Die Antwood Release Video For Their New Single "Banana Brain": Watch.

South African rap rave trio Die Antwood have released a new single with accompanying video. "Banana Brain" is taken from the group's upcoming album.

Their new album "Mount Ninji And Da Nice Time Kid" will be released later this year. However, yesterday they blessed the whole world with a completely ridiculous new music video, in which Yolandi can be seen to murder her parents by forcing them to overdose before the music even starts. Ninja dons prosthetic legs later in the video, clearly referencing Paralympic gold medalist and convicted murderer Oscar Pistorius as at around the five minute mark he appears to prepare to shoot Yolandi through a bathroom door.

If you're familiar with the group, none of this will be even a little bit surprising. And despite all the ridiculousness and stupidity Die Antwood have delivered yet another audio/visual treat, something that they've become known for worldwide.

The music is everything we've come to expect from them; ridiculously loud thudding bass, harsh synths, almost incomprehensible high pitched vocals and humorous yet incredibly vulgar rap verses.

The group played Reading and Leeds festivals this past bank holiday weekend and were surely a highlight for everyone who went to see them, including me. However, the BBC didn't deem their performance appropriate and have not included it in their iPlayer online library of performances from the festival. This is hardly surprising as the visuals during their performance showed women being eaten by their own vaginas and babies with humongous genitalia. They were also included in my "Who To See At This Year's Reading and Leeds Festival" article, which you can read here if you'd like.

You can check out the new video here.

Words: Liam Navey.

Netflix Release Teaser for Stranger Things Season 2: Watch.

American TV streaming service Netflix released a trailer today for a second season of their hit show "Stranger Things".

The trailer features mysterious phrases such as "The Pumpkin Patch" and "The Pollywog", which are presumably titles of the second season's nine episodes. The trailer also includes Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein's original score, which was a huge talking point for fans of the show (you can listen to the score here). The announcement is not a surprising one, the show became a huge worldwide hit almost immediately due to the convincing acting from the whole cast and the familiar '80s Steven Spielberg/Stephen King stylistic vision put forward by directing duo the Duffer brothers. it has been confirmed that the Duffer brothers will return to direct but no casting choices have been made public yet.

One of the assumed titles revealed in the trailer is "In The Fall Of 1984", implying that the second season will take place the year after the first.  

There is no specific release date revealed in the trailer, it simply states "coming 2017". 

You can watch the trailer for the second season here. 

Words: Liam Navey.

Who Could Play Glastonbury 2017? Headliners and Other Possible Line-up Rumours.

Rumours of who could play next year's Glastonbury festival have been circulating since the gates of Worthy Farm closed this year. According to several different publications and word of mouth, I have put together a list (in no particular order) of the 10 acts that are most likely to be on the lineup of the summer 2017 event.

Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac are a British/American folk rock band who, over the last 50 years, have become one of the biggest selling acts of all time, with over 100 million album sales. The band's name has frequented the Glastonbury rumour mill for several years now. However, festival founder Michael Eavis has said several times that they're just too expensive to book. Could next year finally give them the chance to prove themselves as Glastonbury worthy? After their set at last year's Isle of Wight festival I think it's about time they were booked.

Guns N' Roses

Guns N' Roses are currently on the road with their "Not In This Lifetime" tour. After many years apart, the group's original lineup decided to put their differences aside and give their fans a string of performances they actually wanted to see. The classic hard rock group played Coachella earlier this year and their set was mostly regarded as a success. They have completely missed out the UK when announcing gigs this past year so a series of large open air or arena shows for next year are looking more than likely. With a backcatalouge as large and well known as theirs, they'd be a sensible (and possibly slightly dull) booking for next year's event.

Radiohead

The Oxford five-piece have been one of the biggest names in alternative rock music over the last 30 years and are a band that are sure to go down well with the Glastonbury audience. Next year's festival will arrive just as the band have finished touring their latest album "A Moon Shaped Pool", and it'll be 20 years since their career defining headline set on the pyramid stage. The group have played a relatively large amount of European and American festivals this summer so some UK festival dates will surely be on the cards next year. However, they've been known to play the occasional secret set, so even if they aren't booked as a headliner I wouldn't completely write them off.

