ALT-009 - Northpaw, Emma Shaka, Fake The Attack, Searching Alaska, Johnny Get The Gun, Annie Mall, The Blackout, The Call Back Academy, The Rabid Whole, City Of Ashes

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