Reviews

2016 marks the first year of Manchester’s newest music venture, Neighbourhood Festival. Spanning 11 venues across the city with acts including Blossoms, Vant and Twin Atlantic, there is no denying the strength of the line-up for a festival in it's first year; but did it live up to expectations?

Integrity Blues might not win any awards, but there's something here for everyone and as both Jimmy Eat World and their fans grow up, it's a fantastic reminder that at least one of the bands we fell in love with as teenagers still haven't lost their old magic.

Despite once again being pulled off the road due to Austin Carlile’s continuing battle with Marfan Syndrome, Of Mice & Men were able to complete several of their UK dates before cancelling the remainder of the Cold World European tour, and we were lucky enough to catch them at Glasgow’s o2 Academy.

Destroy Something Beautiful is latest EP from Hertfordshire quintet Chasing Cadence. Formed of five tracks it features some intriguing titles, lashes of energy and vibrant tones. Following their collaboration with TNA Xplosion, the anticipation for their EP is high; but does it live up to it?

Leeds and London duo Kamikaze Girls have recently released their highly anticipated 5 track EP, Sad. The songs are immense: as though weighed down by thought and experience. Intense and dark, Kamikaze Girls aren't for everyone, but are sure to strike a chord with any receptive fan.

Brawlers have always been the kind of band that does what it says on the tin. Punk music may be oversaturated with songs about getting wasted and waiting for girls to text you back, but at least Brawlers do this exact thing rather well.

You only need to look at the success of Netflix's Stranger Things and the sudden obsession with corduroy miniskirts to see that there's been a rise in 80s nostalgia culture. It's no wonder, then, that Philadelphia quartet Beach Slang have captured the hearts of punk rockers young and old with their new album 'A Loud Bash Of Teenage Feelings'.

Jonathan Greenwood's recording project The Doublecross takes the basic mould of Hot Water Music's upbeat melodic punk and adds a bit of radio-friendly sheen to it. Keep Bleeding is an album that succeeds in spite of itself, and is shamelessly enjoyable as a collection of fun, if commercial, rock songs.

There's nothing like a Thursday gig to brighten up the week, so when we heard Chasing Cadence were playing an EP release at the Black Heart we were ready to rock.

Be Nothing is everything you'd expect from Boston Manor. Whilst they operate within a somewhat stale pop-punk scene, they're one of the few bands who manage to fit into the genre comfortably, whilst also managing to defy expectations and bring something refreshing to the table.