Dark Globes to release debut album

SHOEGAZE outfit Dark Globes will release their debut album Everyone I Know Is Falling Apart in the first quarter of 2017.

To celebrate the release, the Southend-on-sea band has shared the video for their track Never Let Me Down.

Dark Globes first came together in a Victorian boozer in the Essex seaside town, evolving around main songwriters Tom Burgess and Leighton Jennings. They played their first show as a three-piece at a local folk festival with no prior rehearsals.

Soon they took on third guitarist Richard Onslow, bassist Andrew Moore (known for his output as The Tumbledryer Babies) and drummer Chris Richardson, who also makes lo-fi pop as Happy Hooves.

One rehearsal later, the band began playing shows and recorded their debut album.

Guitarist Richard told RealSoundsOK: "Everyone I Know Is Falling Apart is the culmination of all our disparate influences - indie heroes Teenage Fanclub, the reverb-drenched melancholy of Yo La Tengo and Galaxie 500 and the precise jangle of Felt – but with a distinctive voice all its own, a sound that takes inspiration from all over, but could only come from the Essex coast."

The album, which is out on March 17th 2017, is the first to be released on the recently resurrected Half Machine Records – known for the debut singles by Real Estate, Woods, Banjo or Freakout and the critically-acclaimed reissue of Roberto Cacciapaglia’s space pop classic The Ann Steel Album.

You can watch the video for Never Let Me Down below and for more on the band visit darkglobes.com

Tuff Slang put out debut track Nothing All The Time

Lenny Gilmore Photography

NEWCOMERS Tuff Slang have put out their first single Nothing All The Time.

The Chicago trio - Aaron Vincel, Cody Messick and Justin Frederick - have set out their mission as trying to create a "hook-driven rock band that walks the line between southern twang, rhythm and soul".

They told RealSoundsOK: "Nothing All The Time is the first track we wrote during our earliest rehearsals. It made us realise the sound that we were chasing together and paved the way for each song written after.

"We've all come from different bands and knew that his effort had to combine something that we each hold close in terms of influence. We drafted up song after song until we hit the mark on what it was that captured each of our personalities in the music."

The trio say their music is meant to get your hips shaking and you whistling along. You can decide for yourselves if they've hit the mark below.

For more info head to facebook.com/tuffslang

Jessie Lee Cates releases Wayward Rose

COUNTRY star Jessie Lee Cates has released her single Wayward Rose.

And she has spoken to RealSoundsOK about her delight with the track, which is very close to her heart.

She said: "I'm really excited about this song because it tells the story of me growing up with my daddy in the woods of East Tennessee and learning a few life lessons along the way.

"The 'heartwork' on the cover for the single was also done by my dad, who was an amazing artist. I've treasured that little sketch ever since he gave it to me as a young girl."

Wayward Rose is already gaining rave reviews around the globe and you can listen for yourselves below.

You can find out more about the artist at jessieleecates.com or check out the Q&A she did with RealSoundsOK last October by clicking here.

Debut track from Jake Thomas Turnbull

SINGER-songwriter Jake Thomas Turnbull has released his debut single One More Day.

He launched the track at his first gig in London since moving to the capital from the North East.

It has already gained traction with Record Of The Day, as well as BBC Introducing Teesside and other radio stations across England and Germany.

You can listen to One More Day below and for more information on Jake visit www.jakethomasturnbull.com

The Foreign Films' LP grows to six sides

PSYCHEDELIC pop artist The Foreign Films has released Side 4 of his triple LP for free.

Bill Majoros, the man behind the music, says The Record Collector is a homage to the sense of wonder gained from listening to music growing up.

He told RealSoundsOK: "Growing up, my record player was a window into a universe of music.

"I fell in love with its magical, mysterious sounds; its ability to illuminate the imagination with songs from the past, present and even foreshadow the future.

"The Record Collector is the platform I've been using to share my experiments in songwriting. I've been releasing one "side" at a time from this multi-vinyl Collection, like scenes from a film that will eventually come together to complete the cinematic/sonic adventure."

Never one to do things by halves, the Hamilton, Ontario, artist has decided to expand the project with two more sides, now making this a triple vinyl offering of six sides.

Side 4 explores songwriting influenced by the golden era 70s' soul and art rock, while incorporating all of Bill's influences such as 60s' British, French and West Coast Pop.

You can listen to Side 4 at theforeignfilms.com where it is available at Name Your Price. You can also read more about Bill and his love for vinyl at The Vinyl District.

Jane's Addiction lead 36 additions to Download Festival

Jane's Addiction

ALMOST 40 more acts have been added to the bill for this summer's Download Festival - and they've renamed the main stage The Lemmy Stage.

