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Album Review – Anchor Lane – Call This A Reality?

Hello everyone, welcome to a new year, a new year of music, shows and discovery. For the first taste of an incredible 2023, we have Anchor Lane’s latest effort, ‘Call This A Reality’.

Anchor Lane have built a reputation as a thrilling dynamic live act through appearances at prominent music festivals such as Download, Isle of Wight and Belladrum etc. – along with notable guest spots with acts like Eagles of Death Metal, Tremonti and Skindred. They were denied the opportunity to tour due to the global pandemic which the band turned into a positive when, amongst several live streams for their fans, they used the time to dig deeper into the song writing process for the new album ‘Call This A Reality?’.

The record itself is perfect for fans of Royal Blood and Nothing But Thieves, there’s certain themes connecting the drums and guitar breakdowns which are reminiscent but in turn take it a step further than some tracks of theirs. One might think that at a first glance, Anchor Lane’s quite reserved youthful nature might hinder them for the subject matter explored on the record but this only helps elevate them and push them to the new extremes they’ve set themselves with this release.

Starting strong at the top of the release, the anthem nature of ‘Stutter’ just adds to the growing excellence of the bands songwriting which makes it an ear worm waiting to be unlocked. This feeds well into the latter of the record, ‘Ministry’ and ‘Nitroglycerin’ are a couple of the more techno and dream rock inspired tracks which just enlarges things for an audience where you hear such huge riffs which make them one day destined for much larger venues and the goals the band as a whole strive toward.

Adding to the soundscape of the new record, the vocal performance argue a new challenge for these tracks, where the title track of ‘Call This A Reality’ certainly delivers on the challenge the record poses in the material for the concept of the record as a whole. You can really hear the themes and such play out more to stagger into the emotional gut punch which you need right now.

Moving further down the record, ‘The Mischievous Song’ does exactly what it says on the tin where the breakdown just comes right out of nowhere to provide a taste of pure chaos the band encapsulate to bring about the glorious filthy variety we gain from the track. ‘Choke’ for me is just the highlight of the entire record, it’s got a much more heavy aspect to the entire record and it sounds as if it was made for the madness of a mosh pit fuelled slice of heaven. This then bounces back straight into ‘Bitter’, a more mellow track and tonally different to most of this selection of tracks but a more gut wrenching and emotional taste of what the band has on offer.

There’s some great material written for the record but sometimes it’s all about the placement and that flow of energy which falls onto ‘I Don’t Have Another Soul To Pour’ to bring it to a close.

Despite some rise and fall progressions on the release, there’s a certain generalness to the record. While there’s no poor tracks, there’s the rare feat you just need to have to make it something more. While it’s looking like this effort could be a benchmark for Anchor Lane, the maturity from their songwriting remains as important to them than anything in the production and preparedness for how they approach anything moving forward.

Rating:3/5.

Check out the record, ‘Call This A Reality’ below.

Save Face Announce New Record, ‘Another Kill For The Highlight Reel’

“This is the soundtrack of me killing my enemies.” Those are the exact words that start the liner notes to ‘Another Kill For The Highlight Reel’, the highly-anticipated new album from New Jersey punks Save Face, out everywhere October 29 from Epitaph Records.

Led by vocalist Tyler Povanda (he/him), the band leans far into the depths of the eccentric––an obvious take from one viewing of last month’s ‘GLITTER.’ Best part? They’ve got the unabashed confidence to pull it off, too.

Produced by The Movielife’s Brett Romnes, ‘Another Kill For The Highlight Reel’ finds Povanda’s songwriting, lyrical, and conceptual skills at an all-time high––he even makes his directorial debut in a tripped-out video for their new song ‘Bury Me (Tonight!),’ out today.

“The goal of the video was to put you in the world of the album. I wanted a visual component that tied in all of the iconographies from the album to make this immersive feeling when paired with the song,” Tyler explains. “I was having a really hard time finding a director who was available to take on the project, so as the deadline approached I ended up having to just write out the treatment and direct it myself. This is what I saw when I wrote these songs.”

