Author Archives: OI

Introducing: Rescue The Astronauts

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by Emma

Introducing Rescue The Astronauts

You may recall that in November we announced the untimely split of The Mascara Story, and promised you news of frontman Daveit Ferris’ new project. Well, here is the news we have been waiting for! It is my delight to introduce five-piece Rescue The Astronauts.

The line up has been unstable for the last couple of months, with the departure of originally recruited drummer Adam and the search for a pianist, second guitarist and new drummer (none other than TMS drummer Jay)! We finally have it though, and I can reveal that the final line up is as follows –

Daveit Ferris – Guitar/Vocals/Piano (former band The Mascara Story)
Ciaran Harrigan – Guitar/Vocals/Piano (former band Blackbox Regrets)
Ruairi Connolly – Bass/Vocals (former band Traffic Episode)
Angie McCrisken – Piano/Violin/Vocals
Jay Dickson – Drums/Percussion (former band The Mascara Story)

Daveit and Ciaran have been working on a set of demos for the first of two planned EPs and the whole band will be working together during the next few months to write for their first recording session with Neal Calderwood on March 1st. A couple of the guys have worked with Neal previously and had high praise for him when we met up last August, so I am confident that the quality of the first EP will be excellent!

RTA have also confirmed that their first show EVER will be at Derry’s Nerve Centre on March 8th. Lets keep our fingers crossed that they will make appearances here in the UK later in the year!

So, you may now be wondering what these guys sound like. This is a rock band, smoothed out with piano, harmonies and delicate vocals to create something a little more sophisticated than the average offering from many groups around at the moment.

Unfortunately only two RTA demos are available to hear at the moment (Eventually We Make It Home and You’re A Shiver), however they are absolutely beautiful tracks and you can access these by visiting the website www.rescuetheastronauts.co.uk. I really hope that you do – this is just a little taster of great things to come and I would hate for anyone to miss out.

If you like these, I would also recommend checking out some of the other tunes you have may have missed out on at www.daveitferris.co.uk. Here you can find songs by previous bands The Mascara Story, Traffic Episode and Future Real along with some of Daveit’s solo work.

So hurry up, push his buttons and get listening to some high quality and inspirational music!

Emma

Posted in OI

Stretch Arm Strong

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by Emma

Stretch Arm Strong – Leeds Joseph’s Well – 16th January 2006

Stretch Arm Strong descended with a fury upon the small but packed Joseph’s Well and what a performance!

It seemed that the main band were almost in danger of being upstaged by support band hardcore punkers With Honor, who blitzed an excitable crowd with tracks from their awesome third album This Is Our Revenge. With Honor had a great interaction with the audience and sported a wicked sense of humour! The room filled out for the Conneticut five-piece, who use their music as a vehicle to convey meaningful messages, much like popular peers Rise Against. Their set is high spirited and so impressive that I immediately bought a copy of This Is Our Revenge.

So, could Stretch Arm Strong keep up with the pace set by their supporting act? Yes, they just about managed it! Another fusion of hardcore and punk, Stretch Arm Strong proved to be well worth seeing. Vocalist Chris McLane gave it his all – making huge efforts to talk to the crowd and have them jumping up and down and air-punching along with them. Favorite tracks performed included an awesome rendition of Hearts On Fire from the Free At Last album, and fans ripped up the front of the crowd during older track We Bleed from the 2003 Engage album.

Many fans broke a sweat and thoroughly enjoyed the show, I would definitely recommend watching either of these two bands if the opportunity comes your way.

Emma

Richard Ashcroft – Break The Night With Colour – Single Review

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by Louise

He’s been away for a while, but now he’s back, and judging by this single he’s on top form. Richard Ashcroft has a knack of sculpting beautiful music. This, his first single from his new album, is no exception. Break The Night With Colour is a gentle, melodic track, lovingly glazed with Richard’s instantly recognizable and somewhat soothing voice. The single is taken from his third album, which is set for release on January 23rd, and it sounds as if it will be as much a triumph as his previous work, both with The Verve, and as a solo artist.
Break The Night With Colour is out NOW!


