Kamikaze Girls - Black Coffee (Track Review)

Hearts & Souls were a mainstay on the Leeds alternative circuit for five years, playing their unique styling of grunge-tinged pop-punk for crowds in support of Twin Atlantic, Army of Freshmen and My Passion. However, it took a name change to Kamikaze Girls, and a stripping down to a two piece, for the pure fuzz fury to really unleash the pure potential of their sound. With their songs being released on Spotify and available for streaming on various websites recently, I took the opportunity to revisit their last single.

Released in late 2015 as a lead single from their upcoming debut album, Black Coffee is the sound of Kamikaze Girls embracing their new noise, suggesting a move away from the effects laden alternative rock of their previous cassette tape The Girl Gang Sessions, towards a heavy, fuzz driven, feedback laden slab of powerful alternative rock. With multiple guitar creating feedback in a way that would make Kurt Cobain jealous, and Conor Dawson's powerful drumming underpinning the entire track with a sense of urgency, the repetitive Kinks-lite riff of the chorus gives way to a monstrous chorus. Singer and guitarist Lucinda Livingstone's powerful and repeated plea of "without you, I'd sleep forever" about our favourite caffeine carrying beverage gives the chorus a powerful vocal hook to rally around. Each repetition becomes more howled, more desperate, more demanding, before erupting into a gut wrenchingly powerful scream. But there's still plenty in their sound that hearkens back to their previous melodic offerings, from quick clean guitar breaks to the initial chorus-laden effects verse riff. This is loud, and this is chaotic, but it's also controlled, making the moments where the band engage in noisy feedback or screamed vocals meaningful and more powerful. If Black Coffee is an indication of the shape the debut Kamikaze Girl LP is going to take, then it's a very, very, very good sign. Join the girl gang, and get ready for it to drop.

Released Oct 21, 2015
http://kamikazegirls.bandcamp.com/track/black-coffee

Sink Alaska - Battle Lines From Better Times

There's a riot happening in Scotland, and it's one that sounds reminiscent of the south of California rather than the northern reaches of Britain. Fuelled largely by the impact of the prolific Make-That-A-Take records, the burgeoning Scottish DIY punk scene has grown from strength to strength, with constant releases and compilations showing that punk is thriving in Scotland. The most recent offering from Make-It-A-Take is the fourth EP from Glaswegian punks, Sink Alaska. Right from the title of Battle Lines From Better Times, Sink Alaska set their goals of producing a well crafted melodic punk record that harkens back to 90's melodic punk rock, whilst lyrically reflecting on the maturation of every band of that era's worst nightmare - *gasp* growing up *gasp*.