Tag Archives: Post Punk

THE HORRORS: YES, Manchester. 3rd December 2024.

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In 2005 I found a band that instantly won me over. I listened to them religiously. 2006 I went to uni, and this band became EVERYTHING to me. I had their posters on my wall, I had cuttings from magazines of them on my wall. They got me through my first year when I felt homesick. They became everything and more. They got me through a lot, and as luck would didn’t have it- I never saw them live. No correction- I never saw them do a full set. I saw them once support Florence And The Machine at Ally Pally a good few years ago, and I cried. But last night was IT. Last night I saw them in a tiny venue in Manchester. No other venue could hold them like YES. No other venue would be better- well actually, SOUP would have been amazing. ANYWAY. I was absolutely beside myself to FINALLY see them live.

Sure, the line up isn’t the original but who cares? The songs are what matters here. They play a solid range of old and new (nothing from Strange House sadly!) The set had all the hits from Primary Colours and Skying of course. Hearing everyone belt out the words to Mirror’s Image (this song was my LIFE at one point) and Still Life was so beautiful. The newer songs were loud, and unreal. They were like a drill to the skull and released everything you’d been keeping locked in. Whiplash opened the set, and you knew right away you were in for the best night possible. The smoke machine and stage lighting did overtime last night, it was perfect. Faris reminds me a little of Lux (The Cramps) with how he towers over the crowd and throttles the mic stand. Rhys’ face paint kept making an appearance throughout the intense smoke machine and lighting. Also, is there a better guitarist in this country than Josh?

To see the band that I’d essentially grown up with and go through my teenage years into adulthood was something really special. I still don’t know how I managed to get tickets to this one, and it may just be the best purchase I ever made! That and the £30 I spent when I got my cat! Three Decades and Mirror’s Image follow each other, and they honestly couldn’t have made a better setlist. Well, maybe, if they gave us something from the Strange House record. I’d have probably passed away to be honest. Hearing songs like Little Victories live would have blown my mind! I don’t think I’d recover.

On record, The Horrors ALWAYS sound fantastic- you cannot fault them at all; you can hear the hard work and passion that goes into what they do. I had no idea what to expect in a live setting, especially with the slight lineup change. Whatever I was expecting was exceeded a billion and one times over- I just don’t think I’m going to feel this way about a gig ever again now, am I? They’ve ruined it, in the best way possible.

The new songs that they treated us to are divine live! More Than Life, Trial By Fire and The Silence That Remains are exceptional live. The Silence That Remains is haunting as hell live- it’s one of those songs that when you hear it on record, you are left a bit speechless because you can’t get your head around what’s going on. But when you hear it live, it doesn’t something else. Every single song was heightened by how brilliant the band are live. Amelia’s vocals on The Silence That Remains really make it as haunting as it is, and it’s one of those songs that when you witness it live, it massively changes how you appreciate it on record. Going by these 3 new songs from Night Life, I reckon it may just end up being the best record of 2025 and maybe THEIR best record.

I can’t write about last night without mentioning how euphoric and healing it is to hear Sea Within A Sea live. I remember where I was when this was released. I was in the house I was living in during my 3rd year in Stoke on Trent. I had their website open counting down to the video as it was a live stream of the music video, and I made sure I was home to watch it. I sat and stared at the screen for 7/8 minutes as this song was playing and this hypnotising video was taking over my brain. I felt something shift in my head. I knew I was facing a LOT of change in 2009 (some good and some bad) and this song became my comfort blanket. I’d play it over and over, and everything would be alright. I still feel that way about it. It’s that one song I can play and just zone out to. It’s honestly one of the best songs of all time. Witnessing it live was like a dream where you feel utterly weightless and safe. Floating through space and time without a care.

Still Life needs mentioning because again, another masterpiece. I don’t think the band are given enough credit for their ability to create such heavenly music but in a heavy way. Still Life is a gentle song, and again, is another comfort song. Everything feels better and safer when you listen to this.

Faris is an exceptional frontman. He doesn’t need to talk endlessly to the crowd with pointless chat at all. He says something between songs, and only an idiot would disagree: “Free Palestine, and fuck anyone who thinks otherwise.”

The encore consists of Endless Blue and Something To Remember Me By; and what a beautiful way to wrap up the most perfect gig. I honestly have no idea how I’ve managed to sum up last night as clear as this, but when something makes an impact on you, you find the words. From messaging Faris on MySpace in 2006 to see if I could interview him for my first ever article at uni (he did!) to seeing them play YES, and seeing their career grow and grow. I couldn’t be prouder to be a fan and to have been in that room last night.

Last night was The Horrors at their very best, and if you’ve got a ticket for this tour then you are very lucky (in every sense of the word!)

THE BATTERY FARM: Dark Web.

