MPTY ZINE
TNS Records presents the debut album from Beat The Red Light.
An EP of 5 songs that will make the body to vibrate to the rhythm of ska-core. Imagine the guys from Slayer meet Vic Rugerio and co., imagine a hybrid of Slayer and Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
Beat The Red Light is just what you need to increase adrenaline at a party. They were so fitting name METALLISKA!. Guitar, trumpet, trombone, saxophone, bass, drums-a marvel, really, I listened and I was impressed by them.So if you like Slackers Vs. Slayer, Mighty Mighty Bosstoness, Voodoo Glow Skulls,Beat The Red Light will definitely leave you with a fancy dance.Metal+ska+trash. I give them 10!
FANTASTIC SOUND, PURE MADNESS
SOUND LAB
When one thinks of High Wycombe, it's doubtful the first thing that springs to mind is that it houses a wealth of untapped musical potential. In fact, I'm not sure what springs to mind when one thinks of High Wycombe - the archaic and rather comical weighing of the mayor ceremony, perhaps? Well, now there's also rather talented upcoming ska-core band Beat the Red Light.
Their self-titled EP, produced by Iain Wetherall (who has helped the careers of underground hits such as Capdown, Lightyear, Viking Skull, Punchbowl, and Reason 69 rocket up), is surprisingly easy listening - if you like this sort of thing. Sounding like a mixture of Slayer and Reel Big Fish initially, it's a wonder how these styles gel, but by heck, they do and somehow manage to keep free of any feeling of 'novelty band'.
Opener 'Never a Dull Moment' starts like a ska-punk reinterpretation of Metallica's 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' with its extended instrumental intro, only with a severely punkier edge. Think pre-Sing the Sorrow AFI, post-IOWA Slipknot, and pre-Love. Angel. Music. Baby Gwen Stefani - so, as you can imagine, a fair bit of lyrical angst. "I can't handle this truth/ It seemed to occur piece by piece but you never let it get to you" for example. However, this is good angst; a rather nostalgic angst, that harks back to a time when youngsters probably did have something to be angry about.
'The Luminous Way' has a nostalgic guitar shredding opener, and is in much the same vein as the first track: energetic and again successfully marrying punk and metal, with brass as their upbeat mistress. Complete with a breakdown reminiscent of contemporary post-hardcore suits like Bleeding Through or early Avenged Sevenfold, it culminates with a truly epic 80s hair metal shred. Break out the leopard print and fingerless leather gloves for this one. 'The Scene is Under Attack' takes an ironic swipe at scenesters and conformity while playing it rather safe, musically. It's pretty straightforward ska-punk this time round, probably an intentional device alluding to being true to the genre/scene and to oneself, and not an imitation or follower of any particular herd.
'White Collar Pride' sounds heavily reminiscent of The Misfits circa 1995, upon their revival with new frontman Michale Graves, but in music only. Anti-capitalism themes abound, this is familiar territory for punk, and like the song before it, more straightforward ska. 'Send in the Clowns' opens with a sinister shredding reminiscent of the bridge of Slipknot's 'Disasterpieces', leading into a few menacing and chaotic Slayer-esque bars before descending into the very epitome of ska-core, with lively, wailing trumpets accompanying a brilliant hardcore breakdown. Hidden bonus track "TxLxW" sounds like Bring Me The Horizon meets Reel Big Fish, and seems to last all of a fleeting, maniacal moment, just like punk used to be: short and aggressively to the point.
Altogether, Beat the Red Light's unoriginality is probably their greatest strength. Their music is wonderful nostalgia for anyone who misses the era before Kerrang! magazine became an unofficial propaganda rag for Fall Out Boy, or AFI before Aiden attempted thieving their thunder, or even Slipknot before they got sick of the masks and started producing rather sub-par power ballads. Dig out those three-quarters, the colourful beads, and your skateboard.
Dean Birkett
MAXIMUM ROCK 'N' ROLL
5 tracks, 25 minutes, so you can tell something is going on with this effort. Actually, the results are wonderfully schizophrenic and eminently appealing. Take classic ‘80s metal, chugga-chugga death metal and upbeat ska in equal measures, add lashings of horns, and well, this is what you’re going to end up with. The STAR FUCKING HIPSTERS beautifully mix metal riffage and a bit of pop-ska on their latest record, but not all in the same song! These guys do, and do it with aplomb. Quite special, and it’ll get you skanking, slamming, and headbanging all at the same time! (RK) (TNS)
STREET VOICE MUSIC
TNS Records has been putting out some decent releases for a while now and this release is no exception. BTRL maybe a new band to me but after listening to this five track EP I want to hear more. TNS said this band mixed it up a little with influences ranging from the Slackers to Slayer and they'd be spot on. This seven-piece band has lots of instruments going off throughout this release including a saxophone, trombone and trumpet thrown in with the usual guitars, bass and drums. Their take on the ska-punk sound is refreshing and when you hear tracks such as 'The Scene Is Under Attack By Wannabies' and 'White Collar Pride' I'm sure you'll agree. 8/10
MASS MOVEMENT
Beat The Red Light – Beat The Red Light CD (TNS Records)
Slayer vs. the Slackers? This starts to send alarm bells off in my mind. I really like Slayer but cant stand the Slackers. However as soon as the first track never a dull moment kicks in all my worries about this band go away. Bursting straight into some brutal, heavy guitars and drums I can see where this band gets the Slayer comparison from. Then all of a sudden the horns kick in and….it fits. I mean it really fits. It’s like Capdown if they wore Cannibal Corpse shirts and bracelets with spikes on them so long they went into next week. This theme continues all the way through the EP and it makes for amazing listening. This cd is both heavy enough for metal fans to get stoked on yet there are enough upstroke guitars and horns for any rude boy to get his skank on which, in this day and age of further splits between genres and fans is quite an achievement. BT
MILD PERIL
Yes, I've been waiting for a copy of this for ages. I kept meaning to get one but never got round to it, but now TNS have given it a nice proper release and sent one this way, so cheers TNS, I fucking love you lot.
So anyway, those who have not heard BTRL yet are totally missing out. Mainly classed as a kind of ska metal band, but with definite metal influences (finger tapping solos and the almost blast beat intro to 'The Luminus Way', which was my personal favourite) and at times a straight up fun ska band. There are huge nods towards the Voodoo Glow Skulls with a fast and frantic horn section and they also remended me of the old Moon Ska band, Shooting Goon. Mix that with a bit of Capdown and Random Hand and you're onto a winner if you ask me. I sometimes hate eps because they tend to be over before you can really get into them, but this one lasts about 25 minutes which is longer than most albums I own. A proper brilliant ep, recorded by the legend that is Iain Weterall. A must buy for sure.
ICE CREAM FOR QUO
Expert ska punk. Never a Dull Moment lives up to it's title. lame bands can only do one thing but this group does several things well in each song. Track two has a super fast guitar solo.
Suprisingly melodic and always sophisticated it's the best TNS release so far. Powerful.