My favourite Texan metalcore band – Memphis May Fire – dropped their latest album Unconditional yesterday and, to be honest, I was already in love with it halfway into the first track, No Ordinary Love.
Anyone who follows me on Twitter will know that I’ve been excited for this album for a long time. MMF’s previous album, Challenger, is up there as one of my favourite albums to ever album. It had plenty of commercial success too, entering the Billboard Charts at number 16, and if Unconditional isn’t just as successful I’ll probably get angry and start punching things.
In this interview, the band said their next album would be more mature, and I have to say, I think they’ve pulled it off. Whilst every song is laced with the pure passion and talent synonymous with MMF, lyrically this album is far more mature.
Whilst Memphis May Fire have retained their signature sound, they’ve really refined it into a more polished package. I definitely can’t wait to see them play London KOKO in April now, as if I wasn’t already ridiculously excited.
This album has been highly anticipated for months now, and to anyone who thought Unconditional was over-hyped? You’re so, so wrong.
Highlights of the album: No Ordinary Love, Possibilities, The Rose
Today, I paid homage to my primary school uniform with this cute shirt, jumper and skirt combo. I couldn’t just leave it at that, though: playground-chic is so last year.
If there was a school for punk rock, I’d be so there.
As a fan of the Hard Rock franchise this jumper is one of my favourites, and has memories of chowing down on a chicken club sandwich at their cafe on Pier 39 in San Francisco.
But it’s a little plain and I’m not a big fan of crew necks, so I decided to add a little texture with a white chiffon blouse and multi-chain necklace, both from New Look.
I finished off the look with a simple black skater skirt from Select. At only £8 it was a steal, as well as a wardrobe essential. I mean come on, who doesn’t need a black skirt in their lives?
You know how it is: you’re scrolling down your twitter feed having the time of your life, and all of a sudden you look at the time to see your bus leaves in 20 minutes.
That, unfortunately, was me this morning, so all I could manage to do was chuck on the first clothes I saw before I left the house. Thankfully, it all turned out rather well.
I am so working the double denim.
This particular outfit has a lot of memories for me, as most of the pieces were bought on my holiday on the California coast and in New York in July/August 2013.
The vest was bought at Club Tattoo, a tattoo parlour (hence the name) and clothing/accessories store on Pier 39 in San Francisco. Even eight months later the design is still in great condition, and the fit is super flattering for my body type.
Please, bow down and appreciate the beauty of this purse.
I also bought this gorgeous purse/clutch bag there too, and is to date the most amount of money I’ve ever spent on one item of clothing or accessory at $45, or roughly £30.
The denim shirt I also bought in America, this time at Times Square’s branch of Forever 21. I love this for its red checked shoulders, which add a bit more colour and coordinates nicely with the red of the vest.
This was also a pretty good value purchase, however it wasn’t until I tried on the shirt at home that I realised one sleeve is slightly tighter than the other for some reason. So, not massively pleased with the quality of the piece, but the shirt’s still lasted well and I liked it enough not to bother returning it.
The shorts are a staple of my wardrobe; bought at New Look a good few years ago, they’re high waisted and still such a great fit.
Damnit, I can’t think of any time-related puns.
Here’s a close-up of my necklace, an ornate pocket watch on a bronze chain I bought last year in a random gift shop. It was fairly pricey – £20 – but I absolutely love it, and it goes with pretty much every outfit in my wardrobe.
It also ties in nicely, colour-wise, with the brown lace-up boots I wore with the outfit. I never put batteries in the watch, though. Maybe that’s why I’m late to lectures so often.
This outfit is a favourite because of the colour coordination. Whilst I can appreciate outfits that clash, I don’t feel comfortable unless my entire outfit ties in nicely together.
I’m also really liking the double denim which, if pulled off well, is definitely a popular choice right now.
Oh, man. When all the usual UK summer festivals started announcing their line-ups last year, Sonisphere wasn’t even a consideration. As much as I appreciate Iron Maiden and Metallica as institutions of metal, I wasn’t all that bothered about seeing them headline a festival, and the rest of the line-up, whilst good, wasn’t massively inspiring.
Band Of Skulls are playing on the Friday, which makes me sad ’cause that band is pretty damn awesome and I’m gonna miss them. I’d also kill to see Gallows, and Chiodos and The Bronx look like they put on a pretty good show.
Those new announcements, added to already announced The Prodigy, Frank Turner, Reel Big Fish and Limp Bizkit make Sonisphere a real competitor in this year’s festival line-up.
Looks like whilst I was deciding whether to go for Leeds or Download (Leeds won, by the way) Sonisphere sneaked up behind me and hit me round the face with a killer line-up. Damn.
altrocklife 