Debut
EP review
Debut are a five piece Metal band from Milford Haven, Wales, UK .Upon hearing the vocals that lead singer Cauley Lewis comes out with, you'd think that there would be a big, gruff 40-a-day bloke behind the mic instead of an innocent dreadlocked 15 year old kid.

Within eighteen months, Debut have become a well known and respected name on the Pembrokeshire music scene and have quickly made their way from opening to five people with their parents watching to headlining gigs to a crowd that's going ballistic at their every move. They even made it to the semi finals of Live and Unsigned, which is impressive, but made more impressive by the fact that they're a metal band sticking out like a sore thumb in a competition that's mainly made up of indie and pop rock bands.

Consisting of James "perks" Perkins on lead guitar, Sam "Pufflord" Pulford on rhythm guitar, Terry Wakefield on bass and brothers Tom and Cauley Lewis, on drums and vocals respectively, Debut are a well oiled heavy metal machine who take their influences from Pantera, Slipknot and Stone Sour just to name a few.

Their mini (ahem) Debut EP, recorded to help promote their Live and Unsigned entry features just two tracks. The first track is titled "New song" which opens with Perks shredding out a simple yet heavy riff, slowly building into an earth shattering roar from Cauley which makes you doubt his age. Each lyric is sung with anger and desperation, almost being fiercely spat out at times. After a bridge, featuring a bass solo by Mr Wakefield, and a series of guttural roars by Cauley, the song just... ends.

There are three very, very slight issues with this song. First, it feels like its missing something, a solo or some harmonies for example. Second, the song ends at the perfect spot to put in a solo. In fact, I was a little disappointed when the solos that you'd expect to be there just didn't materialise and the song comes to an end. Finally, if you put Corey Taylor behind the mic instead of Cauley, you'd have a Slipknot song. The good thing here is that it isn't a direct rip-off of Slipknot; it's more of a homage or a tribute. Don't let these issues turn you off though; it's still a blinder of a song.

The second track is the five minute epic "Blind". Dirty, open stringed guitar work climaxes with a heavy, fistpumper of a riff before settling back down to the dirty for the verse. Cauley takes a break from the norm here and sings, pretty well actually. It's soft and gentle, but sprinkled with a little roughness. This song follows the widely used "quiet/loud" dynamic to a tee. Quiet verse, loud, heavy chorus, with Cauley roaring "YOU'RE F***ING BLIND" in the style of Pantera's Phill Anselmo, probably giving him a run for his money too. This song is where James' guitar talent really shines, especially during the solo where he lays out a solo that a heavy metal veteran would have difficulty with, let alone an 18 year old from a small corner of west Wales, and he plays it to perfection. This song actually has an ending, thirty second breakdown that has the power to get the whole world head banging, with more Anselmo-esque roars, before fading out.

Overall, Debut has what it takes. I've seen this band dozens of times and they always seem to being something new to each gig, be it a whole new song, a cover or just a simple change in how things are sung or played, each Debut set is different from the last. They are most definitely a "live" band who, when placed in front of the right crowd, can seriously throw down, hold their own and leave it all on the stage.

This EP is exactly what it's designed to be - a small sample, a taster if you will, which will leave you hungry for more.
Review by Lee Thomas

5/6

http://www.myspace.com/debut555

Dead Cells

Here Be Dragons
Four piece rock band from the UK have a little something to share with the world and it's their brand new promo single Here Be Dragon, this song will have your stereo go into a power surge, I had to give mine an antibiotic after playing this track, rock music has been experimented with over the past 50 years but Dead Cells sure know how to entertain and not experiment too much as they have revamped a classic rock sound into something beautiful, Here Be Dragons is at just the right tempo to get you moving and it's got just the right melodic ingredients of a great tune too.

