It's been a sad 48 hours for Blink-182 fans. Tom DeLonge, it seems, has left the band. Now, we all kind of know that post-hiatus, the band have had highs and lows. We all know that they go months without speaking but ultimately, they're pop-punk legends and when they're on form, they're a lot of fun. We also know that Tom hasn't been the best: he can just about play his guitar, his vocals are a tad shakey and he cares more about his other endeavors, but he is still an integral and loved part of Blink. It's not called The Mark, Tom and Travis Show for nothing!
So what's the deal?
Well, first of all statements were released claiming that Tom had indefinitely left the band and that Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba would replace him at Musink Festival later this year. That's cool, Skiba seems like a pretty rad guy, but is he Tom DeLonge? Definitely not. After this, Tom took to Instagram clearly stating he had not left the band. HAPPY DAYS but then some terrible words came to light. Mark and Travis were throwing about comments about Tom, calling his actions "ungrateful and disingenuous" and claiming that they were finally telling the truth on Tom's attitude towards to band. This led to a very unhappy Tom (why DeLonge face? etc) to take to Twitter to say "A year ago Mark and I spent a week on the phone with managers debating parting with Travis... Don't pretend there isn't more to this story." He quickly removed this tweet which seems pretty telling. Not too long after this Tom released a lengthy statement giving his side of the story which essentially said that his commitments weren't solely with Blink, he found it all very sad and felt the band's relationship had been poisoned. He ended by saying "Never planned on quitting, just find it hard as hell to commit."
So, where are we now?
Mark, in an exclusive interview with Alt Press, has now claimed "Tom doesn't want to be in Blink-182. It's obvious." but that him and Travis are totally cool with it.
Confusing, right? At this moment in time there has been no official statement about the future of Blink-182. Tom seems in a bit of a state of limbo where he hasn't said "I quit" but equally hasn't said "I'm committed." And as for Travis and Mark, they seem to want to go ahead with new material and live events without Tom, so maybe Blink-182 doesn't end here. Whatever happens, Blink-182 will never be the same without Tom and the fractures that have shown in the past 48 hours have been very sad, not only for the band but for all the fans too.
The Intercontinental Championship Tour promised greatness from it's title alone. It promised battles and victories and nothing but fun and that's exactly what the night was. Foam hands shaped as fists and devil horns were dotted around the crowd, all emblazoned with the Neck Deep emblem; a symbol of pop-punk solidarity. As the first night on a tour which sees them travel the country with Australia's Trophy Eyes, Canada's Seaway and America's Knuckle Puck, hopes were high and tonight the pop-punk massive delivered.
First up were Trophy Eyes who entered the stage, like all bands tonight, to a WWE style commentator announcement and a song which represented their nation. It was a nice touch but that's not why the crowd were here. Trophy Eyes were the only part of the night that was a let down. They pummeled their way through songs which felt shouty and a tad unrehearsed. Maybe it was just over-excitement, or maybe jet lag from their 30 hour flight, but either way compared to the other bands on this bill, they weren't anything special. Following the Aussies were Candian cuties, Seaway. A better set than their predecessors, but still not the greatest, the boys played their songs with purpose and smiles and even filmed their video for the awesome Alberta, but right now, they're better on record. Nevertheless, the crowd were hyped but then Knuckle Puck arrived and it really went off. Hailing from Chicago, Knuckle Puck are the definition of pop-punk. From the get-go they killed it, the crowd lapped them up as much as they did the attention and it made for a hell of a support set.
After waiting nearly three hours, it was time for "the reason for the season" (as put by Seaway's Ryan Locke) to play their set. Neck Deep entered the stage, Ben Barlow holding a championship belt above his head and flew straight into an army of killer tunes. It was insane how mental the crowd went. This is a band who little over a year ago were playing Cardiff's Clwb Ifor Bach, a venue with a 200 capacity at best, and now they're playing Cardiff's hallowed student nightclub; it's a big step up. But after a festival run, a summer on the huge Warped Tour and a second album recorded with A Day To Remember's Jeremy McKinnon, Neck Deep looked more at home than ever. They played old and new including the likes of A Part Of Me, All Hype No Heart, Over And Over and they even closed ambitiously with Candour. It was all so on point. They have become a far more polished band, controlling their nerves and excitement to perform to the best of their ability but still giving real passion. It is a real treat to see that sort of growth from a band, particularly one as humble as this. The crowd's reaction said it all; Neck Deep are a band who are loved and they have a bright future ahead of them. Right now, they're the best of British, especially on a scene where everyone seems to sound the same. Neck Deep stand out and it's so exciting.
If you've got a ticket to see these boys, you're in for an incredible time and if you haven't, go buy one now!
Kick It
What Did You Expect?
Crushing Grief (No Remedy)
Damsel In Distress
Growing Pains
All Hype, No Heart
Losing Teeth
Tables Turned
Zoltar Speaks
Say What You Want
Sweet Nothings
A Part Of Me
Over and Over
Silver Lining
2001 was a great year in the history of music, it was when Fall Out Boy became a band. In the many years since, the pop-punk-rock quartet have given us five awesome albums which have imprinted anthems, emotion, empowerment, and joy on our lives. This week, they released their sixth studio album titled American Beauty/American Psycho and in typical Fall Out Boy tradition it's one to remember.
Anthems are still present (Centuries is one to be shouted from rooftops), and emotion and empowerment still weave their way through the lyrics and melodies but what is new in this album is evolution. Patrick, Pete, Joe and Andy have been expanding their sound since day one, always pushing boundaries but still managing to sound like themselves. What American Beauty/American Psycho does, is break those boundaries that once only bent to create a far more electronic rock record than anyone ever thought they would make. It's definitely no From Under The Cork Tree (which will be celebrating it's 10th anniversary this year) and it's not quite as good as Save Rock N Roll but it is still exciting.
