IT was a pretty average movie, but local act Escape Fails seem to have taken the message from the title 'The Boat That Rocked' to heart.
The launch of their new video and EP will be taking place on a barge on the River Lagan. To find out more click here.
And BTW - not wishing to spoil it - the EP is pretty savage and tasty. What's more the launch event is BYOB!
Showing posts with label escape fails. Show all posts
Showing posts with label escape fails. Show all posts
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Sad, sad examples of what passes for entertainment
OKAY - I've just about had enough I can take. I don't watch X-Factor, or any of the other so-called reality shows masquerading as entertainment. But on Facebook and Twitter tonight I have seen normally sane and sensible people getting their lattes all frothed up about manufactured rubbish. Even broadacasters I respect like the BBC's William Crawley have been getting involved in posts about spurious, talentless, so-called 'acts'.
Can they just step back for a minute and look at the things they are getting all so engrossed in?
No, I doubt it: such is the allure of the filthy luchre that Cowell and co peddle with a slick production and a stylist there are few of the hypnotised massed ranks of deluded who will lift their eyes beyond the over-produced set [as I mentioned I haven't watched the rubbish, but I've seen the so-called 'news' reports on it and the tabloid hype].
Which, of course, led me to a moment of reflection - or beer fuelled ranting!
"Back when I were a lad" the promotion of popular music lay within the gift of Top Of The Pops, and latterly the likes of The Tube.
You could expect pop songs sitting next to Motorohead and Marillion, Judas Priest juxtaposed with jumping dance troops; or even Iron Maiden matched on TV next to New Romantic frilly shirts.
I mention Judas Priest deliberately. This blog kicked off in 2006 when I met, after way too long, my friend Mark and his wife Sylvia when Judas Priest played at the Odyssey with Scorpions. I was, at the time, busy trying to explain by way of gigs and playing rock and metal CDs endlessly in the car to both my children that they could think independently about music (as long as it had guitars and drums!). Meeting Mark and Sylvia re-kindled days arguing over whether Ozzy or Ronnie was the best Sabbath singer, necking beers against a backdrop of Lizzy and Slyvia's devotion to John Sykes.
The relevance to today is that then there was a reasonably fair spread of musical genres across mainstream media. We could devote our time to rock and metal with TV playing metal acts as equals to the likes of Duran Duran.
The mainstream media has now become a cold house to hard rock and metal. Bands now rely on merch sales and touring to recoup the costs of albums; even the mighty Iron Maiden admitted in an interview with Classic Rock that they would need 1,000,000 sales of Final Frontier to break even (and thankfully Bruce and Harry Harris accountants can rest easy as it looks that total will easily be reached!)
But, here is what the mainstream media misses: there is much more longevity and sheer songwriting talent in hard rock and metal than will evet be noticed by the likes of X-Factor wannabes. Northern Ireland has a small population, yet has had a disproportionate amount of horns worthy acts and individuals happily corrupting the young and old.
The Answer have played to more people than watch X-Factor - several times over. Therapy? have sold more albums than any of the Cowell creations. SLF have retained integrity when they could have easily become a tribute act to past glories. Acts such as Million$Reload are scoring record deals, and that is not to even mention the likes of Trucker Diablo, A Little Bitter, Escape Fails, Last Known Addiction, Black Freeway, Interrogate and the many, many more that lay down the licks night after night.
But what of the future. Will we ever see The Answer on an X-Factor like show? Can you imagine a stylist trying to get to grips with Cormac's flowing locks? They'd need a team to hold him down and another team to see where the hell to start. The future, I fear, is to see more and more of the TV for the gullible and the gormless.
Will, we ever see proper live acts - you know with an actual drum kit, guitar and bass amps and people who know how to play them on the main TV stations again? [I am reliably informed by someone close to the production crew on X-Factor et al that they don't have bands as it takes too long to set up their 'shit' and they refuse to have their music altered/dubbed/mimed.]
So where is all this waffle going?
Apart from being a rant (it's my fecking blog I can rant about what I want!) it is also a call to the acts in Northern Ireland to keep on doing what you do, keep on playing and keep on just being some of the best artists this forsaken planet has ever seen. Keep on being musicians not numpties. Keep on recording music that is exciting and engaging. Keep on playing the Limelight, the Pavillion, the Diamon Rock Club, and anywhere where you can get three or more together to rock their tiny socks off!.
