Album Review: Young Guns - All Our Kings Are Dead: Gold Edition

In the space between the release of their vastly impressive debut and the recording of the yet-to-be-named follow-up,Young Guns offer up some brand new content on ‘All Our Kings Are Dead: Gold Edition’.

With the album itself identical to the original, it’s left to a bonus DVD to justify the re-release, and parting with your precious cash. A documentary entitled ‘Don’t Look Back, Just Keep Moving’, tracking the rapid rise enjoyed by the band since their humble beginnings at the start of 2008, is a distinctly personal insight, serving as a timeline, taking in their formation, the recording and touring of their debut EP and heading out on the road with the likes of Lostprophets, Taking Back Sunday, All Time Low and Bon Jovi.

What really hits home in listening to each member describe their experiences, is the sense of gratefulness, and the genuine feeling that, although they worked incredibly hard to achieve each of their feats (fronting Kerrang!, touring Europe and playing the O2 arena to name a few), that they value everything they have. You can’t help but think while watching, that not losing sight of how easily things can go wrong should stand Young Guns in good stead.

Accompanying the short film are two live offerings, one a stripped-down session, filmed at Red Bull Studios, the other, three tracks taken from a performance at London’s Electric Ballroom in December 2010. The contrast of the guys in their natural habitat, thrashing out the likes of “Winter Kiss”, “Stitches”, and “Weight Of The World”, and the tranquil surroundings of an acoustic session, couldn’t be more stark, but the fact that they look equally comfortable in both situations says a lot for the ability they possess.

It's a shame that there aren’t any new songs to whet the appetite for the new record (which the band are currently recording in Thailand) but the impressive video content makes sure you’re not disappointed. A must have for the die hard fan, a worthwhile investment for everyone else.

3.5/5

'All Our Kings Are Dead: Gold Edition' is out now.

Liam Mcgarry

(link to article)

Album Review: Simple Plan - Get Your Heart On!

Gone are the days when the likes of Avril Lavigne and Good Charlotte were filling arenas, playing to swarms of optimistic teens whose bobbing heads had yet to be turned by the wailing movement they have dubbed "emo". But, rather than follow the lead of the aforementioned acts and write material obviously pining for the affections of the masses, Simple Plan have admirably stayed true to the formula that made tracks like 'I'm Like A Kid' and 'Shut Up' so popular at the start of the last decade on their latest work,'Get Your Heart On!'.

'You Suck At Love' opens the record in typically clean cut, hook laden fashion, encompassing Simple Plan's ability to pen exceptionally cheesy lyrics and write rousing sing-a-long choruses. It's the sort of infectious song that would drive a metal head off a cliff owing to the fact that they physically couldn't refrain from humming along. Rivers Cuomo's playful cameo on 'Can't Keep My Hands Off You' adds a wise touch to a song that has all the staple characteristics of a radio friendly pop song, the cheeky tag line supplemented by a genre standard "woah" ... or 50.

The record suffers a slight lull in the middle, trundling offerings 'Astronaut' and 'Anywhere Else But Here'proving to be uninspiring, while Alex Gaskarth's appearance on 'Freaking Me Out' isn't enough to mask the fact that it lacks any real stand out qualities, the All Time Low front man adding little other than a name to the track, which is forgettable and a tad clichéd. Were it not for the rapid fire (if hardly self deprecating)'Loser Of The Year' the album's heart would have been altogether disappointing, but as it is, it's sound is highly reminiscent of the defining Simple Plan offerings on 'No Pads, No Helmets, Just Balls...' and 'Still Not Getting Any', which is certainly a positive.

'Last One Standing' is, believe it or not, something of a motoring powerhouse and shows a side of Simple Plan otherwise invisible thus far. It has a much edgier, angsty tone that works brilliantly, and leaves you wondering why the band don't go for this approach more often.

Let's face it, Simple Plan were never going to turn heads with a brave new style or a complete musical makeover to shatter any pre-conceptions you had of them. With GYHO!, they have stayed true to their own sound, a sound that got them where they are today. So while they more than likely wont garner any new fans, they'll please their die hard following, and continue to live the dream.

3/5

'Get Your Heart On!' by Simple Plan is out now through Lava/Atlantic Records.

