Columbia Mills have released their new single ‘Heart of a Nation’. ‘Heart of a Nation’ is the title track and first single from the band’s third album scheduled for release in September this year. Described by John Kennedy (Radio X) as Ireland’s answer to The National, Columbia Mills are regulars at festivals such as Indiependence, Longitude, and Electric Picnic and have supported world-class acts like Ride, Public Service Broadcasting, and Palace. On top of this, they have also toured Ireland & the UK with a string of headline shows at venues such as Whelans, King Tuts, and Sebright Arms.
‘Heart of a Nation’ is a thrilling new song from Columbia Mills. Dealing with dark themes, in particular Ireland’s housing crisis the band highlight failures in our society. Fiachra Treacy’s vocals croon moving lyrics and drive home the songs stark lyrical content “A mother in a hotel raising her kids she’s not on holiday how did it end up this way …….sleeping in a Garda station, living in the heart of a first world nation”.
‘Heart of a Nation’ is a wonderfully expressive piece of music. The band create a soundscape filled with lush instrumentation, dark undertones and dazzling moments of evocative musicianship through the use of chiming guitars, bass rumbles and beautiful key arrangements that deftly convey coiling emotion, innocence, and anger.
The enthralling sound of Columbia Mills is one to be admired. Each of the band’s releases are a joy to listen to again and again. ‘Heart of a Nation’ is an excellent display of Columbia Mills’ masterful use of instrumentation, sonic finesse and eloquent songwriting.
Speaking about ‘Heart of a Nation’ lead singer Fiachra Treacy said: “Heart of a Nation” documents the housing crisis in Ireland, with each verse tackling a different aspect of the problem. From a mother sleeping with her children in a Garda station to the crooked businessmen and politicians that have caused the housing crisis in Ireland. Heart of a Nation peels back the political rhetoric and looks at the real people affected when the ruling class looks out for themselves.”
Thumper – Photography by Ruth Medjber @ruthlessimagery
Irish noise-pop / alt-rock sextet THUMPER’s hotly-anticipated debut LP ‘Delusions of Grandeur’ is set for release on the 18th March. Over the last two years, the Dublin six-piece have been developing their sound and building an increasingly passionate fanbase. With a lineup of two drummers and three guitarists, THUMPER’s maximalist wall of sound has long since set them apart in the booming Dublin music scene.
I caught up with Oisín Leahy Furlong to talk about the band’s debut album, expectations placed on the band as well as touring and getting comfortable with his voice.
“Well, I suppose that’s how we listen to music by LPs, and THUMPER sort of started and stopped and started and stopped. We had lineup changes, changes in direction and the normal teething problems that bands have. Once we solidified the lineup and the intent it was the next logical step to record that album for now and make our stamp”
THUMPER are perfecting their craft, dropping alternative rock gems with each release. Each member of the band is very talented and the album is a confident display of their musical prowess. I wondered if there were any moments of anxiety and doubt while creating the album.
“It’s hard to say really, because originally we recorded the album we had been on tour in 2019. We were going to the studio just to record a single and a B side and because we’ve been so busy touring, we went in and we recorded like eight or nine songs back to back just because we knew them all back to front because 2020 was gonna be so busy for us. It was just kind of warts and all, band in a room, like an artefact of what we sounded like at that time and that was more born out of our schedule. We didn’t have time to labour over something, but then obviously 2020 came along and all of our plans were null and void at that point. So, we’re on tour when Covid really hit and we flew back to Ireland, and Alan [Dooley] went straight into the studio and started working on re- looking at what we had recorded and what state it was all in. I didn’t see him for like two or three months but I knew he was working on the record. I didn’t know what he was doing. When I finally got to see him, a couple of months had passed and he’d grown a huge beard like he was in Castaway or whatever. He had sort of retcon the whole album from being this live in a room, to something way more. So, when we decided that was the direction we want to take it we were pretty confident with it because those are the album’s that we like you know. But we spent so long on it, 2020 felt like it was about three years long because of everything that was going on and we were in the studio non-stop working on the record. You have to just trust your instinct that what you’re doing is the right thing for the music. So I’m not sure that I would say we were confident it was just sort of willful ignorance that we were doing the right thing.”
