Arcade Messiah – Hell By Default

Aug9

After two years of pretty much silence since the release of previous release, Trilogy, Irish musician John Bassett has returned with a new slice of Arcade Messiah temptation. Hell By Default is that offering, the declaration of a new captivating breath to his sound and songwriting and an ear grabbing EP making a rather potent teaser to a new album in the works.

Already renowned before Arcade Messiah as the frontman/songwriter of KingBathmat, Bassett himself says that ‘After a couple of very difficult years, I’ve finally managed to get back to making music, the new Arcade Messiah sound is more song focused with vocals…” That was the first surprise as previously the Sligo based songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/producer’s project has been an instrumental adventure and news which immediately intensified the intrigue as fruitful experiences with KingBathmat and SΔCRED ΔPE as well as an acoustic album under his own name proved vocals was another potent string to Bassett’s creative bow.

Equally there is a new hue to the Arcade Messiah sound, a lighter multi-flavoured flume of melodic imagination and contagious hookery which comes with something of a KingBathmat lining but one which colludes with and enhances rather than defuses the established progressive shadow haunted explorations of Bassett’s project. Its first three albums and their union as Trilogy in 2017 provided a cathartic venture for the imagination within a kaleidoscope of suggestive sounds for ears. Hell By Default is no different yet with its broader palette of enterprise is a bold new trail of exploration for Arcade Messiah.

The EP opens with its title track, a song taken from that new and fourth album planned for release later in the year. Hell By Default rises on a siren sonic call, a lure within which a teasing melodic hook soon beckons and the tones of Bassett coax. With every note and second, the song gently but firmly accelerates its urgency and temptation, soon hitting a keen stroll soaked in drama and fiery intensity. Rock and metal essences blend in the post rock nurtured flames which boldly consume and ignite upon the senses, dark almost rapacious tints soaking the creative trespass swiftly igniting imagination and appetite. It all unites for a thickly magnetic proposition and a greedy devouring of the return of Arcade Messiah.

The following Death X-Ray strolls in with a calmer and lighter character and touch, one fuelled by an instinctive tempting and organic catchiness which instantly gripped attention. As melodic infectiousness, vocal intimacy, and rhythmic persuasion continue to flourish, the track blossomed with greater radiance. Even so a shadowy courting to the melodic radiance and emotive heart on offer brings an edge and drama which only highlights the nagging prowess of hooks and grooved melodies, the result another track which only compelled pleasure and attention.

Hell By Default concludes with its instrumental version, a piece of creative inference which led thoughts to a different adventure to that highlighted by the words of Bassett in the opener and that is another attribute proven to its creator’s craft, songs can have a dual aspect and has the imagination constantly conjuring.

It has been a perpetual pleasure for us to engage in any Arcade Messiah encounter so far and the new EP only repeats that experience though through it there is a feeling that that new album could be the biggest thrill of all.

Hell By Default is available now @ https://arcademessiah.bandcamp.com/album/hell-by-default as a name your price download.

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Pete RingMaster 09/08/2019

Muskets – Violent Paradise

Aug9

Providing another of the year’s more tantalising offerings is UK outfit Muskets, a band which is no stranger to keen attention but on the edge of greater recognition one suggests thanks to their latest offering. Violent Paradise is a captivating collection of songs fuelled by the alternative rock/grunge sound which has made the band’s previous releases very welcome but an EP venturing into richer and varied pastures as maturity, shadows, and a broader palette of flavours flourish within a bold landscape of sound and imagination.

The Brighton hailing band has persistently nudged success and full attention since the release of their debut album Chew in 2017 via No Sleep Records who now also bring us the new outing. Numerous tracks have received extensive radio support along the way but it is not too hard to feel that Violent Paradise could and should spark even bigger reactions and success the way of the quartet of Alex Cheung, Joe Phillips, Harry Steel, and Corey Eyres.

The EP opens with the swiftly irresistible Uncertain Purpose, a track which teased and hooked ears and appetite from its slightly manic opening alone. Quickly it hit its infectious swing, guitars and rhythms a feral incitement within and the dissonance of all glorious elements mischievous. The vocals of Cheung add to the devilment of the track’s contagious trespass as hooks and grooves collude in creative delinquency. It proves a rousing slice of grunge punk with a great Asylums-esque character placing a quick and firm grip on best track honours though its briefness does prove a frustration if one soon defused by the tracks to follow.

Detention is next up, the song also sharing instant teasing quickly joined by similarly tempting melodic guitar bait before it all erupts in a lusty clamour from within which those early lures still eagerly entice. Slipping into its relaxed stroll only brings greater catchiness as pop rock instincts breed more vital hooks and grooves. It is a delicious blend of enterprise and melodic imagination which as the first is only more keenly devoured by the listen.

