ROCK MIDGETS.COM: 27 TIPS FOR 2007

The Rock Midgets.com team takes a look at the best to come in 2007.

From Muse and Lostprophets both cementing their positions at the top of the nations album chart, to Bullet For My Valentine reaching the upper echelons of prestigious festival bills; Bring Me The Horizon morphing from promising underground act to fully fledged, immaculately coiffeured stars, to the unexpectedly swift rise to prominence of both Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly and ¡Forward,Russia!; 2006 was a staggeringly successful year for the British rock scene, a year that harked back to the heady days of the turn of the century when A, Hundred Reasons, Million Dead, Mclusky and Hell Is For Heroes ruled the roost.

All signs point to 2007 being just as strong for the scene, with the likes of Biffy Clyro, Jesu, yourcodenameis:milo and Idlewild all set to return with hotly anticipated new albums. However, that's far from the only reason things look so bright for the year ahead, with a plethora of hugely exciting emerging British acts on the brink of a major breakthrough.

In tribute to this, Rockmidgets.com has decided to highlight a group of 27 British acts that are destined to make a significant impact on this year. Acts that won't necessarily be selling out two nights at Wembley stadium this time next year a la Matt Bellamy's men, but who are some of the very best rising artists that are around right now, and ones who, if you're not already familiar with them, need to be introduced to your poor neglected ears as soon as humanly possible. So, without further time wasting, we present our 27 British acts to watch in 2007:

Beans On Toast	Blacktop	Crash My Model Car	Dartz!
Days Ago	Dollar Sent	Enter Shikari	Exit By Name
Exit Ten	Failsafe	Frank Turner	Future Of The Left
Gallows	The Ghost Of A Thousand	Inner Rage	I Was A Cub Scout
Jacob's Stories	The Maple State	Meet Me In St. Louis	The Mirimar Disaster
Miss Conduct	Mistakes In Animation	Public Relations Exercise	Rolo Tomassi

Shaped By Fate

Short Term Effect

Yndi Halda

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Beans On Toast
MySpace

Known to most as "Frank Turner's mate", Jay, aka Beans On Toast will also be familiar as the guy who made them crack up on the former's recent UK tour. With a voice as dry as a camel's bollocks, Beans On Toast was never destined to join the James Blunts of this world, instead offering thought out, tongue-in-cheek tracks about societal attitudes to topics as diverse as supermodel weight ('You Fat Bastard'), the modern Conservative Party ('I Shot Tupac Shakur And All I Got Was This Lousy T-shirt'), and the smoking ban (erm, 'Fuck The Smoking Ban'). You get the impression if noone was interested he'd be quite happy playing London pubs the rest of his life, but as it is you can check his myspace for the latest downloads.

For Fans of: Frank Turner, Billy Bragg, Primus

Beans On Toast's latest tracks can be downloaded from his official MySpace page by clicking Here

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Blacktop
Website
MySpace

With a fanbase that already counts amongst its rapidly swelling numbers such big names as Quinn Alman from The Used, Gareth Davies from Funeral For A Friend and Fall Out Boy motor mouth Pete Weinz, Derbyshire upstarts Blacktop are clearly making friends in the right places. One quick spin of Blacktop Have Contracted The Following... and you'll soon discover exactly why that is. Described by Rockmidgets.com last year as a joyous "collision of punk, pop, metal, hardcore, dance and electronics" and "like somebody strung up all those too-cool indie bands, set their instruments on fire, and forced Daryl Palumbo to write… the world's best pop songs before he got burned".

Still at a remarkably tender age, Blacktop could well have an astounding future ahead of them.

For Fans of: Norma Jean, From First to Last, Head Automatica

Blacktop's Blacktop Have Contracted The Following... EP is out now on Small Town Records.

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Crash My Model Car
Website
MySpace

Scottish music isn't exactly lighting fires under people just now - I'm surprised we haven't been invaded for subjecting the rest of the UK to The Fratellis and The bloody View - but with Crash My Model Car, we might just have come up trumps. Signed to My Dad Records, Crash My Model Car specialise in stunning, crafted anthemic rock targeted at the hairs on the back of the neck with the utmost precision. Singer Iain Morrison shuns any notion of a scene (it may be worth noting that he's from the island of Lewis), deciding instead to offer us his honest, passionate approach to making music. After all, as he says, "A good song is a good song whether you've got a cool jacket and haircut or not."
(Heather Crumley)

For Fans of: Deathcab For Cutie, recent Idlewild offerings and Snow Patrol before they started writing songs about lying down.

