Twister – 64 White Lies

Not quite a year ago, UK rock outfit Twister grabbed our ears and attention, like with so many others, through the Designed State of Mind EP. It was an infectious yet meaty collection of melodically woven, rousingly catchy rock pop openly rich in a potential which has since been realised and pushed again by a debut album and now new single 64 White Lies.

The Durham hailing outfit formed in 2004 and has grown to be one of the more enticing rock propositions on the British scene as well as a powerful and acclaimed live encounter. Over the years they have played with the likes of Status Quo, Simple Minds, Texas, Scouting for Girls, Ron Thal (Bumblefoot),  Jools Holland, and The Joy Formidable and finished in overall second place out of 12,000 acts in the Surface Festival. The Designed State of Mind EP was a definite nudge on bigger recognition of their powerful sound with its release last year and more than built upon by first album Combined State of Mind released this past May.

Taken from that full-length, 64 White Lies epitomises the band’s strongly written and potently crafted sound. It might not be bursting with surprises as a song but everything about it is adventurous and an adventure for the listener. From its opening melodic tease of guitar and the swiftly following wave of muscular rhythms and pressing riffs, the song has ears in the palms of its creative hands. The engaging tones of vocalist/guitarist Stevie Stoker only reinforce the temptation; his voice melodic warmth within the more volatile roar of sound and intensity.

With the strolling bassline of Matt Whitaker and the wickedly swung beats of drummer Joe Major striking bait alongside the creative inducement of guitarist Jake Grime and Stoker, the song is an instinctive surge of heart and craft as effective in its composed moments as in its fiery roar. It is a mix of the enticingly familiar and appetisingly fresh which makes a delving into Combined State of Mind and the incoming horizons of Twister an inevitable next move.

64 White Lies is released September 22^nd.

http://www.officialtwister.co.uk/    https://www.facebook.com/TwisterUK    https://twitter.com/wearetwister

Pete RingMaster 12/09/2017

Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright

Twister – Designed State of Mind

Since forming, UK rock pop band Twister has shared stages with the likes of Status Quo, Simple Minds, Texas, Scouting for Girls, Jools Holland, and The Joy Formidable, Guns ’n’ Roses guitarist Ron Thal (Bumblefoot) on his 2015 UK tour, and finished second out of 12,000 acts in the Surface Festival. Each moment has drawn praise and vocal support, something not hard to understand whilst listening to the band’s new mini album Designed State of Mind.

Offering six vibrant and emotionally intensive affairs, Designed State of Mind catches ears with its instinctive catchiness and the imagination with its accomplished melody rich character. Straight away as opener and the band’s new single hits ears, there is an instant show of new maturity and a blossoming in the band’s sound since previous album This Isn’t Wonderland of 2014. Songs are more rounded and the united craft of the band tighter, Trees alone revelling in that growth. Quickly tangy hooks and spicy melodies entangle with the darker hues of a lively bass, beats swinging with matching eagerness as the infectious encounter descends on ears and appetite. Impossibly contagious by the time of its pop loaded chorus, the track bounces around inspiring the same in body and spirit; Jake Grimes, Matthew Whitaker, and Joe Major a lively proposition around the potent voice of Stevie Stoker.

It is a thrilling start which the EP at times equals and or closely misses but constantly sparks strong enjoyment starting with Monroe. More of as grower than its predecessor and with a touch of restraint to its seeming want to explode, the song strolls along with rhythmic shadows aligned to reflective melodies as vocals again caress ears with a firm and captivating touch. It too has a chorus which is hard not to get involved in while its melancholic air seduces before the excellent Fist Fight by the Waterside steps forward.

Once more suggestive melodies and tenacious rhythms collude with Stoker’s powerful tones as the song’s character has the spirit and punch its title might suggest. Touching on the predatory at times, the track easily rivals the opener as a main highlight and quickly matched by the mellower reflective charm of Monopolise. Reflective voice and melody coax ears before the song broadens out into an anthemic croon with feisty energy and heart to the fore. There is a touch of ABC to the song, if that band had turned to hard rock, it ending as infectiously enticing as anything on the album.