Elsewhere on the record, the eccentric frontperson draws influence from his Jersey brethren like Thursday (Geoff Rickley actually sings on ‘A.M. Gothic’), but adds a theatrical bent that’s rooted in his love of musicals like Sweeney Todd, West Side Story, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Dear Evan Hansen, and more. It’s clear that this record is much more interested in building worlds around itself than it is in adhering to any genre conventions or expectations.

“I’m just trying to make something that’s interesting to me, despite whether anyone likes it or hates it,” Tyler explains.

The spirit of art for art’s sake is what truly lies at the core of their ethos. “If you’re going to make art, you have to be willing to have your spirit crushed, and I have repeatedly,” Tyler admits. “But in that, I made the best thing I ever have.”

“It can be hard to reconcile the fact that we live in a world where we’re taught that the validation of your art determines its worth,” he continues. “The only thing that makes it worth it is creating something that is so inspiring to you that it feels like it’s worth the struggle to put it out into the world—and that’s what these songs did for me.”

That drive to keep pushing through discomfort is evident on this album and is what makes the collection of songs on ‘Another Kill For The Highlight Reel’ as cathartic as they are catchy.

1. The Funeral You’ve Been Asking For

2. Curse Me Out

3. Another Kill For The Highlight Reel

4. Bury Me (Tonight!)

5. Sharpen Your Teeth

6. A Song For Your Futile Heart

7. GLITTER

8. The Perks Of Not Being Able To See Your Reflection

9. A.M. Gothic

10. Watch You Die Again

11. Please Murder Me

Pre-orders for ‘Another Kill For the Highlight Reel’ are available via the following link.

Juniper Release Their Album, ‘Distance Keeps Me Distant’

After meeting in college, Scott Johnson, Ahren Shreeve, and Alejandro Marín formed Juniper. The group has formed their unique sound from diverse influences of alternative rock, folk, R&B, and bedroom pop. With a fluid rotating door of musicians throughout their early discography, one thing has remained constant: their songwriting is tangibly honest, ranging from upbeat and high energy to delicate and introspective. With roots in local venues and basement gigs, their music found a loyal fan base early on, which has since only grown. At just 21 years old, the band has emerged as one of the new faces of the Boston music scene, already having accumulated over 2.5 million Spotify streams as well as receiving support from the likes of Zane Lowe. With this encouragement, they’ve consolidated and are now releasing their debut album, ‘Distance Keeps Me Distant’, on June 25th.

The alt-pop trio used their time in lockdown to reflect on changing relationships and how they are often the source of meaningful experiences and have explored this theme heavily throughout the album. Juniper’s debut is a dynamic and fresh twist on modern pop, from the emotive and delicate track ‘Overthinking’ to the smooth funk-inflicted ‘Daydreams’, there’s a song for every mood in this ten-track package. Lead track ‘Driving’ (feat. Claudia) is the perfect display of how Juniper traverse across different genres and diverse instrumentation, with glossy beats, soulful vocals and an unforgettable hook. Their debut album ‘Distance Keeps Me Distant’ was produced, mixed and mastered by Philip Etherington with the title track being mixed by Zach Bloomstein and produced by the band.

Juniper on the making of the album:

“Distance Keeps Me Distant is about the nature of relationships and how at our age, often it is the only source of life-altering experience. Whether it be a relationship with a romantic partner, family & friends, yourself, or the world around you, how we experience relationships has profound effects for growth. When COVID-19 changed the world, the nature of relationships changed with it. People were forced to be distant, and as a result of this “new normal,” people became complacent with being ~distant. It invited an excuse to stay in the house and to revel in alone-time. However, that changed us, maybe even just subconsciously, but there is a change. These ten songs were written over the course of college and through the pandemic, and that progression is evident as the album flows onward. Even though the nature of relationships temporarily changed, perhaps it also made aware a reality that was already present. One thing is for certain, Distance Keeps Me Distant.”

For Juniper, making music is more than just a choice, it’s the most genuine way they feel they can convey their beliefs and experiences that they engage with every day in meaningful ways. With an array of different emotions shining through in Juniper’s music, there is an overall takeaway that with its highs and lows, love is not something to be taken for granted. Inspired by how music has the power to connect with people but also to ignite change in communities, Juniper have aspirations to use their platform to give back what music gives them.