Keep on playing gigs, and cranking it up to 11 and raising a glass to rock and feckin' roll.
To quote Trucker Diablo...DRINK BEER, DESTROY!
This rant is now officially over :)
Can they just step back for a minute and look at the things they are getting all so engrossed in?
No, I doubt it: such is the allure of the filthy luchre that Cowell and co peddle with a slick production and a stylist there are few of the hypnotised massed ranks of deluded who will lift their eyes beyond the over-produced set [as I mentioned I haven't watched the rubbish, but I've seen the so-called 'news' reports on it and the tabloid hype].
Which, of course, led me to a moment of reflection - or beer fuelled ranting!
"Back when I were a lad" the promotion of popular music lay within the gift of Top Of The Pops, and latterly the likes of The Tube.
You could expect pop songs sitting next to Motorohead and Marillion, Judas Priest juxtaposed with jumping dance troops; or even Iron Maiden matched on TV next to New Romantic frilly shirts.
I mention Judas Priest deliberately. This blog kicked off in 2006 when I met, after way too long, my friend Mark and his wife Sylvia when Judas Priest played at the Odyssey with Scorpions. I was, at the time, busy trying to explain by way of gigs and playing rock and metal CDs endlessly in the car to both my children that they could think independently about music (as long as it had guitars and drums!). Meeting Mark and Sylvia re-kindled days arguing over whether Ozzy or Ronnie was the best Sabbath singer, necking beers against a backdrop of Lizzy and Slyvia's devotion to John Sykes.
The relevance to today is that then there was a reasonably fair spread of musical genres across mainstream media. We could devote our time to rock and metal with TV playing metal acts as equals to the likes of Duran Duran.
The mainstream media has now become a cold house to hard rock and metal. Bands now rely on merch sales and touring to recoup the costs of albums; even the mighty Iron Maiden admitted in an interview with Classic Rock that they would need 1,000,000 sales of Final Frontier to break even (and thankfully Bruce and Harry Harris accountants can rest easy as it looks that total will easily be reached!)
But, here is what the mainstream media misses: there is much more longevity and sheer songwriting talent in hard rock and metal than will evet be noticed by the likes of X-Factor wannabes. Northern Ireland has a small population, yet has had a disproportionate amount of horns worthy acts and individuals happily corrupting the young and old.
The Answer have played to more people than watch X-Factor - several times over. Therapy? have sold more albums than any of the Cowell creations. SLF have retained integrity when they could have easily become a tribute act to past glories. Acts such as Million$Reload are scoring record deals, and that is not to even mention the likes of Trucker Diablo, A Little Bitter, Escape Fails, Last Known Addiction, Black Freeway, Interrogate and the many, many more that lay down the licks night after night.
But what of the future. Will we ever see The Answer on an X-Factor like show? Can you imagine a stylist trying to get to grips with Cormac's flowing locks? They'd need a team to hold him down and another team to see where the hell to start. The future, I fear, is to see more and more of the TV for the gullible and the gormless.
Will, we ever see proper live acts - you know with an actual drum kit, guitar and bass amps and people who know how to play them on the main TV stations again? [I am reliably informed by someone close to the production crew on X-Factor et al that they don't have bands as it takes too long to set up their 'shit' and they refuse to have their music altered/dubbed/mimed.]
So where is all this waffle going?
Apart from being a rant (it's my fecking blog I can rant about what I want!) it is also a call to the acts in Northern Ireland to keep on doing what you do, keep on playing and keep on just being some of the best artists this forsaken planet has ever seen. Keep on being musicians not numpties. Keep on recording music that is exciting and engaging. Keep on playing the Limelight, the Pavillion, the Diamon Rock Club, and anywhere where you can get three or more together to rock their tiny socks off!.
Keep on playing gigs, and cranking it up to 11 and raising a glass to rock and feckin' roll.
To quote Trucker Diablo...DRINK BEER, DESTROY!
This rant is now officially over :)
Monday, November 02, 2009
Escape Fails withdraw from Kerrang comp
In the wake of the split with vocalist Ryan Adair Escape Fails have withdrawn from the Kerrang competition in which they were shortlisted finalists. The band's blog comment can be found here: http://blogs.myspace.com/escapefails
Monday, October 26, 2009
Ryan and Escape Fails part company
Escape Fails and singer Ryan Adair have parted company. More details soon about future plans for both parties.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Support Escape Fails in Kerrang!
