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WHAT’S IN INTAMISSION My names Ciro and this is the first ever issue of Intamission Musicʼs Magazine that we are so incredibly proud of and glad we can get it out to you. The stuff youʼll see in the site ranges from Reviews from new bands, pics and awesome interviews that are unique to us.

Thatʼs just the short and sweet version to what you can hope to expect, thereʼs loads more in here that I havenʼt even begun to touch on. So, enjoy and I hope to see you next issue! Ciro  

INTERVIEW WITH 2-4 SOFEE & CIRO INTERVIEW WITH 6 THE COMO BROTHERS INTERVIEW WITH 7-8 ALL AT SEA REVIEWS 10-14 INTERVIEW WITH 15-18 FEAR THE FALLEN INTAMISSIONS 20-26 ALBUM OF 2012 LIVE REVIEWS 27-28

INTAMISSION MUSIC

INTERVIEW WITH SOFEE AND CIRO

JK: How long has Intamission been around? Sophie: About a year. Itʼs only new, so canʼt believe how well it has done. Ciro: To be honest, it was just an idea we had. We didnʼt think weʼd even be able to get interviewers, let alone reviewers. We thought weʼd get about two people, and that would be it. So from just an idea, it has gone really big, so Iʼm quite happy with it. JK: How did you come up with the name? Ciro: Thatʼs a good question! Sophie: Itʼs a song. [To Ciro] Do you have the song?

[Ciro plays Intermission by The Offspring] Sophie: Theirs is ʻIntermissionʼ, ours is ʻIntamissionʼ. We put the ʻAʼ in! JK: What was it that inspired you to start the website? Ciro: I wanted to do something with music. Iʼd tried being in bands, and that failed when I realised I wasnʼt very good at it. So then I thought, “Why not try and set up a record label?” As soon as I found out I had to pay them, when I didnʼt have any money myself, that went out the window! Tried band management, that didnʼt work, so I thought Iʼd try my hand at reviewing and that worked, so Sophie came up with the idea that if I can do it, why not let other people do it. So thatʼs how it expanded, and we never thought that we would be able to get people to do live reviews, or even interviews or photography. Weʼre quite happy that, in the short time that Itʼs

been running weʼve been able to do so much. JK: [To Sophie] You seem to have more of a hand in the website design. How did that come about? Sophie: I used to do it in college, web design, graphic design. I just love it, so I started designing everything, and itʼs taken off from there. I used to do photography and everything like that, so it has all mixed in. JK: Who are your favourite artists? Ciro: All sorts really. I like Shinedown, bands like Godsmack, and I also like The Beatles and all mellowed-out music. Sophie: I like The Milk, theyʼre really good. The Beatles. I like Motown and soul, love that. I grew up with my dad playing it. JK: As for bands that are around at the moment, who do you think is the most underrated? Ciro: Good question. Signed or unsigned? JK: Either… Ciro: For signed bands, and this is just my opinion, Iʼd say The Offspring, because bands like Green Day are getting more publicity and more airplay on MTV, whereas The Offspring seem to me to be more on the backburner, doing their own thing, and using things like Facebook and Twitter to do it for themselves. Sophie: Thinking of an unsigned band, Iʼd have to say it was The Sonic Revolvers. I really like them.  

Theyʼre so good, I could see them being really big. JK: My next question was going to be, “Whoʼs the next big thing?” Would that be your answer? Sophie: Yeah – we got their EP through the other day and itʼs amazing. Loveʻem. [To Ciro] You did the review on them didnʼt you? Ciro: I did and I thought they were quite good. For underrated unsigned bands, Iʼd say the majority of them, because some of the stuff that they come out with is better than some of the signed stuff from proper touring bands JK: So what is it youʼre hoping to achieve with Intamission? Sophie: We didnʼt think weʼd get this far, to be honest! So what weʼve done now is like the biggest thing ever. I canʼt believe it. Ciro: All we wanted to do was let people do what they couldnʼt do in school. If we can do it, they can do it. And use social media as a second foot to spreading their word so you donʼt need to have grades, some do and thatʼs great, but if you donʼt you still get the chance. JK: How will you know when youʼve been successful? Sophie: Weʼve been successful now, I genuinely do. Ciro: The fact that we have a chance to get people on guest lists and do interviews, and actually have record labels come up to us and say, “Review this, review that,” and personally invite us to live gigs, that was something as a teenager I always wanted to have JK: You talked about social media a little, how is it changing the way musicians publicise their work? Sophie: Itʼs changing a lot. Ciro: Publicity-wise itʼs at its best, because kids are always on the Internet, always looking for the next big thing. Being unique with kids is a big thing, so if a band has a unique sound to them, or a unique look, will latch on to it and itʼll spread.

JK: Which channels are the most effective? Sophie: Twitter. There are more people on it who are on constantly. Facebook is not as good really, because hardly anyone goes on it, itʼs more Twitter. We were invited to go on the new MySpace, so weʼre going to see how that goes. Ciro: Itʼs failing at the moment, big time. JK: Whatʼs your opinion of illegally downloading music? Sophie: I donʼt like it. I buy all my music Ciro: Iʼll be honest, if youʼve not got any money itʼs perfect. And if the bands donʼt mind it then itʼs perfect, but everyoneʼs got to make a living. If I was in a band Iʼd be annoyed if people were stealing my work. And iTunes we recently figured out that youʼre just renting for a lifetime, so itʼs not actually your music, which we think is really bad and Iʼm sure everyone else will. Sophie: I like to buy the actual CD. Ciro: Have piece of the band! JK: What do you think of TV talent shows, and how do you think they shape the way that we listen to music? Ciro: Theyʼve really destroyed it. Sophie: Destroyed it totally. Anyone can get a record deal now. Ciro: You have to be a freak or a child puppet just to make music. If anything, thatʼs what angers me more in music. You should see me on a Saturday night! JK: So what do you see as the role of the record label in the future? Sophie: I donʼt think it can go that far; there are loads of bands selling their own music on their own, so I think itʼs going to be self-sold. I donʼt think theyʼve got much of a future. Ciro: To be honest, as long as thereʼs still money around, theyʼll keep going. As long as people keep making bands like One Direction with Major Labels.