2005 and all that

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by Jo

2005.. year of the breakdown – dropping down into the darkness and pinging back up

It all started well enough, for them. A good rest over Christmas after that tour, and all the shit that goes with it. Literally.. lots of toilet paper used by band and entourage. Nasty.. Sixsister spent a lot of time recovering from the tour’s events.

Off to do some recording, starting at Dan’s pad, then in London, then Wales, where everyone ate too much, apparently. And made friends with the late Puma (see studio diary on darknessrock.com), a ginger cat with superb taste. The drums were all laid down first, Ed in the spotlight…

While all of us were happily contemplating the new album’s release, reassured by photos from the studio, dark doings were afoot. Some of us had had inklings of discord, given away by body language and various conversations. Frankie wasn’t happy. But, quite how unhappy, and the reactions to the cause of his disquiet, were not to become common knowledge for some time. Since then, of course, we’ve had many many words in the press, from Justin and Dan, with one or two from Frankie on his myspace page. Banging heads together seemed like a good thing to do.. still does.. but anyway. By then, Frankie was months gone, to be remembered by the faithful. Whatever happened, he was there at the beginning, and can’t be forgotten by the fans.

In the middle of all this (March) was a trip to play in Dubai, which was about as close to a summer festival as the boys got. Although idiot singers don’t tend to fall off inflatable donuts and hurt their ribs in festival fields.. although damaging ligaments whilst playing football with germans is possible. We had a review of that (gig).. And of the unveiling of Justin’s waxwork on his 30th birthday.

Dan, back home, is watching his band disintegrate, doing the recording, making the tea.. Justin effectively has left the band, thanks to his rift with a still present Frankie, and is concentrating on British Whale, his solo project. When he does finally get into the studio, he’s so impressed with Dan’s work that he decides he just HAS to stay.. but Frankie has to go for everyone’s sake. May 27, the fans are informed, It seems to have been a great relief all round… except for them, as hostilities break out on forum for some time, until a webbie-sized foot is put down. Two weeks later, Dan’s guitar tech Richie Edwards is shot into the limelight as the new bassist.. popular, funny and well liked, he’s the only choice for the boys. Oh, and he can play.. Things burst back into life, and there’s hard work all summer.

Justin’s solo single ‘This Town…’ is released in mid-August, whilst he and Dan are in LA with Roy Thomas Baker, mixing and producing and creating miracles in the middle of a powercut. He doesn’t do any promotion for it, because The Darkness are first and foremost. When Dan brings home that master copy, darklings sigh with relief, and start to get excited. Dates of singles and tours and album release start to emerge. Performances on TOTP and CD:UK are attended by the lucky, as well as a album preview.

Thousands of interview words spring up, and a lopsided picture of the split emerges (no story is ever told from just one angle). Besides, even the fans are sick of it now, and that the boys a re still being asked. Frankie holds his silence, for now. Please, can we just move on?

And as usual, reviews are wide ranging in their opinion, even amongst the fans. The sudden display of in-depth knowledge on instruments, recording, producing, marketing, promotion, band management and lyric writing is quite astounding in the world’s teenage population. The band and Sue must have been tearing their hair out as every small but vital error they made is ruthlessly exposed by experts masquerading as ordinary fans.

It is, however, a triumphant return. The year has been marred by who knows how many tears, tantrums, rehab, accidents, injuries… just on forum.

The Lords of Hell and Heaven know of the stresses and cracks and rebuilding that went on within the band. Each appears to have given their blessing. The promo photos have been a delight, they all look fantastic.. Justin looks much healthier than he has done, and happier.

Following on from the boys’ own album credits, ours are:

First and foremost, the fan’s champion Rob Shaw, for everything, above and beyond the call of duty. We salute you.

Sue Whitehouse, Gemma Shaw, Lucy Leigh, Katie Walker. We’d like to add our thanks to the boys’, because without your support, we’d be Darkness-less. Especially Katie, who probably has been a bit overwhelmed by hyper boy…

All those darklings who have amused us, inspired us, become our friends and stuck by us in our hour of need.

To those who have abused us.. our pity.

