Carrie Davenport is back with another selection of the finest cuts of new rock from the north and south! This week we have an aurally pleasuring mix of stoner rock and punk and, of course, plenty of great riffs!

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SETTING OFF SIRENS
Enniskillen is known for loughs and castles but it also has some pretty good punk music in the form of Setting Off Sirens. Having shared stages with veterans such as the UK Subs, The Beat, Runnin’ Riot and Paranoid Visions they'll appeal to the old and new school punks among us.

STONE CROW
Alice in Chains influenced grunge metal from Derry, Stone Crow released their debut EP From Within to good reviews from lots of places so it comes pre-tested and with a thumbs up. They describe themselves as being "like a morbidly obese dwarf - too small to be that heavy". I mean,  who can resist that!

BRAINS
Blackened rock and roll from the deep deep south (well Cork - it's as far south as ya can go in Ireland without falling into the sea so that counts) . Their music has a decidely bluesy twang with horror themed riffs and deep brooding basslines. Debut EP Strange Meat is filled with some super groovy heavy tunes and new track 'Alchemy' is set to be released next month! You can get the EP at brainscork.bandcamp.com and we can't recommend it enough.  

Brains photo by Patricia Klich

Greetings stench followers. This week , I Philip Taggart, serve you three ripe new bands for your consideration. We start with some instrumental prog metal, then off to ‘da club’ for some J. Cole influenced hip hop finalizing in the Maiden City for yet another of their far fresh prodigies.

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Eros Theory – Exodus

Yet another fledgling band from the Maiden City conveyor belt of talent. This thundering four piece have armour piercing riffs, prog metal passages and in their first single ‘Exodus’ a strangely compelling latin inspired guitar solo outro. Check em out!

Cold Juice is the moniker of 18 year old Zimbabwe born Charles Jackman. From meeting him at a demo drop at the Oh Yeah Centre in Belfast it’s clear this guy lives, breathes and in his own words is ‘married to his music’. It’s hip hop on the 2012 update, think Wiley, Tinnie Tempah and J. Cole (not the footballer).

Good Night Romeo – You Know What I’ve Done

The second band featured tonight from Derry City. These guys are barely an embryo in their music career, formed only a few months ago they have produced a track that is sure to be one of the New Band Smell highlights come the end of the year. It’s hookier than a Wes Craven movie, the driving pulse is pop punk and the beating heart is emo. You Know What I’ve Done does well to not wheel spin too far into either of these two avenues, coming across fresh, youthful and full of energy.

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If you want your odour lapped up by the Across The Line nostril (get played on the show), then visit the BBC Introducing Uploader and send us your best tracks. We look forward to hearing the fruits of your labour.

Some say variety is the spice of life – others (namely myself, Brian Coney) reckon it’s heading straight to the pub straight after knocking around the gym for twenty minutes. No matter! When it comes to music – the more local, the better – variety is what it's all about. Cue this week’s choice of three acts guaranteed to get you feeling all “eclectic” and shizz.

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Steering Fail - Dress Rehearsal
Belfast-based three-piece Steering Fail have been on the local scene for a while now nit only recently have they managed to capture what they’re all about over the course of a full-length EP, set for release on May 18h. Placed extremely well nicely between alt-prog, schizophrenic thrash punk and straight up hardcore, ‘Dress Rehearsal’ from the EP sessions epitomises the kind of battle-cry sound that they’ve worked had to perfect over the last few months.

Littleboy - Curses
Littleboy is Dungannon-born, Belfast-based singer-songwriter Neal Hughes. Having previously sang in the bands Driving By Night and Tyler, Hughes is currently recording his debut album title A Band Called Horse. Taken from this album, Curses is a beautifully woven, delicately melancholic four-chord statement from the musician. With an intro that sounds equal parts reminiscent of Beck’s ‘Lost Cause’ and Thin Lizzy’s ‘Cowboy Song’ (hey, it works), the track eventually unravels to reveal impassioned vocals and some nice violin work. Produced by Barret Lahy at Start Together, the huge promising A Man Called Horse will release be in Autumn.

