A Dublin singer songwriter and has been on the scene a few years with many bands under his belt this is your classic A+B sided EP “Standing in the darkness” has all the flavors of your pissed up funk rock melodic tune it kicks in with a wicked thumping guitar grooves and smoothes out with a catchy chorus…excellent stuff. The second track “ Ritual” isn’t too bad like most EP’s they seem to leave the bad stuff to last but this has a real anthem rock feel to the song great composure and the vocals sound pretty dam good.
Oooh, so many 'plus points' to talk about with Arm The Elderly. From the rather fantastic name to the uber-cool, post punk graphics that litter their site and posters.
If you lifted Rage Against The Machine out of the States and dropped them into Cork City. Throw in some traces of The Misfits, The Used, Rancid or maybe even early Therapy you may get close to where they're coming from. There are raucous but the very controlled aggression of vocals which successfully switch between a 'Rage' style rap to post punk singing to the trashy-but- very tight instrumentation. Throw in politically and socially sussed, articulate lyrics (especially on 'Catwalk Revolution' or 'The Desired Effect' ) with some cleverly arranged songs all done with an apparent passion for their subjects, you have a post modern punk rock, expertly executed and maintaining a the highest of standards.
In these days of record companies completely dictating styles of music and genres into neat little 'demographic boxes' ATE stretch the boundaries out a bit and open the mind as well as the ear in much the same way the RATM did back in the day. If you like your bands a bit more obvious and sitting in a nice polite space in HMV, it may not be for you, but I will definitely be looking out for ATE's debut album thats apparently in the pipeline, as every now and again a band pops up who successfully combine all the elements to produce something new and special. For my money Arm The Elderly have great qualities and even greater potential in spades. Excellent.
Aha... a band from my corner of the UK at last (thats the South East corner, people, start requesting reviews - I know you're out there). Aliquot Flow are a three piece who take some rootsy folk rock tunes and inject some raw passion in an almost Celtic way. A sort of David Gray with an electric, earthy power. The songs 'Between us' and 'Do this well' are very upbeat and ripped through with foot-stomping gusto and (despite a few very minor ragged edges) are hugely listenable as you get swept along with the bands clear, unbridled enthusiasm (witness the band tearing through over 6 minutes of 'Do this well' - three minutes of which is the band lost in some awesome uptempo crescendo of acoustic jamming session before eventually coming back to the chorus again).
It sounds like the Aliquot boys are totally into what they're doing and their unashamed passion and enthusiasm completely shines through in their songs. Now if only they can rein it in a slight touch and compress their obvious quality into more bitesize portions and tighten the recordings they could be dangerous!
Caught unawares I was this morning by getting Amoric to review. I wasn't expecting anything to blow me away today (I've got a grumpy head on - don't ask, it involves football) but they have just put an upward tilt on my day.
A four piece from Dublin apparently ( I say apparently as all four band members seem to have distinctly Eastern European surnames) fronted by Laura Dimitrova, who, not only pleasing on the eye is an exceptionally good singer. Good enough on its own, for a career in music you'd suspect, but all the songs on their Myspace are modern, very well written and performed and the standard of recording is very high behind her. I was given just the one tune to check out (the rather fantasticly catchy, "I'll be here" - with Laura on top form). I enjoyed it so much that I stepped out of my remit and have been going through everything they've posted and, I can report that its all of the very best quality. You will get a dash of Juliette & the Licks, a smidge of Paramore a tiny pinch of The Cranberries and some really memorable driving, indie guitar rock. If you checked out one band today - make it Amoric. If they produce the same quality live ( and I hope they do) - go see them.
Sometimes in amongst the piles of CD's & MP3's from people with false hopes and over confidence that I wade through every day you get a real gem. This is one. So why aren't they signed - I have no idea, but it can only be a matter of time.
Angel Chambers (loving the name by the way) are four very young lads from Newry. But don't be deceived by the fresh faces these boys can hold their own. Strangely, they list their influences as some old-school rockers like Nirvana, RATM, QOTSA and Audioslave and despite a tiny hint at the former, I am surprised because they sound far more contemporary than that would suggest. I am hearing more Lost Prophets, Angels & Airwaves, Biffy Clyro and others but anyhow... Well lads, I have heard a lot worse than this by people who have been around a lot longer and who should know better. The phrase that shouts at me is "one to watch" because in their songs you have great potential. A great platform is given with some impressive sounding vocals mashed out by Collie Clerkin and backed up by at least two of the others, bravely going for the delicate/shout/anthem style changes, which takes some work and they do really well (and will get better at it no doubt too). To highlight the point, check out the track 'Leon' (available on Myspace) which for such tender musicians is hugely ambitious, with layers, time changes and different textures - but they pull it off and its quite an awesome track in a Deftones stylee. If I was at a record label office just now, I would be thumbing through what Angel Chambers are doing and thinking... "y'know this has got some mileage", because I would be interested in getting my hands on a young and ambitious band like this.
In the spirit of constructive criticism I would simply say this. Keep doing what you're doing you're sounding good and don't compromise. Work damn hard at practising and polishing those layered vocals because while they will sound great done well, get it wrong....ouch. Dessie is a busy and competent drummer for his age, but play for the songs Des - you have a double bass drum pedal, use it 'wisely', sometimes throwing the kitchen sink at it can occassionally throw the meter off... sometimes less is more, know what I mean? Get some gigs in and above all, enjoy what you're doing because you have a good future if you keep this up, good on yer.
