'WTF Have We Missed?!'

A summery of WALLFLAGs top gems dropped throughout quarantine.

Well it's been a while hasn't it and what a couple months it's been! Since most of life as we know was called to a halt it back in March under Covid circumstances we've all been sat around without much to do and hey that's okay, we've learnt to bake, started working out, read a couple books and hopefully had the chance to check out the absolutely fine selection of musical releases that have kept us here at WALLFLAG_ ticking over (while we did none of those things above and just binge watched Peep Show over and over).

Sports Team - Deep Down Happy

Now we're fans of Sports Team here if you hadn't noticed so their blissful debut album 'Deep Down Happy' obviously cannot be ignored, dropping back in June this six-piece indie lot took on Lady Gaga (of all people!) in a battle for UK #1 but only just came out on the under. Taking jabs at the middle class and not short of politics either we're treated to a short and snappy album full of bouncy guitars and motermouth vocals with the occasional laid back number thrown in thanks to rhythm guitarist (and vocalist) Rob Knaggs.
Key Tunes: Long Hot Summer, Here's The Thing
Verdict: 7/10
{See our coverage of their most recent UK tour HERE!}

Wallflower - Teach Yourself To Swim

What's that? Another immaculate debute album? Oh yeah, sure! Also back in June we finally got our hands on London alt-rockers Wallflowers debut album too! Openly avoiding limitations 'Teach Yourself To Swim' blends post-rock, synth, pop-punk and even a nod to some good old emo tones the 4 year wait was totally worth it. Written as a cohesive record this 12 track has it all, displaying a powerful set of vocals and ever changing instrumentals paired with a hearth stretching lyric book makes this about more than worth a spin.
Key Tunes: Hungry Eyes, Eat Away at My Heart
Verdict: 8/10
{Read our interview with the band HERE!}

Palaye Royale - The Bastards

Lets go all the way back to May to Palaye Royales third album 'The Bastards' which greeted us loud and clear. At 46 minutes it rolls in with aptly named 'Little Bastards' before kicking it up a gear for basically the whole of its play time, featuring an array of instruments in this genre mixing concept record from the gentle strings on 'Lonely' to the brass notes of 'Hang On To Yourself' and the anthemic synths in 'Tonight Is The Night I Die' alongside the fluently strong vocals of frontman Remmington Leith with such cohesion. We're taken through some hard hitting topics such as gun violence and mental health but trust us when we say this album is definitely one that you'll want to get up and jump about to.
Key Tunes: Hang On To Yourself, Fucking With My Head
Verdict: 8.5/10

Fontaines D.C - A Hero's Death

Moving forward to July, Irish outfit Fonatines D.C released their highly anticipated second studio album 'A Hero's Death'. At its core displaying post-punk nihilism at its finest, touched up with manic ups and downs, a record balancing doom and gloom and groove. The narrowing repetition of the grainy reverb lead 'Televised Mind' comes across almost mesmeric, its fun running title title track full of 'Ohhh's and 'Ahhh's is a pinnacle of toe tapping rhythm, the final track 'No' is nothing short of how to perfectly close a album, soft homely plucks of the strings and down the earth vocals want us swinging arm in arm with whoever's closest, lighters in the air, having a grand old time.
Key Tunes: Living In America, A Hero's Death, No
Verdict: 8/10

If I Die First - My Poison Arms

Now trust us when we say one of the last things we'd expect to sneak into a list like this in 2020 is a screamo band but just last month we got the first taste of a brand new underground supergroup in the form of If I Die First consisting of emo-rap heavies Lil Lotus, Lil Zubin and Nedarb and well as From First To Lasts' Travis Richter and the bassist and drummer of Ghostemane too. Being their first release as a group 'My Poison Arms'  picks up exactly where the 2010 metalcore scene left off, opening track 'No Serenity' running in under 60 seconds starts with an unholy drop and those signature screamo basslines that we've missed so dearly. Keeping true to last decades emo-core facade the vocals split from scream to clean at the flick of a switch by track 2 'Where Needles and Lovers Collide'. A truly modern production of classic sounds; emphatic melodies, snarling call and response verses, some filthy fat breakdowns and an outstanding acoustic closing number make this one of the most promising screamo releases in recent years.

Key Tunes: No Serenity, Burying A Parent
Verdict: 9/10