Song of the day

Tracer - El Pistolero

Spring is finally upon us, so how about some awesome rock to go with it?

Walking Papers

 After their first successful uk stint last November, Walking Papers are returning for a one off show in London this weekend ahead of their appearance at this years Download Festival. Their bluesy licks are not to be missed! Grab a ticket here.

Whitesnake, Journey & Thunder

Three 80s giants are joining together to deliver a night of big riffs, belting choruses and even bigger hair. With plenty of epic ballads to sing your heart out too, join the party and find your nearest date for tickets here.
 

Enuff Z’Nuff

Bringing their brand of hard rock back to UK soil, a night with Enuff Z’Nuff is always a fun one. Don’t miss out and bag a ticket here.

The Temperance Movement

One of the hottest new bands on the rock scene, The Temperance Movements irresistible blues grooves are not ones you want to miss out. Find out what all the fuss is about and get your ticket here!

Song of the day

The Dandy Warhols - Get Off

You know how we love to feature a new unsigned band every now and then for your listening pleasure? Well, say hello to Evilyn Strange!

Part English, part Swedish, they formed back in 2008 and have recently been in the studio working on their forthcoming debut Mourning Phoebe. Their music is a whole mixture of delights, heavy but packed full of melody, cracking riffs and a perfect hint of classic rock. The band have just released their latest single Everything, hot on the heels of the success of Love Finds You which found itself hitting number 4 on the Rock/Metal Hot New Release Chart over at Amazon. 

Everything combines rough and gritty guitars with some sweet piano and synths to create a great heavy rock ballad. The solo is killer, and the vocals soothing, it almost sounds reminiscent of something by The Cult during the Sonic Temple era. 

As i said previously, the band are getting ready to release their debut Mourning Phoebe, and Everything is a great taster of what they have in store. Check out more from Evilyn Strange over at www.evilynstrange.co.uk. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter!

Caris Smith

Song of the day!

Bad Company - Running With The Pack

Glam rockers donned their animal print, back combed their hair to ridiculous heights and put on their chains to head down for a night of sleaze down at Rock City. Uncertain as to whether the gig would go ahead, understandably their was a sombre atmosphere surrounding Swedish outfit Crashdiet after the death of their manager at the very same venue one week previous. All credit to the quartet for their appearance which was of course dedicated to Michael Sunden.

Londoners Jettblack took to the stage for their headline set first and their enthusiasm for tonight’s set was clear from the opening words of Two Hot Girls.  Leading straight into Less Torque More Thrust, the quartet ripped through a high energy, fun 45 minutes. The crowd didn’t need much encouragement to get involved, jumping around and clapping along throughout. Black Gold shows their more delicate side but still packed with a killer guitar solo and bold chorus. The anthemic Raining Rock brings their stint to an end with roars of Jettblack as they vacate the stage.

There is an air of excitement and anticipation as 9 o’ clock hits and Crashdiet walk onstage. Before they begin their set they give a heartfelt message about their tragic loss with the crowd responding to show their support. Their set is short but powerful and whilst it’s a difficult performance for the group, they deliver with great passion and sound tight. California is a particular highlight with Simon Cruz’s vocal soaring over pounding riffs with the frontman taking a second to thank the crowd for their never wavering belief and appreciation for them. Old favourites Riot In Everyone and Generation Wild get the audience pumped up before finishing on the dirty grooves of Cocaine Cowboys. The latter sounds brilliant live with it’s blues hooks and brash chorus.

Tonight was filled with varying emotions, but also plenty of gritty, punchy rock. The combination of the both bands makes for an excellent evening!

Laura Woodhead

Song of the day

Uriah Heep - Lady In Black

It isn’t everyday a band more or less decide to call it quits, change their mind, give it another go, then go onto make possibly the strongest album of their career…..cue Eureka Machines. 

Eureka Machines saw a way to keep going and found themselves taking the route of the highly successful and increasingly popular Pledge Music, where fans could fund the production of the bands third album. The campaign was a huge success, where the band blew their original target way out of the water and exceeded all expectations, showing the adoration of their solid fanbase.Loud, noisy, harmonic guitar pop is the best way to describe the music of Eureka Machines and on the aptly titled, Remain In Hope, is the sound is a band showing a new lease of life and being the best they can be, loud, noisy, harmonic guitar pop at it’s best. 

There is a slow start with Nice Guys Finish Last, but it soon draws you in, and as an opening track it introduces the album perfectly, setting you up for what is coming next, which is the stupidly infectious Pop Star. A brilliant, brilliant pop song with a machine gun riff and genuinely funny storytelling which will be stuck in your head for days, guaranteed, no bad thing. Affluenza, possibly my favourite here, is huge, with big drums and a catchy hook, it stays with you, much like the cold it is describing, clever that. 

There are a few tracks where you can tell the guys have let themselves dabble with some new sounds, and it has paid off. None Of The Above is more full on, aggressive, punk noise but still keeping the familiar harmonies, whereas Wish You Were Her has a bit of a retro indie feel about it. Break Stuff continues the heavier, angrier side of the band, and the album closer Eternal Machines, again a meaningful tale of the life of the band, a great sing along song with some great lyrics. “We’re not old school, we’re just old.”

Honestly there isn’t a bad word i can say about Remain In Hope, brilliant from beginning to end. Eureka Machines should be huge, and this album  has the potential to make them huge. So go away, listen to them, and enjoy the great mood they will leave you in. 

Caris Smith

Song of the day

Madness - My Girl