Rukus Southampton

Rukus Southampton Coming soon to Southampton....
RUKUS is dedicated to bringing you some of the UK's best live alt music whilst ensuring it's a safe space for all!

RUKUS is so proud to be an event partner of such an amazing event! Fusion Fest - In Assoc W/ Fightback Lager, A Clubnigh...
01/04/2021

RUKUS is so proud to be an event partner of such an amazing event! Fusion Fest - In Assoc W/ Fightback Lager, A Clubnight Festival Raising Money for !

They are raising money for Music Venue Trust, without grassroot venues, we wouldn't half the amazing performers we have now. we NEED to support them, to make sure these grassroots venues stay around!

Make sure to tune in, click going, enter the raffle, share to all your friends. Let's raise some money for such an amazing cause!!!

So today we get into the gritty, grunge, shoegaze that is Mothmankiller "The Flow" EPAfter seeing his release "Confusion...
29/03/2021

So today we get into the gritty, grunge, shoegaze that is Mothmankiller "The Flow" EP
After seeing his release "Confusion", I couldn't wait for more and here I am! Throwing down with flared jeans and a baggy shirt like it's the 1990s.

Because we've already done Confusion, we're gonna skip to Slow and the rest!

Slow: another show stopping, head banging pit starter. This song has a nasty starter, that makes you just wanna throw horns and jump in the closest wall of death. With groaning rasps and creepy laughter joining in, this already makes me unnerved. The guitars just giving of nasty brutal riffs that bring you sound garden and nirvana vibes with the tone.
Somewhat through the song we get a nice vibe section, that Is a big change from the other chaos that is just raining on.
Loving this absolute CHOOON

Safe Zone: Now this one features a lad called "atchi" who actually released his own EP last year, in the words of borat "Ver' Nice".
This starts off with a gentle yet gloom riff, that gives you the idea to find a safe zone before you get round housed.
With fast mind boggling lyrics at the beginning we jump straight into a Deftones/ Loathe like bridge, with a dope af rap section, I have no idea where half of this is going, with constant change ups beyond comprehension, this could be my favourite of the 4!
This is generally a banger of a tune, if you're looking for a song in a fight scene like punisher!

Bringing us to the final tune we have: Cold

Definitely one for you deftones fans! Absolute thrasher of a song, dissonant chords distant vocals that sound like mantras from a cult, what isn't to love?
The drop that throws you into a kind of pit where you can't leave! The outro riff leaves a sinister mood watching you and my god does it rage.
I unfortunately couldn't say much, considering this song was pretty much the same thing for a few minutes, but honestly I loved every second!

This EP is an absolute banger for you Grunge fans And I couldn't recommend it enough.
Big up Mothmankiller, you fkn rock bro!

Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/album/34ffVG0hNZ5hwwKR1AW9Wd?si=_8c9jx9GRmSszuynGHGxDg
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Review by Dylan Rice

This is another sick debut tune I got to review! From my boy "Mothmankiller", you'll recognise his work from Conspire Ag...
10/03/2021

This is another sick debut tune I got to review! From my boy "Mothmankiller", you'll recognise his work from Conspire Against - "NEMESIS". Bringing back early 00's Shoegaze (think loathe - screaming or a sad cartoon).
Svet has been working with different acts and I'm so glad he can finally drop some solo stuff.

This song is called "Confusion"

It starts off with a pretty thrash like riffs that drags into some creepy whispered vocals, something you'd hear a cult muttering in their place. However I'm feeling some Royal Blood early album influences. The intro riff is heard a lot throughout the song and I cannot get enough of it!

With the grunge esqe feeling there you could do some nasty windmills to this if you wanted.
Either way this song is a short and punchy one! Definitely one to keep your eye out for!
Svet aka Mothmankiller is going places! Couldn't be more proud of my guy!

Listen here - https://open.spotify.com/track/6VbxEa5Hs1R9xa7vADXRR9?si=r1k9XjMLTC-EYvvynnhNBQ

Pre order the EP here - https://mothmankiller.bandcamp.com/album/the-flow
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Review by Dylan Rice

If anyone is from Southampton, they will have heard of Daniel Eagle, if not, you NEED to check him out. Dan has been hea...
06/02/2021

If anyone is from Southampton, they will have heard of Daniel Eagle, if not, you NEED to check him out. Dan has been heavily involved in the Southampton music scene for years, and has previously made some incredible tracks. This new track however is a completely new sound for him, and that’s why I was so excited to review it.

