Single Review: Bring Me The Horizon - Happy Song

With a storm brewing on social networks lately, anyone would think that Bring Me The Horizon were releasing a brand new album, not just a single. In recent weeks, members of the band have teased us with images of umbrellas, cryptic messages and posters have managed to pop up in cities across the globe.

BMTH are not a band that shy away from experimenting with their music and seem to be heading in a new direction. Radio One presenter, Daniel P Carter gave fans a first glimpse of the Sheffield metallers new track, 'Happy Song' on Sunday.

Upon  first listen, 'Happy Song' is a track that sounds fairly average. However, tearing its elements apart piece by piece, it is clear a lot of hard work has gone into the production. The song throughout is full of heavy riffs and dark undertones - a sound which remains prominent across all the bands albums. Vocalist Sykes, yet again steers away from his renowned aggressive vocals and opts for clear cut, similar to many tracks on the bands 2013 album 'Sempiternal'. Adding a creative touch to the song are the cheerleader background vocals that you won't be able to stop singing along to. There is something recognisable about this, something that has been done before. Faith No More's 'Be Aggressive' springs to mind. That isn't to say the song no longer sounds good, it still adds a great touch. The best thing about 'Happy Song', is that after a few listens, you realise it will become as catchy as nits in a primary school.

Overall, 'Happy Song', mainly lyrically is certainly not the bands best track. However, BMTH have a challenge on their hands to top 'Sempiternal', which since release has gone gold in the UK. The bands sound has changed significantly since their debut album 'Count Your Blessings'. However, is it a bad thing when a bands sound changes so much over the years? Surely it's a necessity and even inevitable? Not only does it create a divide, it gets people debating, it gains new fans and stops people becoming bored of the same old crap. People forget that bands sounds change progressively and naturally. After all, BMTH are a band who have been together singe their teens.

'Happy Song' has had mixed reviews across the board but judging by people raving about it on Twitter, it seems to have gone down a treat with the majority. Only patience and time will tell if the next BMTH album will be massive.

7/10

Single Review: Hard Out Here - Lily Allen

Lily Allen has made a highly anticipated come back with new single Hard Out Here. Just days beforehand saw her cover Keane’s Somewhere Only We Know. Allen unveiled the new song online recently without any previous build up or broadcast. Often portrayed as ‘gobby’ in the media, she has spoken out through music about the hottest issues on women in pop. With everything up in the air we all knew we weren’t going to end 2013 without allowing her to have her say. Hard Out Here is exciting, infectious and gives the audience exactly what they want to hear.

Allen’s return has arrived completely at the right time. Recently the media have focused on news covering objectification of women in the music industry and almost anything to do with Miley Cyrus’ latest antics. Allen uses irony not only in the use of lyrics but by adding a touch of auto-tune to compliment the word ‘Bitch’. Lyrics include lines such as, ‘’If I told you ‘bout my sex life you’d call me a slut but when boys be talkin’ ‘bout their bitches no one’s making a fuss.’’ Hard out Here has resulted in having one of the catchiest hooks of the year.

The song is saturated with feminist views about women having control and authority in the music industry, plus how women deal with pressure in a male dominated society. Allen covers topics about women’s roles, expectancies and how they have become viewed as the norm in culture. With this she adds lyrics, ‘’you’re not a size six and you’re not good looking. Well you better be rich, or be real good at cookin’.’’

Lately the video for the song has become a major discussion. Allen uses visuals and sarcasm to mock the recent issue. However she does it skilfully by replicating things you see in videos such as Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines. His video recently received criticism stating it is offensive and sexist to women. At one point in the video, balloons are formed to read ‘Thicke has a big dick.’ Allen takes this idea as her own but replaces it with the words ‘Lily Allen has a baggy pussy.’ The background shows scantily clad dancers ‘twerking’ in time to the beat. it supports the concepts that some women in the industry are encouraged to be seen as appealing sex symbols but then get nothing except degraded for it. Issues aside Hard Out Here is none other than a welcome return from an artist that, in 2009 confirmed she was quitting music. 

Single Review: All Time Low - A Love Like War Ft Vic Fuentes

All Time Low are back with new single ‘A Love Like War’ featuring Vic Fuentes from Pierce The Veil. The two bands are set to do a tour of the USA alongside fellow American rockers A Day To Remember this September.

The band have had many successes over the years with numerous sold out UK tours and five albums in their back pockets. This time around they are re- releasing 2012’s album ‘Don’t Panic’, this time around with four new songs and four bonus acoustic tracks.

The video shows the well groomed quartet playing in a movie theatre, the camera pans from room to room showing different stages of them either playing as a band or watching the film. The movie in the background shows a black and white silent film focusing on the issues of war.

All Time Low include all their usual elements to their new single, although this time the drums and the guitar riffs are a tad heavier than normal. Vic Fuentes’ vocals enter during the chorus. However he doesn’t use his own renowned screaming to capture listener’s attention. It would have been good to see if ATL could have pushed the boundaries as to what their fans would listen to. For now though, they have decided to play it safe with new single.

All in all ‘A Love Like War’ proves to be a worthy upbeat song, catchy as expected from a band like ATL. However nothing really stands out as far as new music is concerned. The element of Vic Fuentes’ vocals of course helps with the possibility of gaining the band some new fans.
With lyrics such as ‘Hearts on fire tonight, feel my bones ignite,’ Furentes’ belting out melodies with ATL vocalist Alex Gaskarth sets the chorus alight. Other than tiny shifts in the music showing the band are evolving there doesn’t seem to be any major change or want for new direction with their musical talent.

The new album ‘Don’t Panic: It’s Longer Now’ is out 30th September via Hopeless Records.