Official Website
Simple Plan on Twitter and Facebook.

Liam McGarry

Album Review: Safety Word Orange - Acceptance

I'm running out of intro ideas for pop punk records. Commenting on the scene, the good and the bad, has been done to death. This is where I rack my brain trying to think of a joke to do with Safety Word Orange's name, but realise it would probably only be for my benefit and not very funny. All jokes (or lack of them) aside, the Virginia 5-piece bring an absolute corker of an EP to the virtual table with 'Acceptance'.

So often bands of this ilk make distinctly average sounding songs, lack-luster verses supplemented by a catchy enough chorus. Bands that you've heard a million times before. (I considered that a million may be a slight exaggeration, but then thought that there might actually be a million rubbish pop punk bands and decided to go with it. Nobody is going to count them, so I'm sticking to my guns until someone does.) Safety Word Orange do not fit this description.

It's interesting, pop punk often had the ability to make songs with distinctly serious serious subject matters sound wonderfully chirpy. As they themselves state, “we’re sharing stories that deal with real life struggles and problems, while still creating a sense of hope for our listeners.” And opener 'Sound The Alarm' is a stereotypically sugar coated jump-up-and-down track, reminiscent of early Mayday Parade, but still manages to maintain a credibility that is often lost on the genre.

The comparisons to Mayday Parade are even stronger on 'Tin Can Telescope', but this shouldn't be read as a criticism. Despite it's considered sound and structure however, the song does drown slightly in its cliches ("So run away with me, don't say no / I'll take you anywhere you wanna go, you'll never be alone") but that is soon forgotten by the time the final two offerings are through. 'Breathe' and '459' both show brilliant pace (and changes of) that serve to keep your intrigue right to the very end, the latter being the highlight of the EP, powering along three and half minutes in typically "woah" filled fashion.

4/5

'Acceptance' by Safety Word Orange is available now.

Official Website

Safety Word Orange on Facebook, and Twitter

Liam McGarry

Album Review: Arms & The Man - Arms & The Man EP

Arms & the Man don't take themselves very seriously. Don't get it twisted, we're not talking Bloodhound Gang or Bowling for Soup levels of frolics and laxity, but the Hertfordshire 5-piece's approach is anything but stringent and articulate. They themselves describe their sound as "very immature, devoid of emotion and very bloody rock". Lovely.

At three tracks long their latest, self-titled, EP is over almost as soon as it begins, but manages to provide a feast of hard rock, a ruthlessly driven punk/metal hybrid.

Riff laden opener 'Guitarmageddon' is the sort of brutal, expletive fueled middle finger salute that would see Bruce Willis blubbering in a corner of the space shuttle Independence screaming for his Mummy. Rapture predicting American preachers take note.

'Stay Down, Hitchin' is an ever changing affair, careering forward like a monster truck in places, cruising like a Nissan Micra in others, all the while maintaining an angst epitomised by cutthroat screams and ballsy lyrics.

The delightfully named 'Riffalanche' continues the trend of no nonsense, yet somehow mildly amusing hard rock, benefiting from harshly spat vocals, the words "Hey buddy, hey hey buddy, we haven't see you around for a while" giving the track a venomous, teeth grinding tinge that you can't help but enjoy.

By the end your head is beginning to throb (which I imagine is quite possibly a box ticked for some of you). It sure isn't pretty. It's more Dita Von Teese than Cheryl Cole, more Vinny Jones than Lionel Messi. But you would imagine that Arms & the Man wouldn't have it any other way.

3.5/5

'Arms & The Man EP' by Arms & The Man is released on May 30th through Scylla Records.

Arms & The Man on Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace.

Words by Liam McGarry

Album Review: Johnny Foreigner - Some Songs Are Cursed

Album Review: Johnny Foreigner - Some Songs Are Cursed

A mixed bag from Birmingham indie rockers Johnny Foreigner with new EP 'Some Songs Are Cursed'. After the trio's first venture across the Atlantic in the latter stages of 2010 in support of Los Campesinos!, the EP is perhaps a snippet of what's to come from a full length penciled in for release in September of this year.

At just under twelve minutes, the four track EP doesn't stick around long, and all in all is a bit inconsistent. Opening track 'Certain Songs' is a trundling affair, with the sort of sound you would expect to find accompanying a soppy love scene in some outrageously cringe worthy American teen drama.

