Radiohead – The King Of Limbs

Without any building hype, Radiohead popped up out of the blue to announce the imminent arrival of their new album, The King Of Limbs, triggering a barely concealable excitement. They then made it an even nicer surprise by releasing it digitally a day early. Cheers, lads. But while we welcomed this album fondly, there’s an uncertain part of us – a hidden part we’re a little ashamed of – that asks “Am I disappointed?”

Johnny Truant – No More Tears For The Creatures

It’s hard to pinpoint the moment it hits you how good No Tears For The Creatures is, but that’s probably because listening to it is like being pummelled repeatedly. In terms of ferocity, it’s something else; Oliver Mitchell‘s screams are that of a man trapped in his own personal hell – probably on fire, and even the instruments sound royally pissed.

Pendulum – Immersion

Following the storming ‘In Silico’, Pendulum’s third album has less of a crossover appeal, but that’s not to say it’s not there at all. Just get your ears around the sheer quality of ‘The Vulture’, a track that apes the punk attitude of The Prodigy, but run through with a more clubland bounce. ‘Crush’ and the single ‘Watercolour’ may prove the group haven’t progressed much from ‘In Silico’, but they’re just as good as that album’s finest moments. Elsewhere, ‘Immunize’ is as impressive as you’d expect a collaboration with Liam Howlett (The Prodigy) to be, and though ‘The Island Pt 1’ is a little average, it only makes the tectonic scale of the second part all the more jaw-dropping.

In full on Rocklouder.co.uk

4/5

Holy Fuck – Latin

‘Latin’ is the third album from Holy Fuck, and though they really haven’t shaken up the way they do things – it’s arguably their finest effort to date. While the approach is ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’, don’t assume that means you’re in for more of the same; the band have always been diverse, and the same goes for Latin; with the ambience of opener ‘1MD’ contrasting with the hyperspeed throb of the jaw-dropping ‘Stilettos’ and the dirty, thumping beats of closer ‘P.I.G.S.’.

In full on Rocklouder.co.uk

Melissa Auf der Maur – Out Of Our Minds (version 2)

This second solo album from Melissa Auf der Maur is something she has taken her time over, arriving seven years after her debut. This creative effort sees her releasing not only an album, but a connected half hour film and a graphic novel. According to blurbs, the concept of the album involves “A fantasy world where a Viking heart, a car crash and a bleeding forest connect”. So far, so pretentious, but with just the album to review, we’re focusing on what we expect to be the strongest part of this creative triumvirate, the album. ….

In full on Rocklouder.co.uk

4/5

Click to read another version I wrote for Rockmidgets.com.

Melissa Auf der Maur – Out Of Our Minds

Is it wrong to be attracted to an album? Because this RockMidget is considering ‘making his move’ on this second album by Melissa Auf der Maur. It took a couple of spins to really appreciate it, but Out Of Our Minds is a thoroughly excellent album. Released as part of an artistic endeavour that includes a graphic novel and a short film (trailer here), it features a Viking, a woman in a car crash and a forest that bleeds. Pretentious? Maybe, but then again you could say that about Maynard James Keenan – and as with the Tool/Perfect Circle/Puscifer frontman, “pretentious” can pay off amazingly well. ….

In full on Rockmidgets.com

4/5

Click for the alternative version I penned for Rocklouder.co.uk

Sun Dial – S/T

Though they have just released an anthology to mark their 20th anniversary, Sun Dial are showing there’s plenty of life in the old dogs yet, with this proving their heaviest release yet. A psychedelic stoner fuzzfest of an album, this self-titled effort may have hints of grunge and a heap of retro hard rock in the mix, but it’s more likely to be limited to psych/stoner fans. ….

In full on Rockmidgets.com

2/5

Brian Posehn – Fart & Weiner Jokes

Comic Brian Posehn came to our attention thanks to hilarious piss-take song, ‘Metal By Numbers’, and this is his second stand-up release, following the well-received Live In: Nerd Rage. His self-depreciating manner and recollection of funny experiences are appealing, but the material on here isn’t particularly impressive. His delivery is laid-back despite the ‘angry nerd’ tag, sounding more like a dorky friend having a rant rather than a polished stand-up circuit pro. ….

In full on Rockmidgets.com

2/5

FACT – In The Blink Of An Eye

Due to the late release of their previous self-titled album, it feels like FACT made a new album in about ten seconds flat. That impression isn’t helped by the fact In The Blink Of An Eye launches itself at a hundred miles an hour and doesn’t take its foot off the gas. While not as eclectic as its predecessor, their hyperactive pop-punk-emo is still shot through with metalcore beatdowns, death metal double kicks and epic, stadium-sized choruses. Instrumental ‘1-3’ sounds like music from a computer game, and ‘Part Of It All’s fist in the air “Whoah-oh“‘s and stadium feel is the sound of Bon Jovi falling in love with 30 Seconds To Mars. ….

in full on Rockmidgets.com

4/5

Bullet For My Valentine – Fever

After our raving review of previous release, Scream Aim Fire [RM Review], we were understandably eager to get our mitts on third album, Fever. Perhaps it’s that expectation, perhaps it’s the fact that the band are all over any publication, webzine or website with a passing interest in metal, but we’re pretty gutted to find we didn’t share the same buzz as everyone else once we’d spun the Bridgend crew’s most confident assault on success to date. ….

In full on Rockmidgets.com

3/5