ESCAPE Fails have been shortlisted as one of only four finalists in the Kerrang! magazine Black XS UK Livesound Competition - a tremendous achievement given that more than 600 bands from across the nation entered the competition.
Escape Fails have long been a favourite here, with their crossover post-hardcore metal groove. Ryan takes up what shortlisting has meant for the band so far.
"We were in London on the 17th and 18th September and had a makeover by a professional stylist for a photo shoot by rock photographer Paul Harries.
"We also visited Gibson Studios where we were able to meet and question Charlie Simpson from Fightstar about his experiences in the music industry."
The Live Final will also be held at Gibson Studios, London on the 16th November where we will be performing in front of an audience of industry experts and Kerrang! ticket winners.
"The grand prize is a record deal with Search & Destroy Records, (home of Fightstar & local boys In Case of Fire,) a feature in Kerrang! Magazine and an Epiphone Guitar."
So, it's up to us to keep the ball rolling by buying (or borrowing) this week's Kerrang!, going to the Kerrang! website, emailing pictures and views and keeping all our fingers crossed for an Escape Fails victory.
Escape Fails have long been a favourite here, with their crossover post-hardcore metal groove. Ryan takes up what shortlisting has meant for the band so far.
"We were in London on the 17th and 18th September and had a makeover by a professional stylist for a photo shoot by rock photographer Paul Harries.
"We also visited Gibson Studios where we were able to meet and question Charlie Simpson from Fightstar about his experiences in the music industry."
The Live Final will also be held at Gibson Studios, London on the 16th November where we will be performing in front of an audience of industry experts and Kerrang! ticket winners.
"The grand prize is a record deal with Search & Destroy Records, (home of Fightstar & local boys In Case of Fire,) a feature in Kerrang! Magazine and an Epiphone Guitar."
So, it's up to us to keep the ball rolling by buying (or borrowing) this week's Kerrang!, going to the Kerrang! website, emailing pictures and views and keeping all our fingers crossed for an Escape Fails victory.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Free gig for teenagers
Wanna go to a free gig? Wanna meet The Answer? Wanna hear local acts like Shotgun, Dead Vito, and Escape Fails?
If you are between 14 and 18 and doing nothing between 4:30 and 7:30pm on Monday 29th June (i.e. today!) and your answer is YES to the above questions, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People is hosting a free gig to launch her campaign on play, leisure and things to do for young people at Belfast's Oh Yeah Music Centre.
Email john@niccy.org as soon as possible today to snag your free spot on the guestlist.
Special thanks to The Answer for their personal appearance!
If you are between 14 and 18 and doing nothing between 4:30 and 7:30pm on Monday 29th June (i.e. today!) and your answer is YES to the above questions, the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People is hosting a free gig to launch her campaign on play, leisure and things to do for young people at Belfast's Oh Yeah Music Centre.
Email john@niccy.org as soon as possible today to snag your free spot on the guestlist.
Special thanks to The Answer for their personal appearance!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Free gig for 14-18 year olds
THE Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People is holding a free gig for 14-18 year olds at the Oh Yeah Music Centre on Monday. Admittance is strictly by invitation only.
Escape Fails are headlining, with Dead Vito and Shotgun also playing. There will also be a personal appearance by The Answer for pix etc.
If you want to snag one of the free tickets you MUST be between 14 and 18 (seriously you have to be!) and email john@niccy.org as soon as possible. Doors at 4:30pm, gig ends at 7:30pm.
Escape Fails are headlining, with Dead Vito and Shotgun also playing. There will also be a personal appearance by The Answer for pix etc.
If you want to snag one of the free tickets you MUST be between 14 and 18 (seriously you have to be!) and email john@niccy.org as soon as possible. Doors at 4:30pm, gig ends at 7:30pm.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
No failure on the 10th
Escape Fails - long local favourites here for their hardcore metal - are headlining an All Ages gig on July 10th at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast.
Support comes in the shape of Valkaine, Circadian and Silver Cord. Doors at 3pm and entry is a measly three quid.
The gig is part of the TransBelfast series of summer events. More details here.
