Jonny Bakes is the first to admit that he’s easily suckered in by controversial band names and song titles. A good fifty per cent of the time that often leads to him finding some absolute hidden gems, the other fifty per cent of the time it results in finding some juvenile rubbish. So, when he got the opportunity to review the latest release from Alcoholocaust, he was keen to see which like they would end up in.
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What with all the fuss over the new Tool album, it’s been only too easy to overlook some of the other recent releases. ‘Bowels Of Earth’ for instance had the minor misfortune of coming out at exactly the same time as ‘Fear Inoculum’ and consequently has had about one gazillionth of the publicity. Which is fair in some respects, after all Maynard James Keenan’s bunch have sold way more records and the music industry is always going to focus more attention on the mass unit shifters. However, it would be a crying shame if this were to disappear into perpetual obscurity, because it’s really bloody good.
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Alex Ekong, vocalist with the spellcheck bothering spring.fall.sea – who were formed in the rather non-metal environment of Bangkok and made quite a name for themselves both there and in neighbouring territories before relocating to London last year – describes this, their debut UK release, as a “reaction to the world around you and the internal turmoil that comes with it”. He adds that it reflects “realization that your surroundings, your relationships, your universe isn’t going to wait for you [and] your only option is to change with it and be the best person you can be”.
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Brooklyn-based songstress Annie Hill is best known for the genteel Americana style of rootsy lyricism that has permeated her previous nine releases. However, she has moved down a slightly rockier road with this, her latest six-track mini-album which sees her push the envelope in a way which many of her predecessors and contemporaries have attempted, to varying degrees of success.
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Another evening in Manchester for our resident gigaholic, with Jeff Scott Soto’s heavier project Soto as the main bill for the night. A dual support of StOp sToP and Romania’s Scarlet Aura were just gearing up for their sets as the big lad arrived at the venue, with a couple of people already in before he arrived, just after doors. He settled in for the opening night of the tour, awaiting what he hoped will be a strong night of music.
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