INTERVIEW WITH SOFEE AND CIRO

With DIY bands, I think theyʼll get stronger and theyʼll start a revolution. JK: So you think thereʼs still an important role out there for independent labels? Ciro: Yes, definitely, which is why I wanted to do it on my own. JK: And what does the future hold for Intamission? Sophie: Big things! Interviewer: Jason Kenny Pictures: Jason Kenny  

SOFEE CIRO

TWITTER: @SOFEEB

FACEBOOK: SOFEE BRYAN

EMAIL: SOPHIEBRYAN@YMAIL.COM

TWITTER: @CIROGXD

FACEBOOK: CIRO GUADAGNO

EMAIL: CIROGUADAGNO@YMAIL.COM

INTERVIEW WITH SOFEE AND CIRO

INTERVIEWS Do you think that because two of you are brothers you are stronger as a band? Actually yes I think it does oddly make us better as a band. Andrew and I usually know exactly what each other are thinking for different song ideas and parts and instrumentals to songs. Even if we argue itʼs never serious. Like, if you insult someone thatʼs not family, it might be hard to repair the bond and that would be pretty difficult in a song writing partnership type situation. So it makes it easier that we have a close relationship and also that we have grown as songwriters and musicians together so we relate to each other well that way too. Who is your biggest influence outside and inside of music? Oh we are influenced by anything that is good I guess that relates to our tastes. The Beatles and John Mayer song writing-wise really top the list. We also love blues and guys like BB King and Stevie Ray. The Black Keys, Foo Fighters, Amy Winehouse. Of course a distinction needs to be made in that an influence is different than

trying to copy a style. We love many different artists but arenʼt trying to copy any we want our own style to be known. How did it feel performing at the warped tour? Yeah we played on the 7/21/12 Nassau Coliseum Warped Tour date and it was awesome. There was a ton of people and it was great to be there to see other bands play too. It wasnʼt exactly our scene. Our music is definitely a lot different than what is usually playing there but I think people appreciated our different style. What's it like to have the song I DONʼT LIKE YOU be the most downloaded track in America in 2012? Well youʼre referring to a contest we were in earlier in the year that the song was downloaded the most in the US out of a few thousand bands. We came in first place and got to play at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square, which was a really cool experience. Who is the song about? You know I canʼt give that away. Letʼs just say it was someone that I wasnʼt really happy with at the time (laughs). How does Recording/writing an album compare to doing an EP? Writing for an album is a much more rewarding process. It has always been our life goal to create a full album that we are proud of every song and I think we have done just that. Also, an album really marks a time in an artistʼs life well and we feel really happy that we were able to make this album while weʼre young so fans can kind of grow with us as we make future releases. Right now Iʼm 23 years old and Andrew is 21. Beyond that it isnʼt really much different writing for an EP or an album aside from the album needing more songs. To people who are reading this for the first time and don't really know you or your music what would you say to them to get them to check you out? Well we write all of our own songs and weʼre not trying to be anyone but ourselves. I think there is a certain integrity to bands and artists who focus on developing their own personality and style rather than compromising it to fit into the musical culture of the moment. Thatʼs really what we stand for. Weʼre an independent band and do it all by ourselves with really no support from any outside source. What's your opinion about the music industry at the moment? I think the music industry, specifically radio and “pop” formats have been way over saturated with dance-pop and electronic music. That cycle probably happened in the 80ʼs to an extent too. I believe that organic music, creative song writing, and real musicians that play instruments and have practiced their craft will really start to come to the forefront in the coming years. 2012 may have been the tip of the iceberg. Weʼre seeing artists like this maintain popularity and leak into pop radio such as The Lumineers, Mumford and Songs, The Black Keys, Gary Clark Jr., ZZ Ward, Ed Sheeran, Phillip Phillips, and more. It is only a matter of time because I do believe in a cyclical nature of the music industry. Itʼs just that the quality of organic artists needs to be there to catch the wave. Andrew and I want to hopefully lead a new generation of songwriters and bands to the forefront of music again. In recent years “pop” has become a dirty word that lacks integrity. The Beatles were pop, and theyʼre the most respected band in history. Pop can be cool again if originality, creative cool music, and good song writing is brought back into the equation. What's your greatest accomplishment in 2012? Getting our music on MTV and The Kardashian Show was pretty big for us. So was playing the Warped Tour date. Iʼd go with those. Do you have any plans of coming to the UK to promote your new album? We would absolutely love to come. If we get enough support and people buying the album so that it makes it financially realistic we would be there in a heartbeat. What are your bands plans for 2013? Well Andrew and I are finishing up recording 16 new songs in December and January. 12 of those songs we are going to make into our first full-length album for release later in 2013. 4 of the songs weʼre planning to make an EP with to give our fans something in the meantime before the album. That will be released in January or February. Aside from that in the spring we will be shooting a few music videos for songs on the album and preparing promotional plans so we are ready when the time comes to release the album. The music I think is awesome – getting people to know that we exist will be the challenge. We are doing everything independently so obviously we have limited resources. Interviewer: Ciro Guadagno Photo: Courtesy of The Como Brothers

THE COMO BROTHERS BAND INTERVIEW  

INTERVIEWS All At Sea are a five-piece alternative rock band from Essex formed in 2011, consisting of members Jay (vocals), Jason (guitar, vocals), Ben (guitar), Alex (bass) and Duncan (drums). They describe their sound as ʻmelodic rock with post-hardcore influencesʼ. 2012 has been a busy year for the upcoming unsigned band – they have released their EP Sink Or Swim, had frequent airplay on the likes of BBC Introducing and acted as main support to various bands including Your Demise. Intamission Music had a quick chat with Alex and Ben from the band. Who are your musical influences? Alex: As a band, the likes of Young Guns, Deaf Havana and A Day To Remember. Weʼre all influenced by different genres and artists though. Jason, our main songwriter, listens to a lot of pop punk like We Are The In Crowd, while our drummer Duncan is a fan of hardcore bands like Parkway Drive, which is reflected in the heavy drum beats on our EP. Our vocalist Jay likes cheesy music like Take That and Robbie Williams, so as you can see we have a wide variety of influences! We take different elements from various musical genres, but as a whole our sound is based around melodic guitar riffs and catchy vocal lines. Ben: Anything from Take That to The Black Dahlia Murder! How about your personal favourite bands? Alex: Mine would have to be Coheed and Cambria. I really admire Claudio Sanchez, he actually motivated me to pick up my guitar and start playing. Heʼs definitely one of my biggest musical inspirations. Ben: Iʼd say You Me At Six and Young Guns. Iʼve been a fan of both since they first started out, and when youʼve been listening to a band for a long time, you can really see the progression in their music. They inspire me in regards to the way we approach writing songs. Weʼve stopped trying to write songs we think people will like, and focus on writing structured music that we know sounds good. Youʼve acted as main support to the likes of Your Demise, All Forgotten and Don Broco. Do you have any plans to go on tour soon? Alex: We would love to go on tour but itʼs difficult at the moment as we all have full-time jobs. Weʼre trying to arrange a summer tour for next year though, as well as more gigs across the country. People from Glasgow, Brighton and loads of other big cities keep asking us to play in their hometown, so weʼre hoping to do a lot more shows next year. Ben: Weʼre planning to shoot a music video early next year and get some merch sorted, as well as hard copies of our EP. Do you ever get nervous when performing on stage? Alex: I used to get pretty nervous when we first started, especially with playing to larger crowds, but Iʼm more used to it now and love the buzz of doing a gig. As we bonded as a band and got to know each other better, our stage presence has improved and we just concentrate on having fun at gigs. Ben: Not at all, I love playing live; itʼs the best part of being in a band. Iʼm really not the type of person whoʼs bothered by what people think – if they donʼt like it, I donʼt care. I love being on stage.

