Ricky Warwick interview.

Managed to catch up with Ricky Warwick again and have a chat about his first twelve months in the Thin Lizzy camp.  Check it out at the link below  Genuinely great bloke.






http://www.mudkiss.com/rickywarwickinterview.htm

Thomas White - Free Download

One of my favourite artists, Thomas White, releases his third solo album "Yalla," March 19th on Bleeding Hearts records. Prior to the release, a free download of "Ocean Green" is available through his Soundcloud profile now.

http://soundcloud.com/cannonball_pr/thomas-white-ocean-green












When not writing, recording and releasing solo material, Thomas keeps himself busy with Brakes, Electric Soft Parade, Restlesslist and Clowns to name just a few.  Truly one of Britain's most versatile musicians.

Jack White Solo Album

"Love Interruption" is the first taste of Jack White's debut album, Blunderbuss, out April 23 on Third Man Records/XL Recordings. Pre-order your copy of the 7" featuring non-LP B-side "Machine Gun Silhouette", out on Third Man Records February 7.  http://jackwhite.thirdmanrecordsstore.com/

Stream "Love Interruption" at his website.

/

 http://jackwhiteiii.com/

Welcome return of The Miserable Rich A-Z.

 James De Malplaquet from The Miserable Rich picks up his exclusive A - Z for Mudkiss again......O is for On The Road /P is for ports, Potsdam, pools, Plauen and Prague.

http://www.mudkiss.com/themiserablerichatoz.htm

The Phoenix Experiment Interview

 Mudkiss interview lifting the lid on the enigmatic Phoenix Experiment.  One of my favourite chat's so far with the relaxed, amusing although intense Mike Bee.

http://www.mudkiss.com/tpeinterview.htm

Mastodon Premiere new video on NME.

 Mastodon premiere their new video for "Dry Bone Valley" at NME.  Great track with stunning animated visuals by Tim Biskup, taken from 5th album "The Hunter."

http://www.nme.com/news/mastodon/61618

Mastodon play the following U.K dates in February:

O2 Academy Bristol (February 5)
Manchester Academy (6)
Glasgow Barrowlands (7)
Norwich UEA (9)
HMV Institute Birmingham (10)
O2 Academy Brixton (11)

New acoustic EP from the amazing Spires.

Not much in life is guaranteed although I'm putting my head on the block and suggesting the new EP from Spires will be absolutely incredible. Although a progressive metal band, based on the details announced, the new record will transcend all genres. 

If you want to know what all the fuss is about before April, head to one of the bands forthcoming gigs listed below.     

SPIRES ANNOUNCE LIMITED EDITION 'LUCID ABSTRACTIONS' ACOUSTIC EP

Manchester based progressive metallers SPIRES will self release a new EP in April that will be limited to 500 copies only, as-well as made available digitally via iTunes, Spotify and more. Vocalist/guitarist Paul Sadler commented "we have a suitably pretentious title: 'Lucid Abstractions'. It's gonna be 5 tracks, which is 4 brand new, and an acoustic version of Spiral Of Ascension from the debut album. It's gonna be purely acoustic, with prominent use of cello, female vocals and percussion. The EP will have an ethereal, dream-like quality that I think our fans will appreciate as a natural progression from some of the lighter moments from 'Spiral...'. Artwork will be by Daniella Morrison (who previously did the cover art for ‘Spiral...’)”.

 The band will also play a short string of acoustic gigs and radio appearances in the next couple of weeks:
  
SPIRES ACOUSTIC

 Jan 29th – Preston, Dog & Partridge (All Ages, onstage at 5pm)
Jan 31st – In Studio guests on the SIKO WARD show on The Cat Radio.
Feb 2nd – Manchester Grand Central
Feb 3rd – Stoke The Green Star
Feb 5th – In Studio guests with Steve Oliver on The Sunday Alternative on Trent Sound.

 https://www.facebook.com/events/173143836109740/

As-well as full ‘regular’ sets at:

Feb 22nd – Bury Hark To Towler
Feb 23rd – Edinburgh Bannermans

Keeping back on the full electric side of things SPIRES’ track ‘The Infinite Descent’ is about to be launched into the ROCK BAND Network on the ROCK BAND 3 game on Xbox360 and PS3 and will be available for purchase and download in mid February and the guys will play a handful more UK/IRE shows TBA soon in March and April before returning to the studio to focus on recording album number 2.

www.spiresband.co.uk
www.facebook.com/spiresofficial

New Amplifier Track

A new track from Amplifier available as a free download.  "Silvio" is taken from the fortcoming album "Mystroria" due for release later this year.  After a four year wait for "The Octopus" in 2011, the fourth album from the Manchester based prog rock outfit is extremely welcome in 2012. 

http://amplifiertheband.com/tourdownload/

Check out the Mudkiss interview with Sel Balamir here :


http://www.mudkiss.com/selbalamirinterview.htm


Photos by Sam Ryley

Blind Atlas

After hearing the marvellous "Kodiak Bear" last week, I thought I'd check out Blind Atlas in bit more detail and found six fantastic tracks on their Soundcloud profile. "4th Street" in particular is an absolute country 'n' roll beauty.

