Bridged Gaps and Covered Tracks (A Real Gone Sampler, 2013)

Welcome to 2013’s free Real Gone Sampler.  It’s been an absolutely brilliant year for independent music – check out our end of year list here – and that’s been reflected by how many bands were keen to get involved in this now traditional project on its third anniversary.  This year’s sixteen tracks (with a couple of strays from prior to 2013) came together remarkably quickly but, as always, there were a few obstacles along the way.  It’s great that most of the bands we asked were on board instantly…and only one missed the deadline – an improvement on previous years.

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Real Gone’s End Of Year Round Up, 2013

At the end 2013, things have settled even farther into their niche. When Real Gone was born, the intent was to write reviews of albums that ended up unloved in cut-out bins – the ultimate guide to creating a brilliant record collection on a budget.  Pretty soon, a few DIY bands got interested and PR guys got interested and the focus began to change.  It would have been churlish to turn these new opportunities away…and by including reviews of independent and smaller bands, RG slowly expanded its readership.

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NEURONSPOILER – Emergence

2202417403-1In 2012, London-based metal band Monument released their debut EP ‘Rock The Night!’.  While it was highly prised in some quarters for its old school approach, most of their material relied far too heavily on riffs and other musical motifs borrowed from the formative years of Iron Maiden.  This didn’t disguise the amount of musical talent within the band, but it was just a shame they didn’t use those talents a little more productively.  Featuring ex-Monument guitarist David del Cid, this self-released debut full-length from Neuronspoiler makes up for that.  Their promotional photos may show a band who aren’t taking their image too seriously, but the seriousness and intensity with which they approach their music is a different matter entirely.  ‘Emergence’ is, perhaps, the release ‘Rock The Night!’ should have been.

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