Showing posts with label Puppy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Puppy. Show all posts

Tuesday 17 May 2022

Puppy "Pure Evil" (2022)

Sophomore albums can be tricky and after soaring high on their debut The Goat, the trio return with a mixed bag of treats. As the Pure Evil name suggests, one can find a through line of esoteric themes prying into witchcraft, occultism and nightly mischief. With the tone of their music, the lyrics comes across with a toying playfulness as they avoid all the cheesy exaggerated tropes usually associated satanic oriented music.

Opening with the sludgy, brooding Shining Star, the band establish the doomy aspect of the records tone, only to curtail it swiftly with The Kiss. The song alone is a masterpiece unto itself. Capturing rays of sun through shapely, hazy riffs, a summery Smashing Pumpkins magic is birthed again. Its quite the contrast as a uplifting song peaked by groovy pinch harmonic riffs and a delightful gleaming guitar solo.

My Offer and Wasted Little Heart continue on, subtly darkening the path, the later offering up some beautifully crafted moments of space for a chunky guitar palm mute to inhabit with its delightful texture. Its from this point on that Pure Evil starts to wain as the moody, brooding side of their sound takes a stronger presence. With less flash and flair from the guitars, the tone increasingly focuses on its own colorful gloom.
 
This feels emphasized by the vocal harmonization of Norton and Michael, the duo have an interesting chemistry built on honesty and a strained sincerity which excels when the music is bright and colorful. Being slightly off key and raw, they provide an exciting contrast but as the record shifts into a darker string of shadowy, nefariously themed songs, its potency ends up drained and sucked into the rainy tone.

Despite this, there are plenty of exciting riffs, evoking nostalgia for 90s Alternative, Grunge and Metal, always standing on there own legs. Sometimes their ideas don't quite land. The tempo pivot on Wasted Little Heart throws hails to Thrash Metal but doesn't go anywhere. They try a similar trick on Spellbound and land it wonderfully with an epic but brief wailing guitar solo. Its a minor blemish but there are a few two many musical ideas that don't seem to follow up on the shown potential.

All in all, for this listener the theme wasn't enough to spark some magic out of the gloomy tone this record explores. When luminous and bursting with energy the music is captivating. Its dreary side, although wondrous in patches like the dreamy, ethereal, acoustic gloss of Dear John, gets a bit tiring. The riffs stale, the existing chemistry gets stretched. Far from terrible but a half step back in my opinion.

Rating: 7/10

Thursday 26 December 2019

My Top 10 Albums Of 2019


 Its not been as active a year with time devoted to other things. I've got to start of with a mention to FKA Twiggs. Loving her new album and the moment and If I had more time with, I'm sure it would be on this list. Also need to mention Ghost and their Seven Inches Of Satanic Panic EP, two of their best songs to date but obviously a little short on the run time to call it an album. I don't think anything out of the ordinary has taken hold, just another year, another bunch of records and here are my favourites!

(10) Aeons Confer "Zero Elysium" link

This records theme and setting is colossal, a plunge into the expansive cosmos led by meaty metallic guitars and aggressive drumming to batter you through the abyss. Initially it felt a bit bland and straight forward but its riffs devoid of flash and flair have a lot to offer as it becomes familiar. I am so stoked they have gotten things together and somehow retained the magic they had sixteen years ago.

(9) Devin Townsend "Empath" link

If Devin releases an album, chances are it will make it to this list. I adore the man and his musical vision but with such a large catalogue of albums they new songs become a blur, the best of blurs. Empath however plays like a slice of everything rolled into one and elevated to another level. I think it could be among his best but only time will tell at this point. Its a huge record, loaded and layered, it may take more time to fully get through.

(9) Kanye West "Jesus Is King" link

Not his best work, a flawed ambition but fruitful its in new direction. Inspired by church music and Gospel, infusing elements of it with a dash of Hip Hop, Kanye forged a slice of something outside the ordinary to introduce to the masses and I personally loved it. Of course being somewhat of an agnostic the lyrics didn't move me much but the music and stunning voices at play did very much so.

