Building is only half the battle in Brick-Force.

Brick-Force brings together brutality and blocks, which personally takes me back to my halcyon days of Lego and action figures locked in eternal elaborate combat. Brick Force builds on the many blocky shooters that have gone before to give us a cube filled cross platform sand-box gaming environment like no other. I say “no other”, but it would be easy to throw around phrases like Minecraft meets Modern Warfare with players constructing their own unique worlds to conquer. Berlin based games publisher Infernum Games have created a title that combines the free roaming combat of traditional FPS titles and a community construction spirit, loaded with as much charm as it has violence. What also sets this free-to-play title apart is its cross platform credentials, with plans currently under-way for the title to run across desktop, tablet, smartphone and social network platforms. Built via the Unity 3D engine players can access the comic visuals through a variety of browsers, making it what’s sure to be one of the most accessible madcap mobile multi-player FPS’. The current in game trailer shows a range of various game modes such as the classic ‘Capture the Flag’ and ‘Deathmatch’ styles or the ‘Defusion’ mode. ‘Defusion’ is a spin on a ‘King of the Hill’ mode in which bombs are planted, defused, and defended bringing explosive entertainment into the user-generated maps.
Even before release there is a concerted effort to build Brick Force as a community focused build, share and destroy title where one player can go it alone or build and dominate as part of a team in frantic battles across a colourful world of unique levels. “Brick-Force will provide gamers with a varied and comprehensive game experience across multiple platforms such as PCs, tablets and smart-phones” CEO and Founder of Infernum Games, Andreas Weidenhaupt explains “We are building a strong community ahead of the closed beta launch – and we can’t wait for the beta to start and to see the first maps of the fans.” If you consider yourself enticed already, you can register for a chance to play the online beta  by signing up at Brick-force.com. Those who register early can look forward to unlocking a free and exclusive in-game item, credited to their account when the beta begins. Avid fans who recommend over 3 friends will also receive the “B Hammer” game item. The online beta is set to become available on the 28th of February.

BIG BAD MED featuring Climate Of Fear, Heavy Lies The Crown, All At Sea and Taller Than Trees.

Some would say hardcore rules the roost in the Teesside club gig circuit. As a result there’s plenty of savage competition to stand at the peak. Tonight’s four band bill at Bad Medicine Rock Club of Climate Of Fear, Heavy Lies The Crown, All At Sea and Taller Than Trees is loaded with rabid, heavier than heavy hardcore bands. The newest of the four and first up, Taller Than Trees make their début with a set of six songs that are for all intents and purposes brand new. Opener ‘Six Feet Chunder’ pounds and pummels with brutal vocals from singer Paul Gent getting the band off to a tight start, immediately followed by the intense ’40 Sex’, a song that truly lives up to its name and is exceptionally raw. ’Launch Pad’ slows down to showcase the powerful grooves of bassist Ben Leighton and brutal drumming of James Spence. ‘You Best Play Dead’ sets off again at full pelt with the pacey riffage from Johnny Reardon and Craig Brudenell in a track that also boast a brilliantly executed and thoroughly evil bass solo. ‘Rule One: Cardio’ really hammers down the the bands rhythmic skill before closing on ‘The Wet Heat’ a song more focused on a rolling filthy groove with what can only be described as a spot on solo. A blistering but short set leaves All At Sea with a tall act to follow.
From the first haunting guitar wail it’s apparent All At Sea subscribe to a different flavour of hardcore; still as abrasive, but spiced with doom and melody in place of aggression. The dark and stormy heaviness of All At Sea make it the perfect fit for the hellish roars of singer Jordan Paterson. ‘Equalizer’ throws some dancey grooves against the thorny drums of Jamie Walker for a rather ferocious throw-down. A vein of Killswitch Engage mellodies run through their penultimate song to awesome but curious effect before switching back into more of a black metal gear in their closer.
Heavy Lies The Crown’s groove laden, black metal influenced hardcore cracks their set open with a gravely chaotic track that drips with bluesy charm amid the savage noise. Heavy Lies The Crown manage to deftly mix beatdowns and the thrash sensibilities of the likes of Pantera into a wall of consistently aggressive music that chugs with deep grooves and delicious dirtiness. In ‘The Family Demise’ the melodic twang of Heavy Lies The Crown’s guitars side steps this otherwise consistent deep south sound from the North Eastern boys, but it’s by no means a foul or unwelcome move. A melodic section flexes some more versatile muscles for guitarists Graham Sanderson and Dan Williams, that is still firmly in keeping with the band’s hardcore edge. This is a performance practically mirrored later in their set with guitar work that verges on the progressive. ‘Stepping Stones’ returns to the core black metal hardcore sound, bringing with it a firm metal strut that not only closes their set but cements their immense swagger.
Headliners Climate Of Fear are commonly known as “Teesside’s angriest band”. Tonight’s performance for the ‘Boro murder crew makes them fight hard for that title by matter of circumstance. These have been some hardcore bands that have swung their weight around and shown a considerable amount of balls and skill while doing so. Taking to the stage with a far more to-the-point take on hardcore, Climate of Fear do it with all the brutality and flair of their set mates. With arguably the best projected vocals of the evening making vocalist Rae’s style far more apparent, Climate Of Fear firmly grasp their role as head of the bill and throttle every last breath they can out of it. Seemingly less heavy in their clarity, Climate Of Fear are exceptionally well put together live almost to the point of disbelief. ‘Ghosts’ smacks of Raging Speedhorn in its tense chug before truly kicking in to retake the heavy crown. Performing track after track full of grooves and catchy hooks, Climate Of Fear neatly round off their set with the appropriately titled ‘Fuck Off’. ‘Fuck Off’ is easily one of the sets more aggressive numbers. All the way through, from the guttural screams of vocalist Rae to the riffs of Woody and Hodge, everything from Climate Of Fear is delivered with a sense of vigour and intent that is taken to a whole new level in their final beat-down. Climate Of Fear conquer both record levels of quality and brutal walls of noise to more than deserve their reputation. These guys are angry and want us to know about it.

