 |
| Alternative
Vision's Team Members Best Of 2012. |
|
|
2012
has been a massive hardworking year for Alternative
Vision, we have covered hundreds of gigs, reviewed
hundreds of albums and EP's, covered many festivals
such as Download, Bloodstock, NASS, Slam Dunk,
Hit The Deck and many more and also conducted
over 100 interviews with both high profile and
up and coming bands such as Fozzy, Lacuna Coil,
Gallows, Pure Love, The Defiled and many others,
we already have plans in place to make 2013 just
as fun and exciting for everyone but in the meantime
check out the teams hightlights of 2012. |
|
|
|
|
|
Trigger |
|
|
2012
has been a great year for me at Alternative Vision
where I got to review and photograph many bands
on the live circuit such as All Time Low, Panic
At The Disco, Steel Panther, Trivium, Lacuna Coil,
Black Veil Brides, D.R.U.G.S, Papa Roach and many
others.
The highlights for me this year was getting the
chance to interview Craig Owens from D.R.U.G.S,
Andrea Ferro from Lacuna Coil and also Frank Carter
and Jim Caroll from Pure Love, they were all amazing
individuals who had a lot to say in their interviews
and have a lot of time for their fans and truly
love what they do.
I also had the opportunity to cover Download
Festival and well what an experience that was
with the worst weather I have ever seen at a festival
and a tent which was battered by the weather just
after one night leaving us homeless and having
to sleep in the car in order to get through the
festival, despite the bad weather and the tent
disaster the line up was extremely strong and
the Saturday boasted one of the best day line
ups I have seen at a festival in a long time with
the likes of Trivium, Steel Panther, Tenacious
D, Black Veil Brides and Metallica rocking up
the main stage.
As for new music releases 2012 has been a fantastic
year with so many bands releasing albums, my top
5 of the year are listed below, yet the likes
of Enter Shikari ‘A Flash Flood Of Colour’,
Billy Talent ‘Dead Silence’, Shinedown
‘Amaryllis’, Papa Roach ‘The
Connection’ and Codejak ‘Times Of
Conflict’ just missed out on getting in
my top 5 and would easily be in the list if it
was a top 10 list.
2013 is already shaping up to be a great year
of music with most major festivals already announcing
many bands on the bill, a lot of bands have also
announced tours for the first quarter of the year
and many bands are set to release albums in 2013
with the likes of Dropkick Murphys and Pure Love
set to release the first couple of killer albums
in 2013 if their recent singles are anything to
go by.
I would also like to say that without the fantastic
team we have at Alternative Vision, the various
pr's and record labels we work alongside with
and also the fans and viewers we have 2012 would
nowhere near of been as good as it was, so thank
you all so much and here is to an even better
2013.
Top 5 Albums Of
2012
When Frank Carter announced his departure from
the Gallows many people thought that was the end
of the band but they wasted no time in finding
a new vocalist in the form of ex Alexisonfire
axeman Wade MacNeil and having Macneil front the
band has helped push the Gallows even further
down the hardcore path, their sound is now more
brutal than ever before and the bands recently
released self titled album features 11 outstanding
tracks which are sure to help you release any
built up anger.
Dark Adrenaline is the sixth studio album by everyone’s
favourite Italian metal band Lacuna Coil, the
album was originally due for release at the end
of 2011 but the record label decided to delay
the release until January 2012 to give the band
a fresh start to the new year and my god the album
was worth the wait as it easily features the best
material that Lacuna Coil have created 2006’s
‘Karmacode’, the way Cristina Scabbia
and Andrea Ferro battle off with their own unique
set’s of vocals through songs such as ‘I
Don’t Believe In Tomorrow’, ‘Kill
The Light’ and ‘Trip The Darkness’
is just fantastic.
