July 2015 #2 by New Roots Magazine

new roots issue 2 JuLY 2015

DOWNLOAD slipknot, marilyn manson, a day to remember, muse, enter shikari, rise against, and loads more plus we see what you had to say about the weekend Photo by Tony Gaskin

turnover wolf alice the story so far heart of a coward elegies

Contents

news - download news - parker cannon gig listing new band - animal house

thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a time and place for taking a selfie Mental heath and rock & roll Interview - heart of a coward New rootsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ultimate festival guide download festival Albums citizen, heyrocco, superheaven, wolf alice, blood youth

3 3 3 4 5 6 8 10 12

singles homebound, parkway drive, counterparts

albums young guns, ELEGIES, turnover, slaves, trash boat

live renounced, animal house

live elegies

Facebook: New Roots Twitter: @newrootsmag Instagram: @newrootsmag Email: newrootsmag@gmail.com Photo by Isha Shah

A Note from the team It seems like only days ago we posted the first issue of New Roots, but here we are already with issue 2. We were all incredibly proud of the response we received, and are thankful

for anyone that has given us feedback. As you will see our team has already started to grow, as well as the magazine itself. We have been working even harder to bring you more content, from our packed

feature on Download, to some interesting think pieces, and lots more reviews.

interestedm please do not hesitate to get in touch at newrootsmag@gmail.com.

We are still looking for writers and photographers to get on board this exciting project with is, so if you are

From all of the New Roots team, we hope you enjoy...

Contributors: James Bannister, Rosalyn Boder, Chloe Rose Eaton, Adrianne Goron, Natasha Groom, Isha Shah, Harriet Stanley Photographers: Will Barnes, Chester Chu, Tony Gaskin, Sam Haines, Olly Hanks, Salvatore Lio, Jesus Martinez, Izzie Ruffle, Isha Shah

All of the materialbelongs to New Roots Magazine, and may not be reproduced in whole or part without prior permission from New Roots.

news

JuLY:

download security guard found dead

2nd- 12th - Homebound + Six Time Champion ON TOUR 3rd Crywank @ Powerlunches London 4th The Catharsis @ Barfly London 5th- 12th Water Canvas + Nevermind Me ON TOUR

gigs

6TH Hindsights @Brighton The Hope & Ruin 9-12th 2000 trees festival Cheltenham A 55 year old mans body was found at Donington Park. He was a Liverpool security guard who had been working at Download Festival. Alan Saunderson was found in a tent at 8am on the Tuesday morning after the festival. A spokesman for Leicestershire police said they were not treating the death as suspicious. Words by Isha Shah

Parker Cannon kicks selfie fan off stage

10th-25th Trash Boat + Blood Youth ON TOUR 11TH MISC Festival @ Temple of Boom Leeds 12th Homebound + Six Time Champion @ The old blue last 12th London Hardore Fest @ Bostom music rooms 12th That Night Forests Grew @ Riverside Sheffield 20th Zealous @ West Street Live Sheffield 17th Eight Days From Sunday @ The Scream Lounge London

During a recent show in Texas, a fan crowd surfed his way onto the stage to try and take a selfie with the vocalist of The Story So Far, Parker Cannon. During ‘All Wrong’, Cannon then booted him in the backside, sending him to the ground. The fan immidently got back to his feet and dived into the sea of people. Read more about this in our feature about the beloved king of pop punk on page. Words by Isha Shah

22nd – 26th Amaryllis ON TOUR @ Newcastle Think Tank, Manchester Retro Bar, Norwich B2, Brighton Green Door Store, London The Garage 25th Elegies (part of TRAMLINES fest) @ Harrisons 1854 Sheffield

new band

Photo by Will Barnes

animal house Bringing back the noughties garage rock revival are four lads from Brisbane, Australia. Bonding at university over a mutual distaste of what they were doing, the quartet moved over to the UK in 2014 where they officially formed. Guitarist Jack Nielsen says, “Something that sets us apart from a lot of other bands in England, is we actually like being in England.” Animal House now reside in the musical hub of Brighton and are steadily making a name for themselves, having supported acts such as Drenge, Courtney Barnett, Glass City Vice and Money for Rope. Inspired by “Kings Of Leon when they wore moustaches and The Strokes,” the influences of these two bands are evident in Animal Houses sound. Raw

and captivating vocals are provided by vocalist Will McConchie, sounding somewhere in between Julian Casablancas and Caleb Followill. Guitarists Jack Nielsen and Jean-Marc Wicht supply sounds worthy of The Strokes circa This Is It, and drummer Nicholas ‘Vince’ Wellauer keeping the rhythm with his hard hitting drum beats. The band also draws influence from other garage rock bands such as “The Black Keys and more recently The Vaccines.”

For fans of: Kings Of Leon, The Strokes, The Black Keys, The Vaccines, Julian Casablancas and The Subways.

With their most recent single ‘Figure It Out’ gaining interest from BBC introducing and an upcoming EP release this September; it’s clear these Aussie rockers are progressing fast. They are a must for anyone who is a fan of the garage rock revival.

Words by Chloe Rose Eaton

Tracks to listen to: ‘Figure it Out’, ‘Sour’ and ‘Heavy’. LINK… www.facebook.com/animalhouseband Twitter @animalhousing

FEATURE

“

Photo by Jesus Martinez

there’s a time and a place for taking a selfie

and the stage is not one of them”

Stop obsessing over someone who doesn’t really want to be pinned to your wall, with 15 different selfie edits you made. We all know who Parker Cannon is. The beloved frontman of The Walnut Creek pop punk band, The Story So Far. Recently there has been a lot of bad press covering the vocalist and his interactions with fans. His most recent appearance, kicking a fan in the back on stage, whilst trying to take a selfie with him ,has again become the most talked about thing parker has done. What we are forgetting here is, Cannon is human too. He gets pissed off and annoyed by the very same things we do. To the half of you who think his actions were wrong, and he has once again proven himself to

be a bully, think again. Just because your beloved king of pop punk doesn’t want to take selfies with you, doesn’t want to sign autographs but WANTS to play shows and perform music he enjoys, dose not make him a bad person. Yes we all snap and do things in the moment. Yes he could have handled that situation better, but he is not to blame. Put yourself in his place for one day, and imagine the AMOUNT of times this very thing has happened, or worse. There are numerous occasions of fans trying to kiss him, distracted him on stage, outstay their welcome. All he is doing is getting rid of you. When the band is playing on stage, they are doing their job. They are acting in a professional way. For someone to invade that and cause a direct distraction or annoyance is not right at all. There is a time and a place for taking a selfie, and the stage IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

It’s not just selfies though. Cannon does show his love for fans, when he nearly swung for a security guard after seeing him treat a fan with no respect. So for you to drop names, and bitch about him on twitter, YOU are no better. Just remember that at the end of the day, we are all human, we are all different, and we all act different. It just so happens that Cannon does not like selfies, or being fantasised about as much as your other cherished bands. Watch what happened here: https://www. youtube.com/watch?t=741&v=W45bzfTHbt0 Words by Isha Shah

FEATURE

MENTAl

ILLNES

SEX, drugs, and rock & roll

As After the Burial guitarist justin lowe posts a statem frightening conspiracy theory as part of his reason fo why are attitudes to mental illness in 2015 still not ch 6

ment citing a or leaving the band, hanging?

After The Burial guitarist Justin Lowe recently announced his decision to quit the band via a worrying online message in which he puts forward an elaborate conspiracy theory, explaining that he believes he has been set up for years.