Designed State of Mind ends with the equally red-blooded Feeding Frenzy, a rousing encounter if missing the final vital spark of previous songs within the album and lastly Fortune Favours the Bold, a warm and boldly engaging song again not quite reaching the heights of before. Nevertheless the pair brings the album to a highly pleasing close adding to a want to hear more from Twister, a Durham hailing band rising up the UK rock scene with every passing success.

Designed State of Mind is out now through most online stores.

https://www.facebook.com/TwisterUK   https://twitter.com/wearetwister

Pete RingMaster 10/10/2016

Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright

The Sherlocks – Last Night

Last year saw The Sherlocks release a pair of magnetically catchy and accomplished singles, two very well-received proposals waking up another flock of eager ears to their presence. Hoping to continue that success, the UK quartet is set to release new track Last Night, another single which has feet and hips as involved as ears and enjoyment.

Hailing from Sheffield, the band came about after the Davidson brothers, Josh (guitar) and Andy (bass), moved in next door to the grandparents of another set of siblings, Kiaran (vocals/guitar) and Brandon Crook (drums). A bond over football and music alongside mutual inspiration taken from the likes of Arctic Monkeys, The Beatles, Libertines, Oasis, and The Jam amongst many, led to the creation of The Sherlocks late 2010. Previous singles and the First Bite Of The Apple EP have all marked the band out for attention , as too a potent live presence which has seen them share stages with the likes of The Enemy, JAMES, Simple Minds, Scouting For Girls, Reverend and The Makers, Buzzcocks, The Twang, CAST, The Beat and Starsailor amongst many.

Escapade and Heart of Gold helped push the band into keener spotlights in 2015; two tenaciously infectious and enterprising singles now matched in potency by Last Night. The song is arguably less imposing and dramatic with its virulence and energy compared to its predecessors, but straight away a swinging and inescapable catchiness is offered by rhythms and the lively gait of voice and melodies. The rumble of bass is especially enticing in that initial bait too, matched by the firm beats and a jangle of chords and hooks eager to get their claws into the psyche.

A subsequent sonic shimmer adds to the pull of the song whilst its contagious chorus is temptation only leading to listener involvement. Though for personal tastes not quite matching Escapade and Heart of Gold in impact, Last Night still only leaves pleasure in its wake and a reminder that The Sherlocks are becoming one of the bright lights of the British indie/rock scene.

Last Night is released March 4th @ https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/last-night-single/id1076703980?i=1076703984

http://thesherlocksmusic.co.uk   https://www.facebook.com/TheSherlocksOfficial   https://twitter.com/TheSherlocksUK

Pete RingMaster 04/03/2016

Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright

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Mercutio – Back To Nowhere

It might not have the passions always ablaze throughout the length of its certainly compelling body, but Back To Nowhere, the debut album from Mercutio is a new acquaintance you only want to get to know better and of its creators, more about. The twelve track encounter is a tapestry of varied flavours and perpetually enticing enterprise with something for all varied tastes. At times it embraces a metal breeding, others moments a diverse rock seeding, whilst across its twelve tracks a host of other styles and flavours are zealously infused and entwined into its theatrical and fascinating adventure. The result in a collection of songs which raise the passions in varying degrees but all entice and captivate as they make up one thoroughly enjoyable proposition.

Italy hailing and now London based, the quartet of vocalist Mirko Petrini, guitarist Fabio Staffieri, bassist Emanule Nazzaro, and drummer Francesco Lucidi since forming in 2011, has increasingly garnered a potent following and reputation on the UK scene with their progressive weave of sound, earning supporters in the likes of Anna Phoebe and the Porcupine Tree’s Colin Edwin amongst a growing legion of fans along the way. Recorded with Andy Wright [Jeff Beck/Simple Minds] at the Assault & Battery Studio in London, with Gianluca Cucchiara co-producing, Back To Nowhere is the band’s strong and inviting nudge on broader attention and keener spotlights with a rich personality to back it up.

