STEAK
'Corned Beef Colossus'

Early assumptions would be that these four lads were once aspiring butchers until their selection of luxury meats were found to contain 100% horse meat in them, then again that's nothing for Londoners Steak as they unleash their latest serving of Stoner Rock in the form of their EP 'Corned Beef Colossus', a juicy and crunchy rocking sound that will get anyone off their feet and doing air guitar movements oppan gangnam style. Besides the intentional puns, 'Corned Beef Colossus' is a decent enough release that should appeal to a myriad of rock and metal fans alike, featuring a host of slick riffs that gently glide over the percussion and over rough, thick bass tunes whilst the vocals deliver the all important final blow, listeners in the end should consider themselves mince meat.

Download This: "Acid Dave"

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

DEAD CULT DIARIES
'The World Is Too Small'
WARNER MUSIC FINLAND

Considered to be a breath of fresh air for the Finnish rock scene, pop punk rockers Dead Cult Diaries get down to business with their debut album 'The World Is Too Small' released back in April, what separates female-fronted five piece from the Paramore trap is that they stick to their guns and create their own phenomenal sound that can only be described as a whipped up pot of The Rasmus, Vanilla Ninja and The Birthday Massacre via the stark similarity of riffage on 'Boys And Toys' which can be likened to the intro of 'First Day of My Life' by The Rasmus. The comparison with Estonia's Vanilla Ninja derives from the heavenly angelic vocals both vocalists share, as for the link with The Birthday Massacre, simply the electronic feel here and there. All in all, 'The World Is Too Small' is a factual statement and Dead Cult Diaries is the most anticipated Finnish rock export since the glory days of HIM, The 69 Eyes and The Rasmus.

Download This: "The Story's Over"

For Fans of: The Rasmus, HIM, Vanilla Ninja, The Birthday Massacre, Evarane

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

MEKA-NISM
'The Dance At The End Of The World'
FU RECORDS

When it comes round to mixing different music styles to create something it can be a tricky business, but bands like Meka-nism make light work of it, instead they lauded the foundations of metal and rock music with a plethora of different elements including electronic music, opera, Japanese pop, folk, etc etc - basically experimental music. 'The Dance At The End Of The World' serves well as the band's latest release and explodes in a radioactive spectrum of colorful sounds, from the blackness of the evil vocals that drive the red-hot riffs and drumbeats, whilst the icy blue chilling atmosphere serves well for the green fading away on the heart monitor, after all this Floridian four-piece are the more softer and sharper kind than their fellow countrymen Deadstar Assembly, none the less it's a breath of fresh air.

Download This: "Tyranny Reigns"

For fans of: Ayria, Exilia, Deluhi, Alien Vampires

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

FAILURE TO FOLLOW
'Walk Away'
ITG

Sometimes it's best to get back to the basics, other times it's best to not do anything at all, but what Bristol's Failure To Follow is done a bit of both. Their latest release 'Walk Away' spews everything out you would want from a Hardcore release but the downside is, this sound has been done before; there is no imminent difference until you listen to the release three or four more times again. Give due it is a well crafted release and is sure to give the band the credible attention they deserve, their chunky bass lines, no remorse vocals and chainsaw riffs serve well as a springboard for them to move towards greater things, but the main point is that in order to do that, they will need to change their blueprints and develop a new strategy.

Download This: "Dogs Of Hell"

[6.5] RHYS STEVENSON

HEARTLESS
'Certain Death'
HALO OF FLIES / ALERTA ANTIFASCISTA

Did you think you could walk away quietly? No chance, Heartless will not allow it. Excreting their next lot of pungent Hardcore Punk anthems in the form of 'Certain Death', the Pennsylvanian quartet take no prisoners as they unleash a mauling through eight solid tracks that leave compromises in the backyard rotting away. Primed for mosh-pit and your average hardcore dance, 'Certain Death' is one of those releases designed to piss anyone off, whether you're into classical music or unruly relenting noise, Heartless have done justice upon the plethora of want to be 'core' bands, this is the real deal, this is the faithful, this is Heartless and with 'Certain Death' on the horizon, you wouldn't want to hear the words 'I like trains' mind you.

Download This: "Mute"

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

BREE
'Bree'
WEREWOLF TUNES

There aren't many artists around that take influence from the early forms of rock 'n' roll, enter trio Bree who are fronted by, guess who? Bree. The three rockers from the downtown streets of Oregon deliver an outburst of classic rock that simmers brightly under the scorching summer sun, simply put this is a band that with their debut self-titled album are sure to garner attention across the oceans. 'Bree' is crafted by the brainchild Bree and signals evident influences from Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, The Who, Slade and bands / artists from similar sounds, to give you an idea 'You Can't Take The Heart Out Of Me' has a beat that is the spitting image of 'whatever you want' by Status Quo. None the less the debut album is sure to appeal to rock fans alike.

'Bree' is out 18th June 2013 via Werewolf Tunes

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS
'Exposition - The Five Before The Flames'

Making their welcomed return is Suffolk's own Van Helsing clan, the Fearless Vampire Killers, the all  round rockers have unleashed another sensational belter in the form of their mini-album 'Exposition - The Five Before The Flames', five tracks of erotic and theatrical rock music that could serve well as a time piece, oozing chunky riffs and bass-lines that kick into touch the rest of the music to such a level that the term 'party music' may as well be an understatement when complementing this release. There is a clear shift in sound from their debut album 'Militia Of The Lost', moving from a soft rock style to a more sharper impression, as if they re-wielded the stake and glossed it with gold. But, 'Exposition - The Five Before The Flames' dips into many streams of rock that it can be compared to the likes of Mindless Self Indulgence and Ashestoangels and NOT like My Chemical Romance, like some seem to compare FVK to.

Download This: "The Thief - Merchants Of Decay'

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

SOMEONE SAID FIRE
'Dead Wasp'

Inspiration and originality are the two fundamental parts to making a release successful, ignore any of those and consider your work a dead duck. Sad to say Someone Said Fire are on that very borderline, sure their 2 track demo 'Dead Wasp' cooks up some grizzly and gruel Melodic Hardcore / Post-Hardcore, but the blandness in the screaming vocals on the song 'Dead Wasp' are enough to make anyone contemplate weeping. Ironically they improve on the song 'One Night Darker', but even then the percussion kicks up the dust in the wrong direction and in the end what you have is an demo that ok is exceptionable as a first time out but if they carry on this onto the next release, well who knows, it could be the worst move ever.

[5] RHYS STEVENSON

TAZER
'All My Days'

The Midlands is a power house for bands throughout history and well Nottingham's Tazer is no exception, delivering an eccentric style to the classic rock sound that for this band resonates in the 80's style of rock, for example Aerosmith's 'sweet emotion' has stark similarities with the band's song 'Buggin' Me'. So what you get is four tracks from their EP 'All My Days' that is certified to appeal to those fans of classic rock and music with a party, rockabilly feel to it. It is bands like Tazer that keep the old traditions alive in a modern world dominated by musical trend and so what their EP offers is that feeling of driving down route 66 to the sound of Tazer, which quite frankly is a sweet emotion.

Download This: "Centrefold"

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

ENKELINATION
'Enkelination'

Fresh out of the shadowy London streets is quintet Enkelination of whom last year dropped their debut EP 'Enkelination' from which explodes in the sounds of Melodic Metal. Sounding along the lines of bands like Aonia and Gone Til Winter, this female-fronted ensemble show off their unique style of heavenly angelic vocals and subtly done hard rock / heavy metal music. Whilst producing this elaborate sound, the unique thing about this band is that they drag in a dark and Gothic atmosphere that resonates in comparison with Within Temptation, except the former is a more operatic style. No question about it with this under their belt, Enkelination are sure to take the nation by storm in 2013. Watch and hear as the next most exciting London band takes the rest of the UK down with their operatic melodic metal.