“I’ve been set up guys by something more powerful than law enforcement, and it’s bad. Shit is about to hit the fan on an epic scale, and the only thing I can do now is tell you as much of my side while I still can.” The incredibly bold opening reads with desperation, the fear that Lowe feels becomes apparent after only a few words. The statement sees him depict in his own words, the belief he feels that all of those around him, including friends and ex-girlfriends, have been put in his life as a part of something much bigger. Lowe explains how even those he once felt he could trust have been involved in actions such as stealing his personal information, copying his keys and computer hard drive, and even attempting to frame him for murder. He describes the events that have occurred, in detail, even revealing that he as the victim of sexual abuse when he was young, stating that he doesn’t know whether what he has said will get him killed, and questioning why nobody seems to be aware of what has been going on this whole time.

“Now, what I’m about to say, will either probably save my life or kill me, but I have to say it. He is still alive, he’s been living at his cabin. His death was staged, to set me up to be put away forever for something I absolutely did not do.” Having reached the end of his letter, one thing has become obviously apparent, that the guitarist is not in a good way, and is in need of help and support. Paranoid schizophrenia is a chronic, lifelong disorder that can be terrifying for those suffering from it, sometimes leading to suicidal thoughts and behaviour. This is why it is so important it is taken seriously, as with the right help, there is no reason someone with the disorder cannot live a long and happy life. This is why I felt so angry as I watched the rest of the Internet finish the statement in the same way I had. “What the fuck is this guy on?” and “This is why you don’t do meth kids” were some of the first comments I saw posted online in response to his words, both being positively received. Individuals made jokes on twitter about the musician’s mental state, as well as about points in his announcement. Why is it that you can spark an Internet war by judging a person for their race, gender, size, or physical disability, but when it comes to disabilities of the mind, there isn’t the same reaction? In 2015, I would have thought we lived in a society where stigmas such as this had been largely stamped out, particularly in terms of the younger generation. It’s a sad realisation to discover that I was, in many cases, wrong. One in every hundred people will experience schizophrenia in their lifetime, and one in four will face some kind of mental health problem. We seem to be quick to acknowledge that people suffer from depression or anxiety, but

when schizophrenia is one of the most wellknown mental disorders, why does it seem large sections of the population are unable to spot it when its staring them straight in the face?

“Recently, I was hospitalized. Not knowing how or why I was finding myself in this situation literally driving me crazy. I stayed up for days trying to figure this out.“ Maybe it’s because there are certain labels that get attached to schizophrenia more than other types of mental illness. In the majority of cases, these are simply stereotypes, and a schizophrenic person will be at a far higher risk of causing hurt to themselves than they would be to anybody else. I personally feel it is down to understanding. Maybe I was naïve to assume that the majority of people knew what schizophrenia looked like. Or maybe they do, and they just don’t recognise the seriousness of it as a health issue. There are already campaigns to raise awareness of mental health problems, but maybe there needs to be more of a focus on individual disorders? The band has since posted a statement on their Facebook page in which they explain what has been happening behind the scenes and media rumours. Lowe had managed to hide his feelings and concerns from his friends and bandmates, so his actions came as much as a surprise to them as they did to everybody else. “Our dear friend, our brother onstage and off, has fallen into a very broken state of mind. A state that, despite our continued efforts, we have been powerless to get him out of,” they have said, going on to say that the reason there was a delay between his post and their response was that Lowe had in fact been missing for the entire day.

“I’ve been removed as an administrator from the After The Burial band account, so I’m hoping this letter reaches as many people as possible. I’m going to start from the most recent and go backwards. As some of you may or may not know, After The Burial is currently recording at the Machine Shop in Belleville, NJ. Immediately upon entering, something wasn’t right. I thought, “maybe it’s just me” or maybe I’m just being paranoid for no reason.” “Fortunately, he’s back home now. He’s safe and in the care of his family,” they continue, reassuring fans that they were now in control of the situation. He is now surrounded by those who care about him, and who only have his best interests in mind. The band has asked that out of repect for Lowe and his family their privacy is respected. I can only send my best wishes to After The Burial, and to Justin especially. It is clear the is is strong network of people close to him, for which we can all be incredibly thankful. Words by Adrianne Goron

Photo by Isha Shah

interview

heart of a

cowar 8

We caught up with guitarist Carl Ayers and bassist Vishal Khetia for a little chat about the progression Heart Of A Coward is taking, featuring news on their new album and appearance at Download 2015. Where did you get your name? Carl Ayers: “I think we kind of inherited the name as opposed to naming ourselves because of an old band members.” Vishal “V” Khetia: “A bit of wizard of Oz, and a bit of this and that.” A past band member came up with the name; we just stuck with it. What are your favourite venues/ cities? Carl Ayers: “This is actually one of our favourites in terms of venues, amazing.(Sheffield’s Corporation) Leeds is great, but I don’t think we can compare the two. It’s just a different vibe and it depends a lot on what the tour is.” Vishal “V” Khetia: “Yeah, I think this venue and rock city in Nottingham. We played shows up north before and they’ve been a little bit quieter and visa vera as well, it just depends but usually Sheffield is really good.” What are your favourite bands to tour with? Carl Ayers: “We would like to go on tour Deftones, Killswitch Engage, Lamb of god. All sorts of those bands are who we want to be supporting really.” Vishal “V” Khetia: “Toured with some great bands, Thy Art, were great to tour with, got on with them really well. We went out with them and Suicide Silence last year. I don’t think there has been a tour that we’ve done that we haven’t got on with a band. Everyone’s in it together and we all have fun.” Who do you listen to when you’re not on tour? Vishal “V” Khetia: “I listen to all sorts really... recently I’ve been listening to Hip-hop and a bit of Drum n bass, foreign beggars on the way down here. Carl Ayers: “I listen to a lot of chilled stuff like Sigor Ros and stuff like that. We listen to a bit of everything really to be honest, probably less metal, I mean Jamie listens to a lot of metal. What bands would be on your dream line up? Both: “Deftones, slipknot, system of a down, Pantera and us.” When you’re not touring what are you doing? Vishal “V” Khetia: “We all have full time jobs and work all the time.” Carl Ayers: What you on about we make loads of money in the band (Sarcastically). We all work, it’s quite common now that bands don’t really make that much money, so we are just kinda in it for the fun really. We all work around and it and it works.” How do you feel about the UK’s current metal scene? Carl Ayers: “I think it’s getting better. It’s getting the best its ever been in the past decade. Bands like Bring Me The Horizon selling out Wembley. Other bands like Slipknot and Deftones are doing shows in Wembley, that’s a definite big step up for metal in the UK.” Vishal “V” Khetia: “Even on a small scale recently, your getting a lot of younger bands coming through and it seems to be growing again, which is good.” Bands changing their sound, do you feel like this is a good thing?

