Plenty of albums are heavy, very few are suffocating, Rot from Eastbourne based Believe In Nothing is suffocating, a nihilistic world view coupled with a pain inducing noise wall where fear, loathing and contempt for modernity creates music that is there to be endured.
Formed in 2023, by scene veterans Believe In Nothing got their unofficial live debut at The Eagle Pub when a band pulled out so they stepped up and just played, no songs written just fury through sound, an attack on this increasingly dystopian world that proved that they could survive as a live act. Line ups changed, songs formed and now we face a prepared, fully realised creative vision that's here to smash in your face.
Rot is dangerous, the ominous bass that begins Complete Desolation does nothing to ease you in, full frontal bleakness from the first moments and from here they don't let up. Like opening a door to a vacuum, the air quickly is forced out and leaving you frozen and floating in a void with nothing but the feelings of dread the songs conjure.
The band are masters of the slow release, the pressure and desperation building on What Would You Do? until it's released in snarling extremity, this simmering build and explosive release is repeated across the record but never loses it's effect. With a few selected guest appearances to add to their misery, Believe In Nothing have created a record where music is a weapon. You must surrender to it. 8/10
Magnetic Morning - A.M. (Outer Battery Records) [Rich Piva]
When you combine the forces of Swervedriver's Adam Franklin and Sam Fogarino of Interpol I expect magic to happen. Especially if Franklin is involved, given I think Swervedriver is one of the most underrated bands of all time and way more influential than they are given credit for.
Formed in 2023, by scene veterans Believe In Nothing got their unofficial live debut at The Eagle Pub when a band pulled out so they stepped up and just played, no songs written just fury through sound, an attack on this increasingly dystopian world that proved that they could survive as a live act. Line ups changed, songs formed and now we face a prepared, fully realised creative vision that's here to smash in your face.
Rot is dangerous, the ominous bass that begins Complete Desolation does nothing to ease you in, full frontal bleakness from the first moments and from here they don't let up. Like opening a door to a vacuum, the air quickly is forced out and leaving you frozen and floating in a void with nothing but the feelings of dread the songs conjure.
The band are masters of the slow release, the pressure and desperation building on What Would You Do? until it's released in snarling extremity, this simmering build and explosive release is repeated across the record but never loses it's effect. With a few selected guest appearances to add to their misery, Believe In Nothing have created a record where music is a weapon. You must surrender to it. 8/10
Magnetic Morning - A.M. (Outer Battery Records) [Rich Piva]
When you combine the forces of Swervedriver's Adam Franklin and Sam Fogarino of Interpol I expect magic to happen. Especially if Franklin is involved, given I think Swervedriver is one of the most underrated bands of all time and way more influential than they are given credit for.
So, when the announcement of the re-release of their partnership on 2008’s A.M. is dropping, you would think that I would be rejoicing, which I am, but not as much as I would normally for a Franklin based project, because to me, while a great listen, A.M. is just missing something.
I am not sure if it is a lack of energy or if the sound is a bit muddled for me, A.M. just doesn’t hit the mark like other Franklin stuff does. Yes, you get some wonderful atmospheric spacy pop weirdness, lovely harmonies, and some weirdness, outlined perfectly on the opener, Spring Unseen, but that track is really the highlight.
I am not sure if it is a lack of energy or if the sound is a bit muddled for me, A.M. just doesn’t hit the mark like other Franklin stuff does. Yes, you get some wonderful atmospheric spacy pop weirdness, lovely harmonies, and some weirdness, outlined perfectly on the opener, Spring Unseen, but that track is really the highlight.
A song like At A Crossroads, Private is a good song, but lacking that remarkable quality I come to expect from stuff that is Swervedriver adjacent. This is good music to fall asleep to, with the slow pace of a track like Indian Summer. The band shines with the more upbeat tracks, like the beautiful pop of No Direction. Or when they channel JAMC on Out In The Streets, so there is some rather remarkable stuff in between the sleepier numbers.
Don’t get me wrong, this album is worth your time, but the “cult classic” label and the people involved lifted my expectations up unfairly high. This “lost” nugget is worth your time, just don’t expect a life altering Swervedriver type thing to come back from 2008 to change everything. Good for what it is. 7/10
Stellvris - Shatter & Bloom EP (Independent) [Matt Bladen]
Another modern metal band that is billed as being the next Jinjer or Spiritbox. Stellvris have been gaining traction since their formation and have played some high profile gigs and festivals, in the last few years.
