Hello Bear – I Don’t Know… It’s Fun Though, Isn’t It?

hello-bear-promo-shot_RingMasterReview

A trap waiting to grab your imagination and energy, I Don’t Know… It’s Fun Though, Isn’t It? more than lives up to its title with its bouncy persona and rousing spirit. The new EP from British quartet Hello Bear, the four-track stomp is a sparkling burst of power/punk pop which may not carry major surprises but is as fresh and vibrant as anything escaping the year so far.

Formed in 2010, the Norwich bred band take inspiration found in the likes of Weezer, Pavement, Los Campesinos!, Refused, The Bronx, Presidents of the USA, McFly, Johnny Foreigner, and Dananananaykroyd into their own highly flavoursome exploits. Invigorating as a live presence which has seen Hello Bear play with bands such as Los Campesinos, Coasts, Darwin Deez, The Futureheads, and The King Blues, their sound is an ear grabber which now refuses to be ignored within the band’s new offering. The press release accompanying the EP suggests it carries “their most exciting material to date.” Being our introduction to Hello Bear it is hard to confirm or argue, but exciting the Lee Batiuk (Deaf Havana, Trash Boat, Hopeless Records) produced release is and relentlessly enjoyable.

I Don’t Know… It’s Fun Though, Isn’t It? opens up with new single We Held Hands Once, But Then She Got Embarrassed, the collective energy and enterprise of Luke Bear (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Mary Bear (guitar), Tom Bear (bass), and Daryl Bear (drums) hitting the floor running. A lone strum entices first being quickly joined by the potent tones of Luke before the song jumps on ears with eager riffs and canny rhythms. In no time it is into an infectious stroll with hooks and melodies uniting to charm attention before brewing and finally expelling a virulent contagion through its irresistible chorus. There is no escaping joining those offering Blink 182 meets Weezer as a reference for the tenaciously lively sound of song and band; add a touch of Super Happy Fun Club and The All-American Rejects though and the mix is even closer to the rousing incitement.

hello-bear-cover-artwork_RingMasterReview The following Mmm Cheque Please! makes a just as striking entrance, another single strain of guitar bait making the first lure, rampant beats and Luke’s inviting vocals the next before it all blooms into another infectious canter. Daryl’s beats resonate as they land and Tom’s basslines grumble as much as they seduce while Mary and Luke share a tapestry of hooks and melodic endeavour which only leads to a greater appetite for song and release. Admittedly the track lacks the final spark which ignites its predecessor but leaves pleasure bubbling eagerly as does Dirty Weekend with its more restrained but wholly magnetic presence. Repeating a prowess which confirms Hello Bear masterful at creating big choruses and ripe hooks which simply infest the psyche, the song lays lustfully upon the senses.

The EP ends as its starts with a track which just whips up the passions. Attack Hug Influences is addiction for the ears, a slice of rock pop which seizes hold of body and spirit in a breathless romp complete with spicy hooks, tenacious rhythms, and a vocal coaxing which virtually forces listener involvement.

It is a boisterous end to a release which demands a party is woven around its presence each and every time. No moments of major uniqueness, all irresistible fun fuelled ingenuity; that is I Don’t Know… It’s Fun Though, Isn’t It?, one of the most enjoyable adventures this year.

I Don’t Know… It’s Fun Though, Isn’t It? is released November 11^th

http://www.hellobear.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/hellobear/ https://twitter.com/hellobearband

Pete RingMaster 08/11/2016

Of Kings and Captains – Jack My Boy

Sep8

of-kings-and-captains-pic_RingMasterReview

Ahead of their new EP Give ’em Hell Son, British pop rockers Of Kings and Captains have released new single Jack My Boy, a mercilessly infectious slice of robust rock ‘n’ roll lying somewhere between The Pirates, Eddie and the Hot Rods, and The Wildhearts. It is hard to imagine that the Black Country hailing band could have found a more rousing teaser for their new EP, the new single taken from it one of those proposals which instinctively grips ears, voice, and bodies easily enlisting their eager involvement in short time.

Stourbridge bred, Of Kings and Captains released their debut album in 2015 to eager reactions; its success backed up by a potent live reputation which has seen the band share stages with the likes of McFly and Kids in Glass Houses among many and recently undertake a five date stadium tour with Bon Jovi. The foursome of vocalist/rhythm guitarist Luke Wassell, lead guitarist Joshua Lomas, bassist Dean Greatbatch, and drummer Kieran Lock linked up with producer Gavin Monaghan (The Twang, Editors, Niplozi) and Joseph Murray for Give ’em Hell Son and if Jack My Boy is anything to go by, with thrilling success.

A song according to Wassell which is “…about self-confidence and defying people who doubt you! it’s all about sticking to your guns and being yourself regardless of how people might put you down. It’s about being individual and kicking back against the norm“, Jack My Boy has all attention leaning its way from the initial lure of drum enticement. Lock’s magnetic rhythms are quickly joined by an anthemic bassline and eager twang loaded riffs, they in turn turning to an array of fifties seeded hooks as Wassell’s tones whips up even more infectious bait to the already catchy encounter. From there the track continues to lead the listener, drawing them towards seriously virulent choruses, they irresistible peaks in one, from start to finish, spirit arousing stomp.

It takes just one listen to be firmly involved in the song with every encounter after drawing keen and full participation. If Jack My Body is a sign of things to come with Give ’em Hell Son, the EP is a must.

