Release Date: September 13th, 2011
Label: Razor & Tie
Website: www.kevindevine.net
MySpace: www.myspace.com/kevindevine
Rating:
Kevin Devine has steadily been making a name for himself over the past few years, releasing five full-length albums alongside a lengthy list of EPs as well as notching up countless tours under his belt. He’s become the latest US indie darling to set the blogisphere alight and has developed quite the cult following thus far.
Tags: Kevin Devine
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Release Date: September 13th, 2011
Label: Roadrunner Records
Website: www.dreamtheater.net
MySpace: www.myspace.com/dreamtheater
Rating:
Dream Theater are one of the best known metal bands out there. There aren’t many other bands as technically proficient or as skilled at what they do, as Dream Theater. Since 1985, they’ve been leading the way in progressive metal and have been a major influence on many bands. They have been recognised for what they do on various levels: guitarist John Petrucci was named in the top ten guitarists of all time by GuitarOne magazine and has been invited on the G3 tour more times than any other player; former drummer Mike Portnoy has won 23 awards from Modern Drummer magazine and is the youngest person (37 years old) to be inducted into the Rock Drummer Hall of Fame; new drummer Mike Mangini has previously set 5 WFD records; and bassist John Myung was voted the greatest bassist of all time in a poll by MusicRadar. The band was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall Of Fame in 2010.
Tags: Dream Theater
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Release Date: September 13th, 2011
Label: Metal Blade Records
Website: None available
MySpace: www.myspace.com/anterior
Rating:
After a four year lull since debut ‘This Age Of Silence’, Anterior are back with another effort, their second on Metal Blade, this time entitled ‘Echoes Of The Fallen’. The Welsh quintet play in a style very similar to Malefice and Sylosis, with more of an influence from melodeath. They’re one of these bands that, for whatever reason, hasn’t taken off as much as they should have. Despite the 310,000 odd plays on Last.fm, you’ll still find them fairly low on the bills at festivals and such. It’s unclear why this is, but after the first listen through of ‘Echoes…’, the answer may be obvious. They just lack the edge, the je ne sais quoi that their contemporaries possess.
Tags: Anterior
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Release Date: September 13th, 2011
Label: Sony/Razor & Tie Records
Website: www.madinalake.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/madinalake
Rating:
The last 18 months that Madina Lake have had have been well documented, and I’m sure that unless you’ve been living in a hole or on Mars then you will know what’s been happening surrounding bassist Matthew Leone. Given the full recovery that he has made, one of the biggest shames of all is that the band lost all momentum in regards to touring and recording a third full-length. However, as it finally sees the light of the day, the reaction has not been as overwhelming as perhaps the band would have liked and listening to chirpy opener ‘Howdy Neighbour!’, it’s easy to see why.
Tags: Madina Lake
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Release Date: September 13th, 2011
Label: Bridge Nine Records
Website: None available
MySpace: www.myspace.com/polarbearclub
Rating:
Polar Bear Club are a band that have been simmering for quite a while now. You hear their name thrown about in various places, however they don’t have seem to have made a huge impact in the UK as of yet. Their last full-length, ‘Chasing Hamburg’, went down a storm and gained them many critical accolades. Having grown in popularity over the past few months, the band have played sets at Hevy Festival and even secured a support slot with the almighty Rise Against. Fortunately for the band and their fan base, their third full length ‘Clash Battle Guilt Pride’ is pretty impressive.
Tags: Polar Bear Club
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Release Date: September 13th, 2011
Label: Roadrunner Records
Website: www.staind.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/staind
Rating:
I remember the days when Staind were nothing more than just another sullen faced grunge band, plodding along and not diverting too much from their musical path. However, on their seventh full-length album they appear to have returned to their heavier roots. For many Staind fans this will impress them, and for a lot of neutrals, I think it will too. Vocalist Aaron Lewis is often not given enough credit for his vocal range, whilst he may not be able to hit soaring high notes, his downbeat, sulky voice fills out this album perfectly alongside the big hard hitting riffs, and his impressive roar is the perfect soundtrack to this dark masterpiece.
Tags: Staind
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Release Date: September 12th, 2011
Label: Atlantic Records
Website: www.edsheeran.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/edsheeran
Rating:
‘+’ by Ed Sheeran is difficult. Difficult to truly like, but also difficult to criticise. After his track ‘The A Team’ broke him in to the mainstream consciousness in June, he has been made into a household name. Based on this lead single, it’s fair to say that the expectations for the rest of the album are respectably high. It is a shame then that ‘+’ isn’t quite up to the task.
Tags: Ed Sheeran
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Release Date: September 12th, 2011
Label: Topshelf Records
Website: www.intoitoverit.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/intoitoverit
Rating:
Being a successful one-man project isn’t the easiest thing to achieve. When the ideas and creativity start to dry up, you can’t rely on anyone else as back-up, and you haven’t got anyone else to tell you that something isn’t working and to go back to the drawing board. Unless, of course, you have really good friends or a producer who actually knows what they’re talking about. Or, even, if you are one of the few of us out there who enjoys critiquing yourself, then you have a good chance of knowing what works and what doesn’t.
Tags: Into It. Over It.
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Release Date: September 12th, 2011
Label: Virgin
Website: www.thekooks.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/thekooks
Rating:
For a good five years now, Brighton indie-pop four-piece The Kooks have made their name as a well-known and well-established artist in UK pop music. Everyone is well acquainted with tracks such as ‘Naïve’ and ‘She Moves In Her Own Way’, which made their way into the top ten of the charts back in 2006, but have The Kooks been able to match that success or is their latest effort overshadowed by their past material?
Tags: The Kooks
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Release Date: September 12th, 2011
Label: Rock Action Records
Website: www.mogwai.co.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mogwai
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Mogwai‘s latest is less of an EP and more akin to some post-hoc extension to their recent long player, ‘Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will’, released in February of this year. Each of the four portions of ‘Earth Division’ come from the album’s recording sessions, and were originally contenders for inclusion on its track list.
Tags: Mogwai
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Release Date: September 12th, 2011
Label: Room 57 Records
Website: None available
MySpace: www.myspace.com/margate
Rating:
Rock ‘n’ roll hasn’t really taken off in the recent years of music with all of the pop-punk and metalcore plaguing music channels and venues everywhere in sight, so it’s a good chance to see a band with a bit of difference around. Let’s hope that these guys can inspire some change to music in the near future. Margate are definitely working their way up the ranks after having two previous full-lengths, so should we prepare for the revival of good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll?! Perhaps not.
Tags: Margate
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Release Date: September 12th, 2011
Label: Virgin Records
Website: www.lauramarling.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/lauramarling
Rating:
2011 has been a great year for Laura Marling. At just 21-years-old, the young folk musician has already released three albums, won two BRIT awards for Best British Female and Best Solo Artist earlier this year and has in the past collaborated with Mystery Jets and indie folk band, Noah And The Whale. Her latest release, ‘A Creature I Don’t Know’, has further cemented her reputation as one of modern indie’s royalty, and what a great album it is.
Tags: Laura Marling
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