Carl Ayers: “The thing is, if they carried on releasing the same album people would moan about that, their just developing their sound as artist and musicians. Vishal “V” Khetia: You have to appreciate all sorts of music. Just because a band is big, it gives more people an excuse to smash them for no reason at all but I think their smashing it and doing the UK proud. What are your influences? Carl Ayers: “We’ve just recorded a new album, and haven’t released it yet. We’ve put a lot of everybody’s influences into it, when before it was more of; we want it to sound like this or that exactly. Basically all of the bands we’d like to tour with.” Jamie Graham: “ It’s quite different to the last one, a lot more upbeat and faster. That’s all we can say.” How do you feel about playing the mainstage at Download? Carl Ayers: “Shitting myself. No it’s going to be amazing, it’s a dream come true for all of us and any band. We also played the Pepsie Max stage a few years ago, and that was enough. To be asked to open the mainstage was unreal. Download was the first festival I went to, my dad took me when I was 13. To think 11 years later, we’re now playing that stage.” Vishal “V” Khetia: “We’ve been in this band for a long time, (6 years) and would have never thought this would happen.” What’s the craziest thing a fan has ever done? Vishal “V” Khetia: “We have a few who have band logos tattooed. That Phil from Leeds, he’s a legend.” Carl Ayers: “It feels cool, takes us back a bit but then it’s a bit like, mate what you doing?” Positives and Negatives of touring? Vishal “V” Khetia: “Traveling a lot, I don’t think anyone of us like that. Not traveling as in going to places but the long rides and actually getting there. At the end of the day it’s worth it.” Carl Ayers: “It’s also getting to see new places and then friends on the road and everything. We’ve been doing this for a while, so it’s nice when we show up in Germany and we end up seeing familiar faces from the UK.” Vishal “V” Khetia: “ We’re still at this stage where we are treating it as a hobby, I think that’s good though.” Favourite places to eat? Carl Ayers: “MaccieD’s” Vishal “V” Khetia: “Europe is the best place, they treat us so well. Germany especially, I always look forward to it, as soon as we get to the venue we know we’re going to have a decent meal.” Carl Ayers: “Tell you what though, having a peanut allergy and going on tour is not good. We’ve played a show in Germany once and they had, what I thought was watists out on the table. I started eating them and it turns out they were peanut puffs. Being allergic to peanuts, I don’t know what they taste like. The next thing I know I’m swelling up and looking like hitch. Sum up Heart Of A Coward in ONE word? Vishal “V” Khetia: “Just five ordinary guys.” Carl Ayers: “That’s not one word.” “Fine, Ordinarily.” You can watch the full video interiew here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfNikeaLiw4 Interview by Isha Shah

Photo by Isha Shah

festival stories Kate Waters: I tried to wee in a bottle at download this year and I slipped a weed over my pjs One year my boyfriend pooed in a Pringles tube...

Jake Collins: I had to shag a fat girl so I had a tent I could stay in for a night because 2 others were destroyed by bad weather.

FEATURE

new roo

festiv

fraser moule: I was given a very small pup tent last year which I took to iow a few weeks ago. First night (Wednesday) was fine as I was on my own. Thursday night, my partner arrived and it wasn’t until we both got into bed that the smallness of the tent became apparent - heads pushing the cloth of the tent one way, feet doing the same the other. Then it started to rain. As I lay looking up at the roof of the tent with water dripping on my left cheek, then right, then forehead in a rhythmical, almost semi-hypnotic way, that the decision was made to be in Newport for breakfast next morning and buy a new tent. Possibly my most expensive festival that I got into for free! (I was working..)

charlie hill: A guy peed through a cup with a hole in the bottom so noone would see his ding dong. He then dropped the cup and 5 minutes later a kid picked it up. :’)

DO’s DO bring food. LOTS OF IT. Unless you want to be spending £20 a day solely on it, some crisps or biscuits will not cut it. Bring things with slow releasing energy that will actually fill you up. We suggest fruit bars and tinned food. Depending on the festivals regulations, you may be able to cook on a stove. DO prepare yourself mentally for the horrors that are festival campsite toilets, they make the arena toilets feel like luxury. Some festival toilets are worse than others, but lets face it, unless you’re camping in the VIP area with ‘luxury’ ones, you need to prepare yourself. Bring LOTS of loo roll, hand sanitizer and if you really can’t stand the smell, then a nose peg will be handy. DO invest in a decent tent. I know you think spending £20 on a pop-up tent is the best thing ever but when it rains at night and you wake up in the middle of the River Nile, you’re going to be absolutely gutted whilst your best mate’s cracking up inside his nice, dry haven. DO bring sun cream. Without sounding like your mother, this is vital. Do you really want to be walking around with a blotchy red, peeling face? No. It’s not cute and it’s not clever. Safety first! And if you do bring sun cream (which you should), don’t be like that guy at Download who painted Charizard with a dick on his back with it. Sure, it left one of the coolest burns ever but it’s still stupid. DO bring a bumbag. Yes, you’re going to look like a knob but bumbags are seriously one of the best investments for a festival ever. You can shove anything your heart desires (so long as it’s small enough) into that bumbag and the likelihood of someone nicking anything from it is pretty rare, unless you often have people with their hands on your crotch. Bumbags protect your valuables (I promise that’s not a euphemism) and you might even be able to sneak a cheeky hip flask in one of them because security rarely check them.

Photo by Salvatore Lio

ots ultimate

val guide DONT’S DON’T dress to impress. You’re at a festival, if you’re more interested in what you’re wearing than the bands you’re going to see, maybe you should go to London Fashion Week instead. Leave the white skinny jeans and the latex playsuit at home and don’t you dare think about bringing a pair of heels, ladies. Otherwise, they’ll be shoved where the sun don’t shine, I’m telling you. DON’T padlock your tent. Really, are you gonna be that stupid? Ask yourself what a tent is made of. Is it wood? No. Is it brick? No. Is it a flimsy bit of material that can easily be torn into? Yes. If you think your padlock on the zip is going to protect your valuables then you, my friend, probably can’t even spell GCSE. Not only is a tent easy to break into anyway, you’re just drawing attention to the fact that you have some pretty sick shit in your tent that you don’t want people to have. Kerching. For the love of god DON’T wear flip flops. The amount of people I saw at Southampton’s Common People wearing flip-flops was insane. It’s inevitable that someone is going to stand on your toes, so don’t say we didn’t warn you. Unless you want your trendy Topshop flip flops ruined and covered in mud, wear wellies – it’s a festival is not a fashion parade. DON’T forget to bring dry shampoo. It will be your new best friend for the weekend. It is cheap and will be a lifesaver for your sweaty, dirty feeling locks. Plus, it saves all the hassle of having a shower and missing out on the festival. I know a few people who missed Green Day’s Reading secret set because they were having a shower. Just don’t bother. Most importantly, DON’T forget have a great time! Enjoy yourself and go crazy… within reason. A festival is a time for escape, fun and creating amazing memories. Words by Rosalyn Boder and Harriet Stanley

FEATURE

down

Download is the UK's second largest metal festival and with 2015 br standards has risen. Although a new payment system of RFD has been your dog tags attached to your wristband. Not too sure that the fest Download has offered us a new range of bands to enjoy over the three d

Photo by Tony Gaskin

nload

rining in an even stronger line up than before, it's no doubt that its n put in place where everything is cashless and all that you need is tival will be using this system again after the amount of complains, days at Donnington. So here they are, our highlights and our downfalls.

friday COUNTERPARTS Fresh from their intimate show with Renounced, the Canadian five piece open up the Maverick stage. Counterparts have dragged in an early and eager crowd. Filling the blue tent, ‘Burn’ makes its glorious breakthrough as the melodic infused intro kicks off a large pit. Debuting another new track, ‘Collapse’ also proves to be a massive hit to the upcoming album the band is yet to release. Download if definitely the festival for Counterparts as they own the stage completely. Producing bouncy riffs that reflect their damped tone, vocalist Brendan Murphy’s finishes the set with ‘The Disconnect’. 9/10 GNARWOLVES Not exactly your expected download band, the Brighton trio seem to extremely short songs, ‘Smoking Kills’ soon ends, before you can even tell introductions are made, despite the tent being filled with even more bodies, to play tracks from their latest record, the interaction stands still until kicks in. Not the best performance the band have done, it seems they 6/10

be appearing everywhere this year. With their the band have started. Awkward jokes and small the band seem to draw a lifeless crowd. Choosing ‘Party Jams’ and ‘Community, Stability, Identity’ are getting less hyped every time they perform.