Halfway through 'Johnny Foreigner vs. You (Cursed Version)' you begin to wonder where the oomph that made songs like 2008's'Salt, Pepper and Spindarella' and 'Eyes Wide Terrified' so popular has run off to, with the cumbersome piano based number doing little to inspire the imagination.

But sure enough, their gritty indie rock selves burst out on 'Twin Sisterzz', which is a brilliant two and fro between slow, considered vocals and raw bullet guitars that leads into finale 'What Drummers Get' where the perfectly contrasting vocals of front man Alexei Berrow and bassist Kelly Southern work wonders with its coarse indie rock sound.

3/5

'Some Songs Are Cursed' bu Johnny Foreigner is available now on Alcopop Records.

Official Website
Johnny Foreigner on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter.

Words by Liam McGarry

Album Review: Former Thieves - The Language That We Speak

Album Review: Former Thieves - The Language That We Speak

Hailing from Iowa, the American Heartland, Former Thieves are drawing plaudits everywhere they turn. Cruising off the back of 2010's well received EP 'The Great, and the Alleged Great', the hardcore quartet were signed to No Sleep Records, joining an eclectic roster already exploding with talent in the form of The Felix Culpa, Into It. Over it. and Touche Amore.

Debut full length 'The Language That We Speak'; which was recorded under the watchful eye of Chris Common (Mastodon, The Sword) is a fighting, growling, Incredible Hulk shirt ripping affair. Not content with simply maintaining the status quo, it's a record that is constantly throwing curve balls, keeping you on your toes throughout 27 minutes of thoughtful brutality.

'Dead Horses are Turned Into Glue' is very much a statment of intent, a smorgasboard of sandpaper vocals, driving riffs and an anything but subtle tone of angst that is prevalent throughout the record. 'Trust Fund Kids' is a fireball that hurtles through at brilliant pace, powered forward by bludgeoning drums, the sentiment of vocalist Matt Schmitz's powerful query "What the fuck is penance without remorse?" left to reverberate around your skull.

'What's Real and What's Not' is excellently crafted, the sort of track that causes heart palpitations with it's furiously pounding rhythm, whilst 'Bad Friends' conforms to the bands abrasive formula for the most part but allows a short moment of respite with a well placed instrumental fade out.

A slight nag would be that the songs sometimes have the tendency to blur, Schmitz's rasp at times sounding one dimensional and repetitive. This aside, for a debut this is a very solid performance, and it's left to the title and possibly most accomplished track to lead us out, with an crashing and epic tone worthy of it's position as finale.

3.5/5

'The Language That We Speak' by Former Thieves is released on April 19th through No Sleep Records.

Official Website
Former Thieves on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.

Liam McGarry

Album Review: I Call Fives/Rust Belt Lights - Split

Well that was brief wasn't it? (For our non-UK readers, the sun made an appearance on our shores this week, and, as is coded in our DNA, we all got a bit too excited.) And whilst we may have to wait a little longer for summer to officially arrive (June 21st is the official date, count the days.) I Call Fives and Rust Belt Lights are doing their absolute pop-punking best to banish those winter blues with a refreshingly positive and upbeat split 7".

Coming off the back of 2010's well received EP 'Bad Advice', I Call Fives are going someway to making their mark on a pop-punk scene experiencing something of revival. Kicking things off with an infectious, New Found Glory-esque tone, 'Too Much To Lose' is the epitome of the jump-up-and-down sensibilities of the genre, and begs to be performed in it's purest live form, sweaty screaming teenagers n'all. 

'For The Best' is a joyous concoction of sickly sweet lyrics, jet-fueled guitars and a pounding drums that would put a certain Phil Collins impersonating gorilla to shame, and caps off a fine two track offering from the New Jersey 5-piece.

Hailing from Buffalo, NY, Rust Belt lights bring a sound intent on representing their small town American upbringing. With an ethos of hard work, and a genuine nature so common with pop-punk's up and comers, their two tracks are relentless and powerfully driven. 'With No Hesitation' is a breathless number, front man Zach Dietsch's sand paper vocals giving their sound a rough-around-the-edges feel that definitely leans in it's favour. 'Haters Get Hated' is a minute and a half of outrageously frank life commentary, an abrupt finish only serving to increase the song's effect.

