The Fratellis - Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied

Scottish Trio Take A More Laid Back and Subtle Approach In New Record

Almost 10 years ago now Glaswegian rock band The Fratellis released their debut album 'Costello Music', a classic record full to the brim of indie and garage rock anthems with catchy hooks and instantly memorable lyrics. This was followed in 2008 by 'Here We Stand' a more toned down, yet very similar sounding LP which got the group their second Top 5 album, after a hiatus which saw all members do very different sounding musical projects, the boys returned in 2013 with the more blues influenced 'We Need Medicine', this saw The Fratellis ditch the rock and roll anthems for guitar driven tracks with storytelling lyrics, all while still staying naturally fun to listen to.

And now, two years after the release of 'We Need Medicine', the boys are back with 'Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied', an album which shows off The Fratellis attempt at more guitar driven rock and roll rather than the catchy indie/pop that made them big. The album is full of stomp and clap along tracks, examples include opener 'Me And The Devil', probably the strongest track on the record, it best sums up the new sound of The Fratellis whilst still demonstrating their ability to write catchy lyrics, the other stomp along track is the more forgettable 'Getting Surreal' which is simply 4 minutes of stuff we've heard a million times before.

It's clear the boys are going for a more bluesy, american rock and roll sound with this album. Jon Fratelli projects his voice with just as much twang from his guitar to give off real 50s/60s vibes in most tracks, and whilst it does sound impressive, most of the tracks themselves are rather forgettable, they all follow sound the same generic route. One track that does offer something different is 'Dogtown' a more bass driven track with a grand brass lead chorus, but unfortunately this track is as much of a let down as it is experimental, just like the album itself it builds towards something but always falls flat in the end.

'Eyes Wide, Tongue Tied' is a very laid back, instrumentally charming album which shows The Fratellis playing in their true comfort zone, but even though they might have found their new sound, there is still a way to go for the Scottish trio.

5/10  

BLUES ROCK / ALTERNATIVE ROCK

FAV TRACKS: - Me And The Devil -
LEAST FAV TRACKS: - Dogtown - Getting Surreal -

Don Broco - Automatic

Don Broco's Sophomore Effort May Be Catchy, It Lacks In Everything Else

Don Broco broke into the British mainstream back in 2012 with their début album 'Priorities', they were praised by critics and fans for their catchy, alt rock filled with heavy riffs and well polished instrumentals throughout. Although their début does deserve praise for those reasons, the album was just as generic as other bands in the genre (You Me At Six, Lower Than Atlantis) but also took a lot of influences from mainstream pop, with lyrics that lacked drive delivered soullessly by vocalist Rob Damiami. Negatives aside, this record has helped Don Broco gain a respectable fan base who are all casting an eye on them and their latest album 'Automatic'.

To sum 'Automatic' up simply, it's a horrific step back for a band who were never really going anywhere. Don Broco's latest album is flat, dull, uninspired and alienates a good portion of the bands initial following, almost completely ridding of their guitar driven alt rock, and trading it for synth beats, 80's funk vibes and even a few attempts at arena anthems, all of which fall heavily flat.

All songs feature infectiously catchy choruses, and even though this album is a pretty uninspiring attempt by Don Broco of moving away from their previous sound, the band show promise in their delivery in the more funk-orientated tracks on the album, especially the opening tracks 'Superlove' and 'Automatic' where Damiami's voice perfectly suits the style of music they deliver at the start of this album. What lets these tracks down, alongside all of this album, is the blatant commercialisation and radio-friendly precautions that the group have took, it makes the Bedford group look like they're trying way to hard to change, something many core fans of the group may not approve of.

I feel like the main redeeming factor about this album is Don Broco's determination to not stay as a run-of-the-mill alt rock group with a one dimensional sound. Even though their first attempt here with 'Automatic' is more of a step back than anything else, this can only be a sign of better things to come right?

