Album Review: Live in Wiesbaden Ringkirche / Live in Iserlohn Dechenhöhle by Nathan Gray (by Richard Mair)

Warning: This will not be an objective or unbiased review… it just can’t be, as will become abundantly clear. If you’ve come here expecting such a review please head over to Punknews or Dying Scene, I’m sure they’ll be able to provide a much more detached review and justify the inevitable 4.5–5 stars they’ll most likely give it (’cause it is very good)! If you’re still reading and want to know my thoughts, thank you and I hope you’ll realise why I’ve taken this approach…

…Much like the recent Springsteen on Broadway experience, this collection of Nathan Gray tracks take us on a personal journey, spanning his career as leader of emo/hardcore pioneers Boysetsfire to the more indie pop influences of The Casting Out and the solo songs released last year on Feral Hymns. Whilst Springsteen always comes across as the blue collar everyman done good delivered with a poetic edge, Nathan Gray’s solo live set is something much more raw, exposed and hard hitting. Its story telling approach is dark, haunting and powerful – the emotion of his voice on show whilst linking the songs is truly inspiring. This is not always a happy story but it is one that hits home… and hits hard.

January 10th 2016 is etched into my head. Early morning, say about 6:10am, I’m sat at home working whilst my girlfriend is getting ready for work. As she is walking out the door breaking news announces the death of David Bowie; her idol and hero. Stunned into silence we watched the news for an hour straight before she finally got in the car and drove to work, Hunky Dory on the stereo and tears in her eyes. At work, colleagues struggled to understand why she would be so upset at someone dying who she had never met... Before playing a cover of Red Tape Parades “Leap Year of Faith”, Nathan talks about the emotional connection and impact music has on us; it’s ability to inspire and influence but also heal us. Whilst he was talking about this I was transported immediately back to that cold winter morning, and seeing someone close to me hurting for something that they can’t readily explain but also for the solace she found in revisiting Bowie’s music. That’s ultimately the essence of this set. This is Nathan’s chance to heal himself and help others, whether he is talking about society, religion, abuse – it’s just purely inspiring and a message that needs to be told.

This is why I can’t treat this as a normal review. When I was in my late teenage years trying to find a place in the world and feeling slightly alone in my views, bands like Boysetsfire, Hot Water Music and As Friends Rust provided this feeling of identity. Nathan Gray’s words in particular spoke to me more than anyone else. When he talks about the influence music can have, it’s not lost on me that he has one such voice that continues to support my own world view. He is one of my heroes and this story telling approach here makes him all the more heroic for his humanity and fallibility on show.

So the music then… it’s epic. Simply, what we have are two sets delivered by Nathan that encompass choice cuts from his career. Inevitably the Boysetsfire songs instantly stand out. An abridged version of “Walk Astray”, “Phonecall 4AM” and “Fall From Grace” all sound so familiar yet so much more vulnerable by the acoustic, pared down approach. We also have some Casting Out songs on show which Nathan admits were conceived as a solo endeavour before he ‘chickened out’. “Lullaby” and “Quixote’s Last Stand” sound exactly as you’d hope they would. Nathan has such a strong and emotional voice that on all of these songs you truly get to appreciate how talented he is, not only as a singer but also with his lyrics and song-craft.

Last year’s Feral Hymns was the first real solo work by Nathan and as you’d expect these songs also appear. “As the Waves Crash Down” opens the set, its atmospheric moody guitar line offset by his melodic uplifting vocals. It’s a great start to both sets. It’s joined by “Burn Away” which Nathan introduces as an admittance of past mistakes and also of recognition of one’s own flaws. It’s this approach that adds the humanity and frailty to the shows. With many of his introductions to the songs he talks from the heart and it makes the songs all the more powerful; and this is especially true of this specific song.

The highlights, of which there are many, are truly amazing – again on both live sets. The Boysetsfire song “Across Five Years” is transformed into a gorgeous acoustic number with some lovely guitar licks and string accompaniment. Whilst the ever stunning “My Life In The Knife Trade” is just, well… stunning; especially the crowd’s reaction in Wiesbaden which is both beautiful and goosebump inducing!

