The ShortListen: Black Leaves of Envy (no. 280)

Who? Black Leaves of Envy

What’s the story? So Dave Grohl has hit the headlines for responding to teenage metal band Black Leaves of Envy's plea for help to overturn a local council noise control order, which stopped the band rehearsing for three months. As well as being a massive help for the band to getting rocking again, it's also provided them with a whole load of new listeners intrigued by the story. And that includes us - we'll listen to new music wherever we can get it, so why not listen to these guys?

Pleasingly, on the evidence of this track, the band (which comprises two 15-year-olds and two 17-year-olds) can really play. In fact, it's wonderfully refreshing to hear a band rough around the edges, but with some mighty riffs, a good sense of melody and a nice, taut song structure. There's elements of Placebo, Metallica, Machine Head and Royal Blood all in there - all showing they've clearly had a solid musical education. Who knows, perhaps, as Grohl said, in a few years' time they might suddenly become the new Nirvana - and if not them, then hopefully another group of friends currently making an unholy racket in a garage, out there somewhere, free from noise limitations and interference. Rock on guys.

For fans of: Machine Head, Royal Blood, Placebo

In three words: (the) kids are alright