Review by T.Halpin

5/6

http://www.myspace.com/deadcellsband

Dan Chauvin

“Small Town Life”

Massachusetts born singer songwriter, Dan Chauvin’s Album “Small Town Life” sounds to many, at first hearing, to be the traditional American folk of generations before.
However this modern take on a genre that has fallen somewhat to the waste-side to popular music shows us the great progression of American folk music while still maintaining the original qualities and lyrical accents loved by those who are a fan of the genre.
Although not everybody’s cuppa tea, these are the songs that are easy to imagine an audience sing along to as Chauvin sings to us the stories of his grandfather in the song the album was named after “Small Town Life.” These songs reminiscent of traditional Irish folk songs and ballads that tell us tales of emigration and the lengths people went to for a better quality of life.
Chauvin’s vocals appear to be that of the “old master,” he sings with great conviction and confidence and with true belief in his lyrics. In the song “Small Tow n Life” Chauvin introduces an interesting twist to an already wonderfully memorable song with the addition of children's vocal roles, ranging from the ages of 6-11 years old. These youthful voices add a quality and innocents to the song that is not found in many other songs under the title of folk or indeed any other genre.
All and all, this album, I believe, holds within it a song for everyone. Perhaps a song that reminds you of your grandfather, father, mother or another loved one, or even reminds you of who you are or where you came from. As I write this, the song “Small Town Life” is on replay in my head. Dan Chauvin’s music is the “renaissance” the genre deserves!

Review by Declan O’ Toole

5/6

http://www.myspace.com/danchauvin

Donna Marie

I Can't See It

Wexford's singer songwriter Donna Marie's single "I Can’t See It" has some catchy hooks in the chorus, a country rock feel can be heard coming from the guitars, but the electronic keys pop up the sound adding a nice edge to the song. "I Can't See It" I feel would appeal to many radio broadcasters as a commercial and radio friendly song.
I love the voice of Donna Marie, she uses her own native tongue in her voice with an unique calm tone, it rolls of very nice on this song, the lyrics reflect an everyday situation that we all can relate to even though it's personal to Donna,I think the song is very cleverly written and constructed, "I Can’t See It" will have you to hitting the replay button for sure.
Review by T.Halpin

5/6

http://www.myspace.com/donnamariesludds

Deshonos

Dublin five piece rock 'n' roll band Deshonos sound just like your typical Oasis/ Charlatans offspring with their opening song on the CD 'Broken Rockstar, OK i might be a bit harsh on the description but i find their second song on the single"I Will Be True With You" is a little more interesting it's got a more bluesy and deep root American feel to it, the vocals have a nice high end tone, and the song has a real catchy groove to it especially when the backing vocals kicks in, thumbs up to Deshonos, more please.
Review by T.Halpin
5/6
http://www.myspace.com/deshonos

Dead Cells

Buckinghamshire based band ‘Dead Cells’ take their names from the brain cells you may lose whilst head banging to their classic rock! And you will want to bang your head when you hear them. Their brand of purely classic rock can be heard in pubs and clubs all over the UK. There aren’t many bands out there in the charts producing this kind of music, unless you count ironic turns from The Darkness or Steel Panther. I don’t think that this means there isn’t a market for it and I can imagine Dead Cells play to packed gigs.
It’s good, clean rock that makes you want to pout your lips, throw your crimped hair about and stamp your ankle boots. I couldn’t help getting an 80s video in my mind whilst listening to Running Man, one of their first recorded tracks. Dead Cells say they take their influences from the old Skool such as Sabbath and Zeppelin but also more slightly modern bands like Pearl Jam, Soundgarden.
They claim they aren’t a one album band due to the variety of their influences and that their songs all widely differ in style. Having only listened to a few of their tracks, an album is not yet released, I can’t really comment on that yet. However the band does have a recognisable style. It’s not one you haven’t heard before but equally it isn’t bad either.
I was a little ‘turned off’ by the spoken word part of Friday Feeling but equally couldn’t help going with the music. The bass, provided by their pleasingly female bassist, is funky and provides a great framework for the songs, I felt the drumming was a little safe and dare I say it dull. I would like to hear some stronger, pulling no punches kind of metal drumming. A friend of mine commented that the band could do with the addition of rhythm guitar and I would tend to agree. It would pad out their sound and support the bass more. The lead guitar is great, all fiddly fingers and guitar porn and you know the fans love it as much as he loves playing it.
I like the lyrics, the songs aren’t lyric driven but there is thought given to the lyrics all the same. The male vocalist has the perfect voice for the 70s/80s sound. It’s all gravelly and tuneful. You will find you be happy to sing along to the songs after one play. I look forward to singing along to their album.
If you like your rock pure, clean, loud and old fashioned you will love this band. I think they would be a real fun treat live. They play well, they sound good, they fulfil a need inside you that you didn’t realise you had to rock out. It might not be fresh or new but it makes you want to smile. Feel good rock n roll!
Review by Becky Beynon-Lewis
4/6
http://www.myspace.com/deadcellsband

Daire O'Reilly

The Promised Land Sampler

The Promised Land is Daire O'Reilly the debut album due for release in Autumn 2010. The Cavan born artist is currently based in NYC so I was happy to land a pre-release sampler.

