Release Date: March 26th, 2013
Label: LAB Records
Website: www.cartelrocks.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cartel
Twitter: www.twitter.com/cartel
Rating:
American pop-punk quartet Cartel have come a long way from the masterpiece that was their first full-length, ‘Chroma’. Despite their subsequent attempts though, they have never managed to emulate this record’s success. The latest effort to get back to their prior levels of success comes in the form of their new album, ‘Collider’, which, whilst being eagerly anticipated by fans, myself included, sadly doesn’t quite live up to the hype. However, the second half of the album does show some promise and possibly a new direction for the band’s future.
Tags: Cartel
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Release Date: April 08th, 2013
Label: A&M/Octane Records
Website: www.flyleafmusic.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/flyleafmusic
Twitter: www.twitter.com/flyleafmusic
Rating:
Christian rockers Flyleaf have followed up their second album ‘Memento Mori’ with their third full-length release, titled ‘New Horizons’. Sadly, this record also marks the band’s final release with frontwoman Lacey Sturm at the helm, made somewhat more crushing by this release featuring some incredible vocal performances making her a tremendously tough act to follow. With their final act as this line-up, Flyleaf have set a high standard to live up to with new vocalist, Kristen May.
Tags: Flyleaf
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Release Date: April 01st, 2013
Label: BFX Records
Website: www.theofficialbobaflex.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bobaflex
Twitter: www.twitter.com/bobaflex
Rating:
Nu-metal takes on a different element when it comes to Bobaflex, a band that aren’t so tongue-in-cheek but somehow manage to pull off quite pleasing music. Since forming back in 1998, the band have released countless EPs and albums, but have never quite achieved the heights of music fame. ‘Hell In My Heart’ is the recently released album and perhaps the best from a band that have been around since the 90s.
Tags: Bobaflex
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Release Date: April 01st, 2013
Label: Alcopop! Records
Website: www.gunningfortamar.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gunningfortamar
Twitter: www.twitter.com/gunningfortamar
Rating:
Is Oxford the only city that produces fantastic bands? Gunning For Tamar have released their third EP, ‘Camera Lucida’, and they’ve finally accomplished their unique sound and style, pulling out all the stops with their creativity of dynamics. Perhaps one of more interesting bands to come out of 2013 so far, they’re jumping onto a band wagon already filled with the likes of Radiohead, Supergrass and Foals.
Tags: Gunning For Tamar
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Release Date: March 25th, 2013
Label: Spinefarm Records
Website: None available
Facebook: www.facebook.com/beneareach
Twitter: www.twitter.com/beneareach
Rating:
Offering an interesting blend of metalcore influences alongside progressive rhythm influences, Benea Reach have both impressed and caught the attention of music fans, critics and labels alike in their ten year career. So, with a new record to unleash upon the world entitled ‘Possession’, it would be fair to say that many will be taking time out to see what the Norwegian outfit have to offer this time around.
Tags: Benea Reach
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Release Date: March 11th, 2013
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Website: www.soilwork.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/soilwork
Twitter: www.twitter.com/_soilwork
Rating:
After three years in the dark, Soilwork are back, and they’ve brought along an armada of songs to lambast your ears. It’s all very deja vu with founding guitarist Peter Wichers leaving the band (again), but that hasn’t stopped the band from developing their tasty Swedish melodeath.
Tags: Soilwork
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Release Date: March 25th, 2013
Label: Asthenia Records
Website: www.alackofcolour.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/alackofcolouruk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/alackofcolouruk
Rating:
A Lack Of Colour is the brain child of Scotland’s own Kevin Walls. You may know the name as he was the frontman of the short lived alt-rock act, MakethisRelate. The band is on an extended hiatus so the three members can focus on their own projects, so wee Kevin ventured off on his own and produced this little EP, titled ‘My Life & 8mm’.
Tags: A Lack Of Colour
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Release Date: April 08th, 2013
Label: Vertigo/Universal
Website: www.volbeat.dk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/volbeat
Twitter: www.twitter.com/volbeat
Rating:
Volbeat are renowned for their modern homage to the late legends that are Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash, with lead singer Michael Poulsen‘s unique and sublime voice adding a trademark ring to their already distinct sound. What’s great about Volbeat is that although they’ve been dubbed as ‘Elvis-metal’, they’re not gimmicky in the slightest, they merely use their love of Elvis and Cash as a jumping off point and have created five superb albums out of it.
Tags: Volbeat
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Release Date: April 23rd, 2013
Label: Roadrunner Records
Website: www.robzombie.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/robzombie
Twitter: www.twitter.com/rwzombie
Rating:
Pedaling a tried and tested formula seemingly garners only searing vitriol from many, proclaiming a band’s craft as a simple rehash of past glories. A select few however, the AC/DCs, the Motorheads and the Slayers of this world, attain legendary status on the back of defiantly adhering to a rigid recipe. Rob Zombie is one other such artist. Formidably grooving industrialisms and shouty choruses all enveloped in a whimsical, B-movie horror schtick remain very much the order of the day with the eponymous frontman’s fifth outing, seeing ‘Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor’ packing little in the way of surprises, yet delighting all the same with its familiar thunder.
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Release Date: April 01st, 2013
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Website: www.tobiassammet.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/avantasia
Twitter: www.twitter.com/_avantasia
Rating:
Tobias Sammet‘s metal opera, Avantasia, has rolled into town again to deliver us their sixth studio release. ‘The Mystery Of Time’ is an hour long rock epic. An ‘epic’ used to mean a long yet great story or adventure, however, in this sense ‘epic’ must just mean a “kinda cool record”. This album does have huge moments that do feel ‘epic’ which are exemplified by an great production, but as a whole it just feels like a slightly impressive impressive novelty album.
Tags: avantasia
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Release Date: April 15th, 2013
Label: Island Records
Website: www.falloutboy.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/falloutboy
Twitter: www.twitter.com/falloutboy
Rating:
After providing us with something of a masterclass in creating a sudden media frenzy, Fall Out Boy‘s seemingly erratic return yielded results which more than proved a lust for the band has never ceased to bubble under the surface since their career intermission in 2010. Whether a salivating devotee, casual fan or a fleet fingered internet troll, ‘Save Rock And Roll’ finds itself in the category of must listen as with the weight of expectation upon it, the record is an inevitable curiosity. Unfortunately, the most chin stroking question raised here is why the band have chosen such a tepid direction with which to return.
Tags: Fall Out Boy
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Release Date: May 13th, 2013
Label: Siege Of Amidia Records
Website: None available
Facebook: www.facebook.com/heartinhandukmh
Twitter: www.twitter.com/heartinhand
Rating:
Probably the biggest challenge in line for a band who storm onto the scene with a remarkable debut album is significantly setting the same standard with their sophomore effort. ‘Almost There’ offers melodic hardcore outfit Heart In Hand a chance to detach themselves from the chains of their landmark debut record, ‘Only Memories’, and, hopefully, reach for that precious milestone of a sophomore effort that exceeds the stigma of the dreaded ‘second album syndrome’.
Tags: Heart In Hand
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