Category Archives: Album & EP Reviews

CHARLIE NIELAND – The Ocean Understands EP

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He might not be a genuine household name, but Charlie Nieland has had a busy career. He’s written material with Rufus Wainwright, Scissor Sisters and Blondie, and produced a number of albums for some lesser known indie rock bands, but – familiar name or not – one look at his extensive credits on Discogs shows him to be a man in demand.

‘The Ocean Understands’, a four track EP released in June 2025, puts Nieland even more in the spotlight. The solo recording finds him playing a variety of instruments (everything except the drums, and a featured guitar on one track), as well as handling all vocals. The material really showcases someone with a broad array of talents, even at times where his own songwriting mightn’t aim for that immediate hit.

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THE ROCKERATI – Black Book EP

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During the first half of 2025, The Rockerati made their mark on the rock underground with the help of two excellent singles. The first, ‘Analogue Again’ set a great pub rock sound in place; loaded with solid riffs and a melodic edge that called back to the likes of Rockpile, it showed how the Brighton based act valued great influences more than they valued the notion of perceived “coolness”. That school of thought went into overdrive when the band dropped a bunch of Quo-esque riffs into the great ‘Big Dog’; with a bigger sound in place, the track demonstrated how tough The Rockerati could sound with an increase of both power and volume, and how solid playing will often trump originality.

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CLEAN LINES – Nuisance EP

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Clean Lines isn’t necessarily the best known name in punky circles, but the band have put in some hard yards on the live circuit in the US. They’ve shared stages with Me First & The Gimme Gimmes and The Kids, and have creative links with Geraldine Fibbers and Circle Jerks. They caught the attention of The Briefs’ vocalist Steve E. Nix, who eventually joined their musical ranks.

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Check out ‘Backbone Of Existence’, the new video from Perpetual Paradox

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In May 2025, British tech metallers Perpetual Paradox released ‘Ash & Blood’, an absolutely face melting single which provided the first taste of their forthcoming full length. In terms of all round heaviness, this was a track that didn’t hold back. Unlike some extreme acts, though, this band clearly understood the need for other elements in order to maintain long term interest. Against the extreme riffs, the track also found time for a more melodic thrash influenced interlude and contrasted the aggressive edge with some finely tuned prog metal theatrics.

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MAX RAEL – Slightly Less Than Human / When The Only Winning Move Is Not To Play

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Max Rael’s debut single ‘Brighter Future’ pushed the alternative envelope by applying spoken word passages to bleak sounding synth backdrops, creating an almost dystopian musical landscape. The number’s darker side was effectively offset by the History of Guns man offering listeners a positive lyric, where he suggested we can look to the past and learn from mistakes to forge a brighter future. Issued at a time when the world seemed incredibly negative with seemingly little escape from a political turmoil, Rael’s optimism – no matter how obtusely applied – offered fans of less mainstream music a small beacon of hope.

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