The best thing about splits such as these is that they're they don't overpower. They give you a short, sharp idea of what the band(s) are about without forcing it down your throat. You either like it, or you don't. And I imagine the general reaction to this will be the former.

3.5/5

'Split' by I Call Fives/Rust Belt Lights is available now on Broken Rim Records.

I Call Fives on MySpace, Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook.

Rust Belt Lights on MySpace, Twitter, and Facebook.

Liam McGarry

Album Review: Scholar - Make Light EP

Scholar are in their musical infancy, but it should be said that debut EP 'Make Light' has a sound more befitting a band much further traveled. Hailing from New York, their brand of lyrically charged punk rock brings with it an brilliantly assured balance of melody and power, Charlie Sheen in places, Mr Sheen in others.

Opener 'Everything is Backwards' is an immediate introduction to the bands lyrical focus, but avoids the failings of other, arguably top heavy bands, whose words only serve to dilute the quality of their sound. Powering through with a chorus that even David James would have no trouble with, it's followed by 'The Rift' a relentlessly driving track reminiscent of Alkaline Trio that makes for an inspiring first half.

'Capture Release' is a more considered, structured offering, making use of front man Steven Blaqart's vocal prowess, as well as some well placed female backing vocals that fit just perfectly, square peg, square hole. 'Locke Syndrome' is the EP's longest track by a distance at five minutes plus, helping to create a very deliberate sense of finality, gang vocals pronouncing quite potently, "Now that we're here I can tell you, we're never going home."

It's not often a debut can boast such maturity, a sound so honed and practised. And as first attempts go, this is stellar.

4.5/5

'Make Light' EP by Scholar is released in March.

Official Website
Scholar on Facebook.

Liam McGarry

Album Review: Transit - Something Left Behind

Music can be a vicious and seedy world, the glitz and glamour a vital facade in keeping alive the romance by which it makes its seemingly all important riches. But it's records like Transit's'Something Left Behind' EP that truly showcase the beauty that lies at the heart of music.

Comprising of a stripped down version of a song from each of the band's previous releases, as well as four new tracks, the record shines through its sentimental atmosphere and a sense of sincerity brilliantly amplified by its acoustic nature.

A slightly laboured beginning in 'Indoor Voices'' is soon forgotten, the remaining eight tracks doing more than enough to dispel any doubts about the record's success.

'For The World' is an endearingly soppy revamp, the title line ("The last thing you said, to me was this, I wouldn't trade you for the world") left to reverberate joyfully around the inside of your skull. The same can be said for 'I Hope This Finds You Well' which is just as potent in its most basic form as it is fully loaded.

First heard on 2009's well received split with New Jersey's Man Overboard, and later on 2010's 'Keep This To Yourself', a beautifully toned down, leisurely rendition of 'Please, Head North' is a highlight, as is full band sign off '1978', a return to their usual chirpy, bread and butter pop punk selves.

It may not be the bands forte, but that only adds to its charm.

4/5

'Something Left Behind' by Transit is available now through Mightier Than Sword Records.

Official Website
Transit on Facebook and Twitter.

Liam McGarry

Album Review: Adelaine - Take Heart

Marketing a female fronted helium rock band has never been easier. Hey Monday, VersaEmerge and We Are In The Crowd, as well as a certain Tennessee based something-piece, have all enjoyed vast success over the last few years.

With this success comes influx of bands, hoping to emulate the popularity of established acts on the scene. Texas reared Adelaine don't do themselves a disservice with debut EP 'Take Heart', which ticks most of the right melodic ultra-light metal boxes. 

A slow starter, 'Crying Out' seems an odd choice for an opener and never really gets out of second gear, its considered and crafted sound much more befitting of a mid-record change of pace.

The band are at their very best when careering through songs at machine gun pace and tracks like 'Do or Die' and 'Strength in my Weakness' maintain relentless vigour, the former serving a driving guitar solo that sets up a crashing finale.

'Take Heart' is worth it's role as title track, combining the bands impressive edgy thrust with genuinely powerful lyrics and a lasting sentiment; "Your heart is your weapon, it's time to make your move".