Five Finger Death Punch The crowd packs in tight to the main stage, half chanting ‘Five Finger’ whilst the other respond with, ‘Death Punch!’ just as loud. Eventually

Counterparts

dragonforce

Photo by Olly Hanks @ The Dude Abides Photography

phoebe @phoebecoward Download festival was am azing getting muddy with mot her ahah #DL2015 #Download2015 #Downlo adFestival #mud

the fans erupt into a frenzy of shouting and screaming as Ivan Moody and co. hit the stage, ripping into ‘Under & Over It’; there’re not here to mess about. Moody knows what his fans want and especially with a festival like Download, he doesn’t skip out on anything. Sticking to the favourites, ‘Bad Company’ is sung with a passion whilst ‘Burn MF’ is met with thousands of fans screaming, ‘Burn motherfucker, burn motherfucker, burn’ in unison. Moody even went so far as to break the rules (because what’s rock ‘n’ roll without it?) and pulls up on stage three children who must have been under the age of ten. Ignoring the question of ‘Where are their parents?’, it’s heartwarming to see Moody sit them on the edge of the drum kit’s stand stating, “This is the future of heavy metal right here.” Closing with ‘The Bleeding’, Five Finger Death Punch are well on their way to one day headlining this festival. 9/10 Slipknot Is a review really even needed? Slipknot are the legends of heavy metal and over the twenty years of their existence they’ve refined their talents to a T. Corey Taylor’s one of the most remarkable vocalists of his generation; crossing the stage like he owns the place, you forget that you’re here for a festival because Slipknot completely turn this into their show and if you missed out? Well, you might as well have packed up your tent and gone home that night because nothing over the weekend compared to the level of showmanship that Taylor and his army of masks brought to the main stage. Teasing fans with a long introduction, the anticipation in the air is thick and heavy; before the band even graces the stage, Taylor warms the crowd as he sings ‘XIX’ but it’s not long before the riffs kick in and ‘Sarcastrophe’ blares across Donington Park. Slipknot give it their all as they slam out the old hits like ‘Psychosocial’, ‘The Devil in I’ and ‘Wait and Bleed’. The ever demanding ‘Duality’ follows on from ‘Before I Forget’ and Slipknot aren’t holding anything back; despite delving into favourites from all of their past four albums, they don’t skimp out on showing off their latest creation, ‘.5: The Gray Chapter’. Dedicated to former bassist Paul Gray, the album is welcomed to the stage with chants and screams as they play ‘AOV’, ‘Killpop’ and ‘Custer’ to name a few. Although the band had a six year gap between their latest release and ‘All Hope Is Gone’, they’ve always remained relevant to the heavy music scene so much so that even those despising the music still know their name and it’s a name that will never die. Slipknot aren’t just a band, they’re a legacy and Download was their chance to engrave that into the mind of every person who watched in awe. 10/10

gnarwolves Photos by Izzie Ruffle

Saturday MALLORY KNOX Forced to wake up before 9am on a Saturday should be illegal. However there is no rest at a festival when the first band is on at 11am. Not a massive fan of Mallory Knox, appearing to be boring twice before, their Download appearance certainly earned them a second chance. Storming around the main stage, the five bodies raced to the beat of their hearts, with a lively performance and powerful vocal ranges. The new album appeared to do them justice, as they resembled a Young Guns sort of sound. For once, the band didn’t send me to sleep but woke me up. Of course they played ‘Lighthouse’ last, which appears to sound ten times better at a festival. 8/10

Luke @thornhilldcfc of @WhereisADTR were the highlight @ #dowloadfestival #Download2015 DownloadFest

APOCOLYPTICA The Finish band that have existed in decades, had made their way to the Zippo Encore stage on this fine Saturday morning. Deep inside, we all want to see the stringed metalters arrived on stage with not a guitar in sight. Who would have thought you could play such a diversity of metal sounds with cellos? Acquainted with a brand new vocalist, the symphonic rock band put on one hell of a show. Whether you knew who they were or not, their set was enjoyable from start to finish. It’s great to see such an old band, still attracting a large audience and can entertaining them for a good half hour. 8/10

HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD The main stage was the only place that the California, LA band could play. You’ve guessed it, Hollywood Undead make their most anticipated appearance. The band storm right in with ‘Undead,’ as the crowd gets informed to the rap-metal noise. Still unsure on how Hollywood Undead are still alive after ten years here today, but the fact that they are, and are driving half of the festivals crowd is astonishing. Living up to the expectations, shitty jokes are made before the band rip into ‘Everywhere I Go’ and Charlie Scene gets his three minutes of fame. If one thing is for sure, Hollywood Undead are a band that make you feel like a child again. No matter what your age is, stood in front of the six members, they instantly take you back to them greeb days we no longer speak of. 9/10 PARKWAYDRIVE The world famous intro of ‘Wild Eyes’ sets in, and the crowd begins to chant the floods of “whoas”. Not quite sure who started singing the instrumental beats of Parkway songs, but it has become a regular chant. Taking an unexpected turn, ‘Carrion’ their usual encore song is playing next. Parkway have returned back to the UK with more confidence and charm, now Winston McCall struts around the stage interacting with the thousands of faces below. The band debut their newest song ‘Vice Grip,’ which instantly reacts with bodies of surfers and pits forming to their heavy beat music. From start to finish, PWD’s set was utterly flawless in every way possible. It goes to show how far the band has grown. They are more than worthy of playing the main stage to even headlining it someday. 10/10 UPON A BURNING BODY With just a spec of time to fill, the only other decent band playing were Upon A Burning Body. That was decent until watching their set. Sure the tent is now packed to the brim and no way of getting in, their music still reflectes a lifeless performance. It’s a metal festival so what do you expect? Only staying for a few songs before the racket gave me a headache, nothing was enjoyable. 5/10 ROAM Playing the Jake stage halfway through the day was Roam. It’s great that a festival like Download can still accept a wide range of genres, and still get such a vivid reaction. The five young guys appear on stage to a welcoming audience of finger points. Now they are all pilingon top of each other, as they battle it out to get a mic grab. For a good half hour, you forgot that you were at Download and it seemed to feel like you were actually at Slam Dunk. Roam once again gave it their all, with Costello doing his cued backflip and high jumps, Roam’s set uplifted everyone’s spirits. 10/10 Rise Against Rise Against don’t get enough credit, it’s simple. Whilst many seem to know

their songs from video games back in the day, there’s more to this Chicago fourpiece than just a skateboarding game. Choosing to kickstart their set with ‘The Great Die-Off’, that and ‘I Don’t Want To Be Here Anymore’ are the only two songs from their latest release, The Black Market, that makes it into their set. Determined to keep the crowd on their toes, Rise Against soon fill the main stage with the songs that everybody is waiting to hear. ‘Give It All’ sparks a chorus of singing whilst that signature intro to ‘Prayer of the Refugee’ draws in a roar of applause and a sea of fists in the air. McIlrath never fails to capture the emotion within ‘Ready To Fall’ and when ‘Savior’ plays out, there’s a wave of disappointment in the air once you realise the set is coming to a close. The band is worthy of a far-bigger slot than the one offered and next year they deserve to be headliners-- perhaps not for the main stage but certainly for one of the other larger stages. 8/10

A DAY TO REMEMBER You know it’s an ADTR show when the crowd starts to cheer the intro of ‘The Downfall of Us All’. An outstanding start to their energetic set, the band steals the voices of the crowd with regular bounces. Having a full hour set to entertain the miserable crowd on this rainy day, the band seemed to make you forget about the weather. Rain or shine, everyone has smiles on their faces as Jeremy McKinnon shares a few jokes and stories. It is evidently clear that the band has fully grown, with such control and charisma that they are up to headlining material. ‘Right Back at It Again’ and ‘City of Ocala’ plays next, two tracks off their latest record Common Courtesy. Drawing a close to their set, McKinnon took a break to declare that he is going to play a UK treasured track. Of course it could only be a cover of Oasis ‘Supernova’. Despite the crowd now booing, a few lines of the most recognised chorus in the UK, is blared and the