Crash My Model Car's The Maybe EP is out now on My Dad Records.

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Dartz!
Website
MySpace

After releasing a brace of extremely tasty lead singles in the form of the equally excellent 'St Petersburg' and 'Once, Twice, Again', Dartz!'s debut album This Is My Ship delivered on all of its many promises when it hits stores this February. The Teesside based trio mix angular guitars with upbeat new-wave disco beats with hooks so meaty that Radio 1 have already got their greasy mitts around them for a studio session. With a well-received album finally on the shelves, the backing of the nations most powerful radio station behind them, and a series of upcoming support and headlining dates, be sure to keep you ears and eyes open for Dartz! throughout 2007.

For Fans of: Q and Not U, Dismemberment Plan, Minus The Bear

Dartz!'s debut album This Is My Ship was released on the 12th of February on Xtra Mile Recordings.

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Days Ago
MySpace

Since forming back in 2002, Norwich's Days Ago have survived a raft of line up changes and even a lengthy hiatus to emerge unscathed as one of the most explosive live bands on the underground hardcore scene. A truly scintillating act both in the live and studio environment, Days Ago regularly get flattering compared to such scene greats as Glassjaw, Botch and Million Dead.

A band who can regularly be caught honing their considerable craft around the South-East of the country, with their high-octane sets perfectly marrying mesmerising fretwork, frenzied screams and a keen ear for a knock-out hook.

For Fans of: The Fall Of Troy, Botch, Glassjaw

Days Ago's debut EP Mantrap The Surveyors (And Kiss The Weather Girls) is out now on Big Scary Monsters

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Dollar Sent
MySpace

Brighton based rockers Dollar Sent take all the best elements of Motorhead, Supersuckers and The Wildhearts to deliver the kind of relentless Punk N Roll that truly comes into its own when showcased live. This is no fly by night throwback band that do things by half measures, this is most definitely the real deal.

Having already a stellar appearance at The Bulldog Bash under their belts and supported the likes of Orange Goblin to rapturous response, this is quite possibly the hardest rocking and hardest working band in the country. Detectable traces of Zodiac Mindwarp and Backyard Babies fuel the heavy riffs and whiskey drenched vocals from founding member Chris P. Rizzanski. Already a staple band making waves down the south coast of the UK it won't be too long before these boys hit the big time. Truly a breath of fresh air at a time when anyone with a can of hairspray is considered 'glam' or '80's inspired', in this case the music speaks for itself. No gimmicks , no imitations, just pure, unadulterated garage punk of the best variety
(Hollie Garraway)

For Fans of: Motorhead, Wildhearts, Supersuckers

Dollar Sent's self titled debut album is out now via Ampwitch.

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Enter Shikari
Website
MySpace

It doesn't take a fortune teller to predict that big things are ahead for Enter Shikari this year. Unless you've been hiding under a rock on Mars for the last six months, you'll know that the quartet have exploded onto the British scene with their distinctive blend of screamo and trance, aided and abetted by considerable MySpace assistance and the band's relentless work and consummate DIY ethics.

From becoming only the second unsigned act (after The Darkness) to sell out London's legendary Astoria venue to turning down a host of major labels who were eager to put out their debut album, Enter Shikari enjoyed a phenomenally successful 2006. After deciding to release their debut long player on their own Ambush Reality label, the question is whether 2007 will unravel to prove Enter Shikari to be just a flash in the pan success or the real next big thing?

We certainly know where we're hedging our bets.

For Fans of: The Prodigy, Mindless Self Indulgence, Horse The Band

Enter Shikari will release their as-yet-untitled debut album in March on Ambush Reality.

