Shattered Glass Magazine

5 Latest News Album Reviews 34 Some of the important headlines from the Featuring All Time Low, Rancid, Second world of music Chance, Lacuna Coil and more.

9 Fat Phace Inme 40 Ken Kristiansen’s top 5 favourite albums of Dave McPherson faces the random question all time generator.

10 Live Reviews My Passion 41 Featuring Kasiuss, Brand New, McFly, Laurence Rene faces the random question Stand Out Riot and more generator.

16 Download festival Mike TV 42 The highs, lows and downright crazy mo- British pop-punk band Mike TV are getting a ments from this year’s Download name for themselves in Asia. Very nice!

24 Acid Drop The Defiled 46 Cover stars Acid Drop tell us a bit more Our friends at Sphere Mag recently spoke to about their awesome band! the London Industrial rockers 30 The Rasmus God Forbid 48 Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you know every These heavy metal titans are on the up. We word to that song. spoke to them on their last tour 32 Comply Or Die Introducing... 51 Yorkshire punk rockers ready to hit the big Hot new talent including The Vexed, Index time. Find out why! Code and more

SHINEDOWN ANNOUNCE UK HEADLINE TOUR Million selling American Alt-Rockers Shinedown have announced new UK tour dates. The dates look set to be their biggest in this country to date, playing some of the venues they played in as a support act to Disturbed last year. The announcement comes following a hugely successful appearance at this year’s Download festival, where they were one of the weekend’s highlights. They will play: November 04 Manchester, Academy 2, 05 Nottingham, Rock City, 07 Glasgow, The Garage, 09 Sheffield, The Leadmill, 10 Wolverhampton, Wulfrun Hall, 11, London, Forum. Be sure to check them out!

THE END FOR BLOC PARTY? Bloc Party front man Kele Okereke has claimed that he does not know what, if anything at all, the future holds for Bloc Party. "We don't know what the future holds," he said. "It's weird, we're out of contract now so... we might take a year off, we might take three years off.... we might never make a record again or we might head straight back in and do a record.

We'll see how we feel come the end of this touring cycle."

Here’s hoping it’s not the end of the band.

GASLIGHT ANTHEM ARE SICK OF IT Gaslight Anthem drummer Benny Horowitz has gone on record to tell of how he is sick and tired of all the comparisons his band gets to Bruce Springsteen. In an interview with PunkNews, the drummer claimed "If we keep going and writing songs, eventually people will see us for us and not have to compare us to anyone else. I can honestly tell you that I’m tired of the Bruce Springsteen question, because it’s in every fucking interview."

It’s not just Springsteen either. He went on to comment: “It’s the Killers ones that piss me off. I’ve seen that a couple times and that makes me mad. Those guys are a bunch of fucking corndicks. When I hear that I’m like ‘Fuck! The Killers? I hate that band! Just stop.’”

So, you better not mention the Killers or Bruce Springsteen to them anymore, they really don't like it. Consider yourself told!

FALL OUT BOY TO SPLIT?

MICHAEL JACKSON DIES!

Pete Wentz has had the internet in a frenzy once again after a comment about the future of his band, Fall Out Boy. Pete claimed that the band might ‘have it in them’ to make one more album, but nothing is certain, sparking rumours of an imminent split.

The A-List bass player has been involved in several online controversies during his time in Fall Out Boy, often surrounding his regular blogs and twitter updates.

Wentz has since denied that the band are due to split, go on hiatus or anything else to that effect, which suggests his original comment could be nothing more than a simple publicity stunt to prove interest in the band. Here’s hoping anyway.

You’ve more than likely seen the news, heard the jokes and wondered about the conspiracies surrounding the death of the once great King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

Yes, his music touched a lot of people throughout his life, but let’s not forget, allegedly, so did he. Not just any people either, children. What a lot of people seem to have forgotten about since hearing the news of his death, is that most of the world spent the last few years hating him, accusing him of paedophilia and generally not having time for him.

As well as that, a substantial percentage of the world haven't cared about Michael Jackson, or his music for the past ten years, and he hasn’t made a decent record for a lot longer than that, so what’s the big deal? His albums are still going to be in the shops, available for download and playing on the radio, so what does it matter. It’s been a long time since Michael Jackson has been a relevant and loved public figure, and between then and now he’s been accused of child abuse, so what’s next? Gary Glitter is on his way out soon, so no doubt he’ll be loved again.

Also, be prepared for the famous Thriller video to become a reality... Seriously, how cool would that be?

PANIC! AT THE DISCO LINE-UP CHANGE It has been announced recently that 2 members of Panic At The Disco have decided to leave the band, shortly before they were due to play shows with the likes of No Doubt and Blink 182.

The band’s premier songwriter, Ryan Ross has left, leaving a lot of fans wondering what direction the bands next album will head in.

As of yet, no official reason has been given as to why Ryan and Jon have decided to quit the band. A full statement to end the speculation around the future of the band is expected shortly.

NINE INCH NAILS CALL IT QUITS Massively influential Industrial band Nine Inch Nails have announced that their current tour is to be their last.

Front man and master mind Trent Reznor has stated that the self destructive persona he involuntarily takes on when playing in Nine Inch Nails is something that he can no longer continue.

As somewhat of a cynic, I’m not convinced. NIN have always been known as a hugely successful and respected bands, but looking at their placing on festival line-ups, they’re always second to top.

They’re an ’almost’ band. All I’m saying is don't be surprised if they re-emerge in about 8 years to headline a festival. The split could well be a PR stunt. You read it here first!

SOIL MAKE STUPID DECISION FOR EXCLUSIVE SHOW Heavy metallers Soil will fly to the UK for a one off show at Sonisphere, having signed an exclusive contract that it will be their only appearance of 2009. Contracts such as this one are not unusual at festivals, as the organisers want to ensure that they sell the tickets rather than other festivals, however, this one is ridiculous. Soil are opening the second stage, which is a very low slot for an exclusive. Besides, they’re not a Reading and Leeds band anyway, so why bother?

DIRTY LITTLE RABBITS CANCEL UK SHOWS Slipknot man Clown has announced that his side project DLR will not be playing their booked UK shows. He stated that following the latest tour with Slipknot playing the biggest shows of his life, he is too drained to complete these shows. Apparently he wants the fans to see DLR at their best when they

YORK’S FINEST ACOUSTIC PUNK ROCK ACT MOVE SOUTH The delightful chaps from The Mega Games Two, York’s finest acoustic punk duo have moved south, Southampton to be exact. Shattered Glass Media wishes Harry and Murf all the best in their new location and hopes that the north hasn’t seen the last of them. Head over to www.myspce.com/ themegagamestwo for more information on the band.

ME FIRST AND THE GIMME GIMMES: LOVE THEIR COUNTRY Spike Slawson might be one of the best singers in punk. What he does with his voice on this album just fucks with your mind; it just shouldn't be possible and isn't for about 99.99% of the world's population.

If you can, buy the album and find the originals before listening to the Gimmes' versions. The originals are all good songs in their own right and Me First have taken them and made them better .

MAD CAPSULE MARKETS: 101 I hate raves and techno music makes me want to put my dick in the oven. So why do I love this band so much? On paper, they're less the dog's bollocks than plain old sweaty bollocks, but there's something about them that I adore. Like, I could listen to them all frigging day. Even the "Introduction 010" song is fucking boss. It's very basic and not entirely well played or sung, but it all works together. I can't help but love their stereotypical Japanese behaviour.

NOFX: SO LONG AND THANKS FOR ALL THE SHOES Favourite band really should make the favourite album. I didn't have to think too hard about the number one spot. This was the first NoFX record I heard and "It's My Job..." the first NoFX track. I've never gone from saying "who?" to saying "fuck the beatles, they could be the best band ever" quite so quickly. I don't think this Cd left my player for a good few weeks after I bought it and it would still be in there if I had a CD player. Defo

ALLISTER: LAST STOP SUBURBIA To be a teenager. The lyrics on this CD spoke to me as a 14 year old loser in a band. It's all a bit convaluted and heavily laden with clichĂŠs but I love that the lyrics are so gay. Shit, "Radio Player" is as gay as any lyrics ever but it's a fantastic song, so who cares? This is another CD that could easily be stuck in my CD player and I'd not care. I could listen front to back until I die, truly this album makes me happy as a pig in shit.

THE MISFITS: FAMOUS MONSTERS I heard "Saturday Night" on a CD player in school and I thought, "god damn this singer is shit hot" and I went out and got this album like the next frigging day. Holy balls, there's not one song that I've not loved at some point. Every song is well written and played with just enough gusto to give the CD a whole load of energy. It's easy when Michale Graves doesn't know how NOT to sing his little heart out.

MCFLY. 20/06/09 SHERWOOD FOREST. McFly are a band who, if you like rock music, you probably hate.

Unlike most of the ‘pop’ scene though, McFly are actually a talented act, who are very good live performers.

Sure, their music itself may not be that good, but their onstage banter between songs is often quite amusing. One thing which certainly wasn’t expected going into this gig though, was just how well this band can play. In terms of how tight they are as a live band, not many can actually compare, with the songs coming across as well as they do on CD. Overall, despite the poor songs, McFly are actually a very good live act, and if you don't mind their music you certainly wont be disappointed if you get chance to SOUND ACT 2009 31/5/09 KASIUSS, MARTIN WAINWRIGHT see them live. + RIDLEY BARBET. BRAMHAM VILLAGE HALL From experience, organising a gig when it’s something you’re new to can be very stressful, especially when things dont go too well. Having had two bands pull out tonight, the organisers of this event did very well to capture a great band last minute. This event was in aid of raising some funds for the village hall in Bramham, and overall was a fantastic night!

