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Reviews

Jon Pardi, Alyssa Flaherty and Bec O’Malley Rock Manchester Apollo!

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We headed down to one of our favourite venues last weekend to see one of our favourite country artists, like a match made in heaven! We’ve been hoping to see him for a few years now too, with him dropping out of The Long Road a few years back and us missing him on the subsequent rearranged tour. Joining him were two of the fastest rising stars in the genre, one from Nashville and one from Manchester, so it was set to be a fantastic night all-round!

Firstly, a quick shoutout to Randall King. He was supposed to be main support on the tour, but has taken a step back from live shows the last couple of months to work on his mental health and personal life. From what I know of him (even having the pleasure of meeting him a couple of years ago), he seemed like a great guy, and hopefully he manages to work through whatever he’s going through. Mental health is so very important, and it sucks for anyone to be going through struggles. You got this, brother!

Another thing before we talk about the artists; this show made me remember why I don’t go to many big country shows on their own. Goddamn, the crowd was terrible! Talking through not only both supports, but a good chunk of Pardi’s set too, just until his big hits came up towards the end. It really ruins the experience somewhat for those who actually went there to watch the show. I honestly don’t understand the thought process behind paying £40+ to go to a gig and not watch most of it, I canny afford that! It’s surprisingly a younger, more me/gen Z crowd that are doing it too, the TikTok crowd. Shame on y’all.

Anyway, enough negativity, let’s get on with the artists!

Seeming newcomer to the scene Bec O’Malley came off a massive day before, playing Royal Albert Hall for Highways and putting out his first single, and showed up big on Saturday too! He and his two backing players owned the large stage for the entire time they were up there, playing (and singing) their asses off. And, honestly, their set was arguably too short. I get why it was, with only one song released it may have been harder to hold the crowds attention, but he did it masterfully. His unique blend of UK folk, Americana and modern country came across excellently live, and he was a pretty decent frontman, too. Closing on the excellent debut single ‘Let it Go’ was awesome, and a highlight of the night in general. However, his other originals were just as good, honestly! And he even snuck a cheeky cover of Ella Langley’s massive ‘Choosin’ Texas’, to the delight of the crowd! Bec is gonna be a big name in the UK and global scene sooner rather than later, and it felt awesome seeing him get this sort of shot right out of the gate. Hopefully he sticks with his guitarist and fiddle player too, as both fit him excellently!

Next up was Alyssa Flaherty. For just a woman and her guitar, she sure packed out the sound in the theatre! It’s probably because her vocals were powerful and absolutely incredible! I wasn’t too familiar with her heading into the set, but left being a big new fan. Her original music is great, and was performed excellently by just her and her guitar. Honestly, I’d love to see her again with a full band backing her, but this was a great set in its own right! For an acoustic set it was definitely one of my favourites in recent memory!

After a rather short changeover, Mr Saturday Night himself took to the stage! Opening on the tours namesake, it was awesome right from the get-go. Honestly, it was a bit of a shame that we didn’t get more off said album, with just ‘Boots Off’ and ‘Friday Night Heartbreaker’ making the cut. The latter was a massive highlight of the whole night, though! The highlights packed out the whole set, though! Whether it was ‘Tequila Little Time’, ‘Mr. Saturday Night’, ‘Last Night Lonely’ or his collaboration with Thomas Rhett ‘Beer Can’t Fix’, there was awesomeness sprinkled throughout. Then, there was the absolutely incredible run to close out the set; from ‘Dirt on my Boots’ to closer ‘Head Over Boots’, it was banger after banger! There was maybe a slight lull in the middle, but that was more from the crowd not paying attention than any of the songs being bad!

In terms of the performance too, it was amazing! Pardi is a born front-man, and put on an excellent show from start to finish. His vocals are just as good live as they are on track, and when not holding one of his many guitars, he was bouncing around the stage, holding the crowd in the palm of his hand and having plenty of energy! The rest of his band added so much to the show, too! Everyone up on that stage is some of the best musicians at their craft, and worked their asses off from start to finish. They performed like one of the very best of a big-country-bands around, which they very much are! From all of the different instruments being played to the incredible soloing to the energy throughout, it was all a top-class performance. There whole set went by in a flash, and I’d have happily taken another full hour of it!

And there you have it, folks. Three incredible acts putting on an amazing show for a packed out crowd. I had a blast throughout, and the two opening acts definitely won me over in a big way. I’d recommend checking out all three of them both live and on track, and I’ll certainly be seeing them all the next time they’re nearby! It was a fantastic night of live music, and one I’ll not soon be forgetting!

Interviews & Features

Suburban Legends: ‘You get to meet people, like, wonderful people that are very committed to the culture!’

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We chatted to the horns section of Suburban Legends, Brian, Chris and Aaron, at their show in Nottingham last week. Check it all out below as we talk about their UK tour, back home and the state of the industry!

How’s the tour been so far? It’s four or five days in now, right?

Yeah, four, five dates. This is day six. So we’re halfway through.

Chris: We’ve hit it, it’s the midpoint! You’ve seen us hit the crest, it’s all downhill from here!

Aaron: want to say the first show out the gate was awesome! We haven’t played… Brian lives in Japan, so the last time we played with him was 24? 23?

Brian: We played together last year, the acoustic gigs.

Aaron: yeah but the last show that we did together, I think it was the 25th anniversary two years ago!

So when you’re saying, how the tour is, we kind of put a lot of pieces together that were kind of array, and we fit it all in last second. We did one rehearsal in a backyard pub and we just did it. And it felt fun! It felt exciting. It felt like a reunion of friends. So every single show, varying degrees of people coming, but it’s all been great audiences, great guests, and great fun with our friends. So, to answer your question, it’s awesome!

Chris: To speak more to that, it’s just like, yeah, we can all spend so much time apart from each other. But also, we get together so well that the shows just kind of come together.

What brought you guys back over? I know you mentioned you did the acoustic tour last year!

Chris: We were contractually obliged.

Brian: Promises made and promises kept.

Aaron: Out of all the places we tour, the UK is by far the best. By far the friendliest. And I think when I wasn’t at the acoustic tour last year, but it was a tester to see if people still remember. And people still wanted to come out! So the test worked and we made it happen with a full band.

Because it’s been… it was a while before that, right?

Chris: Seven years!

Aaron: 2018 was the time prior.

There’s a couple of shows announced for back home too this year too, right?

Brian: Yeah, we’ve got the Supernova ska festival coming up! That’s in September.

Aaron: Other than that, there’s nothing else scheduled at the moment. I know that people are always hitting us up for stuff, but it’s about… everyone has a job, everyone has a feeling, everyone has a thing. So it’s about getting everybody together. Besides this tour, we’ve only played three times this year so far. Like one in February and then we did two Disneyland dates. Cause we perform at Disneyland.

How would you compare the scene over here compared to back home?

Chris: Man, it’s like, out here, it’s very DIY, it’s very energetic, it’s very fun. It’s very community driven, which is really fun to witness and also kind of be a part of at the same time. Because we get to come over here, we get to play with all these wonderful bands that are also a part of the scene. You get to meet people, like, wonderful people that are very committed to the culture. And you get to see the little local pockets of it, like, all up and down the island. So it’s really wonderful, comparatively. Like, it’s harder, I think, for us to have that in the States because everything is so just like spread out. There’s a level of density that happens out here where you have, like these nice little pockets of things that are happening.

