Ladies and Gentlemen, Double A by Double A

Imagine a pick n’ mix bag full of fresh new talent with a sweet tooth of pop punk tuneage, add it all together with an extra helping of energetic sugar levels and that’s what you get from newcomers Double A’s currently released EP.

Their sound varies from track to track, making them standout like a rainbow coloured gecko among many other British pop-punk bands that are flooding today’s scene. Their sound? Get a copy of All Time Low’s first EP, The Party Scene, and just change the nationality from American to British. Double A surprise those who listen to this track list, most people expecting them not being able to write this kind of material at such a young age, will defiantly be blown away by the talent that coats these up-beat songs.

 Even though Double A may look like your typical pop punk band, they have a lot more to offer those who are keen to get their mitts on fresh raw talent. With simplistic but catchy drum beats, blended well together joyful lyrics about falling in teenage love, this band proves that, although just starting out, among this sweet tooth lays true potential.

Rating: 5/10

Words: Emily Rawson

There’s a Hell Believe me I’ve seen it, There’s a Heaven let’s keep it a secret by Bring Me the Horizon

Aggressive, uncontrollable, rage; There's a Hell Believe me I've seen it, There's a Heaven let's keep it a secret from UK’s band Bring me the horizon, is a cd that is obvious to see few new things differents to the old releases. Would it be the clean voices in the background that ghostly float around as a kind of terrifying apocalypse. When listening to the CD all you might be able to do is just move your head up and down uncontrollably, you'll soon start to stand up and shake your fists in the air while your body shakes in a seizure that will not stop until the entire album quite down. And then after you would still want to hear it again. If this is what you seek, look no further: BMTH's latest album is your best option.

Rating 100/100

Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabolous Killjoy by My Chemical Romance

Awesome, fun, exciting, electrifying: Days Danger: The True Lives of the Fabolous Killjoy of the American band My Chemical Romance is in shortwords one of their most epic album as well a great one for end up the 2010 in the Punk and Rock scene. An introduction that welcomes you on a journey that takes you on  with an awesome soundtrack that will not let you stop until the end of it. Gerard Way's voice will take you along with the guitarists Ray Toro and Frank Iero, Mikey Way on bass and Mike Pedicone with the drums in the True lives of the Fabolous Killjoys; but not get confused because there’s no Killjoys at all in this album, rather than that have what it takes to start an unstoppable party for hours. So run to the nearest store and if you're already are fan of the band: YOU HAVE TO BUY THE ALBUM. If you're not or maybe you've heard them before and do not like it too much, it's time you give a new opportunity! Recommended for those who like good music and pop punk, alternative rock and related genres.

Rating: 100/100

Check out more: http://www.mychemicalromance.com/

American Dream by Rocky Loves Emily

With a playful sound that will have you singing and dancing for hours and hours, American Dream from Detroit, Michigan based bad Rocky Loves Emily is the best option for those who enjoy music that goes either Indie or Pop. The vocalist’s voice joins in a fun and contagious harmony on every song, but especially on tracks like "American Dream" and "There's a Word for you." So definetely, for those who might enjoy bands like All Time Low, for example, have to listen and buy this album immediately, put on your headphones or play it on the car while driving, and be carried away by the emotions you would surely received from this release.

Check out more at: http://www.myspace.com/ROCKYLOVESEMILY

Half a page written, half a page read by Raised Threshold

With an emotive intro, rough screamos and a sound that goes from heavy, melodic to sometimes catchy hardcore music, Raised Threshold’s album  Half a page written, half a page read goes from songs that move between bands like The Used, but then somehow become something more catchy and kinda pop like in the case of their song “Move with the music”; but also you can find the tracks with an Alternative screamo sound. An experimental record in short words. Something that I would recommend to the guys for their next release, if any planned, is the need of someone of a good producer, as the sound many times make me don’t like the songs in many ways, even hate it sometimes. So I see a great band in the process, which hopefully with some good help they would make it big.