The first act to take to the stage was Bramham resident, singer songwriter Ridley Barbet, playing a chilled out acoustic indie-pop, not

unlike that of Sandi Thom or KT Tunstall. Having supported Ridley Barbet’s career from day one, it was a refreshing sight to see her on a bigger stage and looking more confident than ever before. Out of all the times she’s been onstage (I’ve been there every single time) this was definitely her best performance yet, and quite possibly the best time to do it too. With the right backing Ridley Barbet could well be heard across the radio airwaves very soon !

Next up, and the highlight of the night, was York’s acoustic pop-punk singer Martin Wainwright. Very few people in the room were expecting what they saw when Martin walked

onto the stage. It’s amazing how one fairly small guy with an acoustic guitar can make such a big sound. Martin played a set of his own material with a couple of covers thrown in; Grand Theft Autumn (Where Is Your Boy) by Fall Out Boy and also a song by Say Anything. It’s difficult to find a particular highlight from his set, as it was fantastic from start to finish, something which was proven by the fact that he sold every single copy of his EP that he had with him. He was even kind enough to give all the takings from his CD sales to the funds raised for the hall.

There should have been two more bands playing tonight, The Violent Playground and Shakinouts, who

both had to pull out last minute due to unforeseen circumstances. Stepping in just hours before the show to save the day though were Leeds based rock band Kasiuss. Describing Kasiuss’ sound is tough, as they have a varied set of influences, drawing elements from all ends of the rock spectrum into their sound. Onstage they have the look of the Foo Fighters, presence of Biffy Clyro and technical ability and tightness of Muse, something which can never be a bad thing. Having not really heard much by the two bands that pulled out, I’m sure that I’m not alone in thinking it was probably for the best, as Kasiuss were simply amazing. If you get chance to see Kasiuss play in the

near future I’d certainly recommend you take the chance, as it wont be long until tickets to a Kassiuss show are incredibly hard to get a hold of. They’re definitely a band with a bright future.

Despite Shakinouts not being able to play, the night was ended with a DJ set from their lead singer, which was an excellent was to end a great night.

ACID DROP + STAND OUT RIOT + KICKBACK. THE PACKHORSE, LEEDS. 7/7/09 It was the day a musical ‘genius’ in Michael Jackson was remembered throughout the world, yet in a small venue in Leeds 30 people watched a mixture of punk and ska bands from the midlands. First up was Kickback, a six piece ska band hailing from Manchester started off proceedings, showing their unique brand of ska-punk, which if had to be compared to a current band would be Random Hand, only twice the size and nowhere near half as good. The ska element in the music is minimal, which is surprising for a band that describes themselves as a ska band. Overall with Kickback you can see why they were playing a show to a crowd half comprised of the other bands, whilst they may be enjoyable for some, personally, I’ve seen more entertaining episodes of Big Brother. Alright, maybe not that bad, but you get the idea, especially when the most entertaining part of their set was when a string broke during their first song.

Stand Out Riot were second up, yet another ska band from Manchester, with some members from Kickback appearing yet the difference in quality was quite remarkable. From the outset it was possible to tell that Stand out Riot took the ska element much more seriously Not only that, but a band with a female member automatically gains cool points, so Stand Out Riot gain three times the cool points with three of there seven members being of the female variety. Of course, this isn’t enough, there must still be talent behind the music, and this time, the talent is much more obvious, with the party element of ska music much more evident, as well as catchy choruses which even people watching Stand Out Riot for the first time can pick up and join in on make these a fun time band, a rare commodity on the unsigned circuit.

The headliner of the night was Leeds’ own punk foursome, recent winners of the Tuborg Battle of the Bands competition, and cover stars of SGM, Acid Drop. Minutes before they were due on stage there was an argument between two members of the band over something which had occurred earlier in the night, and throughout the set it was evident that this disagreement had some effect on the way the band operated as a whole. They were still able to pull off their usual tricks during the set, with Stash joining them on the trumpet as well as Ste and Stiv breaking out mid set to enjoy a dance with the crowd. There is also a fair amount of variety, with ska undertones added during Stash’s stint as well as a dose of hardcore, although they would deny having anything to do with ska as a whole, it means that they have the appeal for a wide range of music fans.

Whilst this may not have been their best performance to date their brand of punk is definitely one of the best around at the minute, and on their day they can be excellent, unfortunately for them, on this date they weren’t at their best, but hopefully it will blow over and they’ll be back on form quickly. [PH]

Acid Drop Kevin Devine

BRAND NEW + KEVIN DEVINE + MONEEN. 23/6/09. MANCHESTER ACADEMY As the venue begins to fill during Moneen’s set, the excitement and anticipation in the air is so thick you can almost grab hold of it. Brand New have been gone for some time, and with the recent announcement of new album ‘Daisy’ pencilled in for a September release, their fans are understandably impatient to see the band again. Unfortunately, as is usually the case, this has an adverse effect on the support acts. Moneen’s average Circa Survive-lite rock is greeted with polite applause, but the band earns points for enthusiasm and their earnest confessions of over-awe at the opportunity to play the show. Kevin Devine fares a little better, with his reputation as budding scene legend seemingly preceding his unique vocal stylings and the eclectic nature of the material the band plays tonight. The fact that only a handful of onlookers recognise their cover of ’School’ by Nirvana is unfortunate as it is an admirable interpretation of a classic track.

Brand New take the stage to a wall of high-pitched screams and a sea of raised arms, looking every inch the mysterious gentlemen they have become since the release of ’Deja Entendu’. Their reluctance to speak to the press and unwillingness to promote themselves hints at the kind of artistic integrity present in so few bands in the alternative music spectrum. But when you are as astounding and original as Brand New, the music genuinely says everything that needs to be said. The band launch into live staple ’The Shower Scene’ to open the set, with Jesse Lacey’s dirty, feedbackdrenched guitar playing giving this, and most other tracks played tonight, a darker and heavier feel than on record.

From there, the set is split in two. Several tracks from ’Deja Entendu’ come next (the highlight of those a mournful ‘Play Crack the Sky‘), along with an unexpected rendition of ‘The No Seatbelt Song’. They are then followed by a handful of songs from the sprawling ‘The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me’. Between the two halves of the set, the fans are rewarded with a new song entitled ‘Gasoline’, a track that lurches and thrashes with the kind of heaviness that is hinted at in more recent songs like ‘Sowing Season’. ‘Bride’ is the only other new track that gets an airing tonight. Its vague lyrical poignancy and clean guitar melancholy should see it become a firm fan favourite. However, it’s the material from ’The Devil and God…’ that hits hardest. ‘Jesus’ haunts even more potently than on record, and set highlight ‘Luca’ proves itself to be one of Brand New’s finest moments. Brand New are one of the planet’s best bands right now, and ending with the instrumental ‘Welcome to Bangkok’ is not only an overpowering show of confidence, but an open challenge to any pretenders to their throne.

Brand New

THE DEAD BATTERIES + COMPLY OR DIE + THE VEXED + BANDITOS. 25/7/09.

THE UPPERTHORPE HOTEL, SHEFFIELD. Opening tonight were acoustic punk duo from Rotherham, Banditos. Their melodic folky influenced punk and laid back stage presence made for an entertaining start to a night of loud punk rock. It seemed that nothing could stop these two lads having a good time onstage tonight, not even a few mistakes and broken strings.

Following Banditos were York street punks The Vexed. Street punk is well known for being fast, aggressive and best served at full volume, and The Vexed are a fine example of this. Their live show does them a lot of justice, and their sound is much fuller than on their myspace. From this performance tonight I’d be surprised if they don't have a bright future ahead of them. Their members have previously been involved in some of York’s best known punk rock bands, and from the talent and song writing abilities on show tonight, it’s clear to see why they were so successful. They were even joined onstage, well, the mic stand was taken into the crowd, for Comply or Die and former Hazard frontman Smell to sing with them.

Comply or Die are one of the best bands on the Yorkshire punk scene right now, and tonight’s performance shows exactly why. It wasn't their tightest offering by any means, but one thing was made clear. Comply or Die work so much better when they’re having fun. Tonight they played alongside their friends, and had a bloody good time doing so.

They showcased some new material, including a song called Death Waits For No Man, a song with a much more mellow feel than they usually have. They even played some reggae during 9 to 5 Life, helped along by some interesting vocal styling by guitarist Steve ‘The Blackest Man in Punk Rock’ Ralph.

I’ve seen Comply or Die play much tighter than this on several occasions, but this stands out as a better all round performance than usual as they’re all clearly having a lot of fun. The only thing letting their performance down was the somewhat cringe-worthy arse shaking by Smell.

Tonight’s headliners were The Dead Batteries, a fast, aggressive punk band from Ipswich. Their performance was solid, tight and entertaining, but for me there was something lacking in their general sound to be as good as Comply or Die and The Vexed. The highlight of their set was being joined onstage, well, from a table top, by Smell. A good set of bands overall tonight, but playing in his own band and joining two others onstage made the gig into more of ‘The Smell Show’ than a regular gig.

It was obvious from the moment that the full line-up was revealed that Download Festival 2009 was going to be one of, if not the best yet. SGM were lucky enough to have contributors there for the weekend, which lived up to every expectation, often going even further. Here’s what we thought to the bands we saw...

The Blackout (Main Stage, t all. I riday) a F , , d e a g lo a t n Friday) The Blackou Dow ain S e r (M a o f s d e a a t b e w d d e d e fi a n r n e at e U e d h ly have one od ntil t od Un thing, and th Hollywo rinking u amp Hollywo d c f e o at y it ’s d s m r a p a se y e n m se of humour, e ca ced b I hadn’t h something w chill at th as convin ouple of hours o w t t I h ic n t h e u t w b a n s made very dac e on, was co obvious by their t to spen he result was an ed to se t n n a a w w ch ’t I o n ic e T id to d .