Download This: "Never Ending"

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

SEVENTH SEEKER
'Angels Temptation'

Hailing from the South coast of England is Seventh Seeker, a five-piece melodic hard rock / metal ensemble that has enough energy to unleash a powerful release, that release being their demo 'Angels Temptation', a more advanced version of the now defunct Tainted Grace and yet as the female-fronted group conjure up some rather banging rock tunes, the core of this luscious sound is the rocked up Evanescence sound that drags the release itself to a level never before explored. Angelic vocals shine the light over the quirky riffs and solos that bind the solidarity of this five-piece unit together. 'Angels Temptation' is another modern example of how rock music is continuously  renewing itself, whilst at the same time provides a glimmer of hope that Seventh Seeker are going to become a nationwide favorite.

Download This: 'Sunburnt'

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

KRAD
'Behind The Laws'

Usually in the Atlantic Ocean, there are volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, hurricanes and other geographical or meteorological events, but on this occasion arising from the Portuguese-speaking nation of Cape Verde is a fresh faced rock / grunge act called Krad. 'Behind The Laws' comes as the band's new single from which will be also on their upcoming as-of-yet-untitled EP. Featuring a raw and fuzzy guitar sound that rips through the senses like a cheetah chasing antelope, blasting the mind apart with high voltage rock and setting a atmosphere up that constitutes a sound of hard and heavy grit as well as a style of music that will make people wet themselves. 'Behind The Laws' is a sure sign that this band are promising a good EP to come and as a result are flying the flag for the Cape Verde rock and metal scene.

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

DARK SHADOWS
'11:11'

'11:11' might be the time that the release was finished at, whether it was or not it is a gracious album that crosses every T and dots every I in the Post Punk / Gothic Rock chambers. The band behind the blast is Dark Shadows, hailing from Australia this trio take the old school sounds of Bauhaus and The Cure and weave a new sound to the masses. Engineered to epic levels, '11:11' is a classic example that the old ways are usually the best and in this case Dark Shadows do well to prove this to be the truth. In fact, fans of Siousxie & The Banshees may well relate to this lot more than the Bauhaus fans, but that is anyone's guess. Salient point behind this luscious release is that has enough vibrating energy to capture a whole new audience.

Download This: "Blame"

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

EVA JADE LANDON
'Evalution'
SHE'S TROUBLE

Electro-pop / Power Pop Music is usually a goldmine and when artists like Eva Jade Landon come storming out of the underground with such a level of creativity that eclipses the likes of Carla Rae Jepsen and Lady Gaga, you know something is coming. The latest release 'Evalution' is a non-stop torrent of electric music that would get anyone on the dance floor, raving and ripping out all of life's worries on a Friday or Saturday night. If the release was a freshers week, Eva Jade Landon would be the one tipping plenty of different sounds into the mix to end up with a cocktail that is deserving of mainstream attention. 'Evalution' carries everything one would want for a dance anthem soundtrack, even so it would seem doubtful that she will go quietly and as a result Europe better be prepared for what can be dubbed as the next greatest electro-pop export from the USA. This is more than a musical evolution, this is a musical 'Evalution'.

Download This: "Walk Away"

[9.5] RHYS STEVENSON

MIDNIGHT SYNDICATE
'Halloween Music Collection'

Perhaps this maybe the ideal soundtrack or soundtracks to a horror or Gothic fiction franchise, sure not on the scale of the Saw heptology but in essence Dracula, Van Helsing and the like. In fact, Midnight Syndicate of whom are a duo from Ohio, create an atmosphere that circulates the darkened surroundings found when listening, so much so this would be ideal to listen to on a ghost hunt or when camping out near a graveyard as most goths would agree this music is exceptionally unique and utmost emotionally connected to personal feelings and the like. 'Halloween Music Collection' is a twenty-two track filled release that will keep many mesmerized for a long, long time and overall is an essential for those who like the old style of Gothic music, stretching back to Gothic church music.

Download This: "Awakening"

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

ARMONIGHT
'Tales From The Heart'
RAVENHEART MUSIC

The Italian musicians love their Gothic music, it is as if they were born to be goths or at least dress like them and play music relating to the subculture. No wonder then when sextet Armonight unleash a torrent of darkened melodies via their release 'Tales From The Heart', they do so with a sensational outburst of angelic vocals, blade-swiping riffs and solid drumming, all of which together add up to develop an atmosphere that could be likened to bands such as Evanescence and Lacuna Coil. This is what you call heavenly music and bodes the band well, as they are sure to garner greater attention over the next few years as they share with the listener, the stories and 'Tales From The Heart' that binds this band together.

Download This: "When You See Me Cry"

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

THE DROPPER'S NECK
'Second Coming'

Essex in recent times has had a sudden upsurge of rock bands from all strains of the music virus, so when a bunch of lads known as The Dropper's Neck set sail to release their debut album 'Second Coming', much is riding on this release. What strikes immediately is the inescapable fact of them owning their own sound and not a recycled clump of 'been-there-done-it' music. Call it Alternative Punk Rock but with a few added twists here and there, such as similarities to bands like The Horrors and bizarrely the vocals draw comparisons with the late 70's Gothic rock era, namely the Bauhaus song 'Bela Lugosi's Dead'. But as standard the album is sure to turn heads as this lot are certainly Download Festival material (let's hoping they're paying attention).

For Fans of: QOTSA, Pulled Apart By Horses, Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster

'Second Coming' is out Monday 29th July 2013 via major outlets.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

...SOIHADTO...
'...soihadto...'
PFC

Besides a really bizarre name, the Baltimore boys finally unleashed their self-titled album. What comes with it is a rather inexplicable event, basically it's experimental rock but without any experimentation as such, confusing eh? '...soihadto...' can be labelled as one of those albums (and bands) that somehow do not know where they want to go with their music, regardless of how clean and organized the finished production is, the band are all over the place. On the other hand it would seem that benefits this lot to the core, but sadly as a result it lacks elements of class and so whilst the band have deservedly crafted a decent enough album, it is not cutting edge and nor is it anything special, just another album.

Download This: "Inferno, Purgatorio, Paradiso"

[5.5] RHYS STEVENSON

UNDER HEAVEN
'What Lies Between'
RAVENHEART

Reminiscing of the bygone chamber opera music era is easier said than done, unless of course you are indulging in Canada's Under Heaven and their latest album 'What Lies Between'. Silencing the darkness and harnessing a symphonic sound has not proven to be much of a challenge for the duo, even if the elaborate background sounds of the violin and Spanish guitar adds a unique style to the framework laid out by these two musicians. This is no Within Temptation, no Epica or no other Symphonic Gothic Metal band that sounds anything like the aforementioned two bands, no Under Heaven are in their own league and with 'What Lies Between' firmly set to get them some well earned attention, this could be Canada's finest hour.

Download This: "Behind The Shadows"

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

CARTEL
'Collider'
LAB

The instant feeling that this could be the sound of the summer is already on the tongues of many people, well for starters Cartel employ that specific style of rock that would go down well playing on a stereo whilst working on a sun tan or having a garden party. In fact 'Collider' the band's fourth release exploits the bouncier and more chilling side to rock as to set the tone for what could be their best release to date. Spewing out a myriad of influences, Cartel are priming themselves to take their calming rock music to greater heights and are sure to grab the attention of more people along the way, what separates this quartet from the other pop rock all-male bands out there is that they keep the listener on their toes as the unexpected drops every seconds.

