POST CATEGORY : Rock

Welsh Wizards | Mixtape

This is a quite odd post even by my standards. This day ten years ago I upped sticks and moved to Wales, Wrexham to be precise, which explains all the Wrexham related tweets for anyone who follows me on Twitter.

Although I’m back in Ireland a few years now, it was one of my smarter moves & I retain a fondness for Wales as a country and the music it produces (although I don’t get over half as much as I’d like these days). Welsh music features quite prominently on the blog, something regular visitors are probably aware of. Apart from anything else it got me thinking and I decided to knock together a mixtape/compilation of some Welsh favourites from the past few years, with one or two older tracks thrown in for good measure.

So, without further waffling, here it is, some mighty fine weekend listening. Diolch. Mwynhewch.

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(Video) Kid Karate – Two Times

It’s been quite a wait, two years in fact, since first hearing Dublin noise makers Kid Karate, supporting The Rags in Whelan’s where they almost blew the roof off. From the first visceral note on that night it was bloody obvious these guys were something special.

Numerous electrifying gigs, an excellent EP later and their debut album Night Terrors is finally ready to go. Taken from said album is new single ‘Two Times’, which sums up why they’re such a formidable force. It’s a scuzzy rock n roll jam filled with furious riffage and thunderous drums, not to mention throat zapping vocals. If that doesn’t leave you eagerly anticipating their debut album, nothing will. 

It must be said too, they are one of the most impressive live performers in the country, so when they hit the road to promote the new record don’t miss out.

Photo by kdamo

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The Joy Formidable – ‘Wolf’s Law’

The Joy Formidable have been busy touring and working on the follow-up to their marvelous 2010 debut The Big Roar.

Last week the Welsh rock trio decided to share the fruits of their labour, new track ‘Wolf’s Law’. The rampaging guitar heroics and emphatic wall of sound has taken a temporary back seat. A relatively somber, piano-led arrangement is preferred, which builds gradually to a climactic finale, enabling an appreciation of Ritzy Bryan’s wonderful breathy vocals. Excellent stuff but let’s hope they haven’t put the guitars away for good.

Whether or not ‘Wolf’s Law’ will actually appear on the album is unclear but you can download it for the small price of an email address here.

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Gascan Ruckus – Pieces

It seems our friends in the North are blessed with an abundance of top notch rock music. Another band you can add to that list are Armagh 4-piece Alternative Rockers, Gascan Ruckus.

Having already toured the UK & Ireland and a nomination for a Northern Irish Music Award under their belt, Gascan Ruckus have unveiled their brand new single ‘Pieces’. The single is a ferocious piece of work,  loud, brash and filled with raw aggression, this is one hell of a song.

‘Pieces’ is the first track taken from their forthcoming and second EP, expected in August of this year. You catch them live w/ Axis Of & Ginola Upstairs in Whelan’s on June 27th.

(Download) Kid Karate – Feral

We heard from Kid Karate not too long ago with their inclusion in Hot Press’ Genre Free compilation.

Now the Dublin punk/rock duo of Kevin Breen and Steven Gannon have unleashed ‘Feral’, the first track from their forthcoming debut album Night Terrors. Unleashed is pretty apt, ‘Feral’ is dangerously gritty, raw, brutal and full of blistering energy, thunderous guitars, howling vocals and ferocious drumming. 

Get a load of the gritty-rock-riffage that is ‘Feral’ below, things are certainly hotting up for Kid Karate’s debut album, Night Terrors, penned in for release later this year.

Devin – Romancing

Album review of Devins ‘Romancing’ published for State.ie on May 16th 2012.

Looking to the past for inspiration is common place in modern music, after all, isn’t everything is borrowed? However, 2012 is unlikely to throw up another artist so keen to embrace the past than young New Yorker, Devin. Just a quick glance at the cover of Romancing and these suspicions are confirmed, it is an unashamed throw back to rock ‘n roll of yesteryear, an ode to the days of The Stones, The Ramones & New York Dolls.