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Some bands are put here to make a difference. Some go beyond making a difference, and you wonder how we managed to get this far without them. The Battery Farm aren’t just a band; they’re something else. Something that we need, something we’ve needed for so long.  There are messages and meaning in every single song. You don’t need to be told what they are, use your ears to work it out. You’ll get there. I don’t think they realise how powerful they are. There are some bands that just make a difference- think of bands like Benefits. The messaging is clear.

Dark Web is a fighter of a record. It’s rowdy. It’s angry. Really angry, and we’ve got a lot to be angry about. Ben’s vocals on Hail Mary start soft in comparison to how gritty his vocals usually are, but you can hear the rage. You pick up on that rage. The whole record feels like a smack in the face but also a call to change. His vocals really kick in on this song, and it’s that raw and gnarly tone that really pricks up your ears. You HAVE to listen.

You can really sense that this was a cathartic record to make, and you feel it may have taken a fair bit out of them to make. It’s a record that HAS to be heard live, I don’t think it was made for any other purpose other than getting it heard by as many people as possible wherever they can. Dark Web starts gentle, like Ben’s vocals are light on this but the last 30 seconds or so- his voice is still light, but there’s something really menacing about it- and it’s so beautiful.

Icicles is the oddest sounding song on the record, and I mean that in the best way possible. Musically, its brilliantly all over the place. The guitar has NO business sounding that slick and that good on the record- you can move to this one. But the heaviness of the lyrics creates this collision of worlds and what you get is a song that just stops you. You have to really sit and listen to this one; it pulls you in different ways and that’s not a bad thing at all.

For me it’s all about the passion, fury and honesty on the record. The most open song on this record is It’s A Shame, Thanks A Lot. The way Ben speaks about his experience and his mental health on this really, really hits you. I’ve had to stop and start this one a few times. Anyone who has had to carry around having really shit mental health will get why this one hits the gut very hard. I don’t see a need for me to write about this song because it is SO personal and so vulnerable. Just, there was a time where this song would have summed up everything I was feeling, and I’d have turned it off. I think the band have created something here that will help so many.

As far as second records go, they’ve nailed it and then some. They’ve surpassed all they did on their debut. Dark Web shows us exactly what they band are made of. How loud they can do, how fearless they are musically and lyrically and how much they have grown from then to now. They’re a band that Manchester is proud to have and claim. They’re just everything we need, and so much more. This is The Battery Farm at their finest, but we know they’ll keep getting better.

Bands that challenge their fans and those who listen are to be treasured, and we need to treasure The Battery Farm with all we have.

BAMBARA: Pray To Me.

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That feeling of a band you absolutely love and adore putting new music out never ever gets old. Last week Bambara announced a UK/EU tour for April 2025, and I cannot wait to see them again. They’re one of those bands that when you see them live, they change EVERYTHING. They become a band that you don’t just see once and that’s enough. They’re a band that you have to see, no matter what. They put on a show that goes beyond being put into words- you HAVE to witness it. You HAVE to be in that moment. It is the most euphoric thing and you never want it to end. I cannot liken it to anything else.

And with a tour comes a new record, and a new song to lure us all back in. We never went anywhere, we’ve been waiting for this for so long. They’re back with a new song called Pray To Me which is 3 and a half minutes of heaven. It’s Bambara at their very best, and of course that happens with everything they do. They’re a band that get better every single time, and how on earth can they top anything else they’ve ever done? They’re a criminally underrated band for sure. Reid has one of the most calming voices I’ve ever heard. You could be having a really tough day, and the second you start playing a Bambara song, it all feels okay. The lyrics are dark and unholy, and that’s why I love them. I love how dark, poetic and twisted the lyrics are. Reid could easily write a novel with these lyrics. Not a poetry book- I’m talking a super eerie novel that messes with your heard, and you cannot help but go back to it. Think Tony O’Neill, Arthur Nersessian – the good stuff. Pray To Me is violent and haunting; there’s no way you can get enough of it.

The video fits the mood of the song perfectly. The close up of Reid’s face as he recites these beautiful and chilling words to the camera- this band couldn’t be any more perfect if they tried. If you go back and listen to every song in full, you’ll hear just how their sound has developed and gotten firmer. They have such a distinctive sound, and it’s one that may scare the listener a little bit but there’s the dark romanticism in the songs that make them so divine. We don’t need those boring and artificially sweet love songs. Give me the dark and eerie ones. They make more sense.

Bambara will be releasing the record via Bella Union (what a sign!) and the tickets for tour go on sale tomorrow. Everything you need is here: https://www.bambaranyc.com/tour

The new record, Birthmarks is out 14th March, and you can pre-order the best record of 2025 here: https://bellaunion.com/products/bambara-birthmarks

CROWS: Reason Enough.