On both collections, two songs really stand out. “Alone” and “Ebbing Of The Tide”. As a fan of the Casting Out I loved both songs but here, knowing the personal background to the project, they both just live and breathe so much more. Nathan acknowledges the personal turmoil that surrounded the touring and live aspects of the Casting Out but both songs have his heart and soul laid bare and have the majesty to reduce you to tears. As previously stated, the music is epic but these two are taken to a completely different level due to their stripped down approach.

So in terms of a review, genuinely there was no chance I could ever suggest that this was anything but a gushing love letter to one of my heroes. A man who through personal adversity, challenges and hardship has created songs that I feel resonate with my own life story; whose political and social beliefs make me believe that punk rock can change the world for the better and who continues to show humanity and compassion for those around even if we sometimes struggle to understand them and their views of the world. What we always tend to forget is that sometimes things happening in the world are more important than music but music provides us a soundtrack and narrative with which we experience the world. That’s exactly what we have here – and it’s truly magical!


Stream and download Live At Ringkirche Wiesbaden here: https://endhitsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-ringkirche-wiesbaden

Like Nathan Gray here: https://www.facebook.com/nathangraymusic/

This review was written by Richard Mair.

Album Review: Conviction, Vol. III: The Road To Clarity by Jason DeVore (by Emma Prew)

As a reader of this very much punk themed blog, I probably don’t need to explain to you who Jason DeVore is. You probably know him better as being the frontman and leader of reggae meets skate punk rockers Authority Zero rather than for his solo material, mind you. I certainly do. However, as a huge lover of his songwriting and his incredible voice in particular, I was more than happy to check out his third solo album, Conviction, Vol. III: The Road To Clarity, which was released in March on his own label Operation Records.

The Road To Clarity opens with a song called I Hate To Say I Told You So. Some gentle acoustic guitar sets the tone for what’s to come – or does it? Gentle it may be but it’s certainly not simple as there are multiple overlapping melodies on offer here. DeVore’s distinct vocal are unstrained and simply stunning. This feels like an opening track as the pace and volume builds slowly throughout. Things pick up after the one and half minute mark however and by two and a half minutes the song is pretty fast paced, ensuring that you get your head nodding. The song is about staying strong despite what difficulties you may come up against in life. ‘Gotta move on, gotta keep on, gotta be strong, hey, hey. Gotta get on, gotta hold on, gotta go on, hey yeah.’ Up next is an acoustic re-working of the Authority Zero song When We Rule The World from 2017’s Broadcasting To The Nations. I absolutely loved that album so it was a pleasant surprise to hear a song I recognised from it on this release. I mean, if you’ve listened to Authority Zero’s R&B III live acoustic album then you’ve actually already heard a similar acoustic version of this song although this one is stripped back even more. It’s a great song though and fits in well on The Road To Clarity.

You know sometimes when you listen to a new album for the first time and there’s that one song that really stands out to you on your first listen? No matter how many times you listen to the album, you keep coming back to that one song and declaring it your favourite? For me, on this album, it’s Choke. As one of the longest songs on the album, it builds and builds throughout its duration from a simple acoustic track, to being accompanied by piano, to a pure gang vocal singalong that just fills me with so much joy. I love it so much. I think the song is about struggling mentally whilst being a touring musician and just trying to get through each day as best you can. I wish I had the full lyrics to read in depth as they’re so good. As if there wasn’t enough emotion packed into the previous song, DeVore somehow has even more to fit into this next song, Vertigo. It’s beautiful and heartbreaking both in its lyricism and melodies. Similar to Choke, and perhaps overall themes of the album in general, Vertigo talks about fighting life’s demons but trying to find the positives in the darkness. ‘So hold my hand, Don’t you leave me alone, I’ll hold my breath ’til I choke on my own, Words that will never quite make their way back, Back to the place where your heart turned so black.’

