Nick James- Guitar, Vocals and Keyboards
Matt Clarke- Bass guitar
Donal Owen- Drums and Percussion
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Influences
Rush, Marillion, King Crimson, Yes, Meshuggah, Morbid Angel, Anthrax, The Mars Volta, Queen, Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Opeth, Iron Maiden, Sikth, Mythology & Current events.
Sounds Like
HERE IS A TASTER OF SOME OF OUR LATEST REVIEWS:
25 YARD SCREAMER Cassandra 25YS/GRTR!(2007)
From Carmarthenshire, South Wales and already highly rated by GRTR!, three piece 25 Yard Streamer have really come up with the goods on their third album, Cassandra.
Waves lapping a shore and US newsclips from 9/11 herald a dramatic and atmospheric intro to the epic title track Cassandra. Running in at a healthy prog like 29 minutes it's a wonderful example of the genre - building progressively - with what may well become recognised as trademark drum patterns - to crashing crescendos and driving riffs before swooping through melodic interludes reminiscent of Brave period Marillion, then building again to a ferocious finale.
With acknowledged influences of Rush and Marillion, it's easy to see the reference points - Nick James vocals are definitely from the Steve Hogarth school of crooners, and his more melodic guitar work has the trade marks of Steve Rothery. While elswhere the drive of the rhythm section is as solid as a freight train.
But 25YS are no copycat band and on the other centrepiece of the album - the 20 minute Backlight - the band rocks out with the power of Korn, Metallica, or Tool. Again it's another number that moves with ease through an endless series of moods - from children playing in a playground, through power rock and melodic interludes (which again bring Marillion to mind) and back again.
Two other 'normal' length tracks complete the album, both coming in at less than 5 minutes. Insomnia is a lovely piece with some interesting drum patterns and guitar work, while Boy In The Window is uptempo melodic rock with hooks to die for. But it all fits togther to form one of those rare beasts - a concept album that works.
Power and passion, Cassandra has it all - some absolutely wonderful playing from the band - Matt Clarke (bass), Nick James (guitar and vocals) and Donal Owen (drums). It's a remarkably confident and mature work, maybe highly Marillion influenced in places, but it's as good as anything the post Fish line up of that band have released. And believe it or not this was recorded and produced at home.
Classic rock of epic proportions. It would be a crying shame if this didn't reach a wider audience.
****½
Review by Pete Whalley
25 Yard Screamer “Cassandra” Get Ready To Rock (Cat No GRTR001)
25 Yard Screamer hail from South Wales and this, their third CD, is a great slice of modern prog rock- not far removed from Rush mixed with Marillion.
Opening track “Blacklight” weighs is at just over 19 minutes and is a subtle blend of melodic guitar and drum driven melodies and atmospheric interchanging segments. Whilst “Insomnia” is a shorter drum driven track.
The track that could easily be a single is “Boy In The Widow”, with it’s frantic opening giving way to a melodic gem of a song. Rounding of the album, and at 29 minutes, we have “Cassandra” this track is very much in the vein of “Blacklight” and tells a tale of Greek mythology and the gift of
prophecy- all good stuff.
A great 3rd album, especially for a band that was only formed in 2002.
Why Buy? Fans of Prog Rock cannot afford not to buy this future classic.
Nikk Gunns 4 out of 5
25 YARD SCREAMER ‘Blacklight’ Promo (2006)
One of the real pleasures of reviewing for GRTR! is encouraging new talent. My review for 25YS's first album was, however, less than complimentary: the whole thing was let down by poor production qualities.
Thankfully, guitarist/vocalist Nick James and co. (Matt Clarke, bass, and Donal Owen, drums) are (a) thick-skinned (b) receptive to criticism.
They have taken on board those comments (I am sure I was not alone) and fashioned something quite different and exciting.
Sound quality is vastly improved, there is a chance for James' guitar to shine through but, most of all, these lads from South Wales have dared to produce a mini-prog epic as a taster for the next album.