Richie, Ed, Justin and Dan… for the music, the wit, for bringing us all together, and for the nice photos to look at. Long may you rock, and the dark force be with you forever.

2006. It’s gonna be a good thing. ‘Is it Just Me?’ out on 20th Feb

Blast From The Past – War of The Worlds

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by Lucie

Blast From The Past

Jeff Wayne’s musical version of The War of The Worlds (1978)

Cast list:
Richard Burton as The Journalist
David Essex as The Artilleryman
Phil Lynott as Parson Nathaniel
Julie Covington as Beth
Justin Hayward
Chris Thompson

Jeff Wayne’s musical version of The War of The Worlds is something any ordinary rock fan (certainly of my generation) wouldn’t look twice at. Indeed, if it weren’t for the multi-million “epic” new film, extremely loosely based on the original story (ha! I spit on you, Spielberg!) the album would still be dwindling in the ‘Insignificant’ section of HMV. But to me, this record is the greatest record of all time.
My mum was given a version of the original for her birthday in 1978; a highlighted version, including just the songs and very little commentary from Sir Richard Burton. Her original interest was solely in the great gravel-faced, gravel-voiced gypsy-boy David Essex, but her love for the record soon extended further than “the lovely way he says ‘metal’”. Gimme a break.
Thus, the record was repeatedly and sometimes painfully inflicted upon her children, and through years of indoctrination, we’ve grown to love it too. The record is certainly a journey, lasting a full 90 minutes. That’s 90 minutes of pure musical and lyrical talent, as well as education on what to do if Martians happen to land in a town near you. Richard Burton’s “voice of God” introduces the story, with the timeless opening speech movie buffs might recognise as being similar to the one in the film, and more well-read people will recognise as being similar to the one in the original H.G. Wells novel. Once he’s stirred up a sinister atmosphere, string orchestras and guitars and drums and synthesisers burst into life and create en enormous backdrop for the story to be told through narration and song. Now this is epic.
I think this record can confidently be described as a rock album, and part of the reason for this is the inclusion of David Essex, Phil Lynott and Justin Hayward. Hayward is the first to be heard, not with a part in the story as such, but as the voice of the pain and desolation of the people as they have to separate and flee from the alien intruders. ‘Forever Autumn’ is a highly emotional love song, with The Moody Blues’ lead singer expressing perfectly the sadness in the lyrics. The song was one of the six to be lifted and released as a single, becoming a huge hit.
Phil Lynott has a duet part with Julie Covington, as a Parson and his wife. The Parson believes that the Martians are in fact demons that humans have drawn from Hell because of their sins, and eventually has all his blood drained by them. Nice.
As a rock god, Lynott gets the rockiest song of the album, his distinctively gruff voice contrasting with Covington’s silky smooth warble. Their duet is where the lyrics stand out most: “Now darkness has descended on our land, and all your prayers cannot save us; like fools we’ve let the devil take command of the souls that God gave us; to the alter of evil like lambs to the slaughter we’re led; when the demons arrive the survivors with envy the dead!” …Pure frikkin’ poetry.
Essex has the role of the slightly mad Artilleryman, hell bent on surviving in the “brave new world” he’s planned out. Unfortunately, as I say, he’s a bit of a nutter, and through the eyes of the Journalist, the listener realises that his plight is hopeless. Still, Essex’s Artilleryman is played flawlessly; which is a quality shared by each and every person involved in this project. There is a certain amount of acting skill required for something like this, and every singer and musician rises to it, taking on their roles as their own. Not like that poncy Tom Cruise.

This is an album that must be listened to solely in ones own company, with eyes closed and brain mostly switched off. The haunting aura of the music, and bellowing cries of “UUULLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAA” from the Martians’ fighting machines can only fully be appreciated this way, and the story be absorbed. Jeff Wayne’s musical version of The War of The Worlds is a completely different listening experience. It’s not like a CD you can just flick through if you get bored – so take heed; it’s not for the impatient if you’re a first listener. But it’s definitely worth serious attention. And you get to feel all smug and cultured afterwards.