The Road To Clarity (Here Here) is the fifth song of the album. There’s a simple, soothing and warm acoustic guitar melody that repeats throughout the song. I also feel like I could lie down, close my eyes and let Jason DeVore’s deep voice sing me to sleep… but, not yet, we’ve got the rest of the album to listen to! I think there’s a violin on this song although it might be piano, I’m not entirely sure. Either way, it’s lovely. The song reflects on the fact that you only live once so try not to worry about the things you can’t change – ‘There’s never going to be a second chance, We’re not meant to live in fear.’ I don’t know if there’s a vinyl version of the album but this track brings side A to a close very nicely. Up next (on side B) is a song that I could quite easily imagine as an Authority Zero tune, Another Song Of Freedom. I suppose that might be because it is a bit of a political and/or protest song with a clear message about standing up for what you believe in. Despite its stripped back nature, the song has plenty of groove. Plus it encourages you to get up and – ‘Sing with me, Another song of freedom, Through the night ’til sunrise, Oh come on and dance with me, Until it’s taking over, Raise your voice and play.’

Black And Blue is stripped back Jason DeVore at his best. He’s an amazing storyteller and he really doesn’t hold back on this song. It’s honest, passionate and really pulls at your heart strings. At just under six minutes long, this is no short, fast punk song but not a single second is wasted. ‘With my heart on my sleeve, And the world at the tips of my fingers, When there’s nothing to believe in, And all that you have loved you’ve now lost, And you’ll replace it with everything, Everything you can think of. That’s when it hits you, Only then will it hit you, You’re black and blue.’ Starting out quietly, eighth song Who’s Side Are You On eases you in gradually. The vocals increase in volume as the song progresses, with the guitars remaining very soft for much of the song. Who’s Side Are You On displays a series of questions throughout its duration, seemingly directed at the listener. ‘Are you lost in the world? Are you living day to day? Are you wondering? Yeah, I’m wondering just the same. Have you had enough of it all? Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? What more can I say?, Who else can you blame? Who’s side are you on?’ DeVore’s songwriting, in this case about seeking purpose in life, will no doubt connect with so many people.

The penultimate song of The Road To Clarity is called Whiskey And Roses. Here we have an almost ballad-like track. It’s hugely nostalgic, reflective and is perhaps even the ‘love’ song of the album. For the most part, Whiskey And Roses is one man and his acoustic guitar for a very personal song but in the chorus there are some subtle harmonies that bring another dimension to the track. It’s just superb. Finishing things up is a bit of a boot-stomper if there ever was one. I’m struggling to find the right words to describe just how Are We Too Loud sounds – it’s unlike anything else on the album that’s for sure. The song is very much all about the vocals, while the instruments set the rhythm and backbeat – which will be drilled into your head, by the way. It’s super bluesy, methodical and a little bit intense. The song wouldn’t sound right placed at any other point on the album. It’s an ideal closing track.

Yes, The Road To Clarity is an acoustic album but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking variety, far from it. It just goes to show what an incredible vocalist, lyricist and musician Jason DeVore is that he can create stripped back songs such as these and yet keep each one sounding fresh and different. I am honestly a little bit in awe of this man. Conviction, Vol. III: The Road To Clarity is excellent.

You can buy, download and stream the album from the various places listed here. You can, and should, also like Jason DeVore on Facebook.

This review was written by Emma Prew.

Album Review: Hope And Ruin by Rowan Oak (by Emma Prew)

Rowan Oak are a four-piece emo punk band from Münster, Germany. Formed in 2012, the band describe their influences as headaches, heartbreaks, friends, family and the road – which sounds exactly like a band I could get on board with. Back in February, Rowan Oak released a new EP titled Hope And Ruin on Fond Of Life Records. I keenly took a listen.

Hope And Ruin opens with the song Build / Burn, kicking things off with a lone guitar before the drums and bass join after a few seconds. The opening lines of ‘Oh how I long for these nights in the basement…’ show that Rowan Oak are a DIY punk band through and through. The song ticks along at a fairly upbeat pace but there are moments where the instruments seem to slow down a little to allow the listener to really focus on the vocals. I’m reminded a lot of Welsh band Funeral For A Friend here which is totally not a bad thing as they were the soundtrack to my youth. Build / Burn is about trying really hard to make something work but it ultimately not turning out the way you planned. The line that really stood out to me is ‘All good things, have endings.’ Melancholic though it may be, it’s also… true. Yearn To Be Free is up next and it opens with an interesting little, almost improvised sounding, drum beat. After a short time the bass comes in, adding depth to the sound, before the vocals and guitars bring the melody. This is a slower paced song that oozes in emotion. The vocals verge on poppy as singer Flo Zandt tells the story of a relationship not working out and turning to alcohol to soften the pain. There’s a great section towards the end of the song where the lines ‘We yearn to be free.’ are repeated several times and two complimentary guitar melodies, along with the bass and drums, build and build. It actually ends up being an instrumental outro that slows down and finishes in a similar way to how the song began.

