Enemies SWE - Enemy CDS (Plugged)
Somewhat typical Swedish hard-rock ala the Backyard Babies. I'd probably like this a bit more if they beefed up the guitar tone and tuned down a bit to make their sound heavier. They could possibly even compete with Entombed if they tried, especially with the kinds of half-tempo breakdowns they throw in. As for now, they firmly reside in the realm of the mediocre and generic.
The Ackermans - Song in your Street CDS (Inpediente/Plugged)
This band plays upbeat garage punk that'll probably remind most folks of The Hives at first, but sounds to me more like classic Lookout! Records stuff such as The Hi-Fives. It's got the usual ingredients for the genre: jangly, sharp guitars, slightly fuzzed-out vocals, good hooks, hyperactive drumming and so on and so forth. The two songs on this single pass by so quickly, it's already over by the time I really start getting into it. Though it's definitely not be anything I haven't heard done before, I still dig it.
Novak - It all works out in the end 7" (Novoton)
Energetic power-pop/glam rock on a huge, thick slab of white vinyl. Always good to see. The music ain't so bad either. On the a-side title track there's some great Thin Lizzy dual guitar lead riffs and an excellent bridge part that reminds me of something Cheap Trick would do. The b-side keeps energy level high and injects a bit of twang with the cleaner guitar tones. The vocals are kinda squeaky like the dude's been huffing helium, but they're balanced by some excellent harmonies and arrangements. You can tell a good deal of forethought went into the production and it helps elevate them above other bands playing in a similar style. I'm definitely looking forward to hearing more stuff from these guys when the full-length comes out.
Eskju Divine - Darkness all around (Imperial Recordings)
The melody of the first song sounds very similar the opening track on Tiger Lou's album, but it's taken in a much more polyphonic and embellished direction. Lead singer/songwriter Gustaf Spetz's voice has a similar timbre to Tiger as well. Both play excellent melancholic pop music, but Eskju Divine adds much more bombast and reverb to the proceedings. The wall-of-sound production also lends them a much more dreamy vibe, which is both good and bad. Good because it makes even the most simple passages of music more powerful, but bad because it also means the EP can pass by without leaving much of an impression, if not being listened to at full volume. This piano, bass and drums trio never falters for lack of a guitar either. In fact, it never even occured to me that the instrument wasn't there until I read the group's bio. Good stuff.
Embassy - Wearing our pop art hearts on our sleeves EP (Service)
Is Service totally determined to only sign acts with the worst vocals ever? I just don't get it. The music isn't so bad - it's your standard Göteborg-style pop with keyboards. "Flipside of a memory" reminds me a bit of Tears for Fears on the instrumental passages. But man oh man, the singing on the first song "Instructions" is so out of tune and awful, I almost thought it was a joke. Nobody really thinks that sounds good, do they?
Sanctum - Let's eat (Cold Meat Industry)
I don't listen to too much heavy electronic industrial music anymore and after a slightly disappointing Skinny Puppy show a few weeks ago, it's nice to hear something new from a band in the genre that kicks my ass. I've always known Sanctum to be a good band and made myself overlook some of the cheesy moments of their first album "Lupus in fabula" so I could appreciate them. Thankfully, those moments never recur here. A lot of the neoclassical influences have been ditched as well and replaced with a rawer and more droning sound, as showcased on the "NYC bluster" live album. There are still plenty of string and piano passages, but I feel like the emphasis has been shifted more towards rhythm and atmosphere. The move works. Just don't wait another 8 years to do the next one, okay guys?
The Ackermans
Song in your street CDS
Plugged Records/Inpediente
This band plays upbeat garage punk that'll probably remind most folks of The Hives at first, but sounds to me more like classic Lookout! Records stuff such as The Hi-Fives. It's got the usual ingredients for the genre: jangly, sharp guitars, slightly fuzzed-out vocals, good hooks, hyperactive drumming and so on and so forth. The two songs on this single pass by so quickly, it's already over by the time I really start getting into it. Though it's definitely not be anything I haven't heard done before, I still dig it.
- Avi Roig
The Embassy
Wearing our pop art hearts on our sleeves EP
Service
Is Service totally determined to only sign acts with the worst vocals ever? I just don't get it. The music isn't so bad - it's your standard Göteborg-style pop with keyboards. "Flipside of a memory" reminds me a bit of Tears for Fears on the instrumental passages. But man oh man, the singing on the first song "Instructions" is so out of tune and awful, I almost thought it was a joke. Nobody really thinks that sounds good, do they?
- Avi Roig
Enemies SWE
Enemy CDS
Plugged Records
Somewhat typical Swedish hard-rock ala the Backyard Babies. I'd probably like this a bit more if they beefed up the guitar tone and tuned down a bit to make their sound heavier. They could possibly even compete with Entombed if they tried, especially with the kinds of half-tempo breakdowns they throw in. As for now, they firmly reside in the realm of the mediocre and generic.
- Avi Roig
Eskju Divine
Darkness all around
Imperial Recordings
The melody of the first song sounds very similar the opening track on Tiger Lou's album, but it's taken in a much more polyphonic and embellished direction. Lead singer/songwriter Gustaf Spetz's voice has a similar timbre to Tiger as well. Both play excellent melancholic pop music, but Eskju Divine adds much more bombast and reverb to the proceedings. The wall-of-sound production also lends them a much more dreamy vibe, which is both good and bad. Good because it makes even the most simple passages of music more powerful, but bad because it also means the EP can pass by without leaving much of an impression, if not being listened to at full volume. This piano, bass and drums trio never falters for lack of a guitar either. In fact, it never even occurred to me that the instrument wasn't there until I read the group's bio. Good stuff.
- Avi Roig
Novak
It all works out in the end 7"
Novoton
Energetic power-pop/glam rock on a huge, thick slab of white vinyl. Always good to see. The music ain't so bad either. On the a-side title track there's some great Thin Lizzy dual guitar lead riffs and an excellent bridge part that reminds me of something Cheap Trick would do. The b-side keeps energy level high and injects a bit of twang with the cleaner guitar tones. The vocals are kinda squeaky like the dude's been huffing helium, but they're balanced by some excellent harmonies and arrangements. You can tell a good deal of forethought went into the production and it helps elevate them above other bands playing in a similar style. I'm definitely looking forward to hearing more stuff from these guys when the full-length comes out.
- Avi Roig
Sanctum
Let's eat
Cold Meat Industry
I don't listen to too much heavy electronic industrial music anymore and after a slightly disappointing Skinny Puppy show a few weeks ago, it's nice to hear something new from a band in the genre that kicks my ass. I've always known Sanctum to be a good band and made myself overlook some of the cheesy moments of their first album "Lupus in fabula" so I could appreciate them. Thankfully, those moments never recur here. A lot of the neoclassical influences have been ditched as well and replaced with a rawer and more droning sound, as showcased on the "NYC bluster" live album. There are still plenty of string and piano passages, but I feel like the emphasis has been shifted more towards rhythm and atmosphere. The move works. Just don't wait another 8 years to do the next one, okay?
- Avi Roig
Trewetha Records has confirmed that the upcoming I Love You Baby CD "Grand Pop 1977" will be out on July 30. Head to the band's website for samples: http://www.iloveyoubaby.se/