I p d b a nd la m a t y a medly c Unde rando of songs by nd the fa llywood e most K h o or t H n f , e mates, a o L y im e n s e p o Bizkit and syn Faith No Mor lf, to go ssibly on rical skills one of ly e. by myse urprise, with po Lo e v h e t ‘e g m or hate ‘em, s los is . Mixin you can’t he drum so e incredible sic ever created h d lp t n a b t u o s t f g ad if mire the fact mu b a nd uitar r that these la forms of hat m with g ver created. The e w d in s ly h t m a c ve E a worked hard h e re, ex to get to where mous wit genious things tmosphe chy choruses a l a th iv in t e s y t ar s fe t e a o e to C h d m t ay l. , dealing the ust estiva with criticism d into ead a m ing the f oving an d n an n m e d U p d p o ra d w is d o o e r n along the c ba ywo way. A great r from a ake Holl live performa you ask fo hilarious lyrics m nce from a great band. [C ith S ] along w . [PH] see band A Day To Remember (Second Stage, Friday) ADTR were one of the first bands on the second stage to create a real buzz at Download this year, which in my opinion was only half justified. A Day To Remember are a good live band, they play their songs very well, jumping between heavy riffs and screaming to New Found Glory-esque pop punk. What lets the band down though, is the fact that their songs just aren’t that good. [CS] ay) econd Stage, Frid (S t set made en om M is Th In of In This Moment’s s ng so of le up co last y more.

Only catching the have managed an d ul co I k in th nt I do that me very happy, as cals made the fact vo or po d an ce an rform g. [CS] Their sloppy live pe somewhat confusin ll we ite qu g in do they’re curently

Billy Talent (Mai n Stage,Friday) Having seen Bill y Talent just two days earlier in a 2) comparing th much smaller ve e two shows was nue (the 450 capa a to city Newcastle A ugh one. In the were lapping up sm cademy all venues, ever , however at Dow y si ng nl oad the situatio le person from strong, with them wall to wall n wasn’t quite th playing some of e same. Their pe th ei r be rf or st material, includ well as showcasi mance was just as ng some new m ing Devil In A M at id er ni ia gh l t fr M om their forthcom ass and Red Flag the crowd, alread ing album, III. Th , as y drained from e reaction from the unusually ho the Canada’s fine th e majority of t weather, faile st genre-bending d to match the punk rockers pu st ro ng pe rformance that t on. [CS]

Limp Bizkit (Main Stage, Friday) The Bizkit are one of the bands from this years line-up that everyone wanted to see. What a lot of people weren’t expecting though, was just how good they would be.

They played through a greatest hits set, which opened up with Break Stuff, closed on Take A Look Around and had the likes of Rollin’, Faith and My Generation inbetween. Anyone who doubted Fred Durst’s capabilities as a front man and an entertainer were quickly silenced, as this set proved just why Limp Bizkit were once so big, and are right on the verge of being right back where they belong after almost five years out of the spotlight. [CS]

Limp Biz

kit

day) in Stage,Fri a pect (M e g a g n at you’d ex h w e it u Killswitch E q ’t fore ngage aren playing be d n a b a Killswitch E r o s e two style tal band, n e th m ix a m r e m o th fr ey ra as . Instead th he crowd w T . d n u so Limp Bizkit unique Bizkit rning Limp ate a more tu re c re e to th h it Korn (Main S tell to gauge, w ficult to tage, Friday if rd d a h s a w ) ch Korn gave a rds it see Killswit performance n afterwa to o re e h re th e at split opinio middle betw ever, ople w n right down een, good sh Bizkit. How whether pe p im L r th o fo e w t o b Personally I utut not great, t a good sp fell on the go from the o e a g ly n r d b o a fa ir n ta m d st od show side ic. only been fa crowd a g the of the line, h miliar with th iewicz bein sE held the tk K u D av m in a e g d m A ore popular so ing for a bit m earing ith guitarist ngs I was ho ore interactio outset, app e th m p- set, w o n from the b fr sn plying their tr and that had of attentio chagor wre u ade for ten ye e L tr a n e d c n a b e e en ars. Howeve that for the m the g a cap r, it must be ore diehard K age wearin apsulated in c st n n e o s m sa e id e o s rn fans this se e parable to a a Dutsk everyon t could be co wet dream a ining enigm a rt te m- tling ma s they moved n e re no let up betw b efrom hit to h and the ev interested een songs. T , s d g w n ro so it c w e it hey may not h as much as th ry feeeps th appeal to new ose that hav tisfying eve icz, who k sa w f ie o k s fa e n e is s fo m llowed their best part of biggest gs with pro progress for a decade, ho not be the y a the tween son m wever, if you sE the tightest K load want to see performing b the crowd. y at Down la in p is le d a o n ir m e e a o nds still touri f to see Korn, ever, th d who ng, then you if you want ue for a ban l band, how g ta lo e ta w m a a c n to t ck to have some b a band, and fe the talent excellent b el intimately anter with th h n it a w s w m o u sh involved in th e a live Korn gig fifth alb e set, then p ased their isn’t for you. le re d. [PH] t s er ju h ap [PH] s id card ban m a n a th r go furthe

Acid Drop (Tuborg St age, Saturday) Leeds lads Acid Drop we re at the festival after winning the Tuborg Ba pretty much snubbed ttle of the Bands, and

by Download themselve were s in ter m s of advertising. The on thanks to this were 79 ly people to miss out ,900 or so people who didn’t know they were tastic. Having seen the playing, because they band a few times in sm were fanaller pub venues, I was well they’d do, but with ini tia lly ap prehensive as to how after just half of the fir st song gone, it was cle rockers have always be ar th at the Yorkshire punk en destined for bigger things. Not many of th but that didn’t stop th e pe ople there knew the so em having a good tim ngs, e. If it’s punk rock, beer on a Saturday mornin an d a damn good laugh yo g, then you seriously m u want issed out if you weren’t in the Tuborg tent.

Acid Drop

in Stage, Saturday) Five Finger Death Punch (Ma that sometimes you The problem with festivals is for a few hours until find yourself with nothing to do are on. Some choose the next band you want to see others will chill at a to spend this time drinking; t some other bands tent. We decided to check ou good position for the playing main stage, and get a se bands were Five bands to come. The first of the ce from metal heaven Finger Death Punch, a five pie come was a pleasLos Angeles, California. The out Ivan Moody showing ant surprise, with front man ll as a brilliant ability his diverse vocal talents as we in the set, a skill reto keep the crowd involved t stage. FFDP may quired to make it on such a vas far as the download not be for everyone, but as placed as they didn’t crowd go, they were perfectly performance worthy set the world alight, but gave a of the main stage. [PH]

In Case Of Fire (Second Stage, Saturday) ICOF are a band who need a lot of work. Musically, they’re sp ot on, playing a brand of alternative and sligh tly progressive rock music, but their live perfor mances let them down. It’s often good to se e a band who is ‘all about th music’ but a lit e tle movement an d cr o w d action is also en intercouraged. Great m us ic played well isn’t enoug h to keep a crow d en tertained on a hot summ ers day, and to w in people over a band needs to do somethi ng memorable, which In Case of Fire didn’t man age. [CS]

Fightstar (Second Stage, Saturday) One thing which was expected by many is for Fightstar to be greeted by a wave of bottles, but this wasn’t the case. Surprisingly, not a single bottle was thrown, probably because people have finally realised that it doesn’t matter about their singers musical history when his current band is this good. They played a tight set of their own material, spanning from their first single right across their three albums, proving that they’re a really good live band. [CS]

Having rday) Disco’ band Static-X. tu il Sa ‘Ev e, ed ag im St la d oc on pr ec lf Static-X (S year were se ter eling a little stupid af Download debut this fe eir ft th le g s in wa I ak , m ly em th ing Surpris ay uch attention to song, I was blown aw t never really paid m e gl bu sin nd a g ba e in th ow of kn e t ar been aw , as despite no attention before now e or m id pa I’d g in this set,wish uff! [CS] e presence. Good st ag st g in az am eir th by

d Stage, Saturday) You Me At Six (Secon bottles had to dodge a fair few d an ge sta on e m ca YMAS or crowd either got bored e th of ity jor ma e th t at first, bu s. Still a to the UK pop-punker more likely, warmed up long way in Me At Six have come a u Yo , nd ba g un yo ry ve nsations g from underground se in go , ths on m 12 t las the wn g out venues up and do llin se s, es cc su m ea str to main eir ance showed why. Th rm rfo pe is th d an , try the coun of people polished, and had a lot performance was very [CS] bouncing before long.

