Top Ten Albums and Top Ten EP's of 2012

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2012

1. The Menzingers - On The Impossible past 

2. Title Fight - Floral Green
3. Make Do And Mend - Everything You Ever Loved
4. Such Gold - Misadventures
5. Expire - Pendulum Swings
6. Mixtapes - Even On The Worst Nights
7. Hostage Calm - Please Remain Calm
8. Daytrader - Twelve Years
9. You Blew It! - Grow Up, Dude
10. Dikembe - Broad Shoulders

TOP FIVE EP'S OF 2012

1. Daylight - The Difference In Good And Bad Dreams

2. State Champs - Overslept
3. Spraynard - Exton Square
4. Real Friends - Everyone That Dragged You Here
5. Save Your Breath - Recover

Save Your Breath - Recover EP review.

Save Your Breath return with their new EP ‘Recover’ released on Purgatory Records. The new EP comes after their first full length release in 2011 ‘Vices’ which struck a chord with pop-punk fans within the UK and internationally. ‘Recover’ is another reminder why Save Your Breath are one of the best at what they do, in the UK.

The EP begins with the title track ‘Recover’ a fast paced track with consistent drum patterns balanced with the lyrics of the song which blend perfectly to create the ultimate start to a pop punk EP. The chorus is one so typical of Save Your Breath’s music, catchy hooks have been the success of tracks in the past such as ‘Nothing Worth Having Comes Easy’. ‘Recover’ follows this same pattern as previous Save Your Breath numbers with it’s catchy hooks, perfect for fans of the genre.

‘Maps’ has the same nature of the first track, with the drum beats and guitar riffs blending perfectly with the vocals of Kris Richards. ‘Maps’ is even more catchy than the opening track which allows the EP to keep flowing consistently, again a perfect representation of Save Your Breath’s music creating a polished pop punk sound using a perfect blend of catchy lyrics and instrumentation.

‘Skeleton Key’ begins with raw vocals and heavy drum beats. This track isn’t as flowing as the first tracks, but shows the more punchy side of the bands sound. This track is typical of the raw pop punk sound which has been so successful for the likes of The Wonder Years and The Story So Far in recent times.

‘2004’ starts fiercely with fast upbeat drum patterns, again the success of this number relies on the chorus. Although, it isn’t as robust as previous tracks, and the gang vocals are a little on the weak side towards to conclusion of the song, the first blip in a so far strong EP.

The next track ‘Ceremony’ is a very dark number, and shows the band aren’t afraid of experimenting with different sounds. Distorted vocals and guitar riffs create an eery sound reminiscent of the sound of grunge and emo bands in the 1990’s. An interesting change of sound which works as an interlude in the EP.

The EP concludes with ‘Touchpaper’ it seems like they have saved the best for last with this track. Strong drum beats and fast paced vocals are thrown into a blender to create the perfect ending track, gang vocals are much stronger in this track which works well with Kris’s ever consistent raw vocals which are perfect for the hooks.

A very interesting EP containing the typical catchy sound that Save Your Breath have always brought to the table, some new sounds which could be used again in future releases. Hopefully now after the success of ‘Vices’ and a new EP released, they can finally push it to the next level on their 2nd full length release and take the worldwide pop punk scene by storm.

Road To Warped Tour, Cardiff - Live Review

 Photo taken by  - Kern Bridges (Kern Hollie Photography)

Doors opened around 7.30pm for the fans buzzing for a night of pop punk legends and pop punk newcomers. On the bill were Californians The Story So Far, New Jersey’s very own Man Overboard and Florida legends New Found Glory and Less Than Jake.

The Story So Far took to the stage at around ten to seven. A small cluster of fans gathered at the front, excited to see the band who have exploded worldwide in a very small period of time. As the first track of their set list kicked in; a swarm of fans joined the cluster at the front ready to witness the band play most of the songs from their successful first full length ‘Under Soil And Dirt’. The crowd incredible enthusiasm throughout and sang along until their lungs give out. The reception The Story So Far received was fantastic to see. South Wales is a not a place renowned for pop punk fans but they were certainly out in numbers tonight.

Tracks like ‘Mt Diablo’ ‘Daughters’ and ‘Quicksand’ were particular highlights and sent the crowd into an absolutely frenzy with constant crowd surfers. The band were on fantastic form with Parker Cannon’s vocals at the centre of the chaos created, his raw vocals perfect to blend in with the nature of the crowd. A fantastic start to the evening and it just shows how far this band have come in a space of a year.