As the album and song titles like ‘Born to Cry’ ‘You’re Mine’ and ‘In My Solitude’ suggest, this is a journey through the time-honoured themes of love, loss, and heartache. Apart from this, what strikes you as soon as you set Romancing loose on your speakers, is the raw energy and spirit that drives the album. From the thundering, lightening fast opener ‘Masochist’ to ‘Run’ and ‘Forever Is Only a Moment’ the flamboyant energy never dies.

This flamboyance transposes an effortless, carefree sense of fun and a remarkable danceable quality to his songs, an admirable quality. The hip-swinging ‘New Horrors’, ‘I Don’t Think I’ and ‘Too Soon’ hit the heady heights of Supergrass at the top of their game. It may be a predominantly hyperactive mesh of lively pumped up punk and garage riffs but despite the gritty production, Devin’s soulful blues-tinged vocals inject a touching sense of emotion to proceedings. Originality is obviously not his forte and you will probably feel you have heard these songs before but Romancing offers Devin’s take on a genre and style he loves, doing it justice with an album which sounds passionate, edgy and genuine. A worthy addition to any record collection.

(Video) Blood Red Shoes – Cold

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Blood Red Shoes have unveiled a video for their latest single ‘Blood’, which featured on the blog back in February. It’s an absolute beast of a tune, so, there is no harm in using any excuse to draw attention to it again.

‘Cold’ demonstrates why they are such a formidable force, exposing us to a torrential whirlwind of pummeling drumbeats, fuzzed up guitar and the vocal interplay between the duo is so, so good. 

‘Cold’ is out on Monday, March 19th and is followed by third album, In Time To Voices, on March 26th.

Cheap Freaks – ‘Bury Them All’

Do you like your garage rock trashy, with a dash of chaotic fury? Well then, you’re going to want an introduction to Dublin’s Cheap Freaks.

Formed in 2009, Cheap Freaks recorded their debut album, Bury Them All, over a few days in late 2010 and early 2011 with Sean Coleman. On listening to Bury Them All you get the feeling you’re rifling through a record collection of the finer moments of rock n’ roll. It channels inspiration from a host of blues, country, classic rock, punk and indie stalwarts into their very own muddied sound through a haze of powerful vocals and guitar riffs.

From the foot stomping and fist shaking tenacity of ‘No Where To Go’, ‘1984’ and ‘Cryin’ Shame’ to the Them-esque ‘I’m Coming Home’ and the apocalyptic ‘Asahara’s Nightmare’, this album grunts along wildly with the ferocity of a live set. In keeping with this there are softer moments too, breathers fif you like, most notably the stirring renditions of the more downtempo ‘Cruel World’ and ‘Free Of You’. what makes this collection of garage rock jams stand out is the execution, the exceptional creative talents continually shine through the haze of raucous fury.

There is a deep sense of familiarity to this record, like meeting an old friend for the first time in ages and as with all good garage punk, it is best played loud.

Cheap Freaks – Cryin’ Shame

Cheap Freaks – I’m Coming Home

New: Blood Red Shoes – ‘Cold’

Exciting news this. Blood Red Shoes have announced the release of third album, In Time To Voices, which will follow-up to 2010’s superb Fire Like This on March 26th

That’s not all, the Brighton duo will precede the release with the single ‘Cold’ on March 19th. It’s an absolute beast, from the opening you’re hit with a torrential whirlwind of pummeling drumbeats and fuzzed up guitar. The vocal chemistry and interplay between the duo remains one of the band’s strongest assets, along with the sheer noise level.

I expect Blood Red Shoes will feature quite prolifically throughout the year, don’t just take my word for it, give ‘Cold’ the once over below. 

 Blood Red Shoes – Cold

Introducing: Fiore

LA collective Fiore tread, in a sense, along a similar path as bands like Tame Impala, MGMT and even The Coral with their huge appreciation for psychedelic rock music.

Fiore’s self-titled, debut LP is a record that reveals it’s true worth with repeated plays. It wins the listener over as it meanders along accompanied eerie vocals and fuzzed up riffs. This is a must for fans of the likes of Tame Impala, The Coral or any psych-rock bands.

There’s not much else to tell apart from that. You can download the album for FREE from their website. Here’s 3 reasons why you should.

Download: Fiore – Sincerely, New York

 Download: Fiore – No Pity

Download: Fiore – Ruins (Part II)