FIVES: Must Hear April Releases

It doesn’t feel like it was 5 minutes since we were celebrating Christmas and looking forward to what 2015 had in store, but here we are 4 months into the year and once again Already Heard is back with 5 must hear releases for the coming weeks.

With the festival season on the cusp of truly kicking off, April sees a range of emerging talent unleashing new material whilst a handful of familiar names make their return in a big way.

All Time Low – Future Hearts
Who are the biggest and best pop punk band in the world? Not a question that’s had a definitive answer in an eternity. Certainly not since Blink stopped both liking each other or making great records. Or since Fall Out Boy stopped having anything more then a passing interest in the genre. Without an out and out ruler that just left the crown princes. Four of them to be precise hailing from Baltimore and sporting the haircuts, the hooks and the sort of ever expanding brassiere collection to give them aspirations to rule. But unable to find just the right balance of mainstream pop sheen and appeal and pop-punk edge and bounce they never quite made the crown their own. Until now.

In ‘Future Hearts’, All Time Low finally have a record to begin to match their ambition and, finally, see then make that last all conquering step. Suitably timed hot on the heels of their first sold out headlining arena show; this is an album rammed with the size and scale of song writing and production to match the types of venues they wish to continue to call home. Tracks like first single ‘Somethings Gotta Give’ and the massive ‘Don’t You Go’ are as tight and emphatically enthusing pop punk numbers as ATL have been writing for years. But somehow bigger, bolder and with the self belief of a band who genuinely see themselves as world beaters. And it has Mark Hoppus on it. As we all know everything is better with a bit of Hoppus. Passing of the torch moment anyone? (DW)

‘Future Hearts’ by All Time Low is out now on Hopeless Records.

All Time Low links: Website|Facebook|Twitter

Timeshares – Already Dead
Having already pointed to a change in direction following the release of their split with Luther, New York’s Timeshares look set to fully crossover from gruff-punk oiks into assured Americana rockers with the release of ‘Already Dead’, the quartet’s debut for SideOneDummy.

Of course, as the brilliant video to ‘The Bad Parts’ indicates, the fire’s still burning strong, and there’s little chance of ‘Already Dead’ suffering from the dreaded second album slump. Instead, expect Timeshares to follow Restorations lead and craft a mature(ish) and literate slice of punk’n’roll which transcends anything they’ve done previously. (RM)

‘Already Dead’ by Timeshares is released on 28th April on SideOneDummy.

Timeshares links: Facebook|Twitter|Bandcamp|Tumblr

Nai Harvest – Hairball
Nai Harvest are one of the most talked about bands in the UK right now and it is easy to see why. Since their Topshelf debut EP was released last year, more and more people are beginning to take notice of their own brand of glorious sounding guitar driven pop. ‘Hairball’ is surely one of the most highly anticipated records of the year. Fans can get a taste of the new album from the track ‘All the Time’. It has an amazing pop chorus with an interesting time change, that surprisingly works really well. This track is in your face in the most pleasant way from the very start, much like the rest of the album.

As expected, the album is absolutely fantastic. Every song is 3 and a half minutes of garage punk bliss, laden with hooks and shout-along lyrics. It is hard to fathom how Nai Harvest make such a racket as a two piece but it works amazingly well. They have managed to transfer the energy of their live shows onto this record perfectly. If you listen to one record this April then make it this. I hope you’ve already pre ordered your copy, this is going to be a huge release for Nai Harvest. Catch them on tour round the UK in the next month before they outgrow the smaller stages. (AM)

’Hairball’ by Nai Harvest is released on 28th April on Topshelf Records.

Nai Harvest links: Facebook|Twitter|Bandcamp

Palm Reader – Beside The Ones We Love
When we spoke to Palm Reader last April, we were led to believe that their second full-length would see the light of day before the end of 2014. Nevertheless one year later, the Woking hardcore group finally deliver ‘Beside The Ones We Love’.

Having found a new home on In At The Deep End Records, Palm Reader’s second effort sees them stepping up their game as they have delivered a record that is chaotic yet has lyrical substance. ‘I Watched the Fire Chase My Tongue’ and ‘Stacks’ display awareness and depth. Whilst tracks like ‘Sing Out Survivor’ and ‘Resolution’ are intense and powerful. With its mix of razor sharp riffs, and abrasive vocals that fight against the standard conventions of a hardcore record. Palm Reader have challenged themselves on ‘Beside The Ones We Love’ have resoundingly won. (SR)

‘Beside The Ones We Love’ by Palm Reader is out now on In At The Deep End Records.

Palm Reader links: Facebook|Twitter|Tumblr

Lacey – Under The Brightest Lights
With the likes of Kids In Glass Houses calling it quits and You Me At Six and Young Guns firmly established as “mainstream” arena-playing rock acts, there is abundance of emerging UK bands ready and willing to become the next hereos of the underground pop-rock scene. Nottingham quartet Lacey are more than keen to step up to the plate and with their debut LP they show just why.

‘Under The Brightest Lights’ is 11 songs of accessible pop-rock that blends arena-ready anthems such as ‘Tonight’ and ‘Contender’ with plucky, upbeat numbers (‘All Too Far’), feel-good rock (‘Reach Out’ and ‘My Eyes Are Open’) and soothing ballads (‘Wait Till Tomorrow’). Although some bands within genre may just bash out songs that sound too much like their predecessors and come off as filler, Lacey have produced a diverse, and consistent debut that is vibrant, heartfelt and very promising. A worthy record to accompany you during the coming summer months. (SR)

‘Under The Brightest Lights’ by Lacey is released on 20th April.

Lacey links: Facebook|Twitter|Soundcloud

Words by Sean Reid (SR) Dane Wright (DW), Rob Mair (RM) and Andy McGonigle (AM).