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Exit By Name
Website
MySpace

Some may recognise frontman Phil Saunders from his poppier rock'n'roll band Alsatian, but his other project are a far darker proposition... Last year's 'Adrift In Dark Waters' blended Saunders' earth-shattering screams with a metallic blend that encompassed strands of Deftones, Faith No More and Pitchshifter into one sledgehammer whole. Rumours are they've been so absorbed in writing recently the label had to stop them from writing an entirely new album! This March will see the release of 'Death Race' as an unlimited download single and limited edition physical release. (Ruth Midget)

For Fans of: Deftones, Million Dead, Machinehead

Exit By Name's debut album Adrift In Dark Waters is out now via Hangmans Joke / Cargo.

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Exit Ten
Website
MySpace

Proving that the legendary festival isn't its only outstanding contribution to the UK rock scene, Reading's Exit Ten may be bafflingly unsigned at the time of writing, but their passionate anthemic metalcore should make sure that isn't the case for too much longer.

Counting three brothers amongst their ranks, Exit Ten excel in combining complex guitar lines, heavy riffs and soaring choruses, with their Andy Sneap (Killswitch Engage, Opeth, 36 Crazyfists) produced debut mini album This World They'll Drown not only managing to push all the right buttons upon its release last year but also promising even brighter things for the future. Expect these boys to be snapped up any day now.

For Fans of: Killswitch Engage, Tool, Bullet For My Valentine

Exit Ten's debut mini album This World They'll Drown is out now through Deep Burn Records.

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Failsafe
MySpace

Popular opinion would have it that in an increasingly commercialised pop punk scene, it's best to leave your brain at home if you want to get down with the kids. Proving the exception should be the rule is Preston's Failsafe, who combine the sweetest melodies of the genre with ska and funk leanings, plus the positive and uniting bent of old school hardcore to create some of the most heart-stirring mosh tunes of 2006. They've already received the patronage of Big Cheese compatriots Deck Cheese Records for the release of last year's genius debut record What We Are Today, and late 2007 will hopefully see the release of the band's second album. Keep your eyes peeled. (Ruth Midget)

For Fans of: Sonic Boom Six, Boysetsfire, Capdown

Failsafe's debut album What We Are Today is out now on Deck Cheese Records

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Frank Turner
Website
MySpace

As Rockmidgets.com put it in 2006 when reviewing Frank Turner's debut Campfire Punk Rock EP, "When Million Dead split up last year, few would have put money on the band's frontman returning as a member of the growing DIY folk scenester underground. While the Frank Turner faithful will know these tunes inside out and backwards by now, it's fair to say that for most this new direction will come as a complete surprise."

With said EP earning him a support stint on the road with Welsh sensations The Automatic last year, Turner has gone from strength to strength since the demise of his former act with his debut album Sleep Is For The Week earning raves reviews upon its release this past January.

Promising to perform even more gigs this year than last (his plans already include a first foray Stateside when he tours with former Far man Jonah Matranga this Spring), the only thing as impressive Frank Turner's impeccable work ethic is his tunes.

For Fans of: Dustin Kensrue, Billy Bragg, Neil Young

Frank Turner's debut album Sleep Is For The Week is out now via Xtra Mile Recordings.

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Future Of The Left
Website
MySpace

Rising from the ashes of defunct Welsh cult-legends Mclusky and Jarcrew, Future Of The Left's first release, the double A-Side single 'Fingers Become Thumbs!' and 'The Lord Hates A Coward' had Rockmidgets.com quite literally salivating disgustingly all over itself at the prospect of the trios as-yet-untitled debut album. With ten other tracks already in the can, those familiar with vocalist / guitarist Andy "Falco" Falkous' past work in Mclusky and Best will be delighted to know that his signature scathing humour is well and truly still in tact.

Although work commitments currently hamper Future Of The Left's touring ambitions, expect things to click into gear when the record hits record stores nationwide later this year. In the meantime, be sure to keep an eye on the band's frequently updated MySpace blog (Here) for some of the most amusingly frank and justified rants anyway to be found on the big old world wide web.

For Fans of: Shellac, Mclusky, Jarcrew

Future Of The Left's double A-Side single 'Fingers Become Thumbs!' / 'The Lord Hates A Coward' is out now via Too Pure.

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Gallows
Website
MySpace

While 2006 was quite a year for Watford based upstarts Gallows, 2007 is shaping up to be something else entirely. Their debut long player Orchestra Of Wolves achieved the remarkably rare trick of being met by widespread acclaim from both the underground elitists and the mainstream press upon its release in Autumn last year.

