[TuneOTD] Enter Shikari - SSSNAKEPIT

Artist: Enter Shikari
Genre: Hardcore/Progressive/Rock

Location: St. Albans, Hertfordshire, UK

Label Type: Indie

Record Label: Ambush Reality

Website: http://www.entershikari.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/entershikari

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/entershikari

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/entershikari

Today shall forever be known as International Sssnakepit Day, for it today sees the release ‘Sssnakepit’, the latest track from one the best UK acts around right now, in Enter Shikari. It’s the follow up to 'Quelle Surprise' and 'Destabilise', and is a royal treat for the loyal lions. 

These 3 minutes of mayhem begin with an air of tension before gliding into some underground drum & bass and some wobbles with Rou acting as the lyrical MC. This is abruptly halted by the most eargasmic guitar riff and a build up to another bout of tension until a cry of ‘ah come on, just open the door’. Then BANG! It does exactly that, opens the door to a world of pure ecstasy developing into an eclectic noise of driving guitars and drums that even the screams of Rou can’t overpower. The sonic tempo is continued until the chorus subtly blends in followed by the return of that superb guitar riff. Then as if things couldn't get any heavier, the track suffers a hard drop to a heavy bass and the line, “yeah, yeah we’re nice guys…” followed by subsequent growls of “until we’re not!”. This brutal breakdown lasts until the switch-up to the chorus accompanied by an impressive hook and the ensuing switch-down to incorporate the group vocals, until climaxing just as it begun with some teasing drum and bass.

This is the first spoonful of the metaphorical trifle that is, the as of yet unnamed upcoming third studio album due for release in early 2012 via Hopeless Records. Full lyrics can be found here, and the official video below. Enjoy!

Matthew Evans

[AlbumOTD] Miracle at St. Anna - SHADOW COUNTRY

Artist: Miracle at St. Anna
Genre: Metal/Hardcore
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana. US
Label Type: Indie
Record Label: Tragic Hero Records 

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MASAband

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Miracleatstanna
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/miracleatstanna 

The album in question today is ‘Shadow Country’ the debut album from New Orleans-based band Miracle at St. Anna, another product of the increasingly impressive Tragic Hero Records label.

MASA are from the hardcore/metal scene and consist of members Cody (Vocals), Mitch (Guitar), Jesse (Guitar), Ryan (Bass), and Spanky (Drums). The band themselves claim to be somewhat angelic and loveable, and though this can’t be proved or disproved by simply listening to the album, though their claims of being knowledgeable and wise certainly seem to have some scope with some real creative song-writing skills on display, not to mention some inspiringly imaginative song titles like ‘Brokeback Fountain’. The brilliant thing about this album more than anything is the diversity, not one song is the same as the last, and rather than there being two or three stand-out tracks, every single track has the potential to be a favourite for someone out there.

A more than impressive start to the album comes in the form of ‘On The Reg’, straight from it’s drumstick tapping intro, through to the in-your-face guitars and hard screaming, growling vocals. The switching between these two vocals styles is a theme that continues throughout the album. Then there is the wonderfully titled ‘These Boots Were Made For Pimpin’’ which incorporates a wonderful exhibition of overlapping singing and screaming, coveting each other to give that desired effect. In addition there is ‘Moses in Agony’ which displays a real good rhyming flow, as the album picks up new tricks progressing with its unique and industrial sound. Although probably the catchiest line of the album comes on the track titled ‘Jake Pushed the Button’, which reads “I push it back, push it back, cause it’s calling in vain”. This is followed by the most heartfelt track on the album, ‘Drink a Beer, Kill a Deer’ with is deep meaningful lyrics, but it takes until the final song to utilise the keys at their very best. Their presence is a perfect complement to the surrounding eclectic noise of vocals, guitars drums and synths, a brilliant way to close off this 10-track treat. Other note-worthy mentions include the effects used at the beginning of ‘Shot at the Tiger’, the melodies portrayed in ‘The Hypnotizer’ and the numerous brutal breakdowns throughout the entire album.

Overall, MASA are at their most impressive when the screams are met with spine-chilling breakdowns into a more post-hardcore mode. Perhaps this could come to the fore a little more in the future like it tends to do towards the albums end, but a top drawer effort for a debut album nonetheless. 

Here's the audio for 'These Boots...' from the album to whet your appetite:

Matthew Evans

[TuneOTD] Armageddon Project - LIKE SERPENTS TEARS

Artist: Armageddon Project
Genre: Hardcore/Industrial/Techno
Location: Bologna, Italy
Label Type: Indie
Record Label: The Third Movement, Industrial Strength
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Armageddon-Project
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thearmageddonproject

Today’s tune is what I like to call a “marmite” song; you’re either going to love it or hate it. The title is 'Like Serpents Tears', produced by Armageddon Project, and taken from their 2011 three-track offering, No Hell No Dignity. 

