South Africa’s GRYND RODD MUSE reaches out to all with their sophomore release, from the quick-fix Playstation generation to true metallers. Even cavemen would be unable to resist headbanging. Accessibility, pounding and manly, is the beauty of the Bloodline CD.

‘Blood & Scars’, the blasting first single, is a strong representative of what’s to come. It’s crammed with attitude; violent and self-assertive. Like other groove metallists (Pantera, Coal Chamber) before them, the songs are in-your-face, an honesty that always let’s you know where you stand…and with it is a better place to be.

Good musicianship is the foundation. Allan’s guitaring is consummately appreciative of the genre, fill of riffs but with excursions into thrash and the delightful rarity of short, melodic soling. Chris is the rock, his drumming rhythmic and well directional, possessing more excitement than ever presented before. (more…)

What a relief! Fours years of amazing live performances finally compounded into HABIT TO’s much anticipated, and mysteriously entitled, Secrets to a Triangle.

HABIT TO are sensational with their step-to-the-side delivery of alternate, prog enthused, rock ‘n roll. Jazz and classical training combines with a love for heavy to steer clear of the mainstream whilst remaining extremely accessible. That a 3-piece can deliver such a bullish sound means that each band member gives 100%. Andrew Stent thrums the bass passionately whilst Dale Wardell’s drum sticks have mastered whispers and thunders. Chillie Stent (yes, there are good genes here) eats the air and breathes it out beautifully onto her electrifying guitar.

All tracks are devotions to the heart of music but my favourite secrets are the pounding ‘Eden’, the many-layered ‘Before You Go’, the sing-a-long ‘Cast In Stone’, the psychological ‘House Without Knives’ and the multi-vocalled ‘May Night Sky’. (more…)

The downside of reliability (a well deserved attribute) is a lack of variation. There’s certainly colour but no rainbows. However, attitude aims more towards the positive this time (compared to the last). What this meant, overall, is that SNOW PATROL’s A Hundred Million Suns would’ve been adored by unadulterated fans and newcomers but the in betweeners like me begged for further exploration.

Lead single, ‘Take Back the City’, is a solid, beat-filled tune but in no way matches previous anthem, ‘Chasing Cars’. However, there’s a lot of merit in the follow-up single, the blissfully in love ‘Crack the Shutters’. It’s big; a sing-a-long chorus makes it the most likeable. Sincerity and context compete with sickeningly sweet and win. With the exception of the fastest paced, ‘Please Just Take These Photos From My Hands’, it’s hard to distinguish the rest which could have been one long song.

Although an extremely talented producer, it was high time the band dropped Jacknife Lee (U2, The Editors) who worked with SNOW PATROL for the third time. The band needs to be consistently challenged so that they rise from pleasurable to sensational.