Deftones have always been a bit of a marmite band
with me, I have grown up listening to the likes
of ‘Around The Fur’, ‘White
Pony’, ‘Deftones’ etc but I
have never fully enjoyed the albums but instead
liked just a couple of songs throughout the years
but with the release of ‘Koi No Yokan’
things have changed as Deftones have released
one of the most atmospheric albums that I have
heard in a long time where front man Chino Moreno
let’s off his most diverse sounding vocals
to date as he beautifully sings and angrily screams
his way through the likes of ‘Swerve City’
and ‘Leathers’ whilst the rest of
the band up their game with strong instrumental
work.
When it comes to releasing albums Muse always
have a knack of outdoing their last release and
with ‘2nd Law’ Muse took a big gamble
and went down the dubstep route and it has paid
off for them as ‘2nd Law’ is an masterpiece
of an album, which comes across sounding like
it could be the soundtrack to an sci-fi film whilst
each and every track on the album sounds different
from the last and still manages to please in their
own special ways.
TSince Yellowcard came off hiatus back in 2012
then have been working their butts off with the
release of ‘When You’re Through Thinking
say yes’ back in 2011 and then a few months
later an acoustic offering of the same album,
yet August 2012 saw Yellowcard release their eighth
studio album ‘Southern Air’ which
featured ten really positive sounding pop-punk
songs which had a massive happy summer vibe running
throughout, in true Yellowcard style the lyrics
were well written with many people being able
to relate to many of the songs, the album also
features a few special guests including We Are
The In Crowds Tay Jardine on the outstanding ‘Here
I Am Alive.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert
Lawrence |
|
|
So
its been another great year on team AV, I have
been to some awesome gigs this year and ticked
yet more bands off the list that I've wanted to
shoot. Highlights there has been many, starting
off with Clutch one of the all time favourites
of mine, and of many people too, it was also a
special night due to starting my fantastic relationship
with Jude Onions, and she's now a new team member
too, bonus. Then came one of the biggest bands
I've ever shot, the mighty Rammstein, couldn't
believe my luck, Trigger really pulled one out
of the bag on this one, and I took one of my best
ever shots of Till. This has been a good year
for my photography, being my best year so far
and getting the best shots I've ever taken since
I started working for AV.
Seen some top live performances by Amon Amarth,
Young Guns, Enter Shikari, Angels & Airwaves,
Lostprophets, The Used, The return of Million
Empire, Halestorm, Serj Tankian, As I Lay Dying,
Trivium, Muse, Coheed & Cambria and Steve
Vai. All these gigs bands been superb, and I've
also taken most of my best shots at these gigs.
I got to shoot the Bloodstock Open Air festival,
with Mr Webb, we didn't do many gigs this year
together much to my disappointment, but I did
get to hang out with Mr Daly at a few gigs, which
was good. BOA, what a great time I had at this
festival, busy as hell, and massive thanks to
my girlfriend Jude, for getting me to and from
the festival each day. It was cool to hang out
with some tog friends at this festival, The main
highlight was shooting Machine Head, what a great
performance that was, I got some great shots too,
was very nervous until they started, then it went
away when once I got behind the lens, great fun
and over all too quickly. Shooting Alice Cooper
was a lot of fun, cant get a bad shot of that
man. Shooting Watain and Dimmu Borgir was fantastic
too, great bands to shoot live, you just cant
go wrong,
cant wait for 2013 to start some good gigs are
happening in the coming year and I hope to be
at as many of them as I can, I hope to go to a
few festivals also, and shoot them, perhaps 2013
is the year AV shoots Download Festival. I hope
we return once again to BOA too, and maybe even
Sonisphere as it makes its return after this years
cancellations. Unless of course the world ends
on the 21st of December which would suck. Have
a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 616
Top 5 Albums Of
2012
If there's one band that will forever remain on
my bands to see before I die, its Led Zeppelin,
and its unlikely we will ever see a band like
them again, or see them live, so this live album
is as close as I'm probably ever going to get,
the band is on form, recorded in 2001 on December
10th at the the O2 in London, they sound great,
Plants voice has lost some of its power, but its
to be expected, but hearing Pages superb guitar
skills, is enough to inspire anyone to pick up
the guitar. Led Zep, still one of the greatest
bands of all time.