Photos by Chester Chu

fuxkthesystem @fuxkthesystxm

Download was insaneeee bring on next year!! #download2015

band keep their acoustic guitars, and start to play ‘If it Means a Lot to You’ for the ladies. 10/10 Black Veil Brides Often when someone says the name ‘Black Veil Brides’, it’s accompanied by the sounds of groans and several homophobic slurs to match. Due to their appearance a few years back, the band made a name for themselves as being one of the most hated bands of rock. Yet despite this “achievement”, Black Veil Brides’ success has grown considerably over the years and with a huge number of awards under their belt, you have to ask yourself if perhaps, there really is something special about this group of five men. Probably the only thing that could be considered laughable about their performance were the dungarees that lead singer Andy Biersack strut on stage with. Yet, with those long locks and an infectious smile, you have to hate him just a little bit for pulling them off. Opening with ‘Faithless’, Black Veil Brides are keen to pack in as much as they can into such a small set slot, despite being the support to headliner Marilyn Manson. They certainly weren’t skipping out on their pyrotechnics either as they played the ever-so-fitting ‘Heart of Fire’. The heat of the flames warm the sodden crowd as Biersack prances back and forth, showing off the immense talent he packs in those lungs of his. It’s hard to believe he’s only twenty-four years old and he’s wiser far beyond his years; expressing his love for rock ‘n’ roll to the crowd, he’s gracious, eloquent and ultimately so grateful to have an opportunity this huge. Finishing with their two biggest hits ‘Fallen Angels’ and ‘In The End’, Black Veil Brides showcased what true musicianship is all about. Forget the eyeliner, forget the tight, black clothing; what really matters is the music that’s produced and Black Veil Brides are more than worthy of a second chance. 10/10

MARILYN MANSON It’s finally time for the king of goth and everything obscure to rule Download 2015. Marilyn Manson appears on the blackened stage, making his grand entrance. Every part of his appearance was dramatic. ‘Deep Six’ vibrates his sinister tone to the Zippo encore stage, as his slender body is nowhere to be found. Still waiting for a figure, Manson catches us within the smoke filled stage as he prances ever so elegantly from the darkness. Off to a mesmerising start already, Manson kicks things off with ‘Disposable Teens’ and ‘mOBSCENE’, two of his legendary songs. “Welcome Donington. It’s great to be here today, all of you know my name but I don’t know yours.” His slightly sarcastic charm captures the audience’s bitter laughs, as Manson speaks with such power. Sure a guy with that much supremacy and recognition can be as cocky as he wants, and no one can even complain about it. In a weird way it was one of the many things that made Manson so engrossing and loving. After playing another two-cover song that had boosted his cred, ‘Sweet Dreams’ and ‘Personal Jesus’, Manson owns the stage. Covering a song and making it 100% your own is not common, however Manson does exactly that. He took them two songs and performed them like he had just given birth. A pleasant yet unexpected surprise arrives on stage. Manson brings out the one and only Ice-T. He stands there completely still not saying a word, while Manson talks about their private jokes that could be interpreted as racist. Sure it was a bit strange and uncomfortable to watch, but it was one of the things that only Manson could do and pull it off ever so well. “My man Ice-T will come up and shoot you all because he’s back.” Running slightly over time, ‘The Beautiful People’ ends the night to the muchdisappointed audience who still crave for ‘Tainted Love’. I guess if you had a famous song that everyone always chanted, you too would get bored of playing it live. 9/10

Sunday CODE ORANGE Another great start to the Maverick stage as Code Orange performs a set that makes the hardcore scene proud. ‘My world’ starts off their heavy punk fuled set as the four members dance around the stage. Again, not your typical Download band, Code Orange still seems to have attracted a crowd that continues to arrive. ‘I am King’ ends a perfectly timed set with their loudest material yet. Eyes are glued to the stage, all-waiting for the “I AM KING, I AM KING, I AM KING” breakdown. 8/10 TRASH BOAT Welcoming another pop punk band to the Jake stage, Trash Boat ease up the crowd with tracks from their latest release Brainwork. Growing ever so strong since they formed, just a year ago the five young members performed like professionals. Attracting a larger crowd than intending, a collective of people hurl themselves against each other, all trying to jump the highest. Each song was fresh and full of energy, the movement on stage just seems to grow with every jump and dance. ‘Boneless’ causes such a fuss that vocalist Toby Duncan is now over the barrier and into the crowd with all of his fellow friends. 10/10 THREE DAYS GRACE When you hear that a band like Three Days Grace are going to be at a festival, you will do everything you can, to see them. Even if it was just for them three songs, our favourite heartthrobs make a dramatic appearance. Playing ‘I Hate Everything About You’ pretty early didn’t seem like a bad move, as the crowd didn’t disperse as soon as it finished but stayed. Of Course hundreds of mouths echoed the very famous chorus. Another recognised track ‘Animal I Have Become’ follows and the band gets energy levels pumping once again. With what seems to be a short set, 3DG have certainly not lost any bit of their talent or remarkable sound. 9/10 MADBALL The great thing about hardcore bands is, they can play a 14-song setlist and not even headline. New York’s finest Madball, make an appearance on the Maverick stage, which seems to be slaying with explosive bands. ‘Set It Off’ opens up a large pit as their groovy mixes take a hold of your body. Their chilling presences set you at ease, making you feel free to enjoy some of Hardcores finest work. Listening to the band on record dose no way produce the same feel and angst as seeing them live. Madball are certainly a band with unique talent and pristine ability to be 100% in sync with another. Sure to find their set full of them dirty breakdowns that make you want to punch the first person you see, live they are a whole new sensation. 10/10 THE GHOST INSIDE Following another great tribute to Download 2015, ‘Avalanche’ sweeps in as The Ghost Inside appear on stage. Instantly the blue tent is now filled with bodies pushing against each other to witness this popular band. Right on cue an emotional and truly heartfelt speech is made right before ‘Dear Youth (Day 52)’. It’s hard to be original and not say the same generic

Photo by Tony Gaskin

bullshit, but Jonathan Vigil really does mean every work he speaks. This is one thing that unites bands together, their ability to make total sense to thousands of people in different ways. Ending a set where people came out with bloody noses and slightly unconscious, TGI end it off with ‘Engine 45’, a battle ground song. 9/10 YELLOWCARD Let’s be honest here, there is only one main reason why we are here to see Yellowcard? As expected they would save their most treasured song till the end. However a lively starts begins with ‘Lights and Sounds’, a treasured classic, that sends waves of hands in the air. Vocalist Ryan Key engages instantly with the audience as he declares how happy he is to be closing a tent at Download. “I know that we’re not the sort of band you’d hear at Download, but I think it’s fucking cool that so many of you are here to watch us close the Maverick stage.” Yellowcard remember how their fan base has grown up with them as they have grown, so they play some of the favourites, as well as new songs. You’ve guessed it. Yellowcard end the set with ‘Ocean Avenue’, finishing the night with a massive celebration of voices. 9/10

