Two Skies - Lucky/4am (AA single)

A great release from Sheffield band Two Skies, fusing together the best elements of rock, psychedelic and a smattering of groovy riffs. The vocals on both tracks are strong and emotional, reaching deep into the listener’s soul. The highly energetic Lucky swaps between soft, melodic verses into a heavy blast of guitars during the chorus, opening your eyes.

            4am is a lot more of a relaxed song; steady drumming with beautiful guitar and bass work. The singer’s powerful voice in the chorus gives you a feeling right down to the pit of your stomach, and you can involve yourself with the song immensely.

            Two Skies have produced two diverse songs here that compliment each other perfectly. Their sound could bring an audience to their feet with ease. Any rock fan should get this single while it’s hot!

http://www.twoskies.co.uk/

** Send in tracks/EPs/Albums to eanddpromotions@gmail.com **

www.facebook.com/edpromotions

Organikarmonic (Self-titled EP)

If there’s one thing a music listener can’t do, it’s fault uniqueness. When an artist has pushed the boundaries, and stepped over every preconception about any style of music, they have created something truly special. It’s great to stumble on bands like Organikarmonic, who have created an EP unlike any other I’ve heard before.

            The music is minimal, only a few instruments that include mainly violin, piano and didgeridoo. These three work together just as well as any full piece orchestra, the piano providing the backbone, the violin with it’s beautiful scratchy melodies, and the droning (and quite often beat providing on this EP) bass mixed in wonderfully. The vocals are incredibly clean throughout; them kind of vocals you can just float upon. The range of techniques used is also impressive (beat-boxing, scat singing and glottal stops all present.

            It’s hard to pick out a stand alone track on this EP. Each one has its own personality, from the heavy and melodic Train, to the Latin inspired Salamamba. Every song takes you through a journey, and you find yourself closing your eyes to enjoy the serenity created through the songs. Spiderweb is a wonderful song, slowly layering itself into a passionate and melodic slow dance. They have managed to create an amazing atmosphere with only a few instruments which I think is a credit to their talent.

            From my previous experiences of folk influenced music, the difference between recorded and live performance is a big shift. I can only imagine that Organikarmonic would be fantastic to see live. To hear this mixture of diverse and brilliantly played instruments, along with beautiful vocals is simply breathtaking. It’s great to be reminded that underground music can still create unique sounds that stand out from everything else; thanks Organikarmonic for reminding us.

www.facebook.com/Organikarmonic

** Send in tracks/EP/Albums to eanddpromotions@gmail.com **

www.facebook.com/edpromotions

Anchored By Avarice - Fight For Survival (EP)

Metal has been on one hell of a journey. From the early days of Blue Cheer, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, through to Judas Priest, Scorpions and then of course the big 4 (Metallica, Anthrax, Slayer, Megadeth). Recently we have had some of the most brutal and beautiful songs ever created by metal bands, fusing together bone shattering riffs and breakdowns, followed up with powerful and melodic parts. Adept, Heaven Shall Burn and Parkway Drive are three bands that spring to mind when thinking of these fantastic music elements, which have the drawing power to a vast number of metal listeners.

            Anchored By Avarice effectively pull off this sound. The four songs on Fight For Survival are beastly, pulling out that demon we all know inside. But then it will kick into a riff which is so powerful and strong, you can’t help but tingle all over with excitement. The bass and drums are perfect together in these songs, and the double bass pedal pounds away in perfect timing with the guitars. The breakdowns are used intelligently, not just used chucked in at any moment which is what they are designed to be used for. The vocals are passionate, and the singer can use his full range to create fantastic emotion in the songs.

            Before Your Heart Practices Arrest is a strong track on this EP. It is an unrelenting four minutes which you can’t help but move to. The riffs are powerful and in your face, with the vocals diverse and leading the way. Then it changes into an epic mixture of melody and machine gun double bass pedal. The song never shifts from this gear then, with great guitar harmonies, and brilliant vocals. Remnant is also a great song, where I can imagine the crowd get fully involved in its frenzy. It still contains them beautiful melodic parts, and the bass guitar is prevalent throughout.