Javelynn - Chimaera At Heart.

Javelynn‘s debut release ‘Chimaera At Heart’ makes glorious use of frontwoman and former Ashbury Heights singer Yaz’s vocals which smoothly change gears from track to track. Moving from melodic and soulful, to bubblegum electro pop and even adding a bit more of a rock bite at times her voice is easily the most lasting impression to come from this album. That being said, the subtle and effective use of guitar gives tracks like ‘This song is not about you’ an attitude that synth alone could not convey. I would like to stress this is definitely what I’d call EBM without the coarse cross-over sound industrial implies. There is plenty of drive on ‘Wannabe’ with its brilliantly paced, catchy rhythm and some strong lyrics that are regretfully pushed out of place by the chorus which grates by its sheer repetition. It’s not that fair really, because I want to love this song but “I don’t wannabe a wannabe wannabe, I Just wannabe, wannabe me” is the kind of writing that makes my nerves twitch despite being a rather spirited song on the whole. ‘Beat You’ has a similar rhythm but contrasts its bassy surging rhythm with some candy coated keys and distorted vocals. The pogoing drums of ‘Crisis’ conjure in equal measure images of fist pumping heaviness but hardstyle Scooter-esque dance appeal. Rescued again by the sultry “priceless” vocals of Yaz ‘Crisis’ is the kind of song you can shimmy along to as much as thrash. ‘Die Young’ is whammy drenched riffage from its opening met with equally hard keys that has all of the infectiousness of ‘Wannabe’ but none of the drawbacks. ‘La Fin Absolue Du Monde’ has some attractive guitar driven sway again blending bubblegum, stompalong rhythms and aggressive synth to create a captivating track. Easily the most overtly poppy song on the the record ‘Morphine’ is bolstered with a chunky bass backbone against the bouncy synth and tick-tock drums. It’s hook of “you never call me when you’re sober” does add the catchiness that it so sorely needed, taking a bold stride away from the more accessible and powerful sound of its companions. ‘Oh Dear’ hits many of the same notes as ‘Wannabe’ with hooks that surpass it, a synth back bone and guitar based spikes that give it considerably more bite. ‘Skip A Heartbeat’ quivers with emotion that bristles at the tip of snapping back giving it plenty of broody charm.
All in all, Javelynn’s debut is a poppy and catchy album with some neatly placed guitar flourishes, bolstering the power of the release. The unassuming title ‘A Chimaera At Heart’ has proved to be rather appropriate, though Javelynn doesn’t push the boundaries too far or perhaps far at all with no truely astounding moments of experimentation. ‘Chimaera’ is a balanced mix that will delight many and disappoint only the most demanding of fans.

Javelynn – Chimaera At Heart is available now via Out Of Line Music.