You Me A t Six

My Passion (Red Bull Stage, Saturday) I only caught the first couple of songs of My n My Passio Passion’s set, and without their usual light ge, a t S in a show, the band looked a little lost onstage. anson (M Marilyn M The band still gave it their all though, and ) Saturday ot such a g ’s o h w one played with the energy and emotion that they For some eing a b r o f n utatio usually do though, and looked like they were great rep uld be o h s n o s , Man d still having a bloody good time! Frontman performer . The ban lf e s im h f o t, Laurence Rene also helped create the single ashamed eally tigh r re e w s best onstage moment of the weekend by themselve by the n w o d t le blowing a kiss in the direction of the berk who but were Static-X ntman. If o fr a f o use x had clearly just arrived to throw bottles at e d e t h s s a w d sma sy fits an is h g in w ne him. The idiot quickly left, humiliated. [CS] thro micropho a g n li r u h g ing lights, Pendulum (Main St staggerin d n age, Saturday) a e c n ie d u a e Pendulum had the rug d at th d o o g un enviable task of fillin ying how g the gap between fo rc e d an o d M o ar around sa g ilyn Manson on wha Dragonea n o e m t o co s ul d be described as th kes main stage line up a m is e e n e he o s aviest u of the entire three anson is M da y n fe e sti wa va s th l. an , W no r he un n the line up ced Pendulum stood like performe out like a sore thum ver if you e be w fo rg b o iv an h en d many could fo t, s r expecting to see bo their expe of the be tt les rm fly in fo g r in e th cta p eir nt Marilyn Manson direction from band and Slipknot fans. Ho ining live show is to see a a rt w te ev n er e , the Pendulum much different to th ll, have ei r alb e um s th as th songs we rif e ey fs with excellent dr mix in heavy guitar mak um work to whip th anter and e cr ow pi n d ng e in fo h to a frenzy, stoponstage b r a moment to plea ciated, t se re th p e p m et a al l fa ns e wi th a short remix of hat allica’s Master of Puppets. The crowd fe Metw ’ll agree t ell u kn o ow y n e pa r rt Vo a y od tu s ne oo e s Pe co c op nt n le, inu a Blood Sugar and Ta e with ch r lack rantula as the crow on was, fo truly engulfed in th s n a d M ge n t w ly ell e and set and the light sh Mari ] th ow is surprisingly ef , SHIT.[CS e blazing sunshine. rm e t fe r ct iv te e t Pe in e nd ulum may have been of a b a position, especia an od d ch oi ce fo r such lly with Prodigy pl aying the second hours later, howeve sta ge a few r they pulled off th e slot expertly, and gained a few more fa may have ns in the process. [P H]

Slipknot (Main Stage, Saturday) Slipknot are pretty much the biggest metal band in the world right now, and this performance showed exactly why. Heavy metal is something that is rooted in British culture, and Download is the one weekend of the year which truly celebrates this, so it’s no surprise that the biggest show of Slipknot’s career should come at Donington.

The band stepped up to the challenge well, proving exactly why they were chosen to headline this year. Other than the freshly re-united Limp Bizkit, this was the performance of the weekend. [CS]

y) d Stage, Sunda n co e d For(S id rb God Fo n describe Go ca u yo at th e way l.’

There’s only on ‘Fucking Bruta ’s at th d an , al heavy met t early in bid’s brand of given a short se ly on e er w ey th might not It’s a pity that as while they , ge a st d n co se is set the day on the a higher slot, th t n ra ar w to h enoug h. A be well known ly good enoug in a rt ce re y’ e l that th r proves full wel shape ready fo to in ed ck ki e t a stag good way to ge ho were to folw um vi ri T nd pa Roach a the likes of Pa day. [CS] low later in the

Journey (Main Stag e, Sunday) How often can a ba nd be as succesful af ter the lead singer quits? N ot very, and there’s one way around it. All you need to do is find the best tribute band you po ssibly can and take their singer. What Journe y proved on this oc casion though, is that they dropped on very w ell finding singer Arnel Pi neda, who’s actual ly got a better voice than their original singe r Steve Perry! Unfortunate ly though, the majo rity of the audience there to see them today we re only there for one song, Dont Stop Believin g, which was somewhat anticlimatic. Still a good band for relaxing in the sun on a Sunday af ternoon though.[CS] e u ven Exit A dull Be B d It’s e ay) (R festival. e, Sund y g r te. a e t v S e m p ve or ha su lo m r u e s room Ja h t it u bo you e ed d just a der that y sound d ll o a f u t e c This ban g a a ll st k it g up, sma pop-pun an a son d h n t a e s o r r mid line o t lec ed w ’) and to mix e en violat e b t s n ‘fame ju io Claiming t d a a t h s o s r r it’s f Me t e my ea g is, but Cyrus (o in h e more lik t c o a n r T , bad nd s child of not that ce to ba n ’s a it v the love , le y e ll r ce e no Actua mon pla d to hav y Cyrus. e id m e o rb il m c o e M F e e s d b o G pms t o e music crowd a that see e lose. Th h h c g t u , ly o e e h c it , alt efen defin re worse fter them In their d a a . r ls e o r a e e iv h r t t s o and s at fe on bef e p op the end er stage il ll t a n u m ch on th s t u e e s m h t ir y r e h e h it w stiing t e up v e at a fe be enjoy m itely com o o t in h f t d e a e d r e a y pe mor ut the uld seem there. B o t w u o h c s u d ba n d as s punk, an p o p f H] o side nload. [P w o D n a r th Attack Attack (Red val othe Bull Bedroom Jam Stag e, Sunday) There must be som ething in the water in South Wales, as th ere seems to be a constant flow of qu ality bands flowing out of the place, with LostProphets, Funeral For a Friend and more recently The Blackout. The ne xt band on the list, and currently on the verge of exploding into the mainstream are Attack Attack.

They played a tight set on the Red Bull stage, with the high light being the huge circle pit around one of the posts supporting the tent , something which the security didn’t se em too impressed by. [CS]

Shinedown (Secon d Stage, Sunday) For me personally, Shinedown were one of the highlight s of the festival.

They’re a band w ho are obviously very grateful for ev erything that they have, and are very aware that if it wasn’t for the peop le standing in the audience, they wou ldn’t be on the stage. The highlight of their set was the amazing ballad Second Chance.

[CS]

nday) Stage, Su d n o c e (S e of ch ff the fac o Papa Roa d re a e p disap that every d to have d e n m a e b e s A . h t c l f Infes Papa Roa e nu-meta success o e th th to e d c e in rn ts s retu the plane d with early teen ir e h t d, signifie g n n u ri o u s d w d e e live ith a n one lik festival w er, if their v d e a w lo o n H w . o rphosis ome heavy D ck, with s , metamo a m b u re lb a a y w e ally then th their ne acobi verb t o g o by J g h in it w th y , n e mak show is a efore a su l points to b ia s r rs e a v e p ro S t n itney’ slightly co w al- Def Leppard n and ‘Sh to il H f their ne (Main Stage, s o ri ff a o P g re o in h Sune day) dW attack th o o d w n y a ll t o n fH elle o c x n e io s it a d w n new perb re of old and ass sing-a re m a tu ix in m d n e T e bum. Th going to apa his year saw the return of a cl s P y d a n lw a a t h s assic re nig ng wa closing so have a spa a rock band closing the festiv u lf o e y rs If u . o rt y o al (last en d o st Res year saw Kiss utumn, th long to La a on is F rid th ay u o w ith Lostr near y [CS] Prophets left to ee them.

Roach tou s cl to o se g ), n w lo hich was a d travel a great move. Th favour an e Steel City’s fin est classic rock outf it Def Leppard may well have been the perfect boo king for this slot, as they were absolutely incredib le. They play ed a greatest hits se t, and had the entire crowd lovi ng every seco nd of it. Unlike a lot of the older b ands who are still going today (see Whitesnake) Def Leppard have certainly not lo st their touch, and don't look like slowing down for quite some tim e yet. [CS]

Go:Audio (Tu

borg Stage, S

unday)

Why the hell a pop band like Go:Audio who tour with McF have been on ly in recent tim es are headlin Download fest ing a stage at ival (you know , th at fe st Def Leppard a ival that Slipkn nd Faith No M ot, o re ar e headlining) I’ll know. It woul never d seem thoug h, that no on clash with Def e cares. They Leppard and T rivium,so for a to headline a band chosen stage, their pu ll is embarrasi few kids in a ng. There’s a ttendance, and a fa ir fe w people ther show how mu ch they dont lik e to e th e m , greeting them a wall of bottl es and cups. T with he only drink cups this year so ld in plastic was Guinness, so considerin were followin g that they g Therapy? th ere was alway plenty of amm s going to be o. Even thoug h w at er ed music does not down electro-p belong at Dow op nl o ad , you could forg band if they p ive the layed it well, bu t they couldn’t that. [CS] even manage

So, overall, SGM had an amazing time at Download Festival, with some of the old school numetal being particular highlights.

Here’s our best and worst bits: Best Band: Limp Bizkit Worst Band: Marilyn fuckin’ Manson Best Song: Shinedown—Second Chance Biggest anti-climax: Journey Funniest moment: My Passion clamping Hero of weekend: Laurence Rene Villain of weekend: Marilyn Manson Also, we’ve got a special competition going off at the minute too. Our lads that were there were on the lookout for pretty ladies all weekend. During Shinedown we spotted a particular hottie who snuck into one of our photos. If you’re the hottie in the picture to the right, then email us at contact@shatteredglassmedia.co.uk and we’ll send you a signed copy of Lacuna Coil’s live DVD. Roll on next year is al we can say. I’m sure you’re looking forward to it as much as we are! [CS]

ACID DROP are an unsigned punk rock band from Leeds. Recently, they were winners of the Tuborg Battle of the Bands at the Leadmill in Sheffield. Their prize was playing a set on the Tuborg Stage at this year’s Download Festival. The lads took the big stage in their stride, and despite no help with promotion from the festival themselves, who wouldn’t even list their spot on the official website, they managed to pull in a couple of hundred people to their 11am slot on Saturday, and had every one of them dancing. Not many bands can go from playing pubs to playing festivals without any transition as easily as Acid Drop did, they looked right at home on the bigger stage, as though they’d been doing it for years.

Having played alongside the likes of Sham 69, the VooDoo Glow Skulls, Outl4w and other notable punk rock names, Acid Drop wont be in the small venues for very long. Shattered Glass Media spoke to the band to find out a little bit more...

If you could start by introducing yourself and telling us what you do in the band.

Pete: Hello! I'm Pete, I hit stuff, usually faster than the others want me to! Play a bit of sax in the recorded stuff as well.

Ste: Hi, I’m Ste. I play guitar, do backing vocals, jump around and generally make a fool of myself.