The instrumentation within the album is masterful. Each song is a glorious display of great musicianship that boasts sleek guitar moments, sweet melodies and abrasive outbursts. The album takes wild unpredictable twists throughout its blustery journey as it shifts from frenetic soundscapes to stripped back instrumental breaks before leaping into dynamic crescendos. Tracks such as ‘Overbite’ and ‘Topher Grace’ are fine examples of this. ‘Strychnine’ is also a riveting display of musicianship from the sextet. Arguably the tour de force within the album the track is mostly Oisín and an acoustic guitar with soft percussion accompaniment and electronic guitar embellishments.
“That song is, in some ways outside of our comfort zone in the way it’s structured and the way we attacked it. I actually had that in my voice memos. I was going through like I have about 500 voice memos on my phone. It breaks every two seconds. But I had that saved on my phone from like 2018 as THUMPER mid-LP song. Then I was like, yeah, that’s what that will be and then that’s just what we did. Really, again, it’s like you make the decision, you’re confident about it. Then when you have to actualize it that’s when you have to be confident or employ a sort of a weird, over the top sense of self-belief. But we’re really happy with it. It’s one of my favourite tunes on the record now.”
The instrumental track ‘The Ghost’ is an exquisite piece of music. Featuring hypnotic guitar strikes, a sweet guitar refrain and abrasive undertones the track is a mosh pit friendly frenzy that is filled with mind-melting distortion and psychedelic elements.
“Well, when I settled on the idea of calling the album Delusions of Grandeur, that was referencing lyrical themes throughout it, but also in reference to the fact that when THUMPER started, it was a solo project. It was just me bringing out tapes and making like 100 of them and giving them around Dublin, really low stakes. low fi badly recorded, just sort of not throw away but the scope of it was much smaller. When we fixed on this Delusions of Grandeur idea, I thought it’d be funny to have a three-part 20 minute long song, finish the album so obviously, ‘The Ghost’ is like the second in that whole three-part suite at the end. The tune ‘Overbite’ which comes before it was the first time that Alan had basically written all the music or the guts of it to that song and I wrote the lyrics and then I was like, Okay, what this needs is, and I sort of sang out this section that didn’t exist yet. It needs to start off with one guitar and slowly build up into this thing. Then he just randomly flicked through his other demos that he had and just clicked on one and it was exactly what I just said. He had already preempted me wanting that to happen. So that became a blueprint then for that piece of music. Again, it wasn’t some huge decision to this instrumental piece that was gonna make the whole album but it was just going with your gut. Yeah, serving the songs as best you can.”
‘Down in Heaven’ brings the album to an end. It’s a heartbreaking finale. Oisín’s earnest vocals croon very raw lyrics “I did it to myself cos I deserved it” while drums trudge through a sweet melody and piercing sting on guitars. The track is both vibrant and mournful all at once as the band’s expressive use of instrumentation and melody creates gripping heart-wrenching turmoil for listeners to experience. This moving tune is a striking end to a magnificent album and provides a moment of reflection on the album as a whole, making the listener want to experience the rollercoaster ride that is ‘Delusions of Grandeur’ again.
“Yeah, It’s funny, it’s our first album, but there’s a couple of moments on it where I really wasn’t sure. It was a creative risk, because it is quite different to what we’ve done before and the worry would be that tune would be perceived as being melodramatic, even though I was kind of aiming for something a little bit more insular. I’m glad you like it. I don’t know what to say about it. That’s probably the one song that I’m most intrigued to hear people’s reaction to because it is quite raw and it’s us trying our hardest to push past what people expect of us.”
‘Down in Heaven’ alludes to a different THUMPER. It’s a cinematic, cliffhanger moment that suggests something exciting could happen with the next release.