It opens up with Shed Your Skin, instantly soaking ears in drama and awakening the imagination with its opening build of sinister sound around the instantly alluring tones of Petrini. Just as quickly, the track unveils a bubbly funk underbelly to a brooding union of riffs, voice, and rhythms. Reminding of UK band Japanese Fighting Fish, it is a gripping entrance by song and release which only increases in persuasion as things get more creatively agitated and atmospherically darker, as well as virulently tempting. Within this the bass growls seductively as drums lay down anthemic bait, around both the guitar painting a suggestive proposal lit by the excellent vocals. Ravenous metal, heavy rock, avant-garde mischief, and indie enterprise is all in there with other hues equally catching ears and imagination alight.

   The following album title track is as rousing and inventively exhilarating in its individual way, opening on a rock ‘n roll stomp before casting a weave of electronic and melodic rock endeavour gripped by the just as dramatic but controlled vocals. Its heart is warm and air symphonically painted with melodies that entangle the senses with emotive prowess, though shadows are always a constant flirtation too as things build to small and harmonic but potent crescendos throughout before A Part Of Me lays a calm acoustic hand on ears. Melancholic with an air of the ever present drama in songwriting and sound, the song is an increasingly bewitching offering which certainly is enjoyable on the first listen but something to get more enamoured with over every subsequent listen.

The flirtatious Anytime with its emotive breath within rugged rhythmic scenery forges a similar engagement next, its classic and melodic rock enterprise given greater potency by the rousing exploits of the rhythms, whilst Fake unleashes another ridiculously infectious and instinctively off-kilter treat to match the opener. At times Mercutio create sound and imagination that stalks the listener, a mix of flirtation and intimidating in the invention which here courts strands of alternative metal and darkly bred rock ‘n’ roll with bands like Pryapisme and Toumaï coming to mind. It is a trespass of sonic intrigue which, as in most songs, leads to catchy embraces of energy and tempting posing as a chorus.

The reflective balladry of No Compromise is a warmly engaging proposal next, its emotive hues wrapped in summery spices keeping satisfaction high even if it is still over shadowed by its predecessor. Nevertheless with a delicious stringed embrace and the ever impressing vocals of Petrini, pleasure is a sure thing and back in torrents through the voracious shuffle and invention of Hail The Night. Again Japanese Fighting Fish is the closest to describe the robust imagination and draw of the track, a dash of 6:33 and Faith No More also adequate hints to the rich and provocative rock ‘n roll courting ears.

Featuring an appearance by Colin Edwin, In Front of you romances and captivates next with a carousel of vibrant melodic invention which works its way to an even more thrilling stretch of rap/alternative metal where Skindred meets Muse might be a good comparison. The song just gets bolder and more unpredictable with each passing minute, its theatre engrossing and matched by the smouldering allure of Mother, another song growing into its skin and exciting ears more over numerous plays. In contrast the fuzzy triumph of Set Me Free has body and emotions enlisted in its volatile and invigorating stomp from the first breath, a tinge of grunge aligned to Queens Of The Stone Age spicing its boisterous nature for another pinnacle within Back To Nowhere.

Straight after The Ghost That Is You casts a more restrained and atmospheric roar of sound but one with tempestuousness to its emotion and invention which soon gets under the skin and leaves a healthy appetite just a touch more greedy before Reasons To Erase brings it all to a jazz/funk/classic rock swinging close. Some tracks hit the sweet spot straight away and others take longer to ignite a similar reaction, but ultimately all do as with the final track which despite some sensational moments steals most full admiration over a host of pleasing plays.

