Sofy Major – Total Dump

Jan31

Sofy Major is a leviathan of sound and trespass which persistently erupts from a noise fuelled creative lair with releases which for us have pretty much left contemporaries in their tempest and turbulence. Three previous albums have as good as decimated the prowess and adventure of other ear rewarding encounters around at the time and with Total Dump, the French trio has done it again Their new full-length is in many ways their most accessible and flirtatious offering yet but equally their most voracious and imposing not forgetting irresistible slab of noise and hardcore infested, metal lined rock ‘n’ roll.

The successor to the outstanding Waste of 2015, which itself eclipsed the thrilling Idolize unleashed two years earlier, the Dave Curran (UNSANE, Big Business) produced Total Dump is a contagion of abusive yet flirtatious noise and bruising but virulently captivating force and imagination. It is predatory irritable rock ‘n’ roll from start to finish with an eager taste in contagious and invasive enterprise. Opening up with its title track, the album immediately reveals its bestial side, the track prowling the senses with the carnivorous claws of Mathieu Moulin’s bass locked onto the senses as his more welcoming vocals align with the raw flames and tendrils of Thomas Dantil’s guitar. It is a preying of ears and imagination which never diminishes in threat and temptation however it evolves, a trespass driven by the menacing swings of drummer Mathieu Desternes that equally escalate in infernal virulence and captivation as individual and united enterprise breeds fresh twists and sonic commination.

The compelling start is only accentuated, indeed built upon by next up Giant Car Crash; a collision with the senses which had us bouncing as much as cowering before its flirtatious and barbarous intent. Voraciously feral and inhumanly infectious, the track devoured body and passions with unquenchable hunger leading to lustful responses before Cream It uncages its rapacious crawl to trespass the senses and melodic irreverence to seduce an already greedy appetite. The kind of proposition which offers a warm welcome whilst ruining the foundations to your sanity, the glorious track is a manipulative mix of viral noise with an appetite for clamorous untamed pop.

As the ravenously viral rock punk ‘n roll throes of Strike and the post punk embracing devilry of The Jerk infested and seduced ears with unruly dexterity, Total Dump just stretched its landscape of esurient intent and fevered invention. Both tracks are as mercilessly catchy as they are unapologetically invasive, that greater accessibility to the band’s sound in full bloom just as much its acclaimed creative villainy is merciless, and traits just as thrilling within next up Shinny Happy Asshole, a venomously swinging, deviously contagious but inescapably corruptive slice of unscrupulous enterprise.

Through the slow hunt of the senses that is Franck Butthole; a cancer of sound which just ignites the imagination, and the unbroken antics of Tumor O Rama it is impossible to say attention and pleasure wavered, the total opposite in truth up against their combined sonic punk infection fuelled scourges while Kerosine Mike n turn just trapped and enslaved with ursine-esque power and intimidation whilst brewing up its own melodically toxic strain of bewitching rock ‘n’ roll.

Completed by the senses ravishing, violently bouncing exploits of Panamarama, it one the album’s most magnificent moments, and the sonically consumptive, caustically alluring tempest of The Longest Yard, there was and is no diminishing of the ardour we bred and hold for Total Dump. Without any doubt despite the glories of the past, it provides the greatest, most thrilling time with Sofy Major yet but also is set to send a shiver through the world of noise in any form as those within wonder how they can compete with its voracious triumph.

Total Dump is out now via Deadlight Records on CD and Antena/Corpse Flower on Vinyl.

http://www.sofymajor.com https://www.facebook.com/sofymajor

Pete RingMaster 30/01/2019

Glorybots – Nomad

Jan31

What can we reveal to you about Glorybots? Well background wise, very little except that it is a solo project, seemingly, of a musician hailing from Seattle creating a post punk/gothic pop sound which had very little trouble captivating our ears.

Our introduction to the “ Dark Alien Pop” of Glorybots comes through new single Nomad, a brand new track very quickly released after the unveiling of a debut album last November called Dark Alien Pop. A hindsight listen to the latter reveals that Nomad is a rich echo of the goodness to be found within the full-length but also it brings its own new adventure and prowess in sound and imagination.

