Review: Hacktivist

12/12/13 - Camden Underworld presents Hacktivist on their first UK headline tour

Supporting act The Algorithm took to the stage accompanied by groove master Mike Malyan from Monuments. Progressive electronic music is a great showcase of the potential of sound manipulation as it stands as a style. No stranger to the experimental and creative ways of the sound, we were invited on a warped tour of his own forged soundscape, presenting new noises for our minds to define. The presense of a live drummer and passages of typical and tame electronic music kept you grounded in reality throughout, as a means of stopping your mind from being taken away completely.

Hacktivist ran on stage and immediately ignited the crowd. Huge energy from beginning to end, half fueled by the possessed crowd and half by the proficient rhythm section. The mix of conscious rap and heavy 'djent' style instrumentation really worked well in captivating and involving the crowd. 'Unlike Us' and their famous cover of 'Niggas In Paris' were definitely the highlights of their set. The relationship between the two vocalists was fantastic in the way that one would mime and act out what the other was saying, combined with creative phrasing, lyrical content and message resulted in their music being very relatable and engaging.

Job well done chaps. Awesome live performance and very much looking forward to the album release in the new year!

Xchange: Northlane

Fancied giving these guys a little spotlight seeing as they are a new favourite band of mine and so happy they were announced supporting Architects with Stray From The Path!

I feel I have a growing obsession for Australian bands and Northlane are definitely one of the highlighted groups in that tasty list. I have always awed over their technicality and originality of rhythms and instrumentation as well as the dynamics of the vocals. The low growls to the high screams are just a perfect combination within this style of music.

Their song Dispossession stuck out to me because of the intro. The clean guitar riff before the drop is just so chunky. I can never help but scream along to 'Exposing my weakness the world will see, the world will see, what I ever, what I ever, what I ever f**king wanted' gets me going every time, very punchy and memorable. They give me everything I look for in a heavy band and being a songwriter myself I can appreciate all this as well as the lyrical content.

Three album releases so far, being 'Discoveries', 'Hollow Existence' and 'Singularity', their latest album. I have these on shuffle most days because each album is so brilliantly crafted, craving to see them perform live, s'gunna be brutal!

 www.facebook.com/Northlane

 @Northlane

Xchange: Papafish

Ska tripped over rock and face planted into reggae - So claim my latest find, Papafish.

Heading to The Slidebar in Fullerton with my earlier discovery, The Two Tone Boners, the sounds of Papafish caught my attention and have been firmly stuck in my head ever since.

With their unique blend of styles topped by the incredible voice of Nancy Rae, you can’t help but move and sing along to these tracks.

Papafish deliver a high energy and memorable live performance for a fresh and fun show. This is a talented group of musicians with a creative melting pot of influences finding its way seamlessly into their songs. Their lyrics are original, catchy, and packed full of attitude.  

This summer they headed to Jamaica to record with Stephen Marley, after winning the first ever Marley’s Music Uprising contest. Their debut EP ‘The Lab’ is available now while you await their next offering. 

www.facebook.com/papafishband

@Papafishband

Replay: Billy Talent

Billy Talent have released a 10th Anniversary edition of Billy Talent which includes the original disc, plus a second disc of demos, live recordings and special, in-studio performances.

The debut studio album was released in September 2003 and was certified three times platinum in Canada in 2007. It spurred the successful release of singles 'Try Honesty', 'The Ex', 'River Below' and 'Nothing to Lose'.

BT1 paved the way for an impressive punk-rock career, followed by the second and third Billy Talent albums and their most recent release Dead Silence (2012).

Following the progression through a variety of tracks this is an album that will never get old. With exciting instrumentals, catchy melodies, and passionate vocals, this is an outstanding replay.

Billy Talent 

Benjamin Kowalewicz - Vocals

Ian D'Sa - Guitar/Backing Vocals

Jon Gallant - Bass/Backing Vocals

Aaron Solowoniuk - Drums

Review: Karnivool

Koko presents: +Karnivool  and Tesseract. 

Nov, 21. 2013

Starting off the double bill was the British sensation that is Tesseract. A group of musical sculptures specialising in progressive, groove goodness. Quoted as, "One of the bands to pioneer the 'djent' movement in progressive metal,". What was given to us was an exemplary performance on how well-crafted music should sound. 