“A lot of the kind of contemplation that occurs in some of my favourite music that came out in the ’80s. All the instrumentation is richly recorded. The whole thing feels very, very smooth to me.”

– Zane Lowe on Juniper’s “Daydream (Brake Lights)”

“Juniper is the band I never knew I needed in my life. They are lyrical masterminds that portray their stories in such a unique way. Hit shuffle, and you will immediately be captivated.”

– Tori Templet, Early Rising

Check out ‘Distance Keeps Me Distant’ below.

Check out the full album below.

Album Review – Belle Morte – Crime Of Passion

Let’s take a look at this one shall we?

Starting the record off with’ Overture’, there’s some very delightfully creepy overtones on what sounds like a cello with fantastic added instrumentals to make you feel as if you’re transported back to a period film but on a much more grand scale of which can’t be diminished at all.

This is then taken to the extreme right from the beginning of ‘Who Are You’ with the pulsating hooks from the guitar that leads into the haunting vocals on display. There’s a mix of influence where I can hear possibly a little Babymetal if I’m being honest (but unlikely). it just leads to an epic finale you want to continue which does as you move into ‘If Only You Knew’. From the very start, it’s as if you’re taken into a live show which delivers so much more than a live setting could.

Getting into the meat of the record, the haunting nature of the songwriting excels with the added the piano and every instrument Belle Morte have in their arsenal to deliver a powerhouse of a symphony. This record just gets more magnificent with every track that your ears devour.

I’m in the middle with this in my thoughts for the record. On one hand tracks such as ‘Beauty And The Beast’ fit perfectly if it was the instrumentals for a film and a live setting. There’s a fusion of both here to give such energetic tracks you need to listen to.

Another descriptor is genre bending for this record because the way it sets up tracks in the production is intoxicating. On one hand, you think it’s going more into a dance track but that is all a complete red herring for ‘My Little Demon’ where it takes a left turn and adds that extra ingredient which is missing from most modern records. .

Fans of more instrumental rock will cheer and devour this massive anthem record down to it’s bare roots of what make the record so grand. Fans of Belle More will be happy with this output and even people who aren’t fans, or weren’t fans before, will resonate with this release.

Rating: 3/5.

Album Review – Never Loved – Over It

After years of teasing, alternative band Never Loved are giving fans what they want.

“‘Autumn’ was actually the first Never Loved song ever written and also one of the first songs I ever wrote that I sang on,” recalls frontman Cameron Knopp. “I recorded it with Squire in 2017 before we had a band name and it was originally supposed to be on our self-titled ep, but we decided to save it for a full length. I wrote it while experiencing all of the emotions of a heartbreak. It’s a song I’m excited for everyone to hear since it’s a different side of Never Loved.”

Never Loved formed when long-term friends, Cameron Knopp (vocals, guitar) and Jay Gayoso (bass), took matters into their own hands and aimed to create music that spoke directly to people. Shane O’Brien(guitar) later joined the duo to officially form the three-piece group. The band released their debut self-titled EP and received a great response to their alternative rock vibe, which hints to the members’ grunge and pop influences. Riding the wave of positive feedback, Never Loved is now preparing to release their debut full-length album, Over It.

This past year has brought many exciting moments for the group – an increasing fanbase, a future tour with Armor For Sleep, and the upcoming release of their new record. While quarantine was not in the plan, it did give Never Loved more time to work on new songs and further hone in on their sound. The group paired with friend and producer, Matt Squire, to flesh out ideas and bring these songs to life.

Working with Squire and taking time off between sessions helped bridge creative gaps that the album longed for. The guys experimented with creating different sequences and interludes, while simultaneously making sure the album flowed. Each song on the record is unique, but they all stay true to the alternative rock sound that fans have come to love.

The debut of Over It will kick off an exciting period in Never Loved’s career. These emotional, raw songs will captivate listeners and create a community within their music. According to the guys, “life is going to throw a lot of sh*t at you, but it’s about making the best of it. You’ll get past it, keep trying.”
Over It, the debut full-length record from Never Loved, released on 14th May via Equal Vision Records/Rude Records. To order the record check out the following link.