Rate: 3.9/5 (Great message and songs, but with few things that most be work out)

Check out more:  http://www.myspace.com/raisedthreshold

What Has Been Done Will Be Done Again by Sleep for Sleepers

While Sleep For Sleepers name, might make you eyes heavy, or envision a drowsy day in bed, their music is anything but lazy and unmotivated. Bouncing staccato guitar riffs, and day-glo synths reminiscent of current hit maker Owl City abound, along with a fresh vocodered singer hitting all the sweet spots in between. On their new album What Has Been Done Will Be Done Again, all of these things come together for a set list for nearly any mood or season, like the aptly titled "Virginia Beach", a bouncy summer anthem perfect for the sunny beach atmosphere of its namesake. While on the other end of the spectrum, “The Heights We’ve Come To Fear” is a ballad fitting for a contemplative autumn walk in the middle of swirling red and golden leaves. So whether you’re planning a dance party or wanting to fill that special someones mixtape with some emotional uplifting pop. Sleep For Sleepers air tight riffs, and ear for melody will fit the bill nicely.

Cody Blevins

Dirty Little Rabbits (Self Titled Album) By John Colson

As part of my work for esteemed organisations such as Vents, I’ve been very lucky to see a lot of up and coming bands over the last few years, most of whom I’ve had some prior knowledge of. One ’new’ band I knew nothing of before catching them live though was the Dirty Little Rabbits.

Formed in Iowa in 2007, DLR are often referred to as Shawn Crahan’s other band. Whilst its fair to say that Shawn will be best known for his work as ‘Clown’ with the metal behemoth that is Slipknot, to dismiss DLR as just another side project would be to do them a huge disservice.

Prior to the release of their self titled debut album, the band released two EP’s: The independently released ‘Breeding’ in 2007 and the more widely available ‘Simon’ in 2009. Having more or less worn out my copy of ‘Simon’, I was eager to get hold of the new album to see if it would live up to expectations…….

As expected, with the release of the album coming so soon after the release of ‘Simon’, a number of the songs from the EP are present on the album. However, it would appear that a number have either been re-recorded or remixed slightly as there are evident, if subtle differences between the EP and album versions of the songs.

The record kicks off with ‘Simon’ (ironically a track not on the Simon EP). It’s a track which sets the scene for the rest of the album. With Stella Katsoudas’s slightly manic and very Kate Bush like vocals floating over the vaguely ’circus burlesque’ sound of the band, its immediately clear that the album is something quite unique.

‘You Say’ follows on and as with ‘Simon’, its Mike Pfaff’s keyboards that really anchor the band’s sound. Indeed it seems like the main riffs of the songs are hammered out on the keyboards, with Ryan Martin’s guitars embellishing the songs throughout.

However, as if to immediately disprove this assertion, ‘Put it in the Rock’ has a little more of a straight forward rock sound, with the guitars far more evident than on any other song of the album.

My two favourite songs from the ‘Simon’ EP then follow. ‘Hello’ and ‘Happy’ are two stunning songs that deserve to be listened to endlessly….. ‘Hello’s’ chorus is simply a joy.

The band then throw in a slight curveball in the form of ‘I Love You’. I hesitate to use the word ‘Disco’ in any review as it conjures up images of John Travolta and tight trousers (sorry) but I really could see this song being a real dance floor filler…… its what Moloko could have sounded like had they been at all cool……

The highlight of the album for me though is the truly staggering ‘Professional Hit’… a song that sees Stella’s vocal performance range from bipolar Californian ‘it’ girl, through jilted and tortured lover to delectable diva. The song in places is truly maniacal, constantly engrossing and utterly fascinating. The energy generated by the song is very palpable…..

Following ‘Professional Hit‘, both on the album and in my affections, is the utterly sublime ‘if’. I cant really describe how this song makes me feel, suffice to say that it is the exact polar opposite of ‘Professional Hit’. It’s a delicate, beautiful and somewhat haunting song that I can’t stop listening to.

From this point on, the album does seem to tail off a little, perhaps unsurprising when you consider the heights that have been reached previously. ‘Leave Me Alone’ and ‘The Didn’ts’ follow in a similar vein to the album’s opening songs, before the record closes with ‘Rabbit Holes’.

Having read this review, it really should come as no surprise to anyone when I say that I really believe this is the best album I’ll hear this year, and possible for a good while after that.

If you want to listen to something a little different… maybe step out of the comfort zone that most of us get into when becoming cosy with a particular musical genre, you will have to search long and hard to find a more rewarding, creatively inspiring and fascinating recording than this. Its definitely not a record that will please everyone, but I truly suggest you give it a go….. You never know… you might just like it……

Genius: 5 / 5

http://www.myspace.com/dirtylittlerabbits

Many thanks to Stella and Shawn for their time and friendliness, and to Amy from The End for all her help….