Keys immediately entice and intrigue as the track’s realm and climate is soon an open intimation. The other-worldly landscape in turn swiftly welcomes equally alluring vocals and it is their arrival which soon sparks of the song into full bloom. Enjoyably proving hard to pin down, the song is something akin to a blend of Muse, early Human League, and Dalek I Love You with just a tint of Bowie at times. That in itself is just a tease to the individuality of song and sound while hinting at why it’s swift captivation.

Nomad is a treat of a song and gateway into the music of Glorybots, a tantalising adventure band and listener can only prosper together from with its deserved attention.

Nomads is available now @ https://glorybots.bandcamp.com/track/nomad-radio-edit

https://glorybots.com/ https://www.facebook.com/DarkAlienPop/ https://twitter.com/gloryBots

Pete RingMaster 30/01/2019

David Alpha – Rockin’ Roulette EP

Jan31

As he prepares and works on his new album, US singer songwriter David Alpha recently unveiled the Rockin’ Roulette EP, a retrospective compilation bringing together two of the most potent cuts of previous full-length Sacrilege 2.0. They are songs that highlight the punk and rock richness in his music whilst providing a strong tempting for what comes next from the Florida hailing artist.

Former lead singer and songwriter of The Fons, Alpha resumed his solo career in 2014 after time off studying and a short-lived part in a new band he formed. With tracks rattling around in his imagination, he soon released Sacrilege 2.0 which drew strong attention and praise.

As the EP opener, Scarilege casts its roar it is not hard to understand why. Seeing Alpha linking up with Dead Kennedys guitarist East Bay Ray, the song instantly bounces along on a lively riff. It is a lure which soon catches flame as Alpha’s vocals alongside scheming rhythms rise from a relative calm to fevered irritability. Instinctively catchy as it bites and hollers, the song is a slice of prime punk rock which maybe does not boldly surprise but is openly fresh and infectious around a taunting bassline which just as eagerly captivates.

The following Jeans grabbed ears here even more swiftly with punk ‘n’ roll carrying a broader flavouring than within its companion though if not providing the same snarling bite. That is replaced by richer imagination catching twists and turns as Alpha vocally and musically teases and taunts ears and the world. It is that adventurous trait though which elevates it from a strong to great song, its unpredictable moments ensuring it really stands out from the throng..

Together both songs make for a highly enjoyable outing and for newcomers introduction to David Alpha, each sharing potential which will surely flourish in his forthcoming releases.

The Rockin’ Roulette EP is available now @ https://davidalpha.bandcamp.com/album/rockin-roulette

https://www.davidalpha.net

Pete RingMaster 30/01/2019

Khaidian – Penumbra

Jan30

The release of the debut album from UK metallers Khaidian has been long time coming, seemingly expected and all geared up to be unleashed in 2016. But as ears and the passions are finally being infested, those patient many will feel it has been more than worth the wait and can assume they will soon be joined by tides of new hungrily impressed and lustful hearts. Penumbra is quite simply superb; a cauldron of imagination and intensity wrapped in a rainbow of melodic enterprise amidst a tempest of technical and multi-flavoured dexterity.

Listening to Penumbra, there is no surprise at the rising reputation and stature of the London based outfit; both recently given boost by a trio of lead tracks to the album. Weaving a web of rich intrigue and thick persuasion bred from a fusion of progressive and technical metal, the band’s sound is just as inventive and tempting with its alignment to eager strains of electronic cunning. It is something akin to a fusion of the voracious flavours and touch of Gojira, Sikth and The Browning with the ravenous/melodic adventuring of Tricore/An Entire Legion; even so Khaidian pull it all to a proposition which is as unapologetically unique as it is greedily captivating as Penumbra forcibly proves.

Founded in 2010 by guitarist/programmer John Tyrell (ex-Interlock), Khaidian found its first few years as much a difficult journey to find the right mix and line-up of people as an adventure in nurturing and breeding their vision and sound. In fact, the perfect mix of personnel only really appeared once drummer Paul Fowler (ex Dragnerve) was enlisted to join Tyrell, vocalist Andy Hutton (ex-Stoopi/Dragnerve), and bassist Joseph Perumal (Mortad/ex-Almamorta). It was Fowlers departure leading up to the original release date of Penumbra which he plays upon which played a big part in its delay it seems but the band has since found the equally striking and agile percussionist in Kris Perrin (Gravil, ex-One Fell Down, Faux Fighters), he completing the current line-up last year.