AC/DC

This Australian band are another veteran hard rock group who are currently touring. They've been circulating the rumour threads of UK festival online forums for several years now and if they're going to play any it may as well be the biggest and best festival in the country. The four piece would surely pull a huge crowd at the pyramid stage and have enough material recorded to perform about 12 headline sets so I wouldn't be surpirised if they topped the bill next year.

The Stone Roses

The Stone Roses are a four piece indie rock band from Manchester. They reformed in 2012 after being at the head of the "Madchester" subculture music scene in the late '80s and early '90s, and played several huge outdoor shows. The band then went off the radar for a short while and returned this year with two new singles and a 4 date sold out stint at Manchester's Etihad stadium. With the possibility of a third coming looming, a headline set at Glastonbury 2017 would be an appropriate step up from their show at this year's T in the Park.

Foo Fighters

Formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters have been one of the biggest names in rock music, releasing a seemingly endless stream of albums and headlining just about every festival in the world. They were booked to headline Glastonbury in 2015 but were forced to pull out after Grohl broke his leg. They were rumoured to top the bill at this year's event but were not included, so a set from them next year is looking like a very likely (and uninspired) possibility. 

Diana Ross

Diana Ross is one of the biggest names in Motown and Soul music, and although she isn't quite big enough to headline the festival, the famous Sunday afternoon "legend" slot could quite easily be occupied by her in 2017. This slot has seen the likes of Lionel Richie and Brian Wilson, as well as this year's performance by Jeff Lynne's ELO. She's well known enough to get everyone, young and old alike, to sing along so don't be surprised if you see her name on the lineup poster.

Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath formed in Birmingham in the late '60s and are regarded across the whole world as one of the pioneering bands of the heavy metal genre. They are currently touring and have stated that this stint of arena shows and festival appearances will be their last, claiming that next year will be when they retire from music. What better way to end a career than to play Glastonbury festival? they've definitely got the material and the fan base.

Kendirck Lamar

Kendrick Lamar is a Compton born hip-hop recording artist and rapper. Since 2010 he has become one of the biggest names in the genre and after the release of his 2014 album "To Pimp a Butterfly" he became an acclaimed artist throughout the world by fans of all genres. The themes the album explores ensure that many people can understand and appreciate it, therefore practically guaranteeing him a place at the top of most festival bills. Although he may not be quite capable of headlining the pyramid stage, a sub-headline slot or a headlining slot on the other stage is seeming very likely. 

 

Gorillaz

Gorillaz are a virtual band, created in 1998 by Blur front-man Damon Albarn. Their music focuses on genre's such as alternative rock, electronica and alternative hip-hop. Their first two albums went platinum several times and the band's previous Glastonbury headline slot in 2010 was a resounding success. With new material on the way in 2017, a Glastonbury comeback could be the perfect opportunity to put the band back at the forefront of the music scene after a six year hiatus.

Words: Liam Navey.

American Football Announce New Album, Release First Single In 17 Years: Listen.

There aren't many bands about that could wait 17 years between releasing albums and still ensure their fan base maintain a keen interest. American Football are definitely one of those bands.

American football are emo/math rock band that originated in Illinois in 1997. The four piece band's debut album "American Football" was released in 1999 and they only toured the album for around a year, reaching a mutual decision to split in 2000. After they had disbanded the album acquired worldwide critical acclaim, and for almost 15 years it's underground status remained prominent. In 2014 the band announced a string of festival shows as well as some headline shows, and since then they have made it clear that their return will be permanent.

The band's second EP, which was announced this week, is also titled "American Football" (you can find the track-listing below) and will be released on October 21 via Wichita Recordings. They will also play a series of album release shows throughout the US.

You can listen to their new track "I've Been So Lost For So Long" here.

The Tracklisting for "American Football":

01 Where Are We Now? 
02 My Instincts Are the Enemy 
03 Home Is Where the Haunt Is 
04 Born to Lose 
05 I've Been So Lost for So Long 
06 Give Me the Gun 
07 I Need a Drink (or Two or Three) 
08 Desire Gets in the Way 
09 Everyone Is Dressed Up

Words: Liam Navey.