It's been a whole month since I brought you your last dose of metal here on Across The Line but don't worry folks I have some great bands picked to quench your thirst this week!

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The Unprotected - Cheap For Thrills
Spear-heading a genre we're not allowed to name on here as they love their naughty words,  this loveable bunch of rogues are a perfect example of spandex clad eyeliner wearing backcombed drunken debauchery. Imagine if the New York Dolls and Motely Crue had a drinking game and swapped clothes and messed up eachother's hair- the result would be The Unprotected.

Death Of A Salesman - Danger Close
Belfast based hardcore for fans of Bring Me The Horizon, The Black Dahlia Murder and Parkway Drive. Aidan's gutteral vocals scream at you over aggressive tunes offering an unrelenting sound which is just as powerful live as it is recorded. The Art of Misdirection (recorded in true rock n roll style in a mansion come studio in Essex) it's a perfectly produced aural assault and the DOAS guys command any stage they play upon.

Good internet to you, blog reader. It’s Phily Taggart back on stank patrol here at the New Band Smell. It’s been over a month since the last time I’ve checked in and since then I have amassed a bindle (yes bindle) of tunes so brimming it’s fit to burst. Here are three select cuts from my collection:

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Ryan McMullan – Dance With Me

Portaferry’s young answer to Foy Vance has an ample sleeve that he has acoustically displayed his heart on. Extremely promising!

Good Friend – Crazy Kev

It’s not the usual turn of events for a band to call time on their career on the first day of recording the debut album but this is precisely the misfortune that happened Under Stars and Gutters. Out of the scattered ashes, three single minded individuals reupholstered themselves with instruments and set about starting a new. That band is ‘Good Friend’, a three piece of lion hearted rock and roll, think The Gaslight Anthem mixed with the blind passion and heart that characterises so many North Coast bands.

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If you want your music featured on Across The Line, then d' you know what to do? Haul ass over to the BBC Introducing Uploader and get your finest tunes and share them with us.

 

Awk, sure it’s yourself. Brian Coney here, individual of no particular repute except what can only be described as an almost overwhelming urge to inform others of what I know to be absolutely true.

Okay, maybe not … but as Ludwig Beethoven himself probably proclaimed in between bouts of deafness and compositional genius: “I know a good tune when I hear one”. Here are three good tunes from upcoming artists inhabiting these parts.

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Twomilliondays — Submerge 

Twomilliondays is a Roscommon-based musician better known to his parents as Paul Fallon (alternatively: our Paul). His brand new eponymous LP combines minimalist electronica/ambient with some, sublime acoustic instrumentalism and its closing track, ‘Submerge’, is a particularly transfixing track calling to mind a kind of weightlessness akin to Main, Seefeel and Brian Eno's early ambient works. Hypnotic and endurably experimental from start to finish, Fallon’s debut album signals even greater things to come.

Forgers of a considerably less formulaic brand of cinematic instrumentalism that’s been played to death over the last few years, Overhead, The Albatross are a Dublin-based six-piece whose latest nine-minute single, ‘Think, Thank, Thunk’, is a hugely eclectic snapshot of what they are all about. Equally reminiscent of post-rockers This Will Destroy You, Do Make Say Think and Caspian – or, say, Eatenbybears-meets-a less abrasive ASIWYFA, locally — the track was released three weeks ago, the takings for which go to the Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association. Excellent musicians and a great bunch of lads — what more could you ask for? 