(7) Slowthai "Nothing Great About Britain" link

The young Northampton rapper may be one to watch out for in the future. This statement led debut has a lot of attitude and vitality about it. The story telling is fantastic but it stems from many of the things that success changes. A lot of Rap artists I can recall have suffered from this, the escape of poverty diminishing the source of inspiration but none the less its a cracking album that I fondly frequent back too.

(6)  Slipknot "We Are Not Your Kind" link

I never expected it to be so but Slipknot have undoubtedly created something you can hold in a similar light to their classic arrival records. The eruption of chaos, aggression and frustration of them crash landing into the public conscious could never be the same again but twenty years later the group missing now three of the original nine tap into the very best of the bands sound with a solid record spiced with a bit of experimentation that has grown on me. Great to have he Knot back at it!

(5) Billie Eilish "When We Fall Asleep Where We Go" link

Its certainly nice to hear more advantageous, experimental artists capturing ears in the mainstream. She may not exactly be "out there", her songwriting has many of the decent tropes Pop music can have but the use of ASMR techniques and vocal distortions is fun, interesting and expressive. All in all a fantastic record I enjoy every time I hear but also one to follow closely in the future.

(4) Cane Hill "Kill The Sun" link

Kill The Sun is an example of why bands shouldn't be afraid to explore their other aspirations. Stepping aside from their metallic roots, the group explore an exotic breed of Americana. Its utterly infectious and may of been what sent me on an Alice In Chains binge this year, learning that group too made Americana EP's between albums. There is now doubt they were an influence and although this was a short record I've loved it over and over. Massively infectious!

(3) Little Simz "Grey Area" link

I've been blown away by the sheer talent that is Little Simz. English Rap music has often felt in the shadows of the states if not pursuing a cultural altercation like Grime or Drill. Simz stands firm with fiery traditional rhyme skills and impressive cadence, she also has a lot to say and thus delivers some serious lyrical substance alongside some boisterous, affirming bars. 

(2) Puppy "The Goat" link

I was anticipating this album immensely and on arrival it blew me away. Puppy have a fantastic sound, a mix of all the best bits from Alternative Rock & Metal of the nineties. This album delivered in droves however I may have over saturated it. With a year to binge on The Goat, another surprise came along to steal the show. It was my first record of 2019 and I was pretty sure it would take the top spot.

(1) Sabaton "Great War" link

Sabaton have done it, maybe only with the help of Indy Nidel! I've been converted. Knowing these guys are history buffs interested in similar aspects of war, this album animated into life as I knew its inspiration intimately. Having followed the week by week reliving of World War I, its songs took on a whole new meaning that let melodies and tuneful songwriting really take hold. It can be a bit cheesy in places but its always fun and riveting with metallic energy. Since I wrote about it, its been on frequent rotation and is still giving tones of pleasure. It was totally unexpected but they trumped The Goat for me.

Saturday 2 November 2019

Puppy "III" (2019)


With the years best album so far under their belt, The Goat, this surprise EP was quite the treat to feast on, I didn't expect new music so soon! The three piece band Puppy are one of my modern favorites, their fusion of nostalgic 90s Alternative Rock & Metal riffs is just my cup of tea. Its the songwriting however, that sets them apart from waves of bands that come and go, casting that rosy tinted look back into the past. Puppy take in a rich history of music, brandishing it with their own defining stamp.

These nine tracks, a brief nineteen minutes, initially felt as demoed as its presentation would suggest. Its mixing, rough around the edges, with roomy drums and earnest singing gave a casual impression that would flavor my first few listens as a mediocre yet fun set of songs. The songwriting however championed once again as the ear worms grew, driving the hooks and melodies into the subconscious. Its riffs, arrangements and lyrics became forefront. It wasn't long before I was asking myself just how good this record is? Right now it fits perfectly into their catalog.