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I have stopped and started writing this more times than I can admit. I have deleted, deleted, and slammed my laptop shut, then tried again to even start this. How do you even start writing about this record? It’s pretty obvious that Crows have never (and will never) release a bad song or record. The 3 singles from the new record have all been exceptional (I don’t think any song has truly moved me like Vision Of Me has, and I’m sort of able to listen to it now without having a little cry! That’s growth 😉) and sometimes when a band releases such strong singles, you feel the rest of the record may not match up. There is nothing to worry about on Reason Enough. I have no idea how many times I listened to it yesterday, but I didn’t feel ready to put my thoughts down. But I am now.

The record opens with the title track, Reason Enough. If you’re looking for the best opener for a record this year-it’s this one. The drums and the bass? HOLY.SHIT. It’s got this heaviness to it that is on a Stoner Rock level. Jith and Sam truly shine on this one. The drums feel like a crashing into the ear drums and the bass feels like someone is possessing your body with electric shocks, and you’re not mad about it. When it all comes together and gets heavier, and heavier- as a Crows fan, you feel this relief. Relief that this record is FINALLY here. Inject this song right into my eardrums. I don’t care about the damage. James’ vocals on this are simply perfect, and Steve’s guitar on this should be illegal. In fact, it should be a crime for a song to be this euphoric. The way it changes for the last minute or so, and the song comes alive in a different way altogether- are you kidding me?! This live is going to be wild.

I’m going to skip over Bored, Is It Better? and Vision Of Me because I’ve already written about them, and I think my feelings towards Vision Of Me are very clear. In 30 years’, time, I will still be calling it as one of the most beautiful and honest songs ever written. I want it tattooed on my skin and carved into my brain. It’s a reminder. It’s a crutch. Much like Healing and Room 156. I think they’re my holy trinity of Crows songs; I’d play them to someone who hadn’t heard them before, but I don’t think I could handle a negative reaction! Anyway, let’s move on because I will go into why Vision Of Me is probably one of the best songs ever written again!

Land Of The Rose is a perfect anthem declaring how shit this country is. Turn on the news and all you see is pain, poverty and politicians repeating their nonsensical lies. This is why we need bands like Crows. This is why we need music or any form of art- it’s an escape but also helps you to see how awful it all is but can give you a little bit of hope that it might get better. Maybe. The way James writes and sings about shame, despair, and every emotion possible. The lyrics on this record are heavy; but with aspects of sadness flowing throughout. That isn’t a bad thing at all- it just makes you think, and it also makes you feel less alone, and odd for feeling the way you do. The songs on Reason Enough feel a lot more personal and tougher. There is still that beautiful gentleness in James’ writing that we lean into and cling onto. I guess at the heart of it, when you find a band that you truly get and they get you- it becomes a safe space, doesn’t it? This record definitely feels like a safe space. As far as political songs go, this one holds some true weight and given how awful this country has been; we need songs like this to really hammer home that things HAVE to improve.

Every Day Of Every Year is another one I’m excited to see live. I love the way the lyrics take you on a journey of every thought you’ve probably had, and by hearing someone else say it- you feel this connection. It’s a connection you won’t get from friends, lovers, families- it’s one from music and sometimes that’s the biggest and most permanent connection we’ll feel, and that’s absolutely fine. I’d be lost without that type of connection, and this song is a really solid way of expressing that. Every single day this feeling repeats and every single day you fight with yourself and the world to keep fucking going. It’s hard, I know. But I like to think it can and does get a little easier. What do you have without hope? I think this song is on the same level as Vision Of Me- there’s something about the lyrics that really get you in the gut. The guitar on this one is of the best moments on the record.

There’s such a natural growth on this record, and I don’t mean from Silver Tongues to Beware Believers to Reason Enough. I mean every single song in its own right is a step up from the song before, and that’s how you know you’ve found a truly special record. The way we get to Lie To Me from Bored is a whirlwind, and it’s heavenly to hear. You can hear the band grow with every song on this record, and you can really feel it in every single element of the songs. The production on this record is unreal too. It always is with Crows isn’t it. Lie To Me is exceptional, and the way we go right into Living On My Knees? Who gave the band permission to be this great? They just took it. Over and over again. The line, “I’m not strong enough for self defense” cuts through you, my god! What a line!

Living On My Knees is my favourite. Of course, I’ll change my mind in a week or so. I’ll call Vision Of Me as my favourite Crows song ever (please see holy trinity a few paragraphs above!) but Living On My Knees is something else. It makes you want to write; it makes you want to get every raw feeling out there; it makes you want to have this song on repeat for hours. It just gives you something that you can’t put into exact words, but you know you’re listening to something truly remarkable. There are heavy moments on the record, but there are also lighter moments, and it’s found on Silhouettes.

