There is no way that I'm going to start becoming a website for the great no-hopers of this world in the form of anyone who's recorded a CD demo, ep or album, whose mum, family and close friends say that they're going to be the next big thing, while at the same time behind their backs saying "crap but we've got to encourage him/her/them".
So.......the bottom line is this - if you're a band/artist/project/other and you think you're as good as or better than the bands and artists on the Scottish unsigned music scene, then by all means send your CD/CDR (no mp3's or e mails as I can't cope with being swamped with those) to the Dead Earnest address (see home page). Those that I don't rate at all will be ditched, never to be seen again, while those that are genuinely worthy of attention will be reviewed - you can't say fairer than that! Well, actually, you can - but I'm not going to.
So, with all that in mind, let's see what's out there.......

APRIL 09's FINEST UNSIGNED CD'S

BLACK FOX – S/T CD-EP
The guy claims he's doing something ground-breaking by mixing elements of searing heat metal and drum 'n' bass avalanche. In actual fact he is breaking ground, but only 'coz the darned thing's so heavy – there's no ground that could stand the weight!! The opener, “The Question”, roars into life on a wave of thick set metal guitar riffing and solid, strident lurching rhythms but it sounds like a band at work, is in no way “dancey” and rolls along with force before going into this quiet few seconds of vocal and instrumental delicacy before emerging in a blaze of lead guitar soloing above the driving industrial beats and thick riffing. It's pretty hot stuff, of that there's no doubt. “Death Is All Around” is similar only harder and faster, this time all instrumental and a flaming path of metal guitar riffs, strident rhythms, sizzling guitar leads and one top notch rifle-fire metal guitar instrumental. I t moves through passages which range from a whisper to a scream but nothing ever stands still, going for the hot and wild approach. The final “The World Against The War” is an awesome display of hammering rhythms and fuzz/solid electric guitar leads and riffs, all, as before, melodic yet strong as an ox. Overall, it's not ground-breaking” but it's metal guitar instrumental music that's leaping over other greats in the genre before he's even begun.

SHADOW ARMY – Wake Up CD-EP
It's hard-hitting contemporary indie-rock that's got all the electrifying satisfaction that the early Funeral For A Friend possessed before they lost the plot. The opening and title track simply roars into life on a hotbed of driving rhythms, sizzling riffs and storm-force performance as the well sung, biting, angst-ridden lead vocals burn and drive over the sea of scything riffing guitars and driving rhythms. There's a real anthemic feel to it and a definite hook although not what you'd call a chorus, but, that said, it's a scorcher of a song that's filled with passion and power. “Poisoned Perceptions” is, if anything, even more powerful, as the intensity of the arrangements increases and this huge wave of guitars-driven electricity is unleashed with the heat of a thousand suns, initially deceptive as piano opens things up, but then this gives way to a sea of stuttering guitars, lurching drums and deep bass, as the whole thing blazes into action on a wave of solid guitar riffing, the vocal leads and harmonies bouncing off and flying over all this, before the band drive into the main chorus of the track as the pace hots up even more, the density intensifies, but the stunning production allows you to hear every facet of the composition to maximum enjoyment. “Running From The Sun” ends a cracking trio of sizzling heat songs with a really upfront and well sung lwad vocal on a striing song that's full of anthemic emotion, searing heat guiatrs, driving rhythms, scything riffs, a solid, resonant drum sound and, as with the rest of the tracks, an epic production that really brings out the animal in this band. If this is just three tracks at the beginning of this band's carreer, then the future's looking massively bright indeed – I simply can't wait to hear more – one seriously amazing hard-rockin slice of contemporary indie-fied, punk-pop-rock.

SKINBAT SCRAMBLE – Remains CD
12 tracks from a band that's a kind of alter-ego offshoot of the excellent Nifty Eagu & The Glo-Pilots. Overall, it's a rather fine album – which makes it even more puzzling as to why the first track in, is the worst track on the album, since, essentially, the guy can't sing. He tries a kind of half-spoken Robert Wyatt style of delivery, but it doesn't work as he doesn't possess the softness or emotion of Wyatt, and the whole thing, although flying along on a psychedelic wave of rhythms and sizzling backing, just ends up annoying you because of the vocal. But, following this, it's uphill nearly all the way as the majority of the tracks that remain feature either the female vocalist or no vocalist at all. Throughout the many charms of the album, instrumental and vocal, there are a lot of layers, textures and movement at work, with some searing lead guitar work coming right at you as the rhythmic currents lurch and flow. On top of all this, the female vocal soars, croons, flies and sings her way through the album's myriad psych music forms. Sometimes the backing is more worthy of late era Crimson than anything, while also at times, the vocal is more reminiscent of Electra or the Cocteau Twins. On occasion a male vocal enters the fray but one that's wholly more akin to something like Hawkwind or Omnia Opera than anything, and fits a treat with the rest of the band's work, that male vocal you heard at the beginning only returning once more and not for long. In many ways it's a like a mix of Nik Turner's Space Ritual and Here & Now bands, and while never overtly space-rock, does, nevertheless, have the same feel and effect and, to a degree, sound. You should try this album – the majority of it is excellent!!