Without doubt there is a handful of songs here that given the treatment would fit snugly onto a proper album. They all however have a charm that feels exclusive to this rougher garage demo sound and I think the point is to inhabit this moment the band are living in. The raw vocal harmonies and chunky guitar riffs with gristly distortion tones create a youthful air vibe that resonates through the colorful guitar licks that occasional deploy a bit of rhythmic groove. Its everything I like about Puppy, just with a less polished edge which makes it fresh and interesting.

Rating: 7/10
Favorite Tracks: Agatha, Serotonin, Charms

Tuesday 26 March 2019

Puppy "Puppy" (2015)


Fondly reminded of teenage obsessions with music, I have found myself in adoration of Puppy's latest album The Goat. I went back and gave it a ten, as I simply cannot get enough of the record. I also remembered that they had another EP before Vol II, somehow I forgot about it! Another four tracks of their glorious and inspired mash of Alternative, Metal and Rock tones that this time around show the particulars of their heritage with some guitar styling drawing obvious parallels to other artists.

The four songs are a sweet fit for their sound, another exchange of monstrous guitar grooves, sunny yet sombre emotional intersections and beautiful singing with the occasional peaking harmonization. The songs hum an energy within simple structures as the intensity ebbs and flows, often led by the gorgeous guitar tones. I can't help but hear strong echos of Iron Maiden within their Heavy Metal alike melodic riffs. In the vulnerable sung sections backed by hazy distortion guitars its Weezer I can feel.

Like with all their music, the links are keen and its hard to not feel the presence of these other bands yet it comes together in the most gratifying of ways, inspired and far from intimation. They sound more so like a logical successor and that is considering this is their first record. The Great Beyond will probably grab your attention as the flag song for the EP with its main riff shaking the ground each time it rolls around. I really enjoyed this considering how I want nothing but more from this band right now!

Favorite Track: The Great Beyond
Rating: 6/10

Wednesday 30 January 2019

Puppy "The Goat" (2019)


Could it be that this new year starts with its best release? If you needed something to sweep you off your feet then The Goat is it. I'd been keenly awaiting English trio Puppy's debut album after adoring their EP Vol II. Id also heard a few of these new songs live at Download Festival and other shows. Now with the music put to wax I hope a spark is lit for them, its become increasingly harder for small acts in the shrinking world of rock music to get noticed. Even with an utterly fantastic debut record like this it may not be enough but this album is a success of its own making.

With an ear for Alternative Rock moods, the stature of Classic Rock licks and momentous sways of Groove Metal's simple bombastic grooves, Puppy electrify through their brilliant guitar work. It requires no exaggeration through dense distortions or cheap thrills. With a sublime vocal presence the album rolls out like a perpetual riff fest that will tug on your emotions and give you a soar neck. The setting is ripe and fond, a keen production that brings the trio together with a crisp crunchy flavor illuminated by harmonious layered vocals that frequently culminate together.

Opening with a Nu Metal syncopated groove to roll back the years, album opener Black Holes gets the record rolling as an example of the dynamism heard throughout. Swaying between crunchy stomping riffs and joyous, emotive chord arrangements the arsenal of riffs lead into a beautiful, earnest singing as it does over and over through the twelve songs. It never tires! This record has been on repeat since its release five days ago and I'm drowning in my adoration for the magic moods it conjures.

As the album progress it feels like the more varied cuts stack up in the second half. A different vocalist on I Feel An Evil, the emergence of a blast beat and a couple of heavier drum patterns keep the records momentum swinging after the timeless sonic grooves of Entombed from Vol II goes by. It holds some of the heaviest riffs and a couple of guitar leads too. It makes for two excellent halves of a whole.

