I guess its time for a little catch up really, it’s been a few months since I’ve posted anything, I took a bit of time away to concentrate on other stuff while the music world went pretty quiet due to lock downs and other restrictions, but now the local scene seems to be peeking out in to the sunlight blinking like a bear cub coming out of its first hibernation in to the spring sunshine. There’s venues booking gigs for later in the year and bands starting to release some new music, having said that some bands have released stuff over the last couple of months that I missed or you might not have heard about so I thought I’d kick things off again with a catch up review of some highlights from recent months. It’s a mixed bag of genre’s and is in absolutely no particular order other than how they pop in to my head, so make of that what you will.
Swamp Thief – “I”
Swamp Thief released their debut EP back in October and its a balls heavy stomper collection of riffs and grooves that is best played loud, in fact if the neighbours arent complaining then you arent playing this loud enough. Swamp Thief are a two piece band that still manage to create a noise that could cause earthquakes if played to close to a fault line. Don’t be fooled though its not just about heavy for the sake of heavy whilst the riffs will attempt to bludgeon you in to submission there’s some melody in those tunes with some great vocal hooks on tunes like recent single “Mary” and previous single “Whip Hand” if you like your music heavy and full of riffs, go check out Swamp Thief
Swamp Thief Online:
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Listen to “I“
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Two Til Twelve – “Lost at 21”
Two Til Twelve are a band I’ve reviewed a few times and I can safely say that if catchy indie tunes are your thing then Two Til Twelve are a band you should be checking out. Their latest single “lost at 21” doesnt stray too far from the formula thats worked well for them in the past and thats no bad thing, its energetic, catchy and you could have a good dance to it, this’ll be a sure-fire dance floor filler at gigs. If your a sucker for a catchy tune and like layers of jangly indie guitars then these boys are worth taking the time to check out.
Two Til Twelve online
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Listen to Lost at 21
Spotify
Feverjaw – “Brightburn”
Feverjaw is a new band to me, they released their EP “Brightburn” at the end of January and my immediate thoughts upon hitting play were that these guys have definitely listened to the Manics, its quite a raw sound, indie with a punk edge that really reminds me of early Manic Street Preachers and in my book that no bad thing. Its got energy its quite atmospheric at points but definitely has a bit of a raw punk edge to the sound. its not punk though, the band refer to themselves as “alternative” but then so does virtually every other band these days, these guys come a bit closer to alternative than most of those bands though, its raw and energetic, if you want something a little different go check them out
Feverjaw online:
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Listen to “Brightburn”
Spotify
Prosperina “ Deep Never” & “Boot”
Prosperina need absolutely no introduction to fans of heavy music in the swansea area, they’ve been around in various incarnations for years and what they dont know about smashing out heavy catchy atmospheric rock you could write on the back of a postage stamp – as the old saying goes. They recent smashed out 2 singles in quick succession in advance of their new album “Flag” due out on May 21st. The first single is a slower brooding number called “Deep Never” its as heavy an atmospheric as you’d expect from Geth and the boys with massive guitars and pounding drums and those trademark swirling, soaring vocals. Its a meaty tune that drives forward with a lot of power and presence that builds and drives forwards ominously. Within a couple of weeks of releasing one single Prosperina followed it up with with the big stomper of a tune that is “Boot” and it feels like they are literally stomping that boot down on us, its a great follow up to “Deep Never” equally as heavy but with an ominous pounding rhythm that feels like that bit in the film where the invading army marches forward with impending doom. It drives on with endless momentum and builds as the song goes on with more and more layers. If these 2 singles are anything to go by I’m really looking forward to hearing the new album !
Proeperina Online
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Listen To “Deep Never”
Youtube
Spotify
Listen to “Boot”
Spotify
Bandicoot – “Dark Too Long”
I’ve been a fan of Bandicoot for a while now, one of the best live bands to come out of Swansea in a while, they’re a bit different to everyone else but in all the right ways, energetic, fun music you can have a good dance too. Its alternative indie with catchy pop hooks and just the right amount of weirdness. Dark Too long is the bands first single on Libertino records and it certainly doesnt disappoint, its a bit pacier than some previous offerings from Bandicoot but will slot in to a bandicoot live show nicely. Its energetic noisy and builds to a nice chaotic ending its got a bit more grit to it than their usual fair but I approve of this massively and really cant wait to hear the boys belt this out live, dancing round the kitchen will have to do for now.
Bandicoot online
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Listen to “Dark Too Long”
Spotify