SUPERNOUGHT – Explosade CD-EP
I get bombarded with CD's to review that are, usually signed bands, contemporary metal and rock in all its forms – some are dire, some superb. But, just occasionally, an unsigned band will sneak up in the post, that leaves the rest sounding like also-rans.
This, my friends, is the latest......... welcome to Supernought!
Hailing from Chester, they slam out a wild quintet of songs – and they are real songs – which manage to harness all the best and key elements from Classic Rock, hardcore metal, thrash, indie-rock and hi-density nu-metal, to provide us with five totally consistent, jaw-dropping and thoroughly addictive songs, all of which put this band firmly and squarely on the rock and metal map. With five songs lasting an average of three minutes each, this band injects so much dynamic and controlled power into the songs that you're always aware of this mighty rock roar that blasts out of the speakers, but with solid, strong and totally engaging upfront vocals on every track, this lifts the roof off with a vengeance. First, the guitar attack throughout is just mind-blowing – a consistent sea of molten riffing, yet riffs that have a crispness, a crunch and also a density to them which makes them the consummate fast-paced metal guitar riffs throughout. From time to time guitar breaks will erupt like flares off the sun and every bit as hot. The rhythms are driving, powerful, solid, and yet also superbly produced to sound huge and crunching throughout, from supercharged drum work and stomach-belting bass thunder. Above this, the vocalist sings to perfection – upfront but not TOO upfront, a great vocal that's a bit Foo Fighters here, a bit Marilyn Manson there but above all, sounding fantastic throughout every one of the five tracks. Then you get the songs thermselves – roaring, on fire, huge-sounding slabs of hi-intensity, driving, molten superheated rockers which generate enough metal electricity to light up half of Chester. The songs are delivered to perfection, exude strength, possess power and dynamics plus this massive sounding canyon of mighty metal. Every song on this EP is a red hot rockin' monster of a track, songs that you'll want to play again and again, yet songs of which you never tire, being the perfect mix of addiction with implied hooks, classic rock and metal, but contemporary sounding and simply stunning.

TENPERCENTER – The Whisperers CD-EP
The title track opens proceedings and this is one absolute gem of a song. It's nearly instant – the first time I heard it, I sort of liked it but wasn't really sure, yet the second time I heard it I adored it and I knew exactly why – it's got a real flavour of the late sixties psychedelia of The Nazz and The Beatles, but also there's a taste of seventies in there too with its mid-paced strength and harmonies, but in addition to all that there's a decidedly contemporary element in there to, as the song reminds me of loads of glimpses of things that I just can't put my finger on. The guitar work is ringing and mellow, the bass work solid, the drums crunch away merrily as it's all got a supremely summer appeal to it, but the icing on the cake are the vocals with some sublime leads and wondrous harmonies from the male vocalists, as a hook-as-chorus runs through the song to perfection and it's one of those easy anthems that you just want to play all summer long – and beyond. “Windows” is altogether faster and with more bite as the rhythm section tears ahead, the guitars soar away and a distinct feel of Stone Roses and Oasis are heard only with a much more polished sea of vocals, harmonies, hooks and choruses, as once again the whole song possesses vast oceans of emotion as it all wells up in your head and heart, with some stunning lead guitar breaks, stirring riffs and strident rhythms leading the way as the vocals just fly, full of lazy passion and strong harmonic cohesion. A stunning three minutes!! Finally, the near five minute “A Hole In The Clouds” completes what's been a truly superb trio of tracks with more shimmering guitars, sizzling riffs, Beach Boys-esque harmonies, solid driving rhythms and a sense of yearning allied to the soaring vocals that just fly overhead in majestic fashion as the band strikes out and lights up, the whole feel of 4 decades of solid indie pop, firmly endearing itself to your heart. As a three track EP goes, this is something you'll play and play till you wear it out, buy another one and start all over again, as timeless as it is immaculate.

Home Page
Back To Unsigned Band Reviews (outside Scotland)
Email Andy G