Warped Tour Comes To London

     For Rock, Alternative and Pop Punk fans across the Atlantic, the U.S’s Warped Tour line up has been a dreaded time for Brits since its inception 14 years ago. But in November this this year, Warped Tour will be gracing our shores!

      With no word with regards to line-up as yet, it is Warped’s incredibly successful reputation fans are trusting, and who can blame them with past tours involving the likes of All Time Low, Of Mice and Men, Yellowcard, Lostprophets and Rise Against it cannot be missed!

     Details are being kept under wraps for the time being, but head over to www.vanswarpedtouruk.com and register for any updates. Perhaps it won’t be too long until Warped Tour blasts its way through the entirety of the UK

Album of the Month: Weapons by Lostprophets: (02/02/2012- Epic Records)

    From Pontypridd, Wales, and founded by vocalist Ian Watkins in 1997, Lostprophets have achieved several top ten singles over the past few years.

      Their fifth studio album is based around the Latin saying found on its artwork ‘Deus Velox Nex’ which translates as ‘God is swift death’; living life to the full and being aware of how precious it is. This is a theme that trickles through the record, as well as a great blend of all Lostprophets’ past styles from past albums, including more mainstream components and even manipulated rap in parts. Single ‘Bring Em Down’ was released on the 23^rd of March and propels the band into an image of freedom fighters and the tone of almost sarcastic swagger and energy, as well as exceptional musical skill lingers throughout ‘Weapons.’

Freedom Fighters: Lostprophets' Artwork for 'Weapons'

Lucy T- ‘Murphy’s Law’ EP (April/May 2012– Self Released)

        Lucy T is a five piece alternative band based in Hampshire, England who formed in early 2011. They’ve already shared the stage with Don Broco, Adelaide and Jody Has Hitlist. The band combines a blend of British style Hardcore, Pop Punk and chunky riffs and have received mentions in Rocksound magazine. ‘Murphy’s Law’ is set for release within April or May this year and the EP’s artwork is currently being designed.

Lucy T

     Although ‘For The Wreck(ord)’ mirrors Lostprophets’ tearjerker ‘Rooftops’, down to a tee, the instrumentation is undoubtedly full of potential and Thom Palser’s vocals merge with it incredibly. However, by the third chorus, the overly repetitive nature of the chorus makes it less striking each time despite Palser’s bright vocals. The input of screamo vocals at the very end of the track appear to have been thrown in to simply reflect Lucy T’s Hardcore influences, rather than any musical purpose. ‘They Fall Winglessly’, with guest vocals from Russ Merry, is everything a typical, more gentle Pop Punk song is made up of; a smoother beginning building up into a chorus with angst and heartbreak filled long notes wonderfully executed. In a similar format to early Paramore or Kids in Glass Houses, Lucy T manage to blend backing, screamo and lead vocals very well, as well as instrumentation throughout the track, until the great, very well produced faded ending.

     Despite the fact that each track begins in a generic Pop Punk format, Lucy T’s individuality shines through as they progress; ‘Exhertion’ boasts thunderous drumming, speedy guitaring and wide set, emotion filled lyrics; ‘the smile don’t come easy.’ With classic Metal riffs, gang vocals and vocal dynamics, this track is everything the band wish to illustrate, especially with their lyrics being so general, and therefore appealing to as many people as possible. Title track ‘Murphy’s Law’ begins similarly to the other tracks of the EP, which reflect how difficult it can be for band’s to discover and develop their own sound and reflect it in their work without coming across as repetitive or dull. Yet this track is quite limp due to its glacial pace and despite the Metal breakdown.

Promo: Lucy T wristbands

    With various influences and styles inputted into ‘Murphy’s Law’, Lucy T have managed to compose something very well produced, as individual as possible, with emotive lyrics and great potential.

3/5

Lostprophets–Liberation Transmission (26/06/2006-Visible Noise)

      Lostprophets were formed in 1997, in Pontypridd, originally as a side project post hardcore band known as Public Disturbance. As it stands, Liberation Transmission is Lostprophets’ third of four albums released to date and has gained them various Kerrang! Awards and nominations peaked, at number thirty three in the Billboard 200 Chart and went Gold in the UK with over 27,000 copies sold. Approximately a year prior to the official release of Liberation Transmission, founding member and drummer Mike Chiplin left Lostprophets to pursue ‘other musical opportunities’. The album’s artwork which reads ‘Nobis Pro Lemma Vobis’ which loosely translates as ‘For us, for them, for you’, a lyric taken from the band’s 2004 single ‘Burn Burn’ from previous album ‘Start Something.’

