Well, it's not my fault that "Bob Dylan with a blowtorch for vocal chords" isn't that well known, I'd say they had more mainstream exposure than Sabbat ever did. Don't blame me for other peoples' ignorance...

How does 'reknown' sound?

El Viking wrote:
> featuring Martin Walykier of Skyclad fame on vocals


"fame"

For an "Underground" choice; the almighty Sabbat. Thrash Metal band with a slight Black Metal edge, featuring Martin Walykier of Skyclad fame on vocals and some furious riffing courtesy of Andy Sneap, now best known as a producer. Recently reformed and touring once again, they were incredible at the Scala in London back in June.

As for a mainstream choice, it's hard to go wrong with Motorhead. The last couple of albums (Inferno and Kiss of Death) have been among Lemmy's best in years, and the next, Motorizer] seems to be no exception... Among other highlights in their vast discography are Overkill (My personal favourite), 1916 and Another Perfect Day.

One of my favourite mainstream bands are Stone Sour.Despite sharing two members with Slipknot I don't think they sound alike at all.They have made some great songs in the last few years IMO.

Stone Sour Official Website

Regarding unsigned bands one of my faves are Ryashon,I think they are great fun.Here are a couple of covers they have done:

Ryu's Streetfighter Theme

Mortal Kombat Theme

The tracks they have done to date are available to download free (in one file) from their myspace site.Only fair to donate if you like them IMO.

and in return here is the king of our music scene

'Dengie Boy'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSYIsQIhyRc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu32GhfyQeY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFVSCcThEbk

jubbachainsaw wrote:
> Everyone check out New Town Kings. They are a Colchester based
> Ska band. There are 10 members and they play some down right
> dirty Ska Reggae and have recently been signed to the worlds
> largest Ska/Dub/Reggae label Do The Dog.
>
> If you get a chance to get to one of their gigs you will not be
> disappointed as they put on such an amazing performance and their
> songs are modern day classics.

thanks for that, i would really like to see these guys live, do you know where the 'lettuce farm' is in colchester, tried googling it but nothing came up

excellent bit of ska

YH wrote:
> Good taste there. Also listen to The Magicians Assistant.

I shall give them a listen when I am slightly more sober...

jubbachainsaw wrote:
> Everyone check out New Town Kings. They are a Colchester based
> Ska band. There are 10 members and they play some down right
> dirty Ska Reggae and have recently been signed to the worlds
> largest Ska/Dub/Reggae label Do The Dog.
>
> If you get a chance to get to one of their gigs you will not be
> disappointed as they put on such an amazing performance and their
> songs are modern day classics.


I thought Do The Dog were a small-time UK ska label...? Although I've never really looked into them that much...

Sibs wrote:
> 'Underground'? At the moment I'd recommend Dan Le Sac Vs.
> Scroobius Pip. Check out
> their MySpace, I'd
> especially recommend giving the tracks 'Angles', 'Letter from God
> to Man' and 'Thou Shalt Always Kill' a listen. It's vaguely
> hip-hop with some electronic sounds, some indie influence there
> as well I suppose, and some brilliant lyrics... The 'singing' is
> more spoken word, but the words are usually brilliant and
> thought-provoking.


Good taste there. Also listen to The Magicians Assistant.

Everyone check out New Town Kings. They are a Colchester based Ska band. There are 10 members and they play some down right dirty Ska Reggae and have recently been signed to the worlds largest Ska/Dub/Reggae label Do The Dog.

If you get a chance to get to one of their gigs you will not be disappointed as they put on such an amazing performance and their songs are modern day classics.

And while we're on the subject of music, everyone should check out The King Blues. Awesome acoustic ska/punk/greatness - King Blues Myspace.

They're playing in Camden (London) next Wednesday (which I'll be going to), and are also playing Reading/Leeds fests (which I won't be as they seem to be getting more expensive and less fun with each passing year)

The Reaper wrote:
> I recommend these two:
>
> The
> Switchblade Masquerade Fantastic new UK group using
> great female vocals with a blend of electro, hip hop and rock.
> Can't wait for their CD to come out.

Switchblade Masquerade remind me of Evanescense (sp?) somewhat... There's the female vocals, albeit less 'operatic', and the songs have are relatively poppy but maintain a little bit of a dark edge. Of course, there's not the nu-metal / goth-lite of Evanescense, instead there's the electro influence... Not bad, think my girlfriend might like them, but can't say I'm 'loving' them...

Mainstream... Erm... Chumbawamba? Everyone must surely remember "I get knocked down, but I get up again" from the single Tubthumping. I recently 'discovered' the band through a brilliant track "everything you know is wrong". They have a large number of albums covering a huge assortment of genres, from punk and rock to world music, folk, pop and techno sounds. You can listen to assorted full tracks and 30 second samples at their Last.fm page.


'Underground'? At the moment I'd recommend Dan Le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip. Check out their MySpace, I'd especially recommend giving the tracks 'Angles', 'Letter from God to Man' and 'Thou Shalt Always Kill' a listen. It's vaguely hip-hop with some electronic sounds, some indie influence there as well I suppose, and some brilliant lyrics... The 'singing' is more spoken word, but the words are usually brilliant and thought-provoking.

Mumford & Sons
Take a listen to White Blank Page

"Her white blank page
And a swelling raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaageeeeeeee
Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaageeeeeeeeeeeeeee

I loves it. My favourite band of the year so far.

I recommend these two:

The Switchblade Masquerade Fantastic new UK group using great female vocals with a blend of electro, hip hop and rock. Can't wait for their CD to come out.

My mainstream choice... InnerPartySystem, they're pretty much mainstream these days. I fell in love with this song a couple of months ago. I even created the Wikipedia entry for them :)

Okay this is where you can sell your favourite bands and get them more listeners.

You have to choose 1 mainstreem/commercial band and 1 local/non famous band. Along with the name and website of the band please include a brief reason why people should listen to them i.e. what makes them worth a listen.

My Choices are:

Alkaline Trio
Myspace
In my opinion Alkaline Trio are one of the greatest Punk Rock bands of my lifetime, their early material on albums Alkaline Trio, Goddamit, Maybe I'll Catch Fire, From Here To Infirmary and Good Mourning were absolute classics with maybe only one or two songs off the albums that weren'y lyrically brilliant and catchy as hell.
Download These: Hell Yes, Steamer Trunk, Bloodied Up, 97, Radio, Mr Chainsaw, My Friend Peter

Motion City Soundtrack
Myspace
Motion City Soundtrack have supported some good bands over the last 5 years, the likes of Alkaline Trio, All American Rejects, Blink 182 etc. They have gained loads of fans at every gig they have played and their lively energetic show and lyrics that you can really relate to.
Download These: The Future Freaks Me Out, Perfect Teeth, LGFUAD, Better Open The Door, When You're Around