RGG February 2015 - p.15
Album:
Rat Residence
Buy@:
thetaskers bandcamp
Web:
twitter com/thetaskersband
Verdict:
Rat Residence is the fifth darker offering from Midlands based band The Taskers. This brother and
sister band are a unique breathtaking force; between the pair of them they offer a genuine lesson in music that
you just get sucked in to. This twelve track album is a mixture of dirty groove guitar fuelled post grunge rock
with brilliant use of time signatures that'll make you want to hit a drum hard and delicate haunting eerie acoustic
pop songs that are played with such feeling that you'll want to be in their band. The absolute genius of "Tell
Me" with its guitar texture and superb singing make it seem like a more funky Soundgarden track with female
vocals, whilst “End Song" could well be the most beautiful track in the world. "Hogs From Hell" is one of their
token heavy songs and you headbang to the beat from the start.
THE TASKERS
Album:
From Within
Buy@:
Amazon & Spotify
Web:
www questionsofangels co uk
Verdict:
Enjoyed this. Overall I think this debut album by Quetions of Angels has some
absolutely fucking brilliant tunes on it, I mean it, but in my opinion it would’ve been a stronger
album if they’d removed two songs and changed the track order, less is more and how an
album starts is important to sell it. Especially if the tracks on the second half of the album appear
strongest. Highlights for me were “Can’t Get Closer” with its ear-catching unusual verse guitar
riff and huge anthem chorus, great vocals, it just stands out. “Shit You Put Me Through” is right
on the ball with energy and another trademark cracking chorus, “Gone Away” is just such
a well-made tune and it doesn’t get boring. It’s so good they really need to be pushing
that song. However I found “Hope You’re Happy” dragged and “Pity” felt like a poor mans
“Nothing Else Matters” They aren’t bad tunes but when the rest are so superior they
both stand out for the wrong reason. “Take It Anymore” and “Worthy Of You” are two more
favourites on here and it’s the well written and performed choruses that make them work.
As a band when QOA are in the zone they are very powerful and you headbang to the beat
from the start.
QUESTIONS OF ANGELS
Album:
All roads lead to…
Buy@:
buzzardbcuk bandcamp com
Web:
www buzzarduk com
Verdict:
What Dudley band Buzzard may lack in professional album production they make
up in attitude. Their song “Saturday Night TV” from the album “All Roads Lead To…” lyrically is a joy
to hear coming out of a CD player and as you’d expect, it’s full of references to the
brainwashing done every week by modern day Television. Lyrics like “Pick up your guitar and grab your
drums, we’re bringing rock back to the street” and “Saturday night TV, not the place I wanna be” really
strike a chord and you have to admire the punk overtones of this band. This album is a great introduction
to Buzzard and has a very underground feel to it throughout. Highlights are “I despair” with its excellent
handling of the subject of depression over a stomping beat and guitar riff which you also hear later on in
the album done in a totally different way in the remix version which I believe sounds a lot better. “Manufactured
Plastic Dolls” is another fine track which raises a middle finger to the majority of artificial rock stars in the music
industry. This is loud music for loud people but I think this CD basically serves as a taster to encourage you to
go see them live so support this band now.
BUZZARD