ALL AT SEA INTERVIEW

If you could choose a band to go on tour with, who would it be?

Alex: Touring with Young Guns or Deaf Havana would be amazing. In fact, going on tour with anyone would be an honour – knowing people like our music enough to want to come and watch us play would be great. Ben: Probably You Me At Six or Young Guns, theyʼre both brilliant bands. I met Gustav from Young Guns recently – I definitely have more respect for him and his band after meeting him and seeing how friendly and down to earth he was. Whatʼs the best thing about being in a band?

Alex: The fans, theyʼre great - I use the bandʼs Twitter page to interact with them whenever I can. I love checking my phone to find a message from a fan telling me theyʼve just bought our EP, itʼs an incredible feeling to hear that people actually like the music and connect to the lyrics. Also, travelling and doing gigs in different places is awesome. We all love playing music and have band practice at least once a week. Thereʼs nothing better than putting our material out there and receiving positive feedback from the fans. Ben: Buying the equipment... (!) Nah I would say playing shows and meeting so many new people. Nothing beats talking to fans after a gig and hearing how much they love the music. Being able to travel around the country and play shows in different locations is awesome. What about the worst?

Alex: I canʼt really think of anything bad! It can get quite expensive, I guess. We put a ridiculous amount of effort into our EP – it took months to record and we had to book time off work, but it was 100% worth it. Making money isnʼt a concern for us right now – we just love playing music, and we only charge so we can continue to do that. What are your opinions on illegal music downloading, given how much of a struggle it is to fund being in an unsigned band?

Alex: I personally have never illegally downloaded any music – I will either buy the CD or download it on iTunes. People seem to think unsigned bands make money with every gig they play or CD they sell but itʼs the complete opposite – theyʼre forgetting it costs money to arrange these gigs. So yeah, Iʼm not keen on it at all. Obviously weʼve put some free songs up on our Facebook page, to get the music out there and allow access to our fans. Whatʼs been the highlight of being in All At Sea so far?

Alex: When we played T Fest in Grays. We were a couple of gigs into our new line up and settling into our new band format, and playing in front of a huge crowd was awesome. After the gig, Duncan, our drummer, came and said “guys, thereʼs a load of people outside waiting for us!” We thought he was taking the piss as he likes to joke around, but when we went round there, there were about 50 people at the gates waiting to meet us and get autographs. That was such an amazing feeling, I felt like a proper rockstar! Ben: Supporting Your Demise. Weʼre big fans of theirs, and to share a stage with them and hang out afterwards was pretty cool. Recording our EP was also a massive highlight for us; we all felt a proper sense of pride when it was finished. Where do you see the band in five years time? Alex: Thatʼs a hard question. Hopefully weʼll still be together and going strong! We do have our little arguments every now and then, but hopefully weʼll have played more gigs, made some more EPs and possibly have an album out...weʼll just take it as it comes. If we got signed and things really kicked off for us, it would be great to tour around the world! Ben: Iʼd love to be playing shows all over the world. Thatʼs the dream anyway! I think thatʼs what every young kid who wants to be in a band dreams about. Realistically though, if weʼre still here in five years time doing what we love – making and playing music, Iʼll be happy.

All At Seaʼs first EP Sink Or Swim is available to download on iTunes now.

 Interviewer: Tabbi Lee Photos: Courtesy Of All At Sea

CONTINUED…

REVIEWS HYPODIVE – WATERFALL – SINGLE REVIEW

Waterfall is the new track by New York Rockers Hypodive and is a very catchy, up beat number that was performed and recorded at Santos Party House, which they then lovingly made a video out for the song and letʼs face it; every one loves a live music video. The song kicks off with an energetic over flow of guitar, bass and drums that act as a magnet drawing the pop rock element to the anthem which is powered by Mohawked songstress JKLN, the cherry on the top of this very tasty cake with a very crunchy centre. With the drum fills and power guitar riffs surrounding the song

and catapulting Waterfall to another level there's no stopping for Hypodive heading into a hopeful new album release in the near future, so go on Dive in to Hypodive's world.  Ciro Guadagno

ANGELO TRISTAN – IʼM COMING HOME TONIGHT – SINGLE REVIEW Itʼs always a breath of fresh air to hear of a solo artist picking up their first instrument at a young age, and knowing in their heart what they strive to be as the years fly by and everybody else is sat twiddling their thumbs. This is the story of Angelo Tristan, who upon hearing Bon Joviʼs ʻLivinʼ On A Prayerʼ at the age of 8 decided that he wanted to create a musical sound with a difference. He went on to pick up his first guitar when he turned 12, and thus started to write songs that would hopefully crack him into the music industry. Originally Tristan started out in a band he formed at school, The Difference Between, for which he wrote his first song Moving On; gaining inspiration from personal family issues to create a song that would reflect his emotions. I have done my research and listened to the few tracks I could find that were performed by the band, and I can understand his decision to leave in pursuits of a solo career after four years; Angelo is clearly the front man and main attraction of the band, and with his infectious voice and original sound, there seems to be little need or emphasis on a back up band. His new single ʻIʼm Coming Home Tonightʼ features the soft sound of country rock accompanied by Tristanʼs husky voice, which only works in favour of his innovative sound. Together with an edgy and memorable guitar solo in the bridge, which provides a dramatic change of pace from the beginning of the song, all the correct elements are in place to make this a strong release and potential hit. I hope to be seeing and certainly hearing a lot more of Angelo Tristan in the very near future. Angelo Tristanʼs new single ʻIʼm Coming Home Tonightʼ is available to buy on iTunes now. Jennifer Sharpe

REVIEWS THESE DAYS – SOULS – ALBUM REVIEW

These Days offer some impressive catalogue after only forming just over a year ago. Pop Punk is their genre and they are more You Me At Six than Green Day but nevertheless, if encouraging good music is your thing then give these guys a gentle nudge. They have a promising start with over 20,000 views on their music videos on YouTube and their first mini album has been received well. So now what about their first full album that is out in December 2012. Well...they're tight, they are pop punk, they're new, and you need to check them out if you like new music. Structurally the songs aren't too complex but who gives a damn. With all tracks offering good overdubs and backing vocals, with pounding symbol smashing, bass slapping and string pulling, there isn't a track

on the album I would recommend avoiding. If you can't happily listen to that pop punk then don't bother these guys unless you're willing to be converted, you never know they might just do it for you with tracks like Heart of Gold (my personal fave, even if the album wasn't to my personal taste). In my opinion Heart of Gold is the best these guys have to offer. The worst aspect of Heart of Gold and more generally over a lot of These Days tracks is that I find the lyrics weak and hard to understand, however musically, it's quite challenging and pleasing. The album is well balanced and the drums come through well, the bass adds support to the rhythm section nicely and the whining guitars can be heard well over the top. Slight queries as to where their Foo Fighter influence fits into their music, because you can't hear them in there. But having already played with the likes of You Me At Six, Polar Bear Club, OctaneOK, if these guys are on the support when you go to your next gig it's worth making sure you catch their set, if that's the stuff that does it for you. www.engineerrecords.com www.facebook.com/engineerrecords    Tim Gower