Dan undoubtedly has buckets of talent, and it really shines through in this track. He has a natural rasp to his voice that seems so effortless, and this rasp lifts this number even further. The blend of acoustic and electric guitar in this track go hand in hand to create a mellow feel, I know that this track is going straight on my vibey playlist. There’s a certain soothing element to this song that cannot go unmissed. Another thing that cannot go unmissed is the production level on this track, it is phenomenal.

I can see this track blowing up in all honesty, this is the sort of song that you can listen to no matter your mood because it will always uplift you.

Listen to it here - https://open.spotify.com/album/7xD3Jr5XLW7PZPzP0ddRb9?si=4eh9Zy_dSJ6mCYLDZM44AA
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Review by Holly Cook

Moonwave is ACID CTRL’s first track back after two years, this lo-fi themed track with added saxophone and drumming from...
30/01/2021

Moonwave is ACID CTRL’s first track back after two years, this lo-fi themed track with added saxophone and drumming from Kristian Murphy, can only be described as tranquil and soothing.

Music experts typically describe the effect of lo-fi as ‘cocooning’. It wraps you in a predictable and soft sound, protecting your thinking from the unpredictable and harsh outside world, and moonwave does exactly that. The flare of the saxophone adds another depth of ambience to this track without getting too in the way.

The production on this track is absolutely exceptional and getting a good lo-fi sound is often hard to get.
This track is something I can see myself listening to whilst studying or getting on with assignments. I can see some real potential with this track, and can certainly see it hitting some popular studying playlists on Spotify.

Listen to Moonwave here - https://open.spotify.com/album/58HgurbxIMjRjeLJtJtwHF?si=TbW0bK07SySYM3TbeCiA2Q
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Review by Holly Cook.

Bursting out of the blocks come Birmingham’s Second Cities with their new EP ‘Out With the Old’.Opening track ‘Like a Mo...
29/01/2021

Bursting out of the blocks come Birmingham’s Second Cities with their new EP ‘Out With the Old’.

Opening track ‘Like a Moth’ is full of energy and aggression, taking a middle England view of Aidens earlier work (ISMFOF era) mixed with the charming catchy lyrics of AFI at their emo heyday, I found myself clicking along with the drums and even singing along by the end of this one! Raw and passionate, fans of the band will probably have a new favourite song here…

Next up is ‘Love and War’ this track is a lot more raw vocally, I’m not sure that does the song justice personally. I’d say this song is packed full of potential, but personally it is not so much to my taste, however musically it hits hard with great guitar playing throughout and a brilliant drum intro, this track could maybe do with a reimagining to push it to the heights it has all of the elements to hit!

We come to my favorite song of the EP here, ‘Oceans’ is an underground cult emo hit, think early ‘We are the Ocean’ and very early ‘Deaf Havana’ mixed with well all the best emo/ post hardcore bands early on in their careers! This song shows what Second Cities could be in terms of a breakout UK Post Hardcore Juggernaut, a catchy chorus, brilliant guitar solos, and dark heavy overtones, this brings passion and menace to every second of its 3 and a half minute track and shines high above this EP, brilliant stuff.

On Faith you can feel this passion of what the song is about, a song about mental health, you can really feel that subject resonates both with the singer and the rest of the band, but what it pushes in passion it lacks in polish. As with ‘love and war’ this has all the makings of a brilliant track, but drops a little short on the final product, the lyrics however are moving, and as usual the guitar lines are fantastic!

The EP finishes with ‘Say Goodbye for Now’ which opens like a slower Bullet for my Valentine track, which is very exciting (big fan of the guitars here… can you tell). This track has been written to end shows according to the band, and you can understand why, a repetitive line that fans can learn easily and sing along with. It reminds me of a local band we don’t have any more called Burn the fleet, who would always end with a track called handfuls of sand, which had a big catchy singalong element too…
It’s somewhat of a surprise this didn’t make it as a single, I really rate this track, fans will love it for sure, and it has crossover appeal to attract new fans too! It comes together really well as a song, all the elements complement each other and the song improves as it goes on!

Overall this is a strong EP from a band that seem to have a habit of releasing good music, without it ever being incredible, this is a step in the right direction and there are touches on emo/ post hardcore genius here. They have some work to do to really take it to that next level, just a bit of polish on some of the tracks (and some of the moments within the tracks) and just ensure that all elements of the songs are working towards the same goal. In places it can be disjointed, but overall it is a very solid EP, worth 15 minutes of anyones time, there’s a super talent emerging and these tracks will be looked back on as the birthplace of that talent… Oceans deserves a spot in everyones playlists and I look forward to singing along to say goodbye at a show!
I can’t wait to see what direction Second Cities go next and I will be watching on with interest.