Now let’s get right into the record. Starting things off with ‘Over it’, this track is built as your run of the mill harder pop-rock opener but you can see it now, when gigs are back the audience will sing this back because that’s what it was designed for and the band are being quite smart, it kind of reminds me of Waterparks but a different approach has been taken and the bans outlook is the main difference, and one that will win over more fans with their personality in it all.

The record is just getting started here. ‘On & On It Goes’ is that little bit more anthemic, the classic rise and fall track to get the crowd going and it’s doing a great job of that here. Continuing right into ‘Sorry’ this is a record which is showing that it isn’t letting up lightly from the looks of things, it’s spearheading the comfortable foundation of the record. Plus, that solo close to the end of the track though, I’m just astonished.

Slowing down things for the sixth track in this arsenal in the form of ‘Autumn’, it’s got a little bit of an indie feel to it due to the change of pace here, but damn it if it isn’t infectious as well. This might as well just say future film track on it because I can imagine this either in a coming of age or drama story where it only helps their case for future dominance.

Moving to something heavier on the record, ‘Sunshine’ injects a little influx of techno into the consciousness of the listener which shouldn’t really work but incredibly does so with ease. This record release has just seen the band go crazy and we’re only just at the halfway point for this one so gear up for what could be a staggering second half.

Now we’re keeping on this techno grunge infused path, it’s a sort of mashup they’re doing which in some respects does work but the consistency of the beats doesn’t really stack up overall on this track on the choice which weaves in and out.

After the interlude which if nothing does build up some genuine atmosphere again for the release which the latter lacked a little bit, the bass strikes a chord in a way it hasn’t for the entirety of the record thus far, and makes everything a little more relaxed with ‘Gasoline’ which if anything, sounds a little repetitive of their opener, ‘Over It’.

‘The One For Me’ takes it right back but the sound of the techno which is a little little much for me, where it seems unwanted in the grand scheme of the record as a whole and loses its momentum. Although the tracks moving forward are reminiscent of the early 00’s bands such s We The Kings and All American Rejects play out well here as much as the pacing of the guitar plays out which fairs well against their older counterparts but the energy Never Loved emit is the best part about this back half of the record.

Closing with the off this release, ‘Find Out’ and & ‘Downpour’ are more soulful and pondering than the previous tracks, they feel more contained than the rest of what’s come before it to avoid the comparison so they can be their own unexpected result.

Overall as much as I’ve come to love this record, I have to say it lacks a little consistency within the genre because Never Loved can’t seem to make up their minds as to what genre they want to stick to as they have that influx of techno halfway into the release but bless them, they have made a fun record with their fans in mind as well as making tracks for that live setting which they know will get a response.

Rating:3/5.

Check out the video for ‘Sunshine’ below.

Be sure to check out Never Loved via:

White Moth Black Butterfly Release Track ‘The Dreamer’

White Moth Black Butterfly have dropped released a new single, ‘The Dreamer’, taken from their upcoming third album ‘The Cost Of Dreaming’.

“This is a song that explores both the apprehension and excitement of the birth of a dream,” explains Daniel Tompkins. “The Dreamer boldly embraces regretfully introspective verses that clash with a powerfully uplifting and hopeful chorus.”

Of new record The Cost Of Dreaming, meanwhile, he continues, “The Cost Of Dreaming is something we feel just about every human being on the planet that’s been affected by life changing disruption will relate strongly to.

“Our nature is to always be planning, dreaming about an ideal future in which we will have ticked various boxes that define our ideal lives, often at the cost of the present. And when control over that future is seized away from us and all we are left with is the present, we realise just how much we took for granted.
“Life is surely a gift to us all throughout which we experience moments of soaring bliss and happiness, and then in a heartbeat sink into states of great trouble and suffering. Often our struggles can serve as momentous opportunities for growth, but the balance of life can often hold us back from seizing the day. It’s an outpouring of love and a cry for help.”

The Cost Of Dreaming is due out on May 28 via Kscope. Check out The Dreamer below:

Pre-Orders for ‘The Cost Of Dreaming’ are available via the following link.