Brian: Plus, we’re just not as active as we used to be. We’re not out there, like, hustling like we used to, where it’s like everything that was offered, we’ll take it. You know what I mean? When we were really in the scene, like in the States and in California, we were playing a bunch and playing with all the other bands. But now it’s like we play occasionally and it’s like sort of like…

Aaron: Most of the time it’s at Disneyland, and that in itself is a different culture, a different scene. So we have like a foot in two different scenes, you know what I mean? And locally we can only play maybe one or two times a year so that people get excited about it. You don’t want to oversaturate it. Especially when we play Disneyland.

I assume you change the setlist up for the Disneyland shows?

Aaron: Yeah, more covers, and lyric changes too!

Chris: It’s a different kinda show.

Brian: And sometimes we forget that when we, like, from place to place, we’re like, oh, we gotta like shift gears, that’s right, it’s this type of show now!

Aaron: Sometimes we’re opening for a band, we only have like a 25 minute, 30 minute set. And the things that we do at Disneyland we cannot do in that 25 minutes because we gotta play as much music as possible.

I’ve seen there’s been a couple of singles out over the last few years or so, is there any sort of writing going ahead, any urge to release stuff?

Aaron: Being creative is about flowing the flow. I think there’s things and there’s things that are around, but are they recorded? No. Is it gonna happen? Maybe. Literally, if Vince was here, who, like, leads all that, he would just say, ‘well, I don’t know’, but. But the answer is, yeah, there’s always work. There’s always creativity going on.

Chris: There are so many projects and there’s stuff going on, but yeah, you know, it’s all just kind of in the vault.

Brian: There’s probably at least five or six projects that we started and never completed. There’s lots of starts and stops. But all that stuff still exists. It’s just whether or not we want to like, okay, let’s start that again!

How did the whole Disney thing come about? Did you start playing there before doing the covers?

Aaron: We started playing at the park. We had one Disney cover that. It was Gummy Bears. And I don’t know why we did it. I don’t know how we decided to do it. It wasn’t great, but people loved it! When we started playing at Disneyland a long, long time ago, we just assumed we were playing all original songs. Yes, maybe we did a ska cover of ‘I Will Survive’. It was wild! We realized people are coming to see us, but there’s a lot of people there that have never seen us before. And if you’re gonna come in and you’re gonna watch a band, hook them with a cover and then play a couple originals. So eventually we started just going, okay, we’ll do another Disney song. Another Disney song. Another Disney song. Just because we’re also Disneyland and we also love Disneyland.

Is it hard getting a ska arrangement of something like a Disney song together?

Aaron: I don’t know. We’re the horn players, so, I mean…!

Chris: It’s not terribly complicated. A lot of these arrangements really lend themselves to it. Ska isn’t particularly hard to, like, write into the existing arrangements. For example, we did ‘Whole New World’, and I think that was kind of the greatest departure, but also stays really true to the arrangement. But we wrote an entirely new tone around the intro. that’s kind of the furthest we’ll go because we still want it to be familiar. We still want it to be fun. Thankfully, working into, like, the genre of ska, it kind of lends itself to the energy and the upbeat arrangements that we choose.

You guys are pretty up on social media when on tour. Do you have any advice for bands breaking into the scene in that regard?

Chris: You want to have one person who is just constantly aware of the moments that can take place while you’re on the road that are both organic and fun.

Aaron: It’s a full-time job. I mean that’s why social media managers are full time jobs. You get a degree in and all that stuff. It takes a lot of time. So advice: get somebody to come with you. Maybe a merch that can film while you were actually doing your art and stuff. A social media manager who also is cool with selling T shirts. You know, so maybe an 18, 19, 20 year old that knows what people like. Because we also don’t know what people like!

Honestly, I think the thing to talk about is Spotify. How you release music, that’s more important than social media. Punk Rock Factory I think is a great example of social media. They’re not touring as a lot but they have their, their studio set up where it looks rad behind them. They got the actual lights and they film their song. They cut it up into five different reels and then they release it and they schedule it out and that’s how they’re getting listens on Spotify and views on YouTube and that’s how they’re getting people coming to their shows.

It’s the niche, Right. You can’t just plop whatever you want on the Internet. You have to just kind of pick a lane. I think with us, the route that we’re going with this tour is just the storytelling of touring. We don’t play a lot, so we don’t make social media content a lot. So if we’re out here doing stuff, we want to just make sure people can see the story of, like, oh, yeah, this is what it’s like to be in the UK with this American band.

But Spotify, that’s the thing to talk about, because growth. Spotify has an algorithm. How do you release music these days? And it’s not albums. It’s singles, and it’s consistent singles that you do at a consistent basis.

Chris: And it’s an entirely different game to play than what we had been used to doing, which was like, you know, you write an album or you write an EP, you record the album or EP, tour on the album or the EP. There’s a cadence to that that’s much longer than, like, record singles, release singles. And it also, in tandem with that, took selling CDs out of our hands while we were on tour, which was, quite frankly, a large portion of our merch sales. For example, for this tour we didn’t roll with CDs. It’s too heavy, it’s too hard to ship. Why print? Why bring them over? You know, because people aren’t gonna buy them because they have digital distribution now.

Do you have a dream tour lineup you’d want to be a part of? Anyone you haven’t played with yet or friends you want to bring on the road with you?

Chris: That’s a really good question!

Brian: Yeah, it’s not really in our mind any more! We don’t tour much so we don’t think about it much!

Chris: Like, at this point, I feel like the people that we want to tour with are the people that we’ve already toured with that we know that we enjoy touring with. We enjoy touring with real big Fish. We enjoy touring with Less Than Jake. Like, people that are our friends that we know. When you show up to tour, it’s like you’re showing up to the same summer camp. Everyone is just already cool with each other.

Aaron: That’s the answer!

Chris: Exactly. We want to tour with our friends and have a good time.

I’ll answer the question as it’s intended… I would love to be able to go to Japan and tour with Tokyo Ska Paradise.

Aaron: Oh my god that would be amazing!

Chris: It would be so much fun. But Scott doesn’t know about us. But that would be a really fun tour to do!

new music mondays

New Music Mondays: All American Rejects, Periphery and More!

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The usually stacked week of new music for us to check out, from metal to country to rock! Let’s get right into it!

The All-American Rejects: Sandbox

Somehow this is only the fifth album from the alt/pop rockers, and their first since 2012’s Kids in the Street. A lot has changed in 14 years, both in the music industry and in the band itself. Heck, the world experienced Humpadoo since their last release! So, to say there’s been a fair bit of hype around this release may be an understatement. I’m a fan of the band and have been since my childhood, so I’ve certainly been excited about the prospect of new music from them, even if the singles have been slightly hit or miss…

The album as a whole is reflected rather perfectly by the singles. None is bad, per-say, but there definitely tracks that I love and ones that I am not as into. Singles like ‘King Kong’ and the title track are great, as are songs like ‘Eggshell Tap Dancer’ and ‘Staring Back at Me’ are also big highlights. However, there are a few that, while good, I can take or leave, personally. The songwriting and style has matured (of course, Tyson and co aren’t in their 20s any more), getting a little darker, more indie and more introspective. It’s at least interesting to hear this side of the band, while there’s enough of their older sound to keep their OG fans interested. I feel like as an album it may take more than a couple of listens to get into fully, and it may grow on me even more in that time. However, for now, I had a good time with it, and it gets a solid 7/10

Periphery: A Pale White Dot

Following up 2023’s critically acclaimed V, the djent masters followed it up on Friday with, you guessed it, their eighth studio album (go figure). It’s more of exactly what you’d expect from the band; heaviness, plenty of catchy melody, crazy arrangements and technicality off the charts. They very much keep their title of ‘your favourite metal bands favourite metal band’, at least from a playing perspective. Heck, their OG fans, the ones Miss Sabrina Carpenter sings about, hate it, so that should be enough of a glowing recommendation as is! They cover just about every base of their song across a brief-for-them 47 minutes, and it’s hard not to be blown away by it! Tracks like ‘Talk’, ‘Heaven on High’ and ‘Everyone Dies Alone’ are all personal highlights. However, the whole album has a great flow to it, going by surprisingly quickly.