            Modern metal, although very different from its originators, still holds that same feeling of power, anger and epicness. Anchored By Avarice have carried on this modern sound with precision. Their breakdowns are intelligent and powerful, their drumming is epic and the vocals could tear down a building. This band will get a lot of attention with these songs; if you are a fan of any modern metal band than I recommend you check them out.

http://www.facebook.com/Anchoredbyavaricewakefield

** Send in tracks/EP/albums to eanddpromotions@gmail.com **

www.facebook.com/edpromotions

Reason 32 - Warrior (EP)

Recently, the music community paused for thought as the anniversary of Kurt Cobain’s death reached the 18 year mark. The early 90’s was a hot bed for all sorts of guitar music; Nirvana and Pearl Jam taking Grunge to the top of the plateau, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Faith No More producing memorable tracks as well as the start of the Britpop scene. Nowadays, guitar music is still very much alive with a plethora of styles being in circulation. You don’t have to look far to find a great guitar band.

            I was sent a request by Reason 32’s singer to have a listen to their EP Warrior, and it had been a while since the last time I listened to this sort of music (a lot of hardcore and doom has been playing on the Ipod recently!). The EP is refreshingly catchy and almost familiar which adds to the enjoyment. The singers tone and style suits the loud (but not overpowering) guitar perfectly, and each song has its own personality about it. The title track ‘Warrior’ with its long, powerful chorus, while the 2^nd song on the album Remember (I said I didn’t write a song about you? I lied) tells an almost heartbreaking story, with a nice pop element to it.

            Anyone who enjoyed the early noughties collection of alternative bands, including blink-182 will enjoy this band. The opening track Who You Fell Asleep With has a fast paced, punky edge to it. The drums drive the song with energy, and the bass and guitar parts give it a nice grungey feeling too.

            Reason 32 are producing songs that are enjoyable and unique, and for a young band they have quickly forged a style which is appealing through a wide range of genres. Their EP is very strong and one that has repeat value; not just something you put on every once in a while, but one that deserves regular play. Like I said before in this review about guitar music, and because Frankenstein seems perfect to quote right now, it…is…ALIVE!!

www.facebook.com/reason32music

** Send in tracks/EP/albums to eanddpromotions@gmail.com **

http://www.facebook.com.edpromotions/

Speak Easy - Between Life And Lights (EP)

Balancing good and evil, light and darkness, ying and yang has been a part of human culture for centuries. Being able to have a perfect balance of polar opposites is an interesting concept and has been a part of music for a very long time. Recent examples of this might be the aggressive guitars and clean, soaring vocals found in many songs by Deftones, or the ‘split-personality’ vocals used by Alexisonfire. Balancing aggressive and clean tones in music is a very effective way of producing some incredible songs.

            Speak Easy have recently finished a three track EP which involves a fantastic balance between the two tones. From the off, ‘Black Day’ kicks out loud, in your face guitar and drums. It hits your entire body and draws you into the assumption, ‘ah, I know what to expect in these next few songs.’ On the contrary… The vocals soar high over the music to create an amazing melodic element to the song. This blend of heavy guitars and bass, powerful drums and melodic singing is such a drawing point to this EP. They have got it spot on.

            The other two songs: ‘Cheating Ideal’ is spontaneous as you like, hardcore rhythms; passing onto slow melodies followed up with a killer breakdown keeps you guessing. ‘We Will Never Be’ a solid song, carrying on the same ideals from before. The vocal range is tested a lot more in this song but the singer carries it off perfectly.

            This is a solid EP from Speak Easy. They have created powerful sounds, hardcore riffs and all with incredible vocal hooks. This is music straight from the soul; that turns heads around makes you listen. They have successfully balanced aggressiveness and melodic music into one, amazing EP. Good effort Speak Easy.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Speak-Easy/245907708802621

**Send in tracks/EP/album to eanddpromotions@gmail.com **

www.facebook.com/edpromotions

Indecisive Crisis - Face Invaders (EP)

A journalist once wrote about The Clash that ‘they are one of those garage bands, who should be returned swiftly to the garage.’ In response, The Clash wrote Garageland, as well as several albums of some of the best music ever recorded. The raw sound, songs that sound jammed rather than written, it all makes up for some of the most powerful sounds to enjoy.

            Listening to Indecisive Crisis is just a pleasurable experience. The funky bass lines, experimental overdriven guitar; it all adds up to a great sound which you can just absorb through every part of your body. Their EP Face Invaders contains four tracks of rocking goodness, tight drums and the vocals touching in above everything else is wonderful. This sound could be at home in a pub, a spanking state of the art venue, or even just a field somewhere!