Enter The Dooming Death Gates of ISCHEMIC’s New Self-Titled Album

Canada’s Ischemic, purveyors of all things gloomy and dissonant are gearing up to release their second album, a self-titled full length that is set to be one of the most crushing albums of the year.

Before the record officially drops on Friday, April 2nd, the band has teamed up with CVLTNation for its exclusive full stream HERE.

The band adds:

“This recording is our most DIY endeavour yet, all production, engineering, and artwork were handled by the band and close friends, resulting in this stripped-down, but unrelenting collection of songs. This album was developed as a response to the more complex and melodic black metal sound on “Stagnation & Woe”. The tracks call back to the earliest days of the band, but with a decade of songwriting & touring experience under our belts.”

Crafted during Covid-19 lockdown, Ischemic‘s self-titled sophomore album is a listening experience that takes you on a trek through a haunted castle, where every corner is infested with isolation and creeping dread. Showcasing their dungeon-crawling doom and sludge riffs, the band has threaded charging death-metal assaults with dizzying black metal.

The intense, raw brutality of Ischemic is recommended for fans of Autopsy, Ahab, and Celtic Frost.

Check out the Cover Art, Tracklisting and Pre-order options below.

1. Scabs
2. Crawl out of Hell
3. Illusion of Humanity
4. Scattering Garden

Due out on April 2, 202 “Ischemic” is available for pre-order on Bandcamp.

Album Review – Rivals – Sad Looks Pretty On Me

Rivals are a dark Pop-Rock quartet from LA, CA. Driven By vocalist Kalie Wolfe’s powerhouse vocals and the band’s infectious yet raw sound, RIVALS are fuelled bu powerful and energetic songwriting, brining aforth a type of fearlessness in their music that stands out among the rest. Their second record ‘Sad Looks Pretty On Me’ marks a huge turning point in their life as a band going for huge hooks as well as crushing vocals and stunning soundscapes, the record could just very well be the turning point for them and when live shows return, things will go off!

Opening with the title track of the record, this is a very good start. The mix of the genre the band is known for goes well (in terms of the Dark Pop-Rock) for this opener and you can hear the moulding sounds from genre to genre to blend into something of a fantastic soundscape that you’re not ready for. Shifting into ‘Laveners’, it’s chalk full of more larger than life sounding music to go along with the vocals which mix into things beautifully. It’s part technical and part harmonious, you can definitely hear some influence from Bring Me The Horizon in this which works so beautifully.

On ‘Alkaline’, the drums come into synchronisation so well and you can just imagine this in a live setting. This track does seem a little disjointed from the last two openers but there’s more in store for your ears. This pairs well with ‘Dead Flowers’, another beautifully written harmonious pick in this rich dark pop record. The record so far is sitting well and in terms of production is just vastly superior to their 2018 debut ‘Dammed Soul’. You can just tell they’ve really managed to turn things to 11.

Now we have come to one track which. lot of people might know. This is their track which features Elijah Witt of Cane Hill. This released back in 2020 and things get a lot heavier right now. It’s a a clear trajectory of how great this band and record are but when Elijah’s vocals come into play, it hits the roof in terms of how massive it is. Everything about the record is just elevated in terms of music, vocals and energy and takes it to new heights.

Moving down the record into ‘Little Mistakes’, this does manage to keep up the energy but in a more concentrated way. There’s a lot more tension and suspense in this track but the noise comes to a head in the final third to keep it at the level’s it’s surpassed. Next is the track ‘Strawberries’ definitely on the more pop spectrum on the record which is more mellow than any track that you’ll hear off it. It does get a little bit bouncy in places but doesn’t fit in with what they have done too much with this release.

Now switching things into a more melodramatic pick in ‘Change Things’, the record heads back into what really does work in a more guitar driven and synth driven influx but this track is just utterly infectious and fantastic. This is going to be an earworm in the future and you can hear why. This dives well into ‘On The Loose’ which flutters in-between that soft and more dark vibes of things which manages to flash in acoustic section towards the final third which is a welcomed addition to the track to serve as another track which is unmissable.

