Album

Stay Positive
The Hold Steady (Vagrant Records)

The Brooklynbased punk rock outfit, who shot to the top with 2006’s “Boys and Girls in America”, return with this bright and, yes, positive, new studio album adding extra colour with horn to “Sequestered in Memphis”, mandolin on “Both Crosses” and harpsichord on “One for the Cutters”. The new album gets off to a rocking start with "Constructive Summer”, a fast and catchy that suits Craig Finn’s gruff vocals. “Lord I’m Discouraged” is a heartbreaking ballad with a monster guitar solo while “Slapped Actress” closes out with riffheavy rock and pounding drums.

Ultra Beatdown
DragonForce (Roadrunner Records)
The British shredders’ fourth album is as fast and melodic as ever, and fans will be mesmerised by the superlative guitar work from Herman Li and Sam Totman that’s accompanied by drummer Dave Mackintosh’s heavy pounding, and ZP Theart's powerful vocals. There’s more synth on this album, especially on “The Warrior Inside” and “Reasons To Live”. “A Flame For Freedom” is the token ballad as DragonForce rev up the tempo and show why they continue to be the metal heroes of this generation.