ELEGIES - Scars

Previously known as A Season Of Secrets, the pop punk originated band have now taken on a whole new genre and debut look with their hardcore/ metalcore sound, performing under a brand new name; Elegies.
The six pieced northern band, from Sheffield are made up of:
Thomas Hoyland - Vocals
Sam Gibson- Vocals
Adam Wilcock Guitar
Ben Jones- Guitar
Chris Aitkenhead- Bass
Dayle Franks - Drums

Releasing their first ever song and music video as Elegies, the band have certainty stepped up their level in producing a familiar visual video to  "Bury Me Under" with it's sweet scented imprint, "Scars" proves to have shown their full development. Mysteriously using a black and white filer, the video instantly catches us with their basic drum beat along side it's enchanting guitar riff before vocalist Sam Gibson and Thomas Hoyland infuse voices together to compose a beautiful sounding tune that constantly juxtaposes.
The sharp clear cuts of the video, trip us with its dark, torturous themes in which takes a hardcore Genre feel. As we reach the chorus, Sam's, soft cries of screams create a metropolis calmness along side the painful cries Thomas produces, backed up by the catchy, implanting melody played throughout the song.
Halfway through, the song reaches its alternate peak, where everything comes crashing down and falls into a giant crescendo of drum bashes with the high strums of the bass infused with the static strain of the electric guitar.
Picking it's self back up towards the end before drawing to a close, screamer Sam repeats "I was broken" a series of times with the overlap of  Tom's soft voice ends the song in a pure magnificent finale.

There is so much diversity that combines beats which are forever chaining, providing the song to have a series of meta structures coming together as one in the end, with the dark black theme soon covering all light and the song ends on a last scream.

I would definitely be looking out for this band as their newly vamped name has also produced a whole new persona, they produced some mind blowing work as A Season Of Secrets and can be sure to produce even better as Elegies.

ROAM - Head Down EP

The pop punk band originating from Eastbourne/ Brighton, Roam have recently released five magnificently composed songs to make up their mini album Head Down. (Listen to it here for free) Released on November 18th, the band are also set to play a few of these songs on their upcoming tour, supporting Neck Deep throughout January 2014, so make sure you grab a ticket as this tour will be the growth of Roam, and you don't want to miss out on all the fun.

Starting this mini album with a bang, "You Never Said" draws out attention to a catchy guitar riff which is then joined by the full bashment of the newly improved pop punk sound, playing a clear layer for vocalist Alex to sing on top of, the playful sounding lyrics that bounce back in motion.
For an opening song, it certainty does it job, as being familiar with Roam's previous work, we're already aware of their changing in irregular stanza length which corresponds to their constant changing rhythms. As towards the end of the song, it all comes together with the fully heard vocals reaching it's alternate peak before dropping right back down to a dip, which then repeats it's roller coaster journey in progressively changing to withhold a modern twist.

Next "Sticker Slap" wastes no time and gets straight into the lyrical base of the song, providing an even, steady head beat of music to lose yourself to, only being under two minutes in length this song is short yet sweet as a good intro starter.
Bringing back the famous intros, which Roam thrive best at, "Nothing In Return" proves to easily be my favorite, positioned halfway through this mini album the lyrics really got me at the first listen. An lirelatable song, put together with a heavy punk riff, the song does Roam justice, showing off their instrumental talent of meshing different chords together as well as highlighting their strong, solid vocals in which Alex Costello produces. Keeping that bright, uplifting atmosphere, an echoed crowd repeats the lyrics over and over again, ending the song as a community of people rather than just a solo finish, which is the overall joy felling you get when listening to Roam.

"Foresight" reminds us of the tenacious choruses they produce, being high in volume, it certainly gets the crowd spinning. Adding both Alex's together to form a much synced chanting bridge, Roam trademark their music with a beautiful sound of solidarity, sets them apart from any other modern pop punk band.

Lastly we have "Head Rush" which really does make your head rush, ironically in a good way, you will find yourself if not already completely dissolve in their music, feeling your self sing along with their easy to pick up beats and finger pointing lyrical, Roam completely destroy this mini album by ending it with Head Rush. Providing to be another enduring contestant, they have perfectly put their own ever changing twist throughout each song, marking it with a clear difference, that tells you striaght away that this is Roam you're hearing.
Blasting everything they have left, Roam let everything lose when it all comes to an end, repeating the much memorable lyric over and over again, you are forced to implant it in your head, never forgetting their fetching vibration.