Support comes in the shape of Valkaine, Circadian and Silver Cord. Doors at 3pm and entry is a measly three quid.
The gig is part of the TransBelfast series of summer events. More details here.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Social Distortion fundraiser
The monthly Social Distortion fundraiser is this Tuesday (June 2nd) with Existing Threat bringing a thrash vibe to bear on the Black Box, while Escape Fails will be bringing the post-hardcore party to town.
No tickets, but a fiver donation to the haematology unit at the Royal Belfast Children's Hospital will get you through the door.
No tickets, but a fiver donation to the haematology unit at the Royal Belfast Children's Hospital will get you through the door.
Monday, January 12, 2009
All hail Norn Iron
Per head of population Northern Ireland must be one of the most creative places on this forsaken ball of a planet in terms of hard rock and heavy metal.
And finally someone has noticed. Not only has HMV rated our very own The Answer as a top ten tip for 2009, but now the mainstream magzines have picked up on our tiny wee blast of creativity. Classic Rock's cover CD not only includes The Answer's Highwater or Hell from forthcoming Everyday Demons album, but also includes a track from Million$Reload (whose progress we've been following on this site for some time...). Inside the mag rates Million$Reload as potentially following The Answer's progress.
It seems that every once and a while journos notice our wee country.
Heaven (and Hell) help us if they ever really pay attention to what Norn Iron has been and is continuing to produce.
Asides from the aforementioned The Answer and Million$Reload let's recap...Gary Moore, SLF, The Undertones, Therapy?, Ash, Sweet Savage as just some names going for a wee while and among the latest crop...Gama Bomb, Soundstone, Residual Effect, A Little Bitter, Sinocence, Waylander, Sorrowfall, Escape Fails, Ricky Warwick, Payola, Fireland, Darkest Era, hell there really are too many to mention (and no doubt you'll let me know which ones I haven't mentioned)
The hard rock, punk and metal output from Northern Ireland has been too long denegrated, sometimes from within. Time to recognise and hail all that stand loud and proud for the cause and keep on keeping the faith when faced with apathy from within and from outside these shores!
(Although goodness only knows what the fuck will happen if half the bands get signed...Jager sales spiral in the six counties, PSNI called in to deal with outbreak of rampant egos, NI Human Rights Commission launches report on metal clubs discriminating against emos....)
And finally someone has noticed. Not only has HMV rated our very own The Answer as a top ten tip for 2009, but now the mainstream magzines have picked up on our tiny wee blast of creativity. Classic Rock's cover CD not only includes The Answer's Highwater or Hell from forthcoming Everyday Demons album, but also includes a track from Million$Reload (whose progress we've been following on this site for some time...). Inside the mag rates Million$Reload as potentially following The Answer's progress.
It seems that every once and a while journos notice our wee country.
Heaven (and Hell) help us if they ever really pay attention to what Norn Iron has been and is continuing to produce.
Asides from the aforementioned The Answer and Million$Reload let's recap...Gary Moore, SLF, The Undertones, Therapy?, Ash, Sweet Savage as just some names going for a wee while and among the latest crop...Gama Bomb, Soundstone, Residual Effect, A Little Bitter, Sinocence, Waylander, Sorrowfall, Escape Fails, Ricky Warwick, Payola, Fireland, Darkest Era, hell there really are too many to mention (and no doubt you'll let me know which ones I haven't mentioned)
The hard rock, punk and metal output from Northern Ireland has been too long denegrated, sometimes from within. Time to recognise and hail all that stand loud and proud for the cause and keep on keeping the faith when faced with apathy from within and from outside these shores!
(Although goodness only knows what the fuck will happen if half the bands get signed...Jager sales spiral in the six counties, PSNI called in to deal with outbreak of rampant egos, NI Human Rights Commission launches report on metal clubs discriminating against emos....)
Monday, November 17, 2008
December 13th All-Ages line-up
Pre-Christmas All-Ages gig at Black Box on December 13th...here's the lineup (Not in any particular order)
- Escape Fails
- Hand of Death
- Ozzmium
- Circadian
- This Years Confession
- Dead til Friday
- Niyah Sky
Doors are at noon and tickets, available at the door are priced at a very reasonable £5
Monday, November 10, 2008
Escaping to a December party?
