Enamel Animal – Anymore

Oct25

The last couple of years have seen UK hailing alternative rock band, Enamel Animal, on a kind of hiatus as members took a break for family and other commitments but now the quartet has returned with a magnet of a song in the shape of Anymore.

Emerging in 2012, the Liverpool based outfit has gone on to earn a potent reputation for their live presence, taking in shows with the likes of Bad Sign, Crazy Town, FOES, Exit_International, The Hyena Kill, and Rival Bones along the way, and earn rich increasing praise for their releases. 2017 debut album Unfaith especially drew eager attention and plaudits with subsequent singles, Damocles and Reviler, matching its success.

Anymore is the first of a new collection of tracks written by the band and its new line-up which sees Jon Lawton who produced Unfaith a full-time member alongside band founders, Philip Collier, Glen Ashworth, and Ryan Mallows. Quickly the new single reveals a new maturity in songwriting and sound, its calm yet volatile breath and touch seduction with a feral lining. As rhythms slowly but keenly stroll through ears guitar wires wind and sonic flames spark, each a flirtation across the song’s rising drama with the band’s emotively scented rock enterprise rich in intrigue and intimation.

Previously it was not easy to pin down the Enamel Animal sound and Anymore if anything ensures it is even more difficult as the band embraces hints of noise and punk rock to their predacious instincts and melodic prowess.

Anymore is a fascinating and richly enjoyable return by the band and easily incites real anticipation for want comes next.

Anymore is out now via Psycho Boy Recordings.

https://www.facebook.com/EnamelAnimal/ https://twitter.com/anenamelanimal

https://enamelanimal.bandcamp.com/album/unfaith

Pete RingMaster 22/10/2019

Dead Kaczynski – Mr. Scratch

Oct3

Poised to uncage their debut EP his October, British noise punks Dead Kaczynski have laid down one irresistible teaser in the shape of first single Mr. Scratch. The track is a slice of cacophonous temptation which ripples with dissonance and shrugs with indifference to the sanity of your psyche but most of all has the body bouncing to its rapacious antics and contagion.

Kent-based, Dead Kaczynski (pronounced Ka-Zin-Ski) have a sound bred from post-hardcore and driven by noise punk ferocity. The trio is another proposition emerging from the Medway scene demanding attention and on the evidence of their latest single another which rewards with body and imagination rousing incitement.

Formed from the ashes of Kent punks Wiremother, the threesome of vocalist/guitarist Shareef Dahroug, bassist/vocalist Oliver Nissen, and drummer/vocalist Liam McCann has taken little time earning a rich reputation for their live shows, one surely about to be fully escalated by their first releases, Mr. Scratch and the Yakuza Attack Dog EP, released 4th October on Skingasm Records.

There is a touch of Punching Swans to Mr. Scratch but quickly the song lays out its own breath and character as swinging rhythms and the fervid vocals grip air and ears. All the while bass and guitar grumble, intermittently adding their grouchiness before wires of guitar entangle the instinctive disharmony of the song’s heart and voice and subsequently spark a fevered roar of voracious and infectious causticity.

Brief and rabidly hungry, the track is pure noise virulence, almost carnal in its breath and ravenous in its fierce energy. Roll on the Yakuza Attack Dog.

Mr. Scratch is available@ https://deadkaczynski.bandcamp.com/track/mr-scratch-4 with the Yakuza Attack Dog EP released October 4^th.

https://www.facebook.com/deadkaczynski/ https://twitter.com/dead_kaczynski

Pete RingMaster 03/10/2019

Dogtooth – What For?/Away

Aug18

Though formed in 2013 and having a well-received debut EP out four years later, Dogtooth come to The RR as a new proposition through a new two track AA sided single. A quick introduction and visit to the Scottish band’s music and previous songs revealed that they have been a potent potential fuelled enticement for a while but the new dual temptation of What For? and Away simply outshines all the exploits that came before.

As mentioned the Breakthrough EP two years back took Dogtooth to a whole new richness of attention whilst continuing to impress with their live presence. It is easy to expect recognition and praise of the band’s indie/alternative rock bred enterprise to increase now through the bold exploits of both What For? and Away; both songs confirming that theirs is a sound which is really developing its own identity.

The Killers has been suggested as a reference to the band’s music but straight away as What For? strolls through ears and especially as it settles into its eager almost teasing temptation an Inspiral Carpets like hue rises to the fore. Even so it is simply a single flavouring in the band’s indie rock audacity as the guitar and vocals of John Hewitson swing across the rhythmic enticement of bassist Craig Morrison and drummer Robert Lang. There is a great grumble to that bass which earths the loftier melodic threads which spring from the guitar while Lang’s beats just enjoyably nag throughout.