Dead In The Water is the third song of Hope And Ruin. The track has a fairly lengthy instrumental introduction, complete with some more of that almost experimental jam-style bass and drums action. When the vocals come in for the first verse it’s slow and soft sounding. Needless to say, even as the tempo seems to build, I wasn’t expecting the anger and volume that comes from the chorus. Showcasing a heavier side to their emo punk sound but without getting too ‘screamy’, I really enjoyed this change of pace from Rowan Oak. Switching back to the slower pace and cleaner vocals helps to hold the listener in suspense before another blast of angsty energy finishes the song. In perfect contrast, Better Self is a slower paced and hugely emotional song that opens with firm steady strums of the guitar. Something about it feels laid-back and almost dream-like as the melody carries you through the track. There is obviously a sad feeling to the song, this is an emo band after all. However, Better Self is about how – despite your outward persona – underneath there is a better perhaps happier version of yourself just waiting for the right person to bring it out. In a way, this is a bit of a love song with lines like ‘Everything seems effortless to you.’ and ‘You make me feel so alive.’ standing out. Perhaps saving the best for last, Rowan Oak close their EP with The Distance. Instantly more upbeat and more straight up punk rock sounding than previous tracks, The Distance will get punks and emo kids alike throwing their fists in the air. The song is about how certain friends will alway be close to your heart despite their physical distance from you at any given time because you always have the memories – ‘Forever with me, Wherever you may roam.’ It’s a theme that is not uncommon in punk rock but it’s great to hear Rowan Oak put their own spin on it and end Hope And Ruin on a high note.

You can check out Hope And Ruin on Bandcamp and like Rowan Oak on Facebook. I’ll be seeing the band live in a few months time at Booze Cruise Festival in Hamburg, maybe you should too!

This review was written by Emma Prew.

Album Review: #chilloutradio by Heathcliff

German punk rockers Heathcliff (yup, they're named after the cat) released their debut album #chilloutradio on March the 9th. Featuring eight tracks of blisteringly fast skate punk with elements of hardcore, metal and a tiny amount of reggae, it sounds interesting but is it any good? There's one way to find out!

#chilloutradio begins with the song Kim Nuke'em Vs Twittler. Starting out with an audio clip which is partly in German (so I couldn't understand) before we switch to a clip of that moron Donny Trump talking about nuclear weapons. Thankfully this doesn't last long as the band then launch into a political song about how Trump and Kim Jong-Un are like children arguing about who has the better nuclear weapons and how they should focus on more important things that will help people. This is such a hard hitting opening to the album lyrically as well as how the band seriously shred. The song is an instant energy booster. The second track, Who Told You To Grow Up Anyway?, has a slow start but then explodes into life with some soaring vocals and a fast paced drum beat really doing a fantastic job in continuing the energy from the opening song. I really enjoyed how the vocals grow in intensity as the song progresses, really making it feel as if the band is growing more and more passionate about what they're singing about as the track goes on. It's about growing up and having the perfect life but it not being the life for them. Something a lot of punk rockers will relate to.

STFU is the title of the albums third song. This track has more of a 90s skate punk feel to it, particularly bands like No Use For A Name or The Ataris who fell into the more pop side of the genre. I'm impressed with how Heathcliff can confidently pull off this style as well as the super technical stuff they showcased earlier on #chilloutradio. STFU looks at politicians and how they look to make a profit for themselves without caring for the people they serve. There's an audio clip layered over the top of an awesome guitar solo that adds a bit of emotion to the ending of the song which I thought was a great way to end the track. George W. Redneck is up next, bringing the intensity levels back up as drummer Basti plays like a man possessed on this song. I'm exhausted just listening to him. It's pretty obvious what the song is about, George Bush being a terrible president. Perhaps this song is a little outdated now but it's still such a good song. Heathcliff do an incredible job in blending the technical punk rock with the 90s skate punk with some fantastic guitar parts, those drums and some fantastic vocals. I found the final verse which starts out "Take to the streets‚ ’cause it’s time to make a stand, human rights are to defend. Some man are killing for personal gain." really quite empowering.