Blind Atlas - Releases

January Mudkiss reviews

My first round-up for 2012 and pursuing a slightly different direction.  Focusing more on new bands and the extreme side of music. Hope you enjoy. 

 http://www.mudkiss.com/andyjanalbums2012.htm#.TxxyTmUUYzY.facebook


The first batch of reviews include :

Sanguine 

Holy

Death Pedals

Basick Records 2012 Sampler

Gone Til Winter

Gasoline Thrill

Mudkiss January 2012

For a new year, a couple of new writers join the Mudkiss team, providing an outlet for even more reviews to covered by the omnipresent on-line zine.  It's a big welcome to Chris Fox, also vocalist /guitarist with Kindest of Thieves and super blogger Lawrie Donohoe.  Check out their first, mightily impressive musings over new releases below, along with our youthful regulars Lydia and Josh.

 http://www.mudkiss.com/jankidzalbums.htm









On the interview side, we start as eclectic as ever. Mudkiss own Ice Maiden Teddie Dahlin quizzes Anne Pigalle.

http://www.mudkiss.com/annepigalleinterview.htm









Mel opens her new year account with Dressing for Pleasure.

http://www.mudkiss.com/dressingforpleasure.htm








And back to the youthful end, (no offence Teddie and Mel) Callum catches up with Enter Shikari.

http://www.mudkiss.com/entershikariinterview.htm










New Year.....yes. New contributors.......yes. Business as usual...........definitely.

Blind Atlas - Kodiak Bear

An utterly gorgeous piece of music, which reduces you to a quivering wreck through the heart wrenching vocal delivery and a beautiful thought provoking video produced by Volkerfirma Creative to accompany it. 

Doesn't get much better than this.  

BLIND ATLAS - Kodiak Bear

Hailing from Denver [Colorado USA] and disparate points around the UK, BLIND ATLAS came together in the bohemian suburbs of south Manchester; united by a shared preoccupation with drinking, failed relationships and the Flying Burrito Brothers. Led by singer/guitarist Ross Thompson, BLIND ATLAS concoct a new take on American alternative country and classic British rock ‘n’ roll; taking inspiration from The Rolling Stones to Townes Van Zandt right through to artists such as Calexico and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy.





Familiar faces on the Manchester circuit, BLIND ATLAS have notched up headline slots at some of the most iconic venues in the city, as well as supporting the likes of Blitzen Trapper, Megafaun, Deadstring Brothers, The Features, The Acorn, The Travelling Band, Liam Frost, Buffalo Tom and The Bees.

They recently released their “Iron wall” EP and that along with their double A-side single “4th Street/For Carol“ was produced by The EARLIES. Both releases garnered numerous radio plays including BBC Radio 2 (Bob Harris) and BBC6 music (Cerys Matthews, Jo Good, Tom Robinson). Their “My Proud Mountains” animation featured as one of the Music Videos of the week on BBC6 Music. The same animator, Volkerfirma, was at the helm again for their latest animation for the song ‘Kodiak Bear’, off the same titled debut album due out in April 2012.

BRITISH PROGRESSIVE METAL LABEL BASICK RECORDS PARTNERS WITH PROSTHETIC RECORDS / RED FOR NORTH AMERICAN DISTRIBUTION


BASICK RECORDS, The UK and Europe’s fastest rising Metal label has kicked off 2012 with a bang, by announcing that they are to set up a U.S. presence, partnering directly with legendary Los Angeles based label, PROSTHETIC RECORDS.
The deal, which will see all of BASICK’s forthcoming releases and selected back catalog serviced via SONY’s RED Distribution, was seen as the ideal opportunity for BASICK’s organic growth, as label owner Nathan ‘Barley’ Phillips explains:
“There’s so much synergy and mutual respect between BASICK and PROSTHETIC, that when the opportunity arose to partner up and launch the label fully in the USA, we just knew that we had to make it happen.
This deal enables us to offer our bands and releases a fully dedicated U.S. staff throughout their touring and retail cycles, as well as providing us with the perfect opportunity to sign some more US bands and to also bring some of our European talent to American shores!”

BASICK’s first official release via the new setup will be CHIMP SPANNER’s new record, ‘All Roads Lead Here’ which will hit shelves in the U.S. and Canada on February 14th 2012. The label has also just launched a brand new website, which can be found here: http://basickrecords.com/


About BASICK:

Formed in 2005 by Nathan 'Barley' Phillips, BASICK has quickly established itself as one of the most important up and coming Metal labels in the UK & Europe. From releasing Enter Shikari’s first ever material to leading the way with the new wave of progressive Metal, BASICK strives to put out only the best in new, exciting, fresh heavy music. Now a fully fledged international label, BASICK’s roster currently includes: Aliases, Blotted Science, Chimp Spanner, Circles, Ion Dissonance, Skyharbor, The Algorithm, The Arusha Accord, Uneven Structure and 7 Horns 7 Eyes among others.

