MANCHESTER MUSIC - JUNE 2007

Live review of 'Chips and Wires' @ The Dry Bar - Manchester, Thursday 07/06/07

Corleone come from the other side of Sheffield. Not geographically - as far as I know - but in spirit. The side away from Monkeyland, where 65daysofstatic live in a mess of noise and technology, carrying on the city's proud tradition of industrial-influenced music into a 21st century where industry means chips and wires as much as the clash of metal on metal. Where Steve Albini and the Aphex Twin may top their extensive influence list for purely alphabetical reasons, but seem a pretty good place to start. There are towers of post-rock guitars, abrasive vocal lines, and gothic math-rock rhythms. There's anger under the surface which sometimes breaks through into bleeding rage with samples of brimstone preachers feeding through the chaos. And their last track throws it all together into a ten minute epic of sonic intensity; the best thing to come over the Snake Pass in a while. Cath Aubergine [weblink]

MYSPACE BLOG REVIEW - JUNE 10TH 2007

Live review of 'Chips and Wires' @ The Dry Bar - Manchester, Thursday 07/06/07

Second on the bill were Sheffield band, Corleone, of whom I had misplaced expectations involving sharp suits and splurge guns. In fact, they were the closest I have come to seeing any prog-metal for quite some time. Without so much kicking-off the set, the kind of intro (whereby two minutes have passed before anyone realises it isn't just a prolonged tuning session) was slowly wound up into some incredibly listenable, noisy riffs. Corleone sounded, at times, like they had inexpertly moulded the most experimental of Aphex Twin material with the most mosh-friendly of the Kerrang compilations. Some venomous, world-hating vocals had led to their lead singer being called a "cunt" during previous gigs, but were notable because they were actually sung rather than roared at us, and several caps were doffed in the general directions of The Pixies, or Nine Inch Nails. While a looped sample of maniacal Evangelical preaching was just a little bizarre for my traditionalist tastes, and their final tune proved to be a "No, we're not finished yet" act of defiance, rather than the powerful industrial rock of earlier songs, not one of us called them cunts. Megan Vaughan [weblink]

SANDMAN MAGAZINE - APRIL 2006

Live review of The Boardwalk - Sheffield, Wednesday 08/03/2006 (unpublished)

For once The Boardwalk is reasonably quiet; I have arrived early and am waiting to pay for my ticket. I get a pint and have a good 45 minutes to re-read this month’s Sandman (yes I am alone). Finally Corleone grace the stage. They open with a wall of sheer noise, it sounds like the best bits of an apocalypse, the backing of funky rhythms and bass sending my soul to some noisy hell. I love it. Unfortunately I am sat down, everyone else is, because I really want to run around and jump and make noise and break things and be all chaotic. The lyrics are heartfelt and, although at times hard to pick up, seem very deep and meaningful. Jack Goodhand [weblink]

SANDMAN MAGAZINE - MARCH 2006

Live review of 'BrAsh' @ The Grapes - Sheffield, Saturday 11/02/2006

Corleone, it should be pointed out, are not your average indie band. They’re fairly quiet on stage, they don’t really play songs that you would whistle on your way home and often lash their work with layers of feedback. It is for exactly these reasons, though, that they stand out as one of the more interesting bands in Sheffield. From the very first sound to come out of their amps tonight it’s clear that this gig is gonna be a good one. The band pelt out a song called ‘Crude Black Millions’ with such power that you have to stop and catch your breath before the next one. And before you know it Corleone’s brand of aggressive, beautiful, ‘post rock’ has gripped you and you’re totally wrapped up in the music. Included in the set tonight are a few new tunes which, at first listen, seem to stick to the classic pattern of loud explosions of noise pushed right up against softer moments. One of the best things about Corleone is, even when they play songs with a catchy riff (such as future classic ‘This Is The Walk You Must Walk’), the band manage to maintain an edgy sort of feel to their music, as though the sound might just tip into roaring feedback and angry screams at any moment. It’s impossible to second guess this band though and that’s precisely what makes them so intriguing and what keeps you watching from start to finish. What also makes them so compelling is how in tune they are with each other, considering some bands seem to struggle just keeping in time, these boys really play well together and the set sounds tight as anything. It really is a pleasure to watch but before you know it its all over and you’re a tad disappointed it all had to finish (always the sign of a good gig, I feel). Corleone are billed tonight as ‘returning heroes’, on this form it’s certainly nice to have them back. Michael Brader [weblink]

