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- Band FAQ
- Interesting bits
- Old Reviews


BAND FAQ

Q. What does F451 stand for?

F. We're named after Fahrenheit451, the book by Ray Bradbury. The book's about censorship, culture, and freedom of ideas. It's a great book, read it.

Q. You call yourselves punk, but you don't wear tartan or have mohicans. What's going on?

F. Punk is about ideas and what you've got in your head, not about how you look or what you wear. We're punk because we write songs about things we're passionate about, and it's that raw energy and belief you see when we play live.

Q. So when's this album coming out?

F. 2007, 2008 ... we're not sure. Don't worry, be patient, it'll come. And it's going to be fucking great.

Q. How come you guys don't have your own profiles or myspace pages?

F. Personalities aren't important - bands are about the music and what you say. Also we're not that kind of people. Matt has a myspace page for his solo acoustic stuff, and Jez has one for his random art, but we're not bothered about writing blogs about everyday bollocks or putting photos up of our pets.

Q. Are you signed? Do you have management?

F. No...

Q. Would you like to be?

F. ...Yes. We're a hardworking band that's done everything ourselves (with a little help from some friends). But we'd like some backing to get us out to more people and playing better gigs.

Q. You guys are wicked - how can I get you to play in my city/town/village/small island?
F. Easy, give us a shout by e-mail or myspace and tell us what venues and promoters you've got near you. Most importantly, tell your friends about us!


INTERESTING BITS

- One of the quotes in the song "Everything You Know Is Wrong" is George W. Bush saying "3 hydrogen-powered doctors". This is gibberish, as the song intends, and is taken from Chris Morris' excellent video/audio mashup "Bushwhacked" - Bush's 2003 state of the union speech cut up and rearranged to reveal United States policy more accurately. You can find it and download it at:
www.thesmokehammer.com We also did some cutting ourselves, so his last sentence is "One by one, the terrorists are realising we are building a culture to encourage hydrogen-powered international terrorism".







OLD REVIEWS



F451
The Battleground Is Everywhere

Fahrenheit451 as they are also known are Essex based punksters who blast out three piece rock and want to kill off the Indie/Emo scenes that suffocate people around them. You can’t doubt their passion. ‘The Battleground Is Everywhere’ is a three track EP which shows a slice of what the band are about. Lyrically they are standing up for themselves, their politics and music. Their influences range from The Manics to Rage Against The Machine but there’s slabs of The Clash’s spirit embodied in there somewhere underneath the Alt-rock stomp of their songs, especially in the Mick Jones inspired backing vocals. ‘We Are Youth’ starts with thudding drums and spirited punk thrashing. The band are basically throwing back in your face what it is today to be young and angry. The mid section recalls Punk of old with some nice melodic changes and sloganeering. Their hearts are on their sleeves.

‘Bass And Bombs’ has a more funk metal edge than the first track, showing some excellent Bass work The Jam would have been proud of or at least a 70’s funk band, imagine dancey punk but don’t expect to see this in your trendy discos. F451 make some really convincing rock here, it’s by no means the finished product, they have some good ideas and pull them off well but there’s still something lacking which they will find. You know this from their self belief which comes across as genuine rather than pompous and irritating.

Last up is ‘This Could Be Anywhere’ takes a swipe at their surroundings, most probably the ‘high heeled hyenas’ of our bar culture. It’s almost a sad look, wanting where you live to be more but it’s ruined by idiots throwing up and fighting everywhere on a Saturday night. ‘This Could Be Anywhere’ is everywhere. I often feel like that, cheers for embodying it in a song.

F451 sound like they have some great ideas, but more importantly the passion and determination to pull it off. If their music could kill they’d slay the towns of England with their anti lager lad alt-rock anthems. Killer indeed.

Pete Stanley




F451
The Battleground Is Everywhere

Politically-minded local punk paradigms F451 are back with a new E.P. and yet more of their particular brand of powerful and punchy punk rock propaganda. The cover looks professional; with a remarkably memorable and eye-catching photo on the front and a moody and stylish band shot inside (I'm pretty sure taken from the roof of TESCO on Springfield Road, possibly symbolising F451's strident stance atop the commercialist mire of modern life. Or maybe just a good place for a photo.)

Dropped straight into the first track (We Are Youth) with an immediate and exciting drum-led intro, guitars crashing in, driving you forward into the clean and dominant vocal, you are instantly brought up to speed with the F451 musical ethos. With sheer unadulterated energy the song comes flying out into a late chorus, coming over like The Clash and early Manics mixed up and served for the youth of a new generation. The clear message of the song is fired out by Jez's distinctive voice with lyrics that manage to steer away from contrived and really speak out to the listener. The exceptional drums, stylish chorus and outspoken unpatronising finger-wagging make this an opening track that really wakes you up and spurs you on to listen further.