Friends of Granleese (F.O.G.) — Chinese Whispers 

Taken from their brand new debut Asahi EP, ‘Chinese Whispers’ is the most riff-fuelled track from new Belfast rockers Friends of Granleese aka F.O.G. Yet another example of a tidy wee N.I. band with a fairly questionable name, the track is pretty much a half-time hybrid of Alice In Chains, The Sword and Kyuss circa Blues For The Red Sun, with a punchy chorus massively reminiscent of the verse to Skid Row’s ‘Mudkicker’. The EP and the band’s sound overall though is a much more neo-Grunge (sorry) affair, packing scuzzy, fit-for-house-party riffage over the course of five tracks. Lovely stuff.

 

The sun is out and that means it's the perfect time for some chilled out rock to pass those sunny days. Carrie Davenport brings you a mix of three bands new to ATL to check out featuring a perfect mix of instrumental doom, stoner rock and bluesy tunes so there's something in there for everyone!

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Wizards of Firetop Mountain

As their online biography claims "With floods of fire raging from the rocky peaks, five wizards descended their sanctuary arriving many centuries later at the Foothills of the ancient Gaelic stronghold Dubh Linn to unleash a furious wrath of wizardry and riffs upon the scorched sunken soil." That pretty much says everything it needs to bar the fact once they descended from the mountains they made some really great tunes. They released their debut demos last summer and are definitely worth a listen if you enjoy the sounds of Valient Thorr or Cathedral then you'll love these guys!

Black Dunes

The north coast is well renowned for producing high quality riffage heavier than the Giant's Causeway itself and Black Dunes are no exception to this rule. Very new to the scene their sludgy instrumental doom laden tunes, reminiscent of local favourites Slomatics, are a slice of absolutely perfect stoner rock

Crow Black Chicken hail from Cork and Tipperary. Their blues infused sound is a perfect Frankenstein-esque mix of all the musical stylings they bring together in a cocktail of jazz, blues, punk and good old fashioned rock n roll - whats not to like about that! Having played 100 gigs across Ireland last year and even gracing the BBC introducing stage at Glastonbury  these guys aren't afraid of a bit of hard graft and you can definietly hear it in their music. 

Good day to you, keen explorers of new music. It's Phily Taggart back on That New Band Smell armed with a trailer of tubular fledgling acts for your consideration. Right then, enough of my gum flapping, let's do what we do best and get all up in these new acts grill, information-wise because knowledge is power.

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Adultrock feat. Jen Connell - Poplife 
Adultrock is the side project of We Are Losers singer and axe man Gavin Elsted. It's a dreamy, ethereal electronic affair, with elements of chill wave in certain songs and a nod to LCD Soundsystem and The Naked and Famous in this featured track Poplife. Get this track into your life, its available for free download, so no excuses.

Eyes See Blind - Shark in Shallow Waters
This is a straight up sonic apocalypse, technical guitars bend and twist round an artillery of rhythm like a double helix of metal-core.

Robots Can't Dance - Panic Attack!
Robots Can't Dance is the alias of 19 year old DJ + Producer Conor Duggan. He has been on the batter for the last twelve months producing high quality, face melting electro house. To get a good grounding of the talent that is, you best hobble over to his soundcloud page and spend some time checking out the various live sets, remixes and originals on offer.

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If you or anyone you know would like the be considered for That New Band Smell then get acquainted with the BBC Introducing Uploader. Upload your best tracks and that way we get to listen to the fruits of your labour. I highly suggest you get on it.

 

Its that time of the week when we unleash one of our hounds of musical love to bring you the finest hatchlings in Irish rock, pop and Electro-Polka. This time around, our new human-mobile 4G hotspot aka Brian Coney (stand beside him at a gig and get free wi-fi....*) counts down three of the best.

*more lies

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Versives

Having downgraded from a three-piece to a two-piece in recent days, Versives are an electronic rock band hailing from Cork. With their warm, perfectly Autumnal electronic approach, their 2011 EP, Two Enemies– released on Leeds-based indie label TAKEA!MFIRE - brilliantly encapsulates this outfit’s uncanny knack from beautiful melody and bobbing synth-led soundscapes.  Apparently, never off the road for touring, you could a whole lot worse than checking them out at a venue near you.

