The Future's Bright

Some positivity needs to be injected here before I go off onto some further furious missive.

Recently, the fertile lands of the UK have norn forth a plethora of incredible bands. I would like to take this time to eulogise about some of them

Shield Your Eyes

I was the lucky recipient of the album this morning and, bearing in mind my PC only has one (left-hand) speaker at the moment, this might well be the best thing released all year. Containing Toby ex of MMISL, the record is an unfathomable blend of dizzying styles. The guitar noises - every squeak, fretless bend, pinch harmonic, divebomb - sound like faulty machinery transcending the digital age and imitating heavy metal. Time changes are de riguer and happen every 6 seconds or so, vocals remain passionate, resolute and angry throughout and the end result is of a mess resembling order.

Blakfish

New post-hardcore heroes - their EP See You In Another City is chock full of dramatic dynamics and throat stripping refrains. ANy EP that begins with a song called Preparing For Guests about not wanting to clean your house - including at least three of my favourite riffs and a tapping solos and outro and the lyrics "No one comments on the state of this house..it's like we're lying to all of our friends, this place will never be this tidy again" "Give me a strong reason to not have to bother to hoover my room, I've even tidied up all my shoes" - is probably the best EP released this year. The solid state of Jeremy Kyle Is A Marked Man is delightful and, what's more, apparently they're incredible live.

Tubelord

I recently described these guys as "Saves the Day meets Biffy Clyro". It's pretty accurate if I do say so myself. Their incredible use of harmonies, gentle guitar parts, violent explosions of distorted wreckage and brilliant musicianship is at the heart of the band. The icing on the cake is the high-pitched lead vocal, the singer's insistent on raising and lowering his knee in time with the music live, and the complete nonchalance with which they deliver these complex, emotionally driven songs. BSM single Feed Me A Box Of Words is already an anthem in the making and I can't say enough about how good this little band is. So I'll stop there.

That's just three. I could also wax lyrical about Cats In Paris, Alan MX, And So I Watch You From Afar, Copy Haho and Gossamer Albatross. But you should just go listen yourself and then recommend me some bands that are incredible.