The aforementioned Centuries is a huge sounding rock anthem, holding a torch for all the kids who want to stand up against the enemy. Immortals is another big track (soundtracking Disney's latest delight, Big Hero 6 and whilst we're here, you should go see it because it's awesome) and it's here, and in songs such as Novocaine, Uma Therman and title track American Beauty/American Psycho, that you can see Fall Out Boy's bravery. These are the sounds that make this an evolved band and it's likely to leave people confused. It's commonplace for us to want to box things up into categories and when big rock bands like this add DJs and synthesisers into their music people get uncomfortable because this can no longer be done. But they shouldn't, especially when it comes to this album, because the boys have got the balance just right. There is still the more recognisable Fall Out Boy moments in the form of Jet Pack Blues and Twin Skeleton's (Hotel In NYC) but they aren't why you listen to this record. You listen for the moments of discomfort and uncertainty. American Beauty/American Psycho isn't the record of the year, nor is it the record of Fall Out Boy's career, but what it is is enjoyable, memorable and worth every penny.
6/10
Listen to: American Beauty/American Psycho, Twin Skeleton's (Hotel In NYC)
Fall Out Boy tour the UK in October. Tickets are available now.
Enter Shikari are on the cusp of releasing their fourth full length studio album and it is the sound this
generation has been screaming out for. Famed for abusing genre boundaries and discussing some of the most important topics that we face as planet Earth today, Rou, Rory, Chris and Rob have created a new masterpiece which continues their legacy and it is seriously impressive.
After disappearing for a year or so from the UK, only popping up for the occasional live appearance and cheeky teaser, Enter Shikari are finally unleashing some fresh and fierce fury upon us. The Mindsweep contains arguably some their angriest material yet as Rou screams his way through issues which are governmental, environmental and most importantly, global. The important thing to remember about this post-hardcore mob is that they aren't in this industry for the money, the fame, or the glory; they make the music they do because they are full to the brim with passion and they want to spread messages of positivity and realism to everyone. You don't have to be a fan of their sound but it is important that you give them a chance for their lyrics and ideas alone. One of the best and most aggressive tracks on the album is There's A Price On Your Head and it illustrates my point perfectly: "I am upper middle class, I am living in the past." This song is pure grizzly noise and the lyrics are performed as a battle: a battle which as the lyrics say is one of the past. It's a simple song yet it's one of the most powerful and that is just one reason this album is insane.
The sound of this album, whilst not as widespread as last album A Flash Flood Of Colour, is still BIG. Enter Shikari have evolved their sound once more whilst maintaining their unmistakably raw core. Electronics, percussion and strings still intertwine beautifully, Rou still spits out his lyrics with visceral integrity and gang vocals are still rife and ready to rupture ear drums worldwide. Yet somehow it feels nurtured. It's difficult to criticise this album. From the first time you hear it, you want more and more and it resonates. Like all Enter Shikari material, it makes you think and it makes you want change as much as they do. The Mindsweep isn't just an enjoyable collection of music, it's a record that gives each individual on this planet power and purpose.
"Illness is not an indulgence which you should pay for, nor is it a crime for which you should be punished" states Anaesthetist, the most recent single off the album. This pro-NHS song is seriously strong; it's broken into mainstream daytime radio and it's pricking ears up everywhere. Anaesthetist isn't even the strongest song on the album either. Torn Apart boasts: "There's more variation, more variation, there's more within populations" which speaks volumes when put in the context of the world as a whole. And it has everything you want from an Enter Shikari song: mental electronics and vast sounding riffs. Bonus track Slipshod is a gnarly beast spanning a tiny two minutes but those two minutes will be some of the best of your day. The stand out tracks however are the ones that hug this album at it's top and bottom. The Appeal and The Mindsweep I and The Appeal and The Mindsweep II are just incredible. II takes us back to the most notorious of all Enter Shikari songs, Sorry You're Not Winner, and as a long time fan of this band, it's a massive treat and one which I will gush about every time I hear it. It is however, within the first 2 minutes of this album (during The Appeal and The Mindsweep I), that you realise this album is important and will be a lifelong staple in record collections everywhere.
"This is an appeal. To the struggling and striving stakeholders of this planet, this floating rock we call Earth. Alas that means you, that means everyone of your acquaintance, every figure your eyes skim past in the street, every charlatan still to defeat, every tender face you find solace in - now mimic the mindset William Wallace was in. Dismount, disembark, descend from your existence, blacken your angst and decant your hate. Cause in the long run they’re about as useful as pouring acid onto your dinner plate. To muzzled masses that lead lives of deafening desperation. With Excalibur aloft, King Arthur on the throne, but it’s our minds we gotta wrench out of stone. Don’t be fooled by simplicity, there was never a broadcast made of such urgency, cause at no time before us did we grasp the scope of this emergency. Ladle out love and logic by the boatload, equipped with that cargo you can take any road. Now grab life, seize time, this part is for human kind."
10/10
Listen to: The Appeal and The Mindsweep I, There's A Price On Your Head, Slipshod
The Mindsweep is being streamed via the band's website now and is available to pre-order everywhere that appreciates good music!
Enter Shikari are out on tour in the UK this February with Allusondrugs, Fatherson and Feed The Rhino. Grab the last remaining tickets quick!
And as if that isn't enough the boys will be doing a string of signings as well as spending the day at their one day only Mindsweep store in Camden High Street: more info by following this link.