It still blows my mind that the band aren’t bigger, even with them being quite a niche sound. However, this is honestly up there alongside their best stuff, in this writers humble opinion, and could easily push them up to another level. If you are a fan of the band, or the genre they all-but created, do yourselves a favour and check this out ASAP! It’s clear the impact they’ve had on the genre, with a lot of bands taking inspiration from them, but no one does it quite like Periphery. It’s a step above Djent is Not a Genre for me, and will certainly be in my regular rotation for the next few weeks. I can’t give it any less than 8.5/10!

Robin Beck: Living Proof

The first new album from the AOR singer in nearly a decade, and it’s yet another banger! The title track/opener is the perfect introduction, while songs like ‘Karma’ and the catchy-as-anything ‘Na Na Na’ are other big highlights. The whole album is great though, being solid all the way through and going by in a flash. It’s insane that a woman in her 70s still has this powerful and amazing a voice, and the songwriting around it is just as excellent. It’s insane to me that she wasn’t a bigger name in the US or the UK back in the day, as she’s always put out bangers. However, I’d put this up there alongside any of her previous stuff, so hopefully this will finally be the album to push her to that top level. I’ll be spinning this release plenty moving forward, and would recommend it to anyone into the softer, anthemic side of rock, get this in your ears immediately! A damn solid 8/10 from us!

49 Winchester: Change of Plans

We’ve already checked out this awesome album! Read the full review here.

Pro-Pain: STONE COLD ANGER

I’m sorry, but this is fucking EXCELLENT. The first new studio release from the hardcore thrashers in over a decade, and the quartet show that they have not lost even a fraction of a step in that time. The guys are PISSED, and it makes for a raw, angry and fantastically written record. The opener sets the tone excellently, and it’s almost impossible to pick highlights as every song is as good as the last! The only slight weak-link for me is ‘UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU!’, as it leans more into the punk/hard rock territory with the riffing, but it does have some of the best lyrics on the release. How they aren’t at the top of the heavy world I’ll never know, as they’ve always had an incredibly solid back catalogue. Maybe them returning after some time away from the studio will finally get them more of the recognition they very much deserve! All four of them are so incredibly talented, from the riffing to the drumming, vocals to the lyrics to the arrangement. It’s nestled perfectly between Hatebreed, Machine Head and American Headcharge, and I loved every second! I’m so glad they’re back, and I can’t give it any less than 9.5/10. Check this out immediately!

The Karma Effect: Cruel Intentions

Album three from the NWOCR stalwarts honestly may be their best yet! They take inspiration from the early originators of the scene, as well as the expected 70s and 80s influences, and build it all into something uniquely their own. From the opener to ‘Raised on Rock N Roll’, ‘Bad Manners’ to ‘Waiting on a Miracle’ to the closer, the release is packed full of incredible songs. The whole thing has not only a driving stomp and swagger to it, but a sense of urgency to it. It feels like the band have a chip on their shoulder, something to prove, and it makes for fantastic listening. They seem as cohesive as ever, with every band member working their asses off and getting plenty of time to shine. They have already been fast-rising, but this release will surely push them to even greater heights! An incredibly easy 9/10 from us!

Russel Jamie Johnson: Self-Titled

This is a damn good debut album! Nestled somewhere between blues, soft rock, indie and soul, it’s a sound that feels like it’s made a big comeback in recent years, and I am all here for it! His vocals are good and his lyrics are fantastic, both combining together to create a fun, emotion-filled listen throughout. Tracks like ‘Who We Used to Be’, ‘Come for a Drive’ and the closer are all excellent and personal highlights. However, while none of the tracks are bad, I do think even at it’s short-ish runtime, it does drag just a touch in the middle. A lot of the songs sound similar in terms of style and pacing, so while all are great in their own right, I think I’d take them as individual tracks over an album as a whole, on occasion. Though, when it’s all so well written, it’s a rather small complaint, really! If you’re into any of the genres I’ve mentioned, this is well worth a listen, and I’ll certainly give it another try at a full-listen soon; it very well grow on me even more! However, until then, this gets a solid 7/10

Acid Reign: Daze of the Week

I’m being treated, I never get two thrashy albums in the same week any more! It’s been a little while again, with their last studio work, The Age of Entitlement, coming out back in 2019. However, it’s another stellar thrash album! From the title track to ‘Alonely’ to single ‘Sorrowsworn’, there’s some truly awesome stuff on here. Heck, there really isn’t a bad song throughout. If you’re a fan of the genre I’d definitely recommend checking this out, it’s a good classic throwback release to its 80s/90s heyday. The band are all damn talented musicians and songwriters, and have crafted one of their strongest releases to date with this. I’ll definitely be spinning this again in the weeks and months to come, and it gets a very solid 8/10 from us!

CASANDRA: ISLA TRANQUILITA

The follow-up to her 2025 self-titled album, this brief EP is a great, chilled-out slice of alt-pop. While not typically my sort of thing, I found myself enjoying it a lot! Her lyrics and delivery are phenomenal, being a tribute to her late great aunt, and it all juxtaposes well with the lighter, bright instrumentation. The opener and ‘SOLUTION’ are personal favourites, but the whole EP is so well put together and goes by in a flash. If you’re at all interested, I’d definitely recommend giving it a spin, you might be surprised like I was! A rather easy 7.5/10 from me!

Best Band: The People’s Club

The energy and vibe put forth by the band name very excellently reflects the style of this album. It’s a chilled out, fun and silly 41 minutes of punk, and I’m all here for it! Heck, even the artwork perfectly fits the tone of everything; the MS Paint-style of all of their albums is honestly incredible. Musically, it won’t be for everyone, but I actually had a blast listening to this, the band have a new fan in me! It feels a little Mighty Boosh in the best way possible. From ‘Bog House’ to ‘Head Full of Juice’ to ‘Another Decay’, there’s some definite highlights, too. And, while none of it is bad, it does drag a little towards the end, with it all being pretty similar in vibe and pace. Still, as I said, it’s a good fun listen, and worth giving a try if you’re into a more old-school punk vibe. 6.5/10

Braxton Keith: Real Damn Deal

Somehow this is the debut album from one of the biggest rising stars in country today. I have to admit I’d seen the name around a fair bit but had never had the chance to check him out, so always figured he’d been around longer than he has been. It’s easy to hear why he’s such a fast success, though! This is a fantastic traditional country album! Right from the opener I was hooked, and wasn’t let go for a solid nearly hour. Songs like ‘I Dreamed You Dreamed of Me’, ‘Little Bit by Little Bit’ and ‘Prescription’ are all big other highlights, but there really isn’t a bad song throughout. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a touch long, and certainly lulls a little at times due to its generally slower pace. However, each track on its own is excellent, and the top songs are truly excellent. If you’re a fan of an old-school country sound akin to Zach Top or Riley Green, this is an absolute must of an album for you! I’ll be spinning at least a good chunk of it again pretty regularly, and give this a pretty solid 8/10

Shakey Graves: Fondness, Etc.