Now with everything firmly in place Penumbra has been unveiled and we for one can only suggest it is the first leap in a massive and surely certain ascent for the band into the broadest spotlights. The album opens with Pearls Before Swine and immediately had ears pricked and appetite keenly intrigued as sonic and electronic enticement colluded with already stirring rhythmic lures. Just as swiftly the equally potent and enticing vocals of Hutton step forward; his clean, calm yet emotive tones an alluring bridge between the band’s sides of physical trespass and suggestive melody, their indeed their technical hunger and electronic intimation. The track continues to stomp and dance with the senses, a mix of the familiar and boldly fresh creating a whole new vehicle for ears and imagination to ride with.

The striking start is only reinforced by the band’s outstanding new video/single Dominion. Its entrance is even more rapacious but almost instantly wears a portentous calm before its predacious instincts unite with inventive and somatic catchiness. Pure persuasion with increasing enslavement of the senses, the track embraces further hues resembling those cast by Voyager and Fear Factory as it twists and turns with relish but never breaking its fluidity or charm carrying rapacity.

The following Trigger The Landslide glides in on electronic shadows around a slim but copious melodic insinuation; all the while its air brewing an intensity and threat which turns into a senses harrying stroll. Still the menace is part anger, part seduction; the song never choosing sides even as its body and imagination boils across another devilish landscape of thought, emotion, and craft. As with all tracks some kind of participation is inevitable with the increasingly blossoming and thrilling encounter, a manipulation just as potent within next up Thrive and in turn Sense Of The Spherical. A Korn-esque scent pervades the first of the outstanding two, its carnivorous breath colluding with the skittish flirtation and bite of rhythms and the tantalising yet voracious almost rabid lures of guitars. Hutton again is a matching magnet in its midst as the track creatively and vocally writhes while its successor similarly draws dark and esurient strains of sound and intent with melodic and flirtatious enterprise to tempt, seduce, and infest ears and imagination in tandem with the body.

The album concludes with the pair of Evasion and Dramatic Professions Of Martyrdom, the band getting under the skin with relish in the first where again whiffs of Korn meets Fear Factory share its own inescapable individuality, and through the second’s musical irritability, melodic and electronic espionage, and simply unique prowess. Both tracks enslaved as heartily and strenuously as those before, the bounce of bodies enough to suggest eager submission, the following lust unbridled confirmation.

No release is going to win over all but with its thick mix of flavours including at times spices of grunge, alternative metal and more alongside sheer invention, Penumbra is one which is going to conquer far more than most and with ease we suggest. Though in theory three years late it is one of the freshest most thrilling things heard here in a long time and Khaidian one of the most exciting propositions.

Penumbra is out now through Armalyte Industries; available @ https://armalyte.bandcamp.com/album/khaidian-penumbra

http://www.khaidian.com/ https://www.facebook.com/khaidianmusic/ https://twitter.com/khaidian

Pete RingMaster 30/01/2019

She Made Me Do It – Drenched

Jan30

pic by @dcmusicvideos

There is nothing better than an encounter which immediately enthrals attention and appetite but is only scratching at the depths of temptation and adventure within. The Drenched EP from She Made Me Do It is one such offering; a release which instantly had ears pricked and the body bouncing but was just revealing the seeds to blossoming levels of imagination and seduction.

The four track release is another in a long line of rich enticement from the duo of Shaheena Dax (Rachel Stamp) and Will Crewdson (Rachel Stamp, Adam Ant, Scant Regard, The Selecter, Bow Wow Wow, Flesh For Lulu) and one of the pairs’ most deviously tempting offerings. From start to finish it is a magnetic almost teasing fusion of dark shadows and elegant radiance bound in an equally rich mix of punk, new wave, post punk and alternative rock adventure. The successor to their 2017 album, The Frantic Legion, the compelling exploits of Drenched sees the band’s sound even more defined yet bolder in its adventure and tapestry of flavours. Through the captivation and intimation of Dax’s golden yet often almost portentously lined vocals and the descriptive yet rousingly tenacious antics of Crewdson’s guitar to the suggestive caresses and intriguing shimmers of their keys, She Made Me Do It create a captivating web to immerse in and dance with.