Next on stage were Man Overboard who like The Story So Far were touring for the 3rd time in the UK in 2012. Their sugar coated pop punk went down fairly well with the crowd, especially the younger girls at the front of the crowd who seem to know a lot of the more soppy songs that Man Overboard play. It was a varied set list featuring songs from all of their full length releases. The crowd were fairly quiet throughout, although tracks such as ‘Fantasy Girl’ and ‘Montrose’ did go down well with the fans of Man Overboard’s album ‘Real Talk’. Man Overboard are usually criticised for their live performances, but they remained energetic and strong throughout to deliver a good live performance, they concluded the set with ‘Love Your Friends, Die Laughing’ which seems to spark some vocals from the crowd, with it being one of the more popular Man Overboard songs. A good performance in front of a quiet, uninterested crowd with the exception of a few fans.

Probably unexpectedly New Found Glory came onto the stage next, although the stage banner was a bit of a give away. This was always going to be a special set with the band playing their ‘Sticks and Stones’ album in full to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release of the album in 2002. They may not be as popular and as youthful as they were in 2002 but they certainly still know how to put on a good live performance and please a crowd.

As expected ‘Understatement’ and ‘My Friends Over You’ were perfect for creating chaos within the venue, gigantic circle pits opened up and there was large movement in the crowd. The noise of the crowd was deafening during ‘My Friends Over You’. Slower songs like ‘Sonny’ and ‘Head on Collision’ calmed the crowd slightly, but they were still singing away showing fantastic energy. The pace soon picked up again thanks to numbers like ‘Never Give Up’ and ‘The Story So Far’ the band and the crowd had given their all to make the one off very special. After they had performed ‘Sticks and Stones’ in full, New Found Glory had 15 minutes of their set remaining to squeeze in some more songs to the delight of the crowd who were extremely sweaty and exhausted at this point. New Found Glory have enough time to pull out ‘All Downhill From Here’, ‘Dressed To Kill’, ‘Kiss Me’ and ‘Hit Or Miss’ each song was well received as the crowd sang along. ‘Hit Or Miss’ was the perfect end to a very exciting and memorable set and it was great to be a part of it.

Lastly, Less Than Jake took to the stage. It was a special night for them too who were celebrating 20 years of being a band. The crowd seemed to find new energy as Less Than Jake teared up the venue with their brilliant ska punk classics. ‘Gainesville Rock City’ and ‘All My Friends Are Metalheads’ were essential in getting the crowd going, the crowd were singing loudly with huge circle pits, crowd surfing and even the odd couple of fans dancing...

Less Than Jake are a very humorous band, and very funny moments in their set. They invited to the women security guard to crowd surf from the back of the venue to the stage. They also got three of the ‘stinkiest dudes’ in the room on stage to find out which one was the smelliest. The winner received a bottle of whiskey. After the jokes it was back to the live music, Less Than Jake ended with ‘The Ghost of Me and You’ the crowd gathered for a circle pit around the sound and lighting area.

The crowd had not had enough from the band, so they decide to chant ‘LESS THAN JAKE’ to encourage the band to do an encore. The band obliged and came back onto the stage to perform another three songs, they had been brilliantly consistent throughout and showed no sign of age after 20 years of being a band. They finished the encore with ‘Plastic cup Politics’ which encouraged the crowd to go crazy and create the perfect end to a very sweaty and enjoyable night at the Great Hall. The old legends showed the younger bands (Man Overboard and The Story So Far) that age doesn’t show on a band and both New Found Glory and Less Than Jake were vocally and instrumentally perfect throughout their sets. Very special night.

Album Of The Year 2012: The Menzingers - On The Impossible Past

This was a very tough decision to make, similarly to last year there have been so many good full length releases in 2012. In the end, the album that spoke to me most and really got me singing along was The Menzingers’ On The Impossible Past. There were other albums released this year were very good, but almost all the songs from ‘On The Impossible Past’ stayed in my head day after day and really gripped me as a fan of melodic punk rock.

 ‘Good Things’ is the perfect opener to the album, perfect use of hooks. The aggressive vocals adds to the catchy nature of the song, the repeated lyrics encourages the listener to become addicted and eventually start singing along. ‘Burn After Waiting’ has the same catchy effect as the first track, the chorus is highly addictive to create another number that is hard not to sing along too. The guitar riffs blend perfectly with the vocals to create a consistent sound throughout the song.

 ‘The Obituaries’ has an upbeat beginning with repeated drum patterns. Guitar riffs maintain an upbeat tempo throughout the beat. The best thing about this track is the brilliant use of hooks, “I will fuck this up, I fucking know it” proves to be utterly catchy throughout and is again hard not to sing along to.

