Subliminal Criminals by Stray From The Path

It's been two long years since Stray From The Path made a name for themselves with 2013's Anonymous and it's been an even longer seven years of hard graft to get to a place where they can release an album as purposeful as Subliminal Criminals. Album number five continues with themes of the aforementioned Anonymous but ramps up the anger by about a thousand to really make a mark among all the angry bands of their kind.

Drew is spitting pure venom over some of the ugliest, gnarliest riffs this band have every created and it's just absolutely grizzly. From Outbreak which really hammers home the title of the album ("subliminal criminals" is bound to be a new fan favourite chant at shows) to the frantic These Things Have To Fall Apart, Subliminal Criminals is something no one else could have created. Badge And A Bullet Pt. 2 fills you full of the anger that SFTP are emanating with shouts of "where the fuck is the justice?" and then roars of "can't hide in your brick house, pussy" on D.I.E.P.I.G. However, it is the spattering of guest artists that make this album a force to be reckoned with. First world problem child could be a bit of a gimmick with war cries of "every rich white kid's got something to say - shut the fuck up!" but Architect's Sam Carter's vocal saves the day. One of this blog's favourite men, Rou Reynolds, features on Eavesdropper which nearly drops by the waist-side until Drew unites with Rou and the song takes on a new life. Cody B Ware features on Future Of Sound which almost creates a respite on the album but not for long as the track drops back into a beastly attack in keeping with the rest of the album.

Subliminal Criminals is full of disgust about the injustices of the world and is a conversation which is creatively illustrated through the warped and wonderful genre of hardcore. Stray From The Path haven't created a masterpiece here but they've certainly created a talking point and that is why you should get your hands on this album asap.

7/10
Listen to: Outbreak, Badge And A Bullet Pt. 2

Life's Not Out To Get You by Neck Deep

Who would have thought the UK's brightest pop-punk stars would come from a little place like Wrexham? Yeah, we're talking about Neck Deep because they have just dropped their second full length album and it's a bloody firecracker! Now heralded as the boys to compete with amidst the massive pop-punk revival, these five lads from North Wales have seriously proven they are the best of the best. Life's Not Out To Get You is bigger, better and ballsier than anything this band have done before, and considering they were already pretty damn great, that's really saying something!

LNOTGY opens with Citizens Of Earth which is the most versatile Neck Deep have sounded in their career so far. It's heavier and surprisingly it suits them. "Fuck Neck Deep, they're shit, Ben's Dad owns a record label" the band mock at the end which just shows these boys aren't letting the critics bother them. Singles Can't Kick Up The Roots and Gold Steps are illustrations of a more traditional Neck Deep and sandwiched between them is the awesome Kali Ma, featuring Jeremy McKinnon of A Day To Remember and a pretty gnarly breakdown. Not only is he featuring on the album (making it even more rad) but he also helped produce it, which is evident from the riffs and style weaved throughout the album as a whole. The Beach Is For Lovers (Not For Losers) is reminiscent of emo cuties Cute Is What We Aim For and I Hope This Come Backs To Haunt You has hints of new school Blink 182 to it, showing that although Neck Deep have their own sound, they're still influenced by some of the best. Then there is December which will undoubtedly reach the same acoustic adoration A Part Of Me has as Ben odes "I hope you get your ballroom floor, your perfect house with the rose red doors." The lyrics, as always, are a highlight of the album and they come as purposeful as they do cute: "so 'fuck you' to the world and stand your ground" calls Ben on Can't Kick Up The Roots.

Neck Deep have created a gem of an album here and all the hype has been more than worth it. If this band can reach greater heights than they already have then who knows where that will be, but if they're going beyond the stars, Life's Not Out To Get You will certainly take them there.

9/10
Listen to: Citizens Of Earth, Kali Ma, December

Automatic by Don Broco

It feels like we've been waiting a life time for this Don Broco album. Automatic is the band's second LP and comes a very long three years after their massively successful debut, Priorities. Now an extremely popular band, loved by champions of all music genres, Don Broco look set to dominate hearts and minds everywhere. Automatic is an effort based on living up to the hype and making music that pushes the traditional conception of the alternative scene and this is exactly what Don Broco have achieved.

Automatic is all funk and groove infused with the trademark Broco pop rock we all love and it's pretty much a massive party. It's an album that has allowed Don Broco to push and develop their sound into something far more mature and something that is unique to them. It certainly sounds more vast and the Tropicana 80's vibe they've weaved through the entire album is quite impressive. It is different but it works because this isn't a false pretense. Rob and co. genuinely love what they've created here and that transpires and makes you love it just as much. The spark these four men possess burns it's brightest during the likes of Automatic and Superlove, which feature some of the grooviest, lip-biting funkiness you'll hear all album and the same can be said of Wrong Place Wrong Time too. Okay, there is the odd song like Nerve or Further (which is reminiscent of The Corrs...) where the fire diminishes, however, the more familiar Priorities style-Broco re-ignites the spark with songs like Let You Get Away, Money Power Fame and You Wanna Know.

