If there is one thing Canvas are capable of, it's breaking your heart. The Bedfordshire based melodic five piece are still unsigned, but this is clearly no obstacle for them. Having already found themselves travelling all over Europe with names such as Acres, Dead Harts, Polar and In Archives they have settled very well into the scene, and already have a pretty impressive amount of support and followers behind them. Canvas released the single 'The End' in 2015, and things have been pretty quiet since then in terms of new music- but of course they have still been very busy playing shows across the UK. New music from Canvas is well on it's way- as we know from the teasers that cover their social media- and honestly, it cannot come soon enough.  Lifesick is an incredibly hard hitting and emotive track, we hear vocalist Ricky Clarke state "Believe me I've tried, but I'm giving up on living". They have really put their hearts on the line with this release, and a lot of fans have found a great amount of solace in their lyrics. Lifesick is a gorgeous contrast of harsh vocals mixed with alleviating guitar melodies that fit perfectly together; especially when carried out as well as this. The tempo of the track remains pretty steady throughout, although the instrumentals become slightly more intense towards the end building up to a pretty powerful outro- which definitely leaves you wanting more when it does come to a close. This may only be the start of what could be something huge for Canvas, but they are definitely heading in the right direction. The band have clearly found a sound that they are comfortable with and it works extremely well for them, hearing new music is going to be a treat to say the least. Here's to hoping that what ever Canvas do release next will get the support and recognition that it deserves!

Rating: 8/10
For Fans Of: Landscapes, Counterparts, Capsize
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Hardcore giants Hundredth have been teasing new music for quite some time now, with singles Dead Weight and Victim being released later on last year we knew it wasn't going to be long before the band gave us the new album that we've been waiting so patiently for. Hundredth demonstrate a drastic transformation with Neurotic, vocalist Chadwick Johnson seems to have traded in his screams for tranquil cleans and the band have taken on a more ambient front. When you compare Hundredths huge 2011 release Let Go to their latest full length album Free you can tell that their sound was starting to evolve and the introduction of more clean vocals was already in place- but a lot of fans didn't expect to hear such an enormous contrast so soon. 

Neurotic draws you in right away with an intriguing grungy guitar rhythm which remains pretty steady the whole way through the track. There is no real build up into the chorus, but we do get a slight breakdown towards the end of the track which of course is still nothing like the traditional Hundredth style breakdowns that we are used to- but it's a very nice touch. There is no denying that whether it be his cleans or his screams Chadwicks vocals are incredible, and it's great to see them getting a chance to shine. As well as showing us the versatility of the band, the new sound is bound to draw in new fans so all in all this is a very positive step forward for Hundredth and the future of the band. It's a brave move for any band to release music that is so different to their previous work but the guys have executed this track perfectly, and when the new album drops it deserves to be welcomed with open arms.

Hundredth will release their new album Rare on June 16th via Hopeless Records, and pre-orders are availible here at their online merch store. I'm really excited to see where this album cycle takes the band, Hundredth are definitely more than capable of pulling this release off and there is no doubt in my mind that Rare could end up being one of the biggest albums of 2017.

Rating: 10/10
For Fans Of: Stick To Your Guns, Counterparts, Endless Heights
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It's been a very long time coming with four years since their last release, but Paramore finally dropped the new single 'Hard Times' and the internet has gone into complete meltdown. I have to admit, the first time I listened to the track it didn't click with me straight away but even so I found myself playing it on repeat so I guess you can say I'm hooked now.

Going back to 2007 when the band released 'Riot' there is a very clear contrast in their sound, they have gone from being a traditional sort of alt rock/pop punk band to a more chilled out power pop group. This change is inevitable when you consider that the formation of Paramore has changed a great deal through the years and lost core elements with the departure of Josh Farro and Jeremy Davis. I definitely don't think these changes are a bad thing, Paramore are a band that will always be able to pull off whatever they decide to create and they have one of the most loyal and supportive fan bases to back them the whole way.

'Hard Times' has quite a nostalgic feel for me, hearing Hayley's voice takes me straight back to the 'Riot' and 'Brand New Eyes' era Paramore which you can't deny was when they were at their most influential stage. The song has a pretty distinctive 80's vibe to it, and this is also portrayed in the video with the use of bright colours in the form of neon lights, bright face paint and various abstract visuals throughout the video. The introduction to 'Hard Times' is super catchy with some light guitar riffs before the drums kick in, and the use of synths when going into the chorus definitely adds to the 80's touch. The song stays quite relaxed throughout, it's very light hearted and definitely gives us a good idea of what the rest of the album may consist of. Paramore seem to have found a sound that they are comfortable with and a lot of fans already seem to have taken very kindly to this track.