Eagerly infectious, the song is more than matched in craft and temptation by Away; it our favourite of the two with ease without diminishing the strength and impact of its companion. The track strides in with a rapacious rhythmic intent and is immediately bound in the delicious sonic wires of Hewitson’s guitar. Quickly, the song reveals a whole fresh web of imagination and devious textures to trap and enslave attention and appetite. Each twist brings potent drama and turn sets irresistible temptation, the song something akin to a mix of Asylums, The Horrors, and Scars with a hint of The Cuban Heels and quite superb.

Evolution in the band’s sound is on-going with both tracks suggesting bigger bolder things to come but there is a new maturity in their songwriting and craft which is most striking and as exciting, Dogtooth for sure heading to bigger things.

What For?/Away is released August 16^th.

http://dogtoothofficial.com/ https://www.facebook.com/dogtooth.001/ https://twitter.com/dogtooth4

Pete RingMaster 16/08/2019

Microcosms – Forget Us

Jun7

Undoubtedly the Chicago music scene is and has perpetually been the source of some of music’s most striking and individual artists. Microcosms is the latest proposition from within its creative bunker to grip our attention, our introduction coming through their new single, Forget Us. It is one of those tracks which lay predacious eggs under the skin and in the brain from its first breath, growing and festering as an addictive we for one have no wish to dispense with.

Microcosms is the creation of guitarist/vocalist Andrew Tschiltsch, an initial solo project which after a few years saw the addiction of bassist Bryan Emer and drummer Jered Pipenbrink. Musically its alternative rock nurtured sound welcomes the inspirations of artists such as Arctic Monkeys, Bully, Cage the Elephant, Courtney Barnett, Portugal. The Man, and Wolf Alice and emerges as “music to question your beliefs to”. Debut release, the Know My Body EP, enticed well-receiving attention in 2017, its impact soon eclipsed by that of the Fairytale EP a year later. They are successes we expect to be once more surpassed by, given the chance, that surrounding Forget Us.

The song just romps from the speakers, funnelling through ears with one delicious and inescapable hook. The flirtatious antics of the guitar continues to wind salaciously around ears and imagination with the subsequent vociferous rhythmic shuffle within ear gripping noise smog only adding to the tracks infestation of the senses.

Continuing to tease and taunt through each cycle, the song is a mix of threat and seduction seeing the band unleash its more punk bred instincts in comparison to previous encounters. Even so post punk, new wave, and noise pop imagination is just as vocal and rousing within the track with its eventual departure the only moment disappointment escapes.

We cannot say we have heard everything from the Microcosms imagination and enterprise but of what we have and undoubtedly enjoyed, the irresistible proving Forget Us simply eclipses the lot.

Forget Us is available now @ https://microcosms.bandcamp.com/

https://www.wearemicrocosms.com/ https://www.facebook.com/WeAreMicrocosms/ https://twitter.com/WeAreMicrocosms

Pete RingMaster 04/06/2019

All This Huxley – Comrade II

Jun7

With a new EP due for release in a few short weeks, Philadelphia based All This Huxley recently gave anticipation a potent lure to its body and heart with lead single Comrade II. A slice of calm but emotively fuelled melodic indie rock, the song nestled with ears like a familiar yet previously unknown friend, the instinct to embrace its serenade inescapable.

All This Huxley consists of multi-instrumentalists Trevor Serine, John Corcoran, Josh Mayer, and Alex Marlys. Formed by the first pair as a jazz-fusion project, the band soon gained a dedicated following with the latter two subsequently joining up in 2014 when as their bio says, All This Huxley was born and has continued to grow and flourish as their sound similarly blossomed in its eclectic and adventurous character.

As mentioned, July sees the release of the Home Stockholm EP, a release sure to beckon keen attention especially if Comrade II has its way.

The single simply caresses the senses from its first touch, guitar strokes on the imagination an alluring creative hand more than matched by the slightly darker rhythmic stroll which swiftly emerges. With vocals and melodies sharing the emotive intimation of words and heart, the track provides a warm at times almost fiery embrace with hope and melancholy hugging seductively.

A blend of indie pop, folk, and melodic rock, Comrade II is a light for ears and thoughts and a potent beacon to the potential of the Home Stockholm EP.

Comrade II is out now @ https://allthishuxley.bandcamp.com/ with Home Stockholm released July 5th.

https://www.facebook.com/AllThisHuxley/ https://allthishuxley.com

Pete RingMaster 04/06/2019

Come Out Fighting – Soundtrack To A Shipwreck

May17

With creative lungs bellowing out ear grabbing hardcore fired punk rock, US outfit Come Out Fighting has just unleashed a new single which simply insists on, no demands attention. Soundtrack To A Shipwreck is a two track offering which equally makes a compelling raucous excuse to check out the band’s forthcoming new album, a release which if this teaser is a potent sign could very well thrust the Detroit quintet towards far broader recognition.

