Category: hard rock

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Imagine Dragons: ‘Mercury – Act 1’ Album Review

The Return of the Indie Mythicals is FINALLY HERE! Dowsed in feelings of beautiful sorrow and emotion, Mercury – Act 1 takes us to a side of the group we haven’t really heard of before.

Featuring the usual individual in spectacular locations – from Giants‘ Causeway in 2012’s debut to rising in the sky among the colours of the rainbow in 2017’s Evolve – the album is a pinnacle Dragon discovery of charm, class and hideously catchy indie pop waves of beauty.

The fond pre-singles of Wrecked, Follow You and Cutthroat are obvious favourites among the album, resulting an impressive record of stream listens. This of course, harks back to their familiar song-writing skill that are known for just creating instant classics that will be certainly remembers in the coming years.

The album features a more elaborated dissonance with the use of synth electronics and creative sounds dominating a lot of the tracks, with Giants and Monday being my instant go-to so far. It seems that Reynolds plucked a leaf out of Tyler’s book from Twenty One Pilots for this record, as the dark storytelling with the occasional harmonious and chaotic screaming ark through the 13 track setlist. This is not necessarily bad thing per se, as I love this style of music writing more so than ever.

This is not a particular charm of theirs that draws me to their music but its understandable that it appears on this album, especially after the natural progression from Origins in 2018 to now.

But, it isn’t too long before the mystical quartet remembers their true sounds and they’re back to their acoustic best with My Life and It’s Ok and One Day. More importantly of all, shock entry Dull Knives certainly needs a mention as this is an emphatic change for the bright-pop dwellers but I’m all for it.

I genuinely love the feel of this album and has certain stir-crazy moments that is a joy to listen to. Another stellar performance from the LA guys for their fifth studio attempt. Nothing rings more true than their Demons debut, but this is certainly not bad going considering.

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Reading and Leeds: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

With Reading and Leeds festival finally coming to a close this week, with ample amounts of music lovers flocking to our festival fields once more, it was hugely gratifying and humbling to see the love of UK music return – almost as if the last 12 months just didn’t happen. But with the festival amidst the end of a pandemic, it comes with hesitations.

What was the ratio from men to women in artists performing and why was it so disproportionate to gender? Amidst the rumours followed, why wasn’t COVID ruled as important and encouraged with regular checks? With live music set to return in full swing, it is imperative that we still understand that the virus is still active and prompt on our shores.

But we mustn’t ruin the party, as it was a roaring success of live music and made us really miss it all throughout the lockdown. More so than most. It takes us all back to when times were normal and enjoying ourselves at a music festival was seen as simply fun and not a moral obligation to test crowd control and vaccine efficiency. It was so nice seeing so many fond memories being made, when all we wanted to do for the past year was forget. Hopefully, this gives us a fantastic insight into always looking forward now and revitalising our future. Thanks R+L, til next year!

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Lorde – “Solar Power’ Album Review

Trawling from the back of her sombre tellings of Melodrama back in 2017, sultry soprano superstar Lorde returns with her critically acclaimed brazen-faced album of Solar Power.

Although cheeky at times, it’s remarkably soulful.

Embracing like the warmth of a sun and relaxing like that of a smooth timbre, Lorde encapsulates a summer of love and friendship. Self-titled, Solar Power and Stoned at the Nail Salon portray a rich reimagining of lyricism and clever portrayals of summer anthems that enter familiar waters of how summer anthems often go.

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Welcome to sadness
The temperature is unbearable until you face it
Thank you for flying with Strange Airlines
I will be your tour guide today
Your emotional baggage can be picked up at carousel number 2
Please be careful so that it doesn’t fall onto someone you love
When we’ve reached your final destination
I will leave you to it
You’ll be fine

–Secrets from a Girl (Who’s Seen it All) – Lorde

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Shedding away the electronic trails of her past works, Lorde becomes more within herself as it features far familiar stripped-back acoustic works of her embellished song-writing, that has been adored ever since she graced us with Royals back in 2013.

Although sounding oddly repetitive at times with the same rhythms coming from the drum kit, the songs are sultry and relaxing enough to get lost in it – all in one big song.

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Return of Metal: Bloodstock Festival 2021

Emotions ran high as one of the heaviest metal festivals returned to our fields with Bloodstock. In midst of panic and disruption caused by COVID, we were unsure about whether music would stir itself back into a frenzy come the summer, but it seems the festivals are coming back once again. We will see the likes of Skindred, KREATOR and Judas Priest renter our halls of darkness onto the fields of Catton Park in Derbyshire this weekend.

With Midlands counterpart of Download, hosting a smaller pilot version of their original mass festival, it sees a major heavy metal festival return in major fashion – full size scale with all the trimmings.

For me, I won’t be careening into festivals too soon since the pandemic, but I’m excited for lost of music fanatics and festival goers, and I’m certainly thrilled to see the many photos and videos that will come after it.

You can view all of Friday’s action so far via the link below:

BLOODSTOCK
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Machine Gun Kelly’s Return: ‘Papercuts’

In an apt return to the world of punk, Machine Gun Kelly has come back to the threshold with his latest single, ‘Papercuts.’ Maintaining the status quo, Kelly rightfully rejoins with drumming prodigy, Travis Barker has ‘Papercuts‘ embarks on a new perilous journey into the pop-punk scene. Again.

After the enormity and success of his 2020 affair of Tickets To My Downfall, he’s righteously back with a second helping.

With a cleaner production, and a deeper depth of perception, it portrays a deeper distinction of artist and music.

Although not as prolific as his original singles from TTMD with the likes of Bloody Valentine and Concert For Aliens, with a not-as-prolific catchy chorus equipped with it, it brings a telling sign to Coulson’s approach to his second punky album.

If it brings the same fantastic anarchy as TTMD, then I’m all for it.