1933 brings us nicely into the second half of #chilloutradio. The song starts slowly, gradually building into a really powerful skate punk track. It's about growing up in post-war Germany realising how lucky you are to be free as it's more than likely your grandparents weren't but also believing that in ways it's still the same and how sad that is. This song really got to me, it's such a powerful and emotive song that really gets you thinking about things. I thought their use of gang vocal "whoa-ohs" at the end of the song was an absolutely inspired choice as they bring people together – really really amazing imagery to finish the song. Heathcliff really get intense again on the sixth song therules(dot)org. The song builds quickly with some more great shredding and some relentless drumming before we get a primal hardcore roar that really signals that the song is off and running and that Heathcliff are angry. They're fed up with the what society has become, with everybody seemingly looking out for themselves and not caring about everyone else. This is another empowering songs that really has me wanting to help make the world a better place. There's a really powerful verse where lead singer Flash mentions wanting to change the world to make it better for his young daughter. This was particularly moving.

The penultimate song is named Conjuring. Conjuring explores Heathcliff's most hardcore sound with some really raw screaming vocals that you might normally find in some death metal. They work very well in contrast to the higher, more melodic vocals that we've grown used to throughout #chilloutradio and it does a fantastic job of freshening up the sound of the album. It also helps to keep the intensity up as we're beginning to reach the end of the album. That is until we reach the end of the track and it morphs into a reggae song! This was quite the surprise but a fun way to finish after all that face melting. #chilloutradio finishes with the song Guacamole and features Bart from another German skate punk band – Straightline. It's basically a super fast punk rock song listing the ingredients of guacamole. Kind of random but a serious amount of fun.

I really did enjoy this album. Heathcliff could quickly become the hot new thing in the European skate punk scene – a scene that always seems to be going from strength to strength. If they can build from this serious impressive debut, I can see a lot of the big players in the genre taking notice of them.

Stream and download #chilloutradio here: https://heathcliff.bandcamp.com/releases

Like Heathcliff here: https://www.facebook.com/heathcliffskatepunk/

This review was written by Colin Clark.

Album Review: Enjoy The Rain by Swan Prince (by Lee Morton)

Having formed late in 2017, Redditch four piece Swan Prince can already boast an impressive resume of live shows, from playing Polite Riot Festival in 2018, to supporting Teenage Bottlerocket and The Bombpops. Now, looking to build on the premise and excitement of last year’s debut EP, they are back with another EP, “Enjoy The Rain”, which was released on 15th March via Hell Hath No Fury Records.

The EP opens with “Glass Half Empty” and what sounds like a choir harmonising together before the choppy guitar strokes kick in along with some pummelling drums. But it’s vocalist/guitarist Rachel’s distinctive voice that really shines though, the heavy atmospheric quality to it giving the track an almost haunted feel which carries across the whole EP and fits perfectly with the lyrical themes that cover the wide spectrum of mental health.

“SWL” (which from the lyrics I’m going to guess at stands for Strongly Worded Letter) follows and had me humming along pretty quickly with a sound that, to my ears anyway, reminded me of The Swellers. Melodies, singalong moments and a couple of little breakdowns all combine to create a real gem of a track that is instant, memorable and possibly my favourite track on the EP as Rachel charts a relationship breakdown.

Whilst the first two tracks are slightly more sombre sounding, it’s from this point on that I felt a greater urgency to both the music and the delivery. Faster and more in your face from the start, “The Shadows” provides a welcome change of pace as skate-punk guitar riffs compete with the throbbing bass lines. “In Your Dreams” keeps up the tempo from “The Shadows”, but also sounds too similar. It’s still a competent song but at this point in the EP I was hoping for a little more experimentation and variety of sound, just something different to really show their musical development.

The EP ends on a high though with the energetic “Dangerous Weather”. Competing with “SWL” as my favourite track, it’s carried along by pounding drum beats as Rachel battles her mental demons. The quiet-loud, stop-start dynamics of the music and vocals add to the picture of mental health and works great on this track, showing great potential and excitement for future releases.