ENTER SHIKARI After recovering in hospital, vocalist Rou Reynolds makes an upbeat start to Enter Shikari’s finishing set. It’s hard to even compact their set at Download into a few words because so much happened, and so many new things that you just would expect Shikari to do, they did. A quiet start takes over the crowd at the Zippo stage as the band slowly appear with ‘The Appeal & the Mindsweep I”, taking direct action. By now the crowd had already created quite a racket. Something totally unique for the band to do was not ending a song how you’d expect, but put an improvised ending on. As soon as you thought it was over. Reynolds would talk in the other direction and add a compelling twist to every track. It was something I had never witnessed with Shikari, and a remarkable show they would do for an appearance like Download. ‘Sorry You’re Not a Winner’ soon takes a hold of the crowds clapping hands, each clap in sync with the next. Packed with even more surprises for Download 2015 to enjoy, Shikari do a rare ‘The Last Garrison/ Juggernauts mash up’. It seems like their set was just filled with crazy mixes and sounds that we have never witnessed before. Despite the set being made up of their latest album, it was nice to see Shikari play a different and not predictable setlist. It was a full headline show of unexpected twists. ‘Mothership’ plays, as the older crowd booms with even more enthusiasm and chaos. However there is only one song that could end Shikari’s set. ‘Anaesthetist’ makes it’s slow begin. While the crowd half screaming for an encore, none was to be found. Not to sure what it is about Download, but no one really screams for encores? 10/10 Words by Isha Shah and Harriet Stanley

code o

Photo by Olly Hanks @ The Dude Abide

orange

es Photography

michael harwood @e16canary Slightly different outfit today. #DL15 #Download2015 @DownloadFest

roger bugg @rogerb1859 @head_creeps @KISSOnline @Dow nloadFest #DL2015

Photo by Olly Hanks @ The Dude Abides Photography

thee ghost inside

madball Photo by Olly Hanks @ The Dude Abides Photography

ALBUMs citizen Everyone Is Going To Heaven

8/10

Creeping ever so softly in the dark corners of an ally way, the Michigan five piece are back with their second full length record. Everybody Is Going To Heaven is not Youth expected, or follows their known sent. The record is such a hit and miss because of Citzen’s bold change in sound. Sure their “tumblr fans” would argue that it’s not them at all, and demand another record that replicates Youth, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Within the two years, Citizen have grown and matured their sound along with them. ‘Cement’ is the first track that was released off the album. An obvious change to the bands most love sound was apparent, as deeper and darker chills were sent this time. Even vocally, Mat Kerekes darkens his tones to sinister utterances before they sweetly escapes in the chorus. Citizen do everything to let you know they have altered their sound, and this bold statement works in their favour. Instead of hating everything that’s different, embrace it, because Citizen have.

Don’t fret if you’re still looking for some of Citizen’s Youth days, as ‘Numb Yourself’ is possibly the only track within the album which could be mistaken for a B-side. The track is position just in time for you to be reminded of what the band were, but also emphasising what they have become. The great thing about this record is that it’s like no other. Each and every song is mixed so delicately that they have their own roots they grow from. ‘Heaviside’ is a perfect example of this. With its peaceful and quiet essence, the track is made up of whispers of Kerekes emotions, accompanied by a fragrant tune. The best way to describe the record is a thought process. There are stand alone tracks which are so soothing, but matched with moments of outbreak and heartache, they all come together in ideas running around in your head. Words by Isha Shah

Perfectly matched with ‘Dive into My Sun’, a chillingly soft track that is dominated by the bands improved melodic ability, sums up the album entirely. Past sounds can be extracted, yet the band still blend-clashing tones. The painful outlets where Kerekes burst into angst filled lyrics are still present and prevailing as ever.

heyrocco

superheaven

Teenage Movie Soundtrack

Ours Is Chrome

7/10 The South-Carolina three piece describe their sound as ‘DisneyGrunge’, something that I found slightly odd sounding before listening to this, their debut album, however the phrase is in fact in it’s own way a quirky and accurate representation of their music. The distinctive 90s grunge vibe is ever present, but is laced with softer, more poppy elements that make for an enjoyable listen. Standout tracks are ‘Virgin’ and ‘Elsewhere’, where the band demonstrates a real level of refinement. The only real criticism is that the album unfortunately seems to taper off towards the end. It’s a shame that the momentum in the opening songs isn’t maintained until the last tracks. Words by Adrianne Goron

Photo by Isha Shah

8/10 Changing their name doesn’t exactly mean changing their sound, well not entirely. Superhaven have proved this with their latest release, ‘Ours Is Chrome’, which is a brilliant nostalgic record that takes you back to the 90s. The starter track, ‘I’ve Been Bored’ takes a gradual grungy sound that soon gets amplified with the rocky guitars that take a dominating pull. Taylor Madison’s clear but crackling vocals skip in, complimenting each strum so lightly. As soon as his harmonies hit the ground, the sound automatically takes on an optimistic stance, filling your ears with an upbeat sound. Reverting back to tones found in Jar, ‘Next To Nothing’ follows a similar pattern. It’s melodic infused blends create a whole new atmosphere which certainly takes you back to their earlier work. It really separates Superhaven from any other band, prominently with Madison’s vocals, which are so demanding and unique. Although the record does seem a bit too samie and out-dated for our generation of music lovers, Superhaven will never fade. Their ability to produce another record that follows from Jar, but still brings fresh sounds is a skill. Words by Isha Shah

singles Wolf Alice

homebound Worthwhile

My Love Is Cool

10/10 As far as debut albums go, you’d have to go a long way to do better than London’s Wolf Alice, the alternative four-piece, who have thrown everything into ‘My Love Is Cool’. The long awaited release follows hard work, consistent touring, and successful EPs, having helped to establish a strong fan presence, as well as incredible support and recognition from the BBC, as well as significant publications such as NME. A summer full of festival performances is bound to see them only develop further. Wolf Alice’s clever mix of sounds and genres is experimented with more than has been previously in their first full-length, with them at times sounding reminiscent of a more cultivated Hole, and others of The XX. The mix is fascinating and beautiful, as is the vocal performance from Ellie Roswell.

‘Bros’ manages to stunningly capture the strongest of friendships, in a way that is artistic and honest. ‘You’re a Germ’ sees rage build under the band’s incredibly clever mask of whispers, before breaking through. The range and depth in the lyrics in each of these songs is refreshing, raising interesting and new ideas about topics from hometowns to depression. Thankfully Wolf Alice aren’t trying to mimic the majority of the current music scene, and have produced something some critics are describing as “the debut of the decade”. It truly is an astounding album, leaving only the greatest anticipation as to what they’ll do next.

Inside My Head

9/10

‘Piece by Piece’ dives straight in with Kaya Tarsus’s vicious tone. There is a hardcore heavy influence that surrounds this song giving you continuous grooves. Each step in the song is a bounce of joy, as it’s just filled with funky riffs that make you want to dance along. Touching on soft vocals, Tarsus captures his calming tones in the chorus while still maintaining a rugged edge. Within the EP there are slightly weaker songs, but it no way means that they

Words by: Isha Shah

parkway drive Vice Grip

Words by Adrianne Goron

blood youth Ex-Climates members, matched with a brand new vocalist, Blood Youth have had a large hype following them, even before they had released anything. A huge deal for this band, they have proven worthy of their name being plastered on everyone’s tweets, with Inside My Head being a massive hit. Playing a few small live shows before this release, the band had very high expectations to live up to.

An animated intro from Farnham’s five-piece Homebound, as they drop a brand-new track that is filled with feel good beats and catchy guitar riffs. Setting them apart from every other band that’s trying to make it, Homebound have a uniquely matured sound. Charlie Boughton’s vocals are constantly stern and filled with powerful blasts. Homebound are a great credit to the growing pop punk scene in the UK, as they produce angsty fresh punches that leave behind the whiney school kid, but highlight their growing problems.

are any less powerful. Every single track adds to the overall finish and sound Blood Youth are establishing. Not daring to repeat themselves or recycle melodies, the band know where they are going, with a strong sense of direction. A truly motivating and heartfelt track is ‘Failure’. With punching lyrics that show weakness and broken dreams, the track switches between giving up to proving something in bitter rants. Truly exposed, this has to be THE best track off the EP. ‘Cold Sweat’ packs even more punches with the intro than any other track. Again, the song is another lighter one within the record that explore deeper meanings, but still produce Blood Youth’s outstanding noise. If I could describe Blood Youth’s sound in a few words it would be, FUCKING GROOVES. Words by Isha Shah

Expect big things from this band, after their monstrous show at Download Festival; our favourite Auzzies have released an energising track. If you were expecting another song filled with dirty riffs and breakdown after breakdown then you are going to be hugely disappointed. Sure PWD have a strong reputation for producing heavy music, however this track breaks a lot of boundaries. Following the beautifully composed video, the band incorporates classic metal riffs that are nostalgic to the ear. It’s a hit and miss to their current fans, as the band stray to a heavily melodic infused song that really mixes up Parkways route influences. Words by: Isha Shah

counterparts Burn

A sweet and short melodic start brings ‘Burn’ back to Counterpart’s riveting tone. The track hits you right in the face, with punches of metal blasts. Waiting on a new record, the track brings fresh sounds to the table, with a concrete riff that explodes into a hardcore breakdown. A short speaking line is dropped, before Brendan Murphy takes back his howling voice. The track then ends as it started, with the sweet taps of the guitar, leaving a lingering tune in the air. There is nothing Counterparts can’t master to do wrong. This song opens more pathways for the record to explore and come out with a pot of gold. Words by: Isha Shah

ALBUMs

elegies Daylight Disease

young guns

9/10

Ones and Zeroes Sheffield’s very own melodic six-piece have returned to our ears with a brand new EP, titled Daylight Disease.