The sampler starts with 'Sleeping in'  a mid tempo rock track with a laid back vibe reminiscent of the Stereophonics 'Have a nice day'. Oh Darlin is an Americana/Country tinged track and proves that O'Reilly has a knack for writing singalong melodies. There's a nice use of mandolin during a breakdown before the track builds up nicely before the climax .

To Believe shows this writer why O'Reilly is currently residing in the U.S., it's a AOR radio friendly track, well produced with a slight flavour of Dawson's Creek in there.

'Star Gazing', the final track of the sampler, is an acoustic based Cowboy-esque track, the lone ranger meeting his love match. The chorus of voices singing “Star Gazing' bring an extra depth to    the track. It's quite a sit around the campfire singing song. My favourite on the sampler.

All in all, it’s a good start, we'll have to wait for the rest of the album.
Review by Nessy

5 /6

reverbnation.com/daireoreilly
daireoreilly.muxtape.com

Dave Clarke

There Was A Girl

Debut album There Was A Girl produced and written by Dave Clarke , a drummer in his early music day's and no stranger to the music scene, this is a fantastic album to kick off a solo career, ten tracks of solemn Nick Cave and Lou reed styled vocals, deep but catchy in some tunes, electro folk with a spill of pop music is one way to describe Dave's Debut album, tunes like "Paintings on the wall" set in a nice even tempo groove with chanting vocals, laid down with an acoustic guitar behind a live audience sounds really good.

Review by T.Halpin

4/6

http://www.myspace.com/daveclarkerocks

Dialis

Precatic

Dialis come from Italy and combine of two members Giuseppe Giulio Di Lorenzo and Franco Bottoni, experimental goth with classical tones a weird mix but when you combine so many genres of music like Dialis do on Precatic, it is hard to pick out or distinguish any of the musical direction , top class compositions and the music is left to the imagination but i don't think i could put this album on repeat.

Review by T.Halpin

3/6

http://www.myspace.com/dialis

David Hope

Daybreak Someplace
One of Ireland's hottest songwriters David Hope has embarked another chapter of music  for  our listening pleasure and this seven track EP is at the peak of fine Irish folk music, from the  first song "See the Ghost" spilling out some pure folk blues and foot tapping melodies to the serenity of track 3 "Trying to Remember" with it's simple chord structures and mood shifting lyrics,to finishing off the EP with "When we were Kings" full of beautiful lyrics wrapped in a soft sound, this has to be the finest chapter in David's music career.
Review by T.Halpin
6/6
http://www.myspace.com/davidhope

DEXTRA

LIVE AT WHELANS

2/1/09

Dextra are one of Dublin's hardest working bands on the scene at the moment ripping up venues with their pure passion and entertaining stage craft, The band has this high driven energy when your standing in the audience you will know what I am talking about, on the night the lads performed a great gig with frontman Declan up to his tricks jumping down from the stage to get up close with the fans..exciting stuff you could see some of the girl's trying to make there way to the back of the crowd hiding from this crazed frontman fueled by the love of his music, Dextra played a nice version of "Hard day's night" this really fitted into the set as the band streams with Mersey side flavour, excellent stuff on the night.

Review by T.Halpin

Rank: ***** 5 out of 6

http://www.myspace.com/dextramusic

DAVID HOPE

A PICTURE Review

Lets talk about black this is the cover of David’s Album A Picture” the first thing that sprung to me was Mr. Cash … but when I pressed play on the stereo I could hear some fantastic roots music with hints of bluegrass style playing over Irish traditional music, the lyrics on this album have a very moving and heart touching soul to them, very well written and produced maybe David could be Irelands answer to our own Cash or even Dylan very relaxed and yet “A Picture” makes great listening right to the end of this 10 track thriller thumbs up David and What a superb album….

Review by T.Halpin

RANK: ****** 6 OUT OF 6

http://www.myspace.com/davidhope