Posted in OI

Alkaline Trio Gig Review

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by Lobby

ALKALINE TRIO
LEEDS UNIVERSITY

Waiting outside the venue in Arctic temperatures for almost an hour after the doors were meant to open is not a good start to the night. Unfortunately the night didn’t start well for Alkaline Trio either, having expensive laptops stolen from their dressing rooms which caused the delay at the doors.
Pissed off and cold the opening act didn’t do much to liven up the atmosphere. The ironically named Sunshine were a dreary start to night with no real specific sound to call their own. A mix of emo cross punk riffs and downbeat vocals combined for a forgetful set. Luckily the night picked up from there.

Mike Park was up next armed with an acoustic guitar and a projector screen and provided a change from the usual supports usually seen at these kind of gigs. Mike Park is the man who originally came across Alkaline Trio in Chicago and recognised their obvious potential, but it became apparent that Mr Park’s talents don’t just lie in finding bands. The projector showed images of Park’s childhood heroes and the problems encountered of being an Asian kid in an American High School; these were often humorous but became more thought provoking as he moved onto showing problems of prejudice in his life. The images backed up by funny stories and amazing acoustic songs set the crowd in the right mood for what was to come.

As Alkaline Trio went on stage clad in their customary black it became obvious that the majority of the sold out crowd were people not old enough to drink and were extremely excitable, not a bad thing but when the barrier collapsed at the front it began to get annoying! The sound in the refectory was spot on and the three Chicago punks made full use of it with a long set that sounded clear and full of energy. The new album, Crimson, which has proved a big success was covered comprehensively as well as past cult classics, there were however some glaring omissions for example Stupid Kid.
Highlights of the night were This Could Be Love with Dan Adriano’s unique voice giving real feeling to the song, and the encore with Radio which ended the night on a high. Alkaline Trio are fully capable of making themselves superstars in the same vein as Green Day or Blink, they have more than enough talent and more substance to their lyrics than there pop-punk counterparts and Matt Skiba is a frontman who has star potential in spades.
After such a shit start the night got better with Mike Park and was more than worth the wait by the time Alkaline Trio had finished.

Imperial Vipers – Promised Land – Single Review

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by Emma

Woah there – have I slipped back in time about thirty years?! Imperial Vipers have an unrushed classic rock sound unmistakeably inspired by some of the legends. Think Zeppelin, sit back and smile! Promised Land is an awesome piece of grinding rock with a thick bass and crisp riffs topped off by one of those voices that was just made for rock.

Lyrically, Promised Land may be a little more daring and sleazy, and this pulls the track back into the now. Keep an eye on the ‘Vipers because I have a feeling that we will be hearing much, much more from this British treasure.

The Bled – My Assassin – Single Review

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by Emma

Crank up the volume this is a track that needs to be played loud and proud! Taken from the second album Found In The Flood, My Assassin is a hardcore delight, allowing front man James Munoz to demonstrate his versatility and vocal range. Between manic throaty screams, soft gentle cooing he brings a rawness to the main vocals of the verse that is quite something. The track twists easily from hard screamo thrashes to a melodic and more mainstream chorus.

If range is the key then The Bled have unlocked a winning formula to create music of a high quality that will continue to draw interest like bees to honey.

Reggie & The Full Effect – Take Me Home, Please – Single Review

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by Emma

Reggie & The Full Effect is a breath of fresh air! Cracking live performances as proved by the recent slot on the Taste Of Chaos tour and majorly appealing tracks such as this, the latest single.

You can always rely on Reggie’ to bring a cool and sleek synth-rock sound with humorous lyrics, however Take Me Home, Please is a little more serious. A catchy keyboard based track with sweet lyrics and honest message, I do really like this track. This is poppy enough to reach and retain a wider audience than some of the heavier material, but it’s just a taster – I would strongly urge you to check out a lot more of the catalogue of delights released by Reggie & The Full Effect.

Get Amped – Tyrannosaurus – Single Review

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by Emma

Get Amped are about to burst onto the rock scene with the release of their debut album Postcards From Hell, but up until now you may not have heard of this UK trio.