9.5/10

The first track displayed was released as a single, gaining quite a bit of attention. Played on Radio One Rocks, and given a high rating by Rock Sound and Kerrang, ‘Thrones’ certainly is a track that gives Elegies a bold name. Elements from the song resemble the works of Bring Me The Horizon and While She Sleeps, however Elegies have added contrasting vocals that continuously erupt. The two dissimilar vocalists, Thomas Hoyland and Sam Gibson add their weight to the track, giving it a fresh twist like no other. ‘Headache’ slows things down while still focusing dominantly on their melodic side.

turnover Peripheral Vision Young Guns have not only gained mainstream popularity and chart success in the UK, they have now achieved success in the US. Ones And Zeros is a reflection of how far they have come, they have managed to appeal to the mainstream audience as well as catering to their long-term fans. With that in mind, the band have added pop and dance elements to their third album with the help of upbeat synths and infectious choruses. It’s very different to their previous releases, but that is to be expected with it being three and a half years since their last album and their first with Virgin EMI. ‘Rising Up’ is reminiscent of their previous work and is a strong, powerful opening to the album. Gustav Wood’s voice is emotive and clear throughout which gives a serene feeling to the song. ‘I Want Out’ is more upbeat and is the perfect mix of pop and alternative rock. The catchy chorus will leave you “Woah-ing” along with the song. There is also something very 30 Seconds To Mars about this track, and you can imagine the band performing this track in stadiums and arenas. ‘Infinity’ is worlds away from the London five-pieces previous work. It’s the most pop track of the album and if released as a single, would be sure to gain the band chart success. There are many other catchy, danceable songs on the album such as ‘Speaking In Tongues’ and ‘Memento Mori.’ The first, an upbeat pop song, with eighties vibes thrown in and sounding very Don Broco. The latter having, a powerful

Photo by Isha Shah

riff coursing through it, making it so much more than just your standard rock/pop song. Ones And Zeros also includes its fair share of slow, dreamy, almost ballads, such as ‘Lullaby’ and ‘Colour Blind.’ ‘Lullaby’ is exactly as the title suggests, peaceful and reticent. ‘Colour Blind’ seems to follow in the same vein, until there is a pleasant surprise of one of the best guitar riffs on the album. You are then quickly reminded that the band have successfully been able to stick to their rock roots whilst also attracting the mainstream audience. “Daylight” is without a doubt, the best track on the album. It’s a strong, dynamic song that incorporates the best of rock and pop. Wood’s vocals are soaring and robust throughout the entire album, but they are particularly dominant on this track. With this album, it’s clear that Young Guns are following a similar path to their peers in You Me At Six and Deaf Havana. They are toning down their rock sound, opting in favour of including elements from other genres such as pop and dance. Young Guns have proved the test of time and that British rock bands can evolve to produce something amazing. They’ve come back with a sophisticated pop-rock album that is sure to thrust them further into the mainstream. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the band filling out the bigger venues and headlining main stages in the not so near future. Words by Chloe Rose Eaton

10/10 The emo punk scene has reached its highest comeback this year, and Virginia Beach’s foursome, Turnover have made an inspiring return. Releasing their second full length, Peripheral Vision begins to astound the growing scene. From producing aggressive rackets in Magnolia, where the band focused on angsty riffs that were sad with a hint of fury, the quartet have stepped down to melodic prevailing sounds. Opening a new wave of music, Turnover have followed the newly appointed direction, in which bands like Title Fight, The Story So Far and Superhaven have gone down. Beginning with ‘Cutting My Fingers Off’, a peacefully trippy song that keeps your head afloat. Perfectly assembled as the opening track, it sums up the whole collection of sounds that Turnover have infused within this record. Focusing heavily on the melodic side, while the twining of the guitars smothers Casey Getz’s vocals. Within the five years of forming, Turnover have certaintly developed their style subtly over a number of years, throughout EP’s and splits. It

slaves Are You Satisfied?

9/10 Elegies have the ability to overpower songs with this captivating presence, while still letting Gibson’s rugged vocals shine through. From their first self-titled release, Elegies have surely altered their sound, maturing it with Daylight Disease and infusing more alternative rock riffs. It’s great that a band can be so confident in progressing their sound within EP’s. If anything, Elegies never repeat their sound, as each song in the EP is ever so rare. Hoyland’s vocals shine right through in ‘Cobweb Eyes’. It’s another slow one, following ‘Headache’ it provides yet another route. The three tracks work together as a collection of distinctive sounds, that truly sum up the bands on-going talent. Words by Isha Shah

Having signed to major label Virgin EMI, the punk two-piece from Tunbridge Wells have delivered a solid debut album to follow their 2012 EP ‘Sugar Coated Bitter Truth’. A modern reincarnation of 1970’s punk rock, ‘Are You Satisfied’ is raw, refreshing, and full to the brim with attitude. The buzz around Slaves has been increasing rapidly on a daily basis, being backed by Radio One, appearing on Jools Holland, and being nominated for ‘BBC Sound of 2015’ - something that they have justified with this release. Their songs talk anger, and the character in the days. They carry

London, disappointment, lack of originality and majority of music these an honest representation

of everyday life, with each track equal in it’s downright power and production brilliance. Personal highlights are ‘Cheer Up London’ and title track ‘Are You Satisfied?’, both covering contrasting areas of the duo’s talents. The first is a fast, catchy and anthemic track with it’s infectious “Put another O on your paycheck, are you done digging your grave yet?”. The latter is more stripped back, with acoustic guitars showing that Slaves aren’t about loud punk for the sake of maintaining an image. Words by Adrianne Goron

trash boat Brainwork

8/10 goes without saying that Peripheral Vision is a record that highlights their matured talent, of four young men growing into well-respected adults. There are certain elements within their stern sound that makes you weep inside, but also brings a warm glow to your heart. These perfect balances of the two feelings counteract each other, giving you a sensation that only Turnover can pull off. ‘Dizzy On the Comedown’ is the buried treasure within the record. Getz’s dreamy vocals hit all the right pitches, toned in whispers that lightly touch your ears. Trying to find flaws in this record is like scrolling through tumblr and not seeing at least one Basement edit, (There are none.) What else could you expect from a band that have worked very hard, yet have kept so quiet about their work. Peripheral Vision is conclusively a flawless record that sums up the dreary nights in on a rainy day, but also brings the sunshine to these dark hours. Words by Isha Shah