REVIEWS ARCELIA – IN TIME – EP REVIEW

Anyone who's a fan of dreamy, acoustic guitar music and soft, wistful melodies will want to get their mitts on Arcelia's new EP This Time. Over the course of the three tracks, the trio combine folky riffs with soulful harmonies - all placed on top of the smooth sounds of violin - to create the ideal chill-out heaven. The title track is a perfect example of how Arcelia strike a chord with their tender lyrics. The song is one of trust and regret, promising: "This time I won't let you down, I will stay around". Itʼs catchy but woeful, moving and yet somehow uplifting – a

clever mix, if you ask me. Next up, The Long Man. This is where – in my humble opinion – the EP is let down slightly. The least striking of the three songs, there is nothing particularly distinct about the out dated “ooh-oohing” and the gentle strumming. Indeed, this makes up most of the introduction to the track and I canʼt say it gets much more interesting after that. Undoubtedly my favourite song on the EP is She's Not Lost, which is where Theresa Gallagher really comes into her own. Velvety vocals meet delicate strings, and the lyrics are even more touching than this year's John Lewis Christmas advert (yes, it's possible). Although Arceliaʼs sound is warm, clever and deliciously mellow, I have been left wondering where they could fit into the current music market. Nevertheless, this EP is definitely worth a listen and who knows, maybe Iʼll be proved wrong.    Jessica Cole

fiN – LIFE IS WASTED ON THE LIVING/LUCKY YOU – SINGLE REVIEW The band fiN, from Wandsworth, UK is unconventionally releasing each track of their new album under their own label, Artisan Records, as 7" vinyl singles and mp3's containing videos and extra features. Fans can pick up the vinyl's at gigs and will have the ability to download the mp3's exclusively from the band's website.  The first single set to be released on December 3rd is the track, "Life Is Wasted On The Living / Lucky You". The song illustrates the charismatic vocals of guitarist and lead vocalist, Luke Joyce, and exhibits the band's animated and energized sound. Having hints of pop and alternative, the track is comprised of buzzing guitars and a reverberating bass line. The most prolific part of the song is the bridge, which comprises of a happy-go-lucky combination of harmonious vocals.

REVIEWS If this first release is any indication of the continuation of the bands high-powered sound throughout the rest of the singles set to be released, then fiN will doubtlessly have an unprecedented and aberrant album to deliver to their fans. To pre-order "Life Is Wasted On The Living / Lucky You", please use the following link http://bit.ly/T1Jz0l.  Kraig A. Whitehair

THE 1975 – SEX – SINGLE REVIEW The 1975 might not have a name that is familiar to many, but this is only the latest in a long line of reincarnations for the atmospheric Manchester indie-rockers. Previously going by various monikers such as Big Sleep and Drive Like I Do, via The Slowdown and Talk House, their latest EP is released under their newest sobriquet. Maybe that's part of the plan though, as anonymity seems to be a popular publicity choice by the band, failing to flaunt their own names and preferring instead to let the music do the talking. Or shouting in this case.

The song Sex opens with distortion-soaked pad synths augmenting rumbling rock drums, bass and overdrive guitar riffs aplenty, reminiscent of underrated Texans, The Secret Machines. All in all, it adds up to a mature rock sound, and a departure from their usual lower tempo offerings. But rock is what is on the menu for today, and the theme of the song backs this up to the hilt; opening with the line 'And this is how it starts / T-shirts off in the back of my van...' and, well you can guess the rest. It is called Sex, after all. The vocals are solid, without an over-abundance of production trickery, so despite the time and effort that has been taken to get this from conception to release, it still retains the sound of a band that ply their trade on the live circuit. But they know their way around the studio too. The production is slick, and despite plenty going on, the sound separation is clear, allowing all of the musical ideas to develop. The energy barely relents for the whole song, carried by the solid rhythm section – think Dominoes by Big Pink. And no gap is left unfilled, either by the guitars or lo-fi synths, and what we're left with is definitely the finished product. So does the future hold big things for The 1975? Definitely, if they can define a clear identity for themselves then theyʼre bound to see their name in lights. Assuming they can decide on one for long enough.    Jason Kenny

EXCLUSIVE ALBUM REVIEW MOTH – ENDLESSLY IN MOTION – ALBUM REVIEW

Endlessly In Motion is the Bone Crunching birth of monster Rockers Moth! With the band having a vision of creating a super force of fans that can rule with an iron fist in the Metal world, this album represents the first steps in that process and what a Giant foot step It is. As the Body of the Moth opens up we see the Structure of the band unfolding in the opening track fittingly named Structure. The song starts of with a cool, chilling guitar riff that helps to introduce the band to the world that are

met by bass and dramatic synth soon after, followed by the unveiling of the violent vocals and pounding drums that complete the creatures first steps into the world. When the album carries on we see the idea behind the master plan taking form and take even more baby steps emphasising the bands place in the institution of metal, pounding down the walls with earth shattering vocals and guitar riffs that shake the foundations of the world of metal as we know it, even with the acoustic introduction of Vast Expansion the band still show how they are out to destroy and will take as many victims as humanely possible. In 2011 Moth had only just found their wings, after this time an idea was in place to in essence take over the world, developing a community in which fans can grow with the band and create a human entity. In January 2013 we see the Beast make its first steps in its first full-length album. As Moth sets out to take over the world of metal donʼt be the one left standing as this life form evolves and takes what it rightfully deserves.

OUT ON 11TH JANUARY 2013        Ciro Guadagno

FEAR THE FALLEN INTERVIEW

JK: How long have you guys been together? Chris: Around two years, and started gigging eighteen months ago. The previous drummer had a mechanical failure so we took Joe on. JK: So how quickly have you incorporated a new drummer into the line-up? Christian: Itʼs a lot better. Our old drummer liked his reggae, so everything seemed to go down that course all the time. With the introduction of Joe and his double bass pedal about twelve months ago, it took us about a month to get gigging again. Rob: Itʼs a lot better now weʼve got a heavier drummer behind us; itʼs definitely pushing us along. JK: So what are you working on at the moment? Sam: A few new songs in the pipeline. Joe: Weʼre recording next week, booked into the studio Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, recording two tracks that are newly-written, and weʼve just recorded two tracks in Manchester over the last couple of months. Chris: Weʼre hoping to sort out some videos for them as well in the near future.  JK: Have you arranged the filming yet? Joe: Nothing as of yet, weʼve put it out on Facebook for ideas on where to film, just trying to get some ideas, but nothing as of yet.