James’ vocals on Silhouettes will blow you away. It’s a different side to what he can do, and I think it’s one that will leave us Crows fans in awe for a long, long time. The bass on this is divine- again, it should be a crime for something to sound so perfect. I feel bad for any band about to release anything after next Friday because Reason Enough is THE record of the year. From around 2 minute 20 on Silhouettes, you cannot help but let every part of you feel smacked about from what’s going on in this song. When James sings, “You don’t find peace when you’re older” my god it gets you in the gut. This song truly shows the growth in the band in every single way, and how they have a distinctive sound BUT you can hear they’ve pushed themselves on this record. Go back and listen to their earlier stuff, then listen to Silhouettes and you’ll hear how stronger they all sound- both together and separately.

Reason Enough ends with D-Gent, and it reminds me of their earlier sound. The record starts heavy and ends heavy, and what more could you ask for?! This record is made up of their best work to date, and the opener and closer of the record are the backbone of it. What happens in the middle is that you get a mixture of soft, loud, gentle, vulnerable, anthemic and healing songs. Every emotion possible is in the middle, and you may feel all over the place but the closer, D-Gent brings you back to where you need to be. Where you should be. This record feels like home.

Record number 3 is THEIR record. Sound-wise it is full of moments that will make you realise why you fell in love with the band at the start. For new listeners, you’ll probably have found a band that will become your life. Crows have completely nailed it with this record, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a fan if I tried. The record is honest, political, brutal, heartbreaking, hopeful and an ethereal work of art. It’s the band at their best and I love so much how they have experimented with their sound and made something really out of this world.

The first few listens, I had to stop what I was doing and really take in the record and what was going on. Then with more and more listens, I was able to really get into what spoke to me on this record. It’s obviously everything, and honestly? The 3 singles we’ve had so far don’t do this record justice. There’s so much creative freedom on this record. Everything is heavier and you can really hear in the songs that not everything has been overthought- it’s just a natural progression, and like James said- “This is Crows in high definition.”

CROWS: Vision Of Me.

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Sometimes the biggest comfort you can have is a band you love, putting out a song that just rips you apart. That comfort is found in knowing someone else gets it. The things we keep close are released by someone who doesn’t know our name or face. That feeling of anonymity makes it easier to absorb every feeling the song gives you. You weren’t prepared to have a little cry on the tram to work at 7.40 this morning, were you?

For me, Crows are a band that gently get to your soul. It’s all well and good finding a band that can mend or break your heart or calm your mind- but when you find one that get you right in the gut- that’s when you know you’ve found THAT band. Vision Of Me is the second release from their new record, Reason Enough. And in all honesty? This song should have come with a warning. No song should break you like that. Lyrically, it’s their best work. I don’t think I’m going to hear a song like this for a long, long time. I’m okay with that because A) It’s Crows and no one can ever compare to them and B) I don’t think I’m a tough enough person to handle it. I’d rather welcome being overly sensitive than be told to toughen up. Vision Of Me has this beautiful sadness and honesty to it. You don’t have to be wallowing in your own sadness to feel sadness at the moment. The world is absolutely cruel and sick at the moment, and it probably won’t heal in my lifetime. Vision Of Me is a beautifully written song and it reminds me of Healing and Room 156 from Beware Believers- it has that gentleness to it that comes naturally to the band. I think for those who love this band, they’re a safety net. I know they are for me. I want to avoid listening to Vision Of Me because it is painful but my god it is one of the most important songs I’ve ever heard.

The lyrics feel like a healing process. They are a healing process. There are lines in this song could break the toughest of humans, and by no means am I tough at all, so it wasn’t hard for this song it floor me so early this morning, and I keep getting teary eyed every time I try listen to it again. The video is a work of art too- my god the way it reminds me of Wonderful Life by Black is too much (Top 5 greatest songs of all time, irrespective of genre. Thank you!) There’s beautiful hints of bands like Interpol in their sound and that’s probably why I love Crows so much but honestly? Nothing can compare to this song. I just know that Reason Enough is going to be my favourite record of the year. I know their show in Manchester will heal and break and heal and break me. The best bands will do this to you.

I don’t think any line will get me in the gut like “I need a break from this reality, and it seems like you do too” or “It’s the staying alive that’s hard” do. There is so much hope in this song. It does feel sad, but as I force myself to listen without bloody crying, I can feel and hear the hope. And I get that a lot from their music, and that may just be why I love them so, so much. Their music is like a backwards hug from the person you love the most. When James sings “Peace is easy, and love is easy. It’s the letting go that hurts.” You might as well rip my heart out of my chest with rusty pliers (please don’t.) Bloody hell. A work of art. A painful and relatable work of art. Up to that line in the song, I’m alright but there’s something about that line that makes me just bawl.

The video fits the song perfectly- I won’t spoil it for you, but the last shot of the video got me right in the gut too. That last shot sums up the song in the most poetic and purest way possible. I always think I couldn’t love Crows as much as I do, but they then go and do something like this, and it just throws me. Surely it must be a crime for a band to be this great? I think with everything they do; they will always improve. And I know you cannot improve perfection, but this band do it every single time. I hate wishing time away, but I cannot wait for the next month and a bit to pass, so I can religiously listen to the new record over and over.

