Tracklisting:
1. Bad Blood
2. I Slept In The Car
3. Refugee (Grey Matter remix)
4. War Harps
5. Bad Blood (Zero Call remix)
6. Butcher – covered by ASHCAT2DANS
Line-up:
Mark Smith – keyboards/vocals
Rosie Allen – bass/vocals
Tom Flinders – drums
If you fancy a bit of electro-rock, then have a listen to the new EP from Hitchin-based rockers Sons of Guns. Featuring members with an extensive background in Herts’ punk rock scene, SOG are a catchy trio who are also responsible for putting on some well-received ‘Deadbeats’ clubnights in the area. Besides the title track, the EP also features two previously unreleased tracks, two remixes and a cover of their song ‘Butcher’ by ASHCAT2DANS.
Mixing bouncy beats, dashes of dub and catchy lyrics, the title track and the accompanying studio tracks are infectious and will stay with you, especially ‘I Slept In The Car’, the calmer of the three – some might recall that this track already has its own art video on YouTube. The track ‘I Was A Refugee’ (from the first SOG album, downloadable from their Bandcamp page) appears here in a remixed form; whilst it was originally the most chilled track on the album, here it’s been given a BPM boost and turned into a potential dancefloor filler. Zero Call’s remix of ‘Bad Blood’ strips away some of the vocals in favour of a robotic-like techno feel, and ASHCAT2DANS’ version of ‘Butcher’ gives the track a more raw, chaotic feel; imagine Mike Patton fronting a cyberpunk band for an idea of what to expect. You can download the entire EP for free, or for just £4 you can purchase a limited edition CD in handmade packaging, whilst stock lasts.
Tracklisting:
1. Fruit From The Lie
2. Pandemic Schizophrenia
3. You So Much As Move
4. Fruit From The Lie (Ben Hurd Remix)
5. You So Much As Move (Massimo Fiocco Remix)
6. Early Morning (acoustic)
Following a 10 year absence from our stereos and venues, UK rap metallers One Minute Silence are back with a brand new EP of fresh material, the first batch since 2003’s ‘One Lie Fits All’ album. After spending several years dabbling in their own respective projects in various genres, the band came back together in 2010 to begin the honing and recording process for what was to come. The first to feature new drummer Martin Davies, alongside the much missed Yap, Glen and Massy, this EP has been highly-anticipated by both press and their fanbase, who never forgot their high-energy live performances and ability to deliver catchy, in-your-face tunes with a message. Made possible by the Pledge Music incentive, fans who pledged money to the project will also be receiving limited physical versions and other items of appreciation.
EP trailer:
The six tracks on offer here would appeal to their older fans, whilst newcomers might also appreciate the remixes. Opening track ‘Fruit From The Lie’ has a slow, steady build-up that eventually hits with a chorus that only OMS could offer, signalling a true-to-form return that won’t disappoint longtime fans. ‘Pandemic Schizophrenia’ is a manic number that recalls the bouncy but sharp delivery of their debut album (‘Available In All Colours’), married to the more adventurous feel of the ‘One Lie..’ album, whilst the calmer reworked ‘You So Much As Move’ (which originally featured on ‘One Lie..’) is carried along by a floaty riff. The first of the two remixes featured, ‘Fruit From The Lie (Ben Hurd Remix)’, shows that OMS haven’t failed to keep up with today’s musical climate and are still just as open to experimentation as before, injecting some dubstep into the mix. The second remix, by OMS’ own Massy, turns ‘You So Much As Move’ into a darker, brooding track, replacing the original’s proggy feel with one of chaos. In contrast, the final track brings the EP to a chilled close with the suitably-titled ‘Early Morning’, an acoustic track that winds things down – the perfect ‘morning after’ soundtrack.
A solid, varied effort, one that should please fans and build anticipation for a full-length album. Welcome back One Minute Silence, you have been missed.
Lead track ‘Fruit From The Lie’:
For fans of: System Of A Down, Breed 77, Lockdown Project
One Minute Silence’s ‘Fragmented Armageddon’ EP will be released on Monday 17th June by Freeport Entertainment via iTunes. OMS have written 10 new tracks towards a new album, which they hope to record this year for release in 2014, with live dates to follow.
Here’s my top ten tracks of 2012, listed in no particular order. These include tracks from bands I’ve booked, reviewed or just discovered for myself which had repeated listens.
The October Game – Answers & Keys
Currently unreleased, this Muse-esque track has been a favourite of mine since it debuted early this year. Had the pleasure of seeing them live a couple of times this year, at Club 85 in Hitchin and this year’s Balstock Festival. With the release of drummer Oliver Taylor’s solo album this year, and some promising solo sounds being produced by bassist Owen Stephen, it seems there’s plenty to look forward to from this group of musicians.
Aghast – We Fear Silence (Megaton Remix)
Something a little different, for me anyway – I’ve given dubstep a listen on an number of occasions, and found I can listen to some of it – this however has had repeated listens in recent months. You can download Megaton’s EP for free at http://www.facebook.com/Megatondubstep, and Aghast’s for the original version at http://www.aghastmetal.com/.
Stu O’Connor – Dumb Mathematics (feat. Shamanic Technology)
Taken from the electronic/USB stick version of the ‘Go Forth Bright Scenic’ project – a great set of tracks, of which this is just one highlight. A sparse, stripped down track with a hip hop beat. The entire album can be downloaded for just £1 (as can the rest of the albums which make up the GFBS project) at http://www.stuartoconnor.com/
Oliver Taylor – The Eyes That Follow/The Psycho
Essentially two chapters of one song, a catchy soulful duo from The October Game’s drummer’s debut solo album ‘Little Drummer Boy’, available now via Scylla Records. http://www.facebook.com/ldbofficial/.
Sons Of Guns – I Slept In The Car
Electro-rock trio from Hitchin, whose members you might just recognise from other local bands. This and recent track ‘Butcher’ are catchy tunes that will lodge themselves in your head. You can download this track for free at http://soundcloud.com/sons-of-guns/i-slept-in-the-car.
Alone With Wolves – BTW
Royston’s AWW unleashed their self-titled debut EP earlier this year, an awesome collection of tunes demonstrating their own hybrid of metal and melodic hardcore. If you’re a fan of Atreyu or Alexisonfire then I can’t recommend this highly enough. Available at http://awwofficial.bandcamp.com/album/ep.
The Floe – RITH
Currently unreleased, this electro-pop duo recently released their live album ‘Simple Pleasures’ via iTunes and many other online music outlets, and also recorded a cover of Adele’s Skyfall theme, also available to stream via Youtube.
This Means War – Truckasaurus
A little further afield with this one, this Brighton-based quintet upped their game with this, their groove-injected brand of tech-metal that would appeal to fans of Meshuggah and Lamb Of God.
Indi & The Vegas – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
The catchy funk rockers from Hitchin recently released this as part of a charity single. It’s that time of year folks….and singer Indi has an amazing voice, hence the inclusion of this cover. They’ve made this available as a free download, and you can also download their EP for just £1 at http://indiandthevegas.bandcamp.com/album/fair-fight.
Fiona Apple – Every Single Night
It’s due to the inclusion of this track that I haven’t called this a top ten of underground/local bands – hardly local, Apple has been releasing critically acclaimed albums since her late teens and gone platinum, with this track taken from this year’s lengthy-titled ‘The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do’ album. Dark, jazzy alt-rock, describing moments of nightmarish hysteria, Apple hasn’t lost her ability to write heartfelt songs that people can relate to.
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