Fed up with the office geeks and schoolyard arseholes planning Christmas parties with stupid dance music and X-Factor rejects as a soundtrack to turkey stuffed nightmares? As well as the healthy crop of gigs for us 'older' folks (Mastodon, Trivium, Municipal Waste, Biffy Clyro, Black Stone Cherry) littler ones will have the chance for some hard rockin' oblivion in December.
Those dame fine chaps Escape Fails will be bringing their "post-hardcore wrecking ball" to the Black Box on December 13th for an all-ages show.
Support from Circadian and at least one other act.
More details to follow...Christmas crackers, tinsel and mistletoe optional...
Those dame fine chaps Escape Fails will be bringing their "post-hardcore wrecking ball" to the Black Box on December 13th for an all-ages show.
Support from Circadian and at least one other act.
More details to follow...Christmas crackers, tinsel and mistletoe optional...
Monday, September 22, 2008
Metal and hardcore night at The Bunker
Escape Fails, Hand of Death, Gacy's Threads, Red Enemy, Shiro...Sunday, 5th October, Laverys Bunker, £5...nuff said :)
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Escape Fails and A Little Bitter make soundtrack débuts
Two of our favourite bands here at Belfastmetalheads have made their début on a video soundtrack.
The video, produced by members of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People's Youth Panel was filmed to mark International Youth Day (12th August)
The young people wanted a track to open the video that conveyed, musically, the rage that adults feel young people must be acting out. And they wanted a track with an uplifting musical feel to conclude.
Escape Fails 'A Growing Distance' opens the video, with its post-hardcore screamo rage, while A Little Bitter's 'Angel' concludes the video.
Both tracks are also included as incidental music. You can view the video here.
Speaking to members of the Commissioner's Youth Panel today they asked me to express sincere thanks to all the members of Escape Fails and A Little Bitter for donating the tracks and wished them every success! Feelings we endorse here at Belfastmetalheadsreunited!
The video, produced by members of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People's Youth Panel was filmed to mark International Youth Day (12th August)
The young people wanted a track to open the video that conveyed, musically, the rage that adults feel young people must be acting out. And they wanted a track with an uplifting musical feel to conclude.
Escape Fails 'A Growing Distance' opens the video, with its post-hardcore screamo rage, while A Little Bitter's 'Angel' concludes the video.
Both tracks are also included as incidental music. You can view the video here.
Speaking to members of the Commissioner's Youth Panel today they asked me to express sincere thanks to all the members of Escape Fails and A Little Bitter for donating the tracks and wished them every success! Feelings we endorse here at Belfastmetalheadsreunited!
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Escape Fails snag Shikari support slot
Let's be clear first...we here at Belfastmetalheadsreunited believe firmly that Enter Shikari are shite. They are an abomination which shows why chavs and spides should never be let near a guitar, much less ever given a record contract. But we have to concede there are some, well err people I suppose, who listen to them...
That's why we say big up to Escape Fails for snagging the support slot for the Enter Shitekari tour in October. Escape Fails will play with the Enter their own arses Shitekari on October 15th at the Ambassador, Dublin, October 16th at the Savoy Theatre Cork and on the 17th at Belfast's very own Mandela Hall.
One thing is for certain. Our homegrown Escape Fails will blow Exit the Stagekari right off the stage. Ryan and Co will deliver a "post-hardcore wrecking ball" to these pathetic twats. Might even head along myself to see the wee Shitekari fans ears blown right off! On second thoughts Sunday's EF gig with Triggerman and Soundstone is a better bet for now!
That's why we say big up to Escape Fails for snagging the support slot for the Enter Shitekari tour in October. Escape Fails will play with the Enter their own arses Shitekari on October 15th at the Ambassador, Dublin, October 16th at the Savoy Theatre Cork and on the 17th at Belfast's very own Mandela Hall.
One thing is for certain. Our homegrown Escape Fails will blow Exit the Stagekari right off the stage. Ryan and Co will deliver a "post-hardcore wrecking ball" to these pathetic twats. Might even head along myself to see the wee Shitekari fans ears blown right off! On second thoughts Sunday's EF gig with Triggerman and Soundstone is a better bet for now!
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Rock for Mozambique....
Doing nothing next Saturday? Fancy helping raise some money for needy people...and listening to some damn fine hard rock and heavy metal? Well get yer proverbial asses down to Ormeau Avenue!