Fusing furious rampaging shards red hot hardcore and punk with pissed off tales of small town frustration, the band have already headlined London's Koko (a venue that both Madonna and Christina Aguilera have played in recent years) and been asked to play on the prestigious Warped Tour across the US this summer. Only a fool would bet against Gallows successfully continuing their quest for world domination in the upcoming months.

For Fans of: The Bronx, JR Ewing, Minor Threat

Gallows debut album Orchestra Of Wolves is out now on In At The Deep End Records.

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The Ghost Of A Thousand
MySpace

Brighton-based quintet The Ghost Of A Thousand have been making quite a name for themselves in the recent months. Having spent the tail end of 2006 upstaging many a big name act thanks to an array of blistering support sets, after a stunning recent session of Radio 1's Rock Show, February has witnessed The Ghost Of A Thousand step things up a notch further with the release of their critically acclaimed debut This Is Where The Fight Begins. Mixed by none other than Converge axeman Kurt Ballou and seeing the light of day through one of the UK's best underground rock labels Undergroove, it's a searing must hear mix of Refused-esque cerebral hardcore and good old fashioned dirty rock'n'roll.

For Fans of: Refused, The Letters Organize, Black Flag

The Ghost Of A Thousand's debut album This Is Where The Fight Begins is out now on Undergroove Records.

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Inner Rage
Website
MySpace

Memorably first introduced to Rockmidgets.com by way of a show-stealing display at Uxfest 2006, Inner Rage are one of the most brutal and talented live acts doing the rounds at the moment. Reviewing their excellent demo last year we attempted described the trio as "If Mastodon and old school Sepultura entered the studio together and abandoned such trivialities as archetypal song structures and these little things songwriters like to call choruses."

With their origins rooted in the fertile soil of Brazil, the now London based act have been busy toiling away in the studio with Ben and Graham of Miocene fame, meaning that the next studio output from Inner Rage could well be something extraordinary indeed.

For Fans of: Sepultura, Metallica, Slayer

Inner Rage's three track EP can be purchased through their MySpace page, click Here for more information.

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I Was A Cub Scout
MySpace

Given their ability to skip seamlessly between genres on a whim, Todd Marriott and William Bowerman AKA I Was A Cub Scout have given many a lazy hack sleepless nights since their rise to prominence after the release of their mesmerising 'Pink Squares' single. Described by NME as "Epic synth-pop" and by Kerrang! as being "abstract, keyboard-led emo", the young duo have received countless comparisons to US giants The Postal Service given their penchant for fusing electronic beats, laid back synths with emotive outpourings.

Having inked a long term record deal with Abeano Records in the last month, that could well be the signal for something big for I Was A Cub Scout.

For Fans of: The Postal Service, Minus The Bear, Idiot Pilot

I Was A Cub Scout's next single, 'I Hate Nightclubs', is out on March 12, with their debut LP due for release in September.

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Jacob's Stories
Website
MySpace

Originally coming to life only as a simple four track recording made for friends back in the summer of 2003, from such humble origins Jacob's Stories has grown over the course of the last four years into something truly magical. The brainchild of singer songwriter Stuart Lee, a slew of split singles and EP's soon followed that innocuous first release, culminating in Jacob's Stories awe-inspiring Fledgling album last year.

Near impossible to pigeonhole, Fledgling's ten offerings are awash with delicate electronica, minimalist instrumentation and porcelain-like fragile melodies that are topped off by Lee's beautifully haunting vocals. Currently one of the UK's most valuable uncovered gems, on the road this Spring with the new projects of Cave-In men Steven Brodsky and Adam McGrath, that tour should ensure many more soon discover the exquisite world of Jacob's Stories.

For Fans of: Radiohead, Talk Talk, Sigur Ros

Jacob's Stories debut long player Fledgling is out now on Gravity Dip

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The Maple State
Website
MySpace

Manchester's The Maple State with their endearing keyboard melody driven sound are a refreshing break from the city's sometimes samey and stagnant indie rock music scene. But this is not just a local phenomenon, in fact since the recording of their EP At Least Until We’ve Settled In with Fall Out Boy and Motion City Soundtrack producer Sean O’Keefe they have been gathering a following which reaches across the country and beyond.

