The Ratells – ‘Behind The Fire’ Single Review

The Ratells – ‘Behind The Fire’ Single Review

          They’ve played a sell-out headline UK tour, supported the likes of Kaiser Chiefs and won ‘The Best Unsigned Band’ Exposed Award in the space of a year. This is, of course, Sheffield’s own four-piece indie-rock band, The Ratells.
          Combining soft, chilled out riffs with a punchy drum beat, ‘Behind The Fire’ starts by demonstrating The Ratells’ gentle quality alongside Ashley Holland’s smooth yet powerful voice. This track showcases Holland’s vocal range and the band’s unique flair for music as ‘Behind The Fire’ drifts effortlessly from quiet, subtle tones to explosive belters of choruses with silky and playful bass riffs throughout that contribute to the track’s overall fluidity. An instrumental solo ensues, complete with upbeat and fast-paced drum patterns and catchy guitar cadences.
          With one listen, it’s easy to forget that The Ratells are an unsigned gem that have yet to record an album. ‘Behind The Fire’ is brilliant in that it makes for easy listening whilst still retaining the seemingly effortless fiery finale that wouldn’t be out of place in arenas. With a feel as timeless as The Ratells’ leather-jacket-and-cigarette image, it’s evident that the boys already know how to write killer tunes and have attracted the likes of Ross Orton, the genius behind Arctic Monkeys’ ‘AM’ and producer of ‘Behind The Fire.’
          Hailing as one of Britain’s most hard-working bands with a strong and dedicated fan base, it’s likely that The Ratells will storm the UK this year with a hefty headline tour in June and a string of singles and EP’s set for release. If they’re anything as good as ‘Behind The Fire,’ you’ll be hearing a lot more people describing them as the best band to emerge from Sheffield since Arctic Monkeys.

Blitz Kids – ‘Run For Cover’ Single Review

Blitz Kids – ‘Run For Cover’ Single Review

‘Run For Cover’ is the second single that the Cheshire-born rascals have released under new record label Red Bull Records. Following from ‘On My Own’ which was released in April, this new single carries a more vengeful and bitter undertone as singer Joe James vents his anger with infectious chants and belting choruses that tell the tale of ‘getting blagged by your missus when you're out on tour with the lads, and the challenges that come with being in a relationship when you're constantly on the road’ as guitarist Jono Yates so elegantly puts it.

The song immediately seizes the attention of the audience with dulled instrumentals and tense vocals that secrete expectation with an infectious mantra of ‘lover lover, run run for cover’ before exploding into fiery guitar riffs and hammering drums and progressing into a passionate chorus that will undoubtedly warrant a roaring reaction from a live audience, with the vocals already being echoed by a crowd on the track itself.

As the song steadily reaches its culmination, the band coalesce the slick and sleazy melody of the leading guitar with the throbbing cadence of the rhythm guitar, impressively creating a solo worthy of The Killers in their ‘Hot Fuss’ era.

Overall, this track is a definite crowd pleaser and will tickle the fancy of most rock fans out there, so Blitz Kids can sit back, have a drink and bask in the pride they’ve earned with ‘Run For Cover’. 

Jet Pack – ‘Chasing Sunsets’ EP Review

Jet Pack – ‘Chasing Sunsets’ EP Review

Tracklisting:

1. Back To Life
2. Now I Know How John Locke Felt
3. The Heat Of The Moment
4. Chasing Sunsets (feat Lauren Pryke)
5. All I Need
6. This Is The End

      Jet Pack are a four-piece rock band erupting from Cheltenham and they’re one of those wonderful rarities that take your breath away upon impact. Jet Pack have successfully written an icebreaker that shifts effortlessly from an energetic and gripping introduction into a more intense chorus, complete with powerful vocals and subtle dramatic undertones courtesy of singer Dennis Cook. A hard-hitting combination of rhythmic drum beats and grubby guitar riffs ‘Back To Life’ perfectly and sets the standard high for the rest of the EP.

If You Me At Six and We Are The Ocean were to have a lovechild it would be ‘Chasing Sunsets’. It’s the ultimate blend of alternative rock at its best and it provides a rare opportunity to give inordinate attention to the diverse abilities of this band  - the EP fuses the upbeat and heavier element of Jet Pack in ‘The Heat Of The Moment’ with the placid and more dulcet nature of ‘Chasing Sunsets.’ The headlining number is predominantly acoustic which offers a break from the more vivacious songs on the EP and is perfected by the beautifully eloquent vocals of Lauren Pyrke that help add to the raw tone of the track and help extract the emotion that this song deserves.

There are no other words to describe this band other than exceptionally talented and it’s unsurprising really – they’ve been around since 2008. With five years of experience under their belts, the question is not their undoubtable music abilities - it’s how are they unsigned? 

Circle Of Reason – ‘These Hands and This Mind’ EP Review

Circle Of Reason – ‘These Hands and This Mind’ EP Review

Tracklisting:

1. Don’t Be Still
2. Home
3. Novel
4. Sleep
5. Themes Amongst Thieves

        Being compared to music giants Soundgarden and Smashing Pumpkins must be daunting for a little-known band that’s only been around since 2010, yet alt-rock band Circle of Reason are out to prove themselves again with their new EP, ‘These Hands and This Mind’.

       Their debut EP ‘A Favour For A Stranger’ received glowing reviews and certainly put the spotlight on Circle Of Reason, who haven’t disappointed in their latest killer release. The quartet have guilefully exhibited their expansive talents over the five songs on the EP, contrasting tracks of earth-shattering guitar riffs and thundering drums such as ‘Themes Amongst Thieves’ with the gentle and silkier rhythms of ‘Sleep’ and ‘Home’, which subsequently allows the entire record to flow mellifluously in fits of melodic vocals and ardent outbursts of instrumentals.  The entire record demonstrates divergence and every track contains its own uniqueness whilst still retaining an imprint of the unmistakeable sound that is Circle Of Reason, described as ‘merging considerate, visceral guitar parts, ear-shattering drums, and warm, alluring vocals’.

         Nevertheless, it’s possible to believe that Circle Of Reason are refraining from unleashing their full potential  but hopes remain high for the talented and indomitable four-piece from South-West England who will undoubtedly be causing quite a stir in the British music scene quite soon!