Replete with added effects, such as the playground activity at the start and end of the piece, 'Blacklight' takes the listener on a 'life-journey' and I can believe Nick when he says that it has taken the band 18 months to develop.
At times recalling prog-metal heroes Rush and Hawkwind, and the vocal styling of Steve Hogarth (with the ambience of Marillion's 'Brave'), I am sure 25YS's music will appeal to fans of all those bands. There's a wonderful riffy opening, too.
It may be a labour of love, but those 18 months have seen 25YS develop into a band of real depth and, handling production duties themselves, it can now only be onward and upward.
**** (pretty damn fine)
Review by David Randall
Imagine the progressive hard rock stylings of Rush mixed with the sensitivities of modern-day Marillion. You’re getting close to 25 Yard Screamer.
Three lads from South Wales are set to widen a growing audience with the release of their third album, Cassandra.
They’ve been playing music together since 2002 and their latest album shows progress in leaps and bounds.
Guitarist Nick James says that the lead track on the album expands the myth of Cassandra who in Greek mythology was given the gift of prophecy but not of being believed. How could we apply that to the modern world, if at all?
"25 yard screamer live up to the title with some attention grabbing melodies and interesting styles with progressive melodies and tuneful songs" www.rock3radio.co.uk
The album can be enjoyed on different levels, but listeners will be drawn to the quality of the musicianship, the stirring choruses, and the fact that the band have fashioned something provocative and different.
The release of ‘Cassandra’ marks a co-promotion deal with one of the most popular rock music websites, www.getreadytorock.com who hearing the early demos commented “18 months have seen 25YS develop into a band of real depth, it can now only be onward and upward…”
25 Yard Screamer are Matt Clarke Bass Guitar, Nick James Guitars & Vocals, Donal Owen Drums
"…plenty of intricate and muscular guitar riffs, pounding rhythms, and just enough atmospheric and proggy interludes to add variety…there's plenty of good stuff here, and lots of talent shown from the three band members…" Sea of Tranquility
TRACK LISTING: Blacklight – Insomnia – Boy In The Window - Cassandra
SALES INFO: The CD is distributed online by www.themusicindex.com
RELEASE DATE: 28 May 2007
For press information, please click here:
CLICK THIS LINK TO ORDER THE NEW ALBUM 'CASSANDRA'
Buy the CD!
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THE RETURN OF THE BAT
Specimen will bring their special brand of glam mayhem, The Batcave to London again.
After last year’s wildly-successful 25th anniversary Batcave event, The Batcave returns to its original spawning ground of London’s West End on Sunday July 19 for another night of blasphemy, lechery and blood.
Specimen (Fresh from a fantastic show at Leipzig’s Waves Gotik festival), the original Batcave instigators will headline the lurid frolics at the Embassy Club, (29 Old Burlington St, London W1S3AP) Also on the bill are original Batcavers Sexbeat, with DJs Hamish and Cavey Nick, cavorting from decks to decadence with the usual brutal, trouser-dropping surprises & suitably confronting & barbaric entertainment.
The 2009 Batcave will feature installations from exciting new artists of the ‘Dark London Underground’ and visuals from the upcoming ‘Welcome To The Batcave’ book, along with this year’s bitcrushed message from the creature in the Batcave Pram. All set in a spooky Bladerunner environment!
So dress to kill … prepare for a thrill & Expect the unexpected!
The Batcave will be open from 10pm till 3am. Tickets £15 available from www.ticketweb.co.uk and Resurrection Records.
More info at www.specimenbatcave.net
Miss it at your peril!
Described as: 'like Soulfly if Trent Reznor were part of the band,' their debut album "There's No Profit in Truth", album mixes the pent up frustration of acts such as Rage Against The Machine with the raging, highly charged riffs of classic Machine Head. Good, honest, politically aware and highly charged Metal at its best...
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![In Full View [NEW SONG The Passing]](http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/63/s_0a64ef0b6620493dbbf7046c387f519f.jpg)
