This is a double-A sided single release on Sugar Shack Records, featuring two bands I am completely unfamiliar with – XisLoaded and I Am The Door. 

First XisLoaded, who apparently have been touring round the UK fairly extensively over the last 5 years and who are releasing a new album “Trench”, from which this single is lifted. 

Sound-wise, we’re talking a punk / grunge combination, which is quite an interesting proposition in itself and which works fairly well. Lots of guitars, a fair dose of melody and some shouty vocals in the chorus add up to a half-reasonable effort which leaves me thinking I would like to perhaps hear more in the future. 

I Am The Door seem to have all sorts of influences in evidence throughout their track, “Our Own Radio” – from Matchbox 20 to early U2. That’s not to say that they are of the quality of either of those two bands, but there’s a definite nod in their direction and I’ve heard an awful lot worse than this. 

Hearing these singles certainly hasn’t put me off either band and I would check out more of their stuff in the future, without necessarily thinking either are the “next big thing”.

Track List

Momentum Fails
Our Own Radio
Bar Brawls & Downfalls