Alt-016 - The Cockrockets, Accidents Will Happen, EarlyRise, Ivy James, Carousel Vertigo, Digits, Remember December, The Areola Treat, Voltrage, BlackWolf

THE COCKROCKETS
'Craters Of War'

Prepare to be wanked, willy-slapped, tossed off, eh the puns keep on coming (er-hem). Aptly named The Cockrockets, this London mob accentuate the brilliance found within the punk rock style, sure you cannot tie them down to one genre as upon hearing their latest album 'Craters Of War' it is clear they weave together a sound from an array of different styles and that in itself makes the album 100% unique. Don't expect any pleasantries or politeness circulating the lyrics either, this band does not know niceness, they only know how to flip the middle finger so precisely it would make your attempt obsolete. Expect groovy riffs to caress your hearing whilst the rocking atmosphere soothes your soul and the rest of the musical elements finish you off. The Cockrockets are sure to go far, but how far is the big question.

Download This: "We Don't Wanna Die"

For Fans of: Sex Pistols, The Clash, George Carlin-esque banter apparently.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

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ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN
'Prologue'

Whether by fad or by trend, it seems to be the norm these days for rock bands to have a female vocalist and try to avoid the nastiest of cliche's as becoming 'just another Paramore wanna be', of course there are bands that defy that and do their own thing, Accidents Will Happen fall into that category. Sure their debut EP 'Prologue' glimmers with a whole array of different rock songs that will be sure to get anyone's musical taste-buds tickled, there is only one down side to the EP and that focuses one the song 'We Are', and the reason behind that? The guitar riff in the beginning (and throughout) does not bode well with the rest of the music, it seems well out of sync and should not be there either! Despite that the rest of the song dishes out a good sound and level of eccentricity. For the EP itself, it is a fair decent attempt by the band and with their minds firmly set on a sound, we could see more Download Festival worthy material being produced in the near future.

Download This: 'Time'

For Fans of: Don Broco, Biffy Clyro, 'down-right outrageous rock music'

[7.5] RHYS STEVENSON

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EARLYRISE
'What If'

Bands like Earlyrise are so tough to pigeonhole into one genre, sure they are a rock band but they lace said music genre with elements of pop, electronic music and bizarrely some pop punk in the vibrancy of the vocals. Unleashing the beautiful terror from their sexy sensational debut album 'What If', the Illinois quintet have evidently primed themselves for taking the world by storm with their unique style of rock music. Now before you laud them as another Paramore band, no they sound nothing at all like them, if anything imagine them as the female-fronted version of Mallory Knox or Black Veil Brides (Wretched and Divine: The Story of the Wild Ones era and minus the make-up). What with angelic vocals leading the front-line and the music itself delivering a full-on party sound that would liven up anyone's day or night, 'What If' could be debut rock album of the year easily and as long as Earlyrise keep this sound going, we could see them at Download Festival early as next year, watch this space.

Download This: "Face Me"

For Fans of: Mallory Knox, Black Veil Brides, We Are In The Crowd

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

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IVY JAMES
'Ivy James'

Singer-songwriter Ivy James delivered her debut self-titled EP last year and to be frank it is something rather special. Having won a whole host of award nominations such as the Best Young Songwriter by the Toronto Independent Music Awards in October 2012, it is clear even with this EP that she has talent in her blood. Take for example the song 'Galaxies' and then listen to it next to perhaps Adele's 'Skyfall' and there resides a comparison in the vocals, that powerful and exhilarating deliverance that for an 17 year old is as close to as 'child prodigy' as you can get. Make no mistake about it her self-titled debut EP is going to take her places and as it gives her well-earned attention in her native Canada, with this effort now in the open I can see her making a name for herself across the Atlantic, especially in the UK. Armed with an acoustic guitar and a voice that emanates the softer rock side to fellow Canadian singer Avril Lavigne, Ivy James is a musician to watch.

Download This: "Ashes To Ashes"

For Fans of: Avril Lavigne, Katie Melua, Adele, Lene Marlin

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

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CAROUSEL VERTIGO
'Mighty' feat their single "I'm A Comin' World"
MOLANO MUSIC

What happens when two virtuoso guitarists come colliding on one stage? Total musical Armageddon. As America meets France with this sensational line-up, entering onto the rock circuit is Paris-based rockers Carousel Vertigo of which their 70's style of rock is simply awe-inspiring. Featuring a rally of killer riffs, exuberant drumming and Bon Scott-era AC/DC vocals that when coming altogether summon a sound that will crunch anyone's senses into overload.  'Mighty' is the band's debut album and on it is their upcoming single "I'm A Comin' World", what rock fans can expect from this lot is a smooth and sensational deliverance of high voltage rock that evidently will keep anyone rocking and partying all night long. Let's be honest, rock will never die as long as bands like Carousel Vertigo keep the classic elements intact, and wasn't it AC/DC who said "Let there be light, sound, drums, guitar. Let there be rock"? Boy were they right.