By taking a pinch of pop-punk, skate-punk and emo Swan Prince have crafted their own unique sound and path which, with a little more development of their sound, is sure to make for an exciting debut album.

Stream and download Enjoy The Rain here: https://swanprince.bandcamp.com/album/enjoy-the-rain-2

Buy the Enjoy The Rain CD here: https://hellhathnofuryrecords.bandcamp.com/album/enjoy-the-rain

Like Swan Prince here: https://www.facebook.com/SwanPrinceBand

This review was written by Lee Morton.

Gig Review: The Burnt Tapes’ Album Launch Show at Urban Bar, London 5/4/19

The last time I was at Urban Bar in Whitechapel, London, it was one of my favourite shows ever. It was the 3rd of June 2017 for the Burnt Tapes’ launch show for the much celebrated EP Alterations. The Burnt Tapes had been a favourite live band of mine for a while but it was that show that really took them up to another level for me. On Friday the 5th of April, this year, we found ourselves back at Urban Bar getting ready to celebrate the launch of the four piece’s exceptional debut album, Never Better, and it promised to be another very special night. Like at the EP launch two years ago, their great friends Triple Sundae would be providing support along with Mixtape Saints and Laserchrist.

Laserchrist were the band chosen to start the show. Because the gig didn't begin until 8.30 it meant a decent sized crowd had already gathered by the time Laserchrist began their set. Over the past year the four piece have become one of the most exciting new bands in London, even earning themselves a slot on the line-up for last summer’s Wonk Fest. Laserchrist have this unique sound where their mix a raspy voiced style of punk rock with grunge to make something quite special. It was clear they were impressing the majority of people in the room, I just wish I had known the words as a few songs felt like they were crying out to be shouted back at the band. I expect this to be a big year for Laserchrist.

I hadn't seen Mixtape Saints in years and I think, in a way, this made me enjoy them even more than usual. A part of me had forgotten just how good they are live. Unfortunately they had to cut their set a little short due to some technical issues which meant they were slightly late getting started but that didn't stop the band putting all they had into their performance. Last time we saw Mixtape Saints they had a nice Gaslight Anthem sound, on this night it felt as if they had shed that style slightly to a more melodic pop punk sound that really made them fit in perfectly on this bill. Lead singer Sam Maloney is a terrific front person, such a solid vocal and extremely captivating to watch. Like Laserchrist before them it was clear that Mixtape Saints left a great impression on the folk in Urban Bar and I'm now looking forward to seeing them again at the New Cross Inn in May with Western Settings, Bong Mountain and a whole heap of other great acts.

You really couldn't have had a Burnt Tapes album launch show without Triple Sundae. Both bands have grown together in the London DIY scene and it's pretty clear both are destined for some big things in the next year or two. Triple Sundae have a whole host of brand new tracks for their brand new EP coming out later this year and they treated us to some early plays of them. Judging from what I've heard, I think it's pretty clear that Trip Sun are about to receive a lot of love when these songs finally get released. This was my ninth time seeing them in about two years and seeing how they seem to improve each and every time (and they started with a pretty high level) has been such a delight to see. They finished the set by playing last year’s Peace Of Mind EP in full which got a huge reaction with everyone down the front singing along to every word. Triple Sundae, as the young people say, are about to release some "fire". Get ready.

It was now time for the moment we were all really looking forward to. I looked around the now full room as Phil, Pan, Tone and Jordan were setting up and it was so lovely to see so many people who have been with the band right from the start. There were members of Resuscitators, Waco, Müg/Umlaut Records as well as their old pal Wayfairer all in attendance – I would imagine they are all so proud of the Burnt Tapes. Never Better had actually been out for a month so we have all had plenty of time to learn the words to the songs. This meant that each song they played from the album and some favourites from Alterations all received big, passionate sing-alongs. There was so much love for these songs in the room, with plenty of big fist-in-the-air moments. There was a point during the set where I stopped singing and just watched in awe with the realisation that these guys are going up another level and will no doubt be headlining plenty more of their own shows with bigger and bigger crowds. After that brief moment of thought, I went right back to singing as loudly as I could, particularly to my personal favourite song from Never Better – Dirt Roads. Never Better’s two singles of course got big reactions, both sounding incredible live and of course the now traditional set closer Things Get Weird got a raucous reaction as well. Tonight the band weren't finished there though, for a short and well deserved encore they gave us a taste of their upcoming MPF Menzingers cover set when they ran through a superb version of Casey. What a set, what a band.