Overall, I can not wait to hear a full album by then, as a sample of whats to expect has already blown me away, I can safely say that Roam are the new pop punk band to look out for, being a slight underdog in their under recognized talent, it won't be soon till they'll be hitting the road on a full UK headline tour.
Having being privileged enough to see them live, I can say that what you hear on record isn't half as good as what you will feel when they are stood in front of you in a room filled with people who present the same ears you have, as they give a full performance, involving everyone. Being a band who can actually live up to their advanced skilled talent, Roam know how to put on a performance live as well as from your phone/laptop.

Make sure you check out their album release show MONDAY 9TH, £3 entry, Eastbourne. For tickets go: tickets

You Me At Six Sinners Never Sleep - Album Review

Released	3 October 2011
Recorded	2011; Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genre	Alternative rock, pop punk, post-hardcore
Length	47:57
Label	Virgin
Producer	Garth "GGGarth" Richardson Matt O'Grady Rating                6/10

Sinners Never Sleep proved to be the third studio album from Surreys alternative rock band You Me Six. The album was released on 30th September 2011 through Virgin Records once again. The album reached No.3 on the UK charts as it was then also certified Gold in the UK for 150,000 sales, giving it the band's biggest success to date. Increasing in fan base as well as their profits, the five piece band have grown and changed a lot from where they had originally started out.

Knowing to never drop their teenaged boy love heartbreak themes in which they have previously carried out in past albums, the band have carried this on with adapting a more mature attitude to progress further whilst still keeping their very young, adolescent fan base. "Loverboy" portrays this perfectly, opening the album with all of you me at six's strengths. A banging chorus which follows its high, upbeat tempo fits in solidly, as you will find this tune repeat in your head over again, implanting it's mark in your memory forever. Acting on impulse this song, shows the advancement of what was once a teenaged boy relationship into something that's more fun and playful rather than serious, despite covering some heart filled emotional secrets within this album.
The next song "Jaws On The Floor" certainly does leave you breathless, with a matching guitar riff, You Me At Six have done it again, providing a well structured ever changing song. With each verse attacking in its sharp utterance, the chorus juxtaposes with Josh's vocals showing off a more softer side, it's composed so beautifully that the two synchronised with each other, produce a matched bridge.

The third song in, and we have already hit a bump in the road, "Bite My Tongue" is the most pivotal journey from the band as this song was written by lead vocalist Josh, who expressed his feeling about his fellow band members, where it came to the point where the wanted to break up the band due to disputes among each other, a controversial song in which the band are playing about themselves, it does prove to be one of the strongest in the album. "Well in the end what are you without me." this line along with many other just demonstrates his hatred and anger with them as the lyrics follow a hatred theme, truly expressing his raw emotions which we haven't yet seen . To withheld this angered theme, Oliver Sykes appears as guest vocals towards the bridge of the song, screaming swear words at each member, providing a hard hitting tone that sets the mood black, however the song ends with Josh admitted " I can't hate the ones who made me", bringing us back to terms that every other member in the band is just as important as he is and without them he wouldn't be who he is today. This is not the only song in the album where a famous guest vocalist is present as "Time Is Money" is another hard hitting, hardcore side to you me at six, as they have pulled out of their pop punk genre and started to hybrid off with various others, giving them a diverse and progressive sound, improving each time they release an album.
With it's high paced, alternative mood, this song just shows that You Me At Six can pull of such a metalcore/ hardcore genre with the heightened guitar chords repeated over and over again, Winston's breakdown of vocals compresses the song together, making it their heaviest yet effective in the album. Doing well by using two famous screamers to collaborate in two songs, Sinners Never Sleeps may just won over the others.

Coming from such a heightened tension song we then get to "This Is The First Thing"  which relaxes us slightly, this album is filled with a lot of filler, clam songs that talk about wanting to be with that someone who has caused so much pain, like this song there are also many others which follow this emotional pattern, targeting a more saddened feel rather than a jealous payback theme you would find in previous albums. The rest of the album is infectious as its bouncy rhythms are sweet in ballad styles, which is highlighted by "The Dilemma, which captures your attention imminently, separating it's self from the rest o the album, this is the one song which is sang in a recall story type, as it opens with Josh in a Cockney accent, building onto a chorus that hides heavy threaded riffs throughout, this song shows off the bands more fun, sarcastic not caring side as it is shown to be a joke, further making it lovable all the same.