'Collider' is out 20th May 2013 via LAB Records

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

ESCAPE THE FATE
'Ungrateful'
ELEVEN SEVEN MUSIC

Take Escape The Fate as a ten-legged machine as they simply do not slow down, preparing to unleash their best album to date, the American Post-Hardcore suave experts return to the core that made this band what they are today. Catchy riffs embedded on a funky rhythm that would make bands like Guns 'N' Roses listen up, whilst at the same time the vocals command a whole new sound, powerful cleans and mind-blowing growls that tussle for control against the eccentric harmonics erupting from the erotically charged guitars and sublimely inserted auto-tune snippets. If this is not the soundtrack of the summer, it is without any doubt the soundtrack that Escape The Fate will live on by, 'Ungrateful' is the TNT of Post-Hardcore and explodes on every dimension in every possible direction.

Download This: "Forget About Me"

'Ungrateful' is out 13th May 2013 via Eleven Seven Music

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

WORDS
'Division Of The Masses'

Wallowing in the minefield of Post-Hardcore wannabes, are a group Californian gold miners by the name of Words. Sure the vocals at times are not completely related to Post-Hardcore and more or less sometimes stray into Melodic Hardcore as a result. But here we have the EP 'Division Of The Masses' which the product of Words and words are exactly what will be said after music lovers clock up this EP. The saddening thing is that there are points where one would expect harsh vocals to be at but they fail to materialize and so in some parts of the songs, the momentum is lost. Overall the EP is a valiant effort, but with some tweaking and fine restructuring, Words could become a potential for breaking out into the international scene.

[6] RHYS STEVENSON

JET PACK
'Chasing Sunsets'

There aren't many bands that sound unique from the off, so when bands like Jet Pack propel themselves out of the underground and into the national limelight, we could see them becoming placed alongside the likes of Mallory Knox and Verse of whom in recent times exploded like fireworks. That said, the four-piece from the West Midlands could not emerge on a better note than by releasing their latest EP 'Chasing Sunsets', which essentially is a delicate balance of pop punk and alternative rock ballads, with a sharp and calm atmosphere as well as the flavor of a fruity range of influences and similarities, it is clear that Jet Pack will make an impression on the nation in 2013 and ultimately power themselves to greater heights, let there be lift off!

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

For Fans of: Jimmy Eat World, Reuben, Blink 182, Foo Fighters, Taking Back Sunday

'Chasing Sunsets' is out Monday 6th May 2013

OUR FINAL HOUR
'The Moving House'

From the depths of the Irish sea arises one frantic band from the Post-Hardcore music genre, enter Our Final Hour with their latest EP 'The Moving House' and their fist-punching wall of sound. Hitting hard on all fronts, the five-piece drag together elements of furious drumming sequences with the erotic emotions excreted by the savage riffs and of course the vocals delivering a heavier performance than a WWF match. 'The Moving House' spews out a ballistic sound that will, without a doubt act as a solid foundation for Our Final Hour to build upon and endure international success as they fill in the blanks and position themselves as such, to become what can easily be dubbed the greatest band the Isle of Man has ever seen since The BeeGees.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

For fans of: Defeater, Stick To Your Guns, Pianos Become The Teeth

'The Moving House' is out 24th June through all stores

THE DARK PLAINS
'Come On & Get Some'

Instantly when hearing this EP, certain influences come blurting out, give the track 'Look Around' and you get stark resemblances to Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Californication". But perhaps that what makes grungers The Dark Plains tick, the groovy side to rock music and when taking into account their latest release 'Come On & Get Some', there is a myriad of different sounds emanating from each song, as if they whipped together a bunch of influences and strapped them together. You got Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, etc - basically you would have to be a 80's to 90's rock expert to pluck out every single reminiscing sound to professionally pigeonhole them, they are that varied in song context. But what 'Come On & Get Some' does is it delivers a rock sound that at first may elude some as being another basic, bog standard release, but in truth is a masterful wonder-piece that will get heads turning.

Download This: "Look Around"

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

SAHARA
'Intox'

Basingstoke's Sahara sum up an ingenious selection of math infused Indie Rock with their four track EP 'Intox', from the start it seemed to be a bit of a boring release but once past the introductory track and onto the first song "Coming Down", the real sound begins to kick in and in the background there is a lot of math rock going on, somewhat similar to progressive rock if you like. But the core sound of the release is the Indie Rock style, drawing comparisons to The Horror's 'Skying' and bands like Minus The Bear. Love it or hate it, 'Intox' is a unique EP in it's own rights, but like many releases has it's drawbacks and one major one is there is at times too much going on, what with a slower rock sound on the forefront battling a math rock sound that sits in the background, it can get rather too much.

Download This: "Bloodhound"

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

SIXTYFOURS
'All On You'

Every so often a band will come out of the darkness and will deliver something new to the scene that has not been explored before or has been explored but not in great depth. Therefore enter Warwickshire quartet Sixtyfours with their latest single 'All On You' which, get ready, mixes rock with the technical side of hip-hop. Exactly. Hip Rock, get it? No? Oh, well basically what rock fans can hear is not unlike Linkin Park but nowhere near sounding the same, simply imagine the rock style of funk rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers slamming into the hip-hop 'bruthahood' of LL Cool J and the like. But whether you like hip-hop or not, the fact is this band will make waves in the next year or so and as the band prepare for their next release, its 'All On You' the fans to push this band beyond their wildest dreams.

Download This: "My Sound"

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

SPEED MACHINE
'Speed Machine'

Picture this you're driving down Route 66, you have just listened to Chuck Berry's 'riding along in my automobile' when you switch radio station in your car (or as you could call it your speed machine) and on comes an English Hard Rock band of the same name you called your car. The instantaneous reaction is of that you would find from films like The Cannonball Run, a quick surge of no nonsense, ballsy classic rock and with it comes the sensational power of vocal-driven music by this four-piece. The band's three track release of the same name spews out the same sort of rock you would listen to driving down the highway, nay evidential 80's rock is performed right here and can be likened to songs like 'Humans Being' by Van Halen and bands of the same class. The fun side of this release is that it carries the feeling that you can easily chill out without worrying that it could develop into a jive or even a jitterbug, even Elvis Presley would party to this sensational piece of music.

Download This: "Speed Machine"

For Fans of: The Candy Runts, Aerosmith, Van Halen

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

WOLFREDT
'Lullabies To Vilhelmine'

One for the calm and soothing music fans, well also the electronic fans too, in fact Wolfredt's latest release 'Lullabies To Vilhelmine' delivers a smooth and dreamy feel to the atmosphere whilst the electronic parts add a sort of surreal escape to the whole dimension of the release. Originating from Estonia, Wolfredt is a project led by one Margus Voolpriit who is a musician for some prominent indie bands in the same country, but what is different from that music to this music (besides different genre) is that Margus Voolpriit lets his musical talent run wild and so what you end up with as a result of this free constructive power is an album that truly represents his own thoughts, character and feelings and that can be detected through the ever-changing tempo of the music, from the quirky sound of 'In Dreams' to the more rock-laden sound of 'Things That Remain' and so what listeners will tend to realize is that this album is like a rainbow, a musical spectrum.

Download This: "Silent Heartbeats"

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

ACELSIA
'Dont Go Where I Can't Follow'
QUIETUDE PRODS.