'Worth the Wait' genuinely is. An accomplished rock ballad, the closer avoids the failings of so many bands who try and fail to successfully pull off what is difficult sound. If you're a fan of the acts mentioned in the introduction to this review, or the likes of Conditions, There For Tomorrow or Madina Lake, then Adelaine are a band worth your time.

3/5

'Take Heart' by Adelaine is released on March 4th.

Purchase 'Take Heart' by Adelaine here.

Adelaine on MySpace and Twitter.

Words by Liam McGarry

Album Review: Call It Fiction - Something I've Never Felt

Pop punk ain’t dead. The revival of (not) everyone’s favourite sugar coated genre is in full swing, and with bands like Four Year Strong, Set Your Goals, The Swellers and Man Overboard enjoying great success, as well as highly anticipated comebacks from the likes of heavyweights Yellowcard and Blink 182 the immediate future looks bright.

But with this increased popularity, comes a wave of pretenders, charlatans riding the coattails of a genre on the up. Unnecessarily harsh? Perhaps. But the fact remains, that for every good band on the scene, there are a hundred uninspiring and mediocre ones chasing the dream.

Call It Fiction, straight out of Akron, Ohio, bring to the table something you’ve probably heard before, a half decent pop punk EP with standard quirky artwork and rammed with gang vocals, synth and poppy melodies.

Opener 'When You Give It All You Got, What’s Left to Give' delivers a bright and bubbly start whilst front man Elliot Blair’s catchy-as-hell assertion that “It’s more than a dream, it’s the real thing” on 'Change of Heart' is by far the highlight of the record.

But not every track maintains this high level, seeing labouring, lethargic offerings 'American Werewolf in Cleveland' and 'Sitting in the Crowd' fade quickly from the memory.

Closer '2012 Couldn’t Come Quicker' ends the EP on a Usain Bolt paced adrenaline high, jamming everything that’s great about pop punk into three and half minutes, capping off what is, for the most part, a positive offering.

If you’re a fan of the genre, definitely worth a listen, if not, this almost certainly won’t sway you.

3.5/5

'Something I've Never Felt' by Call It Fiction is released on March 25th.

Call It Fiction on Facebook, Purevolume, MySpace, Bandcamp and Twitter.

Liam McGarry

Album Review: Free Swim - Yolanda The Panda

A perk of this "job" is discovering artists from genres you wouldn't usually find yourself listening to, and Free Swim's short yet exhilarating concept EP, 'Yolanda The Panda" certainly falls into this category.

Following the exploits of a Yolanda and her accomplices ("a Willet, and a slightly overbearing Englishman") as they attempt to scale Mount Everest, 'Yolanda The Panda' is a refreshing, vastly intriguing offering quite unlike anything you've ever heard. 

The narrative on delightfully named 'Swooping Swoopily like a Swooping Swooper' is a highlight, as is the sugary pop-tinged rock vibe that emanates from 'I Want to be a Mountaineer!'.

It's about as unique as it gets at the moment, and certainly serves to put a smile on your face. What are you waiting for?

4/5

'Yolanda The Panda' by Free Swim is released on March 28th through Sex Farm Records.

Free Swim on Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp.

Alter The Press! Presents: The Ocean Between Us

The snowball of Yorkshire based bands just keeps on rolling, and Leeds’ The Ocean Between Us are set to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Rolo Tomassi and Bring Me The Horizon with their brand of bruising metal. After a difficult start to their life on the scene (line-up changes blighted their early days) things seem to be on the up for the 5-piece.

Having signed to A Wolf At Your Door Records in 2010, and with an impressive debut self titled EP just released, the stage is set for these guys to make huge waves in 2011.

For Fans Of: Bring Me The Horizon, The Devil Wears Prada, and Underoath.

Alter The Press: Why should Alter The Press! readers check you out? 
The Ocean Between Us: To witness the fitness! 