Containing ex-members of Tommy Gunn and current members of The Purps, Aggro Or Die and Saint Ridley, Come Out Fighting are not exactly new to keen praise and support across a trio of rousing albums and a powerful live presence. With a sound inspired by the likes of The Purps, Aggro Or Die and Saint Ridley, they have become a vital proposition within their local scene and further afield adventures. As suggested by their latest release, their music is not commandingly unique yet the two tracks making up Soundtrack To A Shipwreck, both taken from the impending Any Port In A Storm, are drenched in a fresh and voracious character which leaves a vast many other similarly cast encounters pale in comparison.

Soundtrack To A Shipwreck is a song which immediately gripped ears with an urgent but controlled trespass, classic rock hues lining its insistence before the band’s punk instincts drive the track’s rapacious incitement. Raw throated and melodically spun vocals unite in its irritable declaration, the scowling exasperation of vocalist Nick Rudowyj nicely contrasted by clean tones as the guitar of Brian Stewart spins its own broadly emoted sonic web. Underpinned by the bold senses harassing exploits of bassist Dan Bruce and drummer Casey Husted, the track easily got under the skin as it inspired mutual discontent on the world.

As striking and enjoyable as it is, the song was quickly eclipsed by its companion, Blackout. Taunting more pop punk essences into its own individual tempest, the song surged from the speakers with physical and emotional voracity. Hooks and grooves are quickly embroiled in its ravenous attack, their virulent catchiness eagerly lining the antagonistic leanings of the excellent encounter; a blend just as potent and infectious within the vocal incursion of the song. With an appetite firing bassline and eager punk rock ferocity to its infection, it was a quick submission sought and found by the track as equally a need to check out the soon to descend album.

As suggested there is plenty familiar in flavouring to the two songs but for the main just recognisable invitations into the individual escapades of Come Out Fighting; exploits we can only recommend.

https://comeoutfightingdetroit.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ComeOutFightingDetroit/

Pete RingMaster 17/05/2019

Ummagma – Caravan

May17

This June sees the release of the first album in seven years from Ummagma and to herald its arrival whilst offering a rather delicious teaser the indie pop duo has just released the two track single Caravan. As ever the pair’s sound is as eclectic as it is evocative and as is the trend with atmospheric senses involving mastery the new single evokes and inspires the imagination to individual adventures alongside its own.

Emerging in 2003, Ummagma is the creative union of Canadian Shauna McLarnon and Ukraine hailing Alexander Kretov. Ontario based, the pair’s sound is an imaginative fusion of everything from dream pop and shoegaze to post-punk, indie, space rock and much more, it all immersed in a tapestry of ambient and electronic enterprise. The duo has regularly been compared to bands such as Cocteau Twins, Curve, and Daughter but as Caravan alone insists, references which only hint at rather than reveal the richness of the band’s music and imagination.

It is fair to say that our personal appetite to Ummagma’s music is constant but has flourished in varying strengths across their releases and ahead of that new album in Compass, has reached lustful greed courtesy of Caravan. The song instantly had ears gripped as drums set out their ridiculously hypnotic and rousing stroll. Atmospheric suggestion is just as swiftly at play with the imagination, its soundscape of warm wide plains blossoming with suggestive vegetation. McLarnon’s warm magnetic tones are also soon caressing ears as the song sweeps into a synth pop-esque canter, Kretov’s subsequent vocals just as tempting within the pair’s web of musical insistence.

The song is pure adventure, an intimate travelogue of intrigue, intimation, and craft which had the body bouncing and ears enthralled from start to finish.

Ty i Ya accompanies Caravan offering up its own individual temptation; one funk lined and eighties synth pop bred. There is something of Dalek I Love You to the song which only added to its quick appeal and it too brings an atmospheric cascade of enterprise and suggestion which mesmerised throughout even if with varying degrees of strength across its evocative landscape. Ummagma is a band which is unafraid to push their boundaries and the imagination of others in unexpected ways, Ty i Ya proof it so often works a treat.

It is probably fair to say that any album, indeed release, from Ummagma is eagerly anticipated in numerous corners, Caravan ensures Compass will definitely be truly keenly awaited.

Caravan is out now through Leonard Skully Records; available @ https://ummagma.bandcamp.com/album/caravan with Compass released on June 21th also via Leonard Skully Records digitally, on black vinyl and on CD with artwork by Alexander Kretov.

https://www.facebook.com/ummagma https://twitter.com/ummagma

Pete RingMaster 17/05/2019