 ‘Gates’ is much a slower number, the vocals and guitar riffs and drums flow so well to create a really consistent sound. The Menzingers lyrical skills are brilliant on this song, the words match the instrumentation beautifully to create a soft sound which again is pleasing to the ear. ‘Ava House’ has a similar sounding beginning to ‘Good Things’. The drum patterns maintain a steady beat throughout the track with consistent guitar riffs. Again, the repetitive lyrics makes this song very easy to listen to.

‘Sun Hotel’ is possibly my favourite on the album, perfect blend of clean and raw vocals mixed with a low guitar tone, perfect ingredients for a melodic punk number. Again the production deserves a massive thumbs up, both vocals and instruments sounding perfect. ‘Sculptors and Vandals’ is a slower number but still maintains the catchy elements that are present in the rest of the album.

 ‘Mexican Guitars’ is another favourite of mine on this album, the most simple sound but so effective when trying to please my ears. Again the vocals and instrumentation are faultless like most of the album, and makes it so calming and easy to listen to.

 ‘On The Impossible Past’ is a much a darker number, and shows the versatility of the band. Echoey guitar tones and dreary vocals create a strange standstill to the album. The same echoey guitar tone is repeated in ‘Nice Things’ this time more upbeat with overlapping guitar riffs and more bold vocals, another favourite of mine because it’s upbeat tempo. ‘Casey’ starts similarly to a number of songs on the album, with soft pitches guitar tones and slow drum beats. The vocals in this track gives it a bit of bite which I thoroughly enjoy.

 ‘I Can’t Seem To Tell’ and ‘Freedom Bridge’ provide a calming ending to an extremely enjoyable and soulful album. Both songs has the elements which makes this album so enjoyable and such as consistent album.

 Best Menzingers release to date, and with much competition the best album of 2012. A superb reflection of soulful melodic punk rock at it’s best. An album I can enjoy listening to for an number of years.

We Are The Ocean - Maybe Today, Maybe Tomorrow review

We Are The Ocean are back with their third full-length release, throughout their career We Are The Ocean have changed their sound a number of times, beginning with post-hardcore sound, then changing to the southern rock sound they produced on their second full length ‘Go Now And Live’. ‘Maybe Today, Maybe Tomorrow’ is a natural progression from the last album and it seems as if the band have finally developed a sound which they are happy with and will continue with in the future.

The album begins with ‘Stanford Rivers’ which works as a short intro to the album. The Intro is slow and is cleverly used before the first single ‘Bleed’ which explodes the album into life. Heavy drum beats provide the platform for vocalist Liam Cromby to use his silky rock voice to create a powerful rock song with a highly addictive chorus. ‘Young Heart’ slows proceedings down, but is typical of the easy listening sound that WATO seem so skillful at creating. Liam’s voice is beautifully complemented by calming guitar tones.

‘Story of A Modern Child’ is another track on the album which relies on it’s chorus to make the song appealing to the ear. Similarly to the ‘Bleed’ the chorus seems to create a soulful number similar to the likes of The Gaslight Anthem who have become so successful with their soul punk sound. ‘Machine’ is a much more anthemic number, repeated drum beats and Cromby’s vocals creates a powerful track which flows perfectly into “The Road” which contains the most catchiest of choruses. Again Cromby’s vocals are key in the success of this song, the instrumentation syncing perfectly with the vocals to create such an emphatic and anthemic number.

‘Golden Gate’ is a much more slower and easy listening rock song, this track allows the listener to appreciate the clever use of instruments, thanks to experimental guitar tones which work well. ‘Maybe Today, Maybe Tomorrow’ picks up the tempo further but has a much more softer chorus than previous tracks on the album. Again, the guitar and drum works are cleverly implemented to create another wonderful slice of soul punk. ‘Pass me by’ is a slower more folky track, new territory for We Are The Ocean. The band show great variety and depth of sound with this track. The album then comes to an end with ‘Chin Up, Son’ which features Liam Cromby’s vocals and an acoustic guitar. It’s a fitting conclusion to a very well constructed album, and provides a great showcase of Cromby’s vocal talent.

The album is very much worth listening to if you’re a fan of straightforward easy listening alternative rock or soul punk. The band seemed to have finally found a sound to settle with, their previous album ‘Go Now And Live’ received positive reviews, and ‘Maybe Today, Maybe Tomorrow’ will work as another stepping stone for the future success of the band.

Gallows - Gallows (2012, Bridge Nine Records)

Gallows are back with a new self-titled album, shortly after receiving some criticism in recent  times after replacing their former frontman Frank Carter with new frontman Wade MacNeil (ex-Alexisonfire).