Download This: "Mighty Good Woman"

For Fans of: AC/DC, Aerosmith, Airbourne

[10] RHYS STEVENSON

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DIGITS
'Acquiesce To Violence'

One ponders thought whether the band was meant to be an algorithm for numerical music, whatever the meaning behind the band is it's a good one as demonstrated on their upcoming re-release of their successful EP 'Acquiesce To Violence'. Taking pinches of influences from a plethora of rock styles, the North-Eastern scamps magic up a winning score to set their career firmly in motion. Featuring a spectacular array of rock songs that will get anyone dancing or waving their arms in the air, or whatever modern rock fans do these days, it will get you moving, guaranteed. Echoing in the footsteps of a whole plethora of punk and melodic rock bands, Digits are ready to slash the British scene in half as an 'Acquiesce To Violence', this is just the beginning...

Download This: "Golden"

For Fans of: Biffy Clyro, Hundred Reasons, Deftones

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

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REMEMBER DECEMBER
'Two Can Play That Game'

Canvey Islanders Remember December make their mark with their upcoming EP 'Two Can Play That Game', proving that their home place is not just an island known for the floods or the oil refineries. Carefully molded to deliver a powerful punching style of pop punk / rock, Remember December have gone full out on this one and with this effort as good as it is, they could be on their way to national recognition. Glass-shattering vocals drive this unbelievably emphatic EP to new heights for the band, whilst the solidarity in the drumming and crunchiness of the riffs sharpen the sound so much that you would need to put insurance on your hearing in case you become infected by the EP's sensational sound, this is guaranteed to get you hooked and rooting for the band, because with this EP they are sure to go far.

Download This: "Run With The Wolves"

For Fans of: 30 Seconds To Mars, You Me At Six, We Are In The Crowd, The Hype Theory

'Two Can Play That Game' is out 30th September

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

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THE AREOLA TREAT
'Pleasure Machines'

Indie / Punk Rock from Malta you say? Correct. Making noise for themselves are The Areola Treat whose latest release 'Pleasure Machines' certainly fits the bill as a credible rock release, full of gusto and powerful compositions, I honestly want to see this lot representing Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. 'Pleasure Machines' delivers erotically charged vocals that are strapped down by the funky riffs and the solid drumming that pushes this release forward so much that The Areola Treat could easily be Malta's next biggest rock export. Most guys will get a bit of a reaction to the artwork as well as the music (if you know what I mean), but joking aside the artwork does reflect the band's attitude that rock music must be naked to get the true sounds out and what a sound it is.

Download This: "Subsonic Speed Shades"

For Fans of: The Clash, Kasabian, Sex Pistols

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

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VOLTRAGE
'Bad Reputation'

Franco-Belgian quintet Voltrage delivered a blast from the past with their debut album 'Bad Reputation' released last year, simply put imagine a helium-filled Bon Scott and the musical power of Guns 'N' Roses, yeah you get the picture. Voltrage are another modern day rock band obsessed with the 80's rock vernacular and with their debut album deliver a sound that truthfully emanates the greats of AC/DC, Aerosmith, Guns 'N' Roses, etc, etc. With high-pitch vocals delivering such a painful experience to your hearing, you may begin to think that Voltrage have a 'Bad Reputation' themselves, in that they have a 'Bad Reputation' for delivering sensationally rocking music, it is that bad it's good. Give their mark though because Voltrage will certainly appeal to the fans of classic 80's rock, make no mistake they are pretty damn good.

Download This: "Girls Gone Wild"

For Fans of: AC/DC, Guns 'N' Roses, Kiss

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

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BLACKWOLF
'Mr. Maker'

Just what the doctor ordered, another rock act... well not just any old rock act, perhaps thee rock act to reboot the entire music industry and crush that glut of over-processed pop music that dominates the radio waves. 'Mr. Maker' is the latest single by Bristolian rock 'n' rollers Blackwolf and boy it packs a Jack Daniel and chilling moment in it, given the lads have been going just under two years now and have already amassed a plethora of feats including supporting Revoker, Voodoo Six and The Union amongst others. Now armed with this single and their foreseeable debut album, there is nothing that will stop BlackWolf from reaching the very pinnacle of the music industry. It would seem that the old ways tend to be the best as BlackWolf prove here, erotic riffs gently glide behind the sheer atomic power of the vocals, whilst the background generating of cymbal crashes and lush drumming deals with the solidarity of this track, 'Mr. Maker' would fit nicely on BBC Radio 2. Has anyone got Ken Bruce's number?

'Mr. Maker' is out on September 30th / BlackWolf's as of yet untitled album is due out January 2014

[9] RHYS STEVENSON