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Battalion Of Flies |
Press & Reviews These are just a few of the UK reviews. There have be too many to list from outside the UK and many are not in English. Most of the European rock press have covered the album and some have reviewed the band. In addition, countless websites have reviews and comments.
Album: 'Blue Lips, Cold Kiss' CSK028 - Review Battalion Of Flies hail from Bonnie Scotland and with 'Blue Lips, Cold Kiss' have produced one of the finest debut albums I have heard for a very long time. If your particular bag is Soundgarden or Alice In Chains, then this lot will be right up your alley. The maturity of the songwriting is breathtaking at times, with melody and heaviness walking hand-in-hand with a certain knowing swagger. Any album that contains a song with the title 'Tumshie' is fine in my book - if you don't know what a Tumshie is, then ask one of your Scottish friends! Vocalist and guitarist Craig Costello has his ear firmly in the Eddie Vedder school of singing and he knows his way around the fretboard as well. Forget the naff name and grab this album NOW - you will not be disappointed!. Robert Adams (Rock Sound) Re-produced courtesy of Rock Sound Magazine (July 2004) BATTALION OF FLIES - 'Weight
Of The World' 3:52 Terrorixer Cover CD - July-2004 A breath of fresh air to the UK scene. Not
willing to compete with the Courtesy of Terrorizer Magazine 2004 Review - Courtesy of EMS Zealous Friday 13th June 2003 Tonight's crowd was mostly a selection of regulars, friends and family attached to 'Ramage Inc.' and 'Battalion of Flies'. This was 'B.O.F's' first Zealous and the 'R'inc's' first time headlining it. The numbers enhanced the atmosphere for what should have been a fully excellent show. 'Templeball' from Glasgow were a bit of an enigma for me. Their sound was akin to a harder-edged 'Tool': with tension-invoking riffs and rhythms working together with melodic vocals using effects which would lead to a heavier progression led by screaming reinforced with reverb. Personally, I would have to see them again to really appreciate what they do. They received a lacklustre reaction from the crowd, typical for an opening band but this was no doubt heightened by their style and the nature of the audience. 'Battalion of Flies' played an awesome and flawless set. Sound was perfect for their tight, back to basics slow low-end rock. It was during their set that numbers peaked and the audience feedback showed who most people had come to see. Riffs, solos and drumbeats with a slightly dark edge encouraged rhythmic head-nodding while powerful vocals commanded the crowd. Those who have branded the band unoriginal would hold no weight watching them dominate the stage as they showed their talent and skill to indicate a bright future. Excellent. It was a hard act for 'Ramage Inc.' to follow and their nerves were most likely not helped by the daunting prospect of a headlining set coming in at over an hours length. Furthermore, a great number of those in attendance left leaving the Studios feeling a little empty. The set consisted of a few tracks that would be new to some, including 'Fake Princess' and 'Scarred', the songs featured on their demo and the live favourite cover of 'Fear Factory's' 'New Breed'. It was surprising that after 'B.O.F's' near-perfect sound, 'Ramage Inc's came into contact with problems. Vocals weren't always clear, guitars were at points inaudible and levels could have been higher. Sound later improved but the early damage stole much of their potential impact. As is typical of the 'R'inc', they gave it their best efforts despite the problems and still managed to give a good show. Those new to the band would have been impressed with their technicality, diversity and depth but at times the band lost coherence. Their performance was at its best around the middle but usually perfect set-closer 'The Great Healing' lost momentum. It was a shame because when the 'R'inc' play to their full potential you find yourself scouring the floor for your socks (having just had them knocked off of course). Overall, a very good gig that should have
been even better. 'Ali'. - Posted on EMS - 2003-06-17 10:36:29 BATTALION OF FLIES - 'BLUE LIPS COLD KISS' Album..... 'Great interest - many people asking who these songs were by'. The Twa Tams, Perth. 'I'm sure this band will be big. Lots of interest, great tracks' Black Sheep, Northampton. 'Nice and heavy rock sound with plenty of melody. There are a lot of other bands about doing this stuff but good overall. 'Tumshie' is the most commercial track'. The Axe, Boston. 'Really good album, really promising stuff. Catchy and seemed to gain fans after repeated plays'. Hellbound, Burnley. 'The AIC influence is so dominant that hard to determine if the band have talent or are just copying someone else.' The Dome, London. 