Radio Alcatraz
We were recently put onto London and Brighton based post-hardcore unit, Radio Alcatraz, following the release of their latest single, Running Through The Stitch. Acting as a support track for their upcoming, self recorded debut album, Populous: In The Belly Of The Beast, due for release on the 1st of August 2012, we were sent through a link to check out the album before general release so we knew what to expect. Always fans of hearing things before other people, I was looking forward to hitting play to see what was going on.
From the moment the album kicks off with Oxford Codes there’s an immediate sense of raw, sludgy power, the mix forming around you to create a sound which is both upbeat, energetic and powerful all at the same time. Syncopated at times, and more straight forward at other times, there’s a real mix of styles running throughout the track here, lifting the band to a new level and demonstrating their understanding of musical styles as well as musical ability. This is something which continues into Your Syndicate Against My Cartel, a track which blends the hard hitting and energetic mix with a sense of calm and reflection. The two styles work together to form a sound which is both heavy and upbeat, yet reflective and calming at the same time, it’s a clever mix that they’ve achieved, and something which will stand these guys in good stead moving forwards. With this track I’d even go so far as to say they’ve thrown some catchy hooks into the mix to keep it alive, something which again, is all too often lost yet they’ve done it with aplomb here.
Ink Poisoning presents us with a slightly different approach to things, this time showing off the bands post hardcore tendencies and throwing us into an exciting and melodic pit of different elements. The mix which is formed here envelops you as it forms around the room, the sound pulling you in and keeping you engaged from start to finish, showing that there’s a serene level of melody built into this raucous and upbeat mix of musical styles. Corpus Capitaneous Learning Curve once again marks a change, this time slowing everything down to an almost atmospheric level and demonstrating further that this is a band that understands how to create a song which simply works. Roving between the slow and intricately formed elements, this track comes almost as a soothing moment on the album, allowing you a moment to sit back, relax and take everything in. Moving back towards the more upbeat moments once again, this track presents us with a veritable showcase of the bands styles and abilities, each note coming as a moment to treasure, a moment to inhale, and a moment that’s going to set this band apart from the norm.
Returning to the more upbeat ideologies for Switches & Triggers, Doomed 1940s Airman This Is 21st Century Air Traffic Control (great track name!) and moving to a more out there vibe for Documents Relating To John Doe, the band continue their endless display of abilities and different styles track after track, each time presenting a slightly different approach to things but all the time keeping the sound firmly their own. If I Could Control Ghosts I’d Kill You In Your Sleep (another great track name)is another moment which is testament to this, presenting us with a track which stands out as a serious highpoint on the album as a whole. Soft and melodic, yet dark and ominous as it opens, the mix formed here is one which will work insanely well on the live scene, pulling the audience into their unconventional mix and presenting more of those syncopated, carefully formed beats. The upbeat moments of this track stand out as something to behold, it’s a mix of lead snippets, bass heavy rhythms and pounding drums, the whole sound forming into a smack in the face which will leave you dumbfounded at the sheer sound achieved.
We Have But One Rule And You Broke It, The Code Is LOTUS Burn The Room and The Dark Art Of Salesmanship all continue to lead you through the album, each track continuing to showcase the style of the band and keep you listening to what they’ve got on offer. Following on with Running Through The Stitch though, we’re shown why the band chose to use this track as a lead in single to the album. Upbeat, fast, energetic and once again packing one hell of a punch, this track seems to epitomise the sound of the band as well as the album as a whole. Heavy yet melodic and uplifting whilst still maintaining that sense of darkness and foreboding in their mix, this is one which really keeps you wanting more. As a stand alone single, this track does the job perfectly and is sure to get people onto Radio Alcatraz, making them want to know more, infecting them with their music and demonstrating that post-hardcore is still a genre which defines clear boundaries.
Closing with Fear Of A Supernatural Dictator the album closes on an inevitable high, finishing as it began and demonstrating that the band can mix their styles with aplomb, both within tracks as well as across albums. As a closing track we’re left wondering how they’re going to follow on from this, the upbeat and catchy melodies mixing with the hard hitting and raspy vocal lines whilst the off beat guitar lines work their way around the backing beat. Closing on a high, finally we’re presented with an opportunity to breath and take it all in, before hitting play and going back through it all over again.
I like the sound that Radio Alcatraz have gone for as simply, it’s a mix of different genres which the band have taken and made their own. Throughout this album it’s impossible to predict what’s going to come next, impossible to second guess the band as every time, they’ll smack you around the back of the head and leave you guessing once again. If you’re looking for an album which is exciting, interesting, powerful and incredibly well put together, then you’re not going to go far wrong here.
