Palmreader - Palmreader Album Review
Palmreader are a 5-piece British hardcore band who are quickly developing a name for themselves...
rating: 3.5
Palmreader are a 5-piece British hardcore band who are quickly developing a name for themselves. The bands made up by Dave Wilkes (drums), Andy Gillan (guitar), Sam Rondeau-Smith (guitar), Josh Redrup (bass) and Josh Mckeown (vocals) who, if youre really into your underground music, will remember as the vocalist of the new defunct Open The Skies. However, dont confuse his previous projects sound with Palmreader: the two bands have a very different sound, and Palmreader have a much more intense, visceral sound compared to the relatively accessible, melodic sound that Open The Skies utilised. Not yet a year old, having been formed in the summer of 2011, they self-confessedly play loud, heavy, hard and fast, taking influence from the likes of established names on the scene such as Gallows, The Chariot and Norma Jean. The potential of Palmreader was evident from the beginning, and this saw them play with Feed The Rhino within 2 months of their formation. After this, they went on to play with the likes of Bastions, Polar, Hildamay. Up River and Heart In Hand, and even hit the road for their first tour with Golden Tanks. As you can see, a lot has gone on in quite a small amount of time for these guys but the hectic schedule thats been bursting their diaries (or more than likely diary apps) has only seemed to make them hungrier for success. And this is obvious when you listen to their self-titled debut EP. The opener, Seeing and Believing are Two Different Things, lets you know immediately what youre in for. An unrelenting mash-up of chunky, stop-start, almost spazzy riffs; passionate, angry vocals screamed as if Mckeowns vocal cords will give in at any moment; and frantic, tight drumming. This track will go down well with fans of early Gallows and even fans of Bastions, as the breakdowns definitely have the go-all-out-or-go-home appeal that Bastions incorporate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QKEp4LJEWRk War Between the Head and the Heart has winding, off-shooting guitars which straighten out and chug, and also a roving bass-line which pummels away behind the climbing and falling guitar chords making for a heavy listen, but also a listen which has textures of noise building up until a pretty impressive guitar solo splinters in. Its not as effective as the first track but it still works in the way it shows Palmreader as a band who dont just rely on their in-your-face style: they also have the creativity and musical nous in how to layer a primarily uncompromising sound in to one that has a lot going on behind the red-blooded facet. What Are Friends For? is a dissonant, raw affair that acts as more of an interlude than anything else and it sets up the final track, Fall Further, nicely. Fall Further truly is a balls-out, fast-paced, heavy track which points out the bands promise of playing loud, heavy, hard and fast and its possible that its the strongest track on EP. This isnt just because the band are living up to what they say they play like, the whole track epitomises the band. Passionate, unbending, angry vocals; heavy, at times melodic, at times straight-up furious guitars; and drumming which keeps the whole sound together but yet maintains a sense of adamant determination to pummel and batter the kit until the only life left is the dying seconds of the song. Palmreader are a band to definitely keep an eye on. Theyre another band to add to the growing amount of quality hardcore bands the UK is producing at the moment, and hopefully, their next release will propel them out of those number of bands and into something truly unique, because this EP certainly shows signs of that. I havent had the opportunity to catch them live yet, but theyre on tour in March. Go and see them if you get the chance, their live shows are supposed to be something else. You can find their tour dates on the image at the start of this review, or on their Facebook. Facebook: www.facebook.com/palmreaderukPalmreader's self titled EP is available from March 12th