"No One Does It Better" is another sad ballad style which follow "Crash" a more heightened song along with " A Little Bit Of The Truth"
Now I want to talk about each one separately as I do feel that they are importation contributions to the album, the overpopulated  themes of sorrowful ballads just show the unluckiness in which the band have experienced with girls and common problems.
Pulling out of their teenaged boy way of dealing with them, YMAS have shown a more mature stratified way in expressing how they feel and focusing on the more happy times they had when in a relationship. Songs like these just make you feel warm inside, reminiscing on your own happiness and what you once had, feeling nostalgic and seeing your past experiences in a more positive mindset.
Crash takes the once pumped up heavy guitar riff and slows it down to form a base platform for Josh to sing on with his beautiful harmonized voice. Building up on layers, Crash does this with each verse, pre-chorus and then finally exploding in its main chorus where his vocals are heighten to the max, making an overwhelming blast filled with anger and passion that you can feel, matches your inner thoughts.
"But when I looked at here I thought of only you" Still playing on these, unresolved feelings, "Just crash fall down" has a much memorable lyrical pattern as they are so simple, yet so strong once stuck in your mind, describing how sometimes you just want to be with the person you once loved, hoping that things would go back to how they were, the song has hopefully spirits which gain the audience to not feel embarrassed about these emotions by letting them out in a song.
" A Little Bit Of The Truth" pushes forth a more present happiness, as we have reached an end to this troubled journey and we now have Josh expressing his current feelings, finally like at the end of a fairy tale we are restored to our happiness in that one person who has made us feel "invincible" this song is simply placed to just show that all in one song.

Progressing on to their past, "Little Death" carries on the heavy guitar riffs along with the quiet banged drums which get it's glory to shine in the later chorus. Banging out at full blast, the powerful choruses are back and stay, using their talent for producing such mind blowing, head banning tunes, this album is filled with many variants of them. Right till the very end this song carries on it's hard rock vibration as it draws to a very short close. Keeping hopes up high, "Reckless"  corroborates to provide a captivated ending to the album, with just a few songs left this is the feel good, gig song which gets the crowd pumping. As in it's name the song is just about being reckless and not caring, having a good time with your friends and remembering that not everything is serious, reminding us back of our childish tactics, this song has provided a constant bounce whilst listening to it, as I have found it hard to stop myself from moving along to it's infectious beat.
Much appreciating this song is banged right at the end of the album, it molds the rest of the album, making it a little bit less mush and serious, with it's over-powerment of moshing beats, Reckless will prove to lift up everyone's spirits.

Taking over a whole new feel and atmosphere, "When We Were Younger" just puts your mind back in place to the more serious, reef tone. Ending the album off with such a downbeat song is tricky to do, however with the mix-up of various feelings, it proves to work as it's not completely sedate as Josh, once again stunned us all with his hauled, stepped up vocals that reach a native quiver in the room. This song still gives me chills, as it's a little flashback of when you were younger, remembering all these things that you got told but never thought you would experiences, talking about a journey of growth this song is vital to the album as in each one we have taken a level of progression to the band which we are finally meting here, that they have now grown up into young mature adults.
The stunned powerful "Ooooooooooo"'s indulge a thoughtful insight to their much complex minds, almost making you feel these same painful memories they are recalling.

Once again YMAS have brilliantly composed an album which strays a little more form their original path, yet still interacting old themes with revisiting new ones and combining them to make mature, advanced songs. I can say that their fans still would be happy, as well as gaining many more new ones, this band certainly do know how to use their music to their advantage, finishing 2011 with another brilliant album.
The only reason in why I gave it a lower rank than the previous two is because of its modern adaptation in which they are trying to please a mass audiences rather then a niche, old fan base, I can see the troubles it may cause with losing fans over their new genre sound, yet still slightly keeping their old style, YMAS have gown up and most of their fans still haven't which is the problem not the albums.