SANDMAN SHEFFIELD - SEPTEMBER 2005

Live review of The Howard - Sheffield, Monday 01/08/2005

Sheffield is great for music at the moment, here’s why: Sunday night at the Leadmill, the Arctic Monkeys play to a sold out crowd of around a thousand, every song meets rapturous applause and everyone seems to know every word to at least three-quarters of the songs. Fast forward now to Monday night and Corleone take to the stage at the Howard, seemingly the place to be for free, live music on a Monday night. The crowd of about 40 people don’t know the words to the songs but they meet an enthusiastic reaction. The point I’m trying to make is that from the biggest venues right through to the floors of the smaller pubs, Sheffield is brimming with great music. Corleone are what you might call ‘post-rock’. In contrast to the Arctic Monkeys, (whose ‘Bang Bang Recordings’ T-shirt Corleone’s drummer is sporting tonight) they are unashamedly epic, and all the better for it. Their set is packed with little spine tingling moments of beautiful melody, packed tight against big, hard edged soundscapes. Like the very best of bands such as Sonic Youth and Mogwai, they etch out little moments of heart-swelling beauty from tough, rapturous noise that can make you melt with joy. Just when you think that the song has run its course, the band, perfectly in tune with each other, look round and then unleash another supernova-like sound that grabs the attention of every punter in the pub, a sound surely made for bigger venues than the Howard. You’d think that the band could only go so far with this formula, but not so. I, personally, am totally awed from start to finish. Songs like Fuck Manhattan are seething with uncontrollable rage and anger, whilst instrumental track This Is The Walk You Must Walk (possibly the finest, most controlled, well played piece of instrumental rock music you will hear all year) changes the mood towards mild calm, yet maintaining the ‘edgy’ thing this band do so well, and keeps things interesting. Variety then, is perhaps what’s best about Sheffield at the moment. For every Arctic Monkeys or Bromhead’s Jacket I’d like to think that there is a Corleone playing somewhere, waiting to blow you away. And long may it remain. Michael Brader [weblink]

LEEDS MUSIC SCENE WEBSITE - SEPTEMBER 2005

Live review of The Vine - Leeds, Thursday 08/09/2005

The idiosyncrasies of Post-Rock at times can be speculative and distorted to say the least, as there appears to be no conclusive classification of what post-rock is. Having said that, Corleone will undoubtedly be labelled as being a post-rock band due to their mirrored style of so many so called post-rock bands before them. Corleone attempt to join alliance with greats such Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai and Sigur Ros with their onslaught of breezing guitars and circular melodies that oscillate around and around and around and around and around. And that's pretty much it. They play with vigour and passion but fail to establish an impetus to get the wheels in motion. The over use of their serene pieces of music becomes monotonous throughout, unlike many other accomplished sound sculptors who artfully find a way to make their music ingenious and more malleable by finding variation to keep the listener enticed. They are prohibited by the need to rise to an enthralling crescendo every time. By being too one-dimensional and with each song sounding like an Explosion in the Sky B-side, it becomes slightly sterile. Karl Greenwood [weblink]

SANDMAN LEEDS - OCTOBER 2005

Live review of The Vine - Leeds, Thursday 08/09/2005

...Quickly following The Playmates are Sheffield band Corleone, who make music which is something akin to having your head repeatedly smashed with a brick. They occasionally venture into tuneful territory, but quickly put a stop to it with more distortion and feedback. Their ‘wall of sound’ artiness may be…arty, but it doesn’t win over the audience. Owen Clements [weblink]