'This is great, I think they will be massive, such a grunge sound to them'. Club XS, Kettering. 'I like the potential single 'Tumshie', very Nirvana-esque. This stuff is getting bigger, about time we had some up and coming acts to take on the USA'. The Phoenix, Coventry. 'Definite grunge influence. Time will tell as to whether they hit the big time but they have a sound good enough to make a dent.' The Mean Fiddler, London. 'Pretty solid, anthemic songs that have potential'. The Mill, Preston. 'This has got everything for everybody!! Track 1 is just blowing the floor away at the moment and there are a lot of people waiting to know who, when and where. MASSIVE SUPPORT HERE!!" The Little Civic, Wolverhampton. The above are sample quotes from club dj's around the UK supplied by Wild Promotion. _____________________________________________________________ Review
- April 2004 Rock3 Review / Hero PR / Live 365 / Rockbox radio Top Three most voted for Tracks
on the Heavy
Rock Show As Of Apr
15, 04 'Blue Lips Cold Kiss' Review April 2004 BATTALLION OF FLIES are like a breath of fresh air to the UK scene. Not willing to compete with the over inflated post hardcore element of today's youth, they offer us a well crafted, cleverly constructed album of classic Alice In Chains tinged, QOTSA layered, post grunge rock. Big in sound and huge in character. Already veterans of the Scottish scene. PHD BATTALION OF FLIES Scotland is often misconceived as being a dark,cold,damp and unwelcoming place,unless you are English then it is no misconception at all, but whatever your opinions of our Northerly neighbours are based upon there is no denying that there has been some classy aggressive rockin action coming from North of the border in recent months. Firstly up we were treated to a pleasant surprise by BMG signings HIDING PLACE who wowed the audience on their recent support slot with SOIL and the subsequent release of their debut "At One Time Or Another" EP and now we have the newest arrival in the form of Edinburgh's BATTALION OF FLIES debut album 'Blue Lips, Cold Kiss.' I am not about to claim these guys as the new saviours or rock or make any bold statements like that, indeed I have found out from past experience that any praise bestowed upon bands North of the border is often met with a hail of abuse from other Scottish bands who seem to get jealous of praise bestowed on their fellow countrymen....It must be a Scottish thing and feel free to correct me if I am wrong but please explain why if I am right? The first and most obvious thing about BOF is that they are seriously influenced my Alice In Chains, Stone Temple Pilots and Soundgarden and it is there unashamedly for all to hear and vocalist/guitarist Craig Costello is Layne Staley reborn, even to the extent of writing the album opener 'LSD' in tribute to the late AIC frontman. The endearing feature of 'Blue lips, Cold Kiss' is in how they have interpreted their influences, added their own twist and moulded them into their own style. Most notable too is the excellent production work of Neil McNaught and the big album sound he has managed to create, especially on the aforementioned 'LSD' and the stunning 'Drift Away' which features some excellent vocal work and a cool, shock horror, guitar solo from Craig. Some of the rock press are predictably going to look no further than the bands more obvious influences and base their opinions solely on those grounds but to the more discerning listener, that will be me then, we hear a classy outfit that needs to try to move away from the obvious, with their next album, but the signs are bloody good to these ears as the talent is there by the shitload.
"Battalion Of Flies hail from less musically
glamorous Edinburgh, but evoke the stoned groove of grunge so
well that a blind listening session would mislead many into believing
they were enjoying lost studio masters from any of the above.
The word ‘enjoy’ is significant, for this is a road
that should lead nowhere; in these hands though it’s as
primal and enervating as it was in the first flush of its youth.
That’s no mean trick from a band whose influences were hitting
the heroin while they themselves were still in nappies."
_____________________________________________________________ Battalion Of Flies - 'Blue Lips Cold Kiss' Review June 2004. "It would be easy to dismiss Edinburgh 3 piece Battalion Of Flies as mere Alice In Chains copyists with their debut album's title even being a reference to the Seattle grunge band's singer Layne Staley but these guys take just enough from AIC to make it all their own. Soundgarden almost like Creed at times too." "This is a stylish powerful recording . These guys are a well kept secret at the moment but that could be all about to change with Blue Lips Cold Kiss". "UK's answer to Alice In Chains" El Prez - Big Cheese - Magazine
"Blue Lips, Cold Kiss" Album Casket Music/Copro Records Courtesy of Antenna Webzine By Lars-H-Jorgensen |