Having been slowly building a name for themselves via a couple of independent releases and live shows, it is with ‘No Gods, No Masters Vol 1.’ Northern Irish metal band Sinocence really come into their own. You will have heard their many classic metal and alternative metal influences previously, but this band pull those influences together in a fashion that still makes their chosen sub-genre sound sharp and invigorating.
Category Archives: Album & EP Reviews
THE UNDERGROUND MAN – Landlines EP
In 2012 a set of relatively simple, retro-sounding recordings appeared on the internet. The identity of the performer was unknown, but the fact that the piece of work came shrouded with mystery just added to the fun. Eventually, the Brooklyn based performer masquerading as The Underground Man outed himself as singer-songwriter Greg Adams, a man who’d also recorded as part of Swimclub and (later) The Minors. His piece of low-budget moonlighting felt as if it should be a one off deal…but a year on, Adams resurrected his alter ego for this EP, ‘Landlines’, featuring another four demo recordings.
PEDALJETS – What’s In Between
Pedaljets released two albums in the late 80s and attracted a cult following, before splitting somewhat prematurely in 1990. Despite having supported Hüsker Dü, The Replacements and Meat Puppets (all of whom have long been considered cornerstones of the pre-grunge alternative rock and punk scene) and gaining national attention from the US press, the band have been largely overlooked in the rock history books.
IMPERA – Pieces Of Eden
In 2012, session drummer JK Impera’s eponymously named band released ‘Legacy of Life’, a solid melodic rock offering also showcasing the talents of much-loved guitarist Tommy Denander and European vocalist Matti Alfonzetti (best known to most as the frontman of Myke Gray’s Jagged Edge in the early 90s). With a first class guitarist and a great singer (who rarely gets his due for having a voice that’s held up extremely well over the years), the project had the right ingredients to please many classic rock fans. While the songs were of a tried and tested formula, most of the material was strong – and Alfonzetti’s voice just gave the band an extra edge, often missed from so many other “second-tier” melodic rock acts.
KILL CHAOS – PromisesPromises
Nottingham’s Kill Chaos have been working hard at making a name for themselves, creating a mini-buzz in the north of England. They’ve toured in support of INME, Frank Turner, Arctic Monkeys and the seemingly famous-for-five-minutes Reef and their 2013 full length ‘PromisesPromises’ [released via Field Records, home to the excellent Maybeshewill] is a reflection of the band’s live sound, in that it isn’t too polished. Its fantastically bass heavy in places, while the main riffs often carry just the right balance between melody and distortion.