Kixxstart Kitty - LIVE 24th June 2010

Thursday night, the suns blazing and slowly Chester slows down from the hussle and bussle of a busy day. What to expect tonight? Well it's World Cup time so most people will be settling down to the football or heading to their local to watch tonights game. At the City Bar in Chester though it's another Ritual night......and by god is Chester about to encounter a bit of shock and awe!!!

Anyone who has seen KK will know there is no other band out their locally who looks like them.............eg the shock and awe. And in general joe bloggs public will turn their noses up at them and walk away ('dam those pesky kids and their funny hairdos'!)!! However with what KK have in looks they totally match, and beat, in their performance tonight.

From the first song through to their finale the band capture the attention of the few people who have come to see them.....not just because of how they look but because they are bloody good!!! Zakky Storm's vocals are well.............off the chart!!! I dont believe in perfection but with Zak you're not far off it. As a band as a whole they are tighter than the proverbial ducks butt............and this is with a bass player who has only been with the band a week!!! Oh and yes the boys do love Jessy 11 (who wouldnt!!!). Karl Doobwah's guitar skills are just mesmerising, and show the skills of an artist far beyond his years!!!

The cover of The Beastie Boys track (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!) as a finale nearly takes the rough off, and shows how well the band can interact with their fans, however few there maybe at a venue.

These guys will go amazingly far......and Im so proud to say I will be along to enjoy the ride!!

D :)

Hellacious! - EP

In today's musical world, bands can get lost in the blackhole of genre guessing..........whats rock anymore? Because it is'nt what it was 20-30 years ago. The world has changed and so have the musical tastes of those fans listening to music. With Hellacious! they have taken the best parts of their own musical tastes.....ranging from pop, punk. metal, indie and blues and created something amazingly fresh and new. There is something here to hit every musical taste, but obviously in essence Hellacious! are a rock band........and a great rock band!!! All 6 songs are superbly crafted, everything you want from soaring riffs to finely refined solos. Where Hellacious! stand out from similar bands is the fact they have 2 singers......and whether it's Carl or Sian singing, it's an absolute treat!!! These guys are looking to play live more in 2010 and I'd recommend to any promotor looking for a top quality band to get these guys on. They are toured with some big local bands in 2009 and got the the final of the Battle Of The Bands @ The Chester Hangman earlier in the year. Brilliant...........let them rock!! D :)

Esaius - ReverbNation Playlist

Sometimes, if not very often, when artists from now defunct bands come together the outcome can be quite ugly. 'Super groups' can be massive let downs!! Now Esaius arent no super group but you get my meaning, though they dont fall into this category.

The 2 tracks I listened to 'Parallel' and 'Time & Deja vu' literally stopped me in my tracks. It's raw and experimental yes, but there is also something quite new but classic to this. Clearly influenced by Oasis in their pomp, these guys have written 2 quite stunning songs. Andy Salter's vocals also set them apart from the 'lets copy Oasis cause it worked for them' bands. Brit pop is dead people, move on but borrow the best bits and use them in the correct way and you could be onto a winner.

Scary thing is these guys have only been together a few months. Where they can go is anyones guess, but I see a bright future here for these guys.

Deja vu? Maybe........but it's all the good bits.

D :)

Lorin Zu - The Red Dead Dog Album

Myspace states Lorin Zu sounds like 'A parrot cake with a slice of mixolidian tribe fungus being trodden on forcefully from a distance'.Im not sure if thats positive or negative if Im honest.

Luckily the 4 tracks I listened to 'Bones', 'Horses', 'Revolution Jukebox' and 'Valium Makebelive' were amazing tracks. Ok I feel like I've been on some sort of very weird trip but hey a good one none the less!!! It's unorthodox musically and lyrically but there is something that drags you in and quite frankly I couldnt stop listening to the tracks especially 'Revolution Jukebox'.

The 4 tracks are some crazy well humoured wizardry, and although they wont appeal to everyone Lorin Zu delivers something very different. And as far as Im concerned different is good.

Unique work and I'd love to hear more in future!! Let the madness begin!!