Jack My Boy is out now with the Give ’em Hell Son EP available for download from all good digital retailers September 9th.

Upcoming Gig Dates:

Sept 9th – Katie Fitzgerald’s – Stourbridge (Acoustic Show)

Sept 29th – RiverRooms – Stourbridge

Sept 30th – The Shed – Leicester

Oct 15th Wulfrun Hall ‐ Wolverhampton

https://www.facebook.com/ofkingsandcaptains http://ofkingsandcaptains.com/ https://twitter.com/ofkingsandcaps

Pete RingMaster 08/09/2016

Daylight – One More Fight

Oct23

Daylight_RingMaster Review

Though released back home a year ago, One More Fight gets its own UK release this month on the eve of Spanish pop punks Daylight’s UK tour. Such its storming collection of contagious anthems it would be no surprise if a great many of British genre fans have already a copy of their highly persuasive release in their collection, but if not, the time has come to grab some, not ground-breaking but inescapably rousing, pop punk either for the speakers or live.

Formed in 2004, the Barcelona hailing quartet has over the years toured through Europe, Russia, China, and Japan, as well as successfully play Groezrock, headline The X-Games, and shared stages with the likes of MXPX, McFly, Reel Big Fish, Zebrahead, and The Ataris. Their imminent tour around the UK is their first though and as mentioned marked by the release of One More Fight. Produced and mixed by Andrea Fusini (Upon This Downing, Ms. White, Ready Set Fall) alongside Andrew Wade (A Day to Remember, The Ghost Inside, A Loss for Words), the album instantly leaps on ears igniting body and appetite with boisterous ease.

Opener Anthem Of The Broken lives up to the first part of its title immediately, vocal harmonies and roars within tenacious riffs igniting ears as punchy rhythms give them a healthy examination. There is nothing flawed musically in the song either, the heavy wiry tone of Olek Burek’s bass irresistible whilst the guitars of Wojtek Burek and Albert Domenech almost dance on the senses as they cast magnetic aggression and fiery enterprise. The combined vocal persuasion of the Burek brothers is just as impressive too, the track strolling with lively attitude and physical prowess into waiting imagination and enjoyment.

cover_RingMaster Review The following Kickbacks is a touch more reserved in its assault but still a thumping encounter built on the voracious swipes of Victor Vera’s muscle on drum skin. With the body soon bouncing as eagerly as the song’s, rich satisfaction is alive without a care for the kind of general familiarity which seems to come with pop punk releases as a whole. As the track shows, The Daylight touch and impassioned energy brings an ingredient which makes already strong songwriting standout from the masses too, that and an ability to create instinctive hooks and melodies which seem to know what tastes like and want.

The forcibly catchy Consequences takes over with its own easy going and rigorously infectious stomp next, guitars and bass a busy maelstrom of enterprise pierced by again heftily swung beats and wrapped in the captivation of the vocals. It also continues the imagination which brings resourceful and unexpected twists in certain moments, an invention even more open in the sonic shimmer of Now Or Never. The song entwines elegant melodies around expected catchiness, vocals leading the gentle but anthemic roar as in its lining, a great glimpse of discord and shadowed contrast comes and goes to further entice.

We Are Strong has a Jimmy Eat World spicing to its tempting, the electro winking of its predecessor again pulsating in the enthused hug of the song. With a New Found Glory scented air brewing up and subsequently soaking the heart of the track, its more than agreeable presence swaps with the equally alluring loud croon of Another Day. Though neither proposition incites the same energy of responses as those before them, each leaves ears with a smile and pleasure strong before being eclipsed by the Good Charlotte meets Weezer meets McFly like Best Days of Our Lifes. There is a touch of Green Day to the song too, and a wealth of imagination from Hammond-esque keys to rap shaped vocals which ensure it is a proposition which, without major originality on show, offers a fresh and bewitching weave of eclectic contagion.

The song should be the closing track to One More Fight, its feel good factor the perfect way to end the album. In fact it could even be as the track line-up is marked two ways on the promo sent to us and on the band’s Bandcamp different again, so do not take our line-up as read, just that it is true to the quality of the great release.

The thrilling Revolution is next in our schedule, from a grouchy bassline and confrontational incitement from drums and guitars, the song challenges and enlists full involvement in its aggressive anthem of a roar. Green Day again springs to mind as the track rivals the starters for best track honours, its defiance in word and emotion the griping fuel to the sound igniting fresh greed.

The final two songs on the album keep things rolling along with joyful energy, End Of The World releasing its Living End spiced rock ‘n’ roll first leaving Crazy Youth Gone Wild to bring a thoroughly enjoyable romp of a release to a rewarding close. As suggested One More Fight is not Daylight breaking down walls or reshaping the pop punk scene but it is them proving they are one of the genre’s most potent if for many still secret pleasures.

Britain time to get on those feet and romp…

One More Fight is released in the UK on 23rd October.

Daylight’s UK tour dates:

27 Oct – London, Boston Music Room

28 Oct – Edinburgh, Opium

29 Oct – Ayr, West Of The Moon

30 Oct – Dundee, Drouthys

31 Oct – Glasgow, Nice And Sleazy

01 Nov – Sheffield, The Hop

02 Nov – Derby, The Vic Inn

03 Nov – Frome, Cheese And Grain

04 Nov – Swansea, The Scene