Genre/Influences: Post-punk, punk-rock.

Background/Info: 1919 were active in between 1980 and 1983. They released one album and one EP. They got reactivated in 2014, but unfortunately one of the founding members passed away. He however incited his mates to move so this album might be seen as homage to Mark Tighe.

Content: “Futurecide” is driven by fast rhythms, rapidly evoking the good-old years of punk music. It’s not just punk, but also a rock-minded album. The songs are pretty short and often moving into carrying choruses.

+ + + : This album is a noticeable production in the contemporary post-punk style and that’s for sure because of the real 80s spirit this band has been originally driven by. The guitar parts will please the lovers. They’ll go mad for the speed-tempo of the drums and the enraged vocals of the band’s front man.

– – – : Post-punk without real pretension, but just an album to have fun with! There are only 10 songs featured at the album.

Conclusion: 1919 is pure nostalgia for all post-punk freaks. It reminds me of the first concerts I ever saw as a teenager.

Best songs: “Speak Now”, “Man, Myth, And The Cruise Of The Immortal”.

Rate: (6½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/1919official

Label: www.cleropatrarecords.com / www.facebook.com/CleopatraRecords

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

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Today is the release of the new album “Futurecide” of the British post-punk band 1919, which was originally founded in 1980 in Bradford, split up in 1985 and was reformed in 2014.

Tragedy struck as the band’s founding guitarist Mark Tighe was diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and succumbed to the disease in January 2017. Tighe insisted that the band should carry on without him, which they have done in finest form with their newest effort “Futurecide”.

The new album is their third studio album and is released via Cleopatra Records. It contains 10 tracks and is also available on iTunes, Spotify, Deezer and Bandcamp. It features brand new compositions and includes special guest performances by Tighe as well as former member Steve Madden, who also passed away this year. The new video below, “Isolation”, was released in memory of Steve Madden.

The newly revamped and reinvigorated 1919 will be touring extensively in support of this release kicking off with shows in Mexico City and Costa Rica. Difficulties with visas caused their US tour in April to be delayed until September but several dates in the UK and Europe are still planned. International travel has become ever more difficult due to the isolationist policies of both the US and British governments, an issue that band itself tackles head on in the song “Isolation”, whose chorus states “I hope your flag keeps you warm. You’d be a lucky man. Enjoy your isolation.”

Track List:
1. Anxiety
2. Isolation
3. Futurecide
4. Radicals
5. Dali Alarma
6. Speak Now
7. Aurora
8. Man, Myth, And The Curse Of The Immortal
9. Stop The World
10. Where Are You Now?

Again bad news. 1919 guitar player Mark Tighe is no more. Tighe was the first and only guitar player for the post-punk act 1919, from the band’s inception in 1980 to the eve of their second LP “Bloodline” in March 2017.

It was the band who announced the sad news: “It was Mark’s incredible passion for music that brought the band back to life so many years after it started, and his warmth and spirit that has bonded us for life as friends and human beings. As a technician there is no other, and his commitment to his craft has provided the soundtrack to a band loved in all corners of the world. We’ve been lucky enough to perform for you, and meet many of you, and anyone that spoke to Mark will have known how grateful we are for your support. In our darkest hour, your words of support and love have been overwhelming. Now, whilst our immediate plans are somewhat up in the air, we can only commit ourselves to honouring Mark in the way we deem most appropriate. This will take some time so please bear with us. But rest assured, we will. Mark, your D.N.A is built into the core of this band. We can never and will never forget you. Everything we have done has been because of you, and anything we may do will be for you.”

1919 formed in December 1980 in Bradford and was an early contributor to what became the Goth genre. The band had chart success with the singles “Caged”, “Repulsion” and “Cry Wolf” as well as with the 1984 LP “Machine”. They also recorded 2 Peel Sessions. In 2014, founding guitarist Mark Tighe attempted to reform the band, recruiting Rio Goldhammer from the Leeds underground scene to perform vocals and (initially) bass. In 2015, original drummer Mick Reed returned to the fray, providing the final piece of the puzzle in the form of bassist Karl Donner. With the band’s core reunited, the “‘Madness Continues’ Sessions” live-album quickly emerged, along with the self-released “Death Note” EP.

Two European tours and a host of festival appearances later, the band signed a deal with Westworld Recordings in 2016 to release a new album, “Bloodline”. The second studio album from 1919 is to be released in March 2017, 33 years after the first.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

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