D :)

MakeLikeMadeline - Show Your Teeth EP

Huge riffs?......check!! Screamy lyrics?......check!! Non bullshit rock?........CHECK!!! Oh and from Chester for good measure. I saw MLM last year sometime in the dirtiness of what was Barfly in Liverpool......and after some climbing all over the set by lead singer Rich O'Brian I liked what I saw!!!

The MLM guys have been away for a while but have come back with something bigger and badder than ever. The 'Show Your Teeth EP' is MLM at their finest and they have most definitely grown since "Last Night At Monogamy Heights" (which is also a quality listen it must be said). I don’t like to pigeon hole bands but I'd guess this is something along the lines of 'screamo' which definitely has a place in the market at present (think We Are The Ocean). And if anything they do the genre so much better than their more publicised southern rivals!!!

Personally title track ' Show Your Teeth' is my favourite track on the EP. The whole EP is well constructed no frills rock........................what more could you want? See them live you say? Get your arses down to Ritual @ The City Bar in Chester on the 24th June. I will be there!!!!

D :)

Whiskey and Lace - Come Away (Single)

Well what a shocker.........who would have thought Guns N' Roses were now hailing from Wrexham!!! And not the 'new' Guns N' Roses but classic, early 90's Guns N Roses.Shit sorry it's Whiskey and Lace, an amalgamation of former local bands from the Wrexham area. I listened to 'Come Away' and at first thought my itunes was playing a classic Guns 'N Roses track.............so I replayed it!!! Second time around I was more amazed and very excited. This has everything that a quality old school rock track should have......and more!!! An amazing track and I'd recommend you all get on myspace and give these guys a listen (http://www.myspace.com/whiskeyandlacemusic). I want to hear more.....NOW!!! These guys will go far!!! D :)

Saliva - Moving Forward in Reverse: Greatest Hits

It's quite ironic when the most famous song associated to a band isnt sung by the band but sung by it's lead singer (Josey Scott sang on 2002's 'Hero' with Chad Kroeger). The fact that song isnt on this album is, well a shame! One nice surprise was the number of songs Saliva have done that I recognised, though had never realised it was them..............the odd WWE intro songs show where these guys lie in the USA.

It's big budget rock with the big hair, but unfortunetly for Saliva there are a lot of bands out there now who do this so much better eg Nickelback. The only new song on the album “Time To Shine” is again being used by the WWE, but again I've heard better done by other bands.

This album shows the band's ability to create arena rock anthems in the past, but for the future these guys will have to go some to stand out from the crowd. Don't get me wrong it's an enjoyable album to listen when you are out in the car, but the world of music is changing and these guys will need to change too if there are going to continue as a band.

D :/

The Ebenezer Chapter - Stronger Than All Of Us

One thing worried me when I was about to review this record, and thats the fact it's a charity record. Now to me charity record means high paid wannabes wanting a little bit of good PR to enhance their careers, so Im not a massive fan of the concept. The Ebenezer Chapter is a group of local Welsh artists brought together by one man (David Lewis Parker), to create a charity record for the non-profit making organisation BOCSWN. BOCSWN's aim is to turn an old run down chapel into a record studio on the isle of Anglesey................ok you have my interest!!! The song itself 'Stronger Than All Of Us - A Song For Ben' (to give it it's full title) is a truly amazing and haunting song. The fact the band also sing the song in Welsh as well is even more impressive. For me it's all that is good with folk/folk rock music, and for me is something you would find on a big budget movie on the end credits. Think Frank Turner but Welsh!!! It's a breath taking song for a worth while cause. I'd recommend to anyone to have a look at The Ebenezer Chapter's web site (http://www.theebenezerchapter.com/fr_home.cfm) to read up on what an amazing job these guys are doing to promote music and to give people the chance of a positive musical experience. D :)

