Haunts - Haunts

Its taken me a while to come to review this album as I have been busy with college work and other tasks at the moment but it is now time to do this album justice.

I first got wind of Haunts when I downloaded the album and was blown away by the production and amazing sound that the band has produced as a debut, I couldn't wait until the release date so I could purchase a copy.

The self titled album opens up with "London's Burning" which was released on Halloween as an album teaser and gives you a taste of Haunts new wave/rock sound. One thing you notice is Banks' (Lead Singer) voice, It takes a while to grow on you but I think it has similar properties to that of Johnny Cash's voice, Very bland and low but somehow very appealing.

The second track is titled "Underground" and is a brilliant mix of catchy one liners and haunting (Excuse the pun) synth sounds.

My personal highlight of this album is the very mellow "Breaking Up" which is a simple song that really does put you in a spot of breaking up with someone you love, even if your not or never have been in that position. Its complex and peaceful guitar line underlining Banks' voice is a masterpiece and when the drums come in the song finally feels complete, then the ending leaves you exhausted and tired as if you have just witnessed something epic.

This album really took me by surprise  and its not often I find an entire album I enjoy, Haunts have blown me away with their debut and Im left begging for more, Im hoping you will be to.

Haunts - Breaking Up.mp3

News From The World Of John 5

John 5 has been keeping quite for the past few months but it seems the rule of the bus applies, You wait for ages and 2 come along at once.

Scheduled for release later this year is John 5's remix album "Remixploitation" and his 2nd instructional DVD entitled "Behind The Player" both of which have been only just been announced on his website.

The DVD is much more about John's time with Rob Zombie and features appearances from John's band that he used on his solo albums.

Unfortunatly that is all I know at this point in time but we are promised more information soon so I will post back here. Featured above is the promotional artwork for John's remix album.

Producers With Computers - Volume 1.

To be blunt with you for some reason I couldn't review this But I love it.

So its £6 for 21 tracks all with witty and surprisingly true lyrics, Worth buying without a doubt.

Highlights include a feature from Scroobius Pip, three amazing remixes (Hey Arthur theme tune, Toy Story theme tune and Summer of 98 by The Secret Handshake) and a dubstep song that uses samples from Anchorman.

Producers With Computers - Colon Bracket.mp3

Producers With Computers - Put Your Hood Up.mp3

Mr.Oizo - Lambs Anger

Having only encountered Mr.Oizo opening 2 of the 3 Ed Banger compilations I was interested to hear his solo work. For some reason I assumed this was Mr.Oizo's first album but that is far from the truth, In fact he has released 4 albums and 7 EP's Making him one of the most active members of the Ed Banger crew.

Lambs Anger Opens with "Hun" which introduces you to Mr.Oizo's avant-garde electro sound, With his characteristic weird electronic vocals featuring constantly throughout the album you get your first snippet in Hun with "This is me again, Mr.Oizo. Your about to hear a collection of recorded stuff. Some are good, some are bad, some are just ok. Turn Of The light, read a book... you are ready". Now I dont know about you but when I first heard that it was pretty epic.

Next we have "Pourriture 2" which is much easier to listen to as it has a heavy electro vibe and despite another strange intro is actually a very good song.

But what has come through as a clean favorite for me is "Z". Although not the best titled track on the album (Others include Bruce Willis Is Dead, Gay Dentists and Cut Dick) it is one of the strangest and best. With dissonant synth heavy lines and simple but effective drum beats. You dont wether to love it or hate it. 

I got this album purely out of interest and Mr.Oizo hasn't disappointed, This album is a strange one but none the less a good one.

Mr.Oizo - Z

Destroy The Runner - I, Lucifer

Good new metal bands seem to be few and far between at the moment and with the influx of electro at the moment it seems my love for this dark and heavy genre is waning. But Destroy The Runner have given me a glimpse of hope, with there melodic metalcore sound they produce heavy yet pleasing music mixing distorted guitars and vocal growls with melodic singing and clean interludes.

I, Lucifer is the bands debut album and as debuts go its pretty good. They did release one other album before this it was with a different singer and so the band see this as their first release.

The album opens with the strangely titled "Crumbs For The Murder" which isn't anything special but defiantly showcases the bands sound and sets you up with some brilliant melodic breakdowns.