Produced by Crewdson and with Joe Holweger providing drums, Drenched opens up with the swiftly irresistible Bones. Straightaway post punk tendrils escape Crewdson’s guitar, their clinging hues something akin to the claws cast in the past by the likes of Leitmotiv and Sex Gang Children. Escalating these lures by the second, the track builds into a lumbering but lively stroll where Dax soon springs her own potent temptation as bass and drums steer the dark throes of the song’s canter; the punk hues of guitar only adding to its anthemic and equally predacious swing. Inescapably infectious but with that great edge of danger and intimidation, the song, as indeed the EP, needed a mere play to get under the skin and only burrowing, deeper and deeper thereon in.

The following Broken Morning is a just as skilful manipulator of ears and appetite even as it instantly reveals a much warmer and calmer nature. That is no chain to an instinctive catchiness and creative eagerness though, the song devilishly impossible to resist joining in with especially when faced with one contagion laded chorus and again a swinging energy which enlivens the body and spirit of song and listener alike. There is something, if right now indefinably, familiar to the track but a hue which only adds to its compelling design and persuasion.

Ashes is next up, electronic pulses gently but firmly resonating before the dirtier breath of the bass joins up quickly followed by the similarly beckoning strains of guitar and voice. A song which relishes its electro pop instincts as fully as its rock ‘n’ roll heart, it offers a tapestry of flavours and creative twists, all as unpredictable as the track is unsurprising in its voracious zeal and stirring enterprise.

The release ends with the melodically celestial beauty of Time, a song of intimate and spatial elegance over an earthbound spine that just as easily ignites the imagination as the siren-esque flight above. It is a hauntingly mesmeric conclusion to a release which as we said just grows more impressive and tantalisingly by the listen. It is a heavier, more guitar driven rocker than predecessors but equally richer in its melodic and broad weave of flavours and adventure; a must in anyone’s book.

The Drenched EP is out February 1^st on Catranstic Records with pre-ordering available @ https://shemademedoit.bandcamp.com/album/drenched-e-p and https://shemmdi.com/store

https://www.shemmdi.com/ https://www.facebook.com/shemademedoitpage https://twitter.com/SheMMDI

Pete RingMaster 30/01/2019

Beth Blade And The Beautiful Disasters – Show Me Your Teeth

Jan26

Show Me Your Teeth is a romping stomping slab of hard rock; a tenacious roar of defiance, attitude, and hungrily rousing rock ‘n’ roll. It is also the new album from UK rockers Beth Blade And The Beautiful Disasters proudly hollering out all the reasons why the band is riding a tide of success and plaudits.

Fan and critical acclaim are no strangers to the Cardiff bred quartet with previous debut album, Bad Habit, luring high praise and attention. Around and following its success, Beth Blade And The Beautiful Disasters have shared stages with a host of major artists such as Electric Boys, Dan Reed and Danny Vaughn among a great many and appeared on the KISS Kruise last November with the likes of KISS, Ace Frehley, Bruce Kulick, The Dead Daisies, Vintage Trouble, The New Roses as well as played Monstersfest with Dan Reed Network, The Dead Daisies and Tygers Of Pantang. The last year also saw the band concentrate on writing and creating Show Me Your Teeth, an offering which as potent and enjoyable as its predecessor was, leaves it waving from its wake whilst suggesting 2019 will be even busier for the foursome.

Show Me Your Teeth builds upon all the striking elements of that first album with relish whilst bringing its own individual enterprise and adventure to the fore. Swiftly it reveals the growth in the writing and imagination of the band and their prowess in casting boisterous riffs, inescapable hooks, and anthemic old school classic rock nurtured temptation; this fronted by the electrifying and hearty tones of Beth Blade. It is a bolder affair with a breath suggesting the band has completely lost the shackles of trying to please and impress people and just go with their own hard rock passions and instincts. Certainly inspirations such as Halestorm, KISS, and Black Stone Cherry can be heard but Show Me Your Teeth embraces all familiar hues to its very own vociferous heart and roar.

The album opens with the outstanding Secrets and fair to say as its opening lung full sees Blade fronting up ears we were hooked. From there with the fuzz of guitar for company, she continues to coax the song to its feet, an air of menace surrounding its emergence before erupting in a contagious, attitude driven infestation of punk and hard rock. That raw edge continues to fuel its confrontation and rapacious catchiness whilst vocal harmonies seduce around the stirring tones of Blade. The track soon proved irresistible, increasing its enslavement as a delicious predacious bass growl and devious hues of unpredictable imagination became more vocal.