“I think so, I think you’re right. This album is a good few years in the making. We started making some of these songs when I was in my early to mid-20s and now I’m early 30s. So, you change as a person, your tastes change and what you find interesting and what you find uninteresting changes. So yeah, I think the last thing we’ll ever want to do is retread old ground just for the sake of it. So hopefully it is a sign that we can expand our palette beyond what people want and, really treat it like more than just something that’s set in stone.”
Throughout the album, Oisín’s vocals anchor the listener within the soundscape of the tracks while at the same time evoking images of live crowds chanting back the lyrics. Oisín has the ability to spark these live sing-alongs when the band perform. He conveys immense emotion and angst through his vocals.
“The vocals, that’s probably the thing that I’ve struggled the most with. I made no bones in the early days about the fact that I wasn’t, totally comfortable on stage that’s why the band is so big. Within that you’d say, well, why are you doing it to begin with? I don’t really know the answer to that question. But, the vocal yeah, it’s the element that I have the least control over but it’s the part that I worked the hardest on. I think part of the reason our songs are so melodic is so that I can kind of learn them like a nursery rhyme. I don’t know something happens in the process of translating that nursery rhyme where it ends with me rolling around and yelping. But yeah, I love singing because it’s a tender transition between writing something in your room and seeing how it ends up on stage and especially hearing people singing back is very strange”
“ I think the tension though of where you’re trying to work with your body to make this thing and you’re not quite sure whether it’s going to happen, I don’t know it’s kind of alluring. Maybe I’m a glutton for punishment or something, but I like not being sure that I’m gonna be able to pull it off”
THUMPER are a one of a kind must-see live act. The band have London and Dublin launch shows this week to coincide with the album release and we discussed the shows and the possibility of a tour.
“Oh, yeah, I’m supposed to be in Europe right now. It got postponed because of Covid, hopefully for the last time.We’ll be doing these shows. We wanted to purposefully keep it really small, so it was like returning to how we started off upstairs in Whelan’s, we probably played there 20 times. So, cramming 100 people in there seemed like a really, fitting way to kick start this next chapter. Then yeah, we’ll be announcing a full Big Boy tour later in the year. We’ll be doing all the festivals and all that stuff as well. “
THUMPER have created a phenomenal album with ‘Delusions of Grandeur’. Musically the band treat our ears to a plethora of shoegaze, psychedelia and alternative rock with speckles of pop embellished throughout while earnest lyrics venture into dark territory and explore the struggle of self-image, internal and external. It’s a wonderful album that provides an exciting glimpse into the many facets of THUMPER.
‘Delusionsof Grandeur’ is set for release on Friday the 18th of March.
Until then you can watch the video for THUMPER’s latest single ‘Fear of Art’ below
Alternative Metal band Concrete Colossus have released their new EP, ‘Dead Man’s Hand’. Dallas, Texas-based band Concrete Colossus was formed out of the love of jamming. The five band members had previously been in different bands, developing their skills and honing their individual sounds. When frontman Brandon returned from the military wanting to get back into music he slowly gathered the collective that would come to be Concrete Colossus around him. Initially a jamming project, they quickly realised they were onto something.
Riding in on an explosive soundscape of pure unadulterated fury, ‘Dead Man’s Hand’ is a hard-hitting collection of alternative rock. Not for the faint-hearted, this five-track EP pulses with a raw battering of heavy instrumentation. Utilizing jagged lacerations on guitars with rampant bloodthirsty bass grooves mangled between mammoth drums; songs like ‘Ezekiel 25:17’ and ‘Incarceration’ are ground-shaking forces of nature. Filled with coarse metal elements, growling vocals and savage instrumental builds that surge through a thick alternative wall of sound ‘Dead Man’s Hand’ is an enjoyable maelstrom of mighty musicianship from Concrete Colossus.