Who To See At This Year's Reading and Leeds Festival.

Reading and Leeds festival takes place on August bank holiday weekend each year, and has boasted some of the best line-ups the country has ever seen. This year's line-up was met with some criticism. However, if you really look at it, there are plenty of top notch live acts to experience. So in no real order, here's a selection of acts that I think are worth seeing at this year's festival.

Biffy Clyro

Main stage

Leeds: Fri 21:30-23:00 / Reading: Sun 22:10-23:25

Biffy Clyro are one of the biggest names in UK rock music right now, with seven full length albums and 21 years experience under their belt they certainly know how to put on a great live show. The Scottish three-piece's back catalogue is incredibly diverse, with their earlier material providing them with a somewhat cult following. However, it was their 2010 album "Only Revolutions" which rightfully earned the band their big break. They've played the festival several times before, last headlining in 2013. Some people were concerned the band wouldn't be able to pull of such a large show, but they were soon proved wrong as the band's set was a huge success with fans and critics alike. Their latest album "Ellipsis" dropped just last month and the lead single "Wolves of Winter"" channels some of their older (heavier) material. Their headline set is sure to be a highlight of the weekend for anyone who chooses to see them.

You can listen to "Wolves of Winter", taken from their latest album here.

Eagulls

Festival Republic Stage

Leeds: Fri 17:45-18:20 / Reading: Sun 18:50-19:20

Eagulls are a Leeds based post-punk four piece band that have been creating quite a stir both locally and nationally. The band's self titled debut was released in 2013, and after the release of their first single "Council Flat Blues" it was expected to be one of the best underground albums of the year. It didn't disappoint, the band toured the album worldwide and even performed on David Letterman's talk show to a huge US audience. They released their second album "Ullages" earlier this year and it has a slightly slower, moodier feel. This newer sound combined with the more hectic sounds of the first album will definitely ensure their set at this year's festival will be one to remember.

Have a listen to their 2013 single "Possessed" here.

The Vryll Society

Festival Republic Stage

Leeds: Fri 13:55-14:20 / Reading: Sun 14:50-15:20 

This Liverpool based psychedelic band are slowly but surely making a name for themselves in the UK. To quote the group's Facebook page: "Locked away in their subterranean rehearsal space for more than a year, The Vryll Society have been creating a complex body of work, to stimulate both the soul and mind". For me personally, that description alone is almost enough to make me want to see them live as soon as possible. But aside from describing themselves very well, The Vryll Society have played at several major festivals this summer, including Glastonbury and are on many different music publication's "ones to watch list". With rolling psych drum beats, funkadelic inspired guitar riffs and mellow vocals, their short set at this years Reading and Leeds festival is surely worth attending before the band move on to bigger things in coming years.

You can listen to their track "Beautiful Faces" here.

Die Antwood

Main Stage

Leeds: Sat 15:50-16:25 / Reading: Fri 16:15-17:00

Die Antwood are a rap/rave trio from Cape Town, South Africa, who are known worldwide for their intense and comical live performances. The group base their image on a South African counter-culture movement known as "zef", which begins to explains their eccentric and sometimes quite disturbing stage wardrobe choices. The group have three full length studio albums under their belt and are worldwide festival favourites, although this is their only UK festival date of the year. The band last played the festival two years ago on the NME stage, and with this year's jump to the main stage I'm sure they'll have something special in store. 

One of their biggest hits "I Fink U Freeky" is set to send the main stage crowd at both locations into a frenzy, you can listen to it here.

Pulled Apart By Horses

Festival Republic Stage

 Leeds: Sat 19:40-20:20 / Reading: Fri 21:30-22:05

The second Leeds based band to feature on this list, Pulled Apart By Horses are a massive force to be reckoned with when it comes to live performance. With a speedy and thudding rhythm section and shrieking guitar riffs, the band sound quite impressive on record but it doesn't compare to their live show. The four piece have spent a large segment of their career in and around the city of Leeds, playing their biggest and smallest shows to date in the city over the last seven or so years. The band's most recent Leeds show was in the city's Millennium Square, supporting The Cribs (you can read my review of that gig here), but they're more suited to darker smaller venues such as the Brudenell Social Club. Their set at Reading and Leeds will be played in one of the smaller performance tents at the festival so will suit their smaller club playing style, you'd be a fool to miss them.