I am so proud of everything these four guys have achieved so far in the Burnt Tapes. From their beginnings with Wasted History to now, the level of growth in their songwriting is just astounding. It's been an absolutely pleasure being able to witness this journey and can't wait to see where it takes them next.

This review was written by Colin Clark. Photos by Emma Prew.

Top Tens: Brett's Top Ten Bands To See At Manchester Punk Festival 2019

Attending MPF with Colin, Emma, and Robyn last year was an amazing experience. It easily surpassed the hype and once it was over I knew that going to MPF 2019 would be inevitable. MPF has all of the makings of a great festival for me: good people, a cool and friendly vibe all around town, hotels/Airbnb instead of camping, a packed schedule, and no shortage of bands to see and enjoy.

The number of amazing bands on offer this year means that making a list of only ten bands to see is difficult, but it speaks to the great job the organisers have done in building a diverse festival that’s community and DIY focused, and that brings people together from around the world.

Now that the schedule is available to agonise over, some tough decisions will have to be made by most people attending so hopefully reading these CPRW lists can help sway you in one direction or another.

Here are the bands I’m most excited about seeing at MPF 2019!

The Affect Heuristic (Friday at Zombie Shack 14:50–15:20)
In March 2018, Lockjaw Records posted about a split album by Money Left To Burn and a new band called The Affect Heuristic. Upon listening, you wouldn’t say that the five songs on this split were from a newly formed band of guys from Scotland and Belgium. The songs are expertly put together, combining the energy and speed of skate punk, the aggression of hardcore, and a healthy dose of melody and technical precision. It all makes perfect sense when you look on the band’s Facebook profile at the long list of influences from all over the spectrum of independent punk, hardcore, and metal music. I’m excited to hear some new songs from these guys and hopefully there is a full album on the horizon.

After The Fall (Friday at The Union 16:20–16:50)
Since hearing their album Unkind in 2013, After The Fall have been a favourite of mine. They play music that feels like a combination of Kid Dynamite, A Wilhelm Scream, Comeback Kid, and No Trigger with a twist of their own unique delivery and style. They’ve also covered songs by 88 Fingers Louie and Kid Dynamite, so there is a lot to love about this band. Although they are painfully clashing with London (and CPRW) favourites Call Me Malcolm early on Friday, I would recommend the excellent live show put on by the Albany, NY band over almost anything. Seeing them play to a packed crowd in Tampa at Pre-fest 4 was a highlight of the entire Fest 15 experience for me and if you were able to see them at MPF 2017 then you will understand the amount of passion and energy that the band puts into every moment on stage.

The Arteries (Friday at Gorilla 17:00–17:35)
I had originally picked A Vulture Wake as one of my must-see bands at MPF but sadly they announced in February the cancellation of their UK/EU tour, which meant I had to pick another band to write about. The MPF line-up is pretty stacked with many awesome bands so choosing just one is not an easy task. Luckily, Robyn hinted at The Arteries a few weeks ago and on first listen I immediately thought that they sounded like a perfect Fest band, and then found out that we actually missed their set at Fest 10. The Arteries manage to blend their metal and punk influences with ease into a cohesive and unique package filled with punchy bass lines, guitar flourishes, interesting melodies, and plenty of sing/shout along moments.

Consumed (Friday at The Union 20:10–21:00)
Consumed have never been a band that I’ve really noticed. Although a few songs from some early Fat Wreck compilation CDs have stuck with me over the years, it feels like the band never really got the attention and recognition they deserved here in South Africa and the band’s break up in 2003 wouldn’t have made anything easier. Consumed reformed in 2015 but only caught my attention again with the release of their new EP A Decade Of No last year. Over the years, Consumed were able to refine their sound and songwriting while never straying too far away from the unpretentious punk sound that so many fell in love with, and their latest EP is a natural progression fitting in with the rest of their catalogue. The live show should be filled with heaps of thrash-metal headbanging moments mixed in with the circle-pit inducing melodies of classic skate punk.