The debut album by Norway's pop rock / doom rock ensemble Acelsia is finally upon us, 'Dont Go Where I Can't Follow' unravels a darkened atmosphere and lays it out across the release, like a blanket of mist with eerie sounds come from all corners of the area. But, what makes
'Dont Go Where I Can't Follow' different from all of the other pop rock bands is that they use doom metal influences in a sort of depressive and bleak manner, as to light up the darkness with a darkened, light feeling of conflicting emotions and sounds, from this comes a debut that would appeal to many rock fans alike but also those who love poetry and tragedies.

Download This: "Up On The Roof"

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

MICROWAVE
'Thời Gian'

Calling from the Far East is Vietnamese rock veterans Microwave who way back in 2009 released their latest album 'Thời Gian', from this feast from the east comes a cooked sensation of powerful and aggressive Hard Rock / Heavy Metal aligned with the band's native Vietnamese language, so when the quintet course through their album like a pigeon with its tail on fire, looking for water to cool off in, the result is a desire for more of the same thing. 'Thời Gian' is a culturally musical experience to those outside of Vietnam and for those inside the country, it's a personal connection, but one thing that both can agree on is that Microwave are certainly Vietnamese rock legends.

Download This: "Chỉ Là Giấc Mơ"

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

DIE KUR
'Era'

Die Kur or The Cure if you prefer, is an Industrial / Electro Metal outfit from the downtrodden darkened streets of London, armed with their latest effort 'Era', they deliver the early style of Industrial music, in fact likening to bands and projects like Pain, Marilyn Manson (although not as creepy), etc. What you find here is electronic beats and vocals that coalesce with the very foundations of Industrial Metal that were set out by prominent bands like Nine Inch Nails, however with the Londoners displaying a solid piece of music, the result is one that would elude most peoples perception of said music genre. This is no Rammstein, this is no Deathstars, this is Die Kur zu alle volk von England und diese band sind sicher die Industrial Metal Szene beleben in London.

Download This: "(Meeting) The Gatherer"

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

EVILYN
'The End'

South London is now being graced by one promising band known as Evilyn, these four lads take influences from a range of different bands such as Muse, 30STM, A7X and AFI, whilst threading together their own unique sound package as found on their double A side 'The End', interestingly enough this music could also be taking influence from bands like Bauhaus and the whole goth, punk and new wave styles, so the music itself has a whole range of different times flowing through it, but the release is sure to capture much attention as a starting point for this band to build achievements on, sure the second song has some comparisons to steampunkers Fearless Vampire Killers, but Evilyn are a different kettle of fish and it's that obvious fact that makes them a one to watch in 2013.

Download the double A-side here: http://evilyn.bandcamp.com/album/the-end

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

BLACK MARKET SEROTONIN
'Something From Nothing'
SUPERSTAR DESTROYER

At first it seems that 'Something From Nothing' the debut album by Manchester's Black Market Serotonin is a redeveloped 80's synth rock megalithic release, but closer inspection reveals elements from David Bowie and the modern sounds of Deftones, Porcupine Tree and Muse, evidently drawn from their collaborative mix of progressive rock and synth elements and also how the trio manage to keep their unique sound going without deviating to established sounds. 'Something From Nothing' is an album that oozes delicious riffs, sensational drumming and emotional vocals, all of which when brought together deliver a sound that will echo throughout 2013 as the band set their eyes on exploding all over the British rock scene.

Download This: "The End of History"

'Something From Nothing' is out Monday 29th April 2013 via Superstar Destroyer Records

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

AYS
'Suburban Haze'
LET IT BURN

On the dawn of their 10th anniversary, Germany's self-confessed Hardcore Punk addicts AYS unleash hell with their upcoming new EP 'Suburban Haze', oozing vocals that are guaranteed to make you sick in the stomach as well as killer riffs and powerful drumming. However that's just the basics of it, the intricate composure and face-smacking sensation that comes as a result by the all-out assault by this five-man machine, AYS are gearing themselves up to slaughter Europe with their killer sounds, just make sure health and safety are on sight as there may be a moshpit within a moshpit. 'Suburban Haze' should also come with a health warning that serious headbanging may also be induced, the next step from these Germans will be an interesting one.

Download This: "Orphans"

'Suburban Haze' is out 8th March 2013 via Let It Burn Records

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

KING & COUNTRY
'Mountains'
Self-Released

"Snowdonia is set to experience a new style of earthquake"

The amazing thing about the Welsh rock and metal music scenes is that it seems to be always the southern regions that produce said music, a modern example comes in the form of King & Country of whom comprise of four laddies hailing from Bridgend and the musical talents derived from elements that come from the classic pop punk / post-hardcore style, namesake on par with Lower The Atlantis and newcomers Mallory Knox, but what sets aside 'Mountains' as a must have EP this year is that the four tracks extrude a variation of sound to cater for many tastes and with their evident display of punching the right musical notes, King & Country are sure to set the nation on fire with their sensational rock anthems.

Download This: "Soldiers"
For Fans of: The Blackout, Story of the Year, Lower Than Atlantis

"Mountains" is out 6th May 2013 via the band and online digital retailers

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

GET OFF MY SHOES
'Let's Not Rush Out And Tell The World'
THANKS BUT NO THANKS

Somewhat of a newcomer to the European front-line, or are they? Three years in and Belgium's hottest new Indie rockers come rolling into town to drop their highly-anticipated debut EP 'Let's Not Rush Out And Tell The World', it features a catalogue of songs whirling around the core of the release in all different directions, taking on board influences from bands like Bloc Party and Weezer, they are sure to make an impact in 2013 and perhaps may wind up on the covers of Kerrang! Magazine. 'Let's Not Rush Out And Tell The World' is the new sound of Indie Rock and it is a damn good starting point for this five-piece, so instead lets rush out and tell the world that Get Off My Shoes are now Belgium's hottest rock export.

Download This: "We're Going Down But We Don't Care"
For Fans of: Weezer, BlocParty, Foals, Two Door Cinema Club

'Let's Not Rush Out And Tell The World' is out Monday 1st April 2013 via Thanks But No Thanks Records

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

THE MARQUIS OF VAUDERVILLE
'The Great Promenade of Fools & Ghosts'

Steampunk is almost certainly on the up-rise as a recognized musical form of art, bands dress in Victorian style dress and play an eclectic music mix, Dallas' The Marquis of Vauderville is no exception, weaving together a luscious mix of progressive rock and psychedelic punk rock to deliver their nineteen-track opus 'The Great Promenade of Fools & Ghosts' of which spews out similarities to that of David Bowie (Ziggy Stardust), Pink Floyd and The Cure, consequently this is another album that most rock fans will adhere to, however for the Goths, Steampunks and passionate people of Victorian times, this is a memento of epic proportions.

Download This: "Bright Star Hope"
For Fan of: The Cure, David Bowie, Pink Floyd

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

LETS TALK DAGGERS
'Fantastic Contraption'
TANGLED TALK

Built and constructed to ignite riots simultaneously across the rock scene, Lets Talk Daggers may require anger management as they unleash their upcoming mini-album 'Fantastic Contraption', what emerges initially from this release is a mixture of brutal slaying drums that are sliced apart by the savage sounds of the riffs and vocals together. Some may dub them 'anarcho-punk', but in reality they are a gruesome mix of punk hardcore, screamo, alternative rock and fast music, faster than your last ejaculation, that said as the band pumps out more fluidity in their music, it gets to the point where The Dillinger Escape Plan and Fall of Troy come head on together and the result is grizzly, besides the release title may be an indirect Wallace & Gromit pun.

For Fans of: Fall of Troy, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Blakfish.