The album begins with the opening track ‘Victim Culture’ which begins with an eery intro in the form of a woman’s voice, before exploding into a gang vocal frenzy. It is the perfect beginning to a hardcore punk record containing an extremely catchy chorus, which is accompanied by scintillating riffs and heavy tones throughout to give a perfect platform for the rest of the album.

The momentum continues to build through ‘Everybody Loves You’ and ‘Last June’ with gang vocals, riffs and bass lines reminiscent of older Gallows works. Wade’s vocals seem to blend perfectly to the fast nature of the songs. ‘Outsider Art’ and ‘Vapid Adolescent Blues’ are both energetic numbers,continuing the theme of mixing gang vocals and aggressive vocals with riotous riffs. The first half of the album contains many hooks which makes it extremely enjoyable to listen to as well as being able to appreciate the excellent instrumentation.

There is no lack of energy, and momentum continues to the very end of the album thanks to the  likes of ‘Depravers’ and ‘Cross of Lorraine’ which maintains the consistent sound and never ending energy that is present throughout the album.

MacNeil’s vocals are a particular highlight of the album, complementing the powerful sound that Gallows produce instrumentally. MacNeil’s vocals tell me that he is back and is raring to kick start his future in Gallows, the vocals are a crucial element to Gallows new Hardcore Punk sound they have produced which is very reminiscent of hardcore punk heroes Comeback Kid. This album should lay the perfect platform for a very successful UK tour next month.

Not everyone is going to be a fan of the album, some will have preference of Frank Carter whose vocals created the refreshing new British punk sound after the release of ‘Orchestra of Wolves’ back in 2006. Gallows fans should remain loyal to the band because there is no doubting the exciting impact of Wade’s vocal talent which has contribution of creating a very energetic, punchy and perfectly delivered self-titled album. It will I’m sure, benefit Gallows in the long term and secure their future as a successful band.

Rating - 4/5

Trapped Under Ice, Man Overboard, Basement @ Cardiff Great Hall 2 - 6/4/12

Doors opened at 7pm for a cluster of fans eagerly anticipating a night of both of British and international live acts.

After patiently waiting, the first band came onto the large stage at 7.45, Basement have been growing steadily throughout the UK, Europe and America; touring with bands such as Title Fight and Daylight. Basement played a set made up mostly of songs from their debut LP 'I Wish I Could Stay Here' songs such as 'Yoke' and 'Crickets Throw Their Voice' were a particular highlight of the set. Basement took the opportunity to play two newer songs which portrayed Basement's progression in their sound, the second of the newer songs showed the grunge side of Basement's sound. Vocalist Andrew Fisher showed excellent stage presence, supported by the rest of the band who showed great belief and passion in the music they were playing. The band showed consistency and played every song to the best of their ability, sadly the performance was not enough to win over the audience who remained quiet and uninterested throughout the set.

New Jersey pop punkers Man Overboard took to the stage at 8.30pm, Man Overboard over recent years have gained plenty of experience playing in the UK and Europe; having had two headline tours and supporting Senses Fail and Polar Bear Club before embarking on the Rocksound Impericon Tour.
Man Overboard had the tough job of winning over fans heavily into the Hardcore genre, despite having little reaction from the crowd with the exception of a couple of nodding heads and a small group singing along to the words of each song, they remained professional and performed well. They played a set consisting of songs from each of their full length releases. Songs such as ‘Fantasy Girl’ and ‘Love Your Friends, Die Laughing’ were highlights of the half hour set.

Next on stage at 9.15 were Baltimore’s own Trapped Under Ice who have been putting themselves on the map both in America and the UK. As their set kicked in, there was a sudden awakening of the crowd who began moving from side of the side of the large venue. Vocalist Justice Tripp was essential in the success of the band’s performance, occasionally standing on the stage barrier greeted by a passionate bunch of fans who sang along. The band as a unit remained tight and consistent throughout to give a powerful, passionate and memorable set. Tracks such as ‘Believe’ and ‘True Love’ ignited chaos within the crowd who were incredibly active throughout the set. Trapped Under Ice ended the set as they started it, with sheer passion and movement. The fans perspired throughout from their activity on the venue floor which reflected the impact of Trapped Under Ice’s live performance.