For me, I find listening to Crows are really cathartic process. I listen to them every single day- they’re my comfort band afterall, but sometimes, I step away from that and really take in how phenomenal they are. Vision Of Me is one of those moments. I honestly don’t get how someone could listen to this song and not be moved by it.

Most of their UK tour dates can be found here: CROWS Concerts & Live Tour Dates: 2024-2025 Tickets | Bandsintown

Reason Enough is out on 27th September via Bad Vibrations Records.

CROWS: Bored

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I can safely say that whenever Crows release new music, everything seems okay. It doesn’t matter what’s going on- the second those notes kick in, the second I hears James’ sweet, sweet voice- everything is alright.

I must have played Bored about 10 times this morning as I was getting ready for work, then as soon as 10am hit- I was on YouTube watching the video. The video made me miss London slightly. That feeling sensibly left me. I think I was just overwhelmed with sheer joy because there is a new Crows song! On the back of this, there’s a new record and of course- A TOUR!

Bored is just over 2 minutes of Crows at their best. The sentiment of Bored hits me right in the gut. I don’t think I’m bored; I’ve just got a poor attention span. But they pick up on the mundane of daily life such as queuing, settling for less and wanting something to happen just to ease the boredem. “If there’s a lack of connection, I leave” YES JAMES! Sing that line with your chest and more. I felt that. I feel every single word on this one. It picks up beautifully where the Beware Believers record left off. For me, Crows are my comfort band. I didn’t know I could have one specific band that would be it. Turn out, that band is Crows. I’ll hold off going into detail about that- I’ll save it for when the record comes out in September. In the meantime, watch the video. Play the song as loud as you can. As often as you can- treat it like a prescription.

To quote James, “‘Bored’ came out of that cycle of waking up and not being able to shake the feeling of wanting to bang your forehead against a brick wall.” I think every single one of us can relate to this. Songs like this make that heaviness less so, and that’s why I love this band with all I have. There’s something about them that transcends words because maybe, words aren’t needed. Why use them if you don’t have them. Why the hell have I written this? I think I needed an outlet because who’d want to listen to me bang on about why I love this band! Anyway, watch the video.

The new record, Reasons Enough will be released on 27th September via Bad Vibrations Records.

Crows will be on tour from October, but are playing a one-off gig this week at Third Man Records/Blue Basement in London. Tickets for the October/November shows go on sale this Friday, and the dates are:

July
4 – London @ Third Man Records / Blue Basement
October
5 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
9 – Brighton, UK @ DUST
10 – Manchester, UK @ The Deaf Institute
11 – Glasgow, UK @ King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut
12 – Dublin, IE @ The Soundhouse
14 – Nottingham, UK @ Rough Trade Nottingham
15 – London, UK @ Village Underground
17 – Bristol, UK @ Exchange
18 – Hebden Bridge, UK @ The Trades Club
28 – Cologne, DE @ Yard Club
29 – Hamburg, DE @ Turmzimmer
30 – Copenhagen, DE @ Loppen
November
1 – Berlin, DE @ Urban Spree
8 – Kortrijk, BE @ Sonic City
9 – Luxembourg, LU @ Rotondes
10 – Nijmegen, NL @ Doornroosje
13 – Lille, FR @  L’Aeronef
14 – Paris, FR @  La Maroquinerie
15 – Tours, FR @ Au Temps Machine
16 – Rennes, FR @ Antipode MJC Rennes

SPRINTS: Letter To Self.

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Since its release, I have been quietly obsessing over the debut record by SPRINTS. It is easily one of the most beautiful records of the year, and honestly- I’ve not connected with a record like this in a long time. If I could personally thank them for making such a phenomenal record that has made my dumb brain feel less strange, I would. But alas, I’ll just rant about the record here.

SPRINTS have made a record that HAS to be played loud. But you have to play it loud whilst on your own so you can take it all in. Like really really ignore the world around you, turn your phone off or throw it in the bin- and play this record so loud. I plan on playing it a little bit louder when I go home later. I want to crawl inside this record and make it my home. The more I listen to Cathedral, the more I hear the absolute genius of this band. There is nothing else out there like them. Nothing before them and nothing after them- they are it. I liken it to falling in love with the person you’ve been waiting for and finally feeling at home. This record is a safe space and also, beautifully terrifying because you cannot help but click with every single word.

Letter To Self is one of those songs that make you feel like you’ve reached the point of self-acceptance and understanding. I reckon if someone ripped my insides open this song would start playing. But the whole record feels like the purest and biggest cathartic experience you can imagine. It’s just as if you’re hearing something life-changing for the first time, and my god this is so clear within seconds of listening to the record. It opens with Ticking which feels like a punch right in the kisser, but you go back for more because you actually feel something. The way Heavy is effortlessly next after Ticking- give this band every award, everything good in the world. I don’t care- fucking give them it. This record is IT. If I get hit by a bus tomorrow and this is the last record I hear- then I will die happy. It is perfect. My words don’t do this record justice; I hope anyone who listens to it feels the way I do because my god it is the most perfect record I’ve heard in a long time. Maybe years. I don’t know. I feel like I’ve never heard music before playing this.