3/10

/ POP ROCK / FUNK ROCK / R&B /

FAV TRACKS: - Automatic -

LEAST FAV TRACKS: - What You Do To Me - Nerve -  

  

Pissgrave - Suicide Euphoria

Pissgrave Take Death Metal Back To It's Roots With A Raw And Punishing Record

Up and coming death metal band, Pissgrave from Pennsylvania, have been causing a stir in the underground scene for the past year with a string of live shows and supporting slots which built up to the release of their first demo last year, the demo sold out instantly and has helped Pissgrave gain a large underground following, especially in the USA.

With their first full release, titled 'Suicide Euphoria', Pissgrave have created a death metal record that brings the genre back to it's roots, whilst still managing to show the versatility of modern and technical death metal. This album has the pacey, straight to the point personality of classic death metal, with monstrously raw and brutal vocals delivered straight from the gut with unbelievably disgusting vocal deliveries that savagely spew out of the vocalist's throat. The guitars are ruthless throughout and are accompanied by the unforgiving, merciless pounding of the drums, the kind that sounds like some psychopath just went batshit crazy when recording.

'Suicide Euphoria' may be a sick and violent record, but it's not just a one dimensional onslaught of  true brutal death metal. There are some tracks, like 'Impaled Vibration' and the title track 'Suicide Euphoria' that show hints of melodic and groove metal influences, with parts in the song that have some real moments for head banging and the odd two-step, some real mosh pit moments there.

Amongst the influences, there are still many tracks on this album for the elitist fan, tracks that are just pure 100% heavy, punishing and angsty death metal, especially 'Pain Enchantment' and 'Prevail In Hell' both tracks which are just noise topped on more noise.

The only track on this album that I wasn't all that keen on was 'The Second Sorrowful Mystery' which was very different from the over tracks with a more slam/deathcore feel to it, which don't get me wrong I love both of those genres, but it's not something you should expect on an album that aims to be as raw as it is, it just didn't fit in.

All in all Pissgrave have created a record that is creative and varied within the genre of death metal, while remaining to be all out gross, violent and morbid at the same time.

7/10

/BRUTAL DEATH METAL/DEATH METAL/DEATHGRIND/

FAV TRACKS: - Impaled Vision - Prevail In Hell - Pain Enchantment -

LEAST FAV TRACKS: - The Second Sorrowful Mystery - 

    

Counterparts - Tragedy Will Find Us

Counterparts Offer a Purging Journey Through Their Music

Ontario based melodic hardcore band, Counterparts, are back with 'Tragedy Will Find Us', the follow up to 2013's 'The Difference Between Hell and Home', an album which was heavily praised by critics and helped the group to garner a worldwide following and become one of the big names amongst the melodic hardcore community. Since then the group have undergone line-up changes and signed to Pure Noise Records, the label that Counterparts' latest record has been released under.

'Tragedy Will Find Us' is dark to say the least, this is made instantly clear by the raw, throat tearing vocals that accompany lyrics which explore themes of lead singer, Brendan Murphy's, self antagonism, all while continuing Counterparts' prime blend of heavy and soft, best demonstrated in 'Tragedy' and lead single 'Burn'. The album opener 'Stillborn' demonstrates the bands ability to create a track that can change tempo in the blink of an eye, and carry the hectic energy from start to finish. There are a lot of overwhelming moments on this album, the lyrical content and the amazing vocal delivery mixed with the stunning instrumentals, delivered with the same passion that we've come to expect and love from Counterparts. As well as all of this there are some tracks on this album that employ talking and muttering, that resembles Code Orange's 'I Am King', Counterparts pull it off perfectly, using it to create a great contrast between their speedy, high energy hardcore.

Counterparts have managed to once again improve on their last effort, which is a huge achievement for the group, considering the quality of their previous album. At the moment Counterparts are looking like a band who can do no wrong and if they continue to better themselves the way they are, then they'll quickly find themselves at the top of the hardcore genre.

(If you're interested in reading the story behind the lyrics by Brendan Murphy click here)

9/10

/MELODIC HARDCORE/

FAV TRACKS: - Tragedy - Burn - Stillborn - Solace - Choke -
LEAST FAV TRACKS: - Drown -