Ritual - 10th June 2010

Thursday nights at the City Bar, Chester have become exactly what they say on the tin........a ritual!! How many other venues can put on 4-5 bands for £1 entry before 9pm and £3 after 9pm??? There arent many!! Ok the venue's intimate at best and at times doesnt smell too nice, but every week Ritual is a top quality night not to be missed!!! I got to the City Bar a little early, and with previous knowledge that at least one band had already pulled out with short notice, I was expecting a night of few surprises. Imagine my delight then when I got there to see local Evo Rooms and BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend heroes I Am Austin warming up!!!! A wry grin crossed my face lets put it that way!!! 30 minutes later the Austin boys were ready to rock!!! I must be honest now and admit this was my first time seeing I Am Austin live (I hold my head in shame), but from the get go I realised that I'd so been missing out. This was a set played off the cuff, with no set list or any sort of plan of what song was coming next.......in fact the next song was always decided on by bass player Adam Hughes, which brought great amusement when drummer and vocalist Dave Mitchell couldnt remember how one song started!!! All in all this was an fantastic performance done off the cuff, and where the Public Enemy says 'Dont Believe The Hype'........with these guys you better believe it!!! Then it was time for We Shiver. Driven on by the already mentioned Adam Hughes' mastery on the bass, We Shiver exploded into life to liven up the late arrivers to the City Bar. Everything was good in their performance from impressive drumming from Farris, while Dave Thomas' vocal were as impressive as Ive heard him......even if let down at times by a dodgy mic. This was a true assault on my ears.......but my ears liked it!! For the next band I might just write, 'Obelisks......end of'!!! This is the 3rd occasion ive had the pleasure of being sucked into revolutionary mirky world of Obelisk-ville. Ok this wasnt their best performance, but even a below par performance is pretty dam shit hot by these guys!! Now belting out new tracks in preparation of their EP launch at the end of July, Obelisks lifted the roof (well ceiling!!) off the City Bar. The venom these guys knock out is truly impressive, considering there is only 3 members to the band, and you just cant take your eyes off lead singer David Cosens!!! Mesmerising!!! Last but not least was Shinobi's Last Vendetta. Now I must say I felt a little sorry for these guys, as by the time they went on (approx 11.15pm) the bowels of the City Bar had almost emptied onto the cool streets of Chester. Fuck that though these guys didnt care whether there was 10 people or 100 there, they still ripped into a set of enormous hardcore ear bashing!!! This was the 2nd time Ive seen SLV, and the first time was beset with technical problems which spoilt their performance. Tonight was very different, with every song belted out like it was their last chance to reach the masses. Maybe to prove a point to me, lead singer Adam Robinson's vocals were spot on throughout..........apart from one point where he lost his voice ;)!!! A truly immense performance to complete another top notch night at the City Bar!! And relax........................... D :)

Shinobi's Last Vendetta - EP

The fact that SLV have done so much since their inception in January 2010 is nothing short of amazing for the 4 20 somethings. Their following in the Chester area is well.......massive!! And I know that from my own experience of seeing them live!!!

The EP (including songs 'Here Comes The Storm', 'The Walking Dead', 'Back-end Of A Black Hole' and ' Frontline Soldiers') covers all bases in the rock spectrum and thats surely a major bonus when reaching out to new fans. The fact the EP is free to download will also win over many people who may not have paid to listen to such a diverse band.

SLV are all about potential..............potentially they could be massive, and as they grow together as a band and play more gigs together they will just blow other bands like them out the water. Hopefully they will keep their feet on the ground and not get sucked up by all the hype.....hype is good but use it wrong and you can disappear as quick as you rise!!!

For me 'Back-end Of A Black Hole' is their best track and shows the band at their best. My only criticism is at times within the power and vigour of their songs the vocals can be a little strained. But again these guys will get better.................and I cant wait to hear and see it!!

Good work guys!!

D :)

The Ginellis'

Firstly I'd like to thank The Ginellis' for dragging me back to my youth........is that a good or bad think you may ask? It's a good thing!!! Back in about 1994 I saw a very raw band in Liverpool called Cast............when I listen to The Ginellis' tracks thats where I am again!!! This is stripped down indie at its best. Ok at times the harmonys are a little off but hey no ones perfect so I will let you off boys!!! The 3 tracks (Blownout, Aint Got No Time For These Blues and Promise Be Okay) are sang with true feeling and obviously mean something to the band members. Aint Got No Time For These Blues reminds me of an Oasis track, Oasis in their pomp not as they are now. Fans of Paul Weller will love this as well. 'Promise Be Okay'? Yes guys Im sure it will be!!! When I consider some of the tripe Radio 1 play these guys should be out there pleasing the masses. D :)

Obelisks - Sample CD

It's not often I listen to something and think 'WOW', and thats with majorly commercial bands, never mind a local band hailing from my home town of Chester!!! But here I have to say WOW, more, more, more!!! I saw these guys live before I listened to this CD, and maybe had the fear that on CD they wouldnt explode in my face like they do live...............but thankfully my fear was short lived!!!

