Close Your Eyes – We Will Overcome (Review)

A Proclamation
Friends Are Friends Forever
xChet Stedmanx
Digging Graves
The Body
Song For The Broken
17:20
Wake Up!
Bitter Path
Something Needs To Change
Arms Raised

Members:
Brett Callaway
Andrew Rodriguez
Sonny Vega
Jordan Vesey

Past Members:
Ben Clinard
Chris Coltman
Brian Escochea
David Fidler
Tim Friesen
Shane Raymond
Mikey Sawyer

Hailing from Abilene, Texas Close Your Eyes are a Christian Melodic Hardcore band that formed in 2005. They have strong opinions on the Christian faith and like to represent this in their songs. Close Your Eyes released two EP’s, including a self titled EP, before they went on to making their debut album ‘We Will Overcome’ in 2010. Since then Close Your Eyes have released another studio album called ‘Empty Hands and Heavy Hearts’.

We Will Overcome is Close Your Eye’s debut album with Victory Records and was released on February 16, 2010. For a debut album it had a lot of attention and album sales. This could be because of their EP’s and/or the various promotions from Victory Records. Raging bass tone, catchy drum fills and memorable guitar riffs are what make this album unique. The melodic sounds of this album really set Close Your Eyes apart from any other band with the same genre or with similarities

Overall my favorite album by Close Your Eyes, it set a really high expectation for the following albums to match and I do not feel that their later albums did match the significance of this album.

 “Just like with any record there are indeed some flaws with We Will Overcome but minor ones, so overall its an extremely solid album. Stand out tracks would be, Song For The Broken, xChet Steadmanx, Digging Graves, Bitter Path, and Something Needs To Change. Falling into the hardcore genre, it’s hard to say that any particular hardcore band can stand out upon it’s own but yet CYE has begun to carve out their own niche within the music scene through their positive words, catchy melodies, and powerful instrumentals.” – Untimate-Guitar.com

Jordan Moore

 

Killswitch engage – Great Hall, Cardiff University (06.05.2013)

Set List:
The Hell in Me
A Bid Farewell
Fixation on the Darkness
The New Awakening
Life to Lifeless
No End in Sight
Take This Oath
The Arms of Sorrow
Beyond the Flames
This is Absolution
All We Have
Rose of Sharyn
Numbered Days
Self Revolution
In Due Time
My Curse
The End of Heartache

Encore:
My Last Serenade (Drinking Game with Sylosis)

The long wait for Killswitch Engage to tour the UK had finally come. I had been waiting what seemed to be decades for Killswitch to come to Cardiff and they finally did. With front man Jesse Leach back in the band and the promotion of their new album ‘Disarm the Descent’ this made things even better.

Throughout the show the band didnt fail to entertain. Adan Dutiewicz is the funnies guy ever. He kept the crowd entertained and motivated throughout the set and introduced a drinking game in the last song. The sylosis drinking game. Every time Adam shrieked the guitar a mouthful of beer was to be taken. This was great fun even though I didn’t drink due to being underage.

The venue was originally meant to be the Solus, Cardiff University but it was changed six weeks in advance by the band to The Great Hall, Cardiff University because they sold out quickly. What I think is it could have been that the Solus was too small for the bands.

Overall the gig was brilliant, I was in the front throughout. It was one of the hottest gigs that I have ever been to. I was covered in my opwn sweat and other peoples. A bottle of water (aid of Killswitch Engage) had never been so refreshing.

Jordan Moore

Bring Me The Horizon – Solus, Cardiff University (05.05.2013)

Set List:
Shadow Moses
Chelsea Smile
Alligator Blood
Go to Hell, for Heaven’s Sake
The House of Wolves
It Never Ends
And The Snake Starts To Sing
Diamonds Aren’t Forever
Empire (Let Them Sing)
Blessed With A Curse
Anti-vist

Encore:
Sleepwalking

After this long anticipated wait, the day finally arrived. Bring Me The Horizon were to play at Cardiff University. Not only one of the gigs I was waiting for but the venue is one of my favorite places to be. I had a rough outline of what the set list was going to be because of the other dates on the tour. This made me even more exited because all the songs I liked were featured in the set lists that I saw from previous dates.

The gig was one of the best gigs that I’ve ever been to. I had seen Bring Me The Horizon before but this gig was way better than their other gigs. Oliver Sykes started giving away limited edition t-shirts for the best crowd surfer at the gig.