Tric

We’ve all been guilty of taking our music a little too seriously. I, for one, am no exception. Alas, there comes a point in one’s life when all you want to do is get horribly drunk and listen to straight up, no-frills rock n’ roll.- and , truly, what better soundtrack to such a simple calling than Belfast-based rock n’ rollers, ‘Tric? Led by guitar/vocalist Dale Hunter – a dead ringer for Bon Scott-era AC/DC – this three-piece combine punchy, three-chord blues-rock with scintillating solos and arse-shakingly upfront abandon. God help you if you think their sound is original but, equally, what’s your excuse if this doesn’t make you want to wear leather, swig bourbon and dance until you fall over?

Not to be confused with American post-hardcore three-piece Boysetsfire, Boy Lights Fire are a Dublin-based indie-pop three-piece lead by George Mercer. Equally reminiscent of a number of indie/post-shoegaze bands - Two Door Cinema Club and Pinback come to mind – the band have nonetheless forged their own distinctive sound over the three-tracks of their Weatherman EP. With some truly delectable vocal harmonies and perfectly soaring guitar interplay throughout, the title track from the EP is archetypal of this band’s forward-thinking musical vision.

 

The TNBS merry-go-round is making us so dizzy we may have to get off and have a wee boke soon, but not before we get Carrie Davenport's take on three essential tracks, with added heaviousity*.

*made up word.

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Liz is Evil

Formed in 2008 and playing crazed frenetic punk in the style of the Cramps or New York Dolls, their debut LP "Failed Philosophy" was released in late 2010. The video for "Anno Domino" is a bizarre trip into the world of Liz is evils dark but highly entertaining psyche and definitely worth a watch

Zombified

Hailing from the darkest depths of Lisburn and Carnmoney,  They have been making loud angry music together since 2010. When zombified aren't crafting pure death metal slabs of noise they are gearing up to play numerous festivals this summer! 

Having released their debut album "Absence of Light" at the very end of 2011, Xerosun are a Dublin based rock act who fans of Metallica, Drowning Pool and Disturbed will definitely approve of! There's a clear passion for their music in all their songs, with top notch production quality and great looking artwork finishing the package. With a ream of sponsorships and great reviews after the album release it's clear 2012 is going to be a good year for them.

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If you are making a glorious racket and would like to be featured on ‘That New Band Smell’ then its best you pop on your cyber boots and plod over to the BBC Introducing Uploader. All you have to do is upload your track and it spirals its way into our inbox. Happy uploading!

Hello! Phily Taggart back on the blog with my monthly installment of That New Band Smell. The aroma of fresh bands has been overwhelming in my absent weeks, so much so, I had over ten artists shortlisted for this three band feature. No doubt this weeks forgotten dame's will be next weeks Belle's of the ball. Right then, lets get stuck in.

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Young Wonder - Tumbling Backwards

Electro pop duo from Cork City. The tastemakers in the South have been frothing at the mouth over these fledgling, future superstars.

White Collar Boy - Capslock (Feat. Gemma Dunlovely)

The second appearance of an Irish electronic duo on this weeks That New Band Smell. Dublin's White Collar Boy have the lofty ambition to sign to the legendary DFA label. We feel this would be a comfortable fit for both parties.

From the ashes of previous band This Years Black rose Warrenpoint/Belfast four piece Langford Double. A new image, sound and lineout was reached with a reinvigorated thirst to create something original, authentic and satisfying for all members of the group. 'Close to Home' is a paragon of melodic power pop rock with a ferocious voal and bags of hooks. It's a testament to a great song when it sounds like three choruses bandaged together.

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If you are making a glorious racket and would like to be featured on ‘That New Band Smell’ then its best you pop on your cyber boots and plod over to the BBC Introducing Uploader. All you have to do is upload your track and it spirals its way into our inbox. Happy uploading!