Captivating and ambient instrumentals from their latest release Altered State, including the crowd pleasing 'Nocturne' single, as well as some gems from their 'One' album initiating fits of moshing and head-banging. Pitch perfect Ashe O'Hara, newest edition to Tesseract (joining in 2012), explains during an interview their style which perfectly sums up their performance: "Groovy and euphoric progressive soundscapes that we’re known for," and that's exactly what they gave. 

Second on the bill were Karnivool, a progressive band from down under. Evoking a spiritual, stand-in-awe feeling with songs from their latest release Aysmmetry and then igniting mosh pits songs such as 'The Refusal' which is definitely one of Aysemmtry's heavier songs with scream vocals from Jon Stockman on bass, 'Set Fire To The Hive', 'Themata' and 'Simple Boy'. 

Ending with 'New Day' for a climatic encore end to the night, the spine-tingling sensation of the entire crowd singing along reinforced the whole atmosphere created by the more thoughtful songs which left everyone on a high as we left the venue in a calm stroll.

Tesseract official website
Karnivool official website

Xchange: Speaking The King's

+SpeakingTheKings are a rock / post-hardcore band formed in Orange County, CA, during 2011. 

In a short amount of time they already have some impressive achievements under their belt. They have recorded with A Day To Remember producer, songwriter and former guitarist Tom Denney, released a music video and EP 'Here To Stay' via Nuclear Blast Records and toured throughout Southern California, Las Vegas and Arizona, alongside acts such as Of Mice & Men, We Came As Romans, Bleeding Through and Blessthefall.

www.facebook.com/speakingthekings

They most recently played The House of Blues in Anaheim with Dayseeker for their CD release show which was an impressive live set. Have a listen for the breakdowns and screams you would expect from a hardcore metal band, alongside a pop-punk feel.

Review: Senses Fail

+Senses Fail at the Troubadour, West Hollywood. Nov, 10. 2013

With For The Fallen Dreams, Expire & Being As An Ocean 

Post-hardcore veterans Senses Fail have an impressive and extensive backlog, cataloguing several albums since their birth onto the music scene in 2002. Their latest album ‘Renacer’ captures a redefining chapter, arguably delivering their heaviest and most adventurous sound.

My own journey with Senses Fail started in May this year at The Underworld in London where they were supported by a personal favourite, Marmozets. I was struck by their energy and devoted following, and it was a pleasure to find myself coming full circle for the end of their state-side tour.

Opening the night was Californian melodic hardcore band Being As An Ocean. They break through with some original aspects, such as their spoken word interludes, to avoid the dangerous air of monotony that many bands of this genre can find themselves in. A lasting impression comes from the moment their guitarist climbs upwards into the Troubadour loft, continuing to play in a bat-like stance, hooked upside down from the balustrades.

Shining through for me was Expire, a hardcore band from Milwaukee. They delivered a stand out performance, with high energy seemingly driven from pure aggression. Their 2012 album ‘Pendulum Swings’ has a catchy nature with crowd pleasing breakdowns. The fast, short tracks are filled with power and diversity, their furious display matched only by the spin kicking intensity taking off in the pit.

Next up was For The Fallen Dreams, who’s history and reception seems to contrast their live performance. Formed in 2003 they have released four full length albums, with a glance at their extensive back log of past members suggesting they have struggled to find their sound. But in spite of the criticisms that circle this band, this wasn’t to be seen from the Troubadour stage.

For The Fallen Dreams have settled on a winning combination, striking the balance between metal and melody. This was a thoroughly enjoyable live set driving the crowd wild, building the anticipation and energy for our headliners.

With so much to offer Senses Fail are wildly unpredictable, maintaining your devoted attention and energy throughout their set. From weighty guitars, drums pounding out a crowd moving rhythm, pulses of energy unleashing from the stage, primal screams and classic melodic sounds, every aspect is thrown bare before your eyes. But this is certainly not all about the music; a deeper look reveals lyrics which are both an inward therapy for the band, and an outward form of communication for their listeners. Taking you from the mantra of ‘let it go’ (Closure/Rebirth) through a series of thought provoking moments, while still maintaining their hardcore mosh-pit inducing sound.

Senses Fail isn’t just a band that shows up and plays. They connect with the crowd and show a true appreciation for their fans and the journey they have taken. It’s an interesting moment to take a step back from the insanity of the pits and all our stage diving antics to reflect with a room full of strangers on the reason we’re all here and what’s brought us together. That’s before another breakdown throws you back into the riot…

From this brave new incarnation you truly can expect the unexpected. This was an outstanding close to what must have been an impressive tour and one that I will hold on to for a long time.