It was hard not to be fully engaged in the slim but potent invitation bringing Empty on Cigarettes into view next; the surf lined swelter of guitar a calm but again thick enticement from which just as sultry harmonies and melodies hug the senses. The song’s seduction is total and its darker hues intriguing and with XTC like whispers to its breath and imagination makes for another lofty highlight of the release before the EP’s title track uncages its raucous holler. Grunge pop infused rock ‘n’ roll, the track swings and stomps with inescapable tenacity, every infectious element a virulent excuse for body and vocal chords to join its boisterous romp.

The album is completed by Killjoy and Natural Selection, the pair among the most adventurous and compelling moments within the release. The first song brews a post punk climate through sonic lures and a moody bassline, drums adding to the Gang Of Four/Killing Joke hued opening. Soon the serenade of the track’s heart is smooching with the senses as again melodies and harmonies flourish in the brooding calm that follows. It is a volatile climate though which sees flames of guitar and emotive roars brewing and erupting, their senses scorching persuasion just as rousing and magnetic before the cycle thrillingly repeats.

The final track is an acoustic hug revelling in the band’s vocal and melodic prowess though it too has a tempestuousness in its heart which threatens more than escapes but brings gripping tension to the elegance and beauty breeding the transfixing encounter.

Both tracks provide an inspiring and captivating close to the EP with the latter especially beguiling, a release which has the temptation of the devil and the exploits of an imagination carrying an appetite to taste whole new adventures. Already we eagerly and greedily await the next temptation of Muskets.

Violent Paradise is out now via No Sleep Records, available @ https://muskets.bandcamp.com/album/violent-paradise

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Pete RingMaster 09/08/2019

The Kreoles – Next Stop, The Madness

Aug9

Rock ‘n’ roll obviously comes in numerous shapes and hollers and for us it is when that kind of diversity finds a home within one single encounter that we find the strongest fascination. The sound and new album of Italian outfit The Kreoles is one such proposition; an encounter bred upon a fusion of varied rock and metal flavours with a healthy punk ‘n’ roll roar for extra goodness.

Next Stop, The Madness is the third album from the Como based band which was founded by producer, songwriter and guitarist Ivan McSimon in 2011 and originally was a quartet with female vocalist Valentina Merlo. With a pair of well-received albums in the 2014 released Touch The Sun (Valery Records) and two years later Psycho (Sliptrick Records), the band revealed the potent sound which has only become more individual to The Kreoles ever since. 2017 saw the foursome reduced with Merlo leaving and McSimon adding vocal duties to his prowess within the band and as McSimon subsequently began working on the new album alone, he brought in bassist NIc Angileri and drummer David Cuomo to complete the line-up with no doubt their backgrounds in numerous styles adding to the rich mix within Next Stop, The Madness.

With Jeff Waters from Annihilator additionally providing a host of solos across its tracks, the album swiftly had ears seriously attentive with opener Shiver. A swirling melodic flume escapes a guitar straight away, rising eagerly from within the wall of sound carrying it. As quickly the song twists into its rock ‘n’ roll stride, riffs and rhythms almost stalking the listener as McSimon’s vocals stroll their tempting. Already the band’s sound sets down its individual character though there is an essence which reminds of Russian rockers Biting Elbow to the song and indeed many of its companions. Equally the track revels in heavy metal and progressive rock attributes; every second one of simple captivation as the song sets the album off in fine style.

Day After Day follows, bursting from the speakers with relish as swinging rhythms collude with sonic and melodic tenacity. Its spirit and energy never dips across another stretch of alluring enterprise, McSimon steering the adventure in voice and craft, and even in the moment of relative calm there is a vigour which prevails. With a solo which just beguiled, the ear gripping track makes way for the equally magnetic It’s Time to Go, a song with a dark lining to its drama and melodic intimacy to its creative narrative. As within its predecessors, keys add another compelling and tantalising ingredient to keenly devour.

Both Deep Inside with its robust dynamics and infectious intricacies and the more classic rock/metal bred Take Off hold ears and appetite firm, each a host of catchy and at times voracious enterprise while All Alone savours its metal breeding from its first breath as again classic hues unite with fresh textures and a punk infused ferocity. All three add their own independent imaginations and personalities to the album, the steely web of the last especially striking before We Make the History shares its potent balladry.

The album’s title track follows on an enthusiastic canter, once more the band aligning metal threads to a hard rock styled canvas to effortlessly ensnare attention. Though some tracks roused the passions more than others, every song within Next Stop, The Madness left a pleasure sparking mark, this one no less than any other with its multi-flavoured roar.

The album concludes with firstly the imaginative and stylish thunder of You Can Be Sure and lastly the bold rock ‘n’ roll of The Rain. Neither song quite sparked the ardour of many before them but each left a lingering mark and rich satisfaction which only drew ears keenly back.

Next Stop, The Madness certainly pleased straight away but it is with plays and time as more of its tapestry of melodic colours and varied flavoured textures came forward that it really impressed. So quite simply, The Kreoles is one of those bands which, as indeed their new release, should definitely be checked out.

Next Stop, The Madness is out now via Sliptrick Records across most stores and @ https://www.thekreoles.com/shop/