There are records you will hear in your lifetime, and you know that they will change you. Or change parts of you. Maybe they’ll get to parts of you that a person couldn’t. They’ll say the things you couldn’t pull out- and SPRINTS have beautifully done this with the record especially on the song Cathedral. My god that song is lyrically a work of art. It’s just divine.

SPRINTS have everything I want from a band in their sound; the lyrics, the heaviness, the way you feel as if you’re having your head bashed into a wall whilst Karla screams out the words that just speak to you more than anything else ever has. Her vocals on Up And Comer are INSANE- you can hear every raw emotion on this song, and you just want it to take over your life. This record will. It’s absolutely done that with me, and I’m happy if I never hear anything new again because everything I’d want is in SPRINTS. They unleash hell in the most perfect and beautiful way- the chaotic sounds are a delight for the ears and good for the soul. I want it injected into my veins- would that even be possible?! It’s a record (well, band to be honest) that you cannot help but become obsessed with in the best way imaginable. I couldn’t imagine going a day without listening to them, and I’ve got a handful of bands that I love as much as this. Part of me wants to lock myself in a room by myself for the rest of time playing their music and the other wants every single person in the world to listen and love them as much as I do. In short, everyone should love this band. How could you not?

The record ends with the album title track, and it’s the most perfect way to end the record.  Again, lyrically it’s genius. There is not a bad song on this record. There’s not a bad lyric. Everything is so vital and delivered with such urgency that is so infectious. You want it around you all the time. 11 songs aren’t enough but it’s just the start- they are going to be one of the best bands we’ve ever been lucky to have. Let’s treasure them in the way they deserve.

I LOVE how SPRINTS have this energy that just makes you want to shut everything out and play their music as loud as possible. I love how their sound reminds me of a band I miss so much- Savages. Karla’s vocals has the same power as Jehnny Beth- that energy and raw emotion is nothing short of perfect. If I had even a touch of musical talent, this is the band I’d probably want to sound like. They’ve got this glorious way of giving you something positive when everything seems utterly hopeless, y’know?

I’ve just bought a ticket to finally see them in November; I’ve not been to a gig this year yet and I have no idea why, so if this show ends up being the only one I go to this year- so be it. It’ll be the best anyway.

OH, THE GUILT: Deadnames & Deed Polls.

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With today being a very important day (Trans Day Of Visibility) it’s only right that I write about the new (and gorgeous) record by the finest band from Bristol; Oh, The Guilt. Their new record came out on Friday, and it’s one of the most important records we will get this year. It is dark, heavy, and vital. It is a solid work of art that hits you right in the gut.

Firstly, you should know that the record was mastered by Ben Chisholm (of Chelsea Wolf) so that alone is a sign that the record is unreal. This is the band’s debut record, and to have someone like Ben master it shows you just how well loved, respected and talented the band are. I hope this record reaches the trans kid in the middle of nowhere and realizes that there is hope and a future out there for them. Even though the media (and government) continuously try to erase the trans community on a daily basis. We have bands like Oh, The Guilt who are so important and records like this show it gets better and you can be who you are, and who you deserve to be.

Every song on this record is entirely dreamy, and it’s evident on (my current favourite) Blue. I love how it sounds like a 90s dreamy number with touches of Shoegaze. In a way, it’s like Beach House meets Mazzy Star. That’s the general feel I get from this song and in parts, a lot of the record feels that way. Jules’ drumming on this is exceptional. It’s like waves crashing into rocks, but it’s balanced out with the calmness of the guitar. It’s like a dream swimming round your head on a loop. It’s a gorgeous song, and the vocals will soothe your soul. It’s perfect, and I think it’s one of those songs you play through headphones and close the world out to. Blue features Elijah’s vocals pre-transition, and I touch on further down his vocals on the re-recording of Darkest Days.

It then picks up on Bella, and this is where the bands Grunge influences really kick in. I love how the band can give you this wave of calmness but they can also hit you with this beautiful rowdy sound.  I know I said Blue is currently my favourite but I’m putt Bella as a close second. You can just imagine it going OFF when they play this live. It’s got this feel to it that makes you want to just throw things around without a care in the world, and move your body around in a way that you’ve not done in a while.