On the final few tracks of the record you have ‘Can Anybody Hear Me’ which gets things back to the central genre of the record and something more in line with the whole tone of what Rivals are trying to create. ‘To Dom’, another standout track off this record is a very sentimental sounding track off the record which you feel Kalie is singing straight to you. There’s something very personal about the track and you know it’s just unstoppable when you hear it. It’s probably the track that needs to be listened to the most off this release. Lastly there is ‘Why’ which is just more symphonic than anything the band has produced and anthem. They truly saved the best track for last.

Overall ‘Sad Looks Pretty On Me’, is something which you might look back on and listen to again and again but enjoy it just as much as you did the first time. There’s some real heart to what’s been produced for this record and some powerful influences have helped them shape what the record truly reflects upon to make Rivals one of the best artists coming out of the USA right now.

Rating: 3.5/5.

Check out ‘Sad Looks Pretty To Me’ below.

Watch Touché Amoré’s ‘Lament’ Livestream Album Release Show

Touché Amoré’s new record ‘LAMENT’ got its release a few months ago and we’ve not gotten enough of it.

In October the band played a special livestream record release show and just crushed it. Now the band have made it available to view on Youtube.

The stream features the band playing seven tracks from the record alongside ‘Flowers And You’ and ‘Rapture’ from ‘Stage Four’, ‘Whale Belly’ from their split with The Casket Lottery and standalone track ‘Green’.

Check out the livestream below.

To Kill Achilles Detail Second Record, ‘Something To Remember Me By’

The Scottish Quintet, To Kill Achilles have announced the details of their upcoming record ‘Something To Remember Me By’. The record is set to be released Debruary 5th 2021 via Arising Empire.

This is the follow-up to their 2013 debut, ‘Existence’ and is a record with a conceptual record.

The band explains:

“This record is the story of a man who wakes up on his twenty-fifth birthday and the events that happen throughout the course of a year that lead him to take his own life, exactly one year on to the date. Each song represents a month in his life (with the exception of two moments of reflection). In each of the songs we tell a story that a member of the band has been through over the last few years. Every song is real and is a portrayal of how we felt in that moment.
The message of the record is to highlight that these events can happen, that people can be dealing with things without anyone else being aware. In our lives, we were lucky because we have the support network of our incredible friends and families, but in the case of our character, he does not. The record is a statement which shows that without support, even the strongest of people can be driven to contemplate taking their own lives.
It’s so important to talk, it’s so important to find the people in life that you can share your lowest moments with, because no one can be expected to go through that alone. Our character deals with alcoholism, a lack of direction or passion in life, the fear of growing older and losing yourself, the isolation felt by following a creative career, the idea that when you die no one will remember you, the onset of anxiety and the shame you feel about trying to tell people you’re not okay. The pressure you put on a partner when you’re not in the right headspace, the fear of showing your emotions as a male incase you’re seen as weak, the fear of death, the moment that suicide enters your mind as an escape and the loss of a parent. A lot of these things will happen in our lifetime and it’s important to know that if they do, there’s people out there who will help you through it.
‘Something To Remember Me By’ is our character’s suicide note, explaining why he felt he must walk that path, in a way it’s all of ours too as we all went through these things, we just had the people there to stop it from being our eventuality. The message we try to promote is that these things are normal, these feelings are normal and if you recognise any behaviour we speak of in anyone close to you, then it’s your responsibility to be the first to speak up. A conversation can save a life, don’t let anyone end up the way our character does. In a way this record is also the solution to the problems that we speak about, we poured our emotions into this, and after we’re gone, it’ll still be there, reminding people that we once existed and that we once felt as strongly as we do. It’s just something to leave behind, a memento, a token, or just something to remember me by.”

Check out the Cover Art, Tracklisting and Stream the single, ‘Four Percent’ as well as Pre-Order options below.

01.) fourpercent
02.) In Vain
03.) Luna Et Altum
04.) Oh God, I’ve Never Felt This Low
05.) Black Marble
06.) When You Live With Ghosts, You Don’t See The Dead
07.) Agnostic
08.) On My Mind
09.) There’s No Right Way To Say This…
10.) Venom
11.) We Only Exist When We Exist Together
12.) 21:36
13.) Beautiful Mourning
14.) Something To Remember Me By

Pre-Orders are available via Impericon, Amazon and Itunes.