Irish rock band THUMPER have released their new single ‘Overbite’. Contemporaries of Fontaines D.C. and The Murder Capital, THUMPER are among the leading lights of the Irish post-punk scene. Over the last two years, the north Dublin six-piece have been developing their sound – and building an increasingly passionate following. They combine intense poetic lyrics with a big punky sonic assault to startling effect.
Swarming in on thick asphyxiating fuzzy guitars, ‘Overbite’ is a tantalizing new tune from THUMPER. The band’s ability to balance sharp bruising instrumentation with lush earworm melodies is mesmerising and leaves the listener craving to hear more. Acid-laced riffs bounce off heavy brisk drums and a relentless bass assault to create a frenetic, chaotic sound that is utterly thrilling to the ears. In true THUMPER manner, the song takes wild unpredictable twists throughout its blustery journey as the track shifts from ballsy outbursts to a stripped back break before the massive finale. ‘Overbite’ is a refreshing and utterly magnificent tune from THUMPER that showcases the band’s constantly evolving sound and incomparable talent. Turn the volume up, press play and enjoy.
About the track lead singer, Oisín Leahy Furlong said: “With lyrics full of nightmarish images alluding to the failure of a relationship ‘Overbite’ is the first part of a sprawling 20-minute long psych opus that ends our debut album. Releasing one-third of a song as a single is probably a strange career move, but then nothing about the THUMPER process ever seems to go by the book. With ‘Overbite’, we applied a different method to our songwriting, changing from our usual approach where I bring a musical concept for the band to run with. It’s one of the first purely collaborative efforts, in that Alan wrote the music and I wrote the lyrics.”
Osprey have released their new single, ‘Tantrum’. The track was written about “internalising a multitude of negative feelings over an extended period of time, and then finally hitting a breaking point”. Osprey are a 4-piece band from Australia, consisting of Jasmine McLean (Vocals), Peter Raine (Drums), Nicholas Fren (Guitar) and Jack McDonald (Bass). After their debut single ‘Gemini’ hit 20,000 streams on Spotify alone, Osprey began picking up some notable shows during 2021, supporting both Thirsty Merc and Spy vs Spy.
Osprey display an impressive ability to create an expressive tune full of energy and slick musicianship.‘Tantrum’ is a mammoth track that blisters with Osprey’s bloodthirsty alternative rock. The band combine pummeling drums and relentless bass grooves with scorching riffs to create a frantic, angst-riddled wall of sound while powerful vocals are enhanced by shredding instrumental builds and a thrilling sharp guitar solo. ‘Tantrum’ is a song ready to blast from the speakers.
KÎND have released their new single ‘Stripped Away’.KÎND are a five-piece melodic progressive rock band made up of members from all over Ireland. Led by songwriter Matthew Redmond, the band consists of Ryan McClelland on drums, Jane Patterson on lead vocals, Charlie McCarthy on bass and Eoin Butterfield on guitar and keys. ‘Stripped Away’ marks the 3rd release for the band following their release in conjunction with Devoy Records: ‘Piercing Light Live at Sun Studios. and their debut release ‘Fix of Dopamine’
‘Stripped Away’ is a brooding alternative rock track that boasts the majestic and impressive sound of KÎND. The band create an expansive and atmospheric wall of sound that haunts with chiming guitars and wispy soundscapes and tender vocal delivery. As the song progresses, the band slip into a more rock peppered aesthetic as sharp guitars weave between a pounding drum beat and intricate percussion. KÎND take their time buliding the song allowing it to unfold into a heavy alternative rock tune while still maintaining the ethereal aspect introduced at the beginning. With beautiful vocal harmonies and moving melodies, ‘Stripped Away’ is a thrilling rollercoaster ride that ebbs and flows with rich musicianship and dynamic textures. KÎND have created one heck of a tune that perfectly displays the potency of their sound.
New Valley Wolves have released their new single ‘Cancel Culture’. New Valley Wolves are Jonny Lucey and Baz Joyce. Since exploding onto the Irish music scene, NVW have scorched a path across the globe. Their debut album ‘Refusal is our Weapon’ was released to critical acclaim at home and abroad. Their 2018 EP ‘Gospel’ contained the #1 rock single: ‘Cut-Throat’.