I’m going to skip to the end of the record for this part. The record ends with the euphoric The Path and features the Phoenix Song Project- which are is a music therapy project run by and for members of trans and non-binary communities in Bristol. This is the most perfect way to end the record; it is full of hope and love. Again, it’s the song I hope a trans kid (or adult) in the middle of nowhere hears and knows that there is a community out there for them that will love and support them endlessly. It is honestly the most gorgeous and perfect way to close their stunning debut record, which has been a long time coming.  I hope Jules, Kit and Elijah are aware of the impact that this record will have. It’s a truly powerful record, and it exudes trans and queer joy- something that is so needed right now.

There is a new version of Darkest Days on the record, which has post-transition vocals from Elijah. It is again another euphoric song, and musically it reminds me so much of The Velvet Underground. That drastic build on the drums and everything just coming together is so powerful.  It all clashes with this build and you can hear just how exceptionally talented Kit, Jules and Elijah are. You can hear perfectly on this record in general just how phenomenal they are, but the re-recording of this song shows you how far they’ve come as a band and as individuals on their own journey.

What I love about this record is that you can hear the growth of Kit, Jules, and Elijah. You can hear this beautiful confidence in every song and in a way, this doesn’t feel like a debut record. They’ve been making music for so long together, it’s hard to grasp that we’ve only just got their debut record but my god it was worth the wait. This record really shows how far they have come and I think from keeping vocals on some songs that were pre-transition, it really shows the importance of the record and how powerful they are as a band. You can hear the confidence too; as a band and as individuals and it is so inspiring and wonderful to hear it. I could spend hours and hours writing about this record, but honestly? It’s probably best you take the time to listen to it. Shut the world off, and just get lost in this divine record created by 3 beautiful human beings.

Every song on this record is a journey. Every song on this record is for a community that are constantly being pulled apart every single day. So, if you do anything this Trans Day of Visibility; support organisations such as NotAPhase and you know- buy the Oh, The Guilt record!

VR SEX: Hard Copy.

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There are some bands that just blow your mind every single time they release something, and VR Sex are one of those bands. Of course, if you’re also in the band Drab Majesty too- then you are only ever going to put out masterpieces, right? That’s what Andrew aka VR Sex has done yet again. I’ve had a copy of this record for about a month or so, and I’ve held off writing about it because I wanted to give myself time to obsess over it and figure out why it’s probably one of the most thrilling records of the year.

Now, I’ve never claimed to be good with words but hopefully you’ll pick up on how much I love this record and hopefully it will make some sense rather than utter nonsense. I’ve listened to Hard Copy enough times now to call it as one of my favourite records of the year. Definitely in my Top 3 if I was to make lists, but my brain hates organisation. The record smacks you immediately with the opener Dictionary Talk, and it immediately grabs you and makes you realise that this record is truly something else. The record is filthy, smutty, and just everything you’ve ever been warned against- it is a thing of beauty, and I cannot get enough of it. It is very easy to love this record and become obsessed with it. It’s dark, it’s creepy as hell and it is solid produced record that only a fool would find fault with. I want this record injected into my body.

Sure, the record touches on glue-sniffing escapades (Jenny Killer Glue; an absolute monster of a song) and if you’re of a certain age you maybe shouldn’t be listening to this record but whatever! You’ll find out anyway. What I adore about this record is that it sounds nothing like previous VR Sex records. You can hear something in this record that wasn’t in previous releases, and by no means is that a bad thing. It just shows how bloody talented this band are and having this fearless approach to the record truly makes it tower over anything else you’ve heard this year. I want it constantly playing in my ears, I want to fall asleep listening to it and I want this beautiful racket waking me up for work every morning. Utter bliss.

Hard Copy is the kind of record that would be perfect for a real smutty film that not even an arthouse cinema would show. There’s this enthralling weirdness to the record that hooks you in so quickly, and you cannot let it let go of you at all. For me, this is apparent on songs like Inanimate Love (the intro to this is SO good and the vocals remind me of The Cramps.) It’s a killer record, and I want everything I ever listen to to sound as heavy and strange as this. I love that the whole record touches on strange elements of lust, desires most would turn away from and in parts; isolation. The way this record has been produced is exceptional, and it’s probably the best produced record I’ve heard so far this year.

Most of the songs on the record hit the 5 minute mark, and this is another reason for me to love this record with all I have. Hard Copy is an exceptional record that is so easy to get lost in and let consume you in the best way possible. In some parts, the record feels like it could be a film soundtrack but at other times, you just know you are listening to something where everyone involved in this record hasn’t been afraid to really experiment with their sound and get a little strange, y’know? I feel the record gets heavier and darker on the second part of the record. Runaway Runaway kicks off the second part of the record, and it’s a heavy number that has tone to it that is unlike anything else on the record and honestly, unlike anything else VR Sex have done before. If you listen to their previous records before this one, it’s like listening to a different band- and by no means is that a bad thing at all. The band worked about 12 hours a day to make this record, and you can truly hear the dedication to their work on this record. You can hear the frustrations; you can hear the urgency. It’s just a dream of a record from start to finish.

