Review: ALBUM: 'Beyond The Pale' by Shields

If you like crippling down-tuned riffs, growling bass lines, pummeling drums and emphatic, triumphant vocals then I direct you to this blistering debut album by Leeds medieval power rockers SHIELDS.

'Beyond The Pale' emits a monstrous signal reaching far back to ancient realms where pillaging and other primitive acts scorn the earth. A grave reminder that when four individuals come together to play music, it can be ultimately magical. Yes this band are unsigned and yes this band are local, which pains for me to say it. It pains me because there are so many other bands in Shields' situation; recording music that deserves more attention. However, that aside, Shields are a band on the rise and one can only hope that this album gets the reception that it deserves.

The album kicks in with the creatively named 'My buddy went to Azeroth & all I got were these lousy arrows' which is a whip cracking track on your quest through 'Beyond the Pale'. it features plenty of heavy, in-your-face transitions that strip and then dress right in front of your ears.

BS GIG: Telepathy / Himself / Cattle

Big Spaceships Presents...

It would appear that we may have smashed this gig together, sourcing four completely different bands as the main ingredients to some kind of riff soup, accompanied by a bread roll, buttered in a musical spread, churned in the mill of Rock.

So come join us aboard the Big Spaceship, spoon in hand, and prepare yourselves to enter a void of arcane vibrations....


TELEPATHY

These four gentlemen will be travelling light-years to come fourth and play this gig, from the distant land of Colchester. Bringing with them a metallic instrumental, prog offering of their own interpretation. Their EP, Fracture (available for free download from their bandcamp) is a culmination of mellow, dreamy prog crecendoes, some solid grooves and some spectacular fist in the air headbanging moments. It would be pretty daft to pass up a free download of this magnitude.

HIMSELF

And now for something completely different... 5 dudes from YORKSHIIIRE known as Himself, each member contributes to the vocal arrangment as well as playing an instrument, which lends itself kindly to the bands erratic pop sensibilities and comedic narrative. It would seem that some of the best bands around are the ones that don’t take themselves too seriously and effortlessly achieve a sound that many try very hard to accomplish. A few guys having a laugh + Talent = Awesome band. Its for that reason that you will see Himself playing gigs with bands of completely different stylings, regardless of whether you think they fit on the bill or not, this is because, all sub genres aside, they’re just really fuckin good.

CATTLE

Cattle are not your average 4/4 rock 'n' roll band. They formed earlier this year with nothing and everything in mind. Their music is a wobbly wheeled shopping trolly laden with noisy jazz and question mark ending riffs, taking influence from each aisle of the supermarket and producing a chunky stew soaked in a base of rhythmic precision and heavily seasoned with screaming feed back and fuzz groove.

First band around 8pm

400p

Lavotchkin / Humanfly / Beards / False Flags @ Santiagos, Leeds. 01/10/11

Big Spaceship Presents:

A NIGHT DEDICATED TO TINNITUS
1st October, @ Santiagos Bar, Leeds

Lavotchkin
Unrelenting sludgey post-hardcore from Newcastle. These guys have been to Leeds and ripped it up a few times in the past, but that doesn't mean that this time is any different. Their album 'Widow Country' has had a bit of time to sink in since summer last year and with a new split 7" with Leeds metallers End To Empires out now, what better time to release their blood-soaked, raging filth on the city of Leeds once again. If you are a bit shy, and a bit reserved, I would probably leave that behind because by the first song you will be pounding your sodden chest with fist clenched, screaming at your relative counterpart from across the room.
They have been described as "possibly the closest thing you will ever get to a UK equivalent to Botch".

Richard Parker + The Party Program + Shields + Magnapinna @ The Well, Leeds

Instrumental astral wanderings of local lads Richard Parker can be experienced at the Well tonight with 2 other awesome Leeds bands and Party Program from Scotland.

Big Spaceship took the time to listen to Richard Parker's self-tiled EP a few weeks ago and was very much intrigued. The subtle aether that surrounds this offering is evident in the cerebral expanse of this EP. It treats the listener to a lush spatial feel that expands toward euphoric washes of speedy picked lead guitar, soaked in so much reverb it sounds almost like a glissandi string section amid a cinematic orchestral arrangement. An innocence echoes inside the interwoven harmonic registry between the arpeggios and swirling lead parts of the guitars. Reminiscent of such post rock gods as Mogwai, Sigor Ros and the rich sensuous undulations of Mono, RP invoke nostalgia you didn't think was present before you had bore witness to this EP. Dynamically, this EP takes you on a journey through serene lands alien to human presence... This record gently inebriates, exhilarates and tingles the senses... sit back, close your tired eyes and melt into your chair to the surging contrapuntal soundscapes of Richard Parker.
The first date of the brazenly named 'The Dick Party Tour' with THE PARTY PROGRAM begins tonight.

Download RICHARD PARKER's EP here:
http://richardparker.bandcamp.com/album/richard-parker

THE PARTY PROGRAM
http://www.thepartyprogram.com/
SHIELDS
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shields/106121999460153?sk=info
MAGNAPINNA
http://magnapinna.bandcamp.com/

BS

Canaya + False Flags to play with Narrows (Ex-Botch + TAAS)

Good morning, I would like to inform you of this excellent gig @ The Brudenell Social Club, Leeds.

Happening 19th May:

NARROWS
Been described as having a "unique brand of aural malice". Ex-Botch and These Arms Are Snakes, should deem to be a very heavy post-rock experience. Awash with lush cymbal play and repetitive guitar phrases soaked in numerous FX pedals, it will feel like food for your earholes, but don't wretch cause its good for you.
CANAYA
Heavy as fuck, high octane bludgeoning deathly riff metal from Leeds. With enough energy live to challenge a hoard of charging Spanish fighting bulls. Go and see these guys, but make sure you bring a clean pair of underwear. For fans of polyrhythms (MINT).
FALSE FLAGS
Ex-Red Stars Parade, these guys are relatively new as a unit. If they are anything like RSP, your ears shall be in for a clangorous experience.

Expect big riffs, hard hitting drums, lots of tattoos and its at the Brudenell, so guaranteed good atmosphere. It is £8 to get in though, one will have to reach a little deeper in the pockets for this one. Knock a couple of quid off this and the gig would've been spot on. Nevertheless... I recommend it.

Bosh.

FALSE FLAGS - WWW.MYSPACE.COM/THEFALSETOFFLAGS

CANAYA - WWW.MYSPACE.COM/CANAYAUK

NARROWS - http://www.deathwishinc.com/bands/105/



Click here for details of the Facebook event

T
BS.