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

'Fantastic Contraption' is out via Tangled Talk Records on 25th March 2013

APHERIUM
'The Cycle'

What happens when a band forms and broods in a place that is hardly known for rock or metal bands? Total hegemonic chaos, arising from the knowledge that bands like Apherium know they are fighting to put their home town of Yeovil on the map, but when taking into account their debut album 'The Cycle' and the sound they aim to deliver, it can't be helped but notice that this could be a winning score. Pinching influences from mainly Post-Hardcore, Punk Rock and Thrash Metal, Apherium weave together a sound that may prove yet to be the one that will attract the major media outlets to sniff the scent left behind as 'The Cycle' cements itself in rock history, sure there is room for improvement, especially in the volume department, but apart from that the band sheds out some slick sick and savage sounds.

Download This: 'In The Light'

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

MILESTONE
'Medicate The Night'

On 13th May 2013, South Wales will experience an earthquake, no not another Metalcore band trying to be the next Bullet For My Valentine, but rather a new rock release. Milestone the four-piece rock 'n' roll boy-band are preparing to unleash their debut EP 'Medicate The Night' upon the masses, listeners can expect to hear classic rock sounds derived from the likes of the Foo Fighters that seem to sound out across the entire release, whilst the atmosphere that is set in motion covers the entire room with the feeling of getting down, dirty and drinking a bottle of Jack Daniels. After all, 'Medicate The Night' should cast new light on the region and for the band, shine a light to join the league of exciting British rock bands in the year 2013.

'Medicate The Night' will be out on Monday 13th May through all digital outlets.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

THE HYPE THEORY
'Heartsick'
SMALL TOWN

Chelmsford Pop Punk / Power Pop maestros The Hype Theory have the honor of releasing their latest single 'Heartsick', continuing on their powerful ballad like sound manufactured over the years, this is a promising sign that their next album will be the apocalypse many alike will be waiting for. With angelic vocals that can only equate to the power experienced in a tornado outbreak, the music follows suit with fist-punching beats and slashing riffs that together added with the vocals, concoct to make The Hype Theory. 'Heartsick' shows the lighter side of the band also towards the end with the faint fading of an acoustic guitar that just adds another dimension to this sensational group.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

'Heartsick' is out 22nd April via digital outlets

Fans can pre-order the single here: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/heartsick-single/id627696605?uo=4

The band's second album "Captives" is to be released 27th May and a free album release show will follow 3 days after.

NORTHPAW
'Trepidation'

Surrey Post-Hardcore newcomers Northpaw make a complete bold statement on their upcoming EP 'Trepidation', pinching and twisting influences from 36 Crazyfists, Underoath, Architects and Norma Jean, the ten-legged armada emerge on the scene as favorite contenders to make an explosion happen on the British music scene, with thunderous drumming acting as the focal point of an EP that delivers an outstanding punch-in-the-face sound that can only be totally dubbed as 'the new wave of British Post Hardcore (NWOBPH), Northpaw are a force to be reckoned with and are sure to win over new hearts in the year ahead.

'Trepidition' is out 28th January 2013.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

EMMA SHAKA
'Who I Am'

The truth being that Reunion Island has a very small rock and metal scene is exciting in it's own way to see how this tiny island produces such a talented rock band besides fellow islanders Nazca. Emma Shaka delivers powerful expressive singing on top of eccentric guitar riffs and precise drumming from which ignites their latest effort 'Who I Am' as a modernized variant of AC/DC's 'Back in Black' and spits out the rock 'n' roll in excellent fashion. Playing a unique combination of Hard Rock and Pop Rock, the quartet are a band to watch out for.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

FAKE THE ATTACK
'You Call This Freedom'

Critically acclaimed Hampshire Pop Rockers Fake The Attack make no mistake in releasing their debut EP release 'You Call This Freedom', electric emotions surge through the vocals of Ashlyn Marshall and are supported by a steel-spine comprising of Matt Thorp and Callum + James Heffy. This is a band that segregates themselves from the rest of the cloned Paramore bands and instead they install their own vernacular version of pop rock music, full of attitude and punk influences riding along here and there, 'You Call This Freedom' will appeal to fans of The Hype Theory, Mallory Knox and Verses. Fake The Attack are set to take the British music scene by storm and by jove, this storm has just stared.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

SEARCHING ALASKA
'Acoustic Sessions'

Essex / Surrey quintet Searching Alaska drop their electric sound for a more subtle, soul-soothing and relaxed sound with their recently released 'acoustic sessions' EP, bringing to the table a delicate balance of powerful vocals and sleek guitar playing in the form of covering well known songs. The ideal sound to a sit-in by the campfire or for general relaxation, however this unique style the band has adopted will bode well on BBC Radio 2 as a classic sound to Steve Wright in the afternoon, why? Because it carries that emotional feeling most modern pop rock bands seem to leave behind, re-invigoration may be an understatement, but rejuvenation of the classic acoustic country / folk sound is not as the band reach new heights and so 2013 will be interesting for this lot. 'Acoustic Sessions' is out now.

The EP can be downloaded free here or if you're a charitable person, you can donate a sum of money to which will be donated to Cancer Research UK, 'together we will beat cancer'.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

JOHNNY GET THE GUN
'Always Isn't Forever'

If you asked for a party, you got a summer ball in one package and it comes in the form of 'Always Isn't Forever', the debut album by London gov'ners Johnny Get The Gun. Expect an outburst of exhilarating popped-up punk rock in an explosive display by the next Arctic Monkeys. Lashing together some bouncy beats with calming sounds and demolishing houses with audio that was built to rage against the machine of society. So whilst the music may incite the middle finger to flip up, the sole message through the music is to live life like there's no tomorrow, for 'Always Isn't Forever' and Johnny Get The Gun is 2012's next big thing.

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

ANNIE MALL
'It's Enough'

The Finnish love their rock and rock loves Finland and that's why Annie Mall are an act to keep an eye out on, especially when their latest single 'It's Enough' has enough balls and hard rock on the cards to make The 69 Eyes shake with fear, in fact this is a no-nonsense release as it carves through the bleak silence to ignite a riotous feel in the room. As sweet as their confectionery, Annie Mall leave a luscious taste for the listener to savor and want more. It's the sort of music you would expect to find at local bar's and pub's as the night draws in, the AC/DC of Finland. 2013 promises to be an exciting year for the five-piece and is sure to be a huge step in the band's career.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

THE BLACKOUT
'START THE PARTY’
COOKING VINYL

Whenever a new album pops out of the Welsh music scene it usually comes covered in glitter, beauty and a total outlandish feeling, but The Blackout's 'Start The Party' betters that with an anthemic sound that could prove to be Welsh album of the year. Flipping from pop punk to post-hardcore, 'Start The Party' would make any moshpit look like a rave party, it's emphatically loaded with enough riffs and oomph to ooze blood from your ears, unless your a total rock maniac and this would be better than the last ever ice cream you have eaten. It's got everything you want from a rock album, but as The Blackout 'Start The Party', its down to the fans to keep the party going on until tomorrow night.

The Blackout single 'Running Scared' and album 'Start The Party' are both out 21st January via Cooking Vinyl Records

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

THE CALL BACK ACADEMY
'Chapters'

Ordering a party soundtrack just became a whole lot simpler, enter Brighton four-piece The Call Back Academy, loaded with enough energy to power an entire city and rock the hell out of any venue they play at.  Fresh in delivering their new EP 'Chapters', the band delivers an explosive mix of melodic hardcore laced with eccentric pop punk at every riff made and every drumbeat, this is the sound of the most promising band from Brighton in 2013. Weaving influences from the likes of Madina Lake, A Day To Remember, Architects and many more, 'Chapters' is a must have EP for anyone who loves their rock to be crisp and clean as a fresh winter's morning and has everything you could want from a Melodic Hardcore / Pop Punk band, except they don't have ice cream with it.