Album five from the Americana artist is a beautiful, bittersweet release. It’s a chilled-out, stripped-back affair, especially compared to a lot of stuff on this list, but I couldn’t help but fall in love with it from the very first track. It feels dark yet somehow also uplifting and relaxed in equal measure, and really feels like a vibe that only Shakey can do. Songs like ‘When the Love is New’, ‘The Boilermaker’ and the closer are all fantastic and big personal highlights. However, the whole album just has such an excellent flow to it, even having a couple of instrumentals across its short, nine-track run. It’s the kinda thing to throw on and just sit back and relax to, or you can really dive into the incredible lyrics and get lost in them, too. No matter how you consume the album, it’s a great release into the indie-Americana world. I can’t wait to see him live later this year, and will certainly be listening to this plenty in the run up to that. I can’t give it any less than 7.5/10, and it’ll probably grow on me more with more listens!

Frozen Sand: Fractals: A Light Among Shadows

Album two from the prog metallers follows up on their debut that dropped nearly a decade ago. Continuing on the Fractals monicker and theme though, it very much feels like the perfect continuation. It’s also nearly an hour of brilliant technical playing, heaviness and some damn catchy, melodic vocal lines. In other words, the perfect prog metal release! Also, it’s another album that is absolutely stacked from front-to-back, there not being a bad song throughout and it begging to be listened to in full. However, ‘Fracture’ itself is absolutely amazing, being one of my favourite metal tracks of the year so far, honestly. The band are so darn talented and if this album doesn’t push them to many more ears globally, that’s actually a crime. It’s a pretty ballsy move to put out a prog metal album the same day as Periphery does, but honestly I think these guys do it even better! The riffing is utterly phenomenal, and everything from the drums to the screams to the powerful cleans all compliment it so well! This thing is amazing, and gets an easy 9/10 from us!

Toria and the Terror: The Operating Table

This trio of fuzzy horror-punk tracks is a great collection that immediately leaves me wanting more! I absolutely love that it’s a style that is coming back in a big way the last couple of years, especially with female vocals, immediately reminding me of The Darts. This is definitely up there alongside that album in terms of quality, all three tracks being as good as the last, and having just such a campy, cool energy to them. And, between the vocals, the instrumentation and the arrangement, it’s all so good, and all fits together to make the perfect horror vibe. In case you couldn’t tell, I loved this! The band have a big new fan in me, and I’ll be listening to them a lot moving forward! I can’t give it any less than 8.5/10, great stuff! Now I just need a full album…

Reviews

Change of Plans: How Does 49 Winchester’s Latest Album Live Up to Their Previous?

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The country rock collective are set to release their sixth studio album this coming Friday! As already big fans of their music, we’ve been excited about this one since it got announced. Add to that that the single or two I’ve heard is great, and it’s made this album an absolute must-listen for us! Oh, and add to that the truly beautiful artwork, and this is already set to be a release to remember. Without further ado, let’s dive in!

The album opens on a chilled-out southern rock riff; the guitars setting the tone and the drums and bass following suit excellently. Isaac’s vocals fit seamlessly over the top, keeping the mood and tone relaxed and steady. It rather surprisingly explodes into a catchy, rockier chorus, reminding me of a Darius Rucker kinda sound in the best ways. Having said that, it also fits the vibe of the rest of the song perfectly. The lyrics are excellent for it too, both catchy and packed full of emotion. And the bridge, while simple, has some fun little guitar lead runs, channelling the bands Southern rock roots fantastically. And it drops back to just vocals, piano and some quiet guitars after, giving the track some great dynamics before it bursts back into that awesome final chorus. It’s a great way to open the release, establishing the mood of the album perfectly.

‘Bluebird’ adds a bit more blues to the proceedings, surely intentionally a little punny. Having said that, it still keeps the generally slower pace from the opener, especially with the acoustic, lower verses. It’s all builds perfectly to a massive, arena-filling country rock chorus, one that once again reminds me of that early 2000s sound. And not only that, but we get an epic, Aerosmith-esque bridge and lead bit separating the choruses perfectly. This is a really excellent track, and one that easily makes our playlist. I’m honestly shocked it wasn’t a single, but it could easily be one after release, it would do great as a radio country-rock track!

Speaking of singles, their cover of ‘Changes’ is banger of a ballad. It works surprisingly well as a southern rock song, and is only one of my favourite versions (and there are many) of the track. Honestly, Isaac is probably the best singer to have performed it, in this writers opinion. He puts so much passion and emotion into every line, clearly being a fan of the original. And instrumentally, it works perfectly, the organ, drums and guitaring carrying the somber tone amazingly. It’s interesting to have it placed so early in the album, but it fits rather well alongside the previous songs, so it’s hard to complain!

Songs like ‘All Around Me’, ‘All Over Again’ and ‘Bringin Home the Bacon’ are more tracks that fit in with the opening few. All are boot stompin’ country rock bangers in their own right, with ‘All Over Again’ being a particular personal highlight. And, while I have grouped them together to make the article easier to read, it does also reflect that the album is so similar. It is both impressive that it’s so cohesive, but also makes for an ever so slightly harder listen, at the very least when reviewing. It doesn’t make any of it bad per se, but does make my tiny-attention-spanned brain a touch less likely to listen to them all, especially when they are all so close together!

‘Slowly’ is a beautiful, acoustic-based track that honestly I can’t get enough of. From the simple arrangement that builds perfectly throughout to some of the best lyrics on the release to that chorus that’ll be stuck in my head from day to come, everything about it is amazing. And those vocal harmonies, GODDAMN. It’s easily one of my favourite tracks on the album, and may be up there alongside my top songs from the band in general, honestly. This is definitely one to check out if you are going to dive into any! A damn worthy single!

‘Oh Savannah’ is another beautiful slower song, while ‘Pardon Me’ is another incredible, catchy southern rock track designed to be played to huge festival crowds around the world. Both are great in their own right, but the latter in particular is another huge highlight of the album! And then, just like that, we reach the end to this surprisingly short release with ‘Heavy Chevy’. It’s another good song, giving off Whiskey Myers vibes massively with the vocals. The double track on them was an interesting choice that pays off massively, and once again Isaac puts on one hell of a performance. It builds perfectly through the acoustic stuff into a distorted, rockier second half, the dynamics being fantastic. We even get some awesome duelling guitar solos in the middle, feeling very Skynyrd in the best ways possible. Somehow it’s yet another huge highlight track on an album rather filled with this. It’s also the perfect, truly epic way to close the release, and is another song that’s up there alongside my favourites from the band as a whole!

Overall: This is a great release! It’s a damn good country/southern rock album, jam packed with some real amazing tracks. While it does take a slight dip in energy in the middle, both the start and end are phenomenal, providing some of the best tracks I think the band have ever put to tape. If you are at all a fan of the band or the genres in general, this is well worth a listen! I’ll certainly be spinning it plenty in the weeks and months to come, that’s for sure!

Overall: 9/10

News

Smithfield Announce UK & Europe Tour!

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Texas-raised, Nashville-based Country duo Smithfield have today announced multiple headline UK shows, in addition to their appearance at the British Country Music Festival in Blackpool. Their anticipated return will see them playing in London, Newcastle, York, Birmingham and Selsey.

“We have been anxious to make it back to the UK since our performances at C2C London 2023,” shares Smithfield. “We’ll never forget the welcome and warmth we received from the UK crowd and how deeply we felt that our music was appreciated. We’re excited to bring our music to several different cities this time and hopefully make a lot of new fans.

“We are honored that the British Country Music Festival asked us to headline, and we are committed to building our fanbase in the UK for the long-term, and making our British fans feel like part of the Smithfield family. We can’t wait to see you all again, share these songs with you in person, and hopefully meet a lot of you for the first time.”

