Sittin’ Heavy
February 2016 – Music Releases Review
February has been a mixed bag of ups and down for music lovers. Whilst there’s been a lot of rubbish released and little in the way of hidden gems have stood out. A few little starlets have left a lasting impression that’s worthy of being recognised and rewarded.
One band that needs to be mentioned and also perfectly sums up February is Simple plan. Their latest release Taking One For The Team is in parts a pop punk spectacle, reminiscent of the early noughties. Yet sadly in others is the two-headed monster of Disney’s High School Musical having a one night stand with failed chart artists aspiring to be the next Maroon 5 or R Kelly. Mix this up with no angst, edge or even the slightest bit of balls then you have this album. Something for everyone that pleases no one. Until you have listened you simply can’t fully understand.
Now to the good stuff…
3rd place – Entombed AD – Dead Dawn
Dead Dawn is the complete opposite of Simple Plan. Full Balls to the wall, beginning to end. (The one and only time we will ever compare Simple Plan and Entombed. promise!)
Dead Dawn carries on from its predecessor’s record with heavy hitting punches full of death metal, thrash, punk and hardcore. If you want music that is spewing with ferocity, you’re in the right place. The Swedish four-piece have continued to create their legacy with destructive guitar riffs, vocals filled with such deep doomful growls and drums to set the tempo perfectly for everything else in between.
Songs “Down To Mars To Ride” and “As The World Fell” are two standout performances amongst 10 pull no punches tracks. These two tracks in particular are full of gore, slogged out riffs, punishing extended growls and enough bogged down doom riffs to kill a small army of nursery infants.
Dead Dawn is forty minutes of pummeling Swedish death metal filled with rock and roll angst and gruesome grueling guitar tones. True blood spewing heavy metal riffs entwined with nauseous hardcore, stomp-ready breakdowns. True ‘fuck you and this world’s acceptance’ music.
For Fans Of: Entombed, Slayer, Goatwhore
2nd place – Monster Truck – Sittin’ Heavy
Yet another great follow up record has come in the way of Monster Truck’s Sittin’ Heavy. The Canadian rockers have produced a surprisingly good album filled with Soul, Groove, Funk, Stoner Rock, Blues and just straight up classic Rock ‘n’ Roll. These guys have it all covered.
Imagine the kind of music to feature in the legendary series Sons Of Anarchy, then you can understand the type of top notch easily listening rock and roll blues this album features. Without being disrespectful to the band, this is true biker music… it flows fell, is catchy and chilled yet still has classic moments of fast-paced, high-octane, galvanizing melodies. The record blends well with speed and tone without making the listener’s mood fluctuate too much.
A true rock and roll powerhouse record from a band that is criminally underrated. Just try putting this record on and not breaking out that dusty yet still mud stained denim jacket, or booze covered leathers from your youth. A guaranteed album to get stuck on repeat in your car!
Stand out tracks come in the way of “She’s a Witch”, “New Soul” and “The Enforcer”. All the kind of get going tracks which will have you wind-milling and air-guitaring like you’re Hendrix, Angus Young or Eddie Van Halen.
Monster Truck’s Sittin’ Heavy will be sitting pretty as the best blues rock and roll album of 2016 come the end of December.
For Fans Of: The Temperance Movement, The Black Keys, Curtis Stigers, The Forest Rangers, The White Buffalo
1st Place – Creeper – The Stranger (EP)
Ladies and Gentlemen… Please acquaint yourself with the hottest up and coming band in the world. Creeper.
The horror-punk sextet from Southampton has set the world ablaze with just three dazzling EP’s. No Album insight either. Building on excellence with each EP they release, as well as signed up to Road Runner Records, Creeper have amazingly raised the bar yet again with The Stranger.
To some up the sound of this breath of fresh air, would be to merge together My Chemical Romance, R.E.M, Andy Black, Meat Loaf and Milk teeth. A true unique and thrilling sound to the 2015/2016-rock world.
Thanks to the genius songwriting of Will Gould and enthusiastic drumming of Dan Bratton, you are looking/listening to a band that has the creativity only few can produce. For a band so early into their career, Creeper is showing the same artistic attitude and maturity to follow in the paths of David Bowie or Prince.
The Stranger experiences everything from flamboyant Goth rock, to horror show punk rock ballads. By the end of this EP you will be apart of a tribal movement for one of the best up and coming dramatic, gloom, Goth, punk bands ever to step foot on this earth.
There are two standout tracks on this EP. “Black Mass”, filled with the speed and tempo that meets the sing along melodies of R.E.M, whilst “The Misery” is a musically stripped-down bonafide classic filled of sorrow. “Misery” shows Will Gould’s songwriting craft via his mixture of performing fragility yet flourishing power. An emotional masterpiece like no other!
Despite having just fourteen songs to their name, Creeper’s evolution is already one for the ages. By the time that debut LP rears its head, they may well be the one of the country’s most vibrant and vital new bands. We may have a new cult following on our hands.
For Fans of: AFI, My Chemical Romance, R.E.M, David Bowie.
Mallen Official 