Christian: I think weʼre just going to try and do it ourselves, something low budget. Try and make something out of nothing, really! And then do a proper one, get someone in to do something later on next year. But weʼve got some big gigs coming up. Weʼre at the Manchester Academy, so hopefully weʼll get some good footage from there. JK: So whatʼs the song writing process when you all get together? Do you all contribute, or do you have principal songwriters? Joe: One of the guitarists will come up with a riff, and Iʼll say to them, “Keep playing that,” and put a drumbeat to it. Christian will start wailing over it. Sam: Yeah, it tends to start with a riff and weʼll build on it. Rob: One of us will work on something, and one of us will jump out and say, “Play that again, I like that,” and it just builds around that. Joe: And Christian goes and sits in the corner and writes words, tell us to shut up while weʼre rocking. “Shut up. Stop playing that other song. Youʼre stressing me out!” JK: So the music comes first and the lyrics later? Christian: Yeah, a lot of the time. Weʼve had occasions where, either myself trying to strum a guitar, or Iʼve got something in my head and I try and do something to this. A lot of our earlier stuff

was done like that; using a riff that someone had written a hell of a long time ago, but never used again, and then think, “This lyrics would sound nice with that.” All of a sudden it just takes off from there. Itʼs a good process really, I think. Chris [to Christian]: Youʼve got a big bank of lyrics, or potential lyrics to use. Christian: Notebooks everywhere full of inanimate ramblings!  JK: So do you have any pre- or post-gig rituals? Joe: Get really drunk! [laughs]  JK: Is that pre- or post-gig? Joe and Rob: Used to be during! [laughs]

Joe: It used to be pre-gig till I joined then I sort of banned them from drinking. Christian: Turns out we actually play a lot better sober. Rob: [There] used to be pre-show Jagars. It got a bit silly when we had one after each song. Inaudible lyrics by the end if it! Joe: At my first gig we had a shot after each song. By the end people are asking, “Are you guys a band or just jamming?” JK: So what were your best and worst gigs? Iʼm guessing that fell into the ʻworst gigsʼ category.

Chris: Definitely! There were three bands on a charity evening. I think it was a charity evening, wasnʼt it, about twelve months ago. Joe was new to the band, and the payment for the band was a free bar… [general laughter] We were meant to go on first, but we got put back to being on last, so by the time weʼd watched this couple of other bands we were… well, weʼd had copious amounts of drinks, playing through somebody elseʼs sound system… Joe: And somebody elseʼs drum kit. It just wasnʼt us! JK: “Sound check? Whatʼs a sound check?” Joe: That tends to happen to us. We go to a lot of gigs, play with other bands, and weʼre promised a sound check from the promoter, “Yeah, turn up at this time and get a sound check.” We always turn

up first even though weʼre not headlining, and weʼll get there and, “Oh sorry guys, we canʼt give you a sound check because the other bands have come late.” So that always seems to happen to us, we never get a sound check. Sam: Iʼm used to it now! Christian: Donʼt even tune up any more. Chris: Itʼs a case of learning from that as well. If youʼre told that thereʼs going to be a backline there, we tend to ignore that now and take our own gear down anyway.  Joe: Some of the backlines have been ridiculous. A little ten watt amp.

Chris: And you find that it doesnʼt matter how many effects you use, you canʼt plug them into someone elseʼs amp. You need to at least take your own head down. Rob: They definitely are the worst kind of gigs, where you turn up expecting one thing and itʼs a complete deviation. Chris: Best gig? Sam: Darwen Lights. [general agreement] We got offered main stage at the local festival in Darwen; Darwen Music Live. Chris: It was pretty epic, wasnʼt it? Even though it was raining it was still busy. We had a little mosh pit by us. Yeah it was good! Christian: It was weird playing Lionel Ritchie, wasnʼt it? Knocking each other out over it! JK: What Lionel Ritchie did you play? Christian: [laughs] None. Iʼd love to but these guys wonʼt allow it. Joe: “Youʼll do a Maiden cover now.” “But I want to play ʻHelloʼ!” JK: So what other bands do you most enjoy playing with? Are there some that you play with quite a lot? Thereʼs a band we played with in Manchester called Seventh Shade who weʼre hoping to tour with next year. A similar sort of sound, a really good bunch of lads and we get on with them really well. So weʼre hoping to tour with them. We talk to them quite a lot, and weʼre trying to organise a gig early next year in Preston at Rampage that we play quite a bit. They're really sound guys. Weʼre hoping to get a pre-tour gig just to see how we are at playing together, and hopefully by the middle of next year get a tour together. Thereʼs also the Altered Sky and White Clouds And Gunfire lot from Sound Control. They were a great bunch of people to play with. We had a really good feeling that night. Sam: That was one of our better gigs as well. Joe: Yeah we played Sound Control in Manchester. They were both on a UK tour and we managed to support them, and thatʼs how we met Intamission. Thatʼs who we got the contacts off, and told us to contact them if weʼre going up to Scotland or down to Peterborough. That was a good gig and a good

bunch of guys as well. JK: How much interest have you had from record labels? Rob: We did have a few snifters a few months ago, didnʼt we? Chris: A few through Reverbnation and things like that. Christian: A lot of it was, “You pay us this, and weʼll do this for you.” I know you donʼt get anything for free these days, but we keep hearing horror stories about how people who have been scammed out of their hard-earned roading cash so itʼs like, I donʼt know. Sometimes you donʼt know how to take people when they look legitimate, but you never do know and itʼs hard to take that step. Other than that itʼs just self-promotion. Chris: Weʼre more about increasing fan base at the moment, and getting stuff recorded than actually looking for labels. Christian: Any bit of money we get from the band goes back into the band; we donʼt take a cut out of it. We havenʼt been paid off the band, well, ever really. Joe: Since I joined, the first gig we did, we split the money from that, then after that we had a kitty, and everything that goes in that goes towards our unit that we used to have. Christian: That used to go behind the bar, so it was pointless really! Chris: So a couple of beers occasionally and thatʼs all we take out of it really. JK: How are you using social media to try and promote yourselves? Chris: Thatʼs a lot of it. Weʼve got the Facebook site, which is Fear The Fallen UK. Weʼre on Twitter, though that generally just links into Facebook, so if we put a Facebook update on then it automatically updates on Twitter. So we use that for contact with a few people.  Joe: Reverbnationʼs pretty good as well. Chris: What are we on Twitter? Is it @Fear_The_Fallen …? Weʼre on Northwest Bands. Joe: Soundcloud…

