• Interview: Speed of Snakes

    July 11, 2013 - By 

    You may know them as Rupert Morris (lead screamer, lyricist and guitarist in science-dance-metal troupe BATS) and Vinny McCreith (red-hooded bassist in Adebisi Shank and electronic solo artist as The Vinny Club) but together they are Speed Of Snakes. The Dublin-based duo recently premiered the first track from the sci-fi themed electro-rock project, as well as setting out the suitably silly backstory for the whole project: On the first day, 88 trillion years ago, the great snake Metatraxium created the Universe, the Earth and all the life upon it. Each species birthed from a succession of fantastic and horrifying eggs.…

  • Inbound: Bellos

    July 11, 2013 - By 

    In the third installment of the Inbound, we chat to Luke Bowen, frontman with Belfast-based alternative three-piece Bellos to discuss the band’s early beginnings, influences and the band’s plans for the next few months. ___ You formed last year. How did the band come about? Where you all friends beforehand and what motivated you to get the band together? “Aidan and I had just moved into our first house together. There was a deal in the off license for a bottle of Buckfast and six cans of beer for a tenner, so we obliged, got messed up and started listening to…

  • Interview: The Melvins

    July 2, 2013 - By 

    Having spent the last three decades consistently reaffirming and reinventing themselves as one of the boldest and most thoroughly influential bands of all time, the Melvins have recently released the excellently-titled – genuinely impressive – Everybody Loves Sausage, a covers album featuring renditions of songs by acts as tastefully disparate as Throbbing Gristle and David Bowie. With their 30th Anniversary Tour just around the corner, we speak to the band’s legendary drummer Dale Crover about the release, the band’s quarter of century reigning as the unequivocal Godfathers of Grunge and much more besides. Eighteen genre-spanning full-length albums and several bassists into their…

  • Malibu Shark Attack

    June 27, 2013 - By 

    Tucked into a corner of Weaver’s Court Business Park are Studios 2 and 3 of Start Together. Control room, recording booths, a treasure trove of sound equipment – this is Rocky O’Reilly’s manor, the place where the one-time Oppenheimer man, and production maestro, has helped deliver a dizzying array of music. Sitting in his favourite seat, the one beside the mixing console, Rocky has invited me here to tell me about his latest endeavour, Malibu Shark Attack. There is reason to be intrigued. First off, it’s the first band he’s been a part of since Oppenheimer called it quits in…

  • Inbound: Joshua Burnside

    June 18, 2013 - By 

    Hands down one of the most-forward thinking folk artists from these shores in recent times, Joshua Burnside is set to release his latest EP, If You’re Goin’ That Way, off the back of a wave of momentum created by his latest single ‘Black Dog Sin’. Having received 6Music Airplay from the likes of Lauren Laverne and Gideon Coe, Burnside’s wistful, altogether playful brand of experimental folk not only defies regional comparison, it is indicative of a particular musical spirit that has every potential to thrive much further afield. We catch up with the Comber-based singer-songwriter to get his thoughts on lyrical…

  • The First Time: Mike Mormecha

    June 13, 2013 - By 

    In the second installment of The First Time, we kindly interrogate Mike Mormecha from the one and only Mojo Fury (and indeed Clown Parlour) about significant “firsts” in his music listening, loving and making life. Thanks, as ever, to Joe Laverty for the exceptional portrait photograph of Mike. Look at him there, with the chicken on his shoulder. Lovely. ___ First album you bought? Aphex Twin – Come To Daddy First single you bought? Daft Punk – ‘Da Funk’ (cardboard cassette)   First live concert/gig? Eric Bell at the Waterfront hall. First album you properly loved? Nevermind First artist/band to…

  • AAA: Gacys Threads

    June 12, 2013 - By 

    Having captured their recent show with Toronto quartet Cancer Bats, Belfast-based photographer Tony Irvine posed a few questions to Stephen Currie from our very own hardcore metallers Gacys Threads to get the lowdown on their recent three-day stint with the Bats and various other matters of riff-related interest. ___ What has been your biggest challenge as a band on your 3 days with Cancer Bats and have you been able to overcome that challenge? Biggest challenge… uhm, none really. This tour has been so much fun, and everybody including sound engineers, promoters, band members have been awesome. Zero complaints, man.…

  • Tied To Machines

    June 10, 2013 - By 

    Having been taking some well-earned time off to refuel the machine, Banbridge hardcore quartet Tied To Machines are on the brink of returning in fine fashion. Talking riffs, album number #1 and the so-called music scene, we catch up with Edward Henry (frontman) and Jordan (guitarist) from the band to get the lowdown on the ground they’ve covered, the album they’re making and where they want to go. __ Hey guys. You’ve been keeping your collective head down for the last few months – what’s currently afoot in the Tied To Machines camp? Edward: “Well, at the minute, we’re waiting…

  • Solar Bears

    June 3, 2013 - By 

    Earlier this year, Dublin/Wicklow duo Solar Bears released their second album, Supermigration. The record built on the template they set out on their debut album She Was Coloured In – a blend of nostalgic electronica, psychedelia, Krautrock and sci-fi themes – while reshaping and refining it, tapping into their pop tendencies and working with guest vocalists for the first time. Chris Jones spoke to John Kowalski and Rian Trench over email to find out more about the record and where the band might be headed next. How did you feel the first album went in terms of execution and reception,…

  • Inbound: Go Wolf

    June 3, 2013 - By 

    Having spent the last few months building an ever-increasing fanbase, fast-rising Belfast indie pop band Go Wolf have just finished recording their debut EP. Seven months on from the release of their incandescent debut single ‘Voices’ (featured via Bandcamp below) Brian Coney catches up with Scott and Chris from the band four-piece to talk music, image and the Northern Irish music scene. ___ First thing’s first: how did GO WOLF come to be? Did you all know each other beforehand or was it a case of one person setting out to start a band? Scott: Chris and I met at…