Ben Dalby – Tact

Manilla PR

‘Tact’ is the latest single from Ben Dalby who has been gaining radio play steadily over the last couple of years. His style is described as eclectic which is fair as this latest release combines a bit of jangly indie rock with a ska horn section which come together to create a unique, happy sounding track which should ensure further airplay. One for the summer if we ever get any sun !

***

David Wilson

Rebellious Jukebox – Killer On The Dance Floor

GMD Records

Art-house rockers Rebellious Jukebox are currently recording a 12 track album and have released this single as a taster of things to come. Listening to ‘Killer On The Dancefloor’ though would not have me rushing to hear another 11 tracks as it is a bit dull, sounding like the Psychedelic Furs on a grey day. I could well see a jukebox rebelling against this one.

*1/2

David Wilson

Where The Skeletons Play – Generation Wars

S-a-N PR

Formed in 2011 as a studio project by duo Stitch and Bones, this EP is their first release. The music they produce sounds like Tool with phased vocals. The EP contains 5 tracks, most of them clocking in at over the 6 minute mark and to be honest I found it a bit of an ordeal to sit through. The tracks are overly long with not a great deal of content whilst the phased vocal, a pet hate of mine, very quicky gets on your nerves. Not one to rush back to.

*1/2

David Wilson

The City Divided – The Endless Moment

S-a-N PR

When I read a band’s blurb and it mentions pop rockers Busted, I do fear the worst. The City Divided do sound like a young outfit and were formed back in 2009, possibly straight out of school . They do sound a rung above Busted on the rock ladder though, having more in common with Enter Shikari and others of that ilk. They do have some decent riffs, but it is very ‘metal-lite’ , Maiden turned all the way down to 2 perhaps. Not bad, but nothing new and a bit more meat to the sound wouldn’t go amiss.

**1/2

David Wilson

Blakmagicsociety – Our Time (Keep It Heavy)

W.A.R Records

This is the debut single by Blakmagicsociety taken from their forthcoming album U.A.T.W.M.F. The band play a 60’s tinged garage rock which isn’t too bad. This track however is very repetitive although it only clocks in at just over 3 minutes, which doesn’t say much about the bands song writing prowess. Hopefully the album will prove to be a better listen.

*1/2

David Wilson

Dark Stares – Tell Your Friends

(S-aN PR)

This is the debut EP by Dark Stares, a four piece from St Albans. They play a Queens Of The Stone Age inspired indie rock which proved to be a decent listen. Of the 4 tracks featured, the EP closer ‘Invaders’ was the one that caught my attention most and featured a driving rhythm which helped lift the track above the rest. Overall though Dark Stares are nothing new and you get the feeling you have heard it all before. They are scheduled to play a few festivals over the summer, so the extra exposure should help lift their profile.

David Wilson

Showbizheroes – Thinking &Drinking

(Manilla PR)

This is the third single to be lifted from Showbizheroes forthcoming album ‘Tales From Behind The Curtain’. After a slow start the track develops into a jangly, pop rock number which made me think of Cast and Ocean Colour Scene. This would be a perfect track for a sunny afternoon lazing in the garden and sets the scene well for the album release.

***

David Wilson

Shifting Buffalo – Step By Step

(Manilla PR)

Shifting Buffalo is a project headed by multi-instrumentalist Ben Fuller with tracks written in an ‘immersion composition’ session where a group of like-minded souls will write for a 12 hour period with the aim being to write 20 songs per session. ‘Step by Step’ is a result of one of these sessions and if this turgid indie pap is the best that they can come up with, then perhaps they should focus on quality and not quantity. Shifting Buffalo pronounced with a silent F !

David Wilson

Kill The Conversation – Farewell For The Last Time

(S-a-N PR)

Formed in Dorchester in 2009, this metalcore 5 piece make one hell of a racket. This five track EP is the band’s second release and they have also shared the stage with the likes of Sepultura and Rise To Remain. The band’s brand of metalcore though is fairly basic and uninspiring, there are a lot of bands with a similar sound producing far superior material. My wife on hearing one of the tracks likened the vocalist to the Tasmanian Devil of Bugs Bunny fame, which is a good description. Decent metalcore then but I have heard much better.

David Wilson

Alaska Campus – When We Were Young

(S-a-N PR)

This crew are endorsed by Bombay Bicycle Club and their sound compared to The Smiths, not a good combination in my book. The description however proved to be a bit of a red herring thankfully and Alaska Campus turned out to be a half decent melodic indie rock outfit. This is the band’s debut mini album ( when does an EP become a mini album ??) containing five tracks, the best being ‘ Mon Reve’. This is worth a listen then, just don’t let the B.B.C endorsement put you off.

**1/2

David Wilson

Beyond Betrayal – Money Can’t Save You Now

(S-a-N PR)

Yet another metalcore release, is there no end to these ! Beyond Betrayal however are a bit different as they merge into death metal country as well which does give them an added edge. This is the Barrow In Furness crew’s second EP release and the five tracks offer up some interesting riffs and melodies all delivered with a sledgehammer blow. Best track for me was ‘Tear Me Apart’ which is possibly the most accessible song, but title wise the plaudits go to the snappily titled ‘ Scott’s Got A Time Machine (He Told Me Tomorrow)’.

Beyond Betrayal possibly don’t have the fire power of Barrow’s other big export, the nuclear submarine, but they could certainly do some collateral damage.

***

David Wilson

Damn Vandals – Revolution/Rehearsal

(Manilla PR)

Revolution/Rehearsal is the latest single to be taken from Damn Vandals’ new album ‘Done For Desire’. I recently reviewed the album on these very pages and had marked this track, which opens the disc, as one of the best. It has a bit of a punk edge with a narrative vocal which reminded me of the Stranglers. An interesting track then which is worth a listen.

***

David Wilson

Sanguine – Live EP

(Self Release)

Sanguine are gaining a lot of press coverage at the moment with many scribes hailing them as big league contenders. Having listened and reviewed their recent album, I wasn’t convinced and I was interested to see if hearing them live would change my opinion. After a quick blast of this EP though, I still can’t see the attraction.

My biggest problem is lead vocalist Kerrey who’s screaming delivery is most definitely a Marmite moment, you will either love it or hate it. They remind me of Skindred in part who are another band I don’t ‘get’. The music Sanguine are producing is good enough, heavy with stop/start passages and almost rap like vocals, but as I say it is not for me, I do however, appear to be in the minority.

David Wilson

The Enemy – Like A Dancer

Cooking Vinyl

Latest single of their latest album ‘Streets In The Sky’ is a jaunty, foot stompin’ song. Coming across like the Stereophonics with a bit more pop sensibility this is one tune I guarantee won’t leave your head, especially the simple piano riff that bookends the chorus.

The band play some summer festivals and then tour the UK in October.

****

Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)