Shan Stillwell

Possibly the most exciting thing to come out of Worcester since the sauce, new kids on the block HVMM’s debut EP ’Talk To Me Like I’m Dead’ is full of raucous attitude and angst. Kicking off with their debut single ‘Lacerate’, this feels like a perfect introduction to the EP. The track is filled with swag, pulsating beats and thrashing guitars. Lead singer Andy Teece’s conversational vocal tone immediately takes centre stage, sounding akin to the likes of Jack White’s colloquial style.

In times like these we should not dwell on the details, the cause of death and the mental state of mind is irrelevant. The fact is, a wife lost her husband, six children lost their father, millions of fans lost an idol, and the music world has lost one of its most pioneering individuals. Chester’s family are going through a terrible, and unfortunately, very public crisis, and they should be given the respect and room to grieve.

However, following the collapse of the old industry, and the adaption of bands to new mediums, something fantastic happened; unless you were another boyband/girlband type or the flavour of the month, you were underground. Forcing bands to develop in the old ways, but to communicate with each other in a more direct and global manner, has yielded some great results, and so it is with Avante Black. ‘Make A Mess’ is a change of pace from this globally-fed outfit.