The duo shared their latest single ‘Let You’ on Friday, the follow up to ‘Giving Up On Us’, released in March. Both songs give fans a taste of their forthcoming project, due for release later in the year. The new single – a playful, up-tempo track about finally giving in to undeniable chemistry, co-written by the duo (Jenn Fielder and Trey Smith) with GRAMMY-nominee Karen Kosowski and Emma D Ashlee, and produced by Smith.

An established name in the US Country scene with 150M+ global streams, 40 Grand Ole Opry appearances and a regular fixture at CMA Fest with their sold-out annual fan parties, Smithfield have been a rising force in music since forming over fourteen years ago. With powerful vocal harmonies and emotionally resonant songwriting, the duo have enjoyed critical acclaim while building a loyal fanbase worldwide.

An established name in the US Country scene with 150M+ global streams, 40 Grand Ole Opry appearances and a regular fixture at CMA Fest with their sold-out annual fan parties, Smithfield have been a rising force in music since forming over fourteen years ago. With powerful vocal harmonies and emotionally resonant songwriting, the duo have enjoyed critical acclaim while building a loyal fanbase worldwide.

30 August 2026 – The Crown Inn & Pub – Selsey, United Kingdom
4 September 2026 – Forty-Five Vinyl Cafe – York, United Kingdom
5 September 2026 – Rodeo’s BBQ – Birmingham, United Kingdom
6 September 2026 – British Country Music Festival, Blackpool, United Kingdom
7 September 2026 – The Cluny – Newcastle, United Kingdom
9 September 2026 – St. Pancras Old Church – London, United Kingdom
11 September 2026 – Nashville Nights Songwriter’s Festival – Odense, Denmark

Tickets for Newcastle are on sale now, while Birmingham and London go on sale this Friday. You can purchase tickets here!

Reviews

Suburban Legends and Codename Colin Rock the Bodega!

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It’s been a hot minute since we made it down to The Bodega, and then it was for a pretty different gig! This time was for the ska legends Suburban Legends, returning to the UK after last years acoustic tour, and for their first electric shows in seven years! Y’all should know how big of a fan we are here at Overtone of ska punk by now, and we get far too little come over to the UK these days, so there was no way we were missing this! Of course we were going to have a blast, but read below to find out just how great of a night it was!

It felt slightly odd only having two bands on the bill, but it is becoming increasingly more of a thing in recent years. However, when both bands are this good and get given some time, it’s really hard to complain! And Codename Colin really brought it last night! I wasn’t too familiar with them aside a couple of songs I checked out before the show, but I came away a pretty damn big fan of the band! Even despite some technical issues with the guitar the band played a fantastic set, sounding awesome and coming across as damn professional. They were a little heavier live than I was expecting too, having an air of metal to them, especially in the half-time outros. All four of them were insanely talented too, getting their own time to shine at various stages throughout.

And, their setlist was pretty great! From their amazing originals to a couple of fantastic covers, it honestly left me wanting more! ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ was a personal highlight, but I found myself enjoying their original stuff just as much, truly. Hell, the new songs they threw into the set were awesome, and have left me excited to hear what’s next in store for them, release-wise! They played their asses off throughout and clearly impressed a lot of the crowd, including us. This certainly won’t be the last time I see them, and hopefully they’re back nearby soon!

After a pretty brief changeover, it was already time for the headliners! I’ve wanted to see them for so long, not able to make it to their last full tour pre-pandemic, and somehow they didn’t disappoint even with my high hype for them! From the moment they took to the stage I was obsessed. Opening on old classic ‘High Fives’ was a great choice, and kicked off well over an hour of catchy, high-energy ska punk. From Day Job bangers like ‘Arigato’ and perennial closer ‘Whoa’ to more older classics in ‘Hey DJ’ and ‘Bright Spring Morning’ to even ‘Forever in the Friendzone’, the set was packed full of the very best of their back catalogue. And, of course, we can’t not address the Disney songs. From Toy Story’s ‘You’ve got a Friend in Me’ to Lion King’s ‘Just Can’t Wait to be King’, ‘DuckTales’ to ‘Under the Sea’, the band have done some of the funnest ska covers, and Disney covers, around!

And the show the collective put on… DAMN. I don’t have the energy to do what they do now still in my 20s, let alone 15+ years down the line. The energy that every one of them put into their performance was infectious, having the crowd dancing, clapping and bouncing along throughout. Heck, they managed to get a solid 60-70% of the not-particularly-young crowd squatted down, ready to jump-the-fuck-up and pretend to be fireworks. That’s commitment from everyone involved, right there! The choreography was also amazing; synchronised dancing is always impressive but to do it to ska music, as well as sometimes while singing/playing a horn, is honestly awesome!

Plus, everyone sounded awesome. Vincent’s vocals are amazing live, and it blows my mind still that he wasn’t even originally the singer of the band. The backing and harmonies were awesome too, with Aaron sounding great and being a born frontman in his own right. And all the rest of the band absolutely killed it too, being so tight live and sounding really excellent. The talent throughout them all is truly off the charts, and to witness it live was something truly special. Damn, I could gush about this band all day!

And there you have it folks, an awesome night packed full of some incredible punk music! Two bands that I am already desperate to see live again, and would recommend checking out to anyone if they are anywhere nearby you. And, what’s more, it was all at one of the best small venues in the country! I certainly had a blast, and couldn’t have asked for any more!

new music mondays

New Music Mondays: Social Distortion, Ashley McBryde and More!

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A typically stacked week of new albums for us to check out, from rock to metal to country. You know the drill by now, let’s dive in!

Social Distortion: Born to Kill

The first new studio album from the Californian punk rock royalty in a whopping 15 years, this release had a lot of hype to live up to. Safe to say I think it lives up to the expectations, and then some! The lead single/title track sets the tone and pace of the album perfectly, while songs like ‘The Way Things Were’, ‘Tonight’ and ‘Don’t Keep me Hanging On’ are all huge other highlights. We even get a quirky, awesome cover of ‘Wicked Game’ tucked away in the middle! I do think it looses it’s way and steam just a little at times during it’s runtime, but there’s enough stuff like/as good as their 80s and 90s style that as an album as a whole I love it! If you are a fan of the band or the wider punk genre, this is definitely worth spinning, and I’ll be listening to it plenty moving forward. It’s a welcome return from the band that have been so consistent and at the top of their game for decades, and I can’t give it any less than 8/10

Ashley McBryde: Wild

I was not expecting to get my ass kicked quite so hard with this release. It’s straight up southern rock and I LOVED it. I’m a fan of Ashley and have been for a while, and I liked The Devil I Know a lot when it dropped. But this definitely has a heavier, darker edge to it than that and releases before that, leaning more into the rock than ever before. And I’m all in on it, honestly! Right from the opener this thing goes hard, having me hooked immediately. Then you have the likes of ‘Arkansas Mud’, ‘Creosote’ and ‘Lines in the Carpet’ that are all amazing, southern rock bangers. Don’t get me wrong, it has its fair share of slower tracks too, and the back third of the album is a bit more of the pace I was expecting from her heading in. The closer in particular is another massive highlight, it being more of a folk rock track, and is going to be stuck in my head for days to come!

It’s an incredibly varied album, making it go by in a flash, and is packed full of emotion, amazing vocals and some great instrumentation. It really has everything you need from a country release, and draws from each great element of Ashley’s back catalogue, almost feeling like a culmination of her career up until this point. I cannot recommend this album enough, and it is certainly my favourite of hers she’s put out so far. A very easy 9/10 from us!

