'These Walls Hold Nothing But The Death Of All That We Hold Dear' Twin Planets Album Review

Release Date: 6th April 2015

Twin Planets are an alternative rock band from Ormskirk in Lancashire. The four-piece formed in 2010, and since then they have released a variety of singles and a self-titled EP. Next month they will be releasing their first full-length album ‘These Walls Hold Nothing But The Death Of All That We Hold Dear’.

The first song on the album is ‘Centipede’, an ominous but upbeat instrumental song which instantly demonstrates Twin Planets’ technical guitar skills.

Second track ‘Space’ is full of beautiful vocals from lead singer James: the harmonies are impressive and enjoyable to listen to. The cheerful song encourages you to escape from your troubles and into a happy mind-set.

The harmless and happy-go-lucky vibe is consistent throughout the entire album, especially in electronic track ‘Divisions’. James’ vocals are melodic yet passionate, merging well with the powerfully catchy chorus.

‘Empires’ has a melodic and harrowing opening, which progresses into a simplistic yet powerful rock song. There is something unique yet familiar about Twin Planets’ musical style, making it almost impossible to compare them to another band.

One of the most impressive things about Twin Planets is their song-writing abilities: each song is expertly written and composed. There are unique elements used in every track on the album, making them able to explore different themes and styles perfectly.

Final track ‘Sirens’ is a brilliant way to end such an impressive album due to the magnificent vocals and hard-hitting lyrics. The easy-listening track allows you to relax and embrace all of the unique elements that Twin Planets use.

If you are looking for upbeat and easy-going music, then ‘These Walls Hold Nothing But The Death Of All That We Hold Dear’ is definitely the album for you.

‘These Walls Hold Nothing But The Death Of All That We Hold Dear’ is released on the 6th April. The release show is on the 3^rd April at Bumper in Liverpool and tickets are available via See Tickets.

Rating: 8/10

www.facebook.com/twinplanetsmusic
Album release show: www.facebook.com/events/1582134978693092/

'The Great Brand New' The Inside Is Live Album Review

Release Date: 1st August 2014
Label: AJM Management

The Inside Is Live are an alternative rock back from Nottingham. The five-piece formed in 2006, releasing their debut self-titled EP in February 2013. The band have managed to gain fans quickly due to their strong online presence and now that they have released their latest album, ‘The Great Brand New’, they are a fresh new addition to the UK alternative rock scene.

The first song on ‘The Great Brand New’ is ‘MMXII’, a short introduction of disjointed guitars and feedback, not entirely dissimilar to the introduction track from Panic At The Disco’s first album. It merges with the second track ‘Brittle Bones’, which is an anthemic and uplifting rock song.

‘Decadence’ is a slower paced and more melodic track, which is emphasised by the harmonising backing vocals and an impressive guitar solo before the breakdown. Lead singer Michael Denby’s is very talented; his voice is easy to listen to and stands out well against the attitude-filled guitar melodies.

The raw passion and emotion of The Inside Is Live is demonstrated perfectly through ‘Hopeless Youth’. The chorus is easily memorable and almost impossible not to sing along to. The bass solo is impressive and it’s easy to imagine how this song would song live.

Acoustic track ‘The Moment’ is everything that you would want in a slow rock song: twangy guitars , powerful vocals and deep lyrics. This is one of the best tracks on the album and proves that the band know the winning formula for rock music. What is an alternative rock album without at least one slow and romantic number, anyway?

As you get further and further through the album, it becomes clear that The Inside Is Live have a true talent for catchy choruses and simple yet effective guitar riffs. It is easy to see why they could appeal to the masses: the lyrics aren’t offensive, there is no heavy screaming and the band members are young. However, there is nothing boring about this album, and it’s positive to see a band that can become popular through their talent, rather than resorting to tacky gimmicks or obscenity.

To put it in blunt terms, they sound like a non-crap version of Black Veil Brides. If you like your music easy to sing along to, yet still enjoy a slightly-rocky anthem, then you’re onto a winner with ‘The Great Brand New’. The Inside Is Live are embarking on a short UK tour in December this year, check out their Facebook page for details.

Rating: 7/10

www.facebook.com/theinsideislive
www.twitter.com/TheInsideIsLive

'Racecar Is Racecar Backwards' Reuben Album Review

Release date: 3rd November 2014
Label: Xtra Mile Recordings 

It’s frustrating when talented bands don’t get the full recognition that they deserve, and Reuben are definitely one of the bands that this applies to. With their unique fusion of metal, alternative rock and everything in-between, Reuben rocked the underground music scene. Six years after the band’s demise and ten years after ‘Racecar Is Racecar Backwards’ was first released, the band have decided to re-release their debut album, along with an extra disc full of demos, live tracks and unreleased material. Their decision to do this has not only ignited dedicated fans with hopes of a reunion, but also to bring this incredible album to those who missed it the first time round.

Disc one is the original album in all its glory: the emotions, lyrics and riffs all remain untouched. In an industry where music is often revamped and altered, it’s impressive that after a decade it still sounds as compelling as it did back in 2004. One of the most emotionally powerful songs is ‘Tonight My Wife Is Your Wife’; the meaning of the lyrics is debatable, but what is true is that Jamie Lenman’s vocals are both haunting yet beautiful. In fact, one of the most unique features of Reuben is Jamie’s vocal range, which varies from shouting, singing and whispers. ‘Freddy Kreuger’ demonstrates the band’s playful nature, whereas ‘Moving To Blackwater’ has a more melodic theme.

The second disc is where the excitement continues. Reuben are regarded highly for their live performances, and even just listening to one of the live tracks demonstrates why. ‘No One Wins The War (Live At The BBC)’ is full of harsh guitar riffs, and the lyrics before the breakdown are so catchy that it’s almost impossible not to sing along. The demo of ‘Stuck In My Throat’ is even heavier than the original, yet the harmonies are even more poignant. ‘Eating Only Apples (Live At The BBC)’ opens with a simple yet effective bass line, leading into an almost thrash-like guitar riff. The live songs demonstrate what talented musicians Jamie, Jon and Guy are, as they aren’t afraid to experiment with their performances. There is an impressive twenty-one tracks on the bonus disc, which includes the fun-filled jam ‘Fuzz’s Birthday Song’ and finishes with an interview from the band on XFM.

If you enjoy listening to alternative music from any side of the rock or metal spectrum then this album is definitely for you. Reuben songs are so unique that you can listen to their albums over and over again without getting bored. The re-release of ‘Racecar Is Racecar Backwards’ manages to impress both old and new fans, due to the vast amount of original songs, demos and live tracks. The only thing missing now is a reunion… *Hint hint*

Rating: 10/10

www.facebook.com/wordsfromreuben 
http://www.wordsfromreuben.com/2009/