I'm starting to think which band is Coreys other
band, Stone Sour or Slipknot? House of Gold &
Bones can do no wrong, its a superb album, one
in which you'll listen to it from start to finish,
there's not a single track on this album in which
you'd skip, its just that good, a band on top
form.
Speaking of bands on top form and that can do
no wrong, this live album is evidence of how ferocious
a live band can be and just brings back memories
of Download festival and Bloodstock festival 2012,
one of the best metal bands around, definitely
a band that's gone from strength to strength over
the past decade, long may this continue.
Stepping away from the metal, is this lady, with
a hauntingly beautiful voice, if over produced
somewhat, but that's a minor grumble, some superbly
written songs and good lyrics on offer here, and
somewhat of a Marmite artist also, it has something
for everyone here.
You either get this band or you don't, Noctourniquet
is a lot better than their last album Octahedron,
certainly a step in the right direction, I'm still
hoping for another De-Loused in the Comatorium,
but its a step in that direction, so I can't grumble,
some complex musical structure but still that
Mars Volta sound, and you just cant guess where
the songs going to go at times, keeping you on
your toes at all times, very enjoyable if you
like modern prog rock. Damn shame that they have
gone on a hiatus, hopefully a proper return of
At The Drive In is on the cards.
|
|
|
|
|
|
James
Daly |
|
|
This
year has been a great year for live music, It started
out for me, with Reel Big Fish at the start of the
year which was awesome, and since then it got better
and better with great punk gigs like Misfits, The
Skints, The Gallows and Mad Caddies. I went to some
gigs where the band played full, classic albums
like The Presidents Of The USA, Hell Is For Heroes
and Hundred Reasons. I saw amazing gigs from up
and comers Don Broco, The Marmozets and Page 44,
as well as established acts such as Kids In Glass
Houses, Lostprophets and You Me At Six. I had the
pleasure to go to 2 new festivals in Hit The Deck
and Methyr Rocks, which where both amazing and showed
the established festivals that there is allot of
competition on the festival scene! I would say my
favourite live gig on the year was The Wonder Years
at Hit The Deck, it had sing alongs, crowd surfers
and a small room full of fans screaming wrestling
chants! So that was my year's highlights of live
gigs, so here's my top 5 albums of 2012!
Top 5 Albums Of 2012
 this sees a return to form for the Welsh
boys. This is a great rocky album, with catchy tracks
a plenty, its one of those, listen to it once and
the songs will stick in your head, like you've listened
to it 1000 times!
Lit haven't been around for a while, but this album
sees them coming to terms with the death of their
drummer, and shows them moving on in a new direction,
its still punk, its still pop but its got more soul
to it.
LTA haven't had the best write ups on this site,
but I personally love them. They're rock, with punk
on the side. They have catchy songs, whilst at the
same time having depth, and the vocals get my attention
every time I listen.
This was definitely a grower for me, I expected
old Green Day, but what I got was a newer more refined
sound, it didn't sink in straight away and I instantly
slated them for the sound, but after listening to
it a few times, it clicked and I now love it, especially
the songs Oh Love, Kill The DJ and Let Yourself
Go!
This band might not be known by most, but they where
around about ten years ago, then they split up and
now there back with this great EP of emo/rock in
its finest, they take que from bands like Jimmy
Eat World and Weezer, and smash it out the window
with great vocals and thrashing guitars, go and
check them out now!
I would have loved to put albums in by bands like Cancer Bats, Billy Talent and Papa Roach, but unfortunately I haven't listened to them yet, even though I know they'll be great and might top some of the bands in my top 5, but hey that's the way it goes, here's hoping for a cracking 2013 with more albums pencilled in from bands such as A Day To Remember, Paramore, Page 44 and Mindless Self Indulgence its sure not to disappoint!
|
|
|
|
|
|
James
Webb |
|
|
2012,
its been a year to remember thats for sure. My favourite
moments have been seeing the almighty Black Sabbath
perform at Download Festival, meeting my idol wrestler
Chris Jericho when interviewing Fozzy in birmingham,
attending Bloodstock Open Air for the first time
and seeing Alice Cooper, not so much the weather
at Download festival that one was definitely a horrible
moment being drowned in sludge. A full year of chaos
and memories made at AV and should the 21st not
be the end of the world then already we have another
cracking year ahead of us!