Aficionado of everything from sludge doom, indie-pop and seventies Aerosmith, local music journo Brian Coney hokes out the best off-the-radar and unsigned Irish music. Nothing is out of bounds but this week sees the best of Dublin twee-pop, West Coast lo-fi fuzz and Belfast-based prog grunge.

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Jerome's Law  
Dublin-based indie-pop bands are as common as muck these days but only a handful of them come close to Jerome's Law. With their weaving harmonic twists and brilliantly burrowing choruses, these five musicians’ debut LP,Not Today, is an exemplary snapshot of a band at the full height of their creative powers. Like Bombay Bicycle Club and early Of Montreal? Check it out.

We've decided to don our studded gauntlets and metal it up a bit on the New Band Smell this week so Carrie Davenport is here bringing you the newest loud angry riff makers to get you moshing along to lyrics your granny wouldn't approve of!

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Ilenkus

Hailing from Galway these loud angry noise makers have recently signed to the Belfast-based Savour Your Scene record label. Their music is a complex cocktail with tunes which will appeal to fans of everything from Tool to Dillinger Escape Plan and leave everyone bowing in respect to their techinical ability. 

As I Breathe

Mixing metal with occasional flickers of dubstep like the hip young things that they are, far from being gimicky As I Breathe have some great tunes and serious riffs to back them up. Definitely worth a listen.

There are times when you need to listen to something angry enough to make you want to break things and that's why you need Red Enemy in your lives. They've supported hardcore heroes like Parkway Drive, TesseracT and Your Demise since forming in Dublin in 2008.  With guitars and vocals as aggressive as an agitated pitbull layered over driving rhythms and surprisingly melodic interludes, the recent release of their second EP "What We Are Contained In, Is What We Are Worth" should help this band really break out from the underground hardcore scene to really make waves of their own.

Red enemy are supporting Norma Jean in Dublin on Feb 29th but if that's a bit of a hefty taxi fare for a gig why not do one better and try to join the band! They're currently looking for a new guitarist to join the ranks for their next tour so if you like what you hear and you're a bit of an axe-wielding maniac then get in touch with the guys here.

If you or anyone you know is making music then you know what you have to do, upload it to the BBC Introducing Uploader. It doesn't matter what style or genre the song is, as long as it's good and you believe in it. 

Good day to you, keen explorers of sound. It's Phily Taggart here, armed with a bodacious bunch of fledgling bands for your consideration this week. Ok, so enough with the formalities, we all know what we have to do, lets jump in both feet first. Welcome to 'That New Band Smell'.

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Human Sheild - Turkish Power
More aggressive than a pitbull with an attitude problem. If you like your post-hardcore with whiskey soaked riffs and vitriolic vocals, then what are you waiting for?

In Their Thousands - Tear It All Apart
Sparkly folk pop with harmonies woven tighter than my skinny jeans. The Donegal quartet have four EP's to release throughout 2012, expect them back on our playlist very soon.

Hey you, yea you! Come here till i tell you a secret. I've been hunting down the freshest, tastiest prime cuts of Northern Irish talent all week and I have found three delictable delights that i am only willing to share with you, the internet. Welcome to 'That New Band Smell':

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Screenreader - HCI
Gargantuan heavy with a crystal vocal, think Placebo and you're on the right path. The guys drop their debut album on January 30th.

Soak - Trains
Ridiculously talented young troubadour from the North West. This prodigous songsmith is going to be interesting to follow in the coming years.

City of Stars are a fledgling three piece from Belfast. Their debut, eponymously named EP, is a bit of a treat. 'Untrue' is an indie pop gem with a feverishly catchy chorus, elsewhere on the release their is the down beat melancholy of 'The Only Thing I Know' and the electronic nuances of 'Stupid in Love'. City of Stars have many strings to their bow, equally capable of breaking your heart into smithereens and also dusting you off and getting the proverbial party started.  

  City of Stars - Untrue by bbc_atl