A charity fundraiser for Habit for Humanity's Mozambique project is being held with a line-up that promises to rock like the proverbial bastard!
Headlining will be Triggerman with their trademark preacher metal. Supporting will be Escape Fails, still on a high after their début CD launch. Also in the line up will be Soundstone (and if you have any love of classic hard rock you really have got to hear them!) and Dwell in Sun.
As if this wasn't enough Baggy's Death By Video will be opening the proceedings and linking.
And if this really wasn't enough... The Distortion Project's RockD will be laying on a terrifying line-up earlier in the day...RSJ, Residual Effect, Stand-Up Guy and Two Tales of Woe will be laying waste to Katy Daly's
A charity fundraiser for Habit for Humanity's Mozambique project is being held with a line-up that promises to rock like the proverbial bastard!
Headlining will be Triggerman with their trademark preacher metal. Supporting will be Escape Fails, still on a high after their début CD launch. Also in the line up will be Soundstone (and if you have any love of classic hard rock you really have got to hear them!) and Dwell in Sun.
As if this wasn't enough Baggy's Death By Video will be opening the proceedings and linking.
And if this really wasn't enough... The Distortion Project's RockD will be laying on a terrifying line-up earlier in the day...RSJ, Residual Effect, Stand-Up Guy and Two Tales of Woe will be laying waste to Katy Daly's
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Too f***in' hot
It really is too fucking hot...both the gig listings and the temperature! Was in London today and yesterday (missed Ollie Dawson as a result but got smashed at the Crobar...!) and temperature was in the 30+ category. Enough of my misery and some gigs coming up...
On 8th August Waylander are introducing a wee CD to Belfast...it's been getting reviews in Kerrang! Metal Hammer and Terrorizer and the reception has been positive so far (well if it wasn't we'd head to their offices for a wee explanation about Norn Iron battle metal!) and Honour Amongst Chaos on Listenable Records is well....well worth a listen!
And the next day...RSJ and Residual Effect (with Stand-Up Guy and Two Tales of Woe) will be rocking RockD at Katy Daly's. And if you can still stand/function/walk Triggerman, Escape Fails, Soundstone and Dwell in Sun will be performing in the Spring & Airbrake....phew!
With Overoth, Last Judgement and Solace of Nadir on the 16th at Katy Daly's and too much to even mention... ahh hell you know I will mention it all again soon.
In the meantine I shall be crawling into a nearby freezer...before emerging refreshed, reasonably sober and ready for bottle or draft!
On 8th August Waylander are introducing a wee CD to Belfast...it's been getting reviews in Kerrang! Metal Hammer and Terrorizer and the reception has been positive so far (well if it wasn't we'd head to their offices for a wee explanation about Norn Iron battle metal!) and Honour Amongst Chaos on Listenable Records is well....well worth a listen!
And the next day...RSJ and Residual Effect (with Stand-Up Guy and Two Tales of Woe) will be rocking RockD at Katy Daly's. And if you can still stand/function/walk Triggerman, Escape Fails, Soundstone and Dwell in Sun will be performing in the Spring & Airbrake....phew!
With Overoth, Last Judgement and Solace of Nadir on the 16th at Katy Daly's and too much to even mention... ahh hell you know I will mention it all again soon.
In the meantine I shall be crawling into a nearby freezer...before emerging refreshed, reasonably sober and ready for bottle or draft!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
'Love, Blood, Family, You' amidst the shops
Somehow Belfast's flagship shopping centre didn't know what hit it on Friday, 18th July. Amidst the designer brands, fashionistas and chic shops a cacophony of hard edged rocking rattled the rafters of the architecture as Escape Fails ripped into an hour-long set to launch their début Cd.
All bar one track off Love, Blood, Family, You was aired for a crowd of family, friends, fans..and some stragglers who wandered unexpectedly to a congenially noisy set.
Banter about the price of the CD (in case anyone forgot...£6!) proved unnecessary as they fairly shifted off the shelves...helped no doubt by a confident airing.
Management asked, at one point, politely if EF could turn it down...well they did. A wee bit.
From album opener through to Wall the EF team may as well have been playing a stadium as they displayed a well-honed confidence in the limited space.
Played in CD running order (even if Ryan had to be reminded of the what song came where at least once!) the set may have been constrained by time and venue but EF maintained intensity.
