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Review |
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Slam Cartel are a band I was first introduced to
a couple of weeks before they were due to play the
Sonisphere festival and I headed down to the festival
to check the band out but due to complications and
long queues getting into the festival I missed their
performance which I am gutted about after giving
their debut album ‘Handful Of Dreams’
a few spins and realising that it is one hell of
an hard hitting stadium rock style album which oozes
in killer vocals and rocking riffs.
The album kicks off with ‘Wishing Eye’
and from the moment the mammoth guitar riffs and
big drums beats come in you just know that ‘Handful
Of Dreams’ could be a special album and
even more so when the distinctive vocals from
Giles Van Lane come in and take you loud and clear
vocally positive journey.
Next up is the album title track ‘Handful
Of Dreams’ and from the off it has a massive
Foo Fighters feel about it and proves to be one
killer track that you could listen to again and
again without getting bored, the song is full
of rhythm and is best experienced with your speakers
turned up full whack, especially during the fancy
guitar work towards the later part of the track.
The album even features a cover of the classic
Talking Heads song ‘Once In A Lifetime’
and Slam Cartel have managed to do the song justice
bringing it right into the 21st century with Giles
Van Lane proper taking charge with his amazingly
strong vocal style.
The good thing with ‘Handful Of Dreams’
is that Slam Cartel have not stuck to one style
and therefore the album has a big mix of hard
rocking songs, a cover song and even a soppy ballad
called ‘Breathe’ which shows a whole
different side of the band, and if you thought
‘Breathe’ showed a different style
to the band then you have heard nothing until
you hear ‘Shine’ which features Slam
Cartel go all Rage Against The Machine meets Hyro
Da Hero on us mixed in with an extremely melodic
chorus, I personally love the song but have a
feeling that some people may find it a bit too
much as it is very busy sounding.
The album runs for about an hour which spans
over 13 tracks and as it progresses there is no
letting up in quality tracks as each and every
track on the album has the potential to be a fan
favourite at the bands gigs with tracks like ‘Hold
Me’ and ‘Powerstorm’ packing
an almighty punch and ‘Maybe Sometimes’
having that whole laid back Guns N Roses feel.
Overall as far as debut albums go I feel that
Slam Cartel have put everything they could into
it and there simple is tracks and musical styles
to suit everyone and this gives me the feeling
that this defiantly is the start of a very positive
journey for the band.
4/5
Review by Trigger |
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| Band
Members |
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Giles Van Lane
Terence Warville
Tom Hendriksen-
Adam Lee
Marc Neudeck
Steve Campkin |
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| Track
Listing |
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1. Wishing Eye
2. Handful Of Dreams
3. Once In A Lifetime
4. Breathe
5 . Shine
6 . Hold Me
7 . Free Again
8 . Missmatched Ties
9 . Goldenstream
10 . Powerstorm
11. Maybe Sometimes
12. Sundown
12. Sundown
13. Walk A Mile |
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| Band
Related Links |
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| Review
Score Code |
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- Top Cheese
- Brilliant
- Pretty damn good
- Ok I guess
-
What Was That? |
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