Rob: Everything thatʼs out there, weʼre on. Chris: Weʼve got a YouTube channel, so that should take off when we get some videos on there. Joe: Weʼve got a few on there that were done on mobile phones, they sound alright. Sam: Weʼre working on our own website, so when thatʼs up and running that should help. Joe: It is up at the minute, but itʼs under construction. [pause] Christian: I donʼt understand anything you just said there. Computers? [shrugs] No idea! JK: Thereʼs another band called Fear The Fallen. Do you foresee any problems with that? Joe: No, weʼre better than them! [general laughter] Chris: We have discussed that a few times, havenʼt we? We thought along the lines of, if we do have to change our name, itʼs easier to do that sooner rather than later. I think thereʼs actually two other Fear The Fallens; one of which is American, one of which is Australian. None of them are signed, so I donʼt think it should cause a problem, certainly while weʼre in the UK. Christian: It was really strange. When we first got the inkling of the name, and we were like, “This is our first gig, we havenʼt got a name and we need to put a stamp on it now. Right – Fear The Fallen it is. We all did a Google search and there was nothing, absolutely nothing! And now you search and theyʼve been around for twice as long as us! [laughs] They are a lot different as well though. Rob: One of them is quite heavy. Christian: One of themʼs a metal band. I think one of them have recently changed their name, so that might work… JK: Where do you see yourselves in two years? Joe: Supporting AD/DC. [raucous laughter] Chris: Hopefully weʼd be happy if we saw ourselves with a nice, healthy fan base. Thatʼs the most that we want. Joe: None of us are in it for the money, are we? Personally I just want to tour. Play in city after city, just going for it.

Sam: We just want to get our own stuff out there, see people enjoying it across the country. Thatʼs the main thing. Christian: Hopefully with a tour or two under our belt in two yearsʼ time. Joe: Play some half-decent festivals. Christian: Looking further afield, and start thinking about Europe. Hopefully thatʼs where weʼll be at, definitely pushing for it. Interviewer: Jason Kenny Photos: Jason Kenny  

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ALBUMS OF 2012 HILLARY REYNOLDS BAND - SINCE SEPTEMBER

In today's music scene, the traditional folk genre seems to be an afterthought lost amongst the more commercial sounds of Top 40 radio. However, the Hillary Reynolds Band from Boston, MA, uniquely blends honest folk music with their own interpretation of popular music. The result is exceptional musicians, creating insightful songs that arise from the heart. Producing a sound that crosses over multiple genres while still holding to their traditional folk roots, the Hillary Reynolds Band writes songs that communicate and deliver sincere messages. The band's latest album, Since September, is a collection of 11 wholehearted and genuine tracks that place the focal point on the importance of storytelling. Each song on the album contains a profound eloquence within the lyrics that allow the listener to fully understand

the meaning behind the words. With Hillary's soft-spoken and unpretentious vocals, accompanied by the sanguine instrumentation, the band is able to accentuate their meritorious sound throughout the album. The album is structured in such a way, that it contains a song suitable for any listener to enjoy. The songs "When I'm Dreaming", "Leave No Trace", and "Carry My Burden" are a collection of love songs that showcase Hillary's unprecedented vocals and highlight the band's harmonies. Beautifully written and remarkably delivered, each of the tracks are composed to allow the listener to feel the emotions within the lyrics. With the track "Good As New", the band carries into the pop-country realm. The song tells the story of a man who goes through a break-up and reaches out to his long-distance friend (who happens to me another girl) for comfort and it turns into something more. Other notable tracks on the album are "Kind of Love" and "Know Your Body". By encompassing the quintessential acoustic guitars, violins, and faultless harmonies; both songs are comparable in sound to early Allison Krauss releases. "Know Your Body" is a sensual song that expresses the deep desire to love someone unconditionally and to completely know the person inside and out. The constant theme found in both songs is that it takes work and dedication to embrace the beauty of true love. Hillary Reynolds Band has successfully released an album that brings relevance back to the folk genre. For the passion in the lyrics, exceptional vocals, and divergent music; there is no question that Since September is my choice for the best album of 2012. KRAIG A. WHITEHAIR  

ALBUMS OF 2012 THE MACCABEES – GIVEN TO THE WILD Youʼd think trying to name the Best Album of 2012 would be a difficult question. True, there have been some greats – Animal Collectiveʼs Centipede Hz, Parov Stelarʼs summer release The Princess, and of course, Bobby Womack brought out his wonderful record The Bravest Man in the Universe. However, for me, none of these LPs even came close to an album released right at the start of the year. The Maccabeesʼ Given to the Wild – which came out on January 9th – has remained my most-cherished album of 2012, with no other artist able to overshadow it since. On Given to the Wild, The Maccabees blend their already-established indie sounds with electronic mixes and rhythms to alleviate mournful messages of loss and mortality. The album matches its title perfectly; it is as though the band have kissed goodbye to the era of bouncy guitar rock and welcomed a sinister, yet open and refined new style. By succumbing to their more savage instincts, The Maccabees have provided fans with an LP that is both magical and real, challenging and creative, and above all, absorbing. I may be raving about it now, but I must admit I was sceptical at first. It took a few listens for me to fall in love with the Brighton-based groupʼs move away from feel-good indie tunes to raw, richer sounds. One effortlessly wonderful track is Ayla – in this song, delectable piano melodies move into heavier guitar riffs, while frontman Weeks slurs his way through every line. Later on, Pelican - positioned mid-way through the album - almost kicks the record back into life and brings it out of the woeful reverie created by the first seven tracks. Two of what I believe to be the cleverest songs on the LP are Unknown and Grew Up At Midnight. The former is packed with crescendos and velvety vocals, building up to one of the highest notes in Maccabee song history. We Grew Up At Midnight closes the album tenderly, the lyrics telling a childhood tale and leaving us with our own memories of being young. For me, it is this that makes Given to the Wild so special, and so deliciously personal. We should all be aware of the changing world around us, and while we are, we must remember the days where we were able to give ourselves, quite entirely, to the wild nature of youth. JESSI COLE  

ALBUMS OF 2012 THE HEAVY – THE GLORIOUS DEAD

Take a great voice, plenty of dirty guitar riffs, and a rhythm section thatʼs funkier than James Brownʼs underpants, give it a production thatʼs part Phil Spectorʼs Wall of Sound and part lo-fi bombast, and you get The Heavy. Hailing from the (possibly apocryphal) village of Noid near Bath, The Heavy are best known to date for the emphatic How You Like Me Now; this year saw the release of their second full album, The Glorious Dead. The album opens with dialogue from the trailer of 1966 horror b-movie The She Beast on Canʼt Play Dead. Kettle drums, strings and overdrive guitars back a song seeped in Hammer Horror metaphor: ʻWalk like a zombie, talk too cold / Live in a graveyard like the one I call homeʼ. Like most of the rest of the album, the sound here are big, verging

on orchestral, but with enough restraint when itʼs needed. Next is Curse Me Good, which obeys one of the fundamental laws of music – any melody if whistled will become instantly catchy. While more in the realms of jangly guitar pop, the strings are still evident, and when played pizzicato, give the song a more delicate edge, and reminiscent of McAlmont and Butlerʼs debut. What Makes A Good Man provides something familiar to fans of The Heavyʼs earlier work, and Big Bad Wolf explores the horror movie theme further still, howling Wooooolf! like a wolf proving irresistible for singer Kelvin Swaby. With booming drums, and unison string and guitar melodies, same Olʼ has an air of Led Zeppelin, though maybe not quite as pompous. Further points of interest include the Tom Waits-alike The Lonesome Road, imagine a down tempo Godʼs Away On Business, but without the Cookie Monster on vocals. The album swings to a close with the soulful Blood Dirt Love Stop. Yet more clean guitar stabs over a 12/8 rhythm, with the ubiquitous Stax horns still earning their session fees throughout. All in all, an album that sounds great, not just because of the great sounds, but because the band seem to have a clear objective of how they wanted it to turn out, and have stuck to the plan. The songs are strong, yet varied enough in arrangement to maintain the listenerʼs interest, and the pseudo-vintage production is confident to the point of arrogance. The Glorious Dead – glorious.        JASON KENNY

