All Time Low 'Don't Panic: It's Longer Now' Album Review

American pop-punk band All Time Low first formed in their hometown of Baltimore, Maryland ten years ago. From the release of their first studio album 'The Party Scene' back in 2005 all the way through to their latest musical endeavor 'Don't Panic,' they have slowly but surely taken the entire world by storm. With their main demographic being teenagers and young adults, their winning formula of extremely catchy choruses and angst-ridden lyrics strikes the perfect balance between pop and rock, blending the two genres together perfectly. 'Don't Panic: It's Longer Now' is a re-release of the bands aforementioned album which includes eight brand new tracks, four of which being acoustic versions of their most popular songs off of the album.

Upon first listen, it is clear that with six albums now firmly under their belt, All Time Low's repertoire has grown substantially and one track that highlights this in particular is 'Canals.' The songs introduction has an incredibly funky feel to it, however after mere seconds, lead vocalist Alex Gaskarth's instantly recognisable vocals kick in and bring the song to life. Another new edition to the album, 'Oh, Calamity!' is a slightly mellower track, yet this comes as refreshing change to an otherwise hard-hitting, fast paced album.

The bands current single, 'A Love Like War,' features front-man Vic Fuentes from fellow pop-punk band Pierce The Veil. With the songs powerful drumming and guitar riffs to the pairs seamless blend of vocals, the track is bound to be a sure fire hit amongst the bands devoted fan base.

1. The Reckless And The Brave

2. A Love Like War (feat. Vic Fuentes)
3. Backseat Serenade
4. Me Without You (All I Ever Wanted)
5. If These Sheets Were The States

6. Somewhere In Neverland

7. So Long, Soldier

8. Canals
9. The Irony Of Choking On A Lifesaver
10. To Live And Let Go
11. Outlines
12. Thanks To You

13. For Baltimore

14. Paint You Wings

15. So Long, And Thanks For All The Booze
16. Oh Calamity!
17. For Baltimore (Acoustic)

18. Somewhere In Neverland (Acoustic)
19. The Reckless And The Brave (Acoustic)

20. Backseat Serenade (Acoustic)


Ultimately, it is plain to see now that the band have returned to being managed by Hopeless Records, All Time Low are going from strength-to-strength and there is no sign of them slowing down any time soon!  

Zedd feat. Hayley Williams 'Stay The Night' Single Review

Ahead of the re-release of his ever so popular album, 'Clarity,' Zedd has teamed up with vocal powerhouse Hayley Williams, lead singer of pop-rock band Paramore, to release his new single called 'Stay The Night'. This is the second venture that Williams has taken in terms of featuring on other artists records, the first being on B.o.B's hit song back in 2010, 'Airplanes.'

On the surface, this track is pretty much everything you would expect it to be. Upon first listen, it is a radio-friendly dance number with an infectious chorus and drops in all the right places. However, there is something a little special about this song. Whether it be Hayley's infamous vocals or Zedd's injection of a synth nearer the end of the track, 'Stay The Night' is a breath of fresh air compared to all other dance tracks on the market right now. Accompanied by just a simple piano melody, Williams starts the tune with serene vocals mimicking that of a ballad-style record. Yet, the song steadily builds to a conclusive crescendo when the beat finally kicks in.

On top of this, the timing of the single also conincides with Paramore's sold-out worldwide tour which makes this great publicity for the band too. Overall, with both artists individually on top of their game in their opposing musical fields, combined they are definitely sure to hit the big time with this record. 

Twenty One Pilots 'Vessel' Album Review

Twenty One Pilots, a musical two-piece from Ohio, first formed back in 2009. However, they have only just made their way into the limelight. After finally gaining some recognition and being signed in 2012 by Fueled by Ramen, the same record label who manage the likes of rock giants Paramore and Fall Out Boy, the duo have gone from strength to strength. Now, two EP's later, Twenty One Pilots have released their first studio album, 'Vessel.'   

At first listen, it is clear that the band have a very distinctive and original sound. Lead singer Tyler Joseph's mixture of rap and alternative vocals with fellow band member Josh Dun's powerful drumming, the two are definitely a force to be reckoned with. The opening track of the album, Ode To Sleep, is the perfect track to set the tone for the rest of the album as it really showcases what the band are all about. The contrast between the rap and electronic elements of the album is definitely a refreshing change, as it constantly keeps the listener on their toes as Tyler switches between the two styles.

The second song on the record, 'Holding On For You,' is the bands most successful song to date and with it's incredibly catchy melody and lyrics, it's no wonder as to why. This is the duos current single in the UK and ever since they played the infamous Reading & Leeds Festival last month, the bands fan base this side of the pond has grown exponentially. Another firm favourite on the album is without a doubt 'Guns For Hands.' In a recent interview, front-man Tyler admitted that this song is very honest and is all about extremely common emotional issues such as depression and self harm, which are topics that affect so many adolescents and young adults. For a band to release such hard-hitting and honest material is such a breath of fresh air and this is just one of the many reasons why Twenty One Pilots are set for even more success in upcoming months.



The track listing for the album is as follows:

1. Ode To Sleep
2. Holding On To You 
3. Migraine
4. House Of Gold
5. Car Radio
6. Semi-Automatic 
7. Screen 
8. The Run And Go 
9. Fake You Out 
10. Guns For Hands
11. Trees
12. Truce

Overall, this album is riddled with many sure fire hits and after recently being nominated for several newcomer awards, it's plain to see that the band are definitely one to watch out for in the near future! Ultimately, if you have not done so already; go and pick up a copy of Vessel today!