            Personally I enjoy ‘Keep Your Mind At Ease’. Funky from the outset, the bass plays an important role in this song, with a wonderful line through the verses. The guitar and drums playing off beat rhythms gives it that great edge, and kicking into the heavier chorus the song really grasps you. The vocals are consistently great through the whole EP; there’s great soul in her voice, but it isn’t in your face which suits the music perfectly. The punchy ‘Slim Pickings’ is a fantastic listen too, with a timing change that gets you up out of your seat to party.

            Overall, Indecisive Crisis has created a great sound; raw, passionate, funky and available to a wide range of listeners. Garage rock is alive and well, and just as we have seen before, bands ‘from the garage’ can really make an impact on the music scene. IC are treading the same path as some of their influences in regards to the songs they’re writing, and if there is anything this writer hopes, it’s that other bands will open the shutter and step out into the world.

www.facebook.com/weareindecisivecrisis
www.soundcloud.com/indecisivecrisis

**Send in tracks/EP/Album to eanddpromotions@gmail.com **

www.facebook.com/edpromotions

Elliott's Incentive - (Self Titled EP)

Paramore have destroyed a generation’s view of female vocalists in alternative punk bands. When people declare, ‘They sound like Paramore’ or ‘OMG! She’s just like Hayley Williams’ it’s always coupled with a shudder through my entire body. Not that Paramore are to blame, but rather people latching onto a certain sound, and making that sound the origin of anything that then hints at any of the attributes of that sound. It’s so wrong to do this! I only write this as I know Elliott’s Incentive have suffered the same classification.

            Elliott’s Incentive are incredibly unique, and deserve a hell of a lot more credit than what other alternative bands have endured in the last few years. Their sound brings in diverse influences from Blink 182 to Fightstar, with amazing vocals from Courtney and Danny. The guitar work on these songs is finely crafted and extremely well written, with fantastic work behind the kit.

            ‘I swear I didn’t do it’ starts off the EP with fantastic melodic guitar work, which then kicks into a pumping and energetic chorus, showing off the great vocal counterparts, as well as fantastic guitar riffs. This is easily one of those songs you can sing along to and really party to. ‘Point of You’ is a lot more driven and aggressive, with the great line ‘Karma’s a bitch and so are you’. Through each of these songs, the layers of guitar and bass is so refreshing to listen to, you can pick something new out of each listen. Finally we have ‘You get the gun, I’ll get the blame, we’ll call it even’ which nicely rounds both of the previous songs off well with an incredibly catchy chorus, as well as driving drums and still more incredible vocal counterparts.

            Elliott’s Incentive could, should and might well be the band that breaks the ludicrous thought that any modern alternative punk band should be compared with its predecessors; female singers in bands shouldn’t be compared to Paramore, just the same as masked bands aren’t the next Slipknot and metal bands with black singers aren’t all Howard Jones (Killswitch Engage). How can any band make it into the music scene credibly through a comparison? I wish every luck to Elliott’s Incentive because quite frankly, they are something special.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Elliotts-Incentive/150621948282929

** Send your tracks/EP's/albums to eanddpromotions@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/edpromotions

Hold The Reins - Here To Stay/ Tempest

So for E&D Promotions it has been a busy few months, unfortunately away from the promoting side of things. However we’re now getting our act back together and doing what we love, promoting quality local and underground bands. So for the first review since autumn, we have had these two songs for a while which keep popping up on the Ipod.

            Hold The Reins are an unrelenting hard rock and metal band from Leeds, recently getting to the finals of a local music competition. E&D have managed to see the band live a few times and are impressed by both the quality of songs being written, as well as the live performance on stage.

            ‘Here To Stay’ encapsulates the scene this young band are a part of. The energy during the song is incredible, with huge riffs and drums to back it. Head-banging and mosh pits are a must for this song.

            ‘Tempest’ carries on this ferocious attack on the listener, not stopping for a moment to give you a rest which is what this style is all about. The lyrics ‘You can not kill what you can’t see’ leading into the breakdown is a standout moment on this track.

            Hold The Reins are one of those local bands who put in consistent, solid performances on stage and have the songs to match. With epic riffs such as the one found in ‘Here To Stay’, the band have already paved their way to a successful sound and growing number of fans.

www.facebook.com/holdthereinsofficial

**Send in Tracks/EP's/Albums to eanddpromotions@gmail.com**

www.facebook.com/edpromotions