Get Amped are the kind of band who are focusing stiffly on music and pushing aside image or fashion that seems to be smothering the scene of late. Tyrannosaurus is a humorous and thoughtful track with a solid chugging bass line and features some nice harmonies that are still a little rough around the edges. B track Plug Me In has some nice dirty grungy guitar work and the boys pull some nice riffage out from under their sleeves.

So what is different about Get Amped? A bit of middle-eastern flavour brought back by Rick Parkhouse after living abroad for three years. This sounds odd, but I assure you it is a subtlety that does really work.

Magnet – Fall At Your Feet – Single Review

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by Lucie

Even Johanson (alias Magnet) continues to produce his unique brand of introspective chill-out music with this latest single, ‘Fall At Your Feet’, taken from his critically acclaimed ‘The Tourniquet’ album. He’s like the Norwegian version of Jack Johnson, and having just toured with indie giants Athlete, is making a name for himself in the UK and building up a strong fanbase. Smatterings of sweet melodies make this single what it is, with intimate loving lyrics and a relaxing seaside aura. Forget Coldplay, forget REM; discover Magnet

Athlete – Twenty Four Hours – Single Review

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by Lucie

Cute-as-a-button indie clan Athlete melt some hearts with this tune to brandish your lighter in the air to.
Their second album ‘Tourist’ breathed new life into the band, drawing a mixed reaction from the public with ‘Wires’, and then the heavier, happier ‘Half Light’. ‘Twenty Four Hours’ is a beautiful ballad with a distinct air of Englishness that lead singer Joel Potts maintains effortlessly, with not so much emotion that the single can be written off as overtly sappy, but just enough to make you appreciate each side of the Athlete coin. Awww, they’re just so lovely!

The Pariahs – Album Review

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by Lucie

A third helping of dirty scuzz-rock from the Toronto fivesome, as this self-titled album provides more of the same kick-arse enthusiasm for all things rawk as its predecessors. This is the first of their records to be released in the UK, and they couldn’t have picked a better time to unleash it; Britain being the home of rock, and being particularly partial to it right now. This is a band who like to take the piss out of themselves, which can only be admired and encouraged, but there’s no doubt as to their dedication to the music they love, with eardrum-tearing riffs shredding through everything in sight, and the necessary manic vocalist who yells over the musical backdrop as if he’s just hijacked the studio and forced the band at gunpoint to let him sing on their record. Fucking fantastic.

Coldplay – Talk – Single Review

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by Lucie

It’s hard not to be impressed by this single, although I’m rather embarrassed to admit it. ‘Talk’ isn’t a whiny ballad, which is refreshing in itself, and it even begins with quite a nice little guitar intro. The lyrics are, as always, a bit too arty and pretentious for a pleb like me to appreciate, but it seems they’ve got back to their much more tolerable ‘Parachute’ days to produce a light, dare I say it, likeable song that’s reminiscent of the time when Chris Martin wasn’t such a git. Hard to remember, I know.

Diamond Dogs – Bound To Ravage – Album Review

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by Lucie

Diamond Dogs are just a bunch of teases. They’ve been honing their sound for over a decade, and keeping this debut UK album from us for all that time! Disgraceful. Worth the wait though, if you like your rock classic and your roll seriously fun-ky. This isn’t the Darkness/Headrush/Glitterati rock ‘n’ roll that we’ve become accustomed to of recent. This is the old time stuff, reminiscent of dusty bars in the old West. Think Quireboys ‘7 O’Clock’; think Chuck Berry, ‘Johnny B Goode’. Completely different to any Scandinavian rock you’ve heard before, I guarantee it, heavy on sweet guitar solos and crashing cymbals… God, I love it.

Kaiser Chiefs – Modern Way – Single Review

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by Lucie

Being someone who would normally despise such a trendy band, I never had the highest of expectations for the Kaiser Chiefs; and ‘Oh My God’ confirmed for me that they were crap. But it took just one listen of ‘Every Day I Love You Less And Less’ to prove to me their talent not only as musicians, but perhaps even more so as lyricists.
‘Modern Way’ doesn’t have quite the same energy as ‘EDILYLAL’ or ‘I Predict A Riot’, but the chorus is heavy and harder on the rock edge than the indie. Ricky Wilson and co.’s unique take on British life is a huge part of their appeal, and this single is a fantastic choice to wave farewell to the scene on. It’s the final record to be lifted from the million-selling album ‘Employment’, so as long as the lads don’t go all egotistical on us, I think we can expect more of the same kind of genius.