The Goat is never dramatic, self-indulged or too serious. Its continuously fun, uplifting and light hearted yet its music comes from a genuine source of expression. The continual unleashing of riffs will have you writing off lists of bands, riffs and fond similarities, mostly from the 90s decade. As a band they wear their influences loud and proud yet have a dynamite chemistry to express themselves with an originality that can only be known as Puppy. The punch of Metal, the class of Rock, the emotions of Alternative Rock and even a little Grunge ferocity in moments, they have it all.

After a couple of spins a more current, and now obvious parallel, revealed itself. Singer Howard has beautiful vocal range with a tone not far from Papa Emeritus of Ghost at times. Once I made that link tracks like Poor Me sounded uncannily alike in a handful of instances, that and the darkly interpretation of religion in their artwort. There is something similar at work in these bands reinventing the old and its wonderful.

I cannot get over how good this record is. If I had anything to be critical of it would be the formula of the songs. Puppy have such a riveting presence and arsenal of riffs it almost feels as if the music is pegged back from spreading its wings and exploring progressive tangents. The band stick with straight forward structures, three to four minute song lengths and it serves them well but my taste would delight in this group daring and experimenting however its their first record and I shouldn't get ahead of myself, this promising young outfit have well and truly delivered with The Goat.

Favorite Tracks: Entombed, Bathe In Blood, I Feel An Evil, Demons
Rating: 9/10

Monday 11 June 2018

My Day At Sunday Download Festival 2018

 
I had quite the incentive to go for one day this year, with exception to five or six other artists, most the bands I wanted to see were playing Sunday. Of course discovering new acts and watching bands you've never heard of is a lot of fun too! Wish I had gone for the whole weekend now but I must admit I enjoy the comfort of my bed after a long day in the sun.


Dream State
Starting of the day this five piece group warmed up crowds with a mix of gleaming Post-Rock melodics and Pop-Metal heaviness that was easy to follow along with and enjoy.

Greta Van Fleet
With an unapologetic indulgence in nostalgia, GVF graced the stage in their sixties clothing and swooned the crowd. With an infectious mix of Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendricks and Lynyrd Skynyrd vibes they relived the sounds of times gone by in glorious fashion. Very impressive.


Cradle Of Filth
Summer sun and the open stage just doesn't suit English legends Cradle Of Filth. With a mediocre stage presence and thin sounding symphonic section the performance mustered not much beyond the enjoyment of hearing a couple of old classics. Should of stayed at the second stage for longer.

Puppy
This was my third time seeing this rising band. Playing new songs and classics from Vol II, they were sure to win over new fans with an enthusiastic set that really got the day rolling as the moods flowed from their inspired playing, one of the days best.


Dead Cross
Ive caught wind of the acclaim for this "super group" of musicians from already established bands but have yet to get into a record. Getting punished by the hovering sun I watched from afar, enjoying the riff fests and smatterings of unsettling noise between but perhaps would of enjoyed it more had I known their material better.

Bad Cop Bad Cop
These punk rockers brought a lot of energy and liveliness to the stage, burning through songs with positive statements in between, not specially my cup of tea but it was nice to relax in the shade of the tent and enjoy the show.

Kreator
Not the first band that comes to mind when you think of Thrash Metal but these German Metal legends have been rocking that sound for decades and I'm guilty of not further exploring there records beyond a couple in the naughties. They put on a killer show that sounded fantastic. Hard hitting thrash that got the crowd moving!

Milk Teeth
I was dead excited to see this group. Having missed my chance to catch their Christmas show I was very happy to see them on this years line up. With a whole heap of energy they drove through their songs, commanding pits in the crowd and rocking their fantastic Grunge sound hard. I especially enjoyed Brain food from Vile Child as well as their guitarist who through his guitar to the ground in order to climb the scaffolding and scream at the crowd. One of the best.

Body Count
When I saw Ice-T and his cronies a couple years back they thought it would be the last. I remember it so well, that moment where Ice realized this was probably it for them. With one last effort the band revitalized their career thanks to the Grammy nominated Bloodlust. They returned to download with their usual persona and energy in front of a rammed crowd. They had just as much fun as we did with Ice entertaining between the songs.