Brighten the Blackest Sky, In the Arms of the Storm, Obsession and Wall particularly stood out when aired.
But overall, what was apparent was the album's running order made sense when played as a coherent entity.
Although CD closer Flarestar was left out - as explained by Ryan it's a personal, special song for the band - Love, Blood, Family, You's launch emphasised the heights EF can rise to, and judging from these beginnings they are starting to scale what could be heady heights.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Power and Angst on 'Love, Blood, Family, You'
AT this moment in time there is a burgeoning Northern Ireland rock and metal scene, with more and more bands maturing to a point where they are on the cusp of excellence.
Latest to enter the fray of CD releases is Escape Fails. On July 18th (Friday) they release their début ‘Love, Blood, Family, You’.
Escape Fails have already proven their fervour on the live front, but translating that intensity from a sweat-soaked stage to a platter you can listen to in the comfort of your own living room or to pin yer ears back in the car is always a challenge.
Thankfully EF have managed to largely meet that challenge with a consummate display of songwriting and performance.
At times EF steer a risky path between the metalcore of 36 Crazyfists and post- hardcore á la Fightstar. Throw in a healthy appreciation of power-pop sensibilities and it is a heady mix to try and distil on to a 10-track CD.
Opener ‘Bring Me Down’ is where EF show that they can match riffage with the subtlety. It kicks off with a guitar assault but segues into melody with poise.
‘First to Fall’s hook heavy guitar lines scream single, before ‘In the Arms of a Storm’ swaggers like Killswitch Engage and ‘Crazyfists’ in a drunken brawl about a failed romance outside a Belfast pub.
And here lies in the strength of the album. EF’s influences are clear and present for all to see. They neither hide them nor flaunt them. Rather they incorporate, assimilate those influences and produce a unique blend.
Sometimes that gets a little lost in the cacophony, such as in the all out assault of ‘Dancing in the Fallout’, which doffs a cap at too many other post-hardcore acts in an otherwise excellent work-out. It’s one of the few times the production and arrangement let the proverbial side down, but most newcomers to EF will neither know nor care!
What EF do well here is meld sounds, subtleties that have too often been lost on stage emerge stronger. From the well-arranged ‘Wall’ (familiar already to visitors to their Myspace site) through the poignant ‘Death of Jane Doe’ there is a better appreciation that by matching the arrangement with the lyrical story and the disparate musical parts you can produce a stronger song.
Nowhere is this more evident that on album-closer ‘Flarestar’. Here EF have managed to sum up the tale they tell.
Yes, there are some who will accuse them of singing of the angst of relationships and the hazards of the heart. There is no sense here of bleating, no sense of singing about problems amidst a background of cheery melodies and business-manufactured hairstyles.
As on ‘Brighten the Blackest Sky’s furious chorus scream, ‘Fallstar’ deploys the right tool at the right time. Power can be delivered in clean guitar picking as much as in distorted wailing axes and screamed lyrics.
The entire Escape Fails crew seem to have discovered the ability on ‘Love, Blood, Family and You’ to make sure that power can express angst and that sometimes the angst can best be exorcised with healthy dose of guitar.
Overall a damn fine first foray in the ‘proper’ recorded medium, but as this is after all primarily a metal site, one quick recommendation…more guitar solos please!
Remember – Escape Fails launch the CD at ZAVVI, Victoria Square, Belfast on July 18th at 6pm, with a live performance of tracks that will shake the rafters of the dome and shock more than a few of the permed and preened House of Fraser clientele. Should be a corker!
Latest to enter the fray of CD releases is Escape Fails. On July 18th (Friday) they release their début ‘Love, Blood, Family, You’.
Escape Fails have already proven their fervour on the live front, but translating that intensity from a sweat-soaked stage to a platter you can listen to in the comfort of your own living room or to pin yer ears back in the car is always a challenge.
Thankfully EF have managed to largely meet that challenge with a consummate display of songwriting and performance.
At times EF steer a risky path between the metalcore of 36 Crazyfists and post- hardcore á la Fightstar. Throw in a healthy appreciation of power-pop sensibilities and it is a heady mix to try and distil on to a 10-track CD.
Opener ‘Bring Me Down’ is where EF show that they can match riffage with the subtlety. It kicks off with a guitar assault but segues into melody with poise.