Have a listen to one of their earlier (and better) singles "I Punched A Lion In The Throat" here.

Super Hans

Alternative Stage

Leeds only: 00:15-01:00

Everyone's favourite character from most people's favourite comedy TV show has come to life. Otherwise known as Matt King, the "Peep Show" actor decided this year to bring his Super Hans character to the masses through a series of festival performances. I don't really know what to expect from his set, but if his music taste on Channel 4 show is anything to go by, there will be plenty of Chemical Brothers and very little Coldplay being played. You may as well go along to his set, there's nothing else to do at that time really and I'm sure whatever he plays there won't be a better way of killing 45 minutes on that particular night.

You can watch a supercut of his best moments on "Peep Show" here.

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Festival Republic Stage
Leeds: Sun 18:10-18:45 / Reading: Sat 19:40-20:10

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are one of the most exciting and innovative bands playing the festival this year. The band formed in Melbourne and are renowned for taking classic sixties style psychedelic sounds and turning them into something that sounds like nothing else about today. With three guitarists and two drummers on stage at all times, the improvised "jams" the band go into when playing live can make you forget that they even have any previously recorded material to play. The band have released seven albums in just four years and are set to release another four (yes four) albums throughout 2017. With previous material spanning from long winding slow psych songs to much harsher garage rock style crowd pleasers, the promise of so much new material next year really is something to be excited about. Their unjustly short set will no doubt be a highlight of the festival for me and anyone else who has the sense to see them.

Listen to their acclaimed transformative track "The River" here.

(I'd also like to recommend that you give "People Vultures" a listen).

Nas

NME/BBC Radio 1 Stage
Leeds: Sun 20:20-21:10 / Reading: Sat 21:05-21:55

Brooklyn born hip hop artist Nasir Jones AKA Nas is one of the biggest and best names on the line-up, despite his unjustifiably low down slot. He was originally added to the lineup as a "special guest" below Haim and Two Door Cinema Club (Haim have since dropped out) but the fact that Nas is playing below Two Door Cinema club is something I cannot wrap my head around. He has had eight consecutive Platinum and Multi-Platinum albums and his debut album "Illmatic", which was released in 1994, is regarded to this day as one of the best hip hop albums of all time. Tracks from this album will surely receive a massive reaction from the crowd. However, you shouldn't just take one album into account when considering Nas as an artist, he has remained relevant and prominent in the music industry for over 20 years. His discography is inspired by timelessly important matters such as race, politics, religion and drugs. It is safe to say that whatever he chooses to play at Reading and Leeds next weekend his set is one that nobody should miss.

Listen to "New York State Of Mind" here.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Main Stage

Leeds: Sun 21:20-23:00 / Reading: Saturday 21:25-23:35

Red Hot Chili Peppers have become a pretty much worldwide household name over the past 33 years. They formed in LA in 1983 and have enjoyed much success and critical acclaim off the back of almost all of their albums. Arguably the biggest name on the line-up, the band will bring their signature funk rock sound to the Reading and Leeds main stage and are pretty much guaranteed to be greeted by a huge crowd of all ages. The band's most recent alum "The Getaway" was released in June this year. However, the crowd will no doubt be gathered to hear classics such as "Under The Bridge", "Can't Stop" and "Californiacation". The band played at Scottish festival T in the Park earlier in the summer and pulled off a lengthy, career spanning set despite the grim weather. Their set next weekend is sure to contain lengthy bass solos and huge sing-alongs.

Listen to "Dark Necessities" taken from their latest album here.