ALBUMS OF 2012 TENACIOUS D – RIZE OF THE FENIX My album of the year for 2012 would have to be the hilarious Tenacious D and their album The Rize of the Fenix! An album that saw every ones favourite fat rockers rise back into power and took the thrown that was gathering dust from their last movie soundtrack which received a debatable response, but that was the past this is now and this time it's personal! Each acoustically powered tale of strength was hand crafted and molded to the Ds satisfaction, pumping high levels of lyrical greatness through the raspy comic rock vocals of Mr. Jack Black and his hard rocking acoustic partner in crime Kyle Gas. The album saw the birth of epic tracks like Deth Star, 39 and the highly energetic 70s power pop ballad To Be The Best, and these weren't even promoted anywhere prior to the album release! Just an example of what the D can do, always giving you more even when you've listened to the album more than 15 times, a number which I might add is not accurate to the number of times I myself have had the pleasure of listening to my album of the year! Ciro Guadagno

ALBUMS OF 2012 THE ROLLING STONES – GRRR!

A lot of people will crucify me for saying that this compilation album from The Rolling Stones was the best that 2012 had to offer, but for me this album was my favourite. In writing this article I am taking a wild diversion from reviewing the musical content of the album (there's really no point is there, everyone likes the Stones don't they?!). Instead, I focus on how the consequences of this latest release have made it my favourite of the year. So here goes, here are my reasons why I should not be put up on that cross: 1. 50th Anniversary The album signifies 50 years of The Rolling Stones, they truly have spanned generations. It now is possible for a Grandfather, Father and Son to have all gone to see The Rolling Stones as their first gig - crazy! This also means something that is even more amazing, that after 50 years of singing some of the same songs, the (nearly original line up

of) 5 boys still manage to jump up on stage and perform them over, and over, and over, again. Undoubtedly the 50th anniversary does bring your attention to the fact that The Stones are getting on a bit, and perhaps one or two of them shouldn't have made it this far, but hey, I think it's fantastic. (I remember seeing fake cigarette warnings at a festival once, which were designed to be stuck over the real ones, and one in particular read "Dr Atkins is dead. Richards is still alive. I choose Keith's diet.") 2. Struggling Music Industry Many people have made comments in the press saying that the music industry is dying a death, and I have sympathetic views when shows such as the X-Factor and Pop Idol are still aired on television. The format of the show kills the scene to some extent, by creating pop stars with a shelf life of 12 months (until the new series of the show comes out). The "majors" (Sony, Universal and the like) are putting artists with a lucrative, short term future, out onto the market with the only view to make a "quick buck" until something with true talent comes along. This is why Grrr! shows the true greatness of the Stones; Grrr! shot to number 3 in the album charts on it's debut, despite the currently struggling scene in the UK with lots of short term crazes over latest songs and no artists providing strong 2nd or 3rd albums. Some may say this makes it easier for a band with a big brand to be successful with re-releases due to lack of competition from other big names. In reality, a music scene that has lots of short-term crazes, fads and frenzies produces a constant stream of short-term excitement. It is hard for anything "old" (sorry guys) to break back through the haze of new short-lived excitement for the latest 15yr teen heart throb, and to gain public approval. With hope, Grrr! is a perhaps a bit of a nudge to the industry and artists as a whole not to settle for the bad recording contract, and to push for the longer shelf life. Having an artist such as The Rolling Stones is obviously a highly desirable asset to any label, however they are only desirable because they have always continued to produce good music and carry on no matter what. I believe it is arguable that the majors have tainted the market for a few years by encouraging short sighted tactics and allowing artists to settle for them. As an artist, longevity is surely the key. If music is the thing you love and not the money, then being able to perform to the level you aspire throughout your entire career requires forethought and planning. The fact that Grrr! contains only 2 out of a potential 80 tracks which people have not heard/bought before, and can still make it to number 3 on entry (now at number 12 after 3 weeks in the album charts), is testament to the Stone's forethought and planning throughout their career and an example of what a great feat Grrr! is.

ALBUMS OF 2012 3. Doom and Gloom with One More Shot The new tracks on the album, which are always the last two tracks on the last CD of whichever version you purchase (there's a 2,3 and 4 CD option), are just about as good as any other Stones track. Jagger has slightly tarnished my glowing review with Doom and Gloom by making it (intentionally or not) sound topical. At this moment in time when all we ever hear about is the recession, constant referral to "doom and gloom" in the chorus sounds like it is with reference to the recession. This is a mistake (in my opinion) for any track aiming to be timeless, as it jades and ages it. But what can I say about One More Shot? What an incredible track. The greatest thing about the Stones is their iconic sound. You can play a Stones track to any music lover and if you ask who it is, they should be able to answer you with; "that sounds like The Rolling Stones". Yet despite having this iconic sound, no riff is repeated, no song is mistaken for another, each and every is an individual piece of art. So here we have it, tagged onto the best 38, 48 or 78 tracks (depending on which version of the album you have) that The Rolling Stones have ever had to offer, there are these two little gems, which are just as enjoyable to listen to as any of the others preceding them. So now we have a band good enough to be around for 50 years, that can still make it to number 3 in the albums chart, and STILL release new, cool, and vibrant songs with the tried and tested Rolling Stones sound resonating throughout. 4. Did you see the ticket prices for the tour?! As with the release of any album, there comes a tour. Although one is not required for The Rolling Stones to do the other, they haven't toured in half a decade, so there was serious high demand for their November shows at the O2 Arena in London. There has been many a debate and discussion within the industry about what is to be done about "secondary ticketing", for those of you unfamiliar with the term, this is basically touting and certain sites such as seatwave and viagogo sell on tickets they have bought for the show at greatly inflated prices. Consequently this is great news for the secondary ticket selling sites or the individual touts, but the venue doesn't profit and the artist doesn't benefit as the average fan who buys the albums, the singles and the t-shirts etc. can't now afford to go to the show. For example for The Rolling Stones gigs in November 2012, tickets with a face value of £90 (£106 incl. booking fees) were being sold on secondary sites for £306. The greatest example of this ridiculousness is the best floor tickets with a face value of £375, were sold for a wallet crippling high amount of £11,000! Such horrific secondary ticketing, with this gig throwing this issue in particular into public debate, might just encourage everyone to take note of just how severe the problem is and to do something about it. Whilst a recent Supreme Court ruling has helped enforce the continuous breach of standard conditions that usually appear on tickets (i.e. they may not be transferred/ re-sold for a value higher than face value), there are doubts as to the extent that the law and the courts will be able to enforce and supervise these activities. Many commentators elude that whilst the law may be on the promoterʼs side, there needs to be an element of "self regulation" to some extent within the industry. The problem is a difficult one for there is no real way of stopping entrepreneurial individuals from making money from selling on tickets, legally or not, within the current means of distributing and presenting tickets. Potentially a Glastonbury style ticket system might be called for with pictures of the purchaser on tickets, or perhaps individual barcodes for individual tickets would be another way of ensuring that tickets are not re-sold at values higher than face value. Would this not lead to possibilities of venues that are not full if people cannot attend last minute for some reason, due to the difficulties or non-transferability of tickets? Perhaps the easiest way of changing attitudes over re-selling tickets may be to just show up these secondary selling sites for what they really are, and to encourage anyone wishing to sell on their tickets to use a FACE-VALUE RESALE WEBSITE such as Scarlet Mist. There are my reasons why a compilation album is the best album of 2012, and how the importance of some of the consequences of it's release provide a thinking point, which will hopefully transform into a turning point over some of the key issues the music scene faces today. TIM GOWER  

