Here is introducing week four of Mosh’s Face The Jury where we pick a random selection of tracks from our emails which we are sent. These tracks make their way to a random selection of staff where they let us know their thoughts. Will they be pretty amazing or just damn right awful? Let’s take a listen to this weeks selection. It’s time to face the jury!
Stealing Signs – Hide & Seek
Madison Convey: I like the whole alt rock vibe these guys have got going on. It’s really chilled out so it doesn’t take a lot out of you to listen, and this track has really intricate guitar parts which are always great. It reminds me of a cross between The 1975 and early Biffy Clyro – I love it! 4/5
Ellie Langford: The singer has an engaging voice, but that’s really the only thing that sticks out about this track. The video explains the labored mechanical vibe but it doesn’t make up for the rather thin and lifeless sound. What we are left with doesn’t have much substance to it, and I wouldn’t listen to it again. 2/5
Andy Leddington: Pretty fun and quite bouncy. Nothing new, but so inoffensive and genuinely charming that it’s hard to dislike, although the really heavy metal crowd could easily just be annoyed by its childish irreverence. Sounds like quite good Hoosiers or Oasis mixed in with some other stuff. 3/5
Callum Thomson: Standard indie rock sound with standard indie rock monotonous guitar tones. Save for fans of this genre, there’s nothing exciting here, nothing to see, move along. 1.5/5
Have Mercy – Two Years
Madison Convey: I think I’m a bit biased here as I’m a big fan of Have Mercy, to the point where I have their two albums on my iPod! The lyrics here are beautifully written, and the melody behind them makes it really, really catchy. If you give this a listen don’t be surprised if you’re humming the chorus subconsciously for quite a while afterwards! 5/5
Ellie Langford: This track is bitter-sweet and uplifting with its textbook pop punk sound, but it’s a little unrefined. You’re not going to be singing along to this one in the shower. The lyrics are a bit clunky, there’s no real hook and it’s all a little wordy. Plus, I am not a fan of the screechy chorus. The whole thing needs a big polish, but it’s got plenty of good bits. 3/5
Andy Leddington: Quite similar to the last track, but a bit slower and more emotional. Vocals are bordering on excellent, the half-screaming moments in the chorus are ridiculously loaded with feeling. Classic emo rock any fan of Moose Blood or Twenty One Pilots could get behind, but would also appeal to fans of Twin Atlantic and Biffy Clyro. All round more than acceptable 3/5
Callum Thomson: What is this? Screamo folk? The track was actually really decent until the lead vocalist decided to open up his throat and have a go at Mongolian throat singing. Although, in saying that the music overall is pretty decent 3/5
https://soundcloud.com/ze-grand-zeft/sets/watch-the-crunked-crown-vizion
Ze Grand Zeft – Watch The Crunk Crown Vizion
Madison Convey: This definitely isn’t my cup of tea, but I can appreciate the hard work that has been put in to it and that it’s the kind of track that’ll resonate with anyone who likes heavier subgenres of rock. This song reminds me a bit of Limp Bizkit, but like Limp Bizkit on steroids… I’d probably jam out to it if it came on during a rock night in a club! 2/5
Ellie Langford: Downright odd and bursting with hip hop zest, this EP is so bad its good. Electro synth and heavy guitar with rap and screams, The Crunked Crown Vizion is a smorgasbord of odd and awesome that just works. I never knew I liked crunk rock but I think I may like it now. 4/5
Andy Leddington: This is weird. Like, genuinely quite confusing. Sounds like a really dark Skindred remix. Probably really good for underground alternative raves, but when it’s actually kind of sunny outside and there are no drugs nearby I just found it kind of weird and confusing. 2/5
Callum Thomson: Did I just down a handful of pills and land in a Salvador Dali painting? I have absolutely no idea what the hell is going on at all! This seems like one of those bands that decide to be different to stand out from everyone without knowing what music is and ultimately make arses out of themselves. 2/5
Daylight – Kickbacks
Madison Convey: I’ve heard of these guys before and I know they’re from Spain, which gives them a unique selling point as it is. The lead singer sounds a bit like Tom Delonge, so I bet this is a band that can soothe the broken hearts of Blink-182 fans all over. This song is your standard, fast-paced pop punk material, but there’s no doubt that it’s catchy all the same. 3/5
Ellie Langford: You’re just hooked from the off. This song is pure fun and that chorus just makes you want to dance. Everything slots together perfectly and the radiating vivacity that Daylight have is utterly addictive. Admittedly, this track does sound like a lot of songs I have heard before but that doesn’t change the fact it just sounds really awesome. 4.5/5
Andy Leddington: Hey some pop-punk! Cool! Sounds like pretty much every other pop-punk song. The vocals aren’t exactly bad, they just seem a little out of place, like when you can clearly tell the actor is against green-screen. The bridge riff is pretty cool too, sure to kick off some headbanging if you ever see it live. 3/5
Callum Thomson: Ok here we go, some good old fashioned pop-punk, even though it’s a stale genre, when you hear a decent version of it, you can’t help but smile. It’s the perfect soundtrack to anyone’s summer and honestly, Kickbacks is a very well put together pop punk tracks. 4/5