Such the first’s rousing and impressive tempting, the album’s following title track had a hard time to match its presence but with a teasing blues lilt, melodic wiring which just wrapped around eager ears, and the already predictable vocal dexterity and talent of Blade here was little to relinquish full attention to before Give It All You’ve Got shared its old school spiced rock ‘n’ roll. As the previous track, there was a strong familiarity to the encounter but equally an energetically passionate heart within just as open craft which manipulated and scooped up an already seriously contented appetite.

There is something of an early Pretenders-esque scent to next up On And On at times which combines well with its blend of nostalgic and hungrily fresh enterprise while You And I is a web of guileful hooks and melodic adventure around vociferously candid vocals which easily set another lofty peak in the album’s landscape.

From that incitement of controlled yet raucous persuasion, melodic calm accompanies emotive intimation hugs ears within successor Crazy. It is a simmering heart though as flames erupts around reflection and melancholic beauty. The track never erupts into a full blaze but boils over with stirring cunning as it too sets a major highlight within Show Me Your Teeth before I Ain’t Got Nothin’ (If I Ain’t Got Rock N Roll) provides everything you would expect from its title as it swiftly pulled our rocker instincts and animation into play.

Across the likes of Lost In You and Into The Light, the album only continued to tighten its hold even if neither track quite flattened the inhibitions of song and listener as those before them. Even so both are a tantalising and thickly satisfying fusion of melodic wine and barely restrained rowdiness which just hit the spot though the following 1974 soon eclipsed both with its virulent stroll and creative temptation. Its sound unsurprisingly echoes the rock ‘n’ roll era of its title’s decade but adds mouth-watering hues of punk and power pop which take it to another level of greatness.

Who Do You Love Now? with its own multi-flavoured mix of styles and decades is just as expert in persuasion and adept at casting a spell of enterprise and sound; another seriously captivating moment set down and one more than matched by the muscular, predatory almost grumpy stomp of album closer Jack And Coke. Inescapably enticing riffs and grooves collude to enslave ears, each seemingly knowing personal wants in rock ‘n’ roll whilst the song growls with infectious savvy and anthemic irritability.

As it started, Show Me Your Teeth ends with one of its most inspiring and thrilling moments and with so many more in between it is an album which we can only forcibly recommend. It is classic and hard rock, it is punk and pop rock all bound into one roar; quite simply rock ‘n’ roll at its and most electrifying best.

Show Me Your Teeth is out January 25^th.

https://bethbladeandthebeautifuldisasters.com/ https://www.facebook.com/BBATBDofficial/ https://twitter.com/BBATBDofficial

Pete RingMaster 26/01/2018

Rozu Interview

Jan25

Hello and thanks for taking time out to talk with us.

Can you first introduce the band and give us some background to its start?

Thanks for having us guys! We are a little band called Rozu from Denver Colorado, comprised of myself, Tim Graham (vocals), DJ Sundine (guitar), Henry Navarre (bass), and Brian Robertson (drums). We all came together back in January of this year with one goal in mind to write some heavy influenced post hardcore music. We have all been in our local scene for years always being the guys that were pushing our previous projects to get to that next level and thought it would be a good fit to all come together and have not just one member but all members with that same drive, passion, and work ethic.

Have you been or are involved in other bands? If so has that had any impact on what you are doing now, in maybe inspiring a change of style or direction?

Yeah, we have all been in bands for 5 plus years. DJ and myself were both in a band together that was pretty much in our same realm where Henry has been in so many different styles of bands and still writes a bunch of different styles of music from ours. Brian plays in another band that is a pretty awesome blend of A Day To Remember and Avenged Sevenfold and does musicals. I think our diversity while having these deep post hardcore love and roots give us a lot of cool ideas and diversity within our writing sessions that mesh very well.

What inspired the band name?

We really just wanted something different and short, one word with a max of 3 syllables. We had a pretty long list of names and Rozu (Japanese for rose) was one of those ones that we all kind of fell in love with. We polled around some names with friends and connections and at the end of the day Rozu was the one that really caught everyone’s attention.