Review by Drumhead
RANK: **** 4 out of 6
you can check out this band at
www.myspace.com/angelchambers4
ATMA
Singularity demo review
This 3track demo has full submissions of raw guitar and hints of early Pearl Jam with a twist of complex rhythms and timing sequences.
Singularity – you can feel the bottom end from this tune with thumping bass groves over a melodic reggae strut, vocals are very passionate with the lyrics expressing every tone.
In the wave – this is a very busy tune in the rhythm, dips and dives with a nice dynamic feel from the vocals with a hint of grunge hanging on a soft edge, the bass and guitar works well in this song complementing each other in a good way.
Noontide – this song has a nice crisp groove building the tune into a hard rock melodic song but the vocal seems to loose its grip in this tune maybe too soft, the music seems to want to let go but vocals are a let down in this one.
Age of Reason have put together another gem this two track ep is packed with lots of adrenaline and with a mixture of metal crushed with rock both in a perfect fusion, The first track " ICU " the use of effects in these track sound great with the concept of the tune Intensive care, the power coming from the guitars are giving the tune its deep metal feel with thumping drums to punch the rhythms into place. The second track " One Thousand Miles " starts of with a more up tempo rock feel with a melodic guitar lick and hard rock banging beats the vocal strenth on this track has to be rated very high as its dynamics are one with the tune, this EP has head banging potential excellent stuff.
Review by T.Halpin
RANK: ****** ROCK STAR
(ONE SMALL ACT OF DEFIANCE)
THIS IS A BAND FULL OF ENERGY EXPRESSING THEIR VIEW THROUGH OUT THIS ALBUM BACKING IT UP WITH SPECTACULAR MUSIC.
PUBLIC PROPERTY - Great rhythm gutair crusted with a wicked rock edge, vocals are excellent, a nice hard driving tune with melodic sound.
SEVEN KINGS - The eastern vibe coming from this tune sounds great, effects on the gutair and vocals are excellent with superb vocals.
This is a Ep with plenty of musical talent with moody tones mixed with some original style with songs like " In the past" this tune creeps in with a rock a billy feel yet changes with some cool dynamics in the rythm, lyrics are excellent a good solid tune. "Always someone watching" this song has a feel of modern classical music with its driving bass and strings in the background, the vocal a very well placed over the melody a nice winding down song, very good. "Steve's shirt" good humor from the lyrics in this song with its anthem feel great vocals. "I am the law" this is a good listener with its catchy chorus and hypnotic piano very well written and composed excellent.
A collection of mellow tunes with elements of southern rock style melodies can be heard through out this album with the first track (Miss Califoria) kicks in with with a hypnotic grung tone on the vocals sounds a bit like early Smashing Pumpkins nice laid back strumming coming from the guitar and a pop cultured beat to gel it together, (Time) this tune has nice flowing rythem to it with uplifting vocals and a lazy groove. (Come Around) this has nice upbeat melodie, the vocals sound really well but the guitar seems to be cutting into the mix too much but sounds well, (Learning Curve) this tune has a nice feel to it vocals are placed very well with a nice ambient feel chorus has a catchy theme with a driving melodie (90 Miles An Hour) you can feel a nice summer tone from this tune a real country rock feel with some great vocals and some great dynamics in the verses. (City Man) this tune has laid back feel with some nice lyrics it's great to hear songs like this from a Dublin artist it has more of a American tone but cool. (Ground Down) there is more of a folk/rock tone with a nice melodie like a 60's San Francisco song, great vocals and composed very well. (Stolen) Andrews deep vocal in this song works really well a bit like Lou Reed, the latin rim shot is nice too and lifts to a cool rock tune again the dynamics are fantastic great song. (An Answer) this is a more upbeat happy tone song with some great vocals but the mix maybe over eq'ed. (Wendy) here is a fantastic grooving tune with a upbeat country rock feel vocals sound great with a very friendly radio tone, Overall the album sounds great for a self produced product but has the making of a fantastic album.
Anthonys music is a blend of folk and blues, Anthony kicked off the night with one of his own songs{FAITH IN LOVE} his vocals drift over the melody in this tune, the chorus lifts like Anthony had the backing of a complete band yet he sings purely from the heart in this one, it went really well with the crowd, after a few more tunes from Anthony he ended the night with {MULE TO RIDE} this is the opening tune to the film THE BLUES BROTHERS but i never heard a version like this one before, this song got the place movin, he done the solo by whistling the entire solo over the mic excellent stuff.
[review by T.Halpin]
IN THE MOMENT,ANTHONY GIVES ALL AT TIM YOUNGES
ANTHONY LIVE AT OPEN AIR CONCERT IN CHERRYORCHARD DUBLIN!
Lets talk about AC/DC or Whitesnake no let me tell you about AVIATOR SHADES this is a rockin band with a kickass Ep to blow your mind with the first track from the Ep "DOIN ALRITE" big drum sound and excellent gutair solo's that bring old school rock to a new level. The second track "SLICE OF PIE" perfect harmony's on the gutairs I haven't heard this played so well like this since Thinlizzy pulled it off in the 80's this tune has a mean groove to it and rockin vocals too. The third track " OTHER SIDE OF HEAVEN" get your cigarette lighters out for this one and start to wave them in the air its got that slow rock jovi feel to it but sounds really well and has nice lyrics to back it up too. The fourth track "EYE OF THE STORM" let your hair down for this tune with its melodic gutair and cruel lyrics this song will get your head banging again, this Ep AVIATOR SHADES is perfect for your rock collection so don't miss out and grab a copy quick.