Listen to EP here - https://open.spotify.com/album/2OLhrwC7p6uW1rlWTsh3C3?si=On4fy8oLR56OoiVCayXPmg
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Review by Djamel Makhlouf.

Beyond Extinction, Essex Death Metal, for a band this nasty - y'all should be called, Beyond Filthy. This five piece, ha...
29/01/2021

Beyond Extinction, Essex Death Metal, for a band this nasty - y'all should be called, Beyond Filthy. This five piece, have generally knocked the standards right up. If you're not playing with Brand Of Sacrifice soon, I'ma be pi**ed.
Anyway, these lads are en route to dropping their latest EP "The Fatal Flaws of Humankind"... Boy oh boy, if horror movies had horror music - this would be it.

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Let's start our journey at song one, because where else would you start? "A Face Without Features", that's a creepy f**king title.

We start out with a mix of "White Chapel - Third Depth" and "Enterprise Earth - Scars of The Past" perfectly executed by the guitarists! With a chug pattern on the bass guitar, you know full well what is about to happen here. Vocals start off over the calm bit, preparing us for a blast beat filled heaven, with speedy riffs and highs and lows like wall street!

This song gets more extreme as it goes on! Even when it slows right down for what feels like a digital punch in the face! Is this a breakdown or a verse? These guys make it so every second is a mosh pit. As the slow part ends, strap in because it's whiplash time! A small verse comes in right before breakdown 2 and you best be ready.
The vocals have a powerful delivery that shakes your brain, while the instrumentals kick your ass!

The guitar tone alone has a beautiful homage to Whitechapel and I couldn't love it more! The bass alone is something other-worldly - drums? Bruh, you're gonna be breaking the sound barrier in a few years!

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Okay since you're refusing to sleep, let's read another story. This one is called "Apex Predator" please be the next Predator film.

Starting us off is a "Recreant" styled opener, with what sounds like the nastiest distortion, I have ever heard in my 20 years of life! Right into the 2 step // windmill ville, this just keeps getting better and better! Symbol hits, menacing screams, more chugs than metalcore!

This next bit slams your face into a wall for some slow paced, straight to paced pieces of nastiness, so keep up because this is ever changing! I got massive "sleep waker - bitter" vibes from the next verse, which is a big throw back for me.
I have no idea what this is from this point - all I know is that I feel the doom slayer would listen to this.

Here we are at the pre-breakdown, lows so low the bass is jealous, drum smashing, guitar and bass slamming, sending you right into oblivion! It just gets slower and slower... MUST...MOSH...

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Sleepy yet? Good, this next song is called: "Bones Like Branches", Tim Burton wants to know your location. Here we go!

This spares no time, straight in with vocals and everything else following literally split seconds later! The vocals are getting harsher and harsher by the song. These guitars are throwing me back to "Our Endless War"

I'm loving the fact that the drums are doing a faster / slower time with the track!
About a minute later there is a complete genre change! Is this black metal? Is this death metal? I love this either way - this is innovation at its finest.

This slow down has put several holes in my wall, along with the "Crucify" pre-breakdown chant! Getting me full on hyped for the gallop like rhythm of hells guitars.

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Right, final story and that's it, you're going to sleep... are these giving you scares? Ah! Good. This last story is called "God Complex" You know this is gonna slap!

A distant like track? You know what's about to come. The drop is unreal, even then the song still feels like it's at its intro, with the hype up! But I was wrong, it caught me by surprise with the "NO FORGIVENESS"!
Throwing me into one of the fastest riffs I've heard in awhile, honestly cannot keep up, I'm invested in every second.
It comes back to the normal speed with eerie noises and solo drum slaps.

There is a part in the pre- breakdown that sounds like the beginning to Word Up! Big nostalgia there and it is real af.
This breakdown however, with its triplet riff and pit opener telepathic powers, really made me want to pull the lemon face.

This whole EP has been an adventure and I couldn't have enjoyed it more!
Big up the future of death metal. You will know the name "Beyond Extinction" soon.

Listen to EP here - https://open.spotify.com/album/6bCqOzdpxzSASQyN4sibhe?si=cM68V53IR5yZpb1w0A6SQA
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Review by Dylan Rice.

Pop punks brightest young sparks As December Falls are back with their anthemic, emotive new single ‘I don’t feel like f...
22/01/2021

Pop punks brightest young sparks As December Falls are back with their anthemic, emotive new single ‘I don’t feel like feeling great’ a track that sums up 2021 perfectly.