Stiv: I'm Stiv and I play bass and scream a little bit and fart and smell quite a lot Ben: I’m Ben I sing and strum chords and that For those who haven’t heard yet, could you tell us a little bit about the band’s sound & influences?

Ste: We play fast melodic SoCal punk mixed with East coast street punk slap a tiny dash of ska and some Hardcore action and you sort of get close-ish.

Ben: I think as far as our sound goes we like to vary things a bit from song to song, too many bands like to make sure they stay within one genre of punk and when they try something different later in their career they get accused of alienating their fans, so you should probably start how you mean to go on!

Pete: As a band we're all into different things, so each of us can really bring their own sound to each song. This in my opinion gives us a well rounded sound that seems to be enjoyed by a wide variety of people!

But overall.. we're a punk band!

So, why should someone buy and Acid Drop EP? Pete: Cos we're skint, and one day I'd like my music to pay for my acute alcoholism!

Stiv: We deserve your money more than you do !

Ben: So we can keep playing gigs coz petrol ain’t cheap these days!

And is that the same for why people should come and see you play?

Ben: You should come see us live coz you’ll have a bloody good time and music’s better when it’s too loud to hear the mistakes.

Pete: Well partly, but the main reason anyone should come to an Acid Drop show is for the fun of it! We're having fun and we want everyone else to as well!

Ste: and we try and put the fun back in punk rock .

You’ve recently played at Download Festival after winning the Tuborg Battle of the Bands. How was it?

Ste: It was amazing to play on a big stage without banging into each other, getting a guitar in the face or cracking our heads on the ceiling.

Stiv: It was all a bit of a daze really, still cant believe that it actually happened, but it was a fucking awesome experience Ben: It was nice to be able to roam about a festival and go wherever the hell I liked. I’m not going to get used to the VIP treatment coz lets face it, it was probably a once in a lifetime thing, playing Donington park within the first year and a half of gigging was a bit jammy!

Other than playing, what were your highlights of the festival?

Pete: The whole thing was ace, but the VIP camping 2 minutes from the main stage was the best bit for me! Didn't miss any of the action!

And of course the free food and booze on Saturday!

Ben: LIMP FUCKING BIZKIT maaaaaan.

Ste: Strangers asking for autographs was totally surreal I could get used to this rock star treatment haha Stiv: It was great to finally get to see Faith No More, and the Prodigy we're fucking amazing. But for me, the highlight was Lawnmower Deth, amazing band and a great bunch of guys.

Ste: Their singer Pete gave me a massive red foam devil horns hand!

So, having won BOTB and played at Download, what’s next for Acid Drop?

Ste: We are playing at this years Rebellion Festival in Blackpool and supporting the Voodoo Glowskulls in Leeds a few days later. Then we are hopefully going to work on some new tunes and record a few album towards the back end of the year.

Ben: We’re gonna try and get a night going at some point in the new year too because we owe so many bands gigs!

Stiv: Same thing we do every night Pinky, try to take over the world!

What are the overall ambitions with the band? Is it something you’re happy to keep doing for fun or is it something you’re planning on making a living from?

Pete: I think all of us are happy with the way things are going at the moment! Find me a musician who doesn't want to do that for a living though!

Stiv: It would be nice to be able to make a living out of the band, but for me its all about having a good time with my mates and meeting new people in new places.

Ben: Ultimately it’s up to other people whether we make a living from it or not. At the end of the day it’s been a great experience so far and I’m not ready to stop anytime soon!

Having experienced the big stage shows and the smaller, more intimate ones, which do you prefer playing?

Stiv: Whether we play to one person, or a thousand, I'm just happy that people come and see us! And if any of 'em go away happier than when they turned up, and want to come and see us again, then that's a bonus. But it always seems better up close and personal.

Ste: I don’t think you can compare them, I always get a buzz playing live no matter what the size of the stage is, they are both good.

Pete: Being stuffed into the back corner of most smaller stages with hardly enough room

to breathe, I prefer bigger stages! But I've always preferred smaller venues, the mood always seems better, and you can really have a laugh with the audience.

Other than Leeds, where is your favourite place in the UK that you’ve played?

Pete: Erm... Donington!

Stiv: Colwyn Bay, I pulled. Beautex!

Ben: The people in Spennymoor are always a good laugh! It was the first place we played outside Yorkshire, and they always really look after you up there and make sure you’re fed and have somewhere to sleep. Most of all they know how to drink and have a good time!

Ste: We have had some good laughs up there.

If you could choose any three bands, past or present, to go on tour with, who would you choose and why?

Ste: SNFU. The singer Mr Chi Pig is off his rocker and is very entertaining on and off stage . Frank Zappa because he was an amaz-

ingly talented man and completely bonkers. I would drop everything and play for free if we could open for Bad Religion as they are my all time favourite band.

Ben: I’d love to tour with The Briggs. Saw Skindred last year at the Eastpak Antidote tour and they were amazing, keep meaning to get some of their music. Also I wouldn’t mind touring with Sonic Boom Six, their live show is getting better every year and I can’t wait to see how they take to the main stage at Leeds Festival this year Pete: That's a tricky one... Bad Religion, obviously! I reckon Less Than Jake would be a laugh, and probably NOFX. Fuckin’ A! Stiv: Rocket from the Crypt, best live band I've ever seen in my life, we could learn a lot from those guys. Kings of Nuthin! Fuckin’ awesome band from Boston, USA, living the true rock 'n' roll lifestyle. And pretty much like everyone else in the band... it's gotta be Bad Religion, they're what made me fall in love with punk rock.

Awesome. Finally, what advice would you give to kids wanting to start a band?

Ben: Find the right people and stick to it!

Ste: Have fun and enjoy every moment.

Pete: Just fuckin’ do it! And don't be an emo twat, if you're 13, you don't know the trials and tribulations of relationships and heartache etc... shut the fuck up and play some decent music!

Stiv: Don't be better than us... or else!

For more information about Acid Drop, head on over to www.myspace.com/ aciddroppunkrock for latest news, blogs, mp3s and more. All photographs in this article were taken by Simon Moss, other than the three smaller ones on pages 26/27, which were taken

by Hayley Herrick for Shattered Glass Media.

Check out the band at this year’s Rebellion Festival in Blackpool in August.

Comply or Die are currently on of the most popular bands on the local scene in York.

They play a unique style of punk rock, mixed with various influences ranging from ska to metal, and even, on occasion, drum and bass.

Following some slight line- up changes, the band you will see now compromises of Smell on vocals, Steve and Jim on guitars, Dave on drums and Lee playing bass.

Formed in 2008, the band have shared the

Up everybody’ s lives”

stage with several notable names considering

July has seen the band complete a mini

the short time they have been together, in-

tour of the UK, playing in London, Bir-

cluding Sonic Boom Six, Random Hand,

mingham and Sheffield. This is the first

Fandangle, 4ft Fingers, UK Subs, Anti

that they have played with a full line- up

Nowhere League and many more, as well as

since the departure of original bassist Mike.

an appearance at the first ever Mutiny Fes-

Shattered Glass Media were fortunate

tival in Bridlington, performing alongside

enough to be at one of the shows on this tour,

punk rock legends such as the Stiff Little

at the Upperthorpe Hotel in Sheffield,

Fingers and Goldblade.

where they played alongside fellow York

When asked about why they write the sort of

punks The Vexed, as well as acoustic punk

music they do, singer Smell responded

band Banditos from Rotherham, and head-

“ At the end of the day, everybody has

liners The Dead Batteries. From what we

already heard the best love song, every band

could see, the new line- up gives the band a

has done a fucking love song, so what’ s the

more full and complete sound, something

point in us fucking doing it. Also, we don' t

which is helped along by having two guitar-

sing about no actual politics, we sing about

ists for the first time.

anti- politics. Politics is the thing that fucks

Something else which clearly helps this band

And something which they clearly strive

Playing festivals is something that not all

upon, is playing to and alongside close

bands get to do in their career, so Comply or

friends. The gig in Sheffield was certainly

Die have been very fortunate to play one so

not their tightest and most polished set

earl in their career. They were second on at

they’ ve ever played, however their perform-

Mutiny Festival, which unfortunately came

ance was made so much better by the fact

at a time when the band were in a strange

that they were clearly having a lot of fun.

transition period, struggling to find a stable

One thing which you do get with a Comply or

line- up. That didn' t stop them though, re-

Die show though, is unpredictability. One

views suggest that they confidently impressed

thing which is almost guaranteed is that

the crowd. Drummer Dave said: “ Mutiny

front man Smell will be drunk, however you

was terrifying, walking into a place that

never know what kind of drunk. Sometimes

size for sound check , Seeing it empty was

you get a Smell who wiggles his arse around,

bizarre, after playing to at most a few hun-

wearing a big cheesy grin, making the set a

dred before. One of the best days of my life

hell of a lot of fun. Sometimes you get an

frankly, playing to a thousand people,

angry drunk, making songs such as The

hanging out with some of my favourite bands

Right come across more powerful than ever

in the world, meeting some legends, making

before. Either way, it works.

new fans. Awesome times. ” The future looks incredibly bright for the band too, with work on their debut album set to begin, which will also feature a number of guest appearances. “ We will be recording our first proper album over the next coming months, with a couple of mates helping out with instruments we cant play such as D J Moca of Broken Minds on decks, as well as some brass which is still to be confirmed. ” Dave added.

Be sure to keep your eye out for Comply or Die. For more information head over to www. myspace. com/ complyordiemusic to see what all the fuss is about. Trust us, you wont be disappointed, we’ re certainly not anyway. [ CS]

ALL TIME LOW: NOTHING PERSONAL Pop-punk is an over-saturated genre nowadays. It seems as though you can’t move for the Blink 182-a-likes and Fall Out Boy coat-tail riders currently harassing venues up and down the country. But the upside of having so many of these bands is that some genuinely good bands are given a chance at the big time. All Time Low are one of those bands. Don’t get the wrong idea though. ATL are by no means a band that will change your life or inspire you to get up and protest whatever is bothering the ultra-sensitive American middle class. But they are a band that possess a song-writing flair and chart-bothering hooks by the bucket load; and what really makes ‘Nothing Personal’ a success is the fact that All Time Low know all this.

