(E-A-R) EASTERN ALTERNATIVE REVIEW

http://www.mixcloud.com/ioradiouk/e-a-r-with-martin-briggs-on-io-radio-230115/ 

This second installment in Kibou Records compilation series continues to maintain the quality of the first, providing another great overview of the current UK punk/hardcore scene with a particular focus on bands from our region. The opening track from Dis-Tank (solo project of James from Domestics/Kibou Records) is the weakest on the whole record, being as it is an uber-generic d-beat track without even the vaguest threat of breaking the established mould. That said, it is perfectly listenable, and like all tracks here it is over in around a minute where it crashes head first into one of the record's highlights, 'Black Charcoal Lungs' by Suffolk punkers Albion. A lot of this band's stuff is really reminiscent of the sludgier end of Black Flag, Flipper, Nirvana etc. but filtered through an attitude that is distinctly British, bringing to mind various Oi! bands and the contemptuous sneer of early 80's UK punk. Albion are followed by a blink and you'll miss it track from Sudbury's finest, The Domestics with 'Kill Me' - anyone into UKHC should already be familiar with the domestics but if not, all of their releases come highly recommended, as do their live shows (most recently featuring Dean of E.N.T at Rebellion Festival.) Things go a little bit quirkier for track 4, as the post-punk sounds of Braintree's Dijon Mustard with their track 'Saladin' provide a welcome change of pace that will likely please as many C86 indie fans as it will broadminded punks. Social Rut end side A with 'Wreck/Logic' - a fearsome grindcore track that takes the head off expectations built from their previous band 'Leeres Hirn' and shits directly down their neck. This is seething, mentally unhinged stuff and is recommended to everyone/no one.

Luke Fisher, Austere, The Tickturds, The 5 String Drop Out Band

Friday 20th June 2014 @McGintys Ipswich, Suffolk

First up was some entertaining folk punk from Luke Fisher, a native of my sleepy seaside home town of Harwich in Essex. Many of the songs had a political slant referencing such topics as Pussy Riot and the bedroom tax; I particularly enjoyed a cover of Rancids ‘Roots Radicals’. 

**Sian was out getting food during Austere's set so I have to jump in here! - Briggs**

Austere put in a really good effort tonight, bringing their groove-driven hardcore punk over from the Cambridge area and going over pretty well with the crowd. A few nods to the likes of Fucked Up are always welcome to these ears and I hope to see Austere back round this way soon. Expect to be hearing tracks from their EP on ((EAR)) soon!

**Back to Sian!**

The Tickturds gave a solid sweaty punk rock performance which was well received by the crowd. This Colchester band also features the aforementioned Luke Fisher on bass who also contributed some vocals along with singer and guitarist Rik Spanner.

The 5 String Drop Out Band were incandescent despite technical difficulties plaguing a set which included the infectious ‘Cardiac’ and some great crowd interaction, liberally peppered with profanity as they played on regardless of equipment failures. The performance was fast, loud and angry with a simmering violence exploding spectacularly towards the end as singer and guitarist Jonny Hewson smashed up a guitar in true rock 'n roll fashion. A great band giving one of the rawest and most exciting performances i’ve seen in a long time, I can’t wait to see them again.

Hi all, just posting a quick update to let you know what's going on here at EAR!

Firstly, I'd like to welcome our two new writers Sian Nicole and Matt Catling to the Eastern Alternative Review. They will both be contributing reviews of gigs and new releases in the area so I look forward to getting those up on here soon!

The show is still going out live every Friday on ioradio.co.uk at 3pm, so make sure you're listening!

Last week's show is here: http://www.mixcloud.com/ioradiouk/e-a-r-with-martin-briggs-on-io-radio-130615/

Older shows can still be heard via the player at the bottom of the main page.

Casual Nausea have a load of out of town gigs coming up: Friday 27th at mcguire's pizza bar in Liverpool, Saturday 28th at Sheffield Punx Picnic and Sunday 29th in Norwich at the owl sanctuary.

Brainshit - http://brainshitgrind.bandcamp.com/ (grind)

Heart of a Dog - http://heartofadog.bandcamp.com/ (folk/indie)

Old Coyote Club - http://oldcoyoteclub.bandcamp.com/

The Yacht Club - http://theyachtclub.bandcamp.com/album/a (indie)

Pariah - http://pariahva.bandcamp.com/track/dark-rite (black metal)

GULLS - http://wearegulls.bandcamp.com/album/dont-they-ever-stop-migrating (indie) 

Project Multivitamin - http://projectmultivitamin.bandcamp.com/ (ska/folk/punk) 

Courts - http://courts.bandcamp.com/album/no-knowledge-no-heart-ep (reggae/hip-hop/indie) 

Matilda Star - http://matildastar.bandcamp.com/album/magic-girl-ep (indie/cute kids/pop)

Ages since the last update, so I'll get straight into the download links! Stuff from the last few weeks, new stuff from jotnarr, old man lizard, meadows, plesiosaur, Jackals, Albion...

Jotnarr - http://jotnarr.bandcamp.com/

Old Man Lizard - http://oldmanlizard.bandcamp.com/

Meadows - Http://meadows1.bandcamp.com

Plesiosaur - http://onomaresearch.bandcamp.com/album/memorial

Jackals - http://jackalshc.bandcamp.com/album/no-solution

Albion - http://albionpunkband.bandcamp.com/music

Catnip and Claws - https://soundcloud.com/catnip_and_claws

Treen - http://treen.bandcamp.com/album/4-trax-4-electro-skankin

Ed Ache - http://edache.bandcamp.com/

In no particular order, EAR's favourite releases of 2013:

Carcass - Surgical Steel

Haim - Days Are Gone

Winterfylleth - The Threnody of Triumph

Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks

Melt Banana - Fetch

The 5 String Drop Out Band - Hell

Rats As Big As Dogs - Stupid Suits You

Dead In The Dirt - The Blind Hole

The Decibel Kid - Red

Bride - Mineral Point

Fen - Dustwalker

Chestburster - The Ultimate Experience in Grueling Terror

Joanna Gruesome - Weird Sister