     Liberation Transmission opens with the thunderous ‘Everyday Combat’, which sets the listeners sights high for the remainder of the record. Made up of a pop punk style chorus, ‘walk on streets, on fire...’, guest screaming vocals from Sean Smith (The Blackout) and a thunderous guitar solo or two. The track commences with the ear splitting sound of speakers being ignited, setting the scene for a loud listen. Perfectly arranged, with a call and response dynamic running between faultless lead vocalist Ian Watkins, gang vocals and edgy guitaring. A pop punk/rock song with a kick is a common theme for this track and the remainder of the album and the genre hopping Welsh quintet do not fail to deliver on any of the dozen tracks. It is certainly surprisingly to learn that ‘Everyday Combat’ was not released as a single, considering the punchy without being poppy quality from start to finish, ‘don’t think you’re safe ‘cause it’s not over!’.

Liberation Transmission: Artwork

    Second track, ‘A Town Called Hypocrisy’ was sold as a single from 11^th September 2006 and consequently reached number 23 in the UK singles chart. It would have been a perfect opening to the album but as ‘Everyday Combat’ is heavier; it is easy to tell why it was chosen instead, as it is a gentle welcome to old fans used to Lostprophets’ sound from their previous two albums. Similarly to ‘Everyday Combat’ however, ‘A Town Called Hypocrisy’ is gritty, flavourful and very dynamic, ‘Save your sympathy!’, with flawlessly entwined lead and backing vocals as well as instrumentality. This track also verifies the fact that the band do not belong to any music scene in particular, yet still manage to genre hop admirably; from pop to rock to metal to pop punk.

     Despite having released ‘The Betrayed’ in January 2010, Liberation Transmission truly marks Lostprophets’ peak in terms of sound and overall production. ‘A New Transmission’ follows suit, retaining concise lyrics, ‘Take, take, take all my time all my company, take everything from me...’ and a heavy gig vibe. The band even manages a breakdown into a piano section and some ‘woahs’ without turning into Westlife, followed by a signature colossal chorus. ‘Rooftops (A Liberation Broadcast)’ is the token tearjerker for the CD yet also comes across as a ‘feel good’ summer hit. Yet by the second verse, Ian Watkins’ vocals and Lee Gaze’s lead guitar become very rhythmic, and similar to Green Day and their 2003 album ‘American Idiot’. ‘Will we make our mark this time?...always said we’d try...’ will stay with you like the common cold, and overall ‘Rooftops...’ is the natural sequel to ‘Last Train Home’ (‘Start Something’, 2004); heavy and heartrending.

     Fifth track ‘Can’t Stop, Gotta Date With Hate’ proves that Lostprophets can conjure every single track on an album to be a stormer, despite some emotional guitar at the beginning, and more than worthy at being played live, ‘Cause I see nothing in those eyes...’. ‘Can’t Catch Tomorrow (Good Shoes Won’t Save You This Time)’ is definitely the band’s most indie based song to date without a loss of the coarse vocals. Released as a single from 27^th November 2006, the track is forceful yet bright and comes full circle to a complete end, conveying the strong abilities of the band in terms of songwriting and track arrangement. They also depict the possibility of writing emotion based lyrics without ballad type melodies accompanying them, ‘Maybe someday you will know, maybe someday you will end these tears and go!’.

     Something to note about Liberation Transmission is that every single song could be released as a single and potentially warmly welcomed by fans, because although Lostprophets utilise a number of genres and styles, they have developed their sound and retained it throughout the album. ‘Everybody’s Screaming!!!’ and ‘Broken Hearts And Torn Up Letters’ are certainly no different, and with these two tracks in particular, you can hear the confidence within the band in terms of who they want to be as musicians, ‘You’ll regret it all, livin’ behind your walls and you’ll never fall in love if you don’t fall at all!’ ‘4:AM Forever’ is caresses your ears like a gentle breeze; beautiful from beginning to end, and not tarnished by a harsh chorus.

Lostprophets in 2006

    The opening of ‘For All These Times Son, For All These Times’ suggests a metal-esque track, followed by Watkins’ scream based vocal. Lostprophets are not oblivious to the power of call and response within a piece of music, and how effective it can be at gigs, ‘Lipgloss lies, doin’ the time, never gonna miss what a left behind...’.  ‘Heaven For The Weather, Hell For The Company’ is not only another excessively long song title almost on par with the likes of Fall Out Boy, but if the weakest track from Liberation Transmission had to be named this would be it, slightly limp lyrics and rhythms with other instruments. Brining the record to a close is ‘Always All Ways (Apologies, Glances And Messed Up Chances’) which marks Lostprophets’ flawless style blending, which The Blackout have also achieved.

      With metal, pop punk and rock as well as moments perfect for Radio 2, Liberation Transmission is a speedy, sentimental slap in the face in the best way possible.         

         

5/5