The second single off of new album Happier (due out June 2021) ‘Feeling Great’ sums up all the emotions that Covid has most of us feeling during humanities longest winter!

As December Falls sound punchy and aggressive but no less catchy here and this harks back to the emo revolution of the mid 2000s where pop punk and emo intertwined for modern rock greatness, ADF have discovered that nostalgic magic all over again, whilst still being fresh, modern and different in their own right.

As vocalist Bethany Smile emotionally belts out the title lyrics during the chorus you can feel the hard work ADF always push into their music and how hard Covid is hitting the band, you can hear in her voice there is a sadness and an anger that they cannot do what they love most, play live to their fans.

As December falls do everything themselves from booking their own tours to handwritten thank you notes in their merch, they are a band that love playing live!

It’s not just covid related though, this song tackles mental health head on and is all about those days where you have to put a smile on your face and fight through your internal struggles and do what you need to do. But also it’s about taking that mental health day to yourself where you simply say enough is enough, today I don’t feel like feeling great!

The gang vocal hook at the end of the track (after the siiiick solo) will sound incredible in a live atmosphere and is my personal highlight of the song, it makes you want to sing and be joyful even in these hard times… I can’t wait to scream ‘DUH DUH DUHH DUH DUH DUH DUHH DUH’ at Ande, Bethany and co in a crowded room ASAP!

This track shows all markings of a great band maturing, incredible musically and sophisticated lyrically the raw emotion ties everything together into a truly great 21st century emo masterpiece.

‘Feeling great’ truly whets the palette for Happier and could well be the launching pad for As December falls to take over the pop punk scene in 2021, and it couldn’t be in better hands!

The Song is out now and also has a killer video that you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvDKHqCcGaU
Or listen to the song on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/track/19mJgSIydRTdgoaZEpQGD2?si=w64ptQKZSiiQzYR5stDVVA
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Review by Djamel Makhlouf

NEMESIS by Conspire Against begins with an effortless bass plucking at it’s strings before leaping into the guttural scr...
22/01/2021

NEMESIS by Conspire Against begins with an effortless bass plucking at it’s strings before leaping into the guttural screams, which are undeniably incredibly well done. These screams paired with the quick interject of clean vocals before heading into what I can only describe as a fu***ng brutal breakdown, that makes you straight away want to thrash around. Before you know it you’re then faced with spine chilling whispers on top of the already brutal breakdown, and you know whatever comes next is going to be impressive.

The guitar work brought to you by Reuben can only be described as intricate and bone crushing. There is no doubt that these guys are going to go far. After listening to the vocals on this track, I can hear clear similarities between Dylan and James Harrison (lead singer of Oceans Ate Alaska) and these guys are in their early days - I can see some real potential with these guys. If you’re looking for some South Coast NuMetal, I recommend checking these guys out.

Listen to NEMESIS here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d02D02lbWiM
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Review by Holly Cook

Omega Initiative (hometown represent!), a metal-core act, for fans of "Machine Head", "Wage War", "Bury Tomorrow" and "T...
16/01/2021

Omega Initiative (hometown represent!), a metal-core act, for fans of "Machine Head", "Wage War", "Bury Tomorrow" and "Trivium". With their new Single "Vicious Circles", it hits hard.

"Vicious Cycles" sets us off with a no nonsense head smacking riff, sounding similar to 2008 Bring Me the Horizon, I cannot lie, I am a massive fan! This really got me going, along with that cheeky pinch harmonic or two maybe three, that made me pull the lemon face.

This is a fast, blast, FLASH (AHHHHHH) song! That you cannot miss out on.
The harsh vocals remind me of a mix between: Daniel Bates (Bury Tomorrow) and James Pligge (Harm's Way), unable to put my finger on the clean vocals, but they feel so fresh - so new, so kudos.

With what feels like "Bullet For my Valentine" vibes, they really do not p**s about with them. Big up the guitarist of this band - You are f***ing talented! It goes proper Slipknot during the breakdown, y'all making me wanna bruce lee some poor unsuspecting person.
Sorry but these drums too - Big ol blast beats and center symbol hits! Some kind of Deathcore mix into it.

If you're looking into listening to the South Coast metal collective, here is a great place to start, it's like a mix of so much in one song!
Definitely give these guys a spin!

Listen here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfPBfT03L_0
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/3BXGbZ6Oo0WGxUXhCrOcQO?si=hhPxAAl4S5SHCT2PAuRejw
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Review by Dylan Rice

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