CROSSS - Lucky Loki | Elusive Little Comments

When: ‘Obsidian Spectre’ – 11/06/2013

Where: Telephone Explosion Records

Outof10: 7.0/10

There’s really not much available out there to say about Halifax band CROSSS. All I know is that they recently appeared on a split with I Smell Blood for indie label PERDU and their contribution – the 9 minute Obsidian Song – was certainly interesting to say the least. These guys have released Lucky Loki in anticipation for the release of their debut album ‘Obsidian Spectre’, which will be out June 11^th via Telephone Explosion Records.

Lucky Loki is a heavy track baring similarities to sludge and doom metal with a hint of stoner rock akin to the likes of Kyuss and Om, but like those bands they bring forth a pretty chilled rhythm to their music which makes even these heavy guitar riffs pretty accessible. The repeated verses add to the claustrophobic air formed from the instrumentation and well, everything is just coming along nicely.

CROSSS have got themselves a solid single with Lucky Loki and it certainly promises what should be a record full of heavy riffs and a pretty trippy experience too. Also how freaking badass is ‘Obsidian Spectre’ for a title? Awesome.  

Crosss - "Lucky Loki" 2013 from Jeremy Jansen on Vimeo.

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The August List - Handsome Skin EP | Elusive Little Comments

When: 19/05/2013

Where: Ubiquity Project Records

Outof10: 8.0/10 (LOVED)

Have you ever told a girl that she has handsome skin? It never works, and the only time it did work was because the girl (my other half) thought I said handsome shin and she thought I was kidding. I wasn’t. Anyway, ‘Handsome Skin’ is an EP and the much more sonically pleasing debut from the “backwards country porch-folk” duo known as The August List. These guys are a husband and wife duo and well, this is a match made in heaven.

Starting things off is Bird House Song, which features a sole female introducing the listener to some warm, innocent vocals before stepping aside for some acoustic guitar to come in and do its thing emotionally. This track has a real nice charm to it and the addition of deep sounding drums and all kinds of instruments converts it into a dead catchy number. This is a fantastic start to an EP that promises a whole lot more.

Death Penalty surprisingly features the most upbeat of instrumentations on ‘Handsome Skin’, with its rolling drum beat and equally turning acoustic riff. This sunny instrumentation mixed alongside the bright higher register of the vocals somehow makes the death penalty seem just as lovely as that old guy who goes through the rehearsal of the electric chair in The Green Mile. Remember that guy? He was great. The guy not wetting the sponge for that other guy? Not so great.

Forty-Rod Of Lightnin’ kicks things into another gear as male vocals take over and a massive wall of harmonica dominates the airwaves into ear-splitting submission. The acoustic guitar bares some harder strums and dual vocals really emphasise the importance of whatever the hell Forty-Rod Of Lightnin’ means, but this is an excellent folk track full of passion and definitely adds a special touch to this already wonderful EP.

Finally we come to a close with Homeland. With its slower tempo and quiet instrumentation mixed with some beautiful, airy female vocals this is the perfect way to finish an EP as varied and hard hitting as ‘Handsome Skin’. The August List have got themselves a fantastic debut here, and I really want them to hurry up and bring out an album soon please, you guys have handsome skin.

Gentleman's Dub Club - Riot | Elusive Little Comments

When: 20/05/2013

Where: Ranking Records

Outof10: 6.7/10

Riot is the new single from nine-piece reggae band Gentleman’s Dub Club, and after a pretty relentless tour of the UK late last year this is a pretty well named song to put out. It precedes the release of the band’s upcoming debut album ‘Forty Four’, out in the autumn time. I think it’s time we sat down with these guys and have what the kids are calling a sausage fest.

As to be expected Riot is a track filled with all kinds of different sounds that transcend the reggae genre. Starting off with a vapid drum beat and a swirling synth beat the song soon reworks itself into having a nice, easy rhythm which immediately takes effect on one’s feet. A few words spoken through some barely distinguishable vocals and suddenly we’ve got ourselves a pretty atmospheric and wonderful song on our hands.

This track bares a very nostalgic sound reminiscent of the 80s with the mixture of synths and vocals fusing together to create a vast soundscape full of interesting sounds, all of which take off in different directions to keep Riot sounding as chaotic as its namesake claims it to be. Riot is a great listen, and one that gets me very excited for ‘Forty Four.’

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The Dillinger Escape Plan - One Of Us Is The Killer | Elusive Little Comments

When: 14/05/13
Where: Party Smasher, Sumerian
Outof10: 6.5/10

I've been eagerly anticipating the release of The Dillinger Escape Plan's new album, 'One of Us Is the Killer', ever since I heard the preview on YouTube a month-or-so ago.  Fans of mathcore waited with baited breath to see what the quintet would produce after their last album, 'Option Paralysis' (2010), was met with critical acclaim.

Honestly, I've never been so torn on an album as I am on this one. The songs I enjoy, I love and listened to on repeat ('One of Us Is the Killer', the title track, I listened to 4 times before I could move on). However, the songs I didn't like, I really disliked and could barely listen to them all the way through.

The album opens with 'Prance', a typical Dillinger Escape Plan ditty; harsh sounding vocals and offbeat crashes. 'When I Lost My Bet' is also out-and-out mathcore; abrasive and almost grating, but in a good way; an exquisite mess.

The title track, which I've already mentioned, is probably my favourite on the whole album, yet ironically sounds completely different. Slow and almost sexual, it's deliciously melodic.

From the sublime, to the bizarre, a few of the next tracks (except for 'Nothing's Funny') are completely chaotic and I couldn't enjoy them. Song's like 'Understanding Decay' and 'The Threat Posed by Nuclear Weapons' sound like metal on crack to me and I just couldn't get into them.

One song in the middle of the album particularly caught my attention. 'Magic That I Held You Prisoner' began and I immediately hated it so much that I didn't want to hear anymore but in the interest of reviewing the album, I kept it on. By the end of the track, I had completely fallen in love with it and had to replay it. I have never had that with a song before, complete hate turning into absolute admiration. Incredible.

Now, I know what you're probably thinking, 6.5 out of 10 for an album that contained songs that I vehemently didn't like? Absurd. But I guess that encapsulates the whole album. The songs that I liked, I loved with a passion; 'Crossburner' physically gave me goosebumps. But the ones I didn't like made me grind my teeth. And isn't that what music's supposed to do? Evoke emotion and divide opinion? It's for this reason I recommend this album.  Not just for D. E. P. fans, not even just for metal fans, but for anyone who fancies opening their mind a bit and listening to some music.

(Written by Nia Griffiths)