Top 5 Albums Of 2012
This was a hard choice for first place but While
She Sleeps, the next British icons in my opinion
have released the best album this year it was absolutely
fantastic full of some of the heaviest riffs and
beats I’ve ever heard in my life, really gears
me up to face the challenges of the day!
 Very close second place for Papa
Roach who really pushed the boundaries of their
sound with “The Connection”, bringing
in and incorporating elements perfectly nobody would
have ever expected to find their place with Papa
Roach.
After being disappointed with the past couple of
Bleeding Through albums the Orange County metal
heroes really pulled one out of the bag with this
2012 release, the sheer ominous melodies backing
the forefront brutality makes for a perfect mix
in this old school metalcore structure.
Nailed it this year, it’s been a hard choice
putting this list together but Shinedown definitely
deserved their spot in my list as it’s made
quite the impression and pulled me into an emotional
attachment towards the tracks.
Ill Nino haven’t been on the best of luck
in the uk as of late and their latest album Epidemia
is absolutely fantastic, hopefully they’ll
take control as they could push themselves to new
heights with the fantastic group of songs they’ve
put together on this album, really old school Ill
Nino.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Marc
Rich |
|
|
Early
this year a friend introduced me to the Alternative
Vision team, covering Brand New, I Am The Avalanche
and The Xcerts. The show was incredible, and things
only got better from there. This year I've reviewed
Blink-182, taken photo's at NASS and Hevy festival,
interviewed Sum 41, stood side stage for The Audition
and drunk with the likes of Deaf Havana and Lower
Than Atlantis.
I also recently had the pleasure of covering The
Road To Warped tour, a historic event as the iconic
American festival finally came over to the UK. One
of the best things about my time with Alternative
Vision is the sheer number of incredible bands that
it's introduced me to. Don Broco, Night Verses,
The Computers, Never Means Maybe, Verses and The
Xcerts are just a few from the list.
Whilst there have been a few downs, mostly panicking
about missing an interview due to traffic or issues
with the guest list due to a box office screw up,
It's given me so many unforgettable experiences.
I can't imagine what 2013 has to offer, but with
bands like Alice in Chains, Stone Sour, Slipknot
and Funeral For a Friend planning to release new
albums there's going to be a lot to cover.
I'm also looking forward to full album releases
from Natives after the fantastic "This Island"
EP, Night Verses and Pure Love. Given the quality
of material released by those three bands their
debut albums could quite easily find their way on
to the list of best five albums of 2013.
Top 5 Albums Of 2012
Billy Talent sadly broke away from their number
system and named an album, as well as stepping up
the album art. I went through my usual Billy Talent
CD ritual with "Dead Silence", initially
reserved thinking "it's alright but the last
one was better" and by the 2nd play through
total addiction. Everyone wants a band's new album
to be a copy of their favourite tracks, much like
Nickleback's "Someday" is of "How
You Remind Me". Luckily though most bands tend
to change and give us a few new favourites when
they bring out the next album. Billy Talent seem
to do both. They have such a unique and definite
style with its dominating bass riffs, clever and
unusual guitar combined with Benjamin's voice, that
makes it so familiar in spite of the massive change
this album marks. "Dead Silence" is a
lot more of a Rock album that their previous work,
with a bit more melody and a bit less anger but
still utterly Billy Talent.
 Why doesn't every pop-punk band
have a violinist? By the end of the first line of
the opening track "Awakening" I want to
be sat in on some grass in the sun drinking a beer
with my friends. Yellowcard always make me nostalgic,
with their relatable and emotional songs and "Southern
Air" is no different. With an summer vibe,
and some help from their fellow Hopeless Records
artist Taylor Jardine of We Are The In Crowd as
well as some other guests they've produced another
great album.