The crowd at the gig was insane, there was a fight and something like 230 people crowd surfed all together within Bring Me The Horizons set. I saw a numerous amount of people with bleeding noses and cuts from the harsh crowd.

One of the best gigs that I’ve ever been to. although Oli Sykes struggled with his vocals because of the injuries that he sustained last year. I wish they would come back and to anybody who hasn’t seen Bring Me The Horizon I recommend going to see them because the experience is amazing.

Jordan Moore

Attack! Attack! (UK) Undertone, Cardiff (02.05.2013)

On May the 4th 2013 Attack! Attack! set out to play Undertone, 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. The band from Caerphilly, South Wales announced that it would be the last time they would play ever as a band in Cardiff and it would be the second ever time that they would play because they said that they are to break up very shortly.

Support consisted of The Undivided, Reaper in Sicily and Gavin Butler (The Blackout’s clean vocalist). The supporting acts were all amazing in warming up the crowd and entertaining in the breaks. After the supporting acts Attack! Attack! came on and started their set list. Attack! Attack! really entertained the crowd and took full advantage of it being their last time playing in Cardiff. After a broken amp head and a few broken strings the gig came to an explosive halt.

The overall experience was brilliant and seeing Gavin Butler acoustic was just an added bonus. I’m so glad that I got to see them before they break up.

Jordan Moore

The Young Royalty Tour

Up and coming Texas formed band Crown The Empire have announced a UK tour that will both kick off and end in September in which they will be co-headlining with Issues. The re is a possibility that there will be another band supporting these two headlining bands. This will be brilliant for both bands as Crown The Empire’s debut hasn’t been out long and Issues also have a new album due out this year.

September 10th – Talking Heads, Southhampton
September 11th – The Fleece, Bristol
September 12th – Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff
September 13th – O2 Academy Islington, London
September 14th – Asylum, Birmingham
September 16th – Waterfront, Norwich
September 17th – O2 Academy, Newcastle
September 18th – Cathouse, Glasgow
September 19th – NQ Live, Manchester
September 20th – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
September 21st – Cockpit, Leeds

Jordan Moore

Pierce The Veil – Collide With The Sky (Review)

May These Noises Startle You In Your Sleep Tonight
Hell Above
A Match Into Water
King for a Day (feat. Kellin Quinn)
Bulls In The Bronx
Props & Mayhem
Tangled In the Great Escape (feat. Jason Butler)
I’m low On Gas and You Need a Jacket
The First Punch
One Hundred Sleepless Nights
Stained Glass Eyes and Colorful Tears
Hold On Till May (Feat. Lindsey Stamey)

Members:
Mike Fuentes
Vic Fuentes
Tony Perry
Jaime Preciado

Pierce The Veil are an American post-hardcore band from San Diego, California. Pierce The Veil (also known as PTV) was formed in 2007, by brothers Vic and Mike Fuentes after the disbandment of a band called Before Today. Pierce The Veil made the debut album ‘A Flair for the Dramatic’ n in 2007. Since then they have released two more studio albums that include ‘Selfish Machines’ and ‘Collide With The Sky’.

One of the best things an album can do is grab the audiences attention as soon on as possible. Pierce the Veil do not fail in doing this in their newest album. Opening with the song ‘May These Noises Startle You In Your Sleep Tonight’ Pierce the Veil use the sound of distorted vocals, a crackling white noise and acoustic guitar that seeks and grabs attention. The song then explodes into a heavy hitting song that then progresses into ‘Hell Above’ with soaring vocals and heavy guitars. These two songs make the listener want to proceed on listen to the rest of the album, that doesn’t fail to amuse. Collide With The Sky comes to a shuddering stop with ‘Hold On Till May’ with more cracking white noises and the band talking in little voices.

Only once does Collide With The Sky let off for only 30 seconds or so, in the song ‘Tangled In The Great Escape’ featuring Jason Butler of Letlive. This song isn’t the only noteworthy collaboration on this album. Collide With The Sky also boasts tracks featuring Kellin Quinn of Sleeping With Sirens and Oh No Fiasco’s Lindsey Stamey.

I think this album is a prime example of the growth that Pierce The Veil have under gone. Everything about the album seems more professional and experienced. The band have come a long way since their first album in 2007 and have progressed a vast amount.