Jane's Addiction, NOFX and Sixx:A.M are the top names among the new additions along with Alien Ant Farm and Amon Amarth.

Download Festival takes place at Donington Park across June 10th to 12th with tickets with Rammstein, Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden headlining.

Motorhead were also due to play until the death of frontman Lemmy Kilmister. As well as renaming the main stage, the festival's organisers are working with the band's management on a tribute and a Motorhead logo remains on the poster for a Friday slot.

Back to the new additions to the line-up, they will include Anti-Flag, Bury Tomorrow, Escape The Fate, Periphery, Electric Wizard, Monster Truck and Graveyard.

Municipal Waste, One OK Rock, Heck, Hill Valley High, Turbowolf, Grand Magus, Whiskey Myers, Cane Hill, Zoax, Danko Jones, Shvpes, The King Is Blind, Kadavar and As Lions are also on board.

Also joining them will be Slaves, Wage War, Palisades, Ashestoangels, The Kenneths, Muncie Girls, Reigning Days, Black Peaks, Strange Bones and Good Tiger.

Tickets for the event are on sale now at a special early bird rate until February 12th. Find out more at downloadfestival.co.uk

Handguns turn Disenchantment into a positive

PUNK poppers Handguns will release their album Disenchanted on November 13th via Pure Noise Records.

The LP is the Baltimore band's third, following their debut Angst in 2012 and Life Lessons two years later.

Vocalist Taylor Eby told RealSoundsOK: "Disenchanted is a collection of songs about the way I've felt over the past year.

"It deals with the concept of how certain things you once loved can become the one thing you hate, are disappointed in, etc, and how feeling that way can make you become a pessimistic, jaded person.

"Everyone stepped their game up on this record from bass parts to drums and everything in between and we are extremely proud to share it with you."

Guitarist Brandon Pagano concurs. He added: "This record voices our frustration with the world around us. Disenchanted may sound like a negative word, but it should be seen as a catalyst for realising what's really important to you.

"Disenchantment is the first step to cutting the bullshit from your life. We found ourselves at a crossroads of sorts and we decided to face our demons head-on with this record.

"Thank you to every single fan that's stuck by our side. We hope you enjoy it."

Check out the promo below and for more head to facebook.com/handgunsband

Sunshine And The Blue Moon bring us video for Lucy

SUNSHINE And The Blue Moon have released a video for their track Lucy.

Shot by a pal on super8 film in winter, the band from Toronto, Canada, say they had no intention of using the footage for a music video.

But they told RealSoundsOK: "It just looked so great we thought we might as well use it for something. 

"I think it's safe to say we're a pretty nostalgic bunch. We get our music on vinyl or tape, we take our photors and shoot home videos on film, we drive around in a big old boat of a car, anything that brings us a little farther away from the pervasive technologies that dog all of our daily lives."

SATBM have signed with The Hand Recordings and will be releasing their debut album soon.

In the meantime you can watch the video for Lucy below and find out more at facebook.com/sunshineandthebluemoon

Clones of Clones release Modest Mouse cover

GRUNGE rockers Clones of Clones have put out a cover of Modest Mouse's Float On.

Ben from the Washington DC band told RealSoundsOK that the track has an "MGMT vibe". He added: "The raw, scattered look of the video nicely captures the energy of the song."

You can decide for yourselves below and to find out more head to clonesofclones.com

Jonny Debt releases Waiting "Love"

ROCK n rollers Jonny Debt have released the song Waiting "Love" and its video.

The track is the follow-up to last year's Purple Heart and will be on the band's forthcoming LP in September.

Jonny told RealSoundsOK: "I'm very proud of this recording. We added bangitar claps and organ in after everything was done to add to the jangley hop-along vibes that we were going for - but basically another live off the floor creation.

"We used to build huge bonfires with giant compressed cardboard pallets we stole from the local IGA grocery store and then we would have tailgate binge-drinking dance parties. We would get bored quickly enough and stroll over to the beach. That's where we shot the video.

"We've had some fun making these little videos, gaining some cult appeal. When you are genuine, authentic and immerse yourself in the moment, you can't help but let go of your ego. All you are left with is honesty and creativity, which I hope you find here."

You can watch the video for Waiting "Love" below and to find out more on the band from Hamilton, Ontario, visit facebook.com/thejonnydebtband

Have a laugh with Dan Latner

LIKE your folk/bluegrass music with a twist of humour? Then check out the new LP from Dan Latner.

No Fun Intended is the latest offering from the travel-happy Canadian and includes the tracks Northern Canada and Bored.