Oozing raw alternative blues rock ‘Cancel Culture’ announces the glorious return of New Valley Wolves. New Valley Wolves serve up some powerful, no-nonsense rock with this bruising tune; ‘Cancel Culture’ travels at a brisk neck-snapping speed as the song spirals into coarse riffage with Jonny Lucey’s bass roaring over a demolishing drum assault from Baz Joyce. The duo create a thick and fury filled wall of sound that evokes images of sweaty mosh pit mania while Jonny’s gravely voice expresses biting lyrics with an unrivalled ferocity. ‘Cancel Culture’ is an intense new single from New Valley Wolves ready for blaring out of your speakers. Enjoy.
New Valley Wolves have a headline show in Whelans on December 16th. Make sure to check it out. Their shows are always a fantastic live experience.
Following on from his acclaimed debut single, ‘Loving You’, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Neil Dexter returns with his second offering, ‘I’ll Be With You’. This exquisite tune showcases Dexter’s luxuriant flair with textures, space and melodies. He drifts shimmering synths through an expansive soundscape of intricate percussion and soft electronics that exude a 70’s- esque psychedelic undertone throughout. Warm french horn embellishments and biting moments on guitar weave between the catchy melody as Dexter subtly layers the song meticulously to create an immersive, heavenly listening experience for listeners to indulge in.
Coming through with their signature brand of rock, The Stetsons Electric are back with their new single ‘Nana’s Boy’. Written about avoiding your girlfriend by always going round to your nans, this is a new take on the momma’s boy phenomenon, and shows off the band’s playful side with huge riffs and witty lyricism. A collaboration between all band members, ‘Nana’s Boy’ also sees The Stetsons Electric welcome guitarist and sound engineer Gareth Nuttall AKA The Wizard as an honorary member of the band. Rock n Roll from the heart of the Wild Northwest, The Stetsons Electric is made up of Tommy Hewitt (Vocals and Guitar), Tommy Jones (Bass) and Arnold Foster AKA The Prospector (Drums).
‘Nana’s Boy’ is a dynamic classic rock track that boasts the gritty infectious, and energetic sound of The Stetsons Electric. Scorching guitar riffs, pummeling drums and rampant basslines ooze passion and gusto while rasped, swagger-dipped vocals and a smooth, catchy melody make for a charming listening experience. The band blend elements of pop-punk with classic rock to create a song that is bursting with energy making ‘Nana’s Boy’ quite the fiery belter to indulge in.
Bayonets has released his new single ‘Cheap Cravat’.Bayonets is a solo project created by the Irish Co. Kerry musician and songwriter Vinnie Flynn. His distinctive style is a mix of alternative rock,indie, blues and folk. In addition to writing and performing live, Vinnie also works with several publishing companies based in the US who pitch his compositions to prime time TV shows and movies. Vinnie has performed at some of the biggest and best Irish music festivals including Electric Picnic, Vantastival and K-Fest. Vinnie will be playing a string of gigs and festivals in 2022, having just relocated to Barcelona Spain. His new single ”Cheap Cravat’ was recorded by a new upcoming Barcelona based producer ”Castell” the release gig will be held in Barcelona, Spain on November 13th 2021.
Blistering through a tantalising backdrop of stomping rhythms and desert-scorched guitar ‘Cheap Cravat’ is a dark and invigorating new tune from Bayonets. The song balances smooth, sensual tones with gritty textures to create a dynamic tune for listeners to indulge in. A luring melody creates a haunting yet lulling quality while Vinnie’s vocals rasp and croon throughout; whispering in parts to enhance the eerie undertone within the vibrant soundscape. The song is a sleek, well-crafted tune and exudes an irresistible charm that leaves the listener craving to hear more.
Stream ‘Cheap Cravat’ below
Author: Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