88 Fingers Louie (Friday at The Union 21:20–22:30)
The early 2000s was a formative period for my music taste and life in general. RPM had been released by Rise Against and I needed more. I learned that the band was formed by 2 members of 88 Fingers Louie and it took about a day to download some songs off of Back On The Streets from some dodgy peer-to-peer service provider, but it was well worth the wait. After being in and out of the spotlight for a few years, the band reformed and returned in 2017, releasing the acclaimed Thank You For Being A Friend and reminded me why I had loved them in the first place: fast paced songs with great production that will stay with you for days. 88 Fingers were able to capture the perfect balance of melody and hard-hitting punk rock again, as if they had never left. For me, 88 Fingers have been on my list of absolutely-must-see bands at MPF 2019 since they were announced.

Astpai (Saturday at The Union 15:30–16:00)
When we made the decision to travel to Manchester for MPF last year, I knew that Astpai had played the festival before and was really hoping they’d be announced. As it turns out, they weren’t (which is probably for the best considering the schedule last year) but I was overjoyed when they were part of the second MPF announcement for 2019. We missed their set at Fest 10 in 2011 as they didn’t really arrive on my radar until the release of Efforts And Means the following year. For me, they are one of the most consistently good bands around. I have enjoyed every single one of their releases and I’m positive seeing the band live will be one of the highlights of my year.

Adrenalized (Saturday at Gorilla 17:50–18:30)
I arrived late to the Adrenalized party, only hearing about them in 2016 after watching some Punk Rock Holiday 1.5 videos and was immediately drawn to their style of technical punk. With the exception of their debut album, which by the band’s own admission is “quite far” from what they play these days (it’s still pretty good in my opinion), the Adrenalized catalogue is all fast, all technical, and all great. Fast melodic hardcore is my favourite kind of punk and Adrenalized do it really, really well. The band has continued to raise the bar with their latest album, Operation Exodus, which I’m sure will make my top 10 for 2019. Having watched countless videos of them playing at festivals around Europe for a few years now, I’m very excited to finally get to see them in person at MPF. Get to the venue a little earlier to catch Fair Do’s as well; they made my list last year and definitely lived up to my expectations.

March (Sunday at Gorilla 17:00–17:30)
One of the best things about MPF is the number of new bands I get to hear about through each announcement. One of the many, many bands that I have been introduced to this year is March, a four-piece from the Netherlands who play punk infused with a little bit of rock ’n’ roll, reminding me of early Distillers but with a more melodic sound. March’s debut album Stay Put is full of big riffs and hard-hitting songs with just the right amount of dirt that are sure to get you moving in the pit, in your car, or sitting in your desk chair. A new single ‘Fear of Roses’ was released in January 2019 and it provides a small taste of the band’s forthcoming second album. I’ve only watched some YouTube videos of the band live so it will be good to get to see the band rock out in person.

Main Line 10 (Sunday at Zombie Shack 18:10–18:45)
A massive thank you to Sarah at Shout Louder for bringing Main Line 10 to my attention when their album The Fox made her top 10 of 2018. The four-piece from Spain play fast, melodic hardcore punk, drawing inspiration from the likes of Mute, Belvedere, and This Is A Standoff with positive and uplifting lyrics and melodies that will get you dancing and playing the air-instrument of your choice in no time. If their live performance is half as tight as their recordings I can only prepare to have my mind blown by the quality musicianship that will be on stage. They’re one of the bands that I never thought I’d get the chance to see live, so I was incredibly stoked to see them on the third MPF announcement.

Not On Tour (Sunday at Gorilla 21:00–22:00)
I’ll shamefully admit that the only reason I know about Not On Tour is because their 2015 album Bad Habits was produced by Yotam Ben Horin of Useless ID. I loved the well-executed balance of pop-punk and aggressive skate punk I heard on that album and quickly added the rest of their catalogue to my library. Considering all but one of their songs don’t break the two-minute mark, the band’s three albums and eight-song EP don’t take long to play through but the songs are so good, featuring catchy melodies, perfectly placed variations, and great production that will make you want to put it on repeat and listen multiple times. Not On Tour have a new album, Growing Pains, which will be out a few weeks before MPF and I’m excited to see them blaze through their hour-long set including some new songs as well as some older favourites.

This top ten was written by Brett Coomer.