Stone Sour are just a great rock band, not too heavy
not too soft. And once again they've produced an
album that mixes hard hitting tracks like the opening
track "Gone Sovereign" with the softer
"Taciturn" chocked the album with, classic
rock riffs, emotional lyrics and some solo's for
good measure. Hurry up part 2.
I flipped between this and Soundgarden's "King
Animal" about a million times as there both
great albums. Two grunge bands that have been around
for decades on and off, bringing out an album. A
lucky year for me as grunge was my first and dreariest
musical love. The polished "King Animal"
lost out to "I Bet on Sky" by the smallest
of margins. Taking a softer tone than "Farm"
or "Beyond", "I Bet on Sky"
took a little while to get into, but the distorted
sound, solos and easy listening gave it that Dinosaur
Jr charm much like with "Beyond". A scruff
album by a scruffy band that you can't help but
enjoy.
It's one hell of a debut album. When telling a friend
I was putting this in the list he was shocked, and
to be honest I don't know if it is one of the five
best albums of the year but something about it makes
you want to listen to it over and over again. I
think it's the album I've played the most this year,
and at some point almost ever track has been my
favourite off the album. It could be the happy bouncy
nature or the relate ability of "Priorites"
the fun bass riffs or something else but when you
get to the end you just hit play again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kim
Horsley |
|
|
Top
5 Albums Of 2012
The third EP from the band based in Cardiff titled
‘Noiseless’. There was a lot of expectation
as their fan base is forever growing. A heavier
sound to these three tracks compared to their
earlier work. What I like most is the variety.
“Faces Blurred” starts off with an
acoustic short interlude to then, bam! Straight
into the fast paced, melodic guitar work which
is their signature sound. But the best is saved
for last “Noiseless” a powerful song
in both lyrics and sound and earned the title
of the EP.
Finally! It seems All Time Low are going back
to their old roots slowly and leaving their more
pop sound behind. Don’t get me wrong, pop-punk
is great, but I felt they boys became too pop
orientated of late. No doubt down to their change
of record company. I am very glad to hear the
fast tempo; catchy tunes that we all expect from
the band are back in action! “For Baltimore”
and “Backseat Serenade” restore my
faith back into the band. However, the final track
from the album titled “So Long, And Thanks
For All The Booze” to me as a slight Four
Year Strong feel to it. Very fast paced, with
slower verses and strong vocals – all we’re
missing are the epic beards! All in all a great,
easy listening album.
An album we have all been waiting for. To hear
what the next Muse album throws at us. After releasing
a clip which would then be the track “The
2nd Law: Unsustainable” The people of the
internet went crazy. Presuming Muse had gone “dub-step”.
I did not want to agree with this to start off
with – hoping that Muse hadn’t taken
a mainstream approach. But after listening to
the album in full, there’s no denying “dub-step”
elements to their music – but hasn’t
there always? Just more developed than “Plug
In Baby”. What I love about Muse is how
each track of the album is different. The ordering
of the tracks take you on a journey and all fit
perfectly together. Incorporating their well-known
piano interludes and more classical instruments
– Muse have the balance perfect. “Panic
Station” is slightly surprising in that
it’s up beat and almost has a ska feel to
it. “Survival” was the track for the
Olympics, and featured in the Olympic Closing
Ceremony. This song is one of my favourites off
of the album. Building up throughout the entire
song, Bellamy’s powerful voice can carry
off this song well. Ending the album on calm “The
2nd Law: Isolated System”. Each album just
gets better and better – what will be next
for one of the most popular alternative bands
of today?
When I heard that Frank Carter was leaving Gallows,
I was devastated. Gallows being one of my favourite
bands, I assumed the band would part ways and
continue with their own projects. But Wade MacNeil
– former member of Alexisonfire –
became the new frontman, causing havoc with the
fans. There was a lot of expectation. For me,
I felt the band wouldn’t work. Gallows were
so well known for their British, no nonsense music,
especially after Grey Britain. But MacNeil has
brought a surprisingly new edge. ‘Last June’
was one of the first tracks to be released as
a free download and this is one of my favourite
tracks from the album. With MacNeil’s raw
vocals and the classic Gallows instrumental riffs
– Gallows were back for good. The self-titled
album is eleven tracks of ferocious, hardcore
goodness. Normally most bands would end up not
getting that far once having replaced the frontman.