Daði Freyr: Too Much Not Enough

Album three from the Icelandic electro-pop artist is just as good as I expected it to be! While we didn’t review 2023’s I Made An Album, I absolutely love it, and we saw him live on the tour, blowing me away! This picks up perfectly where that left off, offering 36 minutes of incredible, infectiously catchy music. From his insane range and vocal tone to the massive harmonies to the incredible arrangements that span pop, electro, funk, jazz and rock, it’s all so damn good. And, honestly, every track is as good as the last! There are definite personal highlights like ‘Hot Damn’, ‘I’m Out and I Wanna Go Home’ and ‘Why?’ but every song before, between them and after are also absolutely amazing. If you are into his particular brand of noise this is an absolutely must-listen. Heck, even if you aren’t familiar, give this a listen, you’ll surely love it as much as I do! This is an album I’ll be spinning a lot moving forward, and I can see it being high on our albums of the year list by December. I can’t give it any less than 9.5/10, amazing stuff!

Crashdïet: Art of Chaos

Album seven from the Swedish sleaze rockers has arrived following extensive lineup changes within the band. Everyone aside for mainstay guitarist Martin Sweet is a new face, it being almost a completely different band to 2022’s Automaton. Honestly, that might be a reason as to why I wasn’t into it too much. I’ve long been a fan of the glam/sleaze revival scene, especially in Europe, and Crashdïet have been a prominent, amazing player in that throughout. It’s not even a bad album, per-say. However, it does very much feel pretty paint-by-numbers when it comes to sleaze, like a group of people who haven’t really ever made music together have got together and made a basic glam album. A lot of the swagger and attitude from Generation Wild, Savage Playground or even Automaton is largely missing, being a big selling point of their sound for me. Exceptions are ‘Get Out’ and ‘Killing it Now’, definitely the high points of the album, and closer to their classic sound. As I said, it isn’t bad, and if you are a big fan of the band or genre you’ll still get plenty out of this. However, I hoped for a little more personally, something about it just doesn’t do much for me. So, I can’t give it much higher than 6.5/10

Reverend and the Makers: Is This How Happiness Feels?

The indie rockers returned with their eighth album this last Friday. It’s pretty good, and a fun release! It’s got an air of easy listening and jazziness to it, alongside the typical indie pop-rock sound. It also feels just a little like Old Dominion, just without the country elements. Tracks like ‘Late Night Phone Call’, ‘D Minor’ and ‘Forever’ are all personal highlights. However, the whole album is a similar energy and there isn’t a bad song throughout! Everyone involved is a damn talented musician and songwriter, and Jon McClure is one of the most underrated vocalists around today. It’s an incredibly easy listen, and one I’ll certainly be spinning again soon. It won’t be for everyone, but I enjoyed it, and can’t give it any less than 7/10!

AK & the Red Kites: Hotter Than the Sun

We’ve already checked out this awesome album! Read the full review here.

REXORIA: Fallen Dimension

Album three from the self-professed royal metallers picks up perfectly where 2023’s Imperial Dawn left off. It’s 43 minutes of awesome power/heavy metal, packed full of awesome riffing, solid drumming and powerful, melodic vocals. Tracks like ‘Awakening’, ‘Running with Stars’ and ‘Wasted Land’ are all personal highlights, but every song is about as good as the last! As good as Imperial Dawn was, this feels a step up from that release, as well as being slightly on the heavier and darker side, which was very nice to hear! It feels like they have really found and refined their sound with this album, it sounding the most natural and comfortable for all involved. I would recommend this to anyone even slightly into power or heavy metal, and will certainly be listening to this again in the coming weeks and months. It’s a very solid 8/10 from us!

Without Mercy: Infinite Loss

This three track brutal assault is fucking awesome! It’s 11 minutes of technical excellence, crazy drums and heavy screams and breakdowns, with a surprising amount of melody thrown in for good measure. All four of these guys are at the top of their craft at their chosen instruments, and are clearly incredible songwriters to boot! And, all three songs are as good as each other, it being impossible to pick even one over the other two. It’s technical melodeath excellence, and a release I’d recommend to absolutely anyone into the heavier end of metal! 9/10, hell yeah, this was awesome!

Josiah and the Bonnevilles: As Is

This is a short, sweet, chilled album from one of the hardest working names in country today. It’s incredibly chilled out, nestled somewhere between a traditional country sound and a soft-indie one. Honestly, it’s to the point where it’s not especially my sort of thing, but is so well performed and written that I can’t help but like it! Josiah’s vocals are incredible, rather underrated I’d actually say, and the lyrics throughout are fantastic. I think my issue is that it never quite hits that high gear that I keep wanting the tracks to. However, that is more a me issue than an artist one! As I said, it’s well written and well played, and if you like the slower, tamer side of indie/country, this is definitely worth checking out! Highlights include ‘Going Gone’ and ‘Mountain Girl’. 6/10

Black Orchid Empire: LORE

Album five from the UK alt-metal trio is honestly an excellent release! I’ve been a fan of the band for a few years now, with Semaphore blowing me away back in the pandemic era. It’s melodic, heavy and proggy in the perfect measures. It’s got elements of everything from Alter Bridge to Chevelle to Poppy to even Muse, and I’m here for all of it! From ‘Angelfire’ to ‘Scissormouth’, ‘Tristar’ to ‘Mirrorman’, there is so much to love. And honestly, the rest of the tracks around these are just as good! It’s all huge riffs and catchy vocals, and I think I’m a little obsessed! I honestly think this may be the best album they’ve ever released; it has such a great flow to it and nearly 50 minutes goes by in a flash. If you are even slightly curious, do yourselves a favour and give this a spin, you won’t be disappointed! I’ll be spinning this a lot moving forward, and don’t be surprised to see it be another that’s high on our albums of the year list come December. I can’t give it any less than 9.5/10, amazing stuff!

Draconian: In Somnolent Ruin

The eighth album from the gothic metal Swedes is a truly epic affair. Nearly an hour of doomy heaviness, but with plenty of great melody too, it’s impossible not to like! The contrast between the dark screams and beautiful cleans is fantastic, both powerful in their own way and fitting excellently over the top of the black-doom instrumentation. It’s somehow my first introduction to the band, and I’m hooked! It seems to have elements of everything from My Dying Bride to Rotting Christ to even Nightwish, all combined together to create a sound pretty unique to the band. Tracks like ‘The Monochrome Blade’ and ‘Cold Heavens’ are personal highlights, but the album is definitely worth a listen through in full if you’re into the style! The band certainly have a new fan in me, and it gets a solid 8/10 from us.

Ingested: Denigration

Following up 2024’s excellent The Tide of Death and Fractured Dreams, the UK death metal titans are back with album nine. As expected, it is absolute heavy chaos from start to finish, and is absolutely excellent! Right from the jump with ‘Dragged Apart’ I was hooked, and not let go for the full 40 minutes. Tracks like ‘Stitch by Stitch’ and ‘Beaten Beyond the Veil’ are personal highlights, but there really isn’t a bad song throughout. It’s perfectly heavy, everything from the riffing to the drums to the vocals being crushingly excellent throughout. It has an air of violence and hardcore to it alongside the death metal, definitely feeling a touch Malevolence in the best way possible. It takes everything great about their previous couple of releases and dials it up to 11. I honestly can’t get enough! It’s certainly not going to be for everyone, but if you are into the brutaller end of metal, I’d recommend giving this a listen ASAP! 9/10, I’m certainly going to be listening to this plenty over the rest of the year!

P.S. all the guest kill it throughout, too!

