[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

[TuneOTD] Matt Nash - CAN'T GET MY HEAD

Artist: Matt Nash

Genre: House/Pop/Electro
Location: London, England. UK
Label Type: Indie
Record Label: Super Massive Records 

Website: http://mattnashofficial.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/mattnashmusic

Facebook: http://facebook.com/mattnashofficial

Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/mattnashmusic

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/mattnashmusic

Today sees the latest release from Matt Nash with his brand new song, ‘Can’t Get My Head’. This is the follow-up to last month's ‘Invincible’.

Nash has gone for a more dubstep vibe on this one appealing to the opposite side of the spectrum of the dance-floor audience. The pace of the song is slower than usual allowing for the dubstep to be exploited to its full effect, whilst also possessing some slick beats. This record demonstrates the diversity of the youngster who continues to show promise and potential. The track is short and sharp at under 3mins in length, with the first 45secs almost serving as an introduction with simply vocals and effects. This then transforms into a cool, calm, dubstep ambiance until the tempo is picked up slightly before reaching an abrupt climax. There is no doubt this track is current and there is a definite market audience for a song of this breed, but whilst it is heartfelt and passionate, it possibly lacks a catchy, killer chorus. Despite this, there is positive potential there and the dubstep vibe shows a sound basis to build upon.

You can check the song out here.

Matthew Evans

[TuneOTD] Matt Nash - INVINCIBLE

Artist: Matt Nash

Genre: House/Pop/Electro
Location: London, England. UK
Label Type: Indie
Record Label: Super Massive Records 

Website: http://mattnashofficial.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/mattnashmusic

Facebook: http://facebook.com/mattnashofficial

Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/mattnashmusic

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/mattnashmusic

Today’s tune is the song from 19 year-old pop sensation Matt Nash titled ‘Invincible’. He used to make music under the name MyToyBox, but with a fresh new name he has burst back on the scene under the guidance of record label, Super Massive Records.

‘Invincible’ is Matt’s debut track and is one which would fit right in at the biggest clubs on Friday and Saturday nights up and down the country. The dynamics on this one are spot on whilst its main trait is an orgasmic breakdown to a razor-like beat. The beat is exactly the type of sound which his hitting all the right notes for today’s audience. Keeping up with the times and still keeping things fresh and original is what makes a song a real winner in the club scene in this day and age, and this is a banger which does exactly that. The synths are sublime and the vocals are perfect for an electro-pop track of this ilk. Matt Nash has smashed it with this one folks!

With enough exposure this track has the ingredients to become THE club track in the summer of 2011. Coming to a dancefloor near you!

The online exclusive of Matt Nash’s ‘Invincible’ from the upcoming album, ‘Pop Filth’ can be heard here. Enjoy!

Matthew Evans

[TuneOTD] Nero - PROMISES

Artist: Nero
Genre: Club/Drum & Bass/Dubstep
Location: London, UK 
Label Type: Indie
Record Label: MTA Records
Website: http://www.thisisnero.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/nerouk
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nerouk
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/nerouk

‘Promises’ is the new song from UK act Nero, labelled by Zane Lowe as the Hottest Record in the World. It’s a more than adequate follow up to previous hit singles ‘Innocence’, ‘Me & You’ and ‘Guilt’. All four songs are to feature on the duo’s first studio album, Welcome Reality set for release on August 15^th on MTA Records. Vocals for the track are provided by Alana Watson, who is now essentially part of the furniture at Nero HQ, featuring heavily as a vocalist on much of the new material.

The song itself follows on very much from earlier releases producing a similar sound of fusion between drum & bass and their own unique blend of dubstep. As expected with Nero, the song possesses a magnificent breakdown from pounding drum beats and effective use of synths and bass. The powerful vocals compliment the sound of DJ’s Daniel Stephens and Joe Ray wonderfully, suiting each other down to the ground. As for the chorus, saying that it’s catchy is a cliché used all too often, but it’s a cliché that is all too true in this case.

Lyrically, the meaning behind the song is simply about a girl being told by her partner that they won’t leave her so long as she doesn’t break her promises. Not particularly genius or original, but then again, this is the case for most dance songs.

With Nero’s last two tracks peaking 8 and 15 on the official UK singles chart, this latest release is bound to mean another appearance in the higher echelons of the chart when it’s released on August 7^th.

You can pre-order the album here and check out the brand new official video for Promises below:

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

[ArtistOTD] I Haunt Wizards

Artist: I Haunt Wizards

Genre: Electro/Alternative/New Wave

Location: Brighton, England, UK

Label Type: Unsigned
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/IHAUNTWIZARDS

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

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Haunt-Wizards/38075542293

Souncloud:http://soundcloud.com/ihauntwizards

I Haunt Wizards are a two-piece band from Brighton in South England. The previously three-pronged group now consists of Helen Kirby and James Lavelle. Formed in 2007, they deliver a fantasy-like approach to music. There are no obvious bands that you could draw comparisons to, but they do produce beats similar to those of Partyshank. IHW are heavily influenced by their childhood and there seems to be an obsession with the supernatural, illustrated by such song titles as ‘Alien Mothership’ and ‘Vampire Aids’. Their sound is based predominantly on a combination of keyboards and synths as well as Kirby’s dreamy vocals. Her vocals produce a ‘’bunged-up’’ yet somewhat sexy sound to their music. IHW may be known to fans of UK metalcore group, Bring Me The Horizon for remixing the single ‘Diamond’s Aren’t Forever’. This was included in the Sheffield-based bands cut up version of their own 2008 album, Suicide Season.

IHW have written and recorded many different songs since their formation in 2007 but only released their first EP, ‘Fountain of Youth’ in September 2010 which was made available as a free download via soundcloud. The songs that stand out the most from the six-track offering are arguably the first two. Track one is the sparkly and electro-style ‘I Am Not So Evil’. Although relatively vague, the lyrics offer a seemingly existential explanation of life, questioning their own personality in which they struggle to dismiss the idea of them being a bad person. This is followed by the wonderful ‘Peter Pan Complex’, a far more bouncy and sharper tune, the meaning of which is pretty much summed up by the chorus line; ‘you’re much meaner than I thought’.

Prior to this release, the band had released the single, ‘Flowers Bloom’, on Ear Candy Music. The single also comes with a ‘Witty Boy Remix’ of the song as its B-side. The A-side is a love song showing a side of the band more in tune with reality. It has a more mainstream pop sound, but still retains the electro beats. 

Hopefully, in the near future the duo gets the recognition they deserve and reap their just rewards.

Feel free to check out their MySpace or Facebook, and download the EP for free on their Soundcloud!

Matthew Evans