Second we have "Isabella's" which for those of you who don't like screaming is a good place to start as the harsh vocals are minimal and the guitars are easy on the ears. For me the standout track was hard to decide as most of the songs are pretty good and although sounding all the same are still very different if that makes any sense. But none the less I deem "Its Always Colder In Paris" as my favorite track, The drums are relentless, the guitars heavy but soulful and the vocals although leaning a bit too much towards the pop side of things are pretty good.

Its not an album that blows all others out the water but its still pretty good.

Destroy The Runner - Its Always Colder In Paris

Bring Me The Horizon - Suicide Season

Anyone who has listened to Bring Me The Horizon's earlier work will tell you Suicide Season is very different, It has a much more mature sound to it and has defiantly progressed from the E.P. and In my opinion the new sound is 100 times better than before.

Bring Me The Horizon's fanbase has been growing ever since the release of the bands debut E.P "This Is What The Edge Of Your Seat Is Made For" and although most of the admirer's aren't very reputable characters this doesn't stop the band being brilliant.

The Comedown is the opening track and is the first single which is hard to understand as it isn't the strongest track but nonetheless it shows you how the band have progressed, Next is Chelsea Smile which in my opinion is the best track on the album. The riffs are simple but relentless with plenty of machine gun picking to keep you happy, this combined with Oli Syke's new vocal approach and the oddly fitting electronic drum breakdown gives you 5 unforgettable 5 minutes.

Other highlights from Suicide Season Include Diamonds Aren't Forever which  features catchy chants from the band and lyrics that you will muttering for days. If you hadn't heard about it Oli's was accused of urinating on a groupie's face and she later took him to court where he was denied all charges, Oli has reacted to this by releasing a minutes worth of anger in the brilliantly titled "Now Need Introductions, I Have Read About Girls Like You On The Back Of Toilet Doors" Which features the line "And After Everything You Put Me Through, I Should Have Fucking Pissed On You"... You can hear the anger in his voice, Its terrifying.

I expected alot from Suicide Season and it has delivered, Truly a great album from a band that are only just coming into their own.

P.S Brilliant artwork aswell.

Bring Me The Horizon - No Need For Introductions

Rolo Tomassi - Hysterics [Joint Reveiw]

Written by Me and CC of 2STEPSFORWARD4STEPSBACK

It takes a force of 2 to review an album as mental as this. We are of course talking about 'Hysterics', the debut album from Sheffield based Rolo Tomassi. It's hard to believe their widely recognised self-titled EP was released two years ago, as the band themselves are still pretty young. Now with their first full length, they can really show what they're made of - and they haven't disappointed. Previous releases were on up and coming label Holy Roar, home to the likes of Gallows, Dananananaykroyd and the now defunct I Was A Cub Scout. But this was released on Hassle, where Rolo Tomassi truly are the cat among the pigeons. And the pigeons are getting destroyed.

The bloodbath begins deceptively with the politely titled "Oh, Hello Ghost'. Eerie synth noises lure you in, as singer Eva Spence begins to haunt with a soft lullaby. But when the bassline joins her, you know that something terrifying is coming. It breaks open 1 and a half minutes in, with heavy guitars and crashing drums. Schoolyard chants come in, with help from brother James Spence. Then with 30 seconds left, Eva's demonic growls make their first appearance with "When you come to point your finger you'll find three are pointing back". Yes, we had to check to booklet. It's an epic opener. A highlight for both us has to be 'Abraxas', coming on like a full horror movie, in just 2 minutes 20. Orchestral jabs greet the breakdown as furious synth and a crash cymbal completely alter the tempo. It's amazing to hear, and makes you wonder how they ever wrote it.

'An Apology To The Universe' and 'Everything Went Grey' are instrumental numbers, which Rolo Tomassi do with ease. They supply breathers between Spence's onslaught, and show that the band are much more than a one trick pony. 'Macabre Charade' actually has boy/girl harmonies between the siblings that builds up into the sounds of static-electricity. The album climaxes with 'Fantasia'; probably the most all-out closer either of us has heard this year. Starting with melancholic piano, the song twists and turns through its 14 minutes like an angry sea serpent. It reaches its stride with Eva apparently arguing with herself. A young girl pleading for the other to "calm down" with a furious beast screaming back"I'M CALMED DOWN". Is she schizophrenic, possessed, or a seriously multi-talented frontwoman with something to prove?

Although 'Hysterics' isn't to everyone's taste, it's appealing to more people than any other hardcore record of the moment. The reason for this is simple; They're young, talented, and they're doing something drastically different. These 2 reviewers have very different tastes, and it takes something special to unite our praise. This has done it.

Rolo Tomassi - Abraxas