Paramore will release their new album 'After Laughter' on May 12th, pre-orders are available now and a European album release tour has also been announced. All in all, I really like this track I can't wait to finally hear more new music from Paramore and see what else they have in store for us!

Rating: 7.5/10
For Fans Of: All Time Low, The Maine,
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Having only formed in early 2016, Healer are already hosting a number of headline shows and finding their feet filling support slots all over the UK for hardcore giants like Hundredth and Napoleon. The Bristol five piece seemed to have been welcomed into the scene with open arms. I was lucky enough to have seen Healer when they were supporting Hellions in Plymouth earlier this year, and having only listened to them briefly before the show I wasn't sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised to say the least. Their performance was filled with pure energy and emotion and I can't wait to see them progress as a band.

Healer released their debut EP 'Heal Me, I'm Hopeful' on May 10th 2016, which is an extremely intense and hard hitting first release. The six-track EP features the song Hollow which was actually the first Healer song I ever heard. I really like this track because of how fast-paced it is, yet it still has quieter bridges which is a really nice contrast, executed perfectly. Towards the end of the track there is a part that is recorded in spoken word, and this reminds me of bands such as Casey and Being As An Ocean who seem to be reigning over the hardcore scene at the moment. That being said, I think my favourite track off the EP would have to be Voices, I find myself going back to it time after time. Healer have found a sound that although relates closely to other bands that are in pretty high demand at the moment, still holds enough individuality for the band to stand out.

Like I said previously, I'm very glad that I got the change to see Healer while they are still quite new on the scene, supporting smaller bands is very important to me and our music scene would be dead without people like me and you picking up tickets. This is definitely just the beginning for Healer, and seeing how far they have come in such a short space of time shows just how much hard work and dedication has been put into the band. If you get the opportunity to see the band and pick up an EP from the merch desk then I highly recommend you take the chance, you won't be disappointed in the slightest.

Rating: 8/10
Favourite Tracks: Voices, Hollow
For Fans Of: Casey, Capsize, Burning Down Alaska
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I've decided to start a monthly blog post where I'll name and briefly talk about a few new and upcoming bands that I've got my eye on, and that I think deserve some more recognition! If there are any bands that you think deserve to be on my next list, or you want your own band to be featured then head over to my contact page and shoot me a message!

Photo creds to Shaun Gregson Photography

As It Stands - The first band I want to shine some light upon are actually some good pals of mine, As It Stands. I may be baised but I'm super proud of what they have achieved within such a short amount of time. They formed in 2014 and since then have recorded and released two demo EPs and two studio EPs, aswell as filling up the supports slots for dozens of local shows around Devon and Cornwall  (including the Plymouth date of the WSTR tour) with the odd cheeky headliner here and there. They are for sure one of the most hard working and determined bands I have had the pleasure of knowing. You can find a link to their Facebook page here, go check them out!

Secret Keeper - Secret Keeper are a band that I've listened to for quite a while and I have a lot of love for them. Established in 2013, Secret Keeper released their debut self-titled EP and took part in tours across America before the release of their second EP 'Losing Sleep' in 2015, and third EP 'Ghost' in 2016. They then continued to tour filling up local support slots and headlining their own shows. Secret Keeper remind me a lot of an upbeat Being As An Ocean, their songs are filled with passion and emotion and I can't wait to see what 2017 holds for them! Check out their facebook page here.

Clipwings - Every band has to start somewhere, Clipwings have only released a handful of tracks but I was so impressed by the single 'Sink' that I wanted to give them some much deserved attention and hopefully help them to get their name heard. I hear clear relations musically and lyrically in there music to bands like Casey and Burning Down Alaska. They have a sound that many people are already comfortable with so I don't think they will have any problem at all with fitting into the scene, and if this is one of their first tracks they have ever produced then I am super excited to see how they progress as a band. Go visit their Facebook page here.

