APOLOGIES, I HAVE NONE - LONDON The obvious comparison when first hearing London, the debut album from four piece Apologies, I Have None, is US political punks Anti-Flag. This is mainly due to the vocals of founding members Dan Bond and Josh Mckenzie and the catchy, upbeat punk sound that both bands employ. Listen on though and the comparison will slowly drift away and what’s left behind is by no means a clone of the Pittsburgh legends. These London boys have a real ear for vocal melodies that are extremely catchy without ever becoming poppy, the music itself leans more towards the melodic side but somehow always retains the punk rock edge, listen to Holloway or Anywhere and The 26 for a great examples of this. The advantage of having two vocalists is also used to great effect as many parts are sung together which will translate to their live shows and surely cause mass sing-alongs, checkout Joiners & Windmills, which is bound to become a fan favourite. The striped back Foundations featuring just piano and guitar is another highlight that still never strays into cheesy territory. In short, an almost flawless melodic punk debut, why almost? Well, there’s always room for improvement, just not that much in this case. It’s that good. GM
SHARKS - NO GODS Having spent the best of part of eighteen months touring on and off in both America and the United Kingdom, Leamington Spa's SHARKS are now set to release their debut full-length “No Gods.” With the record being released by currently popular Rise Records (Man Overboard, Transit, Of Mice and Men, Hot Water Music and more) and being produced by Brian McTernan (Polar Bear Club, Senses Fail, In Fear & Faith, Fireworks and We Are The Ocean,) their somewhat high expectations for “No Gods.” For fans and critics, it's a record that thankfully delivers in abundance. “Til The Wonders Rise” sets bar high from the start with sharp, punk rock riffs being combined well with James Mattock's infectious vocal melodies. Recent single “Arcane Effigies” is next and keeps up the momentum in a bold manner; pounding drums with an irresistible chorus that plain and simply leaves you hooked. It is something that the quartet showcase throughout “No Gods.” Their ability to write punk rock-fuelled “pop” songs is nearly immaculate, and does not allow the band to loose its identity. On tracks like “Matthew's Baby” and “Dawn Soft Light,” the bands style and approach is welldefined; appreciative melodies mixed with edgy, explosive guitars. Although the “sounds like The Clash” tag may still be thrown in places. On “No Gods,” Sharks have shown they are able to produce a thorough, enjoyable record that is well-written and highlights their best points, giving them more definition thus making it a highly favourable record. With plenty of life span and longevity, expect to see “No Gods” on a few end of year lists come December. SR
FROM THE GET GO - DESIGNS Midlands-based quintet From The Get Go may not be the most original sounding band, but then again not every band is out there to set themselves apart from everyone else. So long as you can churn out the sound you’re after well, without committing a complete copycat of another band then you could do a hell of a lot worse. ‘Designs’ might be the first true stepping stone into getting the band’s name across the nation. Opener ‘At The End Of This Cigarette’ is definitely one to appease the fans of the more recent work from Deaf Havana and Young Guns, complete with a slick clean vocals, before progressing into the line and sinker follow-up that is ‘Waves’. The band also show some resemblance to an early training version of Fightstar. The almost marching drum line that leads in ‘Bring Me Your Worst’ opens up for one of the more notable dashes of harsh vocals throughout the EP, something From The Get Go use within moderation, which is a good tactic. From what’s on offer throughout this release, sticking more to clean hooks and soaring choruses is a safe bet. Still, it’d be nice to see the true potential of this tool the band have. A tool that if utilised correctly could open many more doors. Admittedly, they may not be gracing magazines any time soon, but ‘Designs’ is a great stamp onto the music scene for the post-hardcore/alternative rock outfit. Time will see if they have the drive and determination to keep this success going from the get go. ZR