Coleman Jennings: Lead You Home

A debut album now, from the young neo-traditional country rising star. It follows up on his EP right at the start of the year, doubling its length up to 10 songs. We loved Ride On, and I remember back then even saying I wanted a longer release soon. Clearly he heard my pleas, and what has come out as a result is honestly awesome! The OG half is still just as good as ever, while the new songs are just as great, particularly ‘Flyin’’ and ‘Good While it Lasted’. I honestly don’t understand how someone in their 20s can have a voice like this, but it sounds so damn good, and Coleman is definitely a bright shining light in the traditional country renaissance going on currently. His talent is off the charts, both as a musician and songwriter, and his band kill it on each song, too. I’d recommend any country fan give this a spin, it will surely win you over! It gets another solid 7.5/10 from us, and I already can’t wait to hear more!

The Flatliners: Cold World

The Canadian punkers returned with their first album in nearly four years this last Friday. It’s damn good to have them back, as this is a fantastic album! It’s heavy, almost having an air of hardcore or metal to it, but it only adds to the attitude and punky vibes throughout. Having said that, it also gives slight Coheed vibes, which I am more than down with! It’s another first-time band for me, and they already have a big new fan in me. Songs like ‘Inner Peace’, ‘Whyte Light’ and ‘Turning Signal Rhythm’ are big personal highlights, but I found myself enjoying every song throughout the release. It definitely won’t be for every punk fan out there, but if you are into the slightly more heavy or melodic side of the genre, this is absolutely a release for you. How they aren’t bigger at this point is beyond me, as they are so damn good! A very easy 8.5/10 from us!

Darkthrone: Pre-Historic Metal

The Norwegian black metal legends are back with another album, just two years removed from If Beckons Us All. I remember enjoying that album, at least more than this one. It’s not bad, especially if you like the old school black metal style. However, it feels a step back compared to their last couple of albums. It strips a lot of the doom out of it, leaving with more pure black metal. That will certainly make some happy, but it bored me a little, honestly. Tracks like ‘Siberian Thaw’ and ‘The Dry Well of Hell’ are pretty good, but I sadly found myself losing interest much after the latter track. Not even part four of ‘Eon’ really hooked me in too much. Maybe it’s just because modern bands do this style a little more interestingly these days. Plus, the vocal mix seemed to take a bit of a step backwards since Beckons, which is a shame. Either way, this wasn’t for me. As much as I wanted to like it, and it wasn’t terrible, I have no desire to go back and listen again. 5.5/10

The Family Men: Co/de/termination

The sophomore album from the Swedish ‘total harmful sound’ collective is a damn fun listen! It’s like Pendulum mixed with a hardcore band, making it pretty damn fascinating, if nothing else. Refused are the closest comparison I found myself making, which I’d say is a pretty big compliment! Nestled somewhere between industrial, hardcore, metal and electronic. It maintains its intrigue and funness throughout too; from the opener to ‘Skull Theft’ to ‘Scanner’ there is plenty to love. At just over half an hour too, it’s a damn easy listen from front to back, going by in a flash. If you are at all curious, I’d highly recommend throwing on the album as a whole, you surely won’t be disappointed! The band certainly have a new fan in me, and I’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on them moving forward. Hopefully they tour over this way at some point too, I feel like this would all be awesome live! A very easy 8.5/10 from us!

Interviews & Features

Idolvein: ‘We have a pretty ridiculous bank of demo tracks!’

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We had the pleasure of chatting to the amazing alt-metallers Idolvein about their recent single output and their tour! Check it all out below!

How would you describe your sound?

Pretty eclectic really. Whilst we always aim for something catchy that’s going to separate us from the next band, we’ve written various tracks across the rock and metal spectrum. We’ve ranged from some frenetic tech metal, synth-led style material to some more post-hardcore/hard rock style tracks too. Our latest single even takes a lot of influence from blues guitarists and some soundtrack style stuff, so we never feel particularly compelled to limit ourselves to a specific sound.

You dropped “Where We Became Spirits” nearly a year ago, how has it been since then?

It’s been good! The tracks on that EP were really just a way of us establishing our sound and the overall aesthetic we’ve wanted to use to present this project. Since then, we’ve tried to build upon what we started with those songs, creating a diverse group of singles that are releasing throughout 2026.

You also just dropped a new single the last couple of weeks, right? “Enrapture Me” seems to be doing really well!

Thank you very much! The response has been great so far and people seem to be enjoying the change-up in vibe. Whereas our first single this year “Today’s the Day I Die” somewhat bridged the gap between last year’s EP and the sound we’re starting to develop now, this latest track feels like a bit of a standout because it’s a lot different to what we’ve previously released. Whenever we’ve played it at a show, it’s tended to grab attention as it usually tends to be the most atmospheric song on the night and feels pretty unexpected at a metal show.

Is more writing still going ahead now?

With the recording of all this year’s planned releases now complete, it is something we’re  beginning to start actively looking at again. We have a pretty ridiculous bank of demo tracks that’ll likely be worked on further, plus we often have new riffs and ideas circulating between us all the time. It probably won’t be too long until we’re starting to consider the next step with recording more material.

What is the writing process like for the band?

Historically, it’s started with either Jack or Caelan bringing some form of instrumental track to the table in the form of a demo. This then gets shaped and potentially restructured by whatever vocal parts come next, then it’s a collaborative effort between everyone to finalise their parts before the song’s recorded in the studio. There are obviously exceptions to the rule where someone may take the lead on putting pretty much everything together, but usually it’s a little more collaborative.

Had quite the run of shows already, right? I saw some photos from both Derby and Notts, looked like great gigs!

They were good fun! Those were our first two shows of the year. In Nottingham we opened for WREX alongside Ruena, who both put on an amazing show. In Derby we celebrated the release of our first single of the year, so that was cool as well. We brought along an Idolvein branded Costco cake for everyone to chomp on too, so that definitely helped bring the vibes.

Busy rest of the year planned in terms of shows? Saw the co-headline with Endscape, how was it?

That was a great tour! We had a lot of fun playing alongside those guys and we hope to see them on another show soon. Later this month we’ve got shows in Cheltenham with Black Orchid Empire and Mansfield with Syncolima, both of which we’re very excited for, plus a tour in July with our friends in Infirm of Purpose. There’s some more stuff planned for later in the year too which hasn’t been announced just yet. It’ll be an exciting rest of the year!

What do you think of the state of the scene currently?

It’s a tough one because there’s so many great bands out there, plenty of which we ourselves  have been fortunate to play with at this point, but the nurturing of both live and original music has dwindled so much over time that a lot of bands are struggling to justify the time, effort and resources required. We’ve thankfully managed to land on a pretty cohesive group where we’re all looking to move in the same direction, but even a strong collective can struggle when the current landscape so heavily favours the soulless pursuit of social media acknowledgement in  place of artistic integrity. That also doesn’t begin to factor in the growing number of AI tracks finding their way onto platforms and generating horrifically large numbers of streams from unknowing listeners.

With that said though, there’s enough talent in the scene, plus support from publications like yourselves to help overcome the growing challenges and turn the tide!

Do you have a dream tour lineup you’d want to be a part of? Anyone you’d want to support or friends you’d want to bring along?

The obvious heavy hitters right now would be touring with bands like Bring Me the Horizon and Bad Omens, but it’d be cool to have some sort of all over the place all day event. Us and Endscape can open up the day, then Giant Walker, Lowlives and The Five Hundred, probably Philip Sayce to bring some blues licks, after that Novelists, Bilmuri, Meshuggah, Bring Me the Horizon and John Mayer, then Tate McRae to end the night with some pop vibes. Stylistically very cohesive, of course…

If you could have written one song from history, what would it be and why?