ALBUMS OF 2012 JACK CARTY – BREAK YOUR OWN HEART When I first listened to Jack Carty's 2012 release Break Your Own Heart I was hooked. Having only heard one of older singles I was pleasantly surprised. Jack Carty, a typical folkie, each track beautifully written. The album explores the themes of love, pursuing a dream, travel. Each track is beautifully crafted with banjos, pianos, cellos and guitars, the lyrics displaying Carty's ability to capture the listenerʼs attention, observational and witty. "Unwashed hair and a nose-ring staring back at me, a portrait of the Melbourne indie-hipster scene," he sings, at the beginning of the third track Everything Unhappily. The opening track 'The Length Of Canada' is the perfect opener. “I'll make it home in memory of you” is the stand out line from the track and sets the rest of the album up. My favourite track from the record 'She's Got A Boyfriend' features towards the end album and presents Carty's ability to write not only tame folk songs but has the ability to include more upbeat tunes, this track almost at a country stop complete with a raving harmonica tune and lunatic chorus. On my favourites list of 2012, Carty is set to be a stand out in the Australian independent music industry and this album shows that exactly. This album will break your heartstrings and you'll find yourself searching for more, but absolutely content with album. COURTNEY HART

SOFEEʼS TOP 10 SONGS OF 2012

CIROʼS TOP 10 SONGS OF 2012

1. Jake Bugg – Two Fingers 2. Brouhaha – Cheap Champagne 3. The Feud – It Ainʼt Right 4. The Lumineers – Ho Hey 5. Of Monsters & Men – Little Talks 6. Passion Pit – Take A Walk 7. Jungle Doctors – Boat Song 8. Tommy Archer – No Turning Back 9. We Are The Ocean – Bleed 10. Hello Bear – I Dropped The Screw In The Tuna

1. Jack White – Freedom At 21 2. Tenacious D – Senerita 3. Shinedown – Enemies 4. Flyleaf – Fire Fire 5. Godsmack – Come Together 6. Psy – Gangnam Style 7. The Milk – Picking Up The Pieces 8. The Milk – Mr Motivator 9. Billy Talent – Surprise Surprise 10.The Como Brothers Band – I Donʼt Like You  

LIVE REVIEWS

Mog Stanley took to the stage with a cool calm, toe tapping, melodic Jazz groove making the

stage his own, fitting the sit down atmosphere to a tee, all this from one guy and his Fender.

The jazzy rocker introduced the sets beat

with a sneaky, casual bit of leg action

that from time to time was joined by

a tambourine, simple but effective.

along with lyrics and vocals Mog Stanley

Is a one of a kind Master of his art!

Unfortunately the set lacked the energy

that it needed to set Manchester's Roadhouse alight

an unfortunate factor but a factor non-the less.

taking nothing away from Mog's one man

band like musicianship and excellent rocky road

american guitar riffs that sent my foot into a toe

tapping frenzy all the way through the set.

Whilst Mog and his guitar do make a great team, I do feel that he would make an amazing front

man, taking the reins of his own band plus a shed load more interaction that lost him the war this

evening.

So good and bad on both sides, Mog needs to rethink his live performance as much as he does his tremendous material that saved him on this cold December evening Ciro Guadagno Photo: Sofee Bryan

LIVE REVIEWS The Jungfraus

In Danteʼs Eclipse - Social Aneurysm – Sentry Manchester Roadhouse

29th December 2012 “So what can we expect tonight?” four-piece rock outfit Sentry are asked in their dressing room. “Big riffs!” they reply in unison, before bounding on stage. And there music abounds with riffs – great big heavy ones. For a young band so early in their career, Sentry have a well-rehearsed sound that portends a bright future. One to keep your eyes on perhaps.

Next are the gleefully shambolic Social Aneurysm, who, as their name suggests, are a punk threesome, their set laden with Green Day-esque diatribe and self-deprecating humour, though the latter at the expense of the music on occasion. With more than one aborted attempt at songs, Social Aneurysm run the risk of mistaking punk arrogance for indifference.

Now itʼs the turn of Horror Glam quartet In Danteʼs Eclipse, a band who take their image seriously. Part Hanoi Rocks glam, part Clockwork Orange swagger, In Danteʼs Eclipse are clearly no strangers to the stage, their performances are flawless and interspersed with just the right amount of rock star mannerisms; lunging guitar solos and foot-on-the-wedge-amp vocal angst, and looking every inch the headline act. Finally the five guys that make up The Jungfraus take to the stage. With their quirky brand of psych-pop they seem at ease in front of the

modest crowd. The band have plenty of banter with the crowd, particularly useful during one or two technical difficulties as some unseen gremlin chews through the odd cable or two. But no matter – the boys take it in their stride, laugh it off and are soon on to the next song. The music is intelligent, and catchy enough to hold your interest marry this with an

LIVE REVIEWS

accomplished performance and you get a band that is well worth checking out live. “Now letʼs pretend that weʼve gone off stage, and youʼre all screaming for more…” jests singer Mick Kenyon, before launching into their encore – an inspired cover of Del Shannonʼs Runaway. Much to the delight of the crowd, who cheer the bandʼs performance with enthusiasm. And then suddenly itʼs all over. The lights go up and the crowd shuffles off into the night. While itʼs unlikely that these four bands will share the same stage again, theyʼre bound to be coming to a subterranean music venue near you soon. GO and see them – you wonʼt regret it.            Review: Jason Kenny Photos: Jason Kenny

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