Black Foxxes
It may not be a good thing to say that I can't remember much of this band, probably because I took the opertunity to sit down in the shade of the tent and recharge the batteries. I don't remember anything negative but I certainly wasn't captivated in anyway.

Thrice
With the sun at the peak of its cooking ability it was a little hard to fully enjoy this band, big scenic soundscapes born from Art Rock and Post-Hardcore vibes they put on a fair show of interesting music with a fair amount of texture coming over the PA.

Meshuggah
One of my all time favorite bands, they always stir me right up! Although I wasn't massively keen on The Violent Sleep Of Reason, the new songs were well performed by the five Swedes who let the music do the talking. They busted through about six songs, ending with the colossal Demiurge. It was a real treat of head banging madness and a touch of moshing that reminded me its not as fun as it used to be to get bashed about. Really loved seeing them, something that doesn't happen often enough!

Myrkur
With a gap in the scheduled for food I realized there was no reason I couldn't eat and listen. Just to my luck this group happened to be a really interesting composition of Black Metal with angelic vocals. The show was superb and now I have a new band I must check out!

Zeal And Ardor
The fruits of the internet age are laid bare here. A lone artist with an experimental musical idea, releasing the self produced Devil Is Fine online and blossoming to life with heaps of attention and praise from the viral nature of information. Now a six piece band, the fusion of Black Metal, Chain Gang songs and other extremes came to life through a vivid show that had the music roaring out of the angry Manuel, slamming his first into his guitar and screaming with ferocity. Undoubtedly the days best show, maybe one of the best this year.

Marilyn Mason
Following the best perhaps came the worst with a tantrum throwing Manson taking an age to get it together between songs. Promoting the new Heaven Upside Down album the song Say 10 sounded great and so did a few others to be fair but his stage presence and attitude just doesn't suit the big stage soaked in sun.

Baroness
The Grammy nominated Baroness return with pretty much the same show as last year. Now headlining the fourth stage their fans were huddled together to give it a stronger atmosphere but with no new songs It felt a little dull in comparison.

Ozzy Osbourne
Rather than go to the front and make the most of my last opertunity to see the Metal god himself on stage, we decided to hang back and watch from a far, which is never the same. It might play on my mind but given that seeing Black Sabbath hasn't left that much of an impression on me, I think the same could be said of Ozzy, he still sings fantastically but the era is long gone. It was great to hear so many classics but also nice to chill out and get away from the crowds early.

Sunday 31 December 2017

My Top 10 Music Discoverys In 2017

Its been a difficult list to write up, had to shorten fifteen or so down to ten and that is after I decided to remove artists that featured in My Top Albums Of 2017 post. Its been a hectic year and I think it may be time to tune out from some of the mediocre Metal bands Ive kept up with and dedicate some more time to discovering new sounds! These are my favorite discoveries this year.

(10) DMX

Not a name that's new to me and of course I heard Party Up and other classics plenty of times before but I decided to get through some of these records that dominated the charts towards the end of the record industries stranglehold on music. I'm glad I did so, not the greatest records ever but X has a charm and every album had a couple of great tracks to return to.

(9) Post-Malone

Although I've not been to impressed by his debut album I think Post-Malone shows a wealth of potential as a musician developing a new sound that's really engrossing with over the top relaxing and chilled out vibes. These songs are still growing on me and with a new album is on the way I find myself really anticipating his next move!

(8) Austra
 

The best of this band comes from their debut Feel It Break, the combination of Kraftwerk-alike melodies in simple electronic arrangements with Stelamnis's hypnotic vibrato voice makes for easy going, uplifting music with a strong current of emotional value attached to it. Great discovery but unfortunately It seems as if they might not reach this peak again.

