Posted in Cd Reviews

While Trollfest may sound like the name of a music festival, they are in fact a Norwegian ”Baltic metal” band that mix Balkan folk music with black or extreme metal, to produce a quite unique and crazy sound. The band formed in 2004 and released their debut album ”Willkommen Folk tell Drekka Fest!!” in 2005. Brumlebassen is their fifth album.

OK for people who haven’t listened to Trollfest before, how would I describe them? I’d start with a folk metal band then feed them massive amounts of caffeine to get them playing much faster than normal. Add in a dose of insanity so they start writing the lyrics in a fictional language and you’re heading in the right direction. Add in a large amount of alcohol to get the party spirit going and thats it – you’ve got Trollfest.

The lyrics are often...

Posted in Cd Reviews

It’s almost four years since Doro’s last album (Fear no evil), and it won’t be long till she releases her new album later this year. To whet the appetite of fans she is releasing an EP on the 3rd August, which coincides with her performing at the legendary Wacken festival.

“This is the first record for my new label Nuclear Blast”, Doro explains. “Thus it’s a very special album, because the cooperation means very much to me. So I hope that in the end the fans will love the EP and the album as much as I do”. Doro promises her loyal fans even more: “Everyone who likes the EP will sure be delighted by the album with it’s 13 to 14 songs as well. I’ve put all my passion, blood, sweat and tears into my first record for Blast.“

The EP contains the track – ”Raise your fist” in ...

Posted in Cd Reviews

One thing that Finnish metallers Children of Bodom are known for is their habit of including cover versions as bonus tracks on their albums, and as separate releases (the ”Skeletons in the closet” album was a full album of cover versions . These are usually songs that you wouldnt think of as being anything like the band’s usual music, and are often absolutely brilliant – one of my favourites is their cover of ”Ghostriders in the sky”, but they have also covered songs by bands including Creedence Clearwater Revival, Pat Benatar, The Ramones, Britney Spears, Anthrax, Kenny Rogers and many more...

Posted in Cd Reviews

Young Cambridge band The Treatment are doing very well at the moment. They released their debut album on Powerage records before signing with Spinefarm and re-releasing the album to a good reception. They’ve been busy touring the UK and have supported Alice Cooper on tour in Europe. They are currently in the USA as the support band for the KISS/Motley Crue tour – now that’s a good lineup and a great opportunity for the band to make a lot of new fans in the USA. Their debut album, ”This might hurt” has been followed by a limited edition EP (Then & Again) released for Record Store Day which contained several cover versions.

This single contains two tracks – ”Nothing to lose but our minds – 2012 version” and ”Evil Woman”...

Posted in Gig/Festival Reviews

The Marés Vivas TMN fest was celebrating this year its 10º edition so the organization decided to have 4 days of “party” instead of the usual 3. For those of you who don’t know this Portuguese festival and are too lazy to see my other poor reviews here’s what you need to know: this summer fest happens in the north of Portugal, in the other side of the Douro River, in a city called Gaia. It’s one of the biggest and cheapest festivals in Portugal if not the Cheaper (4 day ticket costing between 50€ and 60€).This festival always hosts a great variety of musical styles: Indie rock, Punk, Goth rock, pop, garage rock, funk, soul and Portuguese music as well. They’re also known for bringing top bands from the 80’s and 90’s which ultimately joins groups of all ages.

Day 1
T...

Posted in Press Releases

The British IBM released a brand new single and video this week to celebrate the founding of Intel, (18th July 1968)… Formed by retro enthusiast and singer-songwriter Adrian Killens, The British IBM combine nerdy delights – indie rock and vintage computing.

Even though some songs are loosely based on ”retro computing” themes, these aren’t the comedy or chip tune type band with in your face songs about micro chips and commodore 64s etc.. The songs are more about the human story of what goes on behind the screens.

Adrian says – ‘I’m a bit obsessed with retro computing. I saw a film called Micro Men, set in Cambridge in the late seventies and early eighties. It’s based on the rise and fall of the two Cambridge computer companies; Sinclair and Acorn...

Posted in Press Releases

”self-effacing slack isn’t exactly having a tough time of it right now, but few do it with Catt’s awkward charm and tunefulness” – Crack In The Road

“Having come to this with no prior knowledge I’ve found it to be thoroughly refreshing and packed full of brilliant moments” – Muso’s Guide

“This music has that kind of laid-back, slightly arched-eyebrow feel, a fine fine band who no-one really seems to know enough about” – Song By Toad

O, Weirdo is another slacker gem from Fantasy Rainbow, the one man / three man / four man (it really does depend on the day) indie troupe from Manchester led by Oliver Catt, and the first to be released on the increasingly excellent Heist Or Hit...

Posted in Press Releases

ALBUM TEASER TRAILER AVAILABLE NOW

Barsuk Records is excited to announce that Menomena will release their new album, Moms, on September 18, 2012 in the US and on October 8 in the UK. Moms is the Portland-based band’s fifth, and their first as a duo. A teaser trailer for the album (featuring a guest appearance by an indie-rock pug) is available below. In support of Moms, Menomena will embark on a North American headlining tour in Autumn, followed by dates in Europe and an appearance at the revered All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in the UK. Those tour dates are listed below.

During the last decade, Menomena has become its own reference point...

Posted in Press Releases

Newport’s The Boy Royals reveal a brand new video for their forthcoming single, People Like Us.

Set for release on August 13th through Require Records, The Boy Royals have already gained support from numerous BBC Radio 1 and 6 music DJ’s, with their previous single ‘Teenage Sky’. Steve Lamacq chose them as his ‘New Favourite Band’ whilst Huw Stephens selected their single to be his ‘Next Hype’.

You can view the video here: http://tinyurl.com/d5xeq43

Alex Nash, vocalist / guitarist, said “People Like Us is about your every day person making the most of what they have. Everyone has their small perks in life that pick you up. As the lyric goes, It’s the little things that can make us live forever. People like me, people like you, people like us.”

The Boy Royals will ...

Posted in Press Releases

Scottish songstress Anna MacDonald has announced a free MP3 – Naj’s Song. A multi-instrumentalist, she plays the piano, guitar and clarsach, which she beautifully intertwines with Scots, English and Gaelic songs.

Naj’s Song is from her forthcoming Paper Flowers EP (August 16th, Firebeach Records) and is available to download here:

http://soundcloud.com/prescription-pr/anna-madonald-najs-song

For more information on Anna MacDonald please visit www.annamacdonaldmusic.com