SPLIT RELEASE ON ENGINEER RECORDS OUT NOW:
Kent, England’s The Mockingbird Nightmare offer up their first proper
installment of songs after only a 2-song demo caught our ear here at
Engineer. Three brand new tracks injected with no brevity in technicality
and head spinning structure, which combat a sharp tongued vocal and lyrical
prowess. The Mockingbird Nightmare’s music can be described as just that:
a combat; a war from within, unleashed on anyone who’ll listen. Sure to
turn the heads of fans of At The Drive-In, Planes Mistaken For Stars,
Yourcodenameis:milo and These Arms are Snakes, The Mockingbird Nightmare offer up a more effect-laden listen than the aforementioned making use of pedal-swells, cascading chord shifts and a generous supply of effects that will leave you with substance to dwell upon (www.engineerrecords.com).
PURCHASE A COPY OF THE SPLIT RELEASE HERE:
http://www.amazon.com/Light-Green-Saboteur-Mockingbird-Nightmare/dp/B000P6YOBU
The Mockingbird Nightmare are four friends based in the heart of the South Eastern Kent countryside with the sole intention to play original, atmospheric and thought provoking progressive post hardcore with a schizoid indie edge.
ROCK SOUND REVIEW: WATER RATS (17/05/06) - Their name suggests Edgar Allan Poe style intrigue, and certainly The Mockingbird Nightmare are full of surprises. From the outset their front-man's Mew T-shirt indicates that they reside at the more intelligent end of the musical spectrum, yet that intelligence manifests itself as both hypnotic instrumentals and impromptu bursts of abrasive noise (Victoria Durham).
WATER RATS LIVE REVIEW (17/05/06) - The Water Rats renowned as a 'first discovered here' venue, in Kings Cross, London, last night played host to Kent post hardcore prog-boys The Mockingbird Nightmare.
First on the bill of three and with a sizable crowd, The Mockingbird Nightmare were intent on thrashing out a tight set of six frenzied tunes to jolt the spine, and they didn't disappoint. The guys literally kicked ass, opened a few eyes and certainly deafened a few ears.
Kicking off with the mighty "The Beautiful Ally Of Your Own Gravediggers" and then crashing head-first into the energetic "Drag Your Feet In The Snow", there was no let-up and absolutley no intent to draw the listener in slowly. Showcasing a few new tunes including the brilliantly behemoth titled track "You Can Keep All The Prizes And Give Them To Charity, As I Just Want To Be On Television", they have certainly found a secret formula for powerfully energetic and soaring tunes.
The Mockingbird Nightmare are certainly making one of the biggest noises on the London circuit and with unwavering charge they already have their ray-guns set to 'massacre'. (The Winter Project - www.thewinterproject.com)
SILVER ROCKET REVIEW (21/04/06) - Kent 4-piece "The Mockingbird Nightmare" play emo-tinged post-hardcore that will appeal to fans of Pilot To Gunner and the much-missed Bear Vs Shark, not to mention Fugazi and The Mars Volta. Definitely, and by far, one of the best of the approximately 8 million bands to ask us for gigs via MySpace (Silver Rocket).
DROWNED IN SOUND (26/09/06) - ".get along to see The Mockingbird Nightmare live. They are as we in the business say, mint."
DRAWING FOR STEREOSCOPE DEMO REVIEWS
Drat! Zine - A really refreshing but tantilisingly short two song demo from The Mockingbird Nightmare who sound like they come from Gainsville, Florida rather than somewhere in Kent. That's not to say they ape the likes of Hot Water Music - far from it - they just radiate the kind of passion and intensity which you'd associate with bands like that. Once you hear the shrill guitar line which courses through "Drag Your Feet In The Snow" you'll find it steadfastly refuses to leave the space between your ears, perfectly complementing the sandpapery vocal textures. The instrumentation is impeccably played without being fussy - plenty of bands out there could do with following TMN's lead and avoiding the current fad for over-complicated guitar parts in favour of more straightforward rhythmic and melodic force. Keep an eye on these kids. (www.myspace.com/dratzine)
Up In Lights Zine - Well where to start, these lads from Kent certainly produce something of a professional standard.