Was there any specific idea behind the forming of the band and also in what you wanted it and your sound to offer?

We really just wanted to write music together and the vibes were there. We want to tour and be in a band that is run the proper way and conduct more as a business. When it comes to our sound we wanted to stay true to our roots, but we don’t have any intention of writing the same formula with every song and instead want to write how we are feeling on that given day. This has led us to writing some really heavy songs and also a lot of very soft and even acoustic songs. With the digital age we live in we don’t want to confine ourselves to one style, but every song has that Rozu feel to it.

And that core aim still drives band even though it is still relatively fresh-faced or has grown?

It is still the same drive every day. It has been so awesome to have this incredible vibe and drive within our camp that I have personally never felt within any other band, which is truly a blessing.

Since those first steps how would you say your sound has evolved?

It is evolving every day. As we get more and more comfortable with each other more ideas are being thrown on the table and it is leading to some incredible songs.

Has it been more of an organic growth within the band so far or more you deliberately wanting to try new things?

We always want to push each song to the next level from the last, but it is very organic just always wanting to try new things.

Presumably across the band there is a wide range of inspirations; are there any in particular which have impacted not only on the band’s music but your personal approach and ideas to creating and playing music?

For this project we are really inspired by Underoath, Taking Back Sunday, Plot In You, Saosin, Currents, and Every Time I Die.

Is there a particular process which generally guides the writing of songs?

We so far have really just been a studio writing kind of band. It’s pretty much dissecting and building off of single ideas within the computer and really making the songs come to life. We have brought in a good friend of ours Tyler Ruehl for a couple songs of co-writes which has really expanded our sound and is just a great dude that has helped all of us including himself push to be better and better every day.

Where do you, more often than not, draw the inspirations to the lyrical side of your songs?

For me I really draw inspirations from my past and present experiences. I have struggled a lot with anxiety and depression in my life along with some alcohol abuse to mask my pain and needing that feeling of being numb. I bottle my shit up and music has always been my canvas and therapy to let all that shit out while trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel. We want to have that positive message within our lyrics even when talking about some of the darkest times in my life.

Give us some background to your latest release.

We released our second single Faceless back in September which goes through some of the darkest times of my life. It tells the story of that inner battle with your conscious about the way you are living your life and masking all your pain with substance abuse (in this case alcohol). The best thing that I ever did in my life was allow people into this pain I was feeling and instead of drinking my issues away I was finding comfort from friends and family which is the best thing you can do for yourself in those low moments. We have lost so many fucking incredible talents in the past two years to substance abuse going through similar things that many humans go through, so we wanted that message to be there with the repeating line “I just need to let them in” being those outside voices trying to help you.

Are you a band which goes into the studio with songs pretty much in their final state or prefer to develop them as you record?

We for sure develop all songs within the studio. We generally have a riff or a melody that we build off of and work it out on the grid as opposed to sitting in a room jamming things out that we could possibly forget before we even get into the studio.

Tell us about the live side to the band, presumably the favourite aspect of the band?

I think our energy is what makes us exciting to see. We all love what we are writing and doing as a unit and that energy we put out in a live setting is absolutely contagious.

It is not easy for any new band to make an impact regionally let alone nationally and further afield. How have you found it so far?

I absolutely believe there is always opportunities and we are all pushing for that next milestone for ourselves. In such a digital age we can see where our markets are and plan tours and shows to be more economic without fully wearing ourselves out touring an unnecessary amount.

How has the internet and social media impacted on the band to date? Do you see it as something a negative but essential or wholly positive?

Social media is absolutely toxic but is a blessing to be able to connect more with people who truly enjoy your music around the world. I think this digital streaming age is a blessing though, when you learn how to use the amazing tools provided for you. Music has always been so overly saturated, but it makes it so much easier to target the demographic you are looking for and cutting through all the noise to reach your next milestone or goal.

Once again a big thanks for sharing time with us; anything you would like to add or reveal for the readers?

Thank you guys for having us. To the fans new and old we love all of you with everything we have, thank you all so much for the support at such a young point in this project, we feel truly blessed. We are currently gearing up to release a couple new songs and shooting videos for them in the upcoming weeks and are currently planning some run of shows so look for us in your city!