ATP: What's the story behind the band?
TOBU: The Ocean Between Us was first formed late 2008 with friends from college. After several months of being very unpopular in the local music scene we decided to play as many shows out of Leeds as possible. After several line up changes, jumping trains with our equipment to get to shows and having bedroom recorded demos on myspace we did absolutely nothing until early 2010 where we had more lineup changes and took a completely new approach. To us this felt like the start of the band we are today as there is only one member left from the original lineup. Ever since then we recorded our debut EP with producer Mike Bennett followed by signing with Enterprise Music MGMT followed by signing to A Wolf At Your Door Records. 



ATP: Single highlight as a band so far?
TOBU: Signing to A Wolf At Your Door. It's the label we wanted to be on from the start and was the first step in to taking the band serious as a profession.

ATP: What are your plans for the 12 months?
TOBU: Play as many shows as possible in and out of the UK and write and record the debut album.

'The Ocean Between Us' by The Ocean Between Us is released on January 31st through A Wolf At Your Door Records.

The Ocean Between Us on Facebook, MySpace and Tumblr.

Words by Liam McGarry

Album Review: The Ocean Between Us - The Ocean Between Us EP

Is it still fair to judge a band on their originality? It's an idea that divides opinion. But while we should obviously commend artists who create an entirely unique sound, that doesn't mean to say that those who can't achieve the same feat should be cast from our minds as clichéd or lazy. The Ocean Between Us' crashing, emotive self-titled debut EP is a welcome, if not a revolutionary, addition to a bustling genre.

What's clear from the get-go is that this Yorkshire post-hardcore mob have what so many new bands lack - a brilliant eye for song composition and structure. Their sound incorporates well judged changes in pace, thrashing rhythm and a maturity that is vastly impressive for a band still in their infancy. 

What keeps the band, label buddies of Deaf Havana on A Wolf At Your Door Records, from creating a real gem with this EP, is the record's slightly meandering, trundling core in the form of "Our Names Were Written In The Water" and "What Do You Stand For", which fail to measure up to opener "Nice One Kid, You Just Brought a Knife to a Gun Fight" or the climactic "Hearts of Lions", both of which show a depth and drive worthy of recognition.

If you're looking for something extraordinary, something synonymous with only itself, this isn't the answer. The Ocean Between Us are an exciting prospect that are worth keeping an eye on, and are due credit for even achieving that, in a scene with more bands than Silvio Berlusconi has had hot deserts.

3.5/5

'The Ocean Between Us' by The Ocean Between Us is available now on A Wolf At Your Door Records.

The Ocean Between Us on Facebook, MySpace and Tumblr.

Liam McGarry

Album Review: Our Lives In Motion - Salvation In Secrets

Making the most of the not-so-niche market for melodic, ultra light metal, Our Lives In Motion's 'Salvation In Secrets' EP is a solid, if slightly dated addition to the genre. Taking cues from the likes of Circa Survive and Anberlin, the Massachusetts 4-piece’s sound is built on strong vocals, but lacks imagination, anything unique to set it apart from the work of countless other bands of their ilk.

‘Lost Art Of Amnesty’ is a promising beginning, encompassing polished lyrics, nice structure and a drive that sadly lacks on the rest of the EP. ‘The Getaway’ is depressingly middle of the road, and somehow feels like filler material, never a good omen on a 5-track offering such as this.

‘Race Against Time’ too struggles to impress and trundles along, seemingly with no direction or goal, and at just over four minutes feels a tad too long. The title track temporarily ups the standard, with impressive vocals from Dave Beaudreau and a progression devoid on the previous track, if slightly clichéd in the lyrics department. 

But the improvement is brief, with closing number ‘Far From Safe’ offering little in the way of creativity or genuine quality, leaving the album fade out with a distinct air of mediocrity.

‘Salvation In Secrets’ is, all things considered, disappointing. There’s something there alright, but Our Lives In Motion apparently don’t know what that "something" is, meaning any real quality comes in fits and starts. 

2/5

'' by Our Lives In Motion is available now.

Our Lives In Motion on MySpace, Facebook and Twitter.

Liam McGarry

Live Review: Young Guns, The Swellers and Set Your Goals - Concorde 2, Brighton - 4/12/2010

Sincerest apologies to Japanese Voyeurs whose set (owing to an unbelievable sequence of train delays involving ill/fighting passengers, screaming drivers and stupid amounts of snow) I missed completely.