As with 2007’s ‘So Wrong, it’s Right’, this album is brimming with big choruses. The youthful optimism of ‘Lost in Stereo’ and first single ‘Weightless’ is almost as catchy as the songs themselves, and it’s impossible not to enjoy the pretension-free confidence with which the band plays. Despite the relatively throwaway nature of the lyrics, each track is delivered with a swagger and conviction that is present in few other bands in the genre.

After a few listens, you’ll be singing along to almost every line of every song, but you will also find yourself wondering what that nagging difference is between this album and its predecessor. For better or for worse, All Time Low have leaned more towards being the All-American Rejects at times during ‘Nothing Personal’. New single ‘Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don’t)’ is a prime example: warping effects on the guitars, clap-along breaks to end the chorus and sugary sweet hooks that could have been lifted directly from ‘When the World Comes Down’. It’s important to stress that this is not really a criticism, but an observation. All Time Low have really cranked up the pop sensibilities on this release, and the album does suffer slightly for it; whether it be the less punchy production or the sickly Metro Station style ‘Too Much’, you feel the band has an eye on improving their chart success. Such a statement would seem harsh if it weren’t qualified by the fact that this is an excellent album overall, and that All Time Low are playing these songs with the very same vigour that they have displayed on each of their releases. It’s difficult to criticise a band playing this well at such an early stage in its career, and if you leave your brains and pre-conceptions at the door, you’re guaranteed barrels of fun every time you blast ‘Nothing Personal’ from the speakers. [DT] BILLY TALENT: III Canada’s finest genre bending punk rockers return with a solid effort. When you make an album like Billy Talent II, following it up is always going to be an epic task, something which I initially expected Billy Talent to manage without any problems. Unfortunately, III is nowhere near as strong as it’s predecessor. Don’t see this as a criticism however, this is still a damn good album if you take it on its own merits and forget about the masterpiece that this band released a few years ago.

III definitely has a more chilled out feel than the band’s previous releases, which is a refreshing change from a band known for their fast paced punk rock. The album’s highlight is the lead off single, Rusted From The Rain, which is a prime example of the bands new melodic direction. Oh, and the album went straight to number one in their homeland. Good stuff. [CS]

SECOND CHANCE: SECOND CHANCE The debut EP from Second Chance is well worth a listen if you’re into pop punk. The band have a somewhat unique sound, which comes across very well on this release. This EP proves that even though they’re a poppunk band, drawing comparisons to others is a difficult task.

The Show is a particular highlight to the EP, detailing an experience at a gig that we’ve all had. We’ve all waited at the stage doors to try and meet our favourite bands after their shows, and we’ve all experienced rejection because they think they’re too cool for us. Bloody rockstars.

The other tracks, Oh No!, Two Way Street and What Are You In For create a similar level of pop joy, which will certainly have you dancing around your room all night. [CS] BEAT UNION: DISCONNECTED If you want to sum up Beat Union, you’d probably say The Jam, mixed with a touch of ska with added pop-punk. Sounds about right. This album is a prime example of exactly that, and overall, it’s bloody brilliant!

Each song on this release has the potential to be a chart bothering single, with ‘Johnny Loves JoJo’ being a particular highlight, although title track Disconnected comes in at a close second.

It’s very rare you find an album where each song is as good as the last, with no low points whatsoever, infact I can only think of 5, with this one included in that list, alongside Green Day’s Warning, Billy Talent II, Stone Sour’s Come Whatever May and 59 Sound by The Gaslight Anthem. Buy this album, you WILL enjoy it! [CS] GREEN DAY: 21st CENTURY BREAKDOWN Green Day return to take over the world once again with 21st Century Breakdown. It was on its way out during American Idiot, but Green Day’s pop-punk roots look to have gone forever, and been replaced by a whiny imitation of what was once there.

Green Day seem to have their head’s so far up their own behind’s that their posture is beginning to resemble that of Bono. For a band whose roots lay in punk rock, this album couldn’t be further away. Their egotistical minds figured the fans would want an album that is split the album into three 'acts' (Heroes And Cons; Charlatans And Saints; Horseshoes And Handgrenades) and not question what the fuck they’re trying to do.

Seriously, I have no idea what a once great band are playing at, but I’m certainly not impressed. [CS] TAT: SOHO LIGHTS This London three piece have everything you will ever want, the Punk, the rock, the angst and the amazing vocal stylings by the rebellious Tatiana DeMaria. TAT have earned their way on countless high profile tours, including The Vans Warped Tour, and support slots for Alice Cooper, NOFX and Pennywise. Their debut album 'Soho Lights,' released by their own record label, Red Wagon Records, and distributed by recording giants Sony, is full of energy and catchy hooks that will blow you away.

The tracks to look out for are ‘Road to Paradise,’ ‘Sympathetic Lies’ and ‘Here’s to You,’ however, you will never get bored of listening to this album, I certainly haven’t. TAT have the drive, the tenacity and the attitude to go far, lets just hope they return to the UK sometime soon, as their live show looks as good as the album sounds. [HH]

DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE: THE OPEN DOOR From the very beginning it is obvious just why these tracks did not make the final cut for their last album, despite being recorded during the sessions for the record. The Johnny Cash meets Brit-pop stomp of opener ‘Little Bribes’ is entirely at odds with the complex and whimsically twee indie of the majority of ‘Narrow Stairs’, whereas ‘I Was Once A Loyal Lover’ bops along like it belongs on ‘The Photo Album’. This EP feels like a stop at every DCFC since ‘The Photo Album’, with each track representing one of their previous four albums. ‘The Open Door’ does not quite flow with the majesty that makes DCFC albums special, but the tracks are strong enough to make this a worthwhile release, and the addition of a solo performance of ‘Narrow Stairs’ track ‘Talking Bird’ by Gibbard and his ukulele will warm your heart. [DT] ACID DROP: HAZARD WARNING Quality British punk rock is a rare thing these days, but Acid Drop appear to have set out to break the mould. Drawing influences from all ends of the punk spectrum, Hazard Warning is a quality EP. The highlight of this release is the anthemic sounding Polly Piper, a song about a girl who took a turn for the worst and threw her life away, something which far too many of us have witnessed at some point.

Overall, this EP sounds like a jam session featuring Dropkick Murphys, The Clash, NOFX and Bad Religion. Now, if you like punk rock, that doesn’t sound half bad does it? In fact, it sounds bloody brilliant, and let me tell you, it is! We’re also treated to two acoustic songs from the band’s Phoenix FM radio session, which demonstrates a different, yet equally as cool side to the band. [CS] CHASE LONG BEACH: GRAVITY IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT As Ska enters yet another revival, Chase Long Beach, grace our ears with their album 'Gravity is What You Make It'. This Californian ska-punk band are no strangers to hard work and no success, however, they seem to have fallen on their feet with this recent release. This album, released on Victory records and produced by Reel Big Fish front man, Aaron Barrett, is a blend of summery orange county ska not unlike that of Reel Big Fish and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, with early Blink 182. It heralds the high energy skanking tracks such as 'A Diamond Bullet to the Brain' and 'We've Got Pockets like Nobody's Business.' And is sure to have you dancing the night away. Look out for them at this years Rebellion Festival on the 9th August. [HH] BROKENCYDE: I’M NOT A FAN BUT THE KIDS LIKE IT Seriously, what the fuck is with BrokeNYCDE? Is there a worse sound out there than ‘screamo-crunk’? Probably not, which is why if Shattered Glass Media reviewed albums on a number scale, this poor excuse for ‘music’ would be deep into the minus numbers. In all honesty, I’d be very glad if I never heard this album again, as it made my ears bleed. I think I’d actually rather rub a cheese grater across by own scrotum than listen to it.

I’d usually pick out a particular highlight or low point of the album, but there aren't any of either, as every last second of it is just terrible. It sounds like a chav raping an emo with barbed wire, and that’s just not at all pleasant. If you’ve got any sense at all, you’ll avoid this ‘album’, and I use the term loosely, like the plague [CS]

RANCID: LET THE DOMINOES FALL Rancid have always been a very modest band, who don't usually come out with all the ‘this album nearly killed us, it was so difficult’ crap, which could possibly be because if they did, fans would ultimately be disappointed that the release still, despite all the hard work, will never be as good as ...And Out Come The Wolves. The band have claimed that, despite the fans love for AOCTW, this is there best album that they have recorded so far. Tough claim, and in my personal opinion, the wrong one.

Overall, it’s a great album, with a fair bit more ska than usual, which can never be a bad thing, but as has been said countless times over the last 10 years, the new Rancid album is good, but it’s still not quite as good as And Out Come The Wolves. Making such a great album so early in the bands history will over shadow great albums such as this one forever. [CS] DONOTS: COMA CHAMELEON German rockers Donots return with an album which pretty much defines what the band is all about. Having been around for 15 years, the band have had a massive influence on so many different bands, as their sound spans different styles of rock. Upon first listen, if one current band had to be chosen to claim to be influenced by Donots based on this release, I’d go with The Automatic, as there’s definitely some similarities there.