While I can get on board with the lyrics about anxiety, toxic relationships and bullying, the band trying to create a safe space for all comers with their music and their shows.The actual music side of it does seem to be similar to countless other bands out there doing the same sort of thing. Now that's not really a criticism more of case of this is how the music industry is turning.
A track like Monster is a perfect descriptor of what they do, it's got crushing breakdown, where the vocals squelch but before that builds with cleans vocals and electronics, each of the four originals on the EP follow the same pattern while the cover of Nicki Minaj's Starships is given a heavy makeover.
There's a lot of love out there for bands like this but someone about Shatter & Bloom didn't really catch me, I'm afraid. 6/10
Stryper - The Greatest Gift Of All (frontiers Music) [Rich Piva]
I am not afraid to admit I like Stryper. As a kid I ate up those big songs that worshiped Jesus while all my other favorite bands were singing about getting laid and doing drugs. Oz Fox could sure rip it up, too. This statement in no way endorses Stryper putting out a Chsrtmas record. Wait, they had not done this before? Thank Jeebus no, but here we are. The Greatest Gift Of All. Thanks Frontiers!!!
First, it sounds like a Frontiers record. Second, they cover Little Drummer Boy. That is enough right there for me to throw in the towel, but I am a professional, so, onwards. Oz, even given all of his medical issues, can still shred, even when playing Winter Wonderland. Michael Sweet’s voice is still strong, so that’s cool. I have to ask though…who the hell wanted this to happen? Certainly not me. Christmas music is bad enough, but this is next level cringe.
I don’t like Christmas music, with the exception being The Vandals classic Oi! To The World. This is no Oi! To The World. Unnecessary and actually painful to listen to. Oz still rips though, never forget that. 2/10
Don’t get me wrong, this album is worth your time, but the “cult classic” label and the people involved lifted my expectations up unfairly high. This “lost” nugget is worth your time, just don’t expect a life altering Swervedriver type thing to come back from 2008 to change everything. Good for what it is. 7/10
Stellvris - Shatter & Bloom EP (Independent) [Matt Bladen]
Another modern metal band that is billed as being the next Jinjer or Spiritbox. Stellvris have been gaining traction since their formation and have played some high profile gigs and festivals, in the last few years.
While I can get on board with the lyrics about anxiety, toxic relationships and bullying, the band trying to create a safe space for all comers with their music and their shows.The actual music side of it does seem to be similar to countless other bands out there doing the same sort of thing. Now that's not really a criticism more of case of this is how the music industry is turning.
A track like Monster is a perfect descriptor of what they do, it's got crushing breakdown, where the vocals squelch but before that builds with cleans vocals and electronics, each of the four originals on the EP follow the same pattern while the cover of Nicki Minaj's Starships is given a heavy makeover.
There's a lot of love out there for bands like this but someone about Shatter & Bloom didn't really catch me, I'm afraid. 6/10
Stryper - The Greatest Gift Of All (frontiers Music) [Rich Piva]
I am not afraid to admit I like Stryper. As a kid I ate up those big songs that worshiped Jesus while all my other favorite bands were singing about getting laid and doing drugs. Oz Fox could sure rip it up, too. This statement in no way endorses Stryper putting out a Chsrtmas record. Wait, they had not done this before? Thank Jeebus no, but here we are. The Greatest Gift Of All. Thanks Frontiers!!!
First, it sounds like a Frontiers record. Second, they cover Little Drummer Boy. That is enough right there for me to throw in the towel, but I am a professional, so, onwards. Oz, even given all of his medical issues, can still shred, even when playing Winter Wonderland. Michael Sweet’s voice is still strong, so that’s cool. I have to ask though…who the hell wanted this to happen? Certainly not me. Christmas music is bad enough, but this is next level cringe.
I don’t like Christmas music, with the exception being The Vandals classic Oi! To The World. This is no Oi! To The World. Unnecessary and actually painful to listen to. Oz still rips though, never forget that. 2/10
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