The reason for the aforementioned rockers early start was the addition to the bill of pop-punks Set Your Goals, whose dates with You Me At Six in bonnie Scotland were postponed due to adverse weather conditions. The San Francisco 6-piece’s set was an unexpected treat for many crammed into Concorde Two’s corridor like seaside venue.

A tidy performance including tracks such as oldie ‘Goonies Never Say Die’ and ‘Summer Jam’ warms the boisterous crowd into some early movement that will please the Americans, bearing in mind they could easily have been twiddling their thumbs in a Edinburgh hotel room.

The stage is set for the two main acts of the night, and first up is hook-laden pop rock in the form of The Swellers. Reared in Miami, the quartet are a refreshing addition to an over saturated pop-punk scene, and bring a sincerity and a dignity that shines through on every song. ‘Fire Away’ and ‘2009’ are performed at a thrashing high-tempo that sparks delirium in the pit, which fittingly, is one full of shining smiles and spine tingling sing-along. ‘Feet First’ is brilliantly written, lyrically as well as instrumentally, with "woahs" that will melt the heart of the most cynical of rock fans. It’s a sign of the band’s work ethic and general attitude towards their trade that they are waiting at the merch stand before and after their set with new and old fans alike, a trait increasingly rare in modern music.

Meteoric would be the only way to describe the rise of our headliners. Rewind to just 2009, and High Wycombe rockers Young Guns were releasing ‘Mirrors’ EP, and the plan was to tour relentlessly and get the message out there. And boy did it spread. Headline tours in the UK and Europe, a support slot with non other than Bon Jovi, as well as a top 50 album with ‘All Our Kings Are Dead’, have all helped to propel Young Guns to the brink of mainstream recognition.

Opener ‘Sons of Apathy’ kicks things off in a raucous fashion, Gustav Wood’s domineering, towering figure, controlling the stage. The band are so tight that their performance appears to be locked in muscle memory, seamlessly performed and perfectly executed. ‘Daughter of the Sea’ and ‘Crystal Clear’ prove the bands eye for a chorus, and provoke a unified assault at the front, but this is a walk along Brighton seafront in spring time compared to the carnage that ensues during the wall of death that coincides with the recital of aptly titled ‘Beneath The Waves’.

Closer ‘Weight Of The World’ is made all the better by the band’s admission that they’ll be slapped on the wrist for going past curfew, but it’s obvious that neither the five men on stage nor the countless heads in the crowd care at all, as the night ends in a blur of intensity that draws the curtain on a night to remember for all involved.

Liam McGarry

Album Review: A Day To Remember - What Separates Me From You

The return of A Day To Remember with their fourth studio album,‘What Separates Me From You', couldn’t come at a better time. With bands of their ilk enjoying a popularity to rival anything else on the scene, the expectation behind the record was vast, and boy, did they produce. No horses are held with the opening track ‘Sticks and Bricks’, which crashes in, and encompasses everything good about ADTR. Chainsaw guitars, fierce growls juxtaposed with soaring choruses and thrashing breakdowns make for a brutally soothing beginning.

The record is produced, like 2008’s ‘Homesick’, by New Found Glory guitarist Chad Gilbert, and his influence is unmistakable at points. Tracks like first single ‘All I Want’ and ‘All Signs Point To Lauderdale’, are crafted brilliantly and scream pop-punk at the top of their lungs, the chorus of the latter reminiscent of early All Time Low, all the while maintaining the edgier sound that got them here in the first place.

For the traditionalists of the bands following, tracks like ‘2nd Sucks’ and ‘You Be Tails, I’ll Be Sonic’, are the heavier offerings, and serve to give the album’s genre definers out their a run for their money, oozing the bulldozer like hardcore they’ve been synonymous with on their musical journey thus far.

It would be far too easy to be cynical about ‘What Separates Me From You’. The lazier commentators would argue that this is a label influenced attempt at gaining A Day To Remember a more mainstream following. The beauty lies in digging deeper and really listening to the results. The band have grown as musicians, and perhaps more importantly, based on the meaning behind the records title, as people. All this makes for a record that could, and should, catapult them to bigger and better things.

4/5

'What Separates Me From You' by A Day To Remember is available now on Victory Records.

Official Website

A Day To Remember on MySpace, Facebook and Twitter.

Liam McGarry