NOVACROW – Black Syrup EP

novacrow epThe love child of Black Moth, Kenny Hickey and Godsmack, Liverpool-based Novacrow make some impressive noises on their debut EP. A combination of gothy image, horror schlock and post grungey, stoner-ish riffs come together in fine form. With guitarist Jonyx knowing that a riff can often hit the mark – especially if winning over a live crowd – he firmly leads the way and exploits some enormous grooves on four of these five songs, while front woman Kitty S. compliments the heavy sounds with a full-bodied vocal performance that’s accessible and clean, while still retaining a sense of attitude to match the riffs.

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THE BLACK MILK PROJECT – Holes EP

a2509775199_10The home of steel, Def Leppard, Cockers Joe & Jarvis (unrelated), Arctic Monkeys and the backdrop for Threads – arguably the most frightening film ever – Sheffield isn’t always a city we necessarily associate with easiness, funk or jazz, but from within the city’s smog comes The Black Milk Project, an unlikely named trio whose debut EP shows the kind of comfort and self-confidence within their chosen musical niche, you’d think they were spawned from somewhere more cosmopolitan…and possibly twenty-something years earlier. Their sounds, dominated by a flowing quality that’s sometimes a throwback to early 90s acid jazz, always have flair, but also a crispness that really helps such easy tones not drift too far towards the easy listening.

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BEAR MAKES NINJA – Shenanagrams

bear makes ninjaBear Makes Ninja released their second EP, the critically acclaimed ‘Shouting at Bridges‘, in 2012. From that point on, there was much talk of a full length release but nothing seemed to be happening very quickly on the recording front. Not that the band had been lazy; the next couple of years were taken up with numerous live performances and time spent sharpening the Leicestershire trio’s musical craft. Their long-rumoured full length finally appeared during the first quarter of 2016 and, for those already familiar with the off-kilter BMN style, does almost exactly as expected. There are times where an increase in production budget makes things seem a little more polished than before, but their angular math rock tunes and deliberately obtuse lyrics are still a far cry from easily digestible radio fodder. This, of course, is a good thing.

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