Being a big fan of Pierce The Veil, I couldn’t wait for the this album to come out. Especially after hearing the amazing ‘King For A Day‘ collaboration with good friend of the band, Kellin Quinn of Sleeping With Sirens. Collide With The Sky has been well worth the two year wait for Pierce The Veil fans. This album has had so much positive feedback from fans, that doesn’t surprise me. A lot of work and dedication has been put into this album that has paid off well.

“After years of hard times, Pierce The Veil’s new album Collide With The Sky has seen their career explode. What kept them going? Vic Fuentes says they’ll hang in there for their fans, no matter what…” – As said by Kerrang! magazine.

I’m among many fans of Pierce The Veil that would recommend the purchase of this album. Staying true to their roots, Pierce The Veil have also added little Spanish style guitar riffs both in songs and in between songs. Each song on the album is different to the next. A really fresh and different album to listen to. Definitely worth a strong 9/10 rating.

Jordan Moore

Attack Attack! (US) – Someday Came Suddenly

Hot Grills, and High Tops
Stick Stickly
Bro, Ashley’s Here
Shred, White, and Blue
Party Foul
What Happens If I Can’t Check My Myspace When We Get There
Interlude
The People’s Elbow
Kickin’ Wing, Animal Doctor
Dr. Shavargo Pt.3
Catfish Soup

Members:
Andrew Wetzel
Andrew Whiting
Tyler Sapp
Phil Druyor

Past Members:
Austin Carlile
Johnny Franck
John Holgado
Caleb Shomo
Nick Barham
Nick White
Ricky Lortz

Attack Attack! are a Metalcore/Electronicore/Post-Hardcore/Crabcore band that was formed in Ohio, USA in 2007. With their debut EP titled ‘If Guns Are Outlawed, Can We Use Swords?’, Attack Attack! have gone on to release a further three studio albums with another album due to be released this year (2013). Austin Carlile started off as the vocalist for Attack Attack! before going on to forming Of Mice & Men in 2009 along with Jaxin Hall.  There is also a band called ‘Attack! Attack!’ from South Wales (the difference being that there is two exclamation marks instead of one).

Most people are unfamiliar with the new ‘crabcore’ scene. Attack Attack! pioneered the crabcore genre. Crabcore entails being terrible at life, the universe and everything. Inclued in Crabcore is the infamous move that Attack Attack! perform on stage, the ‘crab’, aka crab walking.

Someday Came Suddenly is defiantly my favourite album by Attack Attack!, although many people think that the band weren’t serious enough at the time. I think that Austin Carlile’s unclean vocals compliment the songs that are on this album really well. All in all I will have to rate this album a 8/10. I feel that the band worked well together to achieve this album. I’ve also watched interviews and ‘making of…’ videos of the band at the time and I admit they did mess around but at the same time they got what they wanted done, done and that’s what music is really about. On the other hand, I can not wait for Attack Attack!’s new album that is due out this year.

Jordan Moore

BΔSTILLE – BΔD BLOOD (Review)

Pompeii
Things We Lost In The Fire
Bad Blood
Overjoyed
These Streets
Weight Of Living Pt. II
Icarus
Oblivion
Flaws
Daniel In The Den
Laura Palmer
Get Home

Members:
Dan Smith
Chris ‘Woody’ Wood
Kyle Simmons
Will Farquarson

Widely known for their song ‘Pompeii’, Bastille formed in London, England in 2010 as just a project by singer and songwriter Dan Smith. A little while later Dan Smith recruited new members that include Chris ‘Woody’ Wood, Kyle Simmons and Will Farquarson to form the popular Alternative Rock/Synthpop band that Bastille are.

With a sold-out tour ahead of them, and a single ‘Pompeii’ making number 2 in the UK top 40 everything seems to be going the right way for Dan Smith, the creative vocalist and former of Bastille. That said, it is hard to work out why Bastille’s songs have made a greater connection with listeners than other like-minded songwriters. Bastille also made number 1 on Official Steaming Chart at the beginning of march, knocking Macklemore’s single, Thrift Shop down after being at number 1 for four weeks running. Dan Smith quoted that the album reaching number one with competition from the Welsh Rockers, Stereophonics new album ‘Graffiti on the Train’ left him “Completely blown away”, also adding “it’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard”.

After hearing the well known single ‘Pompeii’ I went out and bought the Bad Blood album. After suddenly falling in love with Dan Smiths creative lyrics and soothing voice along with Bastille’s Alternative Rock/Synthpop sound in the popular single ‘Pompeii’ I went out and bought the Bad Blood album. I think this album deserves a strong 7/10 with carefully devised lyrics from Dan Smith and with songs that have meaning and are generally pleasing to the ear. The only reason it’s as low as a 7 is because I don’t think that Bastille are persistent throughout the album. This could be because ‘Pompeii’ sets such a high standard for the rest of the album to match up to.