But Gallows are going from strength to strength,
taking a step forward and proved negative fans
wrong – including me!
What I admire about Billy Talent is how they manage
to keep their sound the same, yet every album
sounds unique and not like the previous –
yet after hearing a few seconds of a Billy Talent
song you know instantly that it’s theirs.
I was surprised the album wasn’t named “IIII”
but instead “Dead Silence” with some
pretty awesome album artwork. This album seems
a lot heavier and darker than the other three.
After the opening track it kicks into the first
single "Viking Death March", the song
has the classic sound you come to expect from
Billy Talent – the snare roll before a heavier
version of the opening riff kicks in. “Hanging
By A Thread” and “Cure for the Enemy”
are key songs to look out for. The band have grown
up with the fans, and are no longer riddled with
as much angst and hatred for society. They’ve
found a much more melodic way of expressing it
and the lyrics more clever. Still, an album worth
buying to add to you ‘Talent collection.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jude
Onions |
|
|
Ciro
Guadagno |
|
|
Although
I’ve only been apart of Alternative vision
for a short while I can honestly say I’ve
loved every minuet. The opportunities I’ve
been given like going on guest lists and reviewing
amazing live bands Like The Bots have been a great
experience and I can not wait to carry on doing
the same in 2013, absolutely loving Alternative
vision.
Top 5 Albums Of 2012
 Jack Black and Kyle Gas have pulled
out all the stops with this one. With the amazing
new riffs and refreshing hilarious lyrics that tell
the story of a new and improved D, telling tails
of real life events that the media saw the band
under go with songs like They F'd our Asses and
The Balled of Hollywood Jack and The Rage Cage,
two songs that although very heartfelt are also
crammed full of the Ds essence that can be found
in other epic tracks on the album like Death Star,
Senorita and 39 to name but a few.
New Horizons is the third chapter in the book of
Flyleaf, a chapter that sees a more heavier, darker
Flyleaf, a Flyleaf that fans have been crying out
for since day the release of their debut album.
With much crunchier bass grooves and heavy guitar
riffs that compliment Lacey’s Violent, melodic
vocals that draw fans in. The album really sores
higher than any of their previous work showing a
new and improved band, however the only downside
to the album is that it says good-bye to singer
Lacey Sturm, a sad sight to see but leading the
band into NEW HORIZONS.
Shinedown’s Album Amaryllis was another corker
for the year. Each song on the album was set out
to destroy and boy does it, weather it’s through
the crunchy guitars and powerful drumbeats of Bully
or the slow chilling acoustic vibrations that accompany
Lead singer Brent Smiths melodic to the bone vocals
in Through The Ghost, a song that is stripped down
to acoustic guitar but powered by an orchestra making
for an absolutely breathe taking power ballad. Amaryllis
is a blooming flower that in Shinedown’s case
symbolises where the guys are as a band.
This past summer The Offspring gave the people a
little treat with Days Go By, an album that was
very fitting to the summer/autumn period with tracks
like I Wanna Secrete Family and Cruising California,
two tracks that were made for blasting out when
your just driving around with out a care in the
world, not forgetting though the harder side to
offspring, the side that bleeds Punk Rock also in
full effect in the record with beasts like Turning
Into you and all out monkey flipping-ley great track
Slim Pickens Does The Right Thing And Rides The
Bomb To Hell.
The Milk were out in full force this year, going
from who are The Milk? To have you heard The Milk?
In the space of just over a year making their Debut
Album Tales From The Thames Delta a very much anticipated
album and didn’t disappoint. Full of Cheeky
chappy soulful tunes that fill the heart with a
beat to dance to and a song to sing whilst doing
the cleaning up, even if you don’t know the
words just by singing La LaLaLa means you can be
apart of this Feel good family party. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3. Bleeding Through – The Great Fire
3. Stone Sour - House of Gold & Bones part
1
