Big Batch are hailing from France and this is their sophomore full length release consisting of eight songs. The music of Big Batch can be described as a mixture of punk rock and rawer dirtier side of rock n roll, yet retaining enough melody in vocal lines and anthemic guitar riffs to be counted as melodic punk rock. Vocals are great, rough and raspy, but singing at the same time and fit perfectly to the anthems like one of my personal favorites ‘Dance with Me’, having that beautiful melodic chorus and lyrics. Smart songwriting and lyrics are what makes this great punk rock record. If I must compare this band to some other bands, it would be to Bouncing Souls, Off With Their Heads and The Menzingers. I can also hear Motorhead in couple of song parts. Backing vocals are important in bands like this, they are immaculate here with harmonies, oooohs and aaaahs just made for singing along with these anthemic punk rock songs. One other song that I must also mention and whose chorus brought smile of satisfaction upon my lips is ‘Even Alive’, also the title song is one of the definite highlights of this album. This is great band, have a listen.
Topsy Turvy’s are no strangers to this zine, this melodic punk band from Poitiers, France has already been featured with their singles announcing this full length and finally it is here! This beauty contains 11 songs of melodic pop punk, old school one, reminding of all those nineties melodic punk bands, not fast but punk rock done with heart and emotion. Dual vocals fit in such perfect harmony, that in some songs they made goosebumps upon my skin. Lyrics are in English and songs deal with you everyday themes to which all of us can relate to in more or less way. I enjoyed this one so much that 2023 started, but it is already a candidate for one of the top releases of melodic punk this year. This is not your fast skate punk as you might have been used from some Californian bands, but the songs remind me a lot of No Use For A Name how great they are written and the melodies they deliver. I would certainly love so much to check this one out on stage, they are so sweet. My personal highlights and favorites on this album change from listening to listening, but I will try for this review: Forever Alone, Not So Long and Are We Still Alive?
Quitters are in no way strangers to the pages of this zine. These French punk rockers have a new full length and this one offers 12 beautiful songs of melodic punk rock, maybe not fast but powerful mid tempo anthems delivering awesome melodies, strong vocal performance and backing vocal harmonies with great lyrics yours truly can totally relate to. It is very hard to choose personal favorites between these songs because every time I listen to this record again and again I always find something new and beautiful to check out and that is a magic of this record. If I must mention my current bunch of favorite songs, that would be When The Sun Goes Down, Broken World, A Full Plate And An Empty Heart, those three would be my highlights. But, as I said, you gotta find your own. Great record.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 