Heavy throbbing bass lines and thrashy guitars blast out of Bass And Bombs, the second offering on this three track CD. it's twitchy and agitated disco punk full of the boys' trademark anger and honesty but using knowingly contrasting phraseology to break up the point-making and bring an almot humorous edge to what is still a serious and substantial slice of standpoint songwriting. This track really plays out with a real sense of what it msut be like to see these clearly excitable young men thrash thrashing out their tunes live, with beautiful vocals from all three, working together to bring a melodic and harmonic core to this high-minded slice of danceable punk rock.

Slow and laidback, the last track of the E.P. This Could Be Anywhere brings us to a real change for Fahrenheit451. The tracks, lingering in a quiet and understated opening first third, brings a more mature aspect of the F451 style with melodic, intelligent lyrics, speaking social comment and sideswipes to the less salubrious aspects of modern culture. It starts out as what seems like an attack on their home town, angling poisoned critique at their targets of choice (mainly haircut cliques and the fashionitsa f**k-ups found roaming the streets and bars) with an even-handed bitterness. You quickly realise though that they are aiming their bile at a much wider target, throwing provocative verbiage at every town's mindless denizens of fashion and thoughtless action. Building slowly to its powerhouse choral crescendo, vocals, lyrics and musicianship coming together in what is an emotive and expressive finale, the ambitious scope of this socio-political dissection never failing and making for an extremely enjoyable and professional closer on an equally enjoyable E.P.

This could be accused of being more grown-up than their previous releases, but I that would be a disservice to the band; their previous work has been just as interesting and just as powerful as these three tracks. My opinion is that with a growing number of quality fans, gigs and reviews, F451 have now gotan extra added boost of confidence and bravery allowing them to continue to improve upon themselves without betraying their fans and never being anything less than exceptional.

Andy Poole




Live @ Spring Lodge, Witham, Sat 3rd Feb
The Essex Rocks Tour Feb 2007

Next up were F451, the sole reason I am writing this review. I have heard a lot of hype about the band, but never had the pleasure of seeing them live or hearing recorded material, so naturally, I expected great things. F451 performed a dizzying set with some awesome stage acrobatics. From the word go, you instantly realise this ain't no punk-by-numbers bullsh*t that plagues the charts and every pre-teens bedroom. The sound is brash and in your face, without ever being overbearing. The songs are well structured and anthemic in most cases, and are not 3-chord wonders like the typical punk stereotype. The vocal style instantly reminds me of Johnny Rotten, but with more melody and depth. In typical punk-fashion, the music has an anti-establishment undertone, but F451 take this deeper than a simple 'F*ck You' to the Government. This is punk the way it should be, punk with balls, brains and attitude. I even brought a 3 CD's from some very nice guy at the merch stall.
9/10
Joe from Exoterica




Fahrenheit 451
"The Battleground Is Everywhere"
Punk, Self-released

If the Sex Pistols were professional, huge sounding, bright and tight as fuck, you'd still only be half way to F451. Few punk bands come roaring out like this lot on opener "We Are Youth", so bassy, heavy and thrashy but with more attitude than every other punk you know but with bags of positive energy from negative vibes. Bringing together the things that made their first two EPs so essential, i.e. the full on melodic anger of the first and the wearing of their politics on their sleeves of their second, war had never been so much fun, indeed. "Bass And Bombs" is a feel-bad singsong anthem, with a Muse-like ability to make more noise than is usually possible for a trio. Yes, professional punk can work. Closer "This Could Be Anywhere" sees the band slowing down and being moody for the first time, and its saddening as folky lyrics hit the mark for the disaffected populous of, well, anywhere, before cranking it up at the end. When an unsigned band sounds like this, who needs record deals?




The Catastrophe EP
Fahrenheit451

Deeming themselves to be an explosive mix of Muse and early Manics, I approached this CD tentatively, with a mixture of doubt and excitement. It seems though that they've hit the nail on the head, combining the political ferocity of Matt Bellamy, with the early punk rising of the boy wonders from Wales. The Catastrophe EP is a dynamic and attention seeking collection of unambiguous, straight to the point songs, radiating passion, belief and exigency.

Opener 'Don't Change The Calendar' explodes with heavy guitar riffs and frantic drumbeats to deliver a heavy punk tale of hypocrisy and democracy. A sense of urgency and honesty radiates from the vocals against this furious musical backdrop. 'The Inequality Of Now' begins teasingly and ominously with a single bass and drumbeat, developing into a nihilistic rock burner with anger and contempt as they sing "The money's disappearing upwards / But we're not disappearing downwards / And we will drag history forwards!". They summon a sense of unity and necessity to act, without leaving you feeling pressured and drained. Closing song 'The Start Of The End Of The World' is a an anthemic commentary on the war, fusing optimism and pessimism with lyrics such as "If we can't trust each other now (it's the end of the world)" and "We - won't - let - you - destroy - everything".