If you’re not familiar with the band, they play a mix of rock and punk, which is well crafted and well played, so if you’re a fan of either sound, chances are that this is the album for you. In fact, why not head over to iTunes and get some more of the band’s material while you’re at it, their back catalogue is all pretty much the same as this, which is where this album falls down a little. It’s nothing new, but it doesn't have to be. [CS] LACUNA COIL: SHALLOW LIFE There was something about this album that I just couldn’t quite put my finger on. Until now. Though it is good to hear more dominant vocals from Andrea Ferro (the original frontman), their gothic roots are smothered by a more radio-friendly sound that lacks substance. Many established artists in the current musical climate that feel the need to grow and alter their style; however, this tends to backfire, causing them to lose the roots and the originality that drew the people in. The vocalist, Cristina Scabbia has defended the album as being ‘a natural metamorphosis from within the band, we explored different musical territories while maintaining our own style.’ Many will agree that though the album is beautifully put together, it lacks almost everything fans love about Lacuna Coil. [HH] KICKBACK: PERSEVERING WITH POSITIVITY Kickback UK, a ska band hailing from Manchester, have produced a eight track mini album ‘Persevering with Positivity,’ that bears all the elements needed to create a ‘must-hear’ punk rock and ska pop compilation for any one that calls themselves a “ska fan.” ‘We Are Never Going Back To Montrose’ though it may not open them up to a strong Scottish fan base, is a brilliant fast paced opener, just urging you to get up and dance, followed up by “Breaking and Entering” and “Don’t Call Us (We Won’t Call You Either)” showing even more of their ska-punk elements. This is a well crafted album they can be proud of. The band are not just a run-of-themill ska band. The proof is in the music.

[HH]

In the event of a zombie outbreak, what would be your weapon of choice and why?

Probably a rifle. I wouldn't want to do the hand to hand stuff because it’d still feel like I’m hitting a human over the head. I think I’m a bit of a pacifist in that sense.

If you could have one super power, what would it be?

Invincibility, but I want an on/off switch so that if I get bored of life and bored of being invincible because I cant die I can just turn myself off. There has to be three warnings though, like when you delete something on a computer it’ll say ‘are you sure you want to do this’ just incase I accidentally push it when I’m drunk or something like that Who would you want to play you in Inme: The Movie?

It’d probably have to be Bruce Willis because he’s bald, although he’s a bit older than me Piranhas, mindless killers or just misunderstood?

They’re bullies, really. You never get one piranha coming on to you to give you a go, he’s always got to have his mates with him. I’m not going on their looks, lets face it they’re really ugly, but they have proved that they’re just mindless killers.

What would you spend your last 24 hours on earth doing?

I think I’d be doing exactly what I’m doing now because I’m loving it, loving touring the world. I’d love to go to Japan so probably fly to Tokyo and play some huge show In the event of a zombie outbreak, what would be your weapon of choice and why?

I’d like to get pretty hands on I think, no range weapons. Probably a butcher’s knife. A good meat cleaver or something like that. Or a chariot!

If you were Prime Minister for a day, what would you do first?

Politicians eh? Haha, I don't know what you could do because no one’s ever happy are they, you can’t please everyone.

If they were to make a film about My Passion, who would you want to play you?

Someone Suave and sophisticated, sort of a Johnny Depp character, you know.

I’d like to swap roles with Johnny Depp and be in a Tim Burton film myself.

Firstly, how the hell are you?

Except for the swine flu and erectile dysfunction, i am doing well.

So you’ve been travelling around the world for a while, playing some very weird and wonderful places indeed. How have the shows abroad been?

A band is like a relationship, you got to keep things interesting either with violent sex or playing in different countries. Playing abroad is awesome and most the shows have been fantasmatronical.

How do the audiences in foreign countries compare with those in the UK? They usually speak better English.

Your self-titled album is fantastic, and has been praised by some very respectable UK magazines such as Big Cheese and Rock Sound. Has much changed for you guys since the album came out?

Thanks, I am glad you like the album. Not much has changed other than we went to China and our drummer left. We since got a new drummer but haven't been back to China yet. Did i mention we went to China?

There’s a lot of pop-punk bands around at the minute, but not many of them stand out against each other. Mike TV on the other hand, have something a bit more special. It’s not quite the pop-punk by numbers you’d expect from a British band playing a style of music where it helps to sound American. Their songs have the choruses and hooks which by comparison, make VD seem a whole lot less catchy.

Our good friend and bassist from Fat Phace spoke to guitarist Jhon about how things are going...

The album is about to be released in Japan. How did that come about?

I e-mailed Japan and asked and they willingly obliged. Thanks Japan We hear you have a new drummer. Did he have to go through a rigorous screening process before being accepted into the fold?

Mike TV - "Can you play drums?"

Glyn - "Yes." Mike TV - "Can you sing?"

Glyn - "Yes." Mike TV - "When can you join?"

You have promised some new songs for your upcoming UK shows. Tell us about the new tracks.

We should be playing 3/4 brand new tracks so that Glyn has an immediate contribution to the band and because we have played the songs from the album to death over the last 18 months. I don't think the new songs are going to be a radical departure, they aren't going to sound like Lady Gaga or anything. Although my nose is pretty much exactly the same size as hers.

If it ain't broke don't fix it is our motto. (That’s the music and not the nose.)

News has it that you’re recording again soon. Can you give us any info on what you have planned for these new recordings?

We are recording four new songs with Peter Miles again (end of September) which we are thinking about releasing as a free download and maybe some sort of limited CD or even a split. We will start recording a new full-length album next year.

Which bands are you guys listening to lately? Are there any new UK bands that have impressed you guys?

This is always the hardest question!

We once had to endure playing with this terrible Scouse band called Fat Phace. We were physically sick for days afterwards and i swore that if i ever had the misspleasure to cross their paths again i would cut my ears off Van Gogh style and feed them to their horrendous lava haired drummer.

Who is the best band you have ever played on a bill with?

Youmeatsix. Great band.

Got any funny/disgusting/ sexually uncomfortable tour stories for us?

We once went climbed Everest after a gig and when we got to the top Bryan Adams was there and we all got a bit drunk and one thing lead to another and soon it was the summer of '69 all over again.

How much cash would it take to get you to pose nude for a magazine spread? (Bear in mind this magazine is seeking a centrepage picture for the next issue).

I'd do it for free, in fact I will pay you.

In the aftermath of the death of Michael Jackson, do you fear that the video for ‘Thriller’ was a gruesome foretelling of MJ coming back to life as a zombie? If so, how would you ward off a zombie Jacko?

I'd throat fuck him or make him watch Uri Geller bend a spoon. Or maybe both at the same time...

If you had to punch a fellow Mike TV member, who would it be and why?

Domb! He's used to it by now... sorry for hitting you Domb. I was stressed, you were drunk and it was the penultimate day of the album recording.

If you had to be one or another, would you rather be: John Prescott’s lucky underpants, Amy Winehouse’s gums or the Queen’s six-year-old shower sponge?

Paul Daniels perineum.

And finally, what does the future hold for Mike TV? More of the same! Great pop songs, more tours, more albums, more fucking about and most of all taking ourselves very seriously.

Electro-metal act The Defiled are making quite a wave on an international scale at the moment, having just finished on tour with The Deathstars . Our good friends at Sphere Magazine caught up with the London-based fivepiece as they were about to unleash their new EP ‘1888’ upon us and tour Europe with Static-X. They thought that this would be a great time to grab a few words with the band’s vocalist Stitch D about new plans for the coming months, the importance of Industrial music and of course we talk about gigging up North.

“It’s actually been better for us in the North than in the south,” says the vocalist when discussing how the band have been received so far within these parts, “We love playing when we are there, and we actually get a better reception.”

Although London represents a huge part of what The Defiled stand for musically, and while Stitch is aware that there is a big difference in terms of the scene size within their city and individual places up North, he is keen to stress that is no bad thing if you are a new band.

He explains, “We love London but there’s always a bigger band on somewhere else and for us it’s good to get out, the people who live further away from the bigger cities know how to party and they also really appreciate the music.”

Indeed if you’re a metal fan, no matter where you are based it’s hard to ignore the explosive nature of a Defiled performance. The group are never satisfied with just waving their hair around in circles for thirty minutes and they are constantly trying to evoke and inspire their crowd. The Defiled has carved out a reputation all over the UK for raccous and energetic shows where nothing and no one is safe. Even the band’s own gear suffers.

“The keyboard is usually the first instrument to go.”

Stitch explains, “We have been on stage before as a support act having borrowed the headliner’s backline, and I’ve rocked their stack back and forth trying to knock it over while they scream at me from the side of the stage.

That was a really good time.”

Despite their fierce and un-predictable live presence the group has some solid ideas behind them and Stitch is very excited about the future of the band and the possibilities that lay ahead. When discussing how the stage show will evolve he says, “At the moment we are a touring constantly and we are often a support band, we don’t really get the opportunity to do anything big but we have some great ideas about what we want to do live in the future.”

He adds, “We have the opportunity to do amazing things with lighting and we would really like to have some props too as we have always been into the theatrical side of things.”

In the coming months the band will be filming a video for their song ‘The Resurrectionists’ and although no theme has been finalised yet, the band are looking at it as a chance to make a lasting impression. Stitch says, We’ve got some really good concepts that we can explore and I think we are going to go mental.” He adds, “We don’t want to be the kind of band that just does the cliché thing filming in a warehouse.”

“We’ve got some really good concepts that we can explore and I think we are going to go mental.” He adds, “We don’t want to be the kind of band that just does the cliché thing filming in a warehouse.”

The track that is the video’s inspiration is also the centrepiece for their debut recording ‘1888’ which will be released in the next few weeks. Stitch explains that the concept for the EP and ‘The Resurrectionists’ is based around their passion for London and its spirit.

“That song basically defines what we are about as a band.

It’s about reminding everybody about London back in the day, and we are trying to get that theme across as much as possible.”

The EP was recorded in Europe at Metropolis Studios with former Machine Head and Slipknot producer Rohan Onraet. Stitch describes how the band worked alongside him throughout the recording process to achieve the best result possible.

