New week. New music.

In the mailbox to review this week:
Huron (sampler)
Tripswitch 'Until' (alb)
Papa Roach 'Hollywood Whore' (sampler)
Heaven's Basement (sampler)

HURON
A hefty dirty rock band from Plymouth whose amusingly-titled debut album Cheyne Smoking can be found out 20th April on Rising Records.
'Lust Of War' is all killer riffs and gritty vocals (that sound gloriously like old Anselmo at times) with indulgent slices of playful guitar thrown in. 'Killer In New York' fades into filler territory a bit but 'Pain Is Me' gets back in the stoner vibe with a poisonously infectious chorus. Awesome.
Catch them touring the UK wth Viking Skull and 101% Pantera!

PAPA ROACH
So, the bugs are back in town. Bizarrely, though, the sampler they've chosen to send out features a couple of cheery old tracks among the new, and single 'Hollywood Whore' sinks fast when compared to punchy favourite 'Getting Away With Murder'. It starts with some angsty singing and chuncky guitar action but the chorus drags painfully and you're left with a serious need for release. Complete with a melodic whining from frontman Shaddix and rhythmic repetition about tearing yourself open, 'Scars' isn't much better, remaining the sort of unmemorable track you'd expect to find at the emotional peak of a teenage rom-com. Ho hum.

Metal and all things rawwwwwwk.

Life's looking up!

Got given tickets to UFC this Saturday in London - Rrarrrr!

Been ok-ed to review 36 Crazyfists and Poison The Well early March, which will no doubt lead to a well-meaning Crobar visit with Luke, Brock and co and ensure I hurt muchly that weekend - ah, yes, inhcwetrust

Got the date confirmed for AC/DC gig in April and, oh yes, I am in the country :-p

All set to snowboard next week :*)

..and pole dancing classes FINALLY start again on the 10th March - bruises anyone...? (gulp)

BRING IT.

Feb

There is a serious lack of rock around in February. This happens every year yet still surprises me. January's all about new and exciting ways of living your life...start of a new year...high on fitness, high on fun, high on diverse new addictions (how to top pole dancing and manga learning last year...? Hm, a tough one...Freestyle snowboarding me thinks!)...And then comes Feb. With the realisation you aren't going to the gym as much, have had 3 colds as a result of indulging in snow holidays and catching up with friends more in new and more expensive pubs and, yes, a serious lack of hardcore gigs. Grrrr. If it won't come to me, I shall come to it. Would it be all that tough to start the first live stream warehouse hc venue? Really? Hell, I don't have a house or a kid / dog to take care of. I could invest in the worth cause of accessible chords and aggression. 2009 may well pick up ;-)