The song is what can be described as five and a half minutes of pure ground-stomping industrial hardcore. The song is a simple fusion of the individual sounds produced by the shaven-headed Italian duo. It’s all done on their own software and extraordinarily no use of synthesisers despite the techno influenced presence. Like Serprents Tears is a demonstration of the radical evolution of hardcore music with a deep thumping bass and high-pitched beats.

Stefano Croce and Matteo Delgrano have been making music together since their first release in 1997, and with this release it’s easy to see why they have been making such a splash in the hardcore scene all across Europe. This track is proper dark, give it a listen and see if it floats your boat! If you like it, you’ll be addicted, if not, you probably won’t last much longer than about 30 seconds. 

Matthew Evans

[TuneOTD] Enter Shikari - QUELLE SURPRISE

Artist: Enter Shikari
Genre: Hardcore/Progressive/Rock

Location: St. Albans, Hertfordshire, UK

Label Type: Indie

Record Label: Ambush Reality

Website: http://www.entershikari.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/entershikari

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/entershikari

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/entershikari

“Quelle Surprise”, a French translation of “What a Surprise”. In truth, there is no surprise, Enter Shikari have once again lived up to their very high expectations and returned with something completely unsurprising, an absolute banger!

It portrays everything that makes Shikari the successful band they are today. They execute clever breaks and loops, as well as a superb manipulation of synthesisers and keyboards, in what is another truly classic amalgamation of rock and electro. As with most of their other tracks, this doesn’t follow the generic song structure as the boys mash up with characteristic old-school Shikari breakdowns keeping you captivated throughout. This tune provides hardcore passion and power in abundance! Although the song is arguably not as innovative and creative musically as previous efforts, this is something they have sacrificed in order to give the lyrical content a deeper meaning and understanding.  

It follows the direction of things to come set by the one-off hit 'Destabilise’ released back in late 2010 and is Zane Lowe’s hottest record in the UK right now. 'Quelle Surprise' is the first single of the forthcoming album set for release early next year, the bands third studio album following on from 2009’s smash hit ‘Common Dreads’.

Rou’s hairstyle in the video leaves much to be desired, but that aside this tune is one which will undoubtedly be greatly received by the lions and if allowed time to grow, will become absolutely huge in the summer of 2011 AD.

‘Quelle Surprise’ was released on May 19^th, you can check out the video for it below:

Matthew Evans

[AlbumOTD] Random Hand - SEETHING IS BELIEVING

Artist: Random Hand

Genre: Metal/Punk/Ska

Location: Keighly, West Yorkshire, UK

Label Type: Indie

Record Label: Bomber Music

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/randomhand

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/randomhand

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/randomhand

Seething is Believing is the third studio album from West Yorkshire’s Ska Punk band Random Hand. Released on March 21^st this year, this is without doubt the band’s best album yet. They have progressed without moving away from their musical roots keeping the same blend of punk rock and ska, but simply improving it.

With their previous two albums, Change of Plan and Inhale/Exhale, as a listener you lose attention towards the end, but with this album, each song brings something different and keeps you gripped throughout.

The album itself is focussed very much on the band’s strong left-wing political views. It seems as though they have become more confident in their own political views than in years gone by and this shows as they express these views more freely and more assertively on the record. The album is one which attracts listeners from ska, punk and metal backgrounds, and one which gets better and better with every listen. They continue to fuse fast pace ska riffs and heavy guitar licks with aggressive vocals demonstrating their hard-hitting ska infused political punk.

‘Tales of Intervention’ sets the tone with the familiar sound of angry hardcore and brassy riffs, synonymous to the sound of Random Hand. The intelligent lyrics in this tune are heartfelt and as mentioned before are politically based, with lines like “we’re ambassadors to no one” they state their intentions and they are here to be heard! ‘Not A Number’ is another great tune illustrating their ska side, while ‘Three From Six’ becomes a real hardcore mash-up, one sure to get the metalheads head banging in approval. Yet arguably the best track on the record is ‘Bones’, which takes elements from both sides of the equation. The Final track on the album titled ‘Find What’s Out There’ is available to download for free; alternatively you can purchase the album which is out now!

Overall, the record stays strictly to the ska punk guidelines and even though they could have added a little more creativity and innovation it is bound to be one of the finest UK skacore albums this year. Hopefully this album means that in the near future the band get the appreciation they so richly deserve.

Check out Random Hand when tonight they begin their tour with The King Blues and Sonic Boom Six for what is sure to be a cracker! As is this wonderful video for 'Not A Number':

Matthew Evans