Experience the BASICK roster for free, download the new 2012 sampler featuring 12 of the label's hottest artists. Available FREE internationally from Bandcamp and in the UK from Amazon UK.

http://basickrecords.bandcamp.com/album/basick-2012-sampler

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Basick-2012-Sampler/dp/B006FZHTRQ

 

Blacklisters

Like your music, raw, intense and raucous as fuck? Blacklisters are for you. Full throated alternative punk from Leeds.  Crank it up to the max and be completely blown away.

Trickfuck isn't released as a digital download until Monday 27th February 2012, but you can stream at Bandcamp now.

http://blacklisters.bandcamp.com/

Pulled Apart by Horses album stream

Stream the new Pulled Apart by Horses album "Tough Love" in full at NME.com now, a week before it's release.  Have the Leeds quartet edged towards a more mainstream sound, or are they maintaining that hardcore edge.  Click the link and find out.

http://www.nme.com/news/pulled-apart-by-horses--2/61464

First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar - Streaming in Full

Latest album "The Lion's Roar" by Swedish duo First Aid Kit is streaming in full on NPR at the link below.  No drastic change in direction, although perhaps a leaning towards a more country sound on occasions, maintaining those gorgeous melodies and harmonies, intertwined to create some of the most beautiful music around.

http://www.npr.org/2012/01/15/144966888/first-listen-first-aid-kit-the-lions-roar

Bloodloss announce debut mini album “The Struggle” with a free download.

Balls out metal with hammering grooves and tasty hooks is what South Londoners Bloodloss do best, and their debut mini album 'The Struggle', out on the 5 March, is packed of neck breaking bangers.

Combine bruising breakdowns and hook-laden choruses with riffs that Rob Flynn would be proud of, 'The Struggle' is a must listen for those who love their metal to deliver the core principles – riffs, aggression, passion.. and more riffs!

Check out current single “This Still Remains” here:

http://soundcloud.com/bloodlossuk/02-this-still-remains

Matt Hobbs belts out his passionate vocals with lyrics inspired by life experiences to massive effect, which perfectly complement the skull crushing riffery and shredding leads of Mark Browell and Rob Ironmonger. This is supported by the killer grooves and blasts of bassist David Smith and drummer Daniel Kelly.

Although new on the scene, Bloodloss have quickly turned heads and scored themselves a slot at this year's Sophest supporting Romeo Must Die and Xerath and many more on 12 February.

As huge as they sound on record, Bloodloss are all about the live show and have racked up some impressive high profile shows last year, playing with the likes of TRC, Breed 77 and Ill Nino. Make sure to catch them on their soon to be announced UK tour in March!

The Brit Awards 2012

I have totally given up on The Brits giving any kind of nod towards rock music apart from the tedious Foo Fighters, never mind metal, but best international group could be Maroon 5!!!! Please.

Any thoughts on the nominees? Good mix or the usual safe effort?  At least Mudkiss favourites P.J Harvey and Anna Calvi make an appearance.

British male solo artist

Ed Sheeran 

James Blake 

James Morrison 

Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds 

Professor Green 

British female solo artist

Adele 

Florence + the Machine 

Jessie J 

Kate Bush 

Laura Marling 


British breakthrough act

(Top five selected by Voting Academy. Category promoted by BBC Radio 1.)

Anna Calvi 

Ed Sheeran 

Emeli Sandé 

Jessie J 

The Vaccines 

British group

(Top five selected by Voting Academy. Category promoted by BBC Radio 2.)

Arctic Monkeys 

Chase & Status 

Coldplay 

Elbow 

Kasabian 

British single

(Top 10 British singles based on commercial radio airplay and sales in the calendar year are automatically nominated. Promoted by Capital FM and iTunes, listeners and users will vote for their favourite single of the year.)

Adele Someone Like You 

Ed Sheeran The A Team 

Example Changed The Way You Kissed Me 

Jessie J Ft B.o.B. Price Tag 

JLS ft Dev She Makes Me Wanna 

Military Wives/Gareth Malone Wherever You Are 

Olly Murs ft Rizzle Kicks Heart Skips A Beat 

One Direction What Makes You Beautiful 

Pixie Lott All About Tonight 

The Wanted Glad You Came 

Mastercard British album of the year

Adele

Coldplay

Ed Sheeran 

Florence + the Machine 

PJ Harvey

International male solo artist

Aloe Blacc 

Bon Iver 

Bruno Mars 

David Guetta 

Ryan Adams 

International female solo artist

Beyoncé 

Björk 

Feist 

Lady Gaga 

Rihanna 

International group

Fleet Foxes 

Foo Fighters 

Jay-Z/Kanye West 

Lady Antebellum 

Maroon 5 

International breakthrough act

Aloe Blacc 

Bon Iver 

Foster The People 

Lana Del Rey 

Nicki Minaj 

Outstanding contribution to music award

Blur 

Critics' choice

In association with War Child. Identified by a panel made up of media music critics.

1st: Emeli Sandé 

2nd: Maverick Sabre 

3rd: Michael Kiwanuka 

British producer

Paul Epworth

Flood

Ethan Johns