Having played alongside the likes of Motion City Soundtrack, Minus The Bear, The Academy Is, Say Anything and +44, it isn’t difficult to see how this band have broken out of the "local" scene into playing with the big boys. Most recently paying around 5000 capacity venues alongside +44 on their latest tour of the UK "Which is a pretty grand achievement I guess" says guitarist Christian Counsell modestly. Through hard work creating and touring they have built up a fan base the old-fashioned way earning them not just passionate fans but respect and credibility amongst fans and the music community as a whole.

They have recently released a single available on limited edition 7" format available to buy from their MySpace and website or buy on itunes released through UK High Voltage Records entitled Joanna with the B-side Wood And Rain with another single expected in the next few months whilst the band finish writing and recording their debut album guaranteed to demonstrate their radio friendly yet credible and charming sound this album will no doubt propel them to a greater arena of success in 2007.(Laura Havlin)

For Fans of: Brand New, The Get Up Kids, Hot Rod Circuit

The Maple State's new 'Joanna / Wood & Rain' single is out now, with their debut EP, At Least Until We've Settled In, also still available via Punktastic.

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Meet Me In St. Louis
Website
MySpace

Featuring former members of Escanna and Strobe 45, it's incredible to believe that Meet Me In St. Louis were playing shows all over the UK just four weeks after completing their line up back in the summer of 2005. That fact becomes even more amazing when you hear the Surrey based five-piece for the first time. A schizophrenic blend of unpredictable post-hardcore, that's every bit as technically mesmerizing as it is feverously impassioned. Though for all their volatility, Meet Me In St. Louis's sound is one of immediate accessibility, further proof of which should soon come in the form of their forthcoming debut album after the band headed into the recording studio with Alex Newport (At The Drive-In, The Mars Volta) this January.

For Fans of: Bear Vs Shark, The Plot To Blow Up The Eiffel Tower, American Football

Meet Me In St. Louis' And with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark – the place where the wave... EP is out now on Function Records, and their debut album with see light of day later this year via Big Scary Monsters.

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The Mirimar Disaster
Website
MySpace

When you think of the Sheffield music scene at the moment you're highly likely to picture either those Arctic Monkeys scamps or the young fashioncore pretenders Bring Me The Horizon. Scratch beneath the surface however and there's a host of staggeringly talented acts just waiting to burst out. Having already played shows with influential instrumental luminaries Pelican and their friends 65daysofstatic, The Mirimar Disaster are one of the very finest metal acts in Britain at the moment. Specialising in rampaging atmospheric metal that declines to be defined by mere pigeonholes or go the way of the standard verse/chorus/verse formula, The Mirimar Disaster's eponymous debut album, which was recorded by the very same man who was behind the helm of Arctic Monkeys' mega-selling debut, should be something very special indeed when it emerges this Spring.

For Fans of: Mastodon, Isis, Will Haven

The Mirimar Disaster's self-titled debut album is out on the 19th of March on Undergroove Records.

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Miss Conduct
MySpace

Formerly going under the guise of Then Came Bronson, power popsters Miss Conduct have existed in one form or another for over half a decade now. But it's only now after their recent name change and with a fixed line-up firmly in place that they've really started to get noticed and attract countless comparisons to rising American emo stars Paramore. It may smack of lazy journalism to compare the two given that the only real similarity is the fact that both acts possess striking frontwomen, but what isn't in doubt is that with a recent record deal struck with influential tastemakers Visible Noise (Lostprophets, Bullet For My Valentine), a bag full live-dates lined up early this year, and a debut EP crammed full of sunny melodies set to drop in March, everything points to the time finally being right for Miss Conduct.

For Fans of: Paramore, Lostprophets, The Forecast

Miss Conduct's first EP for Visible Noise is out on the 19th of March

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Mistakes In Animation
MySpace

Aside from running his own gig nights in London and a forthcoming club night co-run with (solo artists and sometime Get Cape Wear Cape Fly cog) Luke Leighfield, Kingston resident Del Noble also has his own music project in the form of Mistakes In Animation. Originally a solo acoustic project, but now with regular vocal support from the lovely Kate Hiley and a host of musician chums, M.I.A. live has been described by this very zine as possessing "a tender intensity without collapsing into total cheese", plus a talent for "a contemplative sideways look at life". A split EP with Esther Yoxall is mooted for 2007. (Ruth Midget)

For Fans of: Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, Chris-tt, Frank Turner

Mistakes In Animation's various EP's can be purchased through their MySpace page, click Here for more information.

