Having taken some time out after the 2008 self- release of “Forfeit/Fortune”, Archers of Loaf frontman Eric Bachmann has made an unexpected return with a sixth album, Breaks in the Armor’ under the alias of Crooked Fingers via Merge records. Should you …

What’s better than a good psychedelic band? Nothing that’s what. Thought Forms from South West England take a slightly softer, poppier approach to your usual psychedelic band and their second album Ghost Mountain sees them carrying on in this style. Th …

My not so secret hopelessly romantic self jumped at the opportunity to review the solo album of that guy behind Death Cab For Cutie’s ‘Transatlaticism’, probably one of my personal greatest love songs of all time. Apart from 15 years of Death Cab, Benj …

Mood is the single most important aspect of black metal. It has to be dense, bleak and occasionally triumphant in it’s loneliness. When I listen to black metal I’m not giving ear to technical prowess or even a high quality recording. I want it to be op …

They are finally back! And with they I mean one of Edinburgh’s finest loudest bands, Fatalists. Their debut album “Between the Aisles” has been a recurrent favourite on my iPod playlist ever since it was released in April 2010. Now singer/guitarist Zak …

I’ve not followed Humanfly’s previous releases that closely to be brutally honest. I had the impression they played a blend of sludge heaviness with some post-hardcore elements. I’ve always ‘meant’ to investigate further. Which given their reputation, …

If the 90’s brought us nothing else, it was some excellent side-steps in rock music. As the decade progressed we saw the rise of grunge, stoner rock and the dishwater term “alternative rock”. In their latest EP, ‘Leave You In The Dark’, French quartet …

During one of my recent Bandcamp search sessions I stumbled upon this release by Dutch band Ortega called The Serpent Stirs. Now, for people who don’t know this, I am actually from The Netherlands, but I moved to Scotland just over 7 years ago. And I h …

Har Nevo has been one of my most anticipated albums since details of its impending release emerged. Now it is here it doesn’t disappoint. The follow up to much lauded first album ‘Monologue’. At times Har Nevo is heavy, although not in the conventional …

Guitar, bass, drums, vocals. Sometimes you just want pared-back, inventive rock. Tunes you can hum to but are not endless chorus. Riffs that are neither underdone nor overused. Rhythm that pops out of the groove often enough that you don’t get bored. V …

Three re-recorded tracks off an LP from thee years ago seems a bit of a vapid excuse to fill the void between the immense Unsilent Death and the anticipated upcoming record, but heck, do they have some serious kick to them! Recorded during the Unsilent Death sessions, but technically preceding it, you can hear how they’ve progressed and the re-recording of these tracks gives them much more substance, grittiness and clarity than before.

Blood Red Shoes are an alt-rock two piece hailing from Brighton. The band consists of Laura-Mary Carter on guitar and Steven Ansell on drums. BRS are coming off of their successful ‘In Time to Voices’ album of which Carter said ‘we figured the best way …

I’ve been living with ‘Nova’, the second album from the London based rock/electronica duo Deathline for some time now, trying to make up my mind about it. It became my favourite soundtrack for the gloomy mornings on the platform of Dalston Kingsland ov …

Brilliantly named Fat Goth have been gradually conquering the hearts and souls of Scottish local music fans since 2007, and now they’re ready to unleash their heavy riffing rock on to the rest of the United Kingdom and most likely the world. This Dundo …

Vanitas is the ideal driving album. That is to say, on a particularly exhausted drive home at the end of an increasingly aggravating week at work, you may well just say “fuck it” and swerve your car off the road into a terrifying deathroll down the emb …