On the comeback with their second EP, the Saint Albans pop punkers, Trash Boat are growing triumphantly in the UK’s pop punk scene. Recently signed to Hopeless Records, the quintet have made a bold mark for themselves, as not just another generic band but a fresh and innovative adaptation of the treasured genre. Released as a single, ‘Perspective’ was a track that floated in-between their two EP’s. Capturing the rugged tones that were found in Look Alive, but also keeping a poppier balance with their softer sound in Brainwork, the track captures their positive energy. Defiantly a favourite off the EP, Toby Duncan’s vocals remain dominant, as his powerful blasts are centred. It’s his words that add such uniqueness to their sound and separates them from being another mediocre pop punk band, to a thriving, tasteful collective. Pop punk can be such a narrowed and criticised genre at times, however Trash Boat disprove all of these accusations with their joyfully inspired

lyrics that keep you self motivated and content. “Happiness is only real when it’s shared,” taken from ‘As Seen On Screen’, highlights their optimistic attitude even in the darkest of times. The track throws in some twists with a funky little guitar solo that briefly separates the track from the rest. Tying in key themes of rocky pasts that always seem to remind us of who we were, Trash Boat are pros at summing up tiresome stories that leave us feeling broken. However somehow manage to make them a little more bearable, clearly revealed in ‘Eleven’. From such a short period of time, the fivepiece have gone above and beyond. Releasing yet another smashing EP, that isn’t just the same old bitter breakup nonsense, but music that has value and meaning. Words by Isha Shah

Live

renounced The Tram & Social, London 10/06/15 10/10 Tonight, an air of excitement could be felt outside the Tooting Tram & Social as 90’s metalcore inspired five piece, Renounced, were set to headline, along with support from World Weary but many were here tonight to witness Counterparts, to which this would be their only show in the UK that wasn’t download. Opening was Nihility, a death metal/hardcore band hailing from Southampton. A large crowd gathered as they took to the stage and their presence was immediately felt as the crowd was hit with a barrage of metallic riffs & heavy breakdowns, Nihility did a superb job of setting the mood for the evening. To follow would be london hardcore heavy weights World Weary but due to delays their set would be cut short, but despite only playing a 10 minute set their performance was not affected, opening with an instrumental piece and then going straight into ‘Broke free’, along with playing a new song & closing with ‘Head Check’. Their set just proves that they might be one of the most exciting bands in UKHC. Next up would be a highlight of the night for many, Counterparts, the audience gathered around eagerly as the canadian melodic hardcore five piece gathered on stage. Opening with burn, the first single from their upcoming LP Tragedy Will Find Us, the crowd were immediately involved

screaming the lyrics straight back at them, crowd surfing and pitting soon followed as the band playing classics such a ‘Debris’, ‘Compass’ & ending their set in an amazing display of passion with ‘The Disconnect’ to which everyone was singing “I fucking hate the world”. Seeing Counterparts in this setting was a rare and delightful treat. respect has to had for them encouraging the audience stay around for headliner renounced, showing love for World Weary & Nihilist and encouraging people to support their local scene in general. Headliners Renounced had a large audience to play in front of as many had stayed which was good news. The chaos began to brew as they opened with their trade mark intro, to anyone familiar knows that it turns any crowd into a sea of flying limbs (In the best way possible) and the chaos only intensifies as they begin to play ‘Forsaken’. The real highlight comes from when they played ‘How Heavy The Downpour’ to close their set, to which no energy had been lost from both crowd and the band themselves.

worldweary

counterparts

Tonight has shown that you don’t have to pay for a show for it to be good, this was one of the best shows I have personally attended in a long time and will be one I remember for years to come, Renounced have themselves set up for a promising future and it is well deserved. Words by James Bannister

Photos by Sam Haines

animal house The Haunt, Brighton 06/06/15 9/10 Warming up the crowd for Glass City Vice are Brisbane born, Brighton based garage rock band Animal House. As they enter the stage in their skinny jeans and denim jackets, they look like every other band that tries to make it in Brighton. However, it’s a pleasant surprise as they begin playing, and prove they are leaps and bounds ahead of the many mediocre bands out there. Their sound is nostalgic of the early noughties and is the perfect combination of The Strokes meets Kings Of Leon. Vocalist and bassist Will McConchie’s vocals are

Photo by Isha Shah

reminiscent of Julian Casablanca’s on The Strokes, This Is It album. However, on track ‘Sour’ there is something very Caleb Followill (Kings Of Leon) about his voice as he sings the word “Sour.” McConchie’s gravelly vocals compliment the indie style music perfectly. Even musically, ‘Sour’ has riffs worthy of belonging to an early The Strokes song. The Australian rockers also play their most recent single ‘Figure It Out.’ This track isn’t as fast-paced as their other songs but is still full of upbeat guitar riffs and husky vocals. They could also be likened to indie pop group Get

Inuit. Even though they’ve only been a group since early 2014, they perform flawlessly and with great confidence. The crowd is now full as Glass City Vice take to the stage. The band have a superb mix of slow, melodic songs such as ‘72nd Street’ and ‘Dry Bones.’ Guitarist Ed’s fuzzy guitar sounds, combined with vocalist Josh Oliver’s silky, smooth vocals is a highlight. They also include more face-paced and upbeat tracks such as ‘Landslide.’ Producing honest and heartfelt music proves popular with the ever growing audience. ‘Have To Say’ is an audience

favourite that gets the whole crowd moving. Musically, the group have a sound very similar sound to alternative rock band The Xcerts. The band perform flawlessly throughout and having supported big name acts such as You Me At Six, The Xcerts and Don Broco previously can only mean more headline shows to come. Words by Chloe Rose Eaton

Elegies - ep release show The Rocking Chair, Sheffield 29/06/15 7/10 If you’re a fan of While She Sleeps and Architects, then you should pin back your ears and give Elegies a listen. Bear Chest open the show, playing to the small but exited room they open the show with brilliant riffs and some awkward humour. The three-piece became more interactive with the crowd as the room filled, and the excitement grew. The trio seemed to be happy playing in their comfort zone and their confidence was clear, making the set easy to listen to and enjoy. By the middle of Bear Chest’s set the crowd are fully enjoying the band and as they announce their final song ‘The Pit’ the crowd, however they seem too shy to start really dancing with the band, after the third run through of the final tracks outro, Bear Chest leave the stage to the sounds of cheering and applauding. The room filled up again as the next band Keeper get ready to play. The four piece hardcore band based in Leeds grab the crowd’s attention easily, with very intense vocals that demanded to be heard. Front woman Courtney Levitt, has a stunningly haunting voice during the more melodic parts of their set, but during breakdowns, her high pitched voice became too overpowering for the rest of the band to be truly heard. As their set continues, bassist Dan Gilson, shows the crowd some interesting bass playing techniques, using a violin bow to bring out more understated tones which works well with Levitt’s voice. This unique idea brings the crowd

Photos by Jonathan Bell

back inm enjoying the gig and allows a chance to focus purely on the band. Finally, Elegies take the stage. The Sheffield based six piece struggle to stay contained on tiny stage as soon as their set starts. Vocalists Thomas Hoyland and Sam Gibson capture the room’s attention immediately, and do not let anybody lose focus. They play through ‘Exiled’ with confidence, as they are fully committed to making this a good night to launch their new EP, Daylight Disease. As the band brings ‘Scars’ to a close, the lights in the room drop, and a few dim lamps are lit around the stage. Smoke fills the room, as Hoyland and Gibson each grab a light and introduce the room to their new EP. “Let us see your beautiful faces,” they scream, as they shine their torches down on the buzzing crowd. The excitement and tension in the Rocking Chair was thick ,as new and old fans of Elegies wait to hear the new work live. They play the EP in reverse order, (‘Cobweb Eyes’, ‘Headache’, ‘Throne’.) By the time ‘Headache’ was being played, the band finally manages to get the crowd more involved. ‘Throne’ proves to be a brilliant end to the show, as both vocalists end up on the floor, or, in Dayle Frank’s (drums) equipment. The show comes to a close, and the exhausted band have given themselves a very strong start towards making Daylight Disease a solid mark on the industry. Words by Natasha Groom