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Public Relations Exercise
MySpace

Taking their name from the inlay of Radiohead's The Bends opus, Leicester-based Public Relations Exercise intelligently blend highly-charged hardcore with off-kilter math rock that hints at the renowned DC sound. That may well sound like a confusing mouthful, but it certainly says something about the elasticity of the five-piece that they've already shared stages with such diverse acts as Winnebago Deal, Youthmovie Soundtrack Strategies and Frank Turner amongst many others. After the release of several acclaimed singles, Public Relations Exercise are set to unleash their debut eleven track long-player Come You Are Safe We Are From The Bombs in early April through Nottingham based Field Records, with the freshly posted offerings on their MySpace page hinting that they're set to charter new and even more exciting territory.

For Fans of: Fugazi, At The Drive-In, Fear Before The March Of Flames

Public Relations Exercise release their debut album Come You Are Safe We Are From The Bombs on April 2nd through Field Records.

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Rolo Tomassi
Website
MySpace

When Rolo Tomassi's debut EP landed onto our desk late last year, the youngsters were a band that had already set many tongues-a-wagging due to their frenetic live shows, but nothing prepared Rockmidgets.com for what was to follow, breathlessly describing the six gloriously f*cked up hardcore offerings as "the most claustrophobic, unsettling and above all exhilarating tracks you'll hear in 2006".

Yet another highly talented act to hail from the so-hot-right-now steel city of Sheffield, the world of Rolo Tomassi will grind to a brief halt this summer for the band to take care of their final school and college exams, but the promise of a swarm of new songs and a full UK tour in July more than compensates.

For Fans of: Daughters, The Locust, The Murder Of Rose Luxemburg

Rolo Tomassi's self-titled EP is out now on Holy Roar Records.

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Shaped By Fate
Website
MySpace

After a host of line up changes since their inception way back in 2001, Cardiff-based bruisers Shaped By Fate have long since made a name for themselves in the British hardcore scene thanks to their chaotic sets and quite astonishing work rate, making their way up and down the nations motorways more frequently than the average AA man. Despite being several EPs down the line, 2007 will finally witness the release of the band's first full-length. Brilliantly bringing together the worlds of hardcore and metal, when The Unbeliever is unleashed come spring time on In At The Deep End Records, then Shaped By Fate could well make their long-awaited breakthrough from underground favourites into genuine heavyweights.

For Fans of: Converge, The Chariot, Charger

Shaped By Fate's debut album The Unbeliever is scheduled for a March/April release on In At The Deep End Records.

STOP PRESS: Check out our new interview on The Making of The Unbeliever HERE

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Short Term Effect
MySpace

He may look like Willy Mason's geekier younger brother, but his age and soft vocals bely his obvious talent. Consett-bred Mikey Bridgewater's own brand of delicate acoustica is slowly building a wave of chinese whispers across the North-East for his by turns playful, tender and wry little vignettes. His usual creative fury should see at least three more EPs released in 2007. (Ruth Midget)

For Fans of: Willy Mason, Frank Turner, Beans On Toast

Short Term Effect's various EP's can be purchased through their MySpace page, click Here for more information.

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Yndi Halda
Website
MySpace

Kent-based Yndi Halda (meaning enjoy eternal bliss in Eddic) have turned many a head on the live circuit throughout the past twelve months. Though a distinctly post-rock proposition, the youthful quintet are a rare breed of band who are equally at home in front of legions of metal and hardcore fans, as recent successful showings with the likes of Twin Zero, Textures and Meet Me In St. Louis attest. Playing a brand of instrumental post-rock that's soaked with uplifting strings, Yndi Halda's expertly crafted epic soundscapes have inevitably led to name checks alongside scene leaders Explosions In The Sky and Sigur Rós. With record deals in place with Big Scary Monster in UK and Burnt Toast Vinyl in America, there's nothing holding Yndi Halda back from rising to the very top of the scene.

For Fans of: Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky, Sigur Rós

Yndi Halda's Enjoy Eternal Bliss EP is out now on Big Scary Monsters

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by Dan Jones