‘First to Fall’s hook heavy guitar lines scream single, before ‘In the Arms of a Storm’ swaggers like Killswitch Engage and ‘Crazyfists’ in a drunken brawl about a failed romance outside a Belfast pub.
And here lies in the strength of the album. EF’s influences are clear and present for all to see. They neither hide them nor flaunt them. Rather they incorporate, assimilate those influences and produce a unique blend.
Sometimes that gets a little lost in the cacophony, such as in the all out assault of ‘Dancing in the Fallout’, which doffs a cap at too many other post-hardcore acts in an otherwise excellent work-out. It’s one of the few times the production and arrangement let the proverbial side down, but most newcomers to EF will neither know nor care!
What EF do well here is meld sounds, subtleties that have too often been lost on stage emerge stronger. From the well-arranged ‘Wall’ (familiar already to visitors to their Myspace site) through the poignant ‘Death of Jane Doe’ there is a better appreciation that by matching the arrangement with the lyrical story and the disparate musical parts you can produce a stronger song.
Nowhere is this more evident that on album-closer ‘Flarestar’. Here EF have managed to sum up the tale they tell.
Yes, there are some who will accuse them of singing of the angst of relationships and the hazards of the heart. There is no sense here of bleating, no sense of singing about problems amidst a background of cheery melodies and business-manufactured hairstyles.
As on ‘Brighten the Blackest Sky’s furious chorus scream, ‘Fallstar’ deploys the right tool at the right time. Power can be delivered in clean guitar picking as much as in distorted wailing axes and screamed lyrics.
The entire Escape Fails crew seem to have discovered the ability on ‘Love, Blood, Family and You’ to make sure that power can express angst and that sometimes the angst can best be exorcised with healthy dose of guitar.
Overall a damn fine first foray in the ‘proper’ recorded medium, but as this is after all primarily a metal site, one quick recommendation…more guitar solos please!
Remember – Escape Fails launch the CD at ZAVVI, Victoria Square, Belfast on July 18th at 6pm, with a live performance of tracks that will shake the rafters of the dome and shock more than a few of the permed and preened House of Fraser clientele. Should be a corker!
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Two nights of RAWK 'N' Roll
Fasten yer seatbelts for two nights of rawk 'n' roll mayhem!
Tomorrow (Tuesday) Arnocorps touch down in the Black Box to lay down their Schwarzenegger inspired vibes (piss-take or genius...you decide). Support comes from highly rated thrashers Gama Bomb (their new album with Earache well worth a listen!), relaible noiseniks Hand of Death and Escape Fails. EF are about to launch their debut album...and from early listens it's set to be bring the EF guys to a new level.
Once you've recovered your breath from that...head off to the Spring and Airbrake on Wednesday night for the rock and blues geeeeetaaarrrr of Joe Bonamassa. Ok, it ain't exactly metal, but if you wannna learn the licks you gotta see where the tricks come from. Bonamassa has an unerring ear for combining the best of blues with the attitude of hard rock. While there are shredders by the dozen Bonamassa has a feel for mixing technique with style and a lyricism. With Kevin Shirley at the helm of his latest release Sloe Gin he has produced a landmark of rock and blues fusion. Check out his versions of John Martin's Jelly Roll and Paul Rogers' Seagull for evidence!
Tomorrow (Tuesday) Arnocorps touch down in the Black Box to lay down their Schwarzenegger inspired vibes (piss-take or genius...you decide). Support comes from highly rated thrashers Gama Bomb (their new album with Earache well worth a listen!), relaible noiseniks Hand of Death and Escape Fails. EF are about to launch their debut album...and from early listens it's set to be bring the EF guys to a new level.
Once you've recovered your breath from that...head off to the Spring and Airbrake on Wednesday night for the rock and blues geeeeetaaarrrr of Joe Bonamassa. Ok, it ain't exactly metal, but if you wannna learn the licks you gotta see where the tricks come from. Bonamassa has an unerring ear for combining the best of blues with the attitude of hard rock. While there are shredders by the dozen Bonamassa has a feel for mixing technique with style and a lyricism. With Kevin Shirley at the helm of his latest release Sloe Gin he has produced a landmark of rock and blues fusion. Check out his versions of John Martin's Jelly Roll and Paul Rogers' Seagull for evidence!
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