Jake Bugg: Shangri La - Album Review

Straight from the beginning bars of opening track ‘There’s a Beast and We All Feed It’, Jake Bugg is radiating the energy of youth and crying out about love and heartbreak. At only one minute 42 seconds, it may be a quick burst of lilting rhythms to being with, but it’s more than enough to get you into his music and get you completely hooked for more. Fast paced, punchy and catchy to boot, Bugg begins as he means to go on with more of the tunes that shot him to fame. 

Protest The Hero - VOLITION (Album Review)

Hands up who likes progressive metal from the maple-stained land of Canada?

If your hand isn't up, maybe PROTEST THE HERO can change that. They play a certain kind of blustery metal that sounds like a shed full of instruments got caught in a storm, with vocals that flit between confident, smooth, power-ballad crooning and cockier, gruffer outbursts. 

Lorde - Pure Heroine Album Review

It’s not everyday I’m really blown away by artists or producers. When I turn on the radio (which isn’t very often) everything sounds the same. It’s all manufactured boy bands, overproduced electro-house and Miley Cyrus.

The Family Rain EP Review

Fresh from supporting the The Rolling Stones at their recent Hyde Park gig and Biffy Clyro at Mallorca and Ibiza Rocks, The Family Rain are a new and exciting indie band, made up of three brothers from Bath, who appear destined for the big time. With the release of their debut album later this year, the band’s latest single ‘Pushing It’, sounds like a sure-fire hit.

5 Largest Album Flops this Side of the Millenium

While most artists fizzle out politely after falling ill of the feared ‘second album syndrome’, it must be said that Johnny Borell offers an intriguing anomaly after managing to sell only 594 copies of his first solo album, Borell 1.

Though it has been released by a major label (Mercury Records no less), and has been recorded by a man who has previously sold 4 million albums with another act, it could be deemed that as of yet, Borell 1 offers the biggest commercial failure of 2013.

'Yeezus' : The evolution of Hip Hop?

With the recent release of Kanye West's hotly anticipated 6th studio album, the man himself has been met with millions of expectant fans worldwide counting down the moments until they can give 'Yeezus' a first listen.

Tom Odell – Long Way Down Album Review

Tom Odell shot into the limelight winning the Critic’s Choice Award at the Brits, which boasts previous winners including Florence and the Machine, Emeli Sande and Adele. His highly anticipated début album, Long Way Down, was released on the 24^th June and went straight to number 1 on the UK album chart.

Jay Z – Magna Carta…Holy Grail Album Review

With all the talk of Beyonce popping out Blue Ivy and Jay Z becoming a dad, some people may have overlooked the fact that he also made something else this year. The release of his 12^th studio album, grandiosely named, Magna Carta…Holy Grail has been pinned as one of the hip-hop events of 2013. So does it live up to the hype?

One aspect of the album that is hard not to notice, right from the beginning, is Jay Z’s willingness to collaborate with an array of other megastars from the pop and hip hop music world. In fact, the album begins with the soulful voice of Justin Timberlake. The eager Jay Z fan has to wait around 1 minute and 30 seconds into the first track to hear Jay Z at all! Other tracks feature artists such as Rick Ross, Frank Ocean and, of course, Shawn Carter’s baby-mama herself, Beyoncé.

Arcane Roots – Blood and Chemistry: Album Review

This year saw the release of Arcane Roots début album Blood and Chemistry. 

At this point some people may be saying, ‘so freakin’ what?’ or ‘who the heck are Arcane Roots?’ (Editor: haha I love this guy’s attempt at not swearing). If you find yourself asking these questions, then thank the rock gods you stumbled across this article.

Arcane Roots use a unique blend of alternative indie and progressive math rock to create a powerful and diverse sound. Blood and Chemistry takes you on a mind-blowingly unpredictable journey through face-melting riffs into sweeping ballad-like interludes and then back again. Rarely has an album had such an impact upon me personally and I dare you not to love it!