He told RealSoundsOK: "The album really snowballed accidentally into existence. In 2012 I received a writing grant for a comedy album and headed out to woodshed in Prince George, British Columbia, where a long-term girlfriend was living.

"We broke up two days into the visit (that's funny, right?) and then I moved to Sri Lanka where I wrote most of the songs. I've been bouncing around Asia and Africa ever since."

You can watch the video for Bored below and to find out more head to danlatner.ca

Video for Never Quit from Pet Sun

STONER garage band Pet Sun have released a video for their track Never Quit.

The band from Hamilton, Ontario, are also planning to release their debut LP via The Hand Recordings this summer.

They told RealSoundsOK: "Never Quit was the first video we had a plot for, which actually made things pretty easy for us in the studio.

"Our bud Billy Moon was great to work with and bought us ridiculous amounts of pizza for dinner and many cold beers.

"Our costumes were running low so we had to do our best with a black balding wig, a cloak and some old face paint. An electric wizard was born and took over our lives.

"We had an idea about throwing a TV out the window, but the pizza took up too much of the budget. Next one."

You can watch the video below and for more head to facebook.com/petsunrocknroll

Bedroom demos album release from Porridge Radio

MISERY Radio is a collection of solo bedroom demos released by Porridge Radio.

Dana Margolin - the musician behind the sounds - said her music has been described as "lo-fi emotional vomit".

She told RealSoundsOK: "The album is a collection of some of my favourite of the songs I've written in my bedroom over the past couple of years. It has two previously unreleased tracks, ('p2' and 'our love is shrinking down'), the rest have been available on SoundCloud for a while in no particular order."

The album - released by Eyeless Records - comes with a limited edition CD and zine made by Dana and is available on Bandcamp. 

Visit Porridge Radio on Facebook for more.

Delta Will give us a taste of debut LP

ALT-pop outfit Delta Will have released Manic Pulse - the first single from their upcoming debut album.

Charles from the Toronto band told RealSoundsOK: "It's a song I wrote about a young man's dizzying journey through the triumphant highs and loathsome lows of a manic episode.

"Sonically, the track alternates between dark swelling verses and explosive, sparkling choruses of psych-pop bliss"

You can get the single at Bandcamp - or listen below - and find out more at facebook.com/deltawillmusic

Download 2015 - Day Two review

WAKING up with a massive rumbling sound in you head is never nice and it takes me longer than it should to work out it's an aeroplane coming into land rather than my hangover.

The other noise I hear is rain. It started the night before and - as I will come to learn - it will not stop all day. At least I'm prepared now with a jacket and wellies rather than the hoodie and Converse that got ruined during last night's torrential downpours.

Faith No More - picture by Scott Salt/Download 2015

But enough of my moaning, today I am enticed into the arena by the harmonious vocals of festival favourites The Lounge Kittens whose pitch-perfect set includes covers of Marilyn Manson's The Beautiful People, Metallica's Sad But True, Slipknot's Duality and a Download megamix.

And now I'm ready to start the day. And first up on the agenda is Funeral For A Friend - a band I think should be bigger than they are. They've produced so many good songs over the years - and play them here. 

Maybe they're victims of "the next young things" knocking them down the ladder, I don't know. But upstarts Chunk! No Captain Chunk! steal some audience from them to the nearby Maverick stage - me, admittedly, for a bit - while Mallory Knox then come on the Main stage and get a much bigger reaction.

That's not to say Mallory Knox or the boys in Chunk don't deserve their plaudits. Each give energetic performances, as do Hands Like Houses, who could be the next pretenders to the radio-friendly alt-rock crown.

Next up came one of the disasters of the weekend. Hollywood Undead. 

Whereas Slipknot's masks can't hide the fact they're a top-class metal band, Hollywood Undead's masks can't hide the fact they're totally crap.

It's like the bastard mongrel offspring of bad Beastie Boys and Papa Roach tribute acts with lyrics by Sean Paul. It was just awful. They may have been saved if there was even the remotest hint that they knew this was all a bit silly and tongues were in cheeks, but I got the impression they think they're the best and coolest band in the world. They ain't.

And it rubs salt into my earlier wound of a band like Funeral For A Friend two spots below them on the Main stage bill.

But every cloud has a silver lining and that was making my way from the car crash of Hollywood Undead up the hill to Jake's stage where I found Crobot. Proper musicians, playing proper rock music.

A Day To Remember - picture by Justine Trickett/Download 2015

Their track Skull Of Geronimo was the highlight with Brandon Yeagley nailing the vocals.

A bit chirpier, I went back down the hill to some real heaviness with Upon A Burning Body in the Maverick tent and Parkway Drive on the Main.

