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We hope you enjoyed more great underground and unsigned music. It pressed lots of nice buttons in our brains, like a kid hitting lots of red buttons. The end result was plenty of amazing sounds from artists and producers from across the UK, and even one band from Chicago. AudioWhore’s album is just out and a bit good! Meanwhile we’re expecting great new material from Atlantica soon. We hope their tracks got you excited! Hear it again on Friday at 6.30 or listen now for great independent music. Do you like what you hear? Any requests? Email bannedreviews@live.co.uk.
IRIS are reaching the end of their February tour. The tour has seen them play venues across the country, supporting their E.P Out of Fiction as well as new material. Out of Fiction is happily very real and will do all kinds of nice things to your inner jelly. Signed to Engineer Records anyone that’s seen IRIS live will have seen the strength of their songs, professionalism and performance.
IRIS’s sound is a fusion of passion, energy and emotive riffs. This exemplified across the six track E.P. The title trackOut of Fiction starts the E.P with energy and urgency. A fast pace and infectious chorus sweep you along as Out of Fiction charges down your ears. IRIS’s sound reflects the wide range of influences and continually keeps you on your toes as the band switch the delivery and urgency of the song naturally and seamlessly. The band continue with the fluid transitions of style and delivery across the E.P.
Adding a bright sound Your Surprize is an energetic and fast paced track. Vocal harmonies, crisp drumming and intelligent guitars show IRIS’s technical skill as much as their creativity. The guitars maintain a bright but heavy edge as vocals and drums provide more hooks than a giants curtain rail. A drum breakdown steals your ears as the song builds back up to a high energy finish. This heavy and dominant sound is also reflected in Long Walk to Sleep. The band’s latest video, Long Walk to Sleep hits you instantly with heavy and driving riffs. More strong drumming adds to this to help carry the chorus and another chorus you’ll begin to sing instantly. As the track goes into a dark vocal break down you anticipation builds, before Long Walk to Sleep explodes back into life. The Out of Fiction E.P is a tale of relationships, something everyone can relate to they are driven down to the center of your brain harder than a shot of tequila to the eye by passionate and direct vocals.
IRIS do have a softer side however. The Shade begins with another emotive riff as strings sound above it. As the guitars soften, Adam Smart’s vocals have a more delicate feel to them. These add to the fragile sound of The Shade and show IRIS’s versatility. As your ears get comfy however The Shade packs a big guitar lead heartfelt chorus, snapping them alert like a dog that’s heard the word walk. This mostly delicate sound is echoed in the E.P closer Thicker Than Water. An acoustic track, clear guitars complement tender vocals. Despite being an acoustic track Thicker Than Water picks up intensity as it continues. Despite working acoustically when played live on electric guitar it will still sound all kinds of good.
On an E.P of strong songsLie To Meshines a little brighter. Aggressive from the start; riffs, drums and vocals conspire to create a louder and pounding monster of a track. Lie To Me flies out your speakers as one more vocal breakdown breaks the track into a new urgency. Even with thirty seconds to go the track reaches a new level of energy and determination as everything turns up and vocals become screams.
IRIS have a dynamic and versatile sound which will press all the right buttons in your brain. This E.P promises big things of new material to come. See them and hear them. You know it makes sense. Scroll down to see the new video to Long Walk to Sleep. See live photography links from IRIS’s last Canterbury gig below.
So, last night happened. An hour of big local music from bands across Kent and a few cheeky extras (the best kind). We have to be honest, it did some nice things to us. With new material from Crashgate and The Black Waterside we enjoyed it a lot. Check out all the acts we played live, they’re all kind of awesome.
All the best things grow with time. Riskee and the Ridicule started as a two piece by Scott Picking and Jimbo Aglony before expanding to become the full band they are today. They fuse acoustic guitars with energy and aggression, a powerful rhyme section, vocal harmonies and raw and relevant lead vocals. The end result is a gritty, infectious and fierce sound.
Riskee and the Ridicule have several releases to date. They released their E.P The Success Pill in May 2012. Recorded at Emeline studios The Success Pill contains four big tracks that showcase the bands energy and individuality. The songs detail everyday life in a refreshingly relatable way. Followed by a live E.P Riskee and the Ridicule’s latest release is King of the Dole. Another everyday tale that will capture body and your brain, this was released as a free download to celebrate the survival of Ashford’s Platform 5. These tracks have reached radio stations across Kent and beyond, with Riskee and the Ridicule being played on stations such as the BBC’s introducing show in Kent. Alongside The King of the Dole, The Success Pill is also available for free. Links are below.
On the back of their music Riskee and the Ridicule have played many gigs for a variety of bands and venues. As well as playing venues across Kent the band have played shows at The 1o0 Club and at the Indigo2 inside the O2 Arena. During their time as a band Riskee and the Ridicule have supported bands such as The Skints, Victims of Circumstance and Imperial Leisure. Like an illegal firework display, Riskee and the Ridicule’s are always far more explosive than you anticipate. The band have many live favourites such as Pool Water which always generate a reaction. Moshing and high energy are standards for their shows, and much like a talking dog it’s something you have to witness.
The band have a new video and new recordings planned, Riskee and the Ridicule are definitely one to watch for the future! Find download links below for the Success Pill E.P and King of the Dole.
Aaaaaaand we’re back. There was no takeover last week due to technical difficulties. We say technical difficulties we mean the laptop will all the good stuff on it was separated from it’s charger and went to sleep for a while. Never fear though (we could tell you were fearful) it is back with a vengeance. This week’s saw a host of great local and underground artists. Listen back to the show on Friday 6.30-7.30. Listen now for great independent music 24/7 here.
Platform 5 in Ashford survived! This is a major boost for the Ashford music scene. Check them out for a great bar and big gigs across a range of genres. To say thanks for the support, Riskee and the Ridicule have released a track for free!
Your’s to enjoy is King of the Dole. This is an driven track seeped in energy that blurs the lines between genres. A demanding riff starts the track and grabs your ears. It drags your ears along as vocalist Scott Picking recounts a story of attending the job center and the thoughts it stirs up. Fiery rapping delivers the tale with passion and leaves it sticking in your head. All this is done with the aid of that riff alongside some strong drumming and genius vocal harmonies. Riskee and the Ridicule make interesting and relevant music that demands your attention, and deserves it.
Download this track from the option on the Soundcloud player below or click here to see the track on Soundcloud.
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