Erin McKeown – We Become Like Birds Album Review

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by Emma

Multi-talented and critically acclaimed artist Erin McKeown released her third album earlier this year. We Will Become Like Birds is a serene recording with a simple elegance that compliments McKeown’s silky vocals perfectly.

The tracks on this album are mature, sincere and in part quite personal. The accompaniment of soft percussion, sleek gentle guitar and subtle keyboard makes this an easy going and relaxing album. One to take on holiday and daze away to whilst sunbathing. There is a quirky and delightful feel to this album to make you smile, sit back and take notice. I wouldn’t even try to suggest a genre for We Will Become Like Birds, it’s universal. My favourite tracks on the album are the cheery To The Stars and the clicky and upbeat We Are More.


Serena Maneesh Album Review

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by Emma

The self-titled debut from Norwegian rockers Serena-Maneesh is an eerie and experimental offering, showcasing a wealth of style and variation. Both vocals and the distorted screams of the guitar float spookily throughout this album leading the listener quite softly from one track to the next. Tracks such as Beehiver have a little more excitement with it’s basement echoey feel and tortured screams.

The majority of the tracks are very busy, and have so many things going on at once it can prove difficult to listen to each track as a whole without being distracted from one element of the sound to another. For this reason the quiet calmness of Her Name Is Suicide is a welcome break. This album requires several listens before you can really get past the business, and is by no means easy listening! A rewarding soundtrack for the more intense listener!

Korn – See You On The Other Side Album review

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by Emma

Long awaited See you On The Other Side rips into play with the fantastic single Twisted Transistor and sets a precedent for the rest of the extensive album.

Korn are unmatched in the nu-metal genre and always have been. See You On The Other Side proves that the departure of Head has not compromised this, but unleashed a monster of creativity within other band members. Munky has stepped up his involvement in the writing of this album, and Korn decided to experiment with a different producer and the end result is a demonic giant of an album. So what does this album have? Grinding ear-rattling guitars – check. Haunting and soul-smashing vocals – check. Psychological tormenting lyrics punctuated by thunderous drums – check. This is tighter than your kecks after Christmas dinner and the production is sheer brilliance.

The best tracks of this album in my view are of course the mighty Twisted Transistor, the wickedly unrelenting beatdown that is Hypocrites, and the furious Coming Undone. All in all a masterpiece and a perfect note on which to end the year. If all this isn’t enough, the deluxe edition includes a bonus disc featuring additional tracks It’s Me Again (which is fucking awesome by the way), Eaten Up Inside and Last Legal Drug as well as two Twisted Transistor remixes and two videos from Korn’s Moscow gig (Twisted Transistor and Hypocrites).

And if that STILL isn’t enough, the deluxe edition also includes a year’s free membership to the online fan club. And the cherry on the cake is the really nice packaging! Sweet.


Kaiser Chiefs – Employment DVD Review

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by Emma

Kooky Kaiser Chiefs have taken the idea the usual format of music DVD releases and turned it on it’s head. Enjoyment is a ninety minute film with tracks from the band included as a bonus rather than the main feature!

Basically what Enjoyment delivers is a couple of hours of northern humour, amusing sketches and some quality music. The numerous live tracks from shows at my own favorite venues York Fibbers and Leeds Cockpit show off the technical quiality of Kaiser Chiefs’ live performance. Footage of the towns of Britain is accompanied by dry and witty narration by actor Bill Nighy.

Hardcore fans will enjoy the exclusive interviews of the band at ages 7 and 50!

The DVD also includes the excellent promotional videos for five singles including Oh My God and Every Day I Love You Less And Less.

To be completely honest I wasn’t sure what to expect from this DVD and wasn’t sure if I would enjoy it, but I actually have really enjoyed it and found myself laughing all the way through. A great way to spend a couple of hours and you won’tahve to be a major fan to appreciate this. Well worth adding to your Christmas list!