LostAlone - I'm A UFO In This City (2012)

Genre - Hard Rock / Alternative Rock / EMO
Label - Graphite

Track listing -

01. Obey The Rules You Lose

02. Love Will Eat You Alive
03. Paradox On Earth
04. UFOria (The Dark)
05. Vesuvius
06. Creatures
07. Orchestra Of Breathing
08. Put Pain To Paper
09. Do You Get What You Pray For?
10. We Are The Archaeology Of The Futures Past
11. The Downside Of Heaven Is The Upside Of Hell
12. Sin and Sinners
13. History Romanticises Traitors
14. Escape
15. Dead Man Walking

It's really no often that a band can cite such diverse influences, and then back it up by producing an album within which are discernible notes of all of them. This album is a real treat for anyone who likes rock in any of it's forms, but especially those who like the richly layered vocals and soaring lead-guitar of Queen, or who appreciate a good, solid, ground-stomping riff played on guitar and bass in tandem. "Love Will Eat You Alive" is a finehold honed, highly melodic and masterfully delivered wall-of-sound experience, "Vesusius" is the kind of slow-starting epic that promises much with it's long, suspenseful intro and then bang!
Lostalone have been cited in some quarters as a 21st century Queen, which is a little unfair, as after listening to this cd a couple of times, (and it takes a few listens as there is so much here to sink in!), I think that it would be fairer to say that LostAlone are a 21st century LostAlone, unique in all the good ways! LostAlone's style is very much centred on melody and tight harmonies between the group, and this sets them apart from their peers; no-one else sounds like these guys.
I cant really pick out any standout tracks as all fifteen are really great songs, but some of my favorites are Orchestra of Breathing, We Are The Archaeology Of The Futures Past, The Downside of Heaven..... Dead Man Walking and Love Will Eat You Alive, truly stunning tracks.
These guys are threatening to become massive, so check em out and fall in love with them now before the  rest of the world crashes the party. I can honestly say that I havent been this excited by a band since I first heard the Wildhearts way back in 1992!

You must check this album out!

Rating - 10/10

website - www.lostalone.com

Ictus - Handmade & Homegrown

Leicester-based pop / punk quartet bring us their new 5 track mini album, Handmade & Homegrown, which is released 10th May.


With influences ranging from The Offspring, Fall Out Boy and Green Day (being the more obvious ones) you can kind of guess how these guys are going to sound before you even hear the first note, an infectious blend of melodies and choruses.

Ictus front man Aaron Murray has the sort of shiny-smooth voice that was made to sing this kind of music, even though at times his voice does have its limitations, especially on the shout along choruses. Of the five tracks on offer here Id have to say that 'Car Crash Heart', (upon which Ictus really do try and court the Emo brigade!), and 'Call Me On' are the picks of the bunch even though the softer more mellow 'Papers and Pens' is a pretty damn fine track too!

If you are a fan of the bands mentioned earlier then I see know reason as to why you wont love Ictus, if not, well then maybe you should give these guys a wide birth, for me though personally I don't see any problems with bouncy poppy punk tracks!

website - http://www.ictusrock.com/

rating 8/10

Avosetta - Of Our Lives

From the first opening bars of track one (Of Our Lives), Avosetta not only set the mood for latter tracks on this EP, but also set a standard for how music should sound in this current climate. They ooze worldwide potential with every wild guitar riff, spiralling through thunderous drum passages, all complimented with stunning vocal performances. 'Of Our Lives,' the debut EP from Norwich-based five piece Avosetta is one of those frustrating releases where each song has so many good points, but for some reason they just never quite come together right if you know what I mean.


Some times it can be just that the band try to through in a little too many tempo and time changes, but they just don't get the interchanging piece's quite right as on title track 'Of Our Lives'. Its a pity really as the song boast some great guitar lines, and for the most part settles in to a great heavy rock groove which is spoilt by the tempo changes and genre mixes as the band try to mix in some emo punk sections, but as i said they just don't quite pull it off.

It does get better, the last two tracks on this ep, 'Syncopated Heartbeat' and 'Warship Lanterns', are much stronger, especially the closing track 'Warship Lanterns' with its melodic meandering which is spiked with dewy falsetto vocals; the second half of the song is a swaggery, more rock-orientated section, and this time the band pull off the tempo changes perfectly!

This debut EP from the Norwich based quintet, showcases four songs that between them, boast many fine moments, from a band that just ooze potential, maybe if they could get the help of a good producer just to help them refine their ideas a little more then this ep would be getting top marks.

Check em out, they're on their way to World Wide Stardom, they're young talented and ambitious, and as Ive already said the songs are brimming with great ideas!



rating 8/10

Silent Sirens - EP Review

Silent Sirens are a punk pop/rock emo outfit hailing from CHICAGO, Illinois in the good old US of A. This self titled ep is a pretty good effort too!

Opening with 'The Getaway', which is a mid tempo rocker, and very much sets the standard for the rest of the Ep. 'The Mess We Make' follows, upping the tempo and this song really shines! the other two tracks are 'Red Light District' and 'Bombs Away' all of the same high standard.
The thing here is, Silent Sirens just dont offer anything different from a whole host of other emo outfits out there on todays music scene. What they do do though, they do very well, the songs are all good strong songs, (Bombs Away being the rockiest and my favorite of the ones on offer here!), they are well played and well produced.

If you like emo then Silent Sirens wont steer you wrong, if not steer clear.

rating 7/10

Chase This City - Show Us What You Got Ep Review

Just a year after forming, Lancaster-based Chase This City release six-track mini album 'Show Us What You Got?' flaunting a talent for penning towering, pop-punk choruses, that's impressive to say they've been together a short time.
These guys aren’t creating anything particularly original or new, but so what? It’s ballsy, tight, and sharp. The songs are well structured and formulaic, but in a way that breeds friendly familiarity rather than yawns all round.
Show Us What You Got is not exactly going to set the world on fire, but its pretty promising from a young band that have been together for less than 12 months.

Stand out tracks,
Kick In The Teeth and Whats Good For Me

Rating 6/10