As suggested earlier with Back To Nowhere, Mercutio provides something for everyone with plenty of just as flavoursome sounds and moments to back each aspect up; at times they make you lustful for the album, other times just leave you fully content, but throughout the band inspire a want to hear more and more…

Back To Nowhere is out now via Diverge Records through most online stores.

http://www.mercutio.me/     https://www.facebook.com/officialmercutio/     http://twitter.com/InfoMercutio

Pete RingMaster 25/11/2015

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The Sherlocks – Heart of Gold

Still looking barely old enough to take driving lessons, UK rockers The Sherlocks follow up their previous acclaimed single of earlier this year, Escapade, with another sure-fire attention grabber in the virulent shape of Heart of Gold. The band’s new single is a romp which continues spinning around ears and thoughts long after departure, a contagion reinforcing the growing notion that the Sheffield band is one of Britain’s most exciting emerging indie bands.

Consisting of two sets of brothers; Josh (guitar) and Andy Davidson (bass) uniting with Kiaran (vocals/guitar) and Brandon Crook (drums) late 2010, The Sherlocks have played shows at over 500 national venues these past three or so years, supporting the likes of Simple Minds, Scouting For Girls, Reverend & The Makers, The Buzzcocks, Starsailor, and The Enemy along the way, and earned great plaudits at festivals such as this year’s Isle of Wight event. Recent singles it is fair to say has pushed attention on the band to new levels, a success sure to be emulated again by Heart of Gold.

It opens on a smoky twang of sound and crisp beats, their brief jab the spark to a canter of jangly guitar and sultry guitar enterprise driven by the inescapably infectious lure and swing of bass and drums beats. Vocally Kiaran, backed strongly by the band, leads the dynamic croon adding further catchiness to proceedings in a seriously ear pleasing chorus and the great lead into it.

Band inspirations range from Arctic Monkeys and The Beatles to artists such as Libertines, Oasis, and The Jam, and fair to say there is a good scent of a couple of those in a familiar air across the mightily engaging Heart of Gold, but once again it is a spicing adding to a recipe ultimately distinct to and rousing from The Sherlocks.

To be honest there is the feeling the band has still to find its totally unique sound and voice, but with songs like this the wait can only be pleasurable.

Heart of Gold is out now @ http://thesherlocksmusic.co.uk/our-store/

http://thesherlocksmusic.co.uk   https://www.facebook.com/TheSherlocksOfficial

Pete RingMaster 11/11/2015

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The Sherlocks – Escapade

Bursting with bulging rhythms and just as rigorously captivating sonic invention, new single Escapade reveals exactly what Sheffield has been shouting about for quite a while; that The Sherlocks is one rather exciting band.

The UK rockers is bred from family and friendship, emerging in 2010 after brothers Josh and Andy Davidson, guitar and bass respectively, moved in next to the grandparents of vocalist/guitarist Kiaran Crook and his drummer brother Brandon. The quartet were soon bonding over football and music, uniting over favourite artists such as Arctic Monkeys, The Beatles, Libertines, Oasis, and The Jam. This led to jamming sessions where they discovered, explored, and honed their sound, and subsequently gave birth to The Sherlocks. Since then the quartet has played over 500 gigs, sharing stages with the likes of The Enemy, Simple Minds, Scouting For Girls, Reverend and The Makers, The Buzzcocks, Twisted Wheel, Tom Hingley, and Steve Cradock along the way, and in 2013 released debut EP First Bite Of The Apple.

The well-received EP, as their following top 100 single Live For The Moment, set down a marker in sound and adventure which Escapade now runs with in fine anthemic style. From the first spicy breath of guitar, the song has ears and emotions leaping to attention, especially once potently jabbing beats and a flush of riffs add to the initial coaxing. The lure of the song then just gets stronger and more virulent as a gripping hook emerges from the start and swiftly binds imagination and emotions in its wine of a temptation. The strong vocals also add appealing expression and energy to the song, never imposing but just helping increase the catchiness of the track.