“It was a joint effort, but for us it was about finding the right sound, it was an amazing experience and he really helped us out.” Stitch continues on to describe why recording was particularly exciting. “It was really amazing being able to record in a studio that was right in between where Iron Maiden and Alicia Keys were.”

The Defiled will not rest until after they are smashing up stages for hours at a time, and the singer assures us that they have already begun working on a debut album that moves away from the themes and ideas explored on ‘1888’.“The album should see the light of day next year depending on fans’ reaction to the EP,” says Stitch.

“I think the next record is going to be more about the state of the world and England currently, although we love living here, we are aware that it’s not the best place right now.” He continues, “we are not some American wank-band who are going to write a love song and pretend that we are young just to appeal to teenagers. We really have got something to say about the state of our country and that certainly comes across within the lyrical content.”

Besides the lyrics the band’s cataclysmic sound crosses between the genres of metalcore and Industrial, and Stitch tells us that fusing electronic music with heavier music was always something that the group had intended to do.

“I think we have always really loved Industrial, it’s definitely a big part of who we are especially from when we were younger, we always listened to a lot of electronic

music as well as metal and when the band was formed I made a point of looking for someone with a great knowledge of electronics. We love metal and we love electro so we thought ‘fuck it, why not fuse the two elements together?’

“We really would like to see more Industrial acts out there because a lot of these bands stay underground as much as possible. We are really pushing for it with our sound as that’s one thing England doesn’t have at the minute.”

The band are about to embark on their euro-trek and are looking forward to some headlining dates of their own when they return. “We are going to be touring around Europe with Static-X, and then we will do our own headline dates around the UK following that and just getting out live to as many people as possible, we will be doing lots of dates up North too.”

Many thanks to Sphere Magazine for providing us with this article, and thanks to the band and Adam Sagir for making it possible.

Visit www.myspace.com/thedefiled for mp3s, more information, tour dates and blogs from the band.

Few bands in the world at the minute are working as hard as heavy metallers God Forbid.

They’re constantly touring, playing alongside big bands such as Il Nino, gaining a loyal dedicated fan base along the way. When they toured the UK with Il Nino a couple of months ago, Craig Slaney and Dominic Smith caught up with guitarist Doc in Sheffield to ask him a few questions to find out what all the hype is about...

and time period. But at the same time we didn't want to go too weird so that people wouldn’t recognise the band, it’s happened too many times with bands out there.

The song ‘Walk Alone’, what inspired the lyrics for it?

It’s difficult to answer because we all wrote different parts of the song. What’s funny is I don't really analyse it like maybe I should, but it’s how it sometimes happens when you have 3 or 4 people contribute to a song lyrically and try to make it So, how’re you doing, Doc? Pretty good. I just woke up. It was a pretty big meaningful. Maybe that collaboration makes it night last night. It was Laz from Il Nino’s birthday something more than what you might get from just one person writing all the parts. We prefer yesterday so we were going all out partying. people to tell us what it means to them, and what they get from it.

How are your dancing skills?

I’m pretty good I have to say. For a metal head We were also wondering about the theme of the anyway. album, about the relation between human kind Cool. Anyway, you’ve spoken about how fond and the earth. Would it be fair to say that theme of the UK you are, especially Download Festival, is something which affects your life? is there a better connection with the UK fans I don't really want to deceive people into thinking that is what the lyrics are really about, there might than in the US? Yeah, heavy metal is really rooted deep into Brit- be a couple of songs which touch on themes like ish culture because it’s where heavy metal comes that but that was more where the title [Earth’s from, so there’s a real connection and it becomes Blood] came from. For me its more of a philosopart of you. Every couple of years there’s all new phical idea. The idea of connectivity, whether you kids that know the history, it kinda bleeds out of believe that all the things are connected in some them in a strong way, and for some reason they way. I think that’s a pretty simple idea, but some really get what we do. Because of that the whole people are much more cynical, believing that that thing is just elevated for us. And we’ve been com- we’re just animals and a hell bent on destruction ing here for a long time so we’ve developed a fol- race of beings. lowing, its not as though we’re the trend of the Finally, to end on a slightly lighter note, if there week or anything. was a movie to be made about God Forbid, You’ve said that the new album is more what which Hollywood actor would you like to play you wanted to do than before. Did you feel you?

To play me? Hmmm, I think Will Smith would be more pressured on the previous records?

I cant speak for everyone in the band but for my- pretty sweet. self the most pressure was on trying to put out something that was really relevant. I felt that if Check out God Forbid’s myspace to see when we’d have made something similar to our previous they’re coming to a town near you. Their current album , it would have had, I wouldn’t say a dated album, Earth’s Blood, is available now online and sound, but have been tied to a particular genre in all good record stores.

Index:Code are the latest band to emerge from the York metal scene, which seems to be spitting out new bands all the time. With bands such as Glamour of the Kill, Beyond All Reason and RSJ having achieved an amount of national recognition, and The Fallen & With One Last Breath on the brink of following, the local scene appears to be there for the taking, and Index:Code look ready to take the crown.

Fronted by Martin Wainwright, and also featuring Paul, Tom & Myles, the band play a unique style of rock music, which is, on occasion more intelligent than others. Their song ‘Humanity’ is a prime example of this, with complex scientific lyrics.

Their first gig came recently at the Day of the Dead festival at The Duchess in York. They’ve also got more York gigs booked. Martin also plays his own solo material, and also has gigs booked in York. Check out the band at www.myspace.com/indexcode

If modern rock was a cake, what would you put in it to make the perfect recipe? If you started with a Foo Fighters base, added a big dollop of Biffy Clyro, mix in a dash of Kasabian and finish with a sprinkle of Muse, you’d come up with something pretty damn sweet. It seems that these Leeds lads have taken this recipe and applied it to their song writing, as there is definitely something special about Kasiuss.

Having recently seen them live at the Village Hall in Bramham, I’ve got to say I was amazed! Not only were the songs so beautifully crafted, but they were played so well, in perfect time and incredibly tight. Not bad considering that they told me that the line up hadn’t actually been playing together for all that long.

I’d definitely recommend you check out Kasiuss as soon as you possibly can, because we all know that club shows are a lot more fun than stadiums, but it’s only a matter of time before these guys make the jump. Check ’em out at www.myspace.com/kasiuss Any expert will tell you that there’s not much of a national ska or ska-punk scene here in the UK anymore. The main focus area of what scene there is at the minute seems to be focussed around Manchester, mainly due to Sonic Boom Six finally breaking through from the underground.

If you look a little deeper into that scene though, you’ll find that SB6 aren't the only quality band around. Kickback UK are also a band with the song writing capabilities and catchy hooks to be making the step up in the not too distant future.

Check them out at www.myspace.com/thisiskickback Ridley Barbet is a singer songwriter from Bramham. She’s been gigging around York and Leeds for almost a year now, gaining a somewhat loyal fanbase along the way. She plays some of her own material as well as a couple of excellent covers, including Slipknot’s Wait and Bleed. Check out www.myspace.com/ ridleybarbet

The Vexed are a brand new Street Punk band emerging from a broken York music scene. There’s not much of a scene in York, but only a few years ago there were several well known punk bands doing quite well for themselves. The Vexed come from the ashes of The Hazard and Carnival Rejects.

They’re a band that look to have a bright future ahead of them, as their sound is unlike anything else in York at the minute.

Their energetic and exciting stage presence adds to their overall appeal, making them the perfect band to step back into the void left after The Hazard split.

They’ve recently released a split EP with fellow York punks Comply or Die, which was limited to just 100 copies, with very few, if any, still available.

Check them out at www.myspace.com/ vexedpunx

Editor Craig Slaney Graphic Design/Page Layouts Craig Slaney Writers Latest News: Craig Slaney Favourite Albums: Ken Kristiansen Live Reviews: Craig Slaney, Phil Hood, David Tatlow Download Review: Craig Slaney, Phil Hood Acid Drop Interview: Craig Slaney, Acid Drop The Rasmus Article: Craig Slaney Comply or Die Article: Craig Slaney Album Reviews: Craig Slaney, Hayley Herrick, David Tatlow Inme Interview: Craig Slaney Mike TV interview: David Tatlow, Jhon Cosgrove The Defiled Article: Dominic Smith for Sphere Mag God Forbid Interview: Dominic Smith, Craig Slaney Introducing: Craig Slaney Photographers Latest News: Generic Press Shots. Unknown sources Favourite Albums: Robyn Henderson Live Reviews: Hayley Herrick (McFly) David Tatlow (Brand New, Kevin Devine) Craig Slaney (Sound Act, Comply or Die/Dead Batteries) Download Review: Hayley Herrick, Craig Slaney, Helen Gilroy Acid Drop Interview: Simon Moss The Rasmus Article: Press Shot. Unknown source.

Comply or Die Article: Robyn Henderson Inme Interview: Taken from Dave McPherson’s myspace. Unknown photographer.

Mike TV Interview: The Defiled Article: Press Shot. Unknown source.

God Forbid Interview: Hayley Herrick Introducing: Craig Slaney (The Vexed, Ridley Barbet) Advertisements All adverts featured in this magazine have been taken from various myspace pages.

The choice to advertise what we have has been made personally by the editor and no deals have been struck between us and any other companies. If you’d like to advertise in any future issues please contact us at contact@shatteredglassmedia.co.uk Thanks: Special thanks goes to all the bands we’ve spoken to and featured in this magazine, especially Fat Phace, Comply or Die and Acid Drop.

Thanks also go to all of our contributors, Sphere Magazine, everyone previously involved in Beartrap Pods, Robyn Henderson, Aimee Wray, Martin Wainwright, Steve O’Gallagher, Owen Packard & Sarah Lees.