(7) Oranssi Pazuzu

Inching open the Metal horizon even further Oranssi Pazuzu bring dark, abysmal psychedelia to Post-Black Metal with a freighting stroke of genius resulting in harrowing, grisly soundscapes that are completely unworldly. My cup of tea! I still very much love to turn on their seventeen minute epic song from time to time for another trip into the depths of abandon.

(6) Milk Teeth

This is just the right shade of Grunge for my taste, although in this Internet age they may come off like a nostalgia act, Milk Teeth are very much their own band with a strong emotional energy and ear for aesthetic noise that elevates many of their songs with wild noisy energy emanating from their guitars in the songs peaks. The latest release did seem a little turned off from that direction but I'm hoping they can turn it around!

(5) Puppy

Ive had the pleasure of seeing them twice this year and both shows were fantastic! Puppy are an up and coming band pulling in all strains of influence from Metal, Grunge, Hard Rock and Alternative resulting in warm music with fun songs, grooves and dazzling guitar solos from Jack Norten are the cherry on the cake! They are also working on a new record to look forward to in 2018.

(4) Fief

Plucked from the past, this gem of medieval fantasy nostalgia is the most inviting and easy going project to grace my ears this year! It casts its spell instantaneously and paints a pretty picture of garden courts and tea parties in the realms of kings and dragons. A simply wonderful discovery!

(3) Load & Reload
 

Its time to break the rules! Although this section is usually reserved for new bands, I had to put these records in. In a way it felt like discovering Metallica again for the first time, a treasure trove was unlocked in two excellent albums that I had dismissed in my youth, and now I get to relish in the energy they bring. I simply cannot get these albums out of my head! They are wonderful and reflectively a really great direction for the band to evelve in.

(2) Puff Daddy

Everyone who grew up in the nineties knows of Puff Daddy but I had always been put off by his whispering voices on songs he had produced for other artists. Remembering a vivid memory of picking this album up as a child in a record store I decided to check this out and what a treat! This album is the epitome of the late 90s sound which has really grown on me over the years. I adore this record, a real classic!

(1) Danzig

As much as I'm loving the Danzig sound I have to admit my appreciation is partially analytical, I understand whats fantastic about the music but I feel as if I'm playing catch up. It will take some time to drill these songs into my mind but already I feel as if this would of been perfect music to bond with in your youth. I'm on the third record now and its just a great! I've read the first four are where its at so more Danzig to enjoy in 2018!

Tuesday 21 March 2017

Puppy "Vol II" (2016)


If a dose of 90s Alternative revival is your cup of tea then English rockers Puppy and there "Vol II" EP may just be for you, however to label them as a revival band would be a disservice. Puppy's style, sound, aesthetic and tone is uncannily alike to many acts of that era but theirs is a fresh and faithful artistic expression that nestles neatly between many names while still feeling like its own master. It kicks off with the most out of turn track "Entombed". Its slow and steady textural two note groove has echos of Groove Metal but its soft, welcoming distortion tone and singing style makes it very comparable to one of Metals brightest bands, Ghost.

The rest of the record embarks on a less metallic voyage, taking an emotional narrative that in many moments resonates like The Smashing Pumpkins. These are steady, easy going songs with simplicity in mind, a tight arrangement of riffs that flex between expansive chords and simple rock steady grooves. Acoustics intersect and with a lighter distortion the band effortlessly transition between subtle intensities, making for great craft as the songs flow soothingly. Its the singer who pulls much of the tone together, with a weaker, soft and gentle voice he comes with a meekness that exudes honesty in the emotions conveyed, making the instrumentals feeling complete.

Ending with a number devoid of percussion, a sombre acoustic guitar is intersected by soft harmonizing distortion guitar leads. It occurs to me that the short record, twenty minutes, starts in one place, ending in another. Kicking off with groovy metallic energy and transforming to quite a calm and soothing affair. Its all terrific, not much to flaw other than its short run time. The production is solid and everything feels cohesive on this five track release. This band has a promising future it would seem.

Favorite Songs: Entombed, Warm
Rating: 6/10