Fat White Family

Alternative Stage

Leeds only: Sun 01:30-02:30

If you've read anything from this blog before or you know me personally, you'll know how I feel about this band. For me, there's no better band around, everything about them, from their scruffy and unkept appearance to their violent and unpredictable live shows appeals to me and plenty of others on many levels. They have released two completely different yet equally incredible albums and despite the fact that founding member and lead guitarist Saul Adamczewski has a tendency to not turn up for shows, the rest of the band continue through any and all circumstances. After unexpectedly releasing a new single titled "Breaking Into Aldi" earlier in the week, a late night show in the smallest performance tent at the festival will ensure that everyone who attends the gig will leave the festival the next morning with an experience they will be talking about for weeks afterwards.

Listen to their new single "Breaking Into Aldi" here.

There are plenty of other great acts playing the festival that didn't quite make this list. The Wytches are playing Leeds festival only on the Thursday night and are sure to get the weekend off to a loud and brutal start with their signature heavy doom rock sound (have a read of my review from the Garage show last here). Savages, Hinds, Foals and The Vaccines (read my review of last year's Brixton academy show here) are also sure to make the weekend one to remember.

Check out this full line-up poster here:

Words: Liam Navey.

Frank Ocean Continues To Tease With New Visual Album "Endless": Watch.

The New Orleans-born singer, songwriter, and rapper has released a visual album titled "Endless" today. Available through apple music and his website, the video continues to tease the looming release of his latest album, which was due to be released several weeks ago.

Frank Ocean has been somewhat of an enigma over the past few years, he seemed to disappear not long after releasing his 2012 album "Channel Orange", which was met with widespread critical acclaim. He has been teasing the release a new album, reportedly originally titled "Boys Don't Cry" for a few weeks now, leaving fans feeling anxious and slightly annoyed as he continues to fail to meet his own deadlines. Apple music released a statement to say that "Endless" is a "visual album" and is not necessarily music from his upcoming second studio album. They also told Pitchfork to "keep an eye out this weekend for more from Frank", but after his recent behaviour, I don't think any of us should be holding our breath.

A web stream which began around two weeks ago had been playing on Frank Ocean's website and the rapper returned to it last night to assemble wooden boxes that he had made into a spiral staircase. How mysterious. "Boys Don't Cry" will reportedly be accompanied by some sort of print publication upon its release, however, the status of the album continues to be unclear. You can find the tracklist below and watch "Endless" here.

01 Device Control
02 At Your Best (You Are Love) (Isley Brothers cover)

03 Alabama

04 Mine

05 U-N-I-T-Y

06 Ambience 001: “In a Certain Way”

07 Commes Des Garcons

08 Ambience 002: “Honeybaby”

09 Wither

10 Hublots

11 In Here Somewhere

12 Slide on Me

13 Sideways

14 Florida

15 Deathwish (ASR)

16 Rushes

17 Rushes To

18 Higgs

Words: Liam Navey

Fat White Family Unexpectedly Release New Single "Breaking Into Aldi".

Whether you love them or hate them, just about everyone knows who Fat White Family are by now. Their new single "Breaking Into Aldi" has been unleashed onto the world and it is absolutely huge.

The Brixton six piece are known worldwide for their hectic and raw live performances and are coming to the end of touring their second album "Songs For Our Mothers", which was released in January this year. Hopefully this new single is suggesting a third album is in the works.

The track sounds nothing like anything the band have released before, which is wonderful thing as it once again demonstrates that this extremely versatile act are not done yet and have plenty more tricks up their grubby sleeves. Featuring long time friend John Lennon and the frontman of garage rock band the Black Lips, it really is something to behold.

Fat Whites' frontman Lias Saoudi spoke to Noisey about "Breaking Into Aldi" prior to it's release and this is what he had to say: "This song is a post apocalyptic vision of a barely United Kingdom bereft of quality German supermarkets and their insipid low prices; 'Breaking Into Aldi' is the anthem that never was, a call to arms for the senselessness of our future futility, an overcrowded shadow begging for a rerun, a sell out by sell outs for sell outs. This Fat Whites collaboration with Cole Alexander of the Black Lips, Sean Lennon and Zumi Roscow of the K Holes is by all intents and purposes the sound of hopelessness attempting to bleed itself dry". Delightful.

You can listen to the track here.

The band are playing a sort of homecoming show at Brixton Academy later this year, with support from The KVB and the Black Lips it is sure to be a gig to remember.

Words: Liam Navey