Like yesterday's slight let down when Rob Halford failed to join Five Finger Death Punch for Lift Me Up, I was disappointed that Ice T didn't show for UABB's set-closing Turn Down For What despite his Bodycount playing later in the day.

His recorded vocals were played out though and the track still lifted the tent off the ground.

Rise Against were next for me on the Main stage and then Motionless In White on the Zippo Encore before A Day To Remember made it, well, you know. 

Their powerful and energetic performance began with the duda duda dudahs of The Downfall Of Us All and also included a cover of Oasis's Champagne Supernova. There were a few groans from the metal hardcore when they first began to play it, but they were soon singing along to all the words "...in the skaaaaayyy".

I saw a little bit of Bodycount, but not enough to report on. Then came the biggest let down of the weekend. Faith No More.

Angel Dust is one of my favourite albums and they have made so many other good songs over the years. Yet there was something missing from the performance. Decked out all in white and surrounded by flowers, they didn't look like us. Maybe that was it. Or the smuggish sneer on Mike Patton's face. I don't know. But the performance seemed too routine and the interaction with the crowd forced. 

Marilyn Manson
- picture by Danny North/Download 2015

By now, of course, we're at the business end of the day and I decide to split my "headline" time between two stages.

I start off with Marilyn Manson on the Encore stage and he had what Faith No More lacked. Magnetism. You just have to watch him. He's an enigma. And he's got a hell of a voice too.

He started with new track Deep Six, then hit us with an old favourites Disposable Teens and mOBSCENE. His covers of Sweet Dreams and Personal Jesus were also included and he finished with the superb Beautiful People.

Muse, meanwhile, were showing just why they are one of the world's biggest rock bands. Yes they are a lot more commercial than a lot of the other bands on the bill, but they write amazing songs and perform them in a spectacular show - even if we only got the scaled back version.

Their set included a number of songs from their new album Drones, but plenty of the classics such as Hysteria, Supermassive Black Hole, Time Is Running Out and Stockholm Syndrome before closing their encore with Plug In Baby and Knights Of Cydonia.

So more than 15 bands seen in one day - a day it rained constantly - and my must-see of the weekend early on the bill tomorrow. Time for bed.

Download 2015 - Day One review

Slipknot - picture by Gobinder Jhitta/Download 2015

WHATEVER the metal purists say about Slipknot, they cannot deny they put on one hell of a show. 

They were the first headliner of Download Festival and probably my highlight of the weekend, but let's start at the beginning.

Sadly, my arrival at Donington was delayed and so I missed the first few bands I had hoped to see. But I picked things up (including a beer) with Lacuna Coil on the Main stage, the haunting gothic tones of Andrea Ferro and Cristina Scabbia easing me into the weekend.

Then came my first of many spells of stage-hopping as I took in Defeater and Beartooth on the Maverick stage, some Clutch on the Main and Allusondrugs on Jake's stage.

The latter were a bit of a disappointment, too much posturing at the front and not enough substance. Defeater and particularly Beartooth made more of an impression, while Clutch know exactly what they're doing and know how to work it.

And so we come to my first highlight of the weekend - Five Finger Death Punch. 

Ivan Moody leads Five Finger Death Punch
- picture by Scott Salt/Download 2015

I saw frontman Ivan Moody in the press area before hand and he was in a very jovial mood, which he carried on to the stage - kicking off with Under And Over It.

You know exactly what you get with FFDP and that's some hard rock with great vocals and Moody certainly knows how to whip up the crowd. His antics included pulling three young kids up on to the stage just before launching into the not-so-subtle Burn MF. And while the parent in me cringed every time he bellowed "motherfucker" into the mic, at least two of the kids were full-pelt moshing along.

Although they did perform Lift Me Up in their set, they were not joined on stage by Rob Halford, who provides guest vocals on the album version and whose Judas Priest were next on stage. It was one of several such collaborations that failed to be revived over the weekend. But more of that later.

I did catch some of Priest on the Main stage - mainly to say that I had seen them - but they are not really my thing and so I enjoyed a little reunion of my own.

I saw rap-metallers The One Hundred play in a near-empty tent at Sonisphere last summer and I was impressed. It seems in the interim many others have been too as the lads from Surrey packed out the larger Jake's stage tent and brought a performance to match.

The One Hundred - picture by Richard Johnson/Download 2015

It was only six songs, but they were intense and I'm still blown away by the sounds frontman Jacob Field emits from such a diminutive frame. Can't wait to see these guys mature even more in the next few years.

After The One Hundred, I did catch parts of Fightstar and Black Stone Cherry, but my eye was trained in on the main prize of the day - Slipknot. And they were epic.