Don Broco always bring the sort of fun that will wrap itself around you and manifest in your skin until you're doing the running man with them at their live shows. That's what this album was built for, the live circuit and that is where it's going to shine, so get on your white two-piece suit, or your neon mini skirt, grab a pina colada and get dancing because Automatic is your new summer soundtrack.

8/10
Listen to: Superlove, Wrong Place Wrong Time

Positive Songs For Negative People by Frank Turner

If you aren't familiar with Frank Turner, where have you been for the last eight years!? This singer/songwriter/musician from the humble earth of Hampshire has been creating beautiful acoustic nuggets to sooth the soul and mind across five very successful albums. He's been so successful (he played the London Olympic opening ceremony for Pete's sake!) that he's even had time to go back and dabble in his punk roots in the form of his gnarly side project Mongol Horde. But now he's back as adorable as ever with his latest offering entitled Positive Songs For Negative People.

PSFNP is upbeat troubadour folk. It's full of fast and furious acoustic guitar playing that would make a set based on this album a huge party rather than a stare and sway affair and he truly has taken a bunch of songs that could pick the saddest of us off the ground and lift us up with positivity. Frank Turner has always done honesty beautifully and that is no different on this album. "Life gave me demons but I made friends with the devil so I'm invincible" declares Turner triumphantly on Demons and with similar conviction he shouts "we can get better because we're not dead yet" on the stomping Get Better. Lyrics from song after song on this album could be pulled as perfect examples of just how serious Turner was about writing positive songs for negative people and similarly, riff after riff, melody after melody, could be discussed as examples of the passion and talent that this man has for his music.

This is an album of classic singalong folk-rock; it's uplifting and heartfelt and it is one of Turner's best efforts to create a consistently great album from start to end.

8/10
Listen to: Demons, Song For Josh

In The Moment: WACO

WACO are a quartet of lads from this beautiful land we know as the UK and in their own words they make songs about "great times, great loss and Great Britain." The first thing you should know about them is that one listen is all it takes to get you hooked, so don't listen to them unless you're prepared for a long term commitment. The second thing you should know is that they're party starters. It's not just their music that makes you want to jump around like a human-possessed, it's their all round presence and enthusiasm for the music they make. Sound wise, it sounds like rock/punk/party magic with a hint of old school nostalgia and they intertwine such a sound with conversation about real and honest things like the fact no one really knows what they're doing with their life (Agitation) and that ultimately all we do is our best (Dungeness). What's more, the video for latest single, Wrangler, is utterly bonkers in it's compelling psychedelic madness. It's this wonderful recipe, as well as having a frontman who looks a little like Hollywood heartthrob Matthew McConaughey (just a little, maybe it's the jawline), that make WACO ones to party with and ones to tell your friends about.

Listen to: Wrangler

Boardmasters: Who you should see this weekend

So it's forecast to be a bit of a cloudy weekend in Newquay for this years Boardmasters festival but hey, stay happy campers because you've got a lot of lovely music to enjoy! This year boasts one of the most eclectic line ups the festival has seen yet, so here's who to see on your weekend by the sea.

LOWER THAN ATLANTIS
Main Stage, Friday
Mike Duce and the boys are bound to give you the most raucous main stage set you'll see this weekend as they perform all the classics as well as their newest pop-sprinkled hits. Whether you're a long time fan or just a dabbler, it's worthwhile checking them out, even if just for the showmanship.

SPRING KING
Mavericks, Friday
Spring King are one of the most urgent bands you won't have heard of yet. They're bound to be the next big indie thing following in the footsteps of Catfish and the Bottlemen and Peace, so be sure to catch their set for grooves and melody galore.

LETHAL BIZZLE
Unleashed, Saturday
Bizzle on the beach is the only thing that you'll be able to think about until you've seen it for yourself. He'll bring the noise in the form of all his greatest hits as well as new firecrackers such as Fester Skank and Playground.

DRENGE
Mavericks, Saturday
Want some sludgy indie rock? Drenge are your boys. The Sheffield two piece will get your ribs rattling and get your body moving in weird and wonderful ways and there's a chance they'll turn up wearing dresses too.

GOD DAMN
Mavericks, Saturday
Do not miss God Damn. As another two piece, you will be amazed by the noise that comes from these two long haired beauties and although they might make your ears bleed, they'll be your new favourite band for sure.

THE DARKNESS
Mavericks, Sunday
I believe in a thing called love, just listen to the rhythm of The Darkness. Justin Hawkins is a marvel and will strut around in glam rock glory and make you fall under his spell. If you want to end your festival in true rock n roll party style, there's only one band to see, and that is The Darkness.

There's A Price On Your Head by Enter Shikari

Those four mad men we all know and love as Enter Shikari have just dropped a brand new video! This time, it's for absolute corker of a track There's A Price On Your Head, and is a continuation of the brilliant Slipshod video. Created by Peter MacAdams, the video sees a cartoon version of the band go back in time to deal with the history of the class system. It's bonkers and features more roughed-up chickens so strap yourself in and feast your eyes on this visionary masterpiece!