Check out the video to Running Through The Stitch below.
To find out more about Radio Alcatraz, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls
From the moment the album kicks off with Oxford Codes there’s an immediate sense of raw, sludgy power, the mix forming around you to create a sound which is both upbeat, energetic and powerful all at the same time. Syncopated at times, and more straight forward at other times, there’s a real mix of styles running throughout the track here, lifting the band to a new level and demonstrating their understanding of musical styles as well as musical ability. This is something which continues into Your Syndicate Against My Cartel, a track which blends the hard hitting and energetic mix with a sense of calm and reflection. The two styles work together to form a sound which is both heavy and upbeat, yet reflective and calming at the same time, it’s a clever mix that they’ve achieved, and something which will stand these guys in good stead moving forwards. With this track I’d even go so far as to say they’ve thrown some catchy hooks into the mix to keep it alive, something which again, is all too often lost yet they’ve done it with aplomb here.
Ink Poisoning presents us with a slightly different approach to things, this time showing off the bands post hardcore tendencies and throwing us into an exciting and melodic pit of different elements. The mix which is formed here envelops you as it forms around the room, the sound pulling you in and keeping you engaged from start to finish, showing that there’s a serene level of melody built into this raucous and upbeat mix of musical styles. Corpus Capitaneous Learning Curve once again marks a change, this time slowing everything down to an almost atmospheric level and demonstrating further that this is a band that understands how to create a song which simply works. Roving between the slow and intricately formed elements, this track comes almost as a soothing moment on the album, allowing you a moment to sit back, relax and take everything in. Moving back towards the more upbeat moments once again, this track presents us with a veritable showcase of the bands styles and abilities, each note coming as a moment to treasure, a moment to inhale, and a moment that’s going to set this band apart from the norm.
Returning to the more upbeat ideologies for Switches & Triggers, Doomed 1940s Airman This Is 21st Century Air Traffic Control (great track name!) and moving to a more out there vibe for Documents Relating To John Doe, the band continue their endless display of abilities and different styles track after track, each time presenting a slightly different approach to things but all the time keeping the sound firmly their own. If I Could Control Ghosts I’d Kill You In Your Sleep (another great track name)is another moment which is testament to this, presenting us with a track which stands out as a serious highpoint on the album as a whole. Soft and melodic, yet dark and ominous as it opens, the mix formed here is one which will work insanely well on the live scene, pulling the audience into their unconventional mix and presenting more of those syncopated, carefully formed beats. The upbeat moments of this track stand out as something to behold, it’s a mix of lead snippets, bass heavy rhythms and pounding drums, the whole sound forming into a smack in the face which will leave you dumbfounded at the sheer sound achieved.
We Have But One Rule And You Broke It, The Code Is LOTUS Burn The Room and The Dark Art Of Salesmanship all continue to lead you through the album, each track continuing to showcase the style of the band and keep you listening to what they’ve got on offer. Following on with Running Through The Stitch though, we’re shown why the band chose to use this track as a lead in single to the album. Upbeat, fast, energetic and once again packing one hell of a punch, this track seems to epitomise the sound of the band as well as the album as a whole. Heavy yet melodic and uplifting whilst still maintaining that sense of darkness and foreboding in their mix, this is one which really keeps you wanting more. As a stand alone single, this track does the job perfectly and is sure to get people onto Radio Alcatraz, making them want to know more, infecting them with their music and demonstrating that post-hardcore is still a genre which defines clear boundaries.
Closing with Fear Of A Supernatural Dictator the album closes on an inevitable high, finishing as it began and demonstrating that the band can mix their styles with aplomb, both within tracks as well as across albums. As a closing track we’re left wondering how they’re going to follow on from this, the upbeat and catchy melodies mixing with the hard hitting and raspy vocal lines whilst the off beat guitar lines work their way around the backing beat. Closing on a high, finally we’re presented with an opportunity to breath and take it all in, before hitting play and going back through it all over again.
I like the sound that Radio Alcatraz have gone for as simply, it’s a mix of different genres which the band have taken and made their own. Throughout this album it’s impossible to predict what’s going to come next, impossible to second guess the band as every time, they’ll smack you around the back of the head and leave you guessing once again. If you’re looking for an album which is exciting, interesting, powerful and incredibly well put together, then you’re not going to go far wrong here.
Check out the video to Running Through The Stitch below.
To find out more about Radio Alcatraz, check out their Facebook page HERE.
Words: Dave Nicholls