to early, as within
the past year, two hits from their ‘We Are Your Friends’ album have become great
singles, this very easily becoming the second. Justice have remixed the song
‘Never Be Alone’ from the album to great effect, as this is the alternative
dancefloor hit of the year. Last year saw Simian re-release ‘La Breeze’ after a
certain successful car advert, and this hit has just gone to prove they
certainly could have gone further than they achieved as a band. Justice toyed
with this remix over the past couple of years before finally being happy enough
with it to release to the masses, and the masses will lap this up. The invasion
of indie-dance bands has probably helped, but it’s better to surf the wave than
miss it, right?