Reviews
Direct Divide
DoctoR Doom
Midwayer
My Hollow
Terminal Cheesecake
Own Your Ocean
This Seed We Have Sown
Thresholds
On Borrowed Time
Live in Marseille
Unsigned
Words: Victoria Purcell
I challenge any band to
make a Violin sound like
its righful place is in rock
music! Direct Divide do
this well - it gives them a
folk vibe, however this is a
Symphonic Rock band at
their core. They are earthy,
but dramatic. One of those
bands that nobody could
deny were entertaining,
they could fit in at a range of
festivals. Vocalist Razz has a
strong voice, Kevin Proctor
on keys and guitar makes
some beutiful sounds at
times, and can turn things
up a notch along with
Valdemar on the drums.
Realeased July 24th 2015.
Ripple Music/STB Records
Words: Steve Jackson
In the day and age of protools, where bands seem to
care more for production
perfection, the music can
feel soulless; we tend to
forget that it’s about the
vibe and playing music you
adore. DoctoR DooM must
have a real love for 70’s
psychedelic blues rock as
they absolutely nail the vibe,
sound and spirit of the time.
Be it intentional or not, the
music is uplifting, you can’t
help but smile and swig
back a whiskey or 5 while
the jams roll. This Seed We
Have Sown contrasts the
brutality of the metalcore.
Released 24th of July 2015.
Imminence Records
Words: Pagan Hel
St Simon’s Island must be
ablaze with this quintet
of hardcore bruisers at
the helm. The band being
spawned in 2013 - forging
ahead Midwayer have
produced an amazing 6
track E.P that provides
attention grabbing and
satisfying moments of
pure undiluted pleasure,
capturing that steely
melodic presence, it comes
out literally brawling
with the senses. Its punk
essences spice up the
proceedings while the
progressive traits are truly
uncompromising!
Released 5th July 2015.
Self-Released
Words: Steve Jackson
When you take the
devastating groove of
Pantera, add the technical
polyrhythm’s of Textures and
then slightly sprinkle the
ambience of Cynic, you get
My Hollow’s On Borrowed
Time. However unlike many,
My Hollow has originality
to the way the music comes
at you. The music, while
being very technical, never
becomes bloated, no riff out
stays its welcome and there
are some truly inventive
breakdown moments.
Nothing typifies this more
than the standout track
‘History of Violence’.
Released 31st July 2015.
Artificial Head Records
Words: Neil Mach
These five guys are pure
geniuses as well as being
serious musicians who
have produced an amazing
hardy 5-Track E.P that is
rhythmically addictive. The
softer moments allow us
to catch a glimpse into the
other side of the bands
varying nature and prove
they are not all screechy and
gruff for the sake of being
screechy and gruff - they
do hold a sweeter side and
have thrown these little off
shoots into the mix in a very
subtle way. Each one holds
its own tell-tale adventure.
A carnival from the eighties.
Released 11th August 2015.
Damn Dice
The Great Unknown
Sean Rafferty
Unsigned
Released 24th August 2015
The Great Unknown marks London quartet, Damn Dice’s, first step into the... well, great
unknown of music. Branded as a blend of hard rock and metal, The Great Unknown wastes no
time in showcasing the band’s ability to pull hook after hook out of the bag for many of the
album’s tracks. Soon you start to wonder why the band didn’t just call themselves ‘Snog’ since
they are pretty much KISS with more oomph.
The first few tracks on the album are quite pleasing, there’s a lot to admire in the originality of
the hard hitting riffs and there isn’t a solo unworthy of the term ‘Epic’. Although, several songs in
you start to wonder what is this band’s USP?
That’s when ‘Bang Your Head’, ‘No Fear’ and ‘Take The Fight’ jump in to redeem this record. The
first of this trio brings in a true party anthem with a bold chorus and a nice balance of slow
and fast riffs. The following tracks follow in similar fashion adding some unique flavour to
this album, brought to an admirable close with ‘Home’ - a strong acoustic-lead track that will
certainly leave an impression on you.
It’s clear that Damn Dice have been honest about what they bring to the table with this album.
Perhaps one or two elements in tracks are overused. Nonetheless, The Great Unknown is a
satisfying record overall, sure to please hard rock fans of any nature. It sets Damn Dice up for a
hopefully fruitful career and we’re envious of anyone who will get to hear these tracks live in the
near future.
Elements
Where We Once Begun
Stuart Iversen
Un-signed
Released 17th August 2015
Having formed in 2013 Elements are back with their second EP, Where We Once Begun.
However, line-up changes and a switch up in sound means that this is really the start for this
Southampton based alternative rock back.
Opening up with ‘Shaman’, an electronic heavy, pop rock song, full of woo hoos and a big old
fashioned chorus. You’ll know where you stand with this band pretty damn quickly. As lead
singer Graham Rogers declares “I’m a superhero don’t you know” - you will either scoff or be so
caught up in the moment that all you want to do is sing along.
This is a chorus centric album of fun rock songs, which bears a lot of similarities to bands like All
Time Low and You Me At Six. Even when they get a bit more introspective on ‘Plotting Treason
or Saving the World’ they still deliver one of the best choruses on the EP and they prove that
they know exactly what they’re doing. Closer ‘Torchlight’ is the real highlight though, much
more of a rock song than its counterparts, it leads to a melodic chorus and the declaration that
‘there is nothing wrong to holding onto a dream’. It shows that Elements can write a song and if
they can channel that they may just do something huge.
If you like your rock dark and introspective then Element