A great throaty bassline flirts across the song too, but it is the overall contagion of the encounter and its inventive dance which most enthrals and has feet and voice seriously involved in the creative commotion. Ground-breaking the song is not but certainly it is invigorating revelry of the irresistible kind and a reason alone to keep The Sherlocks under a tight spotlight.

Escapade is available now @ https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/escapade-single/id952378243

The Sherlocks are touring the UK with remaining dates at…

20/02/15 Soundcontrol MANCHESTER

27/02/15 The Cookie LEICESTER

28/02/15 Talk Tea Rooms BIRMINGHAM

05/03/15 The Picture House HUDDERSFIELD

07/03/15 The Joiners SOUTHAMPTON

21/03/15 The Lemon Factory SWANSEA

10/04/15 Buskers DUNDEE

11/04/15 Stereo GLASGOW

18/04/15 Plug SHEFFIELD

25/04/15 Corner Flag SUNDERLAND

01/05/15 The Maze NOTTINGHAM

02/05/15 Club Academy MANCHESTER

16/05/15 Studio 2 LIVERPOOL

20/06/15 The Leadmill SHEFFIELD

http://thesherlocksmusic.co.uk/

RingMaster 17/02/2015

Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright

 

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Isolated Atoms – Sex War

Ladies and Gentlemen we might just have your single of the year, definitely a very serious and potent contender at the very least.  UK rockers Isolated Atoms has arguably been in the background for a great many whilst going about their creative purpose, evolving and honing a sound which manages to be familiar and distinctively new. Live performances and releases have ‘chronicled’ a band exploring and evolving its sound and presence whilst building a loyal and passionate fan-base. Acclaim has been no stranger to the Black Country quartet but you sense as their new single Sex Wars teases and coaxes the largest fires yet out of the passions that their time for full awareness and recognition has come. The single is delicious, a fiery anthemic entrapment which can only be devoured wholeheartedly and without restraint such its bait and lure.

Hailing from Dudley, the foursome of vocalist Grant Leon Ashman, guitarist Mark Neat, bassist David Davies, and drummer Yang first gripped attention with their debut single Tell Me What I Want of 2009 which drew enthusiastic notice from the likes of Derek Forbes (Simple Minds) and Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order). Last year the Illuminate EP expanded their stature with its collection of songs seemingly inspired by the likes of Joy Division and New Order within its rock imagination whilst also whispering bands like Editors and Dommin. It was a potent encounter matched earlier this year by the excellent Hold On single. Though maybe not their finest song at that point it still left thoughts and emotions awash with creative flavour and unmissable promise. Its sound had moved into a more ‘stadium’ rock type expression with flavours which could be compared to a Big Country or Doves in many ways, though still retaining the distinct voice of the band. Now Sex Wars leaves everything before behind and in its shade.

With a lone guitar teasing the air initially the song is soon standing tall with bulging rhythms, surly guitar taunts and exciting vocal harmonies. It is a blaze of a start which settles slightly as the distinctive expressive tones of Ashman take control of the narrative, with an inviting bass swagger and seductive keys skirting his every word. It soon forges a magnetic tempestuous and anthemic stomp through the ear with a seductive blues taste throughout and a chorus which holds a wanton freedom with a more than a hint of glam rock to its mischievous devilry. There is rawness to the track at times which only accelerates the passions whilst its virulent contagion ensures that rapture is bred by its climactic conclusion. Whispers of Simple Minds and Associates at the start move to those of The Black Crowes and The Black Keys by the end of the triumph, but really that is just a loose description of their unique and irrepressible sound.

Sex Wars is easily the finest moment to date in the history of Isolated Atoms and sees them finally out of the shadows and standing as one of the UK’s most impressive and exciting rock bands.

https://www.facebook.com/isolatedatoms

10/10

RingMaster 07/09/2013

 

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