Good comment about Bad Blood:
“The heightened sense of immediacy is hard to keep up, but Bastille does it remarkably well, resulting in a debut that’s as infectious as it is dramatically powerful” – Comment by ‘Pop Matters’ music critics. 

Bad comment about Bad Blood:
“Mediocre indie synthpop. For the most part, it all seems rather bland with lyrics whose significance I can’t seem to get my head around. Apart from the really pretty, ethereal ballad, Overjoyed and tear-jerking love song, Oblivion, almost all the songs merge into one big, mediocre lump that’s very unmemorable” – A comment made by a listener of the Bad Blood album.

Jordan Moore

The XX – XX (Review)

Intro
VCR
Crystalised
Islands
Heart Skipped a Beat
Fantasy
Shelter
Basic Space
Infinity
Night Time
Stars

Members:
Oliver Sim
Romy Madley Croft
Jamie Smith

Past Members:
Baria Qureshi

The XX are an Indie Pop/Dream Pop group that formed in London, England in 2005. The XX met whilst studying in Elliott School in London. This school also produced Hot Chip. In 2009 The XX released this album as their debut. Since then the group have gone on to produce another album called Coexist.

Being describes as a “rare gem” by multiple fans XX has sold over 405,000 in the UK alone and was number 1 in in three charts that consist of, the Irish Independent Chart, the French Digital Albums Chart and the UK Indie Album Chart.

My personal view on this album would be nothing less that spectacular. The collision of bass lines and guitar riffs with Jamie Smith’s Remixing and ‘DJing’ almost feels like the music is exploding into your ears. The XX have a lot of attributes that other modern bands/groups lack in.

I’d rate this album a 9/10 for its originality and brilliant music. The XX provide a sound for people of all music types. I’d recommend that you buy this album or at least check out The XX for yourself.

Jordan Moore

 

Killswitch Engage – Disarm The Descent (Special Edition) [Review]

Disk One:
The Hell In Me
Beyond The Flames
The New Awakening
In Due Time
A Tribute To The Fallen
Turning Point
All We Have
You Don’t Bleed For Me
The Call
No End In Sight
Always
Time Will Not Remain
Blood Stains*
Slave To The Machine*
Numbered Days (Live)
My Curse (Live)

Disk Two – DVD:
New Awakening: The Making of Disarm the Descent

Members:
Jesse Leach
Mike D’Antonio
Adam Dutkiewicz
Justin Foley
Joel Stroetzel

Past Members:
Howard Jones
Tom Gomes
Pete Cortese

Killswitch Engage are a metalcore band that were formed in 1999 in Westfield, Massachusetts, USA. Including Disarm The Descent Killswitch Engage have 6 studio albums.

As you may know Howard Jones is no longer the vocalist for this band because of health issues, including type 2 diabetes. Howard left a post on Killswitch Engage’s Facebook page just after he left the band openly talking about why he had to depart. Obviously after Howard Left Killswitch had to find a new vocalist. The bands search for a new vocalist concluded at the end of February 2012 with the announcement of original vocalist Jesse Leach.

 “Well, I guess I will shed a little light without going too deep. As some of you may know, I’ve had a pretty interesting couple of years to say the least battling with some personal issues. One of the low points being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes that went unchecked for years. The rest of the band stuck with me through it, and to be honest they are the ones that kept me going. The whole experience definitely put a scare in me” – Howard Jones’ departure post on Facebook.

Disarm the Descent contains the use of powerful vocals both clean and unclean that really catch attention. The Guitar harmonies are the best that Killswitch Engage have even produced. I also think that the Special Edition version of the album is worth getting for the two added bonus songs ‘Blood Stains‘ and ‘Slave To The Machine‘ and the two live songs ‘Numbered days’ and ‘My Curse’ if you are going to purchase this album.

Despite the good points I also think it is fair to mention the bad. My personal rating of this album would be 5/10. The first thing that I thought when I played this album was that it didn’t sound like the Killswitch Engage that I love. The lyrics in some songs aren’t that good at all. I hate to say this because Killswitch Engage are one of my favorite bands but Disarm the Descent doesn’t compare to the other Killswitch Engage albums.

Jordan Moore