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Week 37 – Sept 12

We see the inception of Maruja making their mark, the bold conclusion of a two-parter Universe with Twenty One Pilots, the man of true sardonic wit Baxter Dury take a stroll to the dancefloor, saturdays at your place re-deliver with another wash of Western Emo and all fresh and exciting are represented by alternative-rap trio Frozemode and art-rock outfit Legss. //

One of the most exciting groups to emerge as of late comes with one of the powerful projects we’ve seen so far this year. Cultivated from the springboard of Opus Kink and Squid, the Mancunian jazz-punk quartet of Maruja’s Pain to Power is a captivating presence of raw anger – all for the betterment of a life in solidarity. Wild and frenetic, it sees a band holding all the power as new contenders into the sphere of rock.

Read the full review here.

The duo’s storytelling quest comes to its stirring conclusion with eighth Breach. Dystopian landscapes, overthrowing rulers and rebellious bandits litter a conceptual debriefing we’ve been thrown into since 2015’s Blurryface. A two-parter to Clancy last year, Breach swoons out the protagonist arc in true Pilots fashion: signature Tyler-esque vocals, glossy production and captivating arrangement.

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The record is outlandish and powerful – everything we’ve come to expect from the Grammy Award winning Ohio duo. The frenzied opener, “City Walls” is a strong suit while usual suspects of Drum Show rechannelling that alt-rock noise of yesteryear. Elsewhere, “The Contract” is a signature-blitz of fast electronics and high-octave vocals. “Downstairs” is the records’ surprise contender, as harmonic chords mark it as an operatic thriller not too dissimilar to the heart-on-the-sleeve mentality of Blurryface. Moments of fragility echo on pop arrangements; moments of exasperation echo on heavy-laden beats. “Intentions” mark that sense of closure on a lore-driven adventure that has spanned for the better part of a decade.

At least for now, this universe has had its final chapter read out. Whether the book will be closed for good on the pair’s project or a new sound will enter the mix, we can’t know for sure. But we do know that if this is their final bow-out, they’ve gone out in glorious style.

The outlandish man of menace returns with his ninth record, “Allbarone” – a rudimentary night of cynic disco.

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More than two decades into his career, Baxter Dury takes a turn away from his usual provocateur of indie sleaze and hits up the doozy escapades of disco dance. While it’s a fresh take musically, Dury’s lyrics are as to the bone as ever.

You can read the full review here.

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From every EP drop to every pivotal live slot, the noisy alternative-rap trio of Frozemode are on their way. Reminiscent of alt-punk’s SNAYX, Bov Vylan aswell as former grime heavyweights Astroid Boys, DEMODE 3 is the final instalment of their full-throttle trilogy of explosive riffs and visceral vocals that’s enough to shake any foundation of a venue they find themselves in. When the trio are not at the helm of alternative underground as one of the most volatile live acts in the UK, they are bagging sold-out support slots for the likes of Denzel Curry at Brixton’s O2 Academy.

The powerhouse of “LOOKING AT US” leads the pack as a beguiling statement of grit and energy from the trio as they look to sculpt a sound that cuts through the noise. “HOLLOWMAN TING” offers more of the same flavours, a cultivation of personality, poise and prowess with a trio who are eager for it all and more. MANGA MC is a full charge on all fronts, with no intention to ease up. JUMPSCARE offers a new perspective from a band who are more than comfortable to careen down different avenues while BACK ON ROAD lifts the lid on the trio’s inherent desire to relentlessly tour – until everyone is on board the FROZEMODE train.

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Londoners Legss join the parade of the contemporaries of leftfield alternative as they unveil their debut record this week.

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The art-rock outfit from the Capital’s south are every bit stirring and fresh. In an open-world simulation that is wholly unique by design, the iteration of this quartet are a must to fall into.

Understood as a talking therapy, Legss’ Unreal gleans, glowers this way and that; enclosed one moment and earnest the next. It’s a real entourage of human connection as it prangs into the uncanny among everyday people and their lives.

Along with its many identities, comes with a push-and-pull sonically. The seemless Forgot to Answer is a reminder to Bloc Party’s indie, while the mania of Sleepers, Awake plays more into the un-fleeting jolt of Humour and Squid, an estranged presence unable to shake off. We then fall into See No Evil, a familiar feeling we hear from the Midwestern ache, especially with those twangy guitars.

Further in, we really get an idea as to why the band project this as “the work of a lifetime.” Eversince is a beautiful throng of the heart with those staircase-piano trails, while Bit Rot is a haunting doom-punk thrill. Ironically, acting as the lead single, Gloss was the listeners’ first understanding of what type of album they’d be getting themselves in for. When those last few organ notes fizzle out on thirteenth track Fugue, you’d of thought you would have been listening to an entirely different record.

A band of unsettling unpredictability defiantly matched with a sonically astounding open-world of discovery, Legss’ Unreal is an outstanding debut.

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A sincere band personifying the timelapse of growing up and outgrowing your past, saturdays at your place have moulded into a prolific band within the Midwestern Emo scene. Their second full-length – these things happen – is everything we’ve come to understand from the band and more. Twangy chords and heart-on-sleeve lyrical resonance that we saw on their first – but this time, we see a record fleshed-out, mature in its songwriting and a band very firmly knowing where they stand in an ever-growing hometown landscape.

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Missed last weeks? View them all here.