Singles for the week starting 5 December!

Ventenner
Urge
Sonic Fire Records
* * *

The debut single by Ventenner – aka Charlie Dawe – is a taster for forthcoming album This Is The Reason next year. The sound of this in particular suggests that much influence was taken from Nine Inch Nails and in particular their 1999 magnum opus The Fragile – possibly too much it has to be said. Having said all that, there is something compelling about Dawe's angst, and the influence of bands like NIN isn't wide-ranging throughout today's music scene. This isn't a killer song but it's still a breath of fresh air.
Max Raymond

Gallows
Death Is Birth EP
(Thirty days Of Night)
* * * *

Gallows might have lost singer Frank, but they still know their way around a good ‘ol rage; despite its clever-clever title, ‘Death Is Birth EP’ offers the kind of thrills a caveman could get behind. Rather like a twisted episode of Sesame Street, opener ‘Mondo Chaos’ invites us to “Say ‘fuck the world!’” along with new throat-abuser Wade MacNeil. ‘True Colours’ and ‘Hate! Hate! Hate!’ press the button marked ‘Incite Punk Riot’ before the title track flips dark psychology and Egyptian guitars into the mix. MacNeil feels slightly indistinctive compared to the band’s former menace-on-the-mic, but pulls off the angst admirably enough.
Cindy Suzuki

Cave Painting
You’ll Be Running Soon EP
(Hideout)
* * * *

From the opener ‘Midnight Love’ onwards, this is an unashamedly epic and catchy EP. Yearning vocals and dramatically sparse drumming are embedded in swirling guitars, making the perfect energy enhancer for striding along, slightly late, on a wet morning.
‘Rio’ might takes things down a notch, yet still the yearn is evident, and delivered in a more sombre fashion. Crescendos, climaxes, lightness and darkness – they’re all here in spades.
Ed Spencer

The Wombles
Wombling Merry Christmas
(Digital Download)
* * * *

It's a welcome re-release for what could be a genuine contender for the Christmas number one spot. Yes, it has the standard sleigh bells but the glam guitars is a firm nod to the legendary Christmas hits that the likes of Slade were able to churn out in the 70s whilst the backing synths give the tune an air of seasonal magic. It is utterly pointless but it's hard not to get swept by its charm and if you were forced to choose between this or whatever sonic-guff that this year's X Factor will bellow then it's a no brainer really.