Probably whatever’s got the highest streaming numbers right now. We could use the royalties to fund some more stuff for the band and record more of our music! Otherwise though, something like ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’’s always a good shout. Generational tune.

Thanks very much for taking the time to interview us! We always appreciate anyone who takes an interest in our band. If you’d ever like to hear some previews of our upcoming tracks or projects we have coming up, please email us at deceivedaudio@gmail.com. We’d be more than happy to share new stuff for any early access reviews, interviews, etc. Thanks again!

Caelan, Ryan, Oli and Jack – Idolvein

Reviews

Hotter Than the Sun: The Debut Album from AK and the Red Kites!

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The debut album of the Dust Coda front man’s other project drops tomorrow! Their 2024 EP was amazing, and they have only gone from strength to strength since then, so to finally have this coming out is pretty damn exciting! Their combination of blues and hard rock is a lot of fun, so let’s dive right in!

The album opens right into some great instrumentation, an almost punk flavour to the riffing and drumming at first. AK’s powerful vocals soon come over the top, a great, catchy melody over some chuggy riffs. There’s some awesome harmonies and tracking around the vocals too, adding so much depth to the delivery. It all builds to a massive chorus, one designed to be played to huge arena crowds! There’s a touch of the blues the band are known for coming out of the choruses with that riff too, fitting perfectly alongside the punkier rest. We also get an awesome little guitar solo tucked away in the middle, packed full of feeling an emotion, sounding fantastic! This is an amazing song, and a perfect selection for the opener and a single, kicking things off with a bang!

The energy stays high heading into ‘Born to Lose’. Once again I get as much Wildhearts vibes as I do blues, definitely a punky edge to it all. Andrew’s vocals fit perfectly over the simple riffing and driving drums, once again building excellently to a massive chorus. Said chorus fits perfectly into the back of the verse though, the instrumentation staying similar, just getting bigger, making everything sound massive as a result! The lyrics here are great too, packed with attitude and being some of my favourite on the whole album. The solo here is more technical this time, fitting the lighter natural of the song and giving the perfect reprieve from the standard structure of the rest. My only complaint is that it was so short, but I get not everyone wants sprawling solos! Another excellent song, and an easy highlight of the album!

Things turn sharply into the blues direction I expected from the release with ‘Stronger’. It still fits perfectly in with the heaviness and tone of the release so far, but definitely feels like it focuses much more on the blues guitaring than the others. The riffing is awesome, and I LOVED the ‘ooo’s in the build-up intro, too. A stripped-back verse leads to a bigger, catchy chorus. However, that driving riff from the guitar and bass are definitely the main strength of the track. And, even in a track barely 2:30, we still get some awesome lead work out of that second chorus. It’s short and sweet, in-and-out and very to the point, and I think it serves the track well, as any more of the same sort of idea, outside of jamming it out for minutes of proggy soloing, may have gotten a bit much!

Single ‘Karmic Rituals’ heavy’s things back up again, while still very much maintaining that blues riffing awesomeness from the previous song. Andrew’s vocals once again sound awesome over the top, weaving a fantastic melody over the driving drums and bass, the guitar cutting in intermittently Honestly, the closest thing I can compare it to is Mammoth, which is certainly a compliment! The verse is catchy enough, but then effortlessly leads into an expectedly great chorus, catchy and certainly one to sing along to. It’s another short, simple-structured track, but I liked the riffing for the bridge too, and the final chorus hits hard! It’s one that easily makes our playlist!

A dirty blues riff forms the basis of ‘Pearls Before Swine’, the guitar kicking it off but the bass and it’s incredible tone carry it on perfectly through the verse. It has a bit of swagger and attitude to it, making for an incredibly fun listen. Honestly, it’s got some funk rock to it, like a Living Colour or Staggered Crossing, and I’m a little obsessed! The whole thing is massively catchy, but that chorus is on another level! It’s my favourite track on the album, and a song that I’ll be spinning a lot in the coming weeks and months to come. Wow!

Tracks like ‘West Coast Romance’, the title track and ‘Trouble Again’ are more steady-paced, blues-dripping stompers, all as good as the last! The latter is my favourite of the group, the riff being great and AK putting in one of his best vocal performances to boot. However, all are great and fit the tone and pace of the album fantastically, none of them even feeling like album tracks. It was easier to group them together to save me repeating myself with my fan-girling over and over!

‘Sierra Starlight’ is the slower track on the album, but is still infused with blues, soul and roots. It feels ripped straight out of Sinners, almost having a country edge to it. Yet, somehow, it also fits perfectly in with the rest of the album. Arguably it could have done with being a little earlier, as it breaks things up tonally incredibly, but also felt just as natural here. It’s another amazing song and HUGE album highlight, showing off the band’s range impeccably.

The last two tracks left from the album, singles ‘We Belong’ and ‘Cosmic Train’. Both are on the heavier end, more Black Stone Cherry-like than a classic blues thing. They’re amazing songs both in their own right, and were two more excellent choices for singles! The latter in particular is another huge high point on the release, and closes things off perfectly. All three members get their time to shine throughout, and it makes for a damn fun listen! Two more great songs on an album packed full of them!

Overall: This is an awesome release! Every track is as good as the last, and it has an amazing flow to it, going by in a flash. All three guys killed it throughout too, showing off that they are some of the best in the scene right now. They really are going from strength to strength as a band, and this is surely set to push them up to the next level! I’ll certainly be spinning this plenty in the weeks and months to come!

The Score: 9/10

News

Novacaine Festival Returns for 2026!

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After a hugely successful debut on Saturday 4 October 2025, Novacaine Festival quickly established itself as a new platform within the UK alternative music scene. The inaugural event was headlined by The Five Hundred, with main support from Bleed Again, alongside a diverse line-up including DACRA, Night Thieves, Reckoner, Broken Empire, and local rising artists Reanimate, Our North, Dead Demons and Ocean Thieves. With the 2025 event coming close to selling out, the festival’s mission was clear from the outset: bring together established touring bands and emerging talent from across the UK while delivering an uncompromising live experience for fans.

Now, Novacaine Festival returns on Saturday 28 November 2026, raising the bar once again!

Headlining the event are post-hardcore heavyweights As Everything Unfolds. The band released their third studio album Did You Ask To Be Set Free earlier this year and continue to build momentum across the alternative scene, with major festival appearances already scheduled including Download Festival.

Joining them as sub-headliners are Tropic Gold, whose explosive rock ’n’ roll energy and rapidly growing fanbase make them a powerful addition to the bill.

Elsewhere, TheCityIsOurs and FOXHAUNT add further weight to the line-up, reinforcing Novacaine’s commitment to pairing established names with ambitious rising artists ready for bigger stages.

More acts will be announced within the coming months. You can already pick up your tickets for the event here!

Event organiser Scott O’Shea said: “First, thank you to everyone who helped turn my dream of launching a music festival into a reality. Our debut show was an incredible night, and the support we’ve seen throughout 2026 has been beyond anything I imagined. None of this would have been possible without the bands, Corporation, and most importantly the fans who showed up and supported the event.

2026 will be the biggest show I’ve put together so far. The aim is not just to grow the festival but to keep creating opportunities for rising artists while giving something back to the community that helped build this. One of our biggest supporters last year was our 2025 compere, Robert Fulton-Hamilton. Rob brought huge energy to the night, introducing every band and conducting interviews throughout the event. Those interviews will feature in upcoming magazine releases, and I’m delighted he’ll be returning in 2026 as our official compere with RJFH Music.”