Beware of Darkness

A Week In Music – Kurt Vile Has His Own Day, Tom Odell Lives Up To The Hype, Candy Says Are Delighted & Kanye Still Thinks He's God

By Jack de Aguilar in Music / Festivals on 10 June 2013

Kurt Vile Kanye West Tom Odell White Lies Muse Beware of Darkness Jimmy Eat World Michael Franti Candy Says Rolling Stones Studio Killers

A week in videos… It’s been a busy week for the languid voiced, melancholic entity that is Kurt Vile, and he’s topped it off by releasing a new video for KV Crimes – a song off his latest release Wakin' On A Pretty Daze. Directed by Tom Scharpling, the video riffs on the recent news that the 28th of August will officially be known as Kurt Vile Day. The actual ceremony will be marked by a free concert at City Hall from, guess who, Kurt Vile

Lack of sunny weather and increased austerity got you feeling down? Then the video for Michael Franti & Spearhead - I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like) will do a sterling job of perking you up, unless you’re averse to whistling that is. Drums and face paint at the ready; it’s festival season, and Michal Franti & Spearhead are getting ready for a summer of live shows with this seasonal video, full of fun and vitality. And drums. We mentioned drums, right?

While 20 years is a long time to develop that pop punk, emo, power pop or alternative rock sound – whatever you want to call it – it seems as though Jimmy Eat World still sound the same, not that that’s a bad thing. Their eighth studio album 'Damage' is due to hit shelves on June 11th 2013, and the video for their new single, I Will Steal You Bank conjures memories of their frenetic live shows with its nostalgic black & white style.

Continue reading: A Week In Music – Kurt Vile Has His Own Day, Tom Odell Lives Up To The Hype, Candy Says Are Delighted & Kanye Still Thinks He's God

Beware Of Darkness - Orthodox Album Review

By Ben Walton in Music Reviews on 03 June 2013

Following support slots with some of the biggest names in alternative rock (Smashing Pumpkins, Deftones, Stone Temple Pilots and Bush), Beware of Darkness have come out all guns blazing with their debut album, Orthodox. Beware of Darkness are proud to wear their influences on their sleeve, but rather than trying to imitate their idols, the band have merged the sounds that have inspired them to create something new and exhilarating.

The album kicks off in high gear with the exhilarating rush of Howl, which features all the hallmarks of a good garage rock song. There is the fuzzed up guitar tones, four on the floor drum beats and wailing vocals you might expect from a band like The White Stripes or Wolfmother, paired with an incredibly well played bluesy guitar solo. This goes straight into the Stones-y riff rock of Sweet Girl. This song is much more playful with bouncy riffs and tasteful lead guitar work. You get a sense that somewhere in the yelping vocal work, there are some truly interesting lyrics such as this couplet: 'I wish I was a surgeon so I could rip your heart right open, and I could find the spot that broke me'. For a while at least, this is as raucous as the album gets as next we are into Ghost Town, a much darker and more psychedelic song, taking in a string section and slide guitar.

The album comprises of four distinctive movements. After the roaring opening movement, it is the second suite of songs which highlights just what a force Beware of Darkness can be, taking on a much more sombre and heartbroken tone. Highlights of this section include the soaring Amen Amen, and perhaps the highlight of the entire album, All Who Remain, which features the lyrics ''when you leave this life the world will be a darker place for all who remain" which is simplistic but, crooned over the introspective and sad instrumentation and an incredibly tasteful guitar solo which fits the song to a tee, becomes stunning. It is a mind boggling contrast between this and the teeth rattling opening songs.

Continue reading: Beware Of Darkness - Orthodox Album Review

Beware Of Darkness To Release Debut Album 'Orthodox' May 7th 2013

Posted on20 February 2013

###