Elite Days - Elite Days EP Review

Cardiff based Elite Days have a produced an interesting yet solid release in the form of this self titled EP. 'Takes time' is a highly catchy number with heavy drum beats and slick guitar riffs from start to finish, vocalist Shaun Williams delivers a enjoyable vocal that compliments the consistent instrumentation. The interlude provides an introduction to 'Reckless' which is a must darker number, much more heavy compared to the first track, very reminiscent to the sound of Senses Fail. Again, the guitar riffs are slick and vocal delivery flawless, the EP provides a small glimpse of the variety of sound that Elite Days have adopted. It's an enjoyable first release and has encouraged me to keep on the eye on the band in the near future.

Pipedream - Shell EP Review

Pipedream are among the new crop of emo influenced bands arising in recent times, their demo release back in 2011 was just a small taster of what was to come from the band. Their newest release 'Shell' showcases a fresh new sound that is rare to find within bands in the UK. It is clear to hear the influences from bands in the 90's such as Jawbreaker and The Promise Ring, the influence of these bands has clearly rubbed off on the band and allowed them to construct a refreshing and enjoyable debut release. Prior to the release of 'Shell' the band has had gained some success with support slots with acclaimed acts such as Nothington and Football, etc.

'Shell' is perfectly consistent throughout, 'Meander' and 'Once as One' are particular highlights with slick riffs and a perfect tempo that suits vocalist' Tom Sanders angsty voice. Again the influences of early 90's bands seems to be shining through each track on the EP, Pipedream have created their own unique sound that is showcased throughout the EP. The third track on the EP 'Repose' showcases instrumental talents with a silky and calming instrumental which allows the listener to relax and appreciate the beautiful sound of the instrument being used. The instrumental is followed up with the remaining three tracks on the EP that all have the same refreshing emo sound that the band were trying to achieve with their debut release, 'Shell' is a refreshing and encouraging first glimpse of the talent that is Pipdream, with a resurgence of  bands with an emo influence in recent times, there is no stopping Pipedream from growing within the UK scene and hopefully globally. This debut release represents a band that are clearly passionate about their music and have full belief that will carry them into the future and give them experience for future releases.

More Than Life @ Six Feet Under Live Review

This was to be the first show of More Than Life’s last European tour, doors eventually opened at around 7.30pm, the venue gradually filled with fans keen to see More Than Life for the last time.

The first band Wolfpack took to the stage, a newly formed hardcore act from South Wales adding to the growing number of Hardcore bands forming in the South Wales region, they played a short fifteen minute set of their own brand of dark, atmospheric Hardcore which appealed to the small crowd admiring the talent and interesting sound that the band produced throughout their set. Wolfpack are a band to look out for in the forthcoming months, and they will continue to showcase their talent in various venues across South Wales.

Next on stage were Foxxes, another of South Wales up-and-coming Hardcore acts. Similarly to Wolfpack, Foxxes produced an atmospheric and mesmerizing set. Throughout the set each member of the band showed passion and belief in their music which was key to the success of this live performance. Throughout, they showed excellent stage presence and the vocalist remained confident and delivered an impressive vocal performance which set the benchmark for the rest of the band to follow. They maintained consistency throughout the performance with well structured instrumentation, it was a mighty impressive first glimpse of a very talented band.

Next up were Continents, another of Wales’s hardcore acts, Continents over recent months have built up a strong following across South Wales thanks to their non stop touring across Wales and the release of their debut single ‘Trials’. Continents produced an enjoyable set to watch and produced the first signs of activity and involvement from the crowd. Continents relished the support of their local fans and delivered a powerful and active performance to warm up the crowd for the main acts to follow.

After a positive showcase from Wales’s up-and-coming bands, it was time for Run For Cover Records’ Daylight to take to stage. Daylight played a selective mix of songs from all three of their studio releases including their most recent single ‘Damp’, they showed great stage presence and excellent live potential but struggled to appeal to the small audience with their unique sound. The performance was dampened by technical problems for the majority of the set, but Daylight remained professional and produced some highlights throughout their set to leave a good impression with the audience.

Lastly, More Than Life took to the stage for the very last time in South Wales. The crowd gathered together for one last performance from the hardcore giants, More Than Life delivered a solid but just short of a memorable performance . The crowd immediately got into action at the start of the set and remained active throughout and responded mostly to songs ‘Daisy Hill’ and ‘Love Let Me Go’. The band showed energy and passion throughout the set, the crowd was equally passionate and sang along to their favorite More Than Life songs throughout. More Than Life constructed and performed a mixture of songs from their EP ‘Brave Enough To Fail’ and their album ‘Love Let Me Go’ the setlist inspired their audience to stay active throughout the set and enjoy the passion and talent of More Than Life for the very last time. More Than Life ended the set thanking their fans for their support and left a positive feeling within the crowd despite it being their last ever performance on welsh soil.