There’s no point in wasting time on trying to find a genre to lump this record with- like all VR Sex records (and Drab Majesty too) it goes beyond that. Labels are useless anyway.  I think at the moment I am calling Jenny Killer Glue as my favourite on the record, but of course I will change my mind with every listen but this one has something about it that rather than play the record in order, I start with this and I then listen in order. It’s just such a great song and I hope they make a video to this because it would be wild. It might also get banned, but it’s fine!

I feel I could write thousands and thousands of words about why I love this record. And maybe I could have summed up how phenomenal the record is with just a short paragraph but when a band you love make something like this- you can’t help but ramble on. It’s a big sounding record with zero pretentiousness to it, and that’s so rare.

Hard Copy is one of those records that I know I’ll still be fascinated with in years to come, and I’ll keep finding new things to love about it. It is a proper work of art, and in every delicate and tough moments of the record- you find a home in it and that’s such a beautiful thing. It’s the kind of record you can play at any time of day and you’ll immediately be thrown in VR Sex’s world and you won’t want to ever leave. Let the record consume you in all ways possible.

HARSH SYMMETRY.

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Spooky sounds make my little world go round; and the perfect example of this is the effortlessly slick Harsh Symmetry. I only discovered their music the middle of last year, and I added them to a list of bands I needed to write about. On a cold, icy night here in Manchester- now is the perfect time to write about Harsh Symmetry.

My love for bands like Cold Cave, VR Sex and Drab Majesty knows no bounds. They’re like a holy trinity of mine, but my god you through Harsh Symmetry in there and you’ve got a pot of exceptional musicians that make music that just elevate the soul. I initially was going to treat this as a review of sorts of the record from 2023; Imitation but I feel I have too much to say about Harsh Symmetry to narrow it down to that.

You just know when you hear something that it’s going to leave a lasting imprint on you. You know it’s going to do something, but you haven’t quite figured it out yet- that’s where I’m at with Harsh Symmetry. I feel like I’ve found something truly sacred, and something I may never be able to explain. It’s like that rush of love or infatuation that hits you in the face. There’s something here that I don’t think I’ll ever find in another band or singer, and I’m absolutely okay with that.

Harsh Symmetry is Julian Sharwarko. One person making a beautiful noise that I simply cannot get enough of. His dark vocals over eerie sounds is glorious; his music was made to be heard by any and everyone, and even though that’s a typical cliché it is one that I firmly stand by. For me there’s hints of early Depeche Mode, slight hints of Killing Jokes and a bit of The Cure. The record Julian released last year (Imitation) is made up of 9 songs that to truly get the best of- you need to listen to with the lights off- in total darkness. You can use headphones or you can blast it out as loud as you want. The important thing here is to be in total darkness and with no room for interruption. It’s like meditation but without the urge to start yelling or bursting out laughing (it can’t just be me, right?!) Imitation is Julian’s second full length record but it honestly sounds like someone who has been doing this for decades. It is just a perfectly crafted record. I have ZERO musical talent but it sounds like something I wish I could make. That creepy graveyard cloaked in fog feel lights up the whole record. If you’re looking for something with an intense and atmospheric feel- then listen to Harsh Symmetry.

Before I move onto Julian’s debut- I need to tell you about his exceptional cover of Open Your Heart by Madonna. Early Madonna is divine- we cannot dispute that. The desperation in the original is painful and so vulnerable. It is just beautiful; so how on earth will it sound like when a bunch of synths and eerie vocals take over it? Perfect to be honest. It took a bit for me to realise it was a cover, and I think when someone covers a song it is so important, they make it theirs, and bloody hell Julian does exactly that. It feels like it’s his song. His take on it is beautiful, and you’ll keep going back to it because your brain won’t quite click that it’s a cover right away.

Display Model came out in 2022, and I wish I got into his music then but I didn’t and it’s an error I must live with. His debut record is just the perfect mix of everything I love about music and just makes me want to zone out in the dark and listen to his music. As much as I love loud and rowdy Punk bands; my heart belongs to this style of euphoric music too. I couldn’t possibly call it anything but heavenly. Display Model is a stunning introduction to how talented Julian is, and as far as debut records go- well, if I could go back in time, I’d go back to 2022 and declare it as the best debut of the year. He makes music that goes beyond anything I’ve heard before, and that ethereal and delicate yet melancholic sound is dramatic in all the right places. His music would be perfect for an obscure black and white film that leaves you part terrified and part inspired. I don’t know when I was last truly moved by something. Normally when I play music, my cat usually goes into another room to take a nap but she’s sat next to me on my bed gently drifting into sleep like the little angel she is. Mary’s got good taste!

I feel that the words I have written do not do Julian any justice at all, but I hope if you read this- you listen to his music and you love it as much as I do.

In a few weeks’ time Julian will be playing a few dates here in the UK- London, Liverpool, and Manchester. I cannot wait to see these songs played live, and to hear them in the way they should be heard.