'Chapters' was released via Rocksound Magazine issue 168! [November 2012]

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

THE RABID WHOLE
'Refuge'
BOONSDALE / DANSE MACABRE

What happens when you take five Canadians, give them Linkin Park and Nine Inch Nails influences and a host of instruments to use? You end up with one of the most funkiest releases from the industrial / alternative music guild for some time. 'Refuge' is the latest effort by The Rabid Whole and is one heck of a party album, designed to rock or rave out at, The Rabid Whole warp the sounds of the future down to earth with a sensational sense of surrealism it leaves the album itself in question as perhaps the best release the band has ever done. Fans of Nine Inch Nails, Linkin Park, [T.3.R], The Birthday Massacre and Eisbrecher will love this album 24/7.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

CITY OF ASHES
'Then There Was A Hand In The Darkness'

Are talking about a cooking pot of Rise Against, Silverstein, 30STM and FFAF here? Why not! City of Ashes come belting out of the stables with their latest EP 'Then There Was A Hand In The Darkness', pinching everything from full on aggression to soothing melodies, with this release there is something for everyone, and everyone is what this EP is directed at, pinning it down to be the springboard for this band to become the next biggest band to be spoken of in 2013. The lads from East Sussex are raring to go and are sure to make a massive impression on the rock music circuit this year and 'Then There Was A Hand In The Darkness' and it wants to drag you down to the City of Ashes.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

THE DOLLYROTS
'The Dollyrots'
ARRESTED YOUTH

If your looking for an upbeat pop-punk rock album, look no further than The Dollyrots self-titled album, this features twelve tracks of the best Pop-Punk combinations that can ever be produced, from the trippy 'I wanna go'; featuring cleverly executed autotune and a get-up and party atmosphere which resides throughout the whole spine of the album, this is one band to watch out for, if The Dollyrots were a motorbike, they would be a Harley-Davidson, lively, ready to rock and full of attitude. So the resounding message is that if you have a party and your stuck for the total party anthem, The Dollyrots promise to bring their fourth album covered in American attitude to the celebrations room, fans of the Ting Tings and Bowling For Soup will drool over this album as it sums up the statement that experimenting with rock music is not dead.

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

BOWLING FOR SOUP w/ THE DOLLYROTS + PATENT PENDING
'One Big Happy'
BRANDO / QUE-SO

Usually when a split happens, the bands on it are so alike it becomes an album on its own accord, but when Bowling For Soup teamed up with The Dollyrots and Patent Pending a storm started brewing, sure the three all play similar enough types of rock but the overall sounds are different, from Bowling For Soup's laid back slick alternative rock to The Dollyrots' fired up punk rock and finally to Patent Pending's sensational Pop Punk infusion. So when Bowling For Soup are on the airwaves, the sound that comes out is a relaxing one, however when The Dollyrots get their sexual punk rock on the forefront, the mood-swing has already been activated and the feeling of letting your hear down becomes imminent and this feeling carries right on into the realm of Patent Pending who fill in the gaps of the exploded speakers, caused by this sensational masterpiece, all in all listeners will have 'One Big Happy' feeling.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

TRASH MONROE
'Addiction Of Duplicities Part 1'

Southend quintet Trash Monroe make their next release a short and quick one, the two track single 'Addiction Of Duplicities Part 1' delivers lust, blushing beauty and the fundamental elemental sounds of pure rock music. Dedicated to the late Paul Raymond Rowe, this dedication comes with a bountiful of emotion and feeling as band connects with the listener through two sensational songs. With this now under their belt and their next major release in sight, there is no way that this musical tour-de-force will ever stop, buckle up and batten down the hatches, Trash Monroe are sure to explode on the national scene.

[7,5] RHYS STEVENSON

THE HYPE THEORY
'Glory Days'

The debut album 'Glory Days' is blasted out by The Hype Theory at such a force the River Chelmer has been reported to have tidal waves going out to sea, however for the quintet from Chelmsford, Essex, this is a sensational release, full of get-up-and-go atmospheric elements and is so funked it it would make any local rave look like the high school summer ball, but put this on full volume and let your hair down as the guitars gear up the drummers drumming for the vicious vocals to arrange the atmospheric attitude that only The Hype Theory can deliver, full of energy, gravity-defying songs and a chemical reaction that gets anyone off their feet, as for this bunch, they are truly in their 'Glory Days'.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

MECHANICAL SMILE
'Into The Surface'

Scotland has had a history of producing unbelievable rock bands and that is not going to stop now, with Kilmarnock's Mechanical Smile delivering their latest offering in the form of their 2012 EP 'Into The Surface', featuring the best pop / alternative rock of the modern era, this quartet deliver the female equivalent of Franz Ferdinand and yet will appeal to fans of Nirvana and Biffy Clyro, uniquely organised, the EP starts off with the fast 'Afterlife' and then immediately drops the tempo for the second track 'Look Closer', before kicking up again for the third track 'Arrows' and the fourth 'We Are Forever', there is something for everyone here, some would say this is the perfect companion to burns night, shame they didn't do a cover of 'auld lang syne'; perhaps their next release may have this.

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

ALL SHE WROTE
'Weathered'

Bit of an eclectic mix going on here, putting together the already dominant Post-Hardcore with some spicy lashings of Alternative Rock, this is of course All She Wrote's latest single 'Weathered', a promising sign that more of this great stuff is to come, designed for the fans of bands like Lostprophets and A Day To Remember, this London mob are sure to make a scene in the next year or so, with 'Weathered' now lock and loaded and ready to fire at the mainstream rock/metal fans, All She Wrote are the new kids on the block and a band to watch out for in 2013.

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

SKELETON KID
'The Graveyard Disciples'

Bournemouth's Gothic Punksters Skeleton Kid make no mistake in delivering their debut EP 'The Graveyard Disciples' in ballistic style, razor-sharp riffs cutting holes in the bleak atmosphere left by their Gothic persona and yet the EP itself characterizes itself around bands such as Motley Crue and Marilyn Manson, whilst keeping that middle-finger attitude in check. One could not help but to somehow relate them to Misfits and Wednesday 13 at the band's core, definitely the darker side of punk rock. Fresh on the scene and only been going nearly two years, the band have amassed a name for themselves and are sure to in the near future gain attention from major British media.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

BIRTHRITE
'If It 'Ay Bost, Dow Fix It!'