'Soft Light' is an absolute monster of a song while 'Cinders' is pure beauty wrapped up into nearly 5 minutes of musical bliss!!! These guys offer something very very special and you MUST see them live to truly experience how good they are..............you feel every emotion with Obelisks!!! Check them out @ Ritual which runs every Thursday at the City Bar in Chester!!!

It's like Shakespeare picked up a guitar and thought 'fuck poetry lets write rock songs'!!!! My copy of this CD, which cost me £1 (yes £1........daylight robbery me thinks), has been abused so much in my car it's now jumping......sad times!!! :(

'Future Relics', Obelisks' debut EP is released on the 30th July 2010. I would recommend to anyone who loves music to buy this when it's released, but in the mean time get down to the City Bar on a Thursday night and treat yourself to this sample CD for £1!!!!! It's worth a million more!!

Awesome!!!

D :)

Ten Second Epic - Hometown

Having seen TSE's most recent visit to the UK on the Atticus Black Tour, (where I liked what I saw and heard) I thought I'd give Hometown a listen......and Im glad I did!!! This is the Canadian quintet showing the Americans how to really do what could be called pop rock, or as Wikipedia lists them 'alternative rock' whatever that is!!! It's fair to say compared to their earlier work this is more poppier, but I dont think that's a bad thing when you see the commercial success of bands like All Time Low, and in the UK You Me At Six. 'Lifetimes' is the pick of the album, though for lovers of pop rock all the tracks are catchy and easy listening. Fans who have followed TSE from the start prob wont like this and may feel they have lost something in the search of commercial success. If these guys could get on tour with the likes of YMAS they would gain a huge following in the UK.....something they deserve based on what I saw in Liverpool on the Atticus tour. It might be pop rock but it has teeth!!!! Grrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

Coryphaeus - Coryphaeus EP

Be scared.....be very scared!!! From the quiet beauty of the isle of Anglesey comes black metal with an egyptian/mythical theme..............WTF!!!??? You might think how does this work, and I asked myself this at first. With the thought in my mind that this EP was based around demos I went into this with an open mind.......cards on the table Im not a massive death/black metal fan. On occasions throughout I realised why I wasnt a fan of this genre, but there is a clear growth in the skills of the band from their first work up until their newer material!!! Some of the stuff here is unique with the egyptian influences going on, and some of the guitar and drum work is pure richter scale busting BUT at times all I hear is noise!!! I think this is a band with something very different to offer, and with some honing of their skills this uniqueness could become something very special!!! I will certainly be sleeping with the light on tonight!!!

D :)

PS this is self produced, self recorded material so much respect to the guys :)

Ensnared - EP

Well there is something dark and sinister living in Bangor, North Wales and its come to play in the form of Ensnared!! This is dark, dirty stuff but there is something quite appealing to it......though I cant put my finger on what it is. At times it does plod along at a slow grind, but when they unleash any ideas of holding back they really rip through their riffs and explode into something quite explosive. In some ways the 5 some are let down by poor quality recordings, though more practice day to day wouldnt do any harm as at times it just seems a little 'off'!!! The live recording of Corpse Decay is the best track ive heard..............maybe thats because these guys are a true live band and sitting in a studio looking for the 'perfect' track isnt for them!!! I will deffo be paying these guys a visit soon!!! Promising with a lot more to offer. Thumbs up :)

Dan (",)

All New

Well this is where we will be reviewing the local bands (and maybe the odd larger band!) that we see when we are out and about!!!

There will be a few people filling this in so we will be able to give unbiased and different opinions on what we see and hear!!! Could be very interesting and we would love to hear what YOU think of what we write........were you there? Agree or disagree?

Could be fun

D :)

21!!!

Created by Oatmeal

All New

Well this is where we will be reviewing the local bands (and maybe the odd larger band!) that we see when we are out and about!!!

There will be a few people filling this in so we will be able to give unbiased and different opinions on what we see and hear!!! Could be very interesting and we would love to hear what YOU think of what we write........were you there? Agree or disagree?

Could be fun

D :)