Ever heard of the band Fugazi? Well if you have then you will most certainly enjoy the sounds of The Mockingbird Nightmare. This two track Cd is full of catchy, upbeat tap along tunes, something that the likes of NME would certainly pick up on, an enjoyable blend of experimental indie created madness. From the first 30 seconds of Drag Your Feet In The Snow you are left relentlessley begging for more and tapping along all the way.
Its a hard scene to break into, if these guys can get something a little different thrown in there something slightly new and exciting I can see big things coming out of the quiet Kent countryside!
Moderate Rock - Things are turning bad. Arrogant rockstar bullshit is making an ugly glam-fuelled return and it's set to take over everything for a second time but remain just as terrible and vacuous as before. Thank goodness then for bands like The Mockingbird Nightmare. Stepping in neatly behind Meet Me in St. Louis, Jairus and Tellison to give the UK something to really get excited about this Kentish 'Nightmare produce post-hardcore with speed, sass and enough attitude to really kick up some dust. Clearly, these are people with At The Drive-In, Sonic Youth and The Stooges in their record collection. Not nasty boys with a Metallica complex. The fierce and squawked vocals but toe-tapping beat of 'Drag Your Feet in the Snow' sounds like Fugazi gone pop while 'The Beautiful Ally.' stretches its legs out past six minutes of repeated vocals and sinewy guitars. It's all a little rough around the edges but that's the point. If the ragged experimentalism or free-for-all fun were buffed out of these tunes they would sound too neat, too tidy, too much like everyone else. So, while there are only two tracks here, there's hope for the future too. No pressure lads!
ENGINEER SPLIT RECORD REVIEWS
Kerrang - ".The Mockingbird Nightmare are the real gem, flitting between brooding slow burners and urgent angular riffs. A welcome alternative to the carbon-copy bands being shoved down our throats (KKKK)."
Punk News.org - Next is the Mockingbird Nightmare who squeak out a victory here, if there is one to be had. In "You Can Keep All the Prizes.," they're a little hyper and all about quick, jagged riffs and jumpy, interlacing vocals, while the band show a little restraint on "Show Me All the Blueprints." Then, "Eleven Eleven" picks it up a tad after the six-minute "Blueprints" with cascading guitars and a more energetic base. No matter what though, I get a bit of an At the Drive-In via in/CASINO/OUT vibe, and that's a great foundation to build upon considering this is one of their first batches of recorded output.
www.adequacy.net -The Mockingbird Nightmare leans a bit more towards the dual-vocal, ‘screamo’ end of things through its three offerings here. Pop sensibility reigns supreme, of course, but not in a tragically obvious ‘we’re like a boy band only we scream and play loud guitars in vintage t-shirts and sweaters’ manner. These guys actually sound a lot like what Race Car Riot would’ve been if they’d had the guy from These Arms Are Snakes singing full-time. Opener “You Can Keep All the Prizes and Give Them to Charity, I Just Want to Be on Television” doles out an impressive lot of dual-guitar rhythms, but the band blossoms biggest on the spacey 5 1/2 minute “Show Me All the Blueprints.” The band adds dabs of the Cure through the guitar sounds, and the end result is phenomenal, with the slightly grimy vocals laid out over echoing tones and seriously all-over-the-place drumming. The track kills when the smoldering epic extended guitar break hits towards the last half of things.
www.faketrain.com - The Mockingbird Nightmare’s indie-punk is delivered with a little more urgency than Saboteur. Upbeat and energetic, the UK based outfit’s three songs are hands down my favorite third of the split. With great dynamics and melodies, their tracks contain razor-sharp grating guitars and piercing rhythms that rawk hard. Like a zombie drink mixed with the potent sounds of Mock Orange, The Postage Era, Sheilbound, and Tabula Rasa, The Mockingbird Nightmare’s energetic delivery is enthralling. I’m definitely picking up what these guys are throwing down. The Mockingbird Nightmare is a newfound love thanks to this split.