So what exactly is steampunk? Well take the Victorian era, mix it with a futuristic technological emphasis (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and Atlantis: The Lost Empire are the best literary work examples) and you end up with pure excellence, and that is what Black Country quartet Birthrate are all about, excellent innovation. Take on board their latest offering 'If It 'Ay Bost, Dow Fix It!', it has clear 70's rock influences stretching from Bauhaus and the whole Gothic Rock renaissance area to fast elements residing in the Motorhead vein. Playing music their way but on the same wave-length as Suffolk's Fearless Vampire Killers, Birthrite are a class apart, full of eccentricity in their music and are sure to create a buzz for themselves, with their military style drumming on 'bullet soldier' and their funky 'square dance', this is a totally unique ensemble and a momentous release.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

DARWIN PROPHET
'Don't Panic' w/ 'Don't Panic single'

David Bowie just got a revamp, well morphed into steampunk as Darwin Prophet take on board his classic rock style and whip it up with some excellent literary influences from one Oscar Wilde, what follows is a beautiful and elegant style of rock that is emerging slowly, steampunk is sure to grow in size and with bands like Darwin Prophet who have just released their latest offering 'Don't Panic'. The vocals are of the gothic rock style and the music is soothing yet danceable if doing the waltz, in the end 'Don't Panic' is a release that will power Darwin Prophet forward and with it, sheer brilliance will ignite. The 'Don't Panic' single is a delightful piece of musicianship too, with 4-5 tracks that acted as a build up to the album release, it truly is a work of art

[8] + [7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

DRACHENFLUG
'Blau'

Reminiscent of Subway To Sally, German quintet Drachenflug (Kite Flying) released their latest album 'Blau' back in 2009 and strange as it may seem, mixing the German language to the steampunk style of music actually is very effective, however the issue of the language barrier is there. This is the sort of album that would bode well at Oktoberfest, because it is simply relaxing and soul-soothing. That said, the immersing of traditional folk music elements adds a slight Pagan feel to it, that said 'Blau' is an album that would appeal to any music fan, it has a bit of everything, from the folk elements of the flute to the rock/metal elements in the drums and the rest of the music making a composition of pure easy listening, bring on 'schwarz', 'rot' und 'gelbe'.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

THE VICTORIES
'The Victories'

This Alternative / Indie Rock trio from Brentwood, Essex certainly know how to play their chosen choice of music, whilst it's clearly a genre that floats around here and there, The Victories do well to keep it in check. Their six-track self-titled release does them well; if only the recording was a little more clearer, having said that the vocals are fine, the guitars and drums need more clarity though. However with best comparisons rising with early 'The Horrors' and Kasabian, The Victories are a decent rock band without any doubt, but with some tweaking, they could make it sound better.

[6] RHYS STEVENSON

LILYGUN
'Lilygun'
ZEFF MUSIC

Billed to be the next big rock act coming from the streets of London, this is Lilygun with their sensational debut album 'Lilygun'. Playing straight-edge rock with enough attitude to rock anyone's socks, the female-fronted quartet explode with the sounds of Alice In Chains, The Cure and Smashing Pumpkins in tow, there is no reason to why this band should not make and break the barriers and perhaps land themselves on national radio. With this valiant effort, we could very see them becoming a potential household name at festivals like Download, it's just a matter of time and you will never waste any time in checking this lot out, this is going to be big.

[9.5] RHYS STEVENSON

ASHESTOANGELS
'Wintervention / To Ruining'

Stepping back in time to around 2008 and it is clear to see why Ashestoangels are rising rapidly, collecting the original essences of the Gothic Rock posterior of yesteryear and including a Punk Rock aesthetic to the affray, making their single 'Wintervention' and their EP 'To Ruining' clear examples of Gothic Rock-revival. Hailing from Bristol, the quintet strip out the guidelines and re-write the rulebook, with influences taken in from bands like V For Violence, The Clash and (early - The Rasmus), Ashestoangels are not stopping and are sure to make themselves known across the country as the band who brought the Goth to the frontrunner.

[7] & [8] RHYS STEVENSON

THE CANDY RUNTS
'Scanty Thunder'

Rock 'N' Roll has come back to haunt the mass-infested sounds of the 'core' genres, with Essex / London sextet The Candy Runts unleashing their unique brand of Hard Rock hell via their EP 'Scanty Thunder', this is the new sound preparing to assault the British music scene. Taking clear influences from the likes of rock legends The Darkness and Whitesnake to modern metallers Steel Panther. 'Scanty Thunder' features four tracks of electric-rock at its finest and is sure to please many fans of the classics as well as those who love their rock like they love their beer. With riffs being shed out at maniac speeds and atmospheric keys delivering a solid wall of sound, whilst the drums provide a gallant and adventurous sound and the vocals bring the no-bullsh*t style of classic rock, there is nothing to stop these laddies from making themselves known.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

ARMONIGHT
'Tales From The Heart'

Them Italians, they love their Gothic music, well after all along with the Spanish and the French, they belong in the Romance language family, bit of a witty hint there, but taking into account Armonight, a Vicenza-based sextet and then take a look at their latest offering 'Tales From The Heart' and you then begin to realise that there is much more going on than just dark love, this is a band who mix Gothic music with lush melodies and heavenly vocals and they do it spot on right. Alongside fellow countrymen like Lacuna Coil, Macbeth, Domina Noctis, Theatres des Vampires and Amantyde, Armonight are welcomed into the family and are sure, with 'Tales From The Heart' now unleashed, to take on the world by storm.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

COLD DESIGN
'Summer will soon be here'
SHADOWPLAY

Lets be honest, when you put Russian Industrial Electronic Goth music into the limelight, it generally turns out to be sensationally awesome, so when the two-person project Cold Design emerge with their latest offering 'Summer will soon be here', the Voronezh based band captivate the listener and entrance them in military-style bitter cold music and warp them to the eastern front. Playing traditional electro-industrial beats and fusing them with the lustre of Russian gothic music, Cold Design revive the NIN sounds of yesteryear with their unique combination and yet top it off with the lyrics being entirely in Russian. 'Summer will soon be here' is a reality check, the Russian alternative scene is far from dead; this album is for fans of NIN and [T.3.R].

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

SUCH STRANGE ARTS
'Our Time Is Now'

Fans of Sum41 will go blinded if they fail to spot this Essex quartet emerging from the gutters of the Rayleigh suburbs, Such Strange Arts play your no-nonsense Pop Punk, loaded with beats that will make your grandma get up and groove and so much originality, they couldn't do it any better. Upon hearing their long-awaited debut EP 'Our Time Is Now', this is the sort of material that should get Kerrang! sniffing at, from the rebellious hardcore punk 'Our Time Is Now' track to the Sum41 infused 'Been Here Before', there is something for everyone, right from the first riff to the last drumbeat, Such Strange Arts have made it clear, that their time is now.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

CHOMP CHOMP ATTACK!
'How Do You Like Me Now'

If you take a pinch of Black Veil Brides imagery, mix it with Rise Against and add that Screamo tint to it, what you end up with is a Canadian quintet bursting with brilliance and utmost complex musicianship as proven on their debut EP 'How Do You Like Me Now', since 2010 the machine known as Chomp Chomp Attack! has been revving up for this release and it now explodes with what can be perceived as the greatest Post-Hardcore/Screamo music coming out of the Canadian borders. Laced with melodic and grizzly vocals, blitz-style drumming and chunky riffs, this is the armageddon waiting to storm the globe, clad in black and leather, armed with an EP fit for a leviathan and visions set on smashing the international scene, the question riding on everyone's lips post-apocalypse is 'How Do You Like Me Now?'

[9/10] RHYS STEVENSON

COLD BLACK
'From Scratch'

From time to time there will always be a band that takes a myriad of influences, that dubbing them one simple genre is not an option, such a band is Cold Black from Denmark. The Hard Rock / Heavy Metalcore quartet awaken the streets of Copenhagen with their lively and hard-hitting EP 'From Scratch', featuring a classic Motley Crue rock sound, Black Veil Brides vocal sound and Metalcore in the style of Asking Alexandria, Cold Black are Denmark's next biggest export, of whom should storm Europe with 'From Scratch' in tow. Lightning riffs, thunderous drumming and rip-tide vocals smother the listener in a wall of sound so delightful, chocolate cakes are now considered bygone products.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

AMY CAN FLYY
'The Start'
HORSEPOWER

The forthcoming EP 'The Start' from Bournemouth Pop Punk / Pop Rockers Amy Can Flyy is a beautifully sculptured piece of music, joining together anthemic sounds with the underbelly of the funk feeling experience on 'Mr Bones' and the rock out tune 'You Can't Stop Us Now', this is an EP worthy of being in anyone's collection. Pop Punk itself has seen a resurgence over the last few years and it's here to stay, with 'The Start' now firmly set for a release date of October 15th and much more anticipation circulating the future debut album when it drops, fans of All Time Low will dig this EP so much, it will become like a wildfire, spreading across the British rock scene and as it gathers fan momentum, it will become 'The Start' of Amy Can Flyy's adventure.