I think Northlane may have exploded the internet   when they dropped Mesmer seemingly out of nowhere, I had heard rumours circulating for a few days before the drop but I can't say I was really expecting it. Releasing an album in this way, does have risks; it could mean that the album won't do so well in the charts and that it won't be covered as much by the media but Northlane said that this is their way of giving back to fans, by making the album available instantly and that no amount of awards or #1 spots in the chart could compare to the feeling they get by connecting with their fan base. Northlane released the singles 'Intuition' and 'Citizen' in the months before the album release, which both give us an impressive taster of what Mesmer is all about. I am a big fan of both of these singles, and although quite a few people on social media seem to have a different opinion on the 'new sound' that Northlane have taken on since the departure of vocalist Adrian, I think the band are going in a direction that not only really suits them but attracts a lot of new fans too.

The overall sound of the album doesn't differ much to their previous release Node, which definitely isn't a bad thing. Northlane seem to have adopted quite an electronic vibe, but we still get substantial breakdowns mixed with stunning cleans and astounding instrumentals. Marcus certainly knows how to use that voice to its best potential. A song that stands out most for me is Paragon, this song was written as a tribute to Tom Searle from Architects who passed away six months ago after losing his battle with cancer. Most of the lyrics in the song are actually Architects references which is a pretty surreal thing to hear when you're a big Architects fan like myself. Northlane state that Architects have always been one of their biggest influences, and this song really emphasises their relationship. Another song that I find myself going back to time and time again is Fade. I really like the structure of the song, it starts off with a grungy sounding bouncy melody which draws you in, and it has a really atmospheric vibe throughout. This song is slightly more relaxed than other songs on the album, and Marcus's cleans really stand out for me during this track.

I am really impressed by this album, and I think it is another strong release from Northlane that deserves just as much publicity as it would have gotten had it been released traditionally. Northlane seem to have found their feet and found a style that they are extremely confident with. When compared to older albums like Singularity there is a drastic change in their sound but I think any changes have been positive steps in helping the band to reach the prime position they are in today. I definately reccomend picking up this album and supporting the boys in Northlane, give this album the recognition it deserves!

Rating: 9/10
Favourite Tracks: Paragon, Fade, Solar
For Fans Of: Architects, In Hearts Wake

When I found out that Casey would be releasing a video for Little Bird I was so excited, it's one of my favourite songs from Love Is Not Enough and I couldn't wait to see how they would envision it. This will be the fifth video that the band have released, and Casey videos are usually quite simple yet extremely emotional so I was excited to see how this song was portrayed, with it already being a very touching song for me. I was fascinated by the video from the get go, although at first it did take me a while to get into it and to try and make some headway on understanding the thoughts behind it.

The video starts off in a pretty dark and dishevelled room that looks like it could be a pub basement or something of that sort, littered with beer bottles and a beaten up looking arcade machine. The lighting in the opening scene is stunning, and puts across quite a doomy yet mysterious atmosphere. A theme that seems to crop up quite often during a number of Casey songs is hell, and I get the feeling that the red glow of the room could definitely symbolise this in some way. We then switch to a scene of a rather bare, dispirited looking Tom sat in the bath- at first it seems like he is trying to drown himself but he manages to pull himself back up from under the water. It's almost like the bath is the only place he may feel like he's not down in 'hell'. A few minutes later we see him entering a room complete with peeling and murky wallpaper that looks just like the waiting room of a doctors surgery which inhabits a few dejected looking people (including Casey's own drummer Max), or should I say patients. On the receptionists desk there is a cross-stitching with the words "yours is the only love I've ever known" written in a contrastingly happy pink coloured thread, which of course is an old link back to the Casey song 'Teeth'. The camera then flicks to clock hands going round with an accelerated speed, which signifies that the patients are simply just waiting for time to pass.

Turning back to Tom, we see him walking back out of the waiting room past a sign saying "Happiness this way" which returns to the previous room with the bath in it; further enhancing my thoughts that the bath is his only escape route from reality. The lyrics of this scene being "we would never make it out of the hell that we created" provides another link and even more justification for my thoughts. Nearing the end of the video the setting switches between the basement and the bath, signifying that Tom and the other patients are stuck in this routine day in, day out just searching for a temporary escape. As the song hits its most potent last verse we see tempers exploding in the basement, as an uneasy atmosphere is created between the patients as their repressed frustrations being let out, representing them reaching their highest points of desperation. The lyrics "I hope someday you will ache the way I ache" further represent this sense of melancholy despair.

This is just my own personal interpretation of the video, and I am by no means saying that this is what the video is meant to be about. I'm sure that other people may have a completely different understanding behind it. I did really enjoy trying to figure out this video for myself and I think Casey have done a tremendous job with it, not to mention whoever is responsible for all of the camera work and lighting effects. Another spot on video from Casey!

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