There's the fire, the spinning percussionists going up and down, the imagery and, of course, the masks. But beyond that are bundles and bundles of great metal songs.

The Heretic Anthem, Psychosocial, The Devil In I, Vermilion, Wait And Bleed, new single Killpop, Before I Forget, Duality and Spit It Out were among the comprehensive setlist as well as an encore including (sic), People=Shit and Surfacing.

It's an incredible performance, whole-hearted, and Corey Taylor - like Moody earlier - knows that the connection with the fans is key to that. It's a show that (despite the huge amount of booze consumed) I won't forget in a hurry.

Hey Vanity frontman Marc Halls goes solo

HEY Vanity frontman Marc Halls will release his solo EP Bittersweet Memories on July 13th.

He is teasing it by streaming the single Playground Swings, which you can listen to below.

Marc told RealSoundsOK: "Late last year I went through a bit of a strange phase. For the first time in years I had no real musical plans; no tours, no release, I was uninspired to do anything musical. 

"I started focusing pretty much all my attention on negativity, sitting around all day watching upsetting documentaries and getting bitter at the state of the world. It put things in perspective and made me realise that I've spent way too much time stressing over my 'musical career' as if it were anything but something I just love to do." 

While maintaining nods to his rock roots, the artist from Witham, Essex, heads towards a folkier, bluesier sound with his solo work.

He added: "After a well-needed kick up the arse from a close friend, I started writing again and these songs were suddenly pouring out of me. Everything I wrote seemed to be about the bands I've been in, friendships and relationships I've formed and lost, and most of all, how much I regret taking it all too seriously. 

"Bittersweet Memories was the result. It's the most honest, D.I.Y recording I've ever released, I recorded and mixed everything in my 'Man Cave' (garden shed) using only whatever I had in there. I even restrung my first ever guitar for the first time in ten years (£30 acoustic from Argos) and recorded two of the tracks with that, turns out it sounds awesome! 

"This EP is a very simple, stripped back piece of work. My next release is going to be bigger and louder, but this is just what I wanted it to be."

Marc appeared at the Field Day festival in London over the weekend and has more dates lined up including in Brighton, Eastbourne and York.

For more visit www.facebook.com/marchalls

For Esmé release video just for You

ELECTRO trio For Esmé have released their new single You.

It is a glimpse into the Toronto outfit's album to be released later this year.

Martha Meredith from the band told RealSoundsOK: "Poised between nouveaux and nostalgia, reality and the sublime, our new work is about being present in the moment, and ultimately, immeasurably open to joy.

"The video amplifies the feeling of losing yourself to the beat, and letting go of your inhibitions. A dreamlike adventure through an old school at night, the excitement, secrecy and spontaneity."

Martha takes vox, drum machine and synth duties in For Esmé with Dave Thiel (bass, electronic soundscapes) and Nathan Crook (guitar, vox) making up the trio.

You can watch the video for You below and for more on the band head to facebook.com/foresmeforever

Debut single from An Elegy with EP on the way

UK metalcore band An Elegy will release their debut EP Embrace The Rain on July 27th with their new single Ghost out today.

And the five-piece from across Coventry and Birmingham hope it will help pull them from their day jobs and on to something better.

Guitarist Suraj Mann told RealSoundsOK: "We just want to tour. The idea of being able to wake up in a different city every day, playing the music we love and bringing as many of our mates along with us is what gets us through each day.

"Making coffee for Starbucks, building seats for Jaguar, working for a small business, in maintenance or spending each day at school are not the lives we want to be living right now.

"We want to be able to make this dream a reality. We have been sat on this band for the last year, perfecting every little aspect of what we have prepared."

That time was the year spent in a Birmingham rehearsal room writing and recording their debut release.

The band - completed by Sam Appleyard  (vox), Adam Walker (bass), Kieran Shaw (guitar) and Stephan Gardner-Bushell (drums) - draw inspiration from the likes of Slipknot and Linkin Park as well as the less grime and acoustic artists.

Their debut single Ghost is out today, so head over to facebook.com/anelegy or twitter.com/anelegyuk to check it out.

EDIT: You can watch it below now.

New track from WindfallFound

ATMOSPHERIC rock n roll outfit WindfallFound have released the video for their track Soaring - Pulling For The Heavens Pt 1.

The band from St Catharines, Ontario, say the song is a "story about ambition and new frontiers". They add: "It's a continuation of our desire to unite imagination and ingenuity; to see dreams as the beginnings of realities."

You can watch the video below or download it at Bandcamp.

For more on WindfallFound, visit facebook.com/windfallfound