In 2011, UK alternative metal band Mishkin released their debut EP ‘Row Away From The Rocks’. Featuring some hefty guitar riffs and an impassioned vocal, the EP pointed the way towards great things in the future…and then the band broke up. Mishkin’s vocalist Ben Davy subsequently joined art rock band II.II.II (aka 222), a band formed alongside his old bandmate Will MacGregor on bass. 222 pits their musical aptitude against ex-Tangaroa members Matt ‘Baldi’ Baldwinson and Si Blakelock on guitar and drums respectively. The combination of talents from the two bands makes for a very tight – if a little scary – alternative/mathcore outfit.
Category Archives: Album & EP Reviews
WHITESNAKE – Made In Britain/The World Record
During Whitesnake’s 2013 co-headlining tour with Journey, the band were sloppy. Guitarists Reb Beach and Doug Aldrich bought a fair amount of weight to the live sound, but their constant gurning was a little embarrassing. Not as embarrassing as the vocal performance from David Coverdale, however, who – at least during their London show – failed to hit any big notes anywhere near in tune. During most of the ‘Forevermore’ songs he sounded like Cookie Monster, while on the squealier material (such as ‘Still of the Night’) hearing his cracked voice constantly struggling was just painful beyond belief. Thankfully, drummer Tommy Aldridge was an absolute powerhouse performer throughout; but despite previous claims made by Phil Collins that a bad band with a good drummer would still sound good, watching this once great band falter and fumble, you’d surely have to disagree.
KING KOBRA – King Kobra II
King Kobra’s 2011 comeback disc turned its back completely on the brilliant AOR sounds that filled the grooves of the band’s 1985 classic ‘Thrill of a Lifetime’, preferring instead to indulge in shameless musical chest-beating and overly macho clichés. Overall, it wasn’t as bad as 1988’s absolute stinker ‘King Kobra III’, but it represented a far cry from their best work. Although it is their sixth release, they’ve chosen to call their 2013 outing ‘King Kobra II’, since it clearly picks up the mantle where the self titled record ended, pairing the band’s founding members with ex-Rough Cutt vocalist Paul Shortino for more leather-based party rock anthems.
WITHIN THE RUINS – Elite
Within The Ruins have seen many band members come and go over the years, they’ve won and lost record label support, but still, they’ve pushed forward never giving in. Their 2010 release ‘Invade’ found the band expanding from the melodic death metal roots and expanding their sounds to include elements of extreme tech/math metal and a pinch of industrial. The result was still uncompromising, but far more assured – even slicker (a relative term here, of course). With this album, it seemed very much as if years of hard work had paid off and Within The Ruins had truly arrived. If anything, this, their third full length album (and sixth release overall), improves on that…
FAUNTELLA CROW – Lost Here EP
Fauntella Crow is a singer-songwriter/pop/folk duo from Los Angeles comprising of vocalist/pianist Sunday Lane and violinist/vocalist Jessy Green. Lane, a classically trained pianist makes her first huge steps into the music world at large with this project, while Green has an impressive resume having previously worked with Glen Campbell, Wilco and alongside the legendary Dave Grohl in his Sound City Players (a project also featuring Rick Springfield, Stevie Nicks and other household names). Fauntella Crow first came to the attention of many when they appeared at the 2013 SXSW Festival.