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

TU AMORE
'Your Love'

Tu Amore is one of those easy-listening alternative rock bands that have the rock in the heart and their soul in the rock they play, so when the Peterborough quartet mesh together their forthcoming EP 'Your Love', they take pinches of different rock styles from here and there, expect to hear the likes of pop rock, alternative rock, soul rock and punk rock to roam around the seven tracks enlisted on this groundbreaking release, making an appearance on the Tu Amore's song 'Speranza' is Mikey Chapman (lead vocalist of Mallory Knox) and with that in the mix, 'Your Love' is the subliminal sound that will setup the band to storm the UK music scene, Tu Amore ('Your Love') are the new kids on the block.

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

LADY GAGA
'Born This Way'
INTERSCOPE

Following the highly acclaimed debut album of electropop sensation Lady Gaga, the sophomore attempt was to be a hard one to accomplish, or was it? Following 'The Fame' came the American-Italian's 'Born This Way' with a more technical approach the electronic music initiated on the first album and even so with the slight hint of Heavy Metal influences; the latter becoming a shocker to the music industry, but then who says opposites don’t attract? 'Born This Way' brings out the Lady Gaga sound, an upbeat face-puncher of dance music with synthrock and sensual sounds to unleash the belter on the dance floor, lets face it people may find her with a wardrobe malfunction, but don’t judge the book by its cover, Lady Gaga is bringing the best of pop to life, considering most mainstream music is all the same, Lady Gaga makes the sound emerge right.

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

THE HORRORS
'Skying'
XL RECORDINGS

Maybe the sounds of Southend's music scene have undermined the rock etiquette and persona established by The Horrors. The quintet started off with the sound of Gothic Rock/Shoegaze but have now edged to a more space-rock/post punk sound with their third full-length album 'Skying'; naturally not sounding remotely similar to Muse but spot on with a comeuppance of synth-infused rock and catchy beats to entrance all who listens into sensual and phantasmagoria euphoria. 'Skying' without a doubt has the complete emphasis of the music shift riding on it and whilst the overall tone of the release is fruitful and delinquent, The Horrors themselves will always be remember for the Gothic look.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

VERSES
'No World For Us'

Versatility, imagination and a sense for making the bizarre the obscure and bringing out the best of the missing pieces of British rock, such is a statement in reference to Brighton boys Verses and their latest release 'No World For Us', the EP carries four anthemic rock tracks, powerful enough to keep a thousand generators running the UK's electricity supply. Sounding in the same sort of style as Muse but definitely closer to 30 Seconds To Mars, nonetheless Verses have a clarified sound with as much excitement as a derby in football. Verses bring the best in rock sound, a bandmember apparently looking like 'David Tennant (Dr.Who)' and enough fists to raise an army from anything.

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

WE WERE LIONS
'Rebirth'

From first impressions conceived, this is an EP worth counting for as a new step in rock music, lashing together a mix of Power Pop with Hardcore as heavy as a two ton breakdown. We Were Lions came from the ashes of Faint Young Sun, a Wickford-based Pop/Hardcore band with enough power to blast peoples clothes off. Now with a new moniker and a new path for sound, the quintet from Essex are working their way to change the course of music, with their debut EP in tow and four tracks making it up, there is no reason why the Essex music scene wont receive a 'rebirth' from this boyband. Highlight songs include 'backseat' with its groove-laden breakdown from 1:37 to 2:17; such an imageable sound coalescing from the intricacy of this song, but even 'silver medal' delivers justice.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

ERILAZ
'First Of The Vortices'

Coming from the eerie darkness of the Helsinki suburbs is Finnish industrial/EBM project Erilaz. 2012 marks the coming of the debut EP from this project, 'First Of The Vortices' takes into its production the very sensual embodiment of EBM and logistically adapts it to make it more commendable. With influences from Eisenfunk taken aboard and industrial music implemented in the way the Finnish go about doing it, there is no reason to stop this project from breaking more barriers down. Those who enjoy fast electronic music mixed with a soul-soothing pace, this is the release for you.

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

ANGELSPIT
'Hello My Name Is'
METROPOLIS

Australia's Cyber Punk / Electro Industrialists Angelspit come back with their fourth synthetic production and call it 'Hello My Name Is', this is an album full of raving, techno-breakdowns and sensational beats, taking the definition of cybergoth to a new level and inducing a coma of megawatt level. 'Hello My Name Is' brings the best of underground rave and excites it by installing a better hard drive for cutting edge electronic music. For the Australian duo, this is perhaps their best album of their career and as of yet is sure to make appearances across alternative clubs across the globe. The album 'Hello My Name Is' will appeal to those fans of Ayria, Black Light Discipline and Despair.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

_ MIDGAR
'Lead Your Children To The Sky'
ROCKET TOWN

English Progressive Alternative Rockers Midgar unleashed their mini-debut album in 2010 to rapturous reviews, none the less this is a great debut in the sound of Tokio Hotel-cross-Maroon 5 style music. The London quartet set themselves on the path of devising a spectacular return and with this release under their belt, their next effort will almost be certainly an enjoyable one, with a charged-atmosphere of calmness and soul-soothing tunes to engulf the listener with, 'Lead Your Children To The Sky' will not shy away from being dubbed 'prog rock revitalised and rejuvenated'.

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

THE KARMA HEART
'Throw Your Light'

Combining the delightful influences of Paramore and Foo Fighters is the North Eastern rock band The Karma Heart who on their debut album 'Throw Your Light' do not fail to impress, with a beautiful level of singing to provide the intricate background music with an electric personality, this is one record that is sure to get them noticed. In rock terms, they are more punk than pop, but have pop elements here and there, but are not emo unlike Paramore. It is to be said that this release is one for those parties and can surely ignite a night in pure glory, so whilst its time to 'Throw Your Light', The Karma Heart are what the English rock scene has been missing.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

THE CONFLITTO
'Dusk Over The Nations'
WORMHOLE DEATH

The debut album for Italian Post-Hardcore / Screamo quartet The Conflitto is such a heavy and brutal one, sounding similar to that of Rise Against colliding with Screamo act These Hearts, the boys from La Spezia give it all full throttle with the music and vocals, prepare to be shredded apart by the sheer force exuberated on 'Dusk Over The Nations', volaitile vocals backed by some of most nasty drumming and outrageous riffs from the Italian music scene. 'Dusk Over The Nations' is for those fans of Enter Shikari, Rise Against and These Hearts, The Conflitto could prove dangerous sometime soon.

[7] RHYS STEVENSON

ESKIMADA
'Eskimada'

Eskimada released their self-titled album 'Eskimada' last year in 2011, the Italian Alternative Metal / Rock quintet deliver solid music but the vocals are a little to be desired, in fact it ruins the album in its entirety. Whilst they sing in English, they do not achieve captivation in most areas and thus leave the listener questioning what they are playing. This is nothing like Evanescence nor like System of a Down, in fact its hardly really anything, just plain music. The fact comparisons are hard to draw up says it all, but for those who like obscure music, 'Eskimada' is one for you.

[5.5] RHYS STEVENSON