Politically inept, they present their beliefs as a commentary, not forcing them down your throat, but presenting their views so you can react in whatever way you choose. It is this stance that is to be admired in a time when so many views are forced down are throats until we become numb to them. Fahrenheit451 enable you to feel again, and respond, not through force, but through the sheer intensity of their conviction and passion that 'The Catastrophe EP' exudes.




Live review
Thurs 23rd November, Chinnery's, Southend

The first of (hopefully) many nights organised by Chelmsford's Fahrenheit451 aiming to raise money for charities Amnesty International and Liberty whilst raising awareness of human rights issues at home and abroad kicked off to a fantastic start one cold Thursday night in Southend. After being welcomed with chocolate (Fair Trade kind, of course), balloons and leaflets covering a range of issues scattered over the venue, three punk bands put on spectacular, impassioned performances, wowing the crowd and reminding us that good music tastes even sweeter when there's a message behind it. First up are Witham's Anger Is A Gift, a rap/metal outfit who easily draw comparisons to Rage Against The Machine, put on a spectacularly energetic performance with hard riffs and crazy stage moves from vocalist AJ - I admit I couldn't hear the words but if their lyrics are one ounce as powerful as their tunes this band have got it made. Dead Identities take to the stage next, thrashing out very fast, catchy numbers, and although initially sounding a little pop-punk, these guys put on such a good performance I'll forgive them the slightly commercial-ish numbers. Lastly Fahrenheit451 are up and front man Jez explains a little about the charities being supported tonight before the band launch into a few new numbers. Remarkable guitar work and politically-tinged lyrics mean this band come across as a sort of Muse meets Sex Pistols mix – Jez's snarling, Johnny Rotten-esque delivery coupled with furious bursts of soloing proves to be mesmerizing stuff, with one member of the crowd furiously dancing throughout the set whilst everybody else simply watches transfixed. Old favourite 'Science Is Everything' makes a welcome appearance and gets a few fists raised in the air, before the fantastic 'The Inequality Of Now' signals the end of the set and a truly great gig. The band leave the stage and the shouts for more grow louder, but unfortunately that really is our lot and we make our way home pleased to have seen such a great line-up perform for a worthy cause. Fahrenheit451 are an exceptional band trying to make a difference, which made tonight's sparse turn out all the more disappointing - please support them by visiting www.myspace.com/youandimustfight for details on the next event.



Live review
The Bay Horse, Chelmsford, Tuesday 24th October

Right from the first line of ‘Science Is Everything’ you know what you’re going to get with F451 ... punk with a clear message and catchy tunes. This is not to say that these guys aren’t masters of their instruments like many of F451's punk counterparts and what’s most noticeable is the originality of Jez the singer's voice mixed with clever well worked vocal lines.

Tight in sound and lively to watch, F451 race through tracks ‘Everything You Know Is Wrong’, the anthem that is ‘The Inequality Of Now’, ‘We Are Youth’ and ‘Morning Sun’ like a runway train before diving head first into the early Muse-sounding crowd pleaser ‘Don't Change The Calendar’.

Jez works the crowd like a seasoned pro and moves around the tiny stage area like he’s on fire (nearly blowing up his effects pedal in the process) while we’re sure we saw bassist Matt slip in a moonwalk or two. Add to this the drummer Jon, who looks like possibly the most relaxed man in the world but still plays with great skill and power, F451 have everything you need from a band both visually and audibly.

With an excellent mix of old and new songs culminating in the brave and well-executed ‘You're All Scene Junkies And You're Useless’ F451 prove that they’ve got the answers to the questions that the Essex scene has been asking for.

F451 are heading straight to the top and they’re heading there fast! It may be an almost outdated phrase but believe us when we say ‘if you miss these then you miss out’.

Chris & Micky: Essex Rocks
www.myspace.com/essexrocks001


Panic Magazine
Live review
The Bay Horse, Chelmsford, Tuesday 5th July

Kat Howchen gets political with Chelmsford's favourite agit-rock trio

After a three month break from gigging due to members of the band being at university, I expected Fahrenheit451's live set to be somewhat unpolished but from their storming instrumental introduction it was clear that this was not to be the case. Then came the anthemic 'Science Is Everything which, like most of the set to come, was to be based around strong guitar riffs and a driven bass line, which instantly reminded me of Muse. Jez's vocals then come in, the social commentary and political ideals contained within them are apparent but with the catchy guitar riffs and bass line you're instantly hooked!

The rest of the set storms on in the same way, as they provide an entertaining, energetic performance. Highlights of the set include Everything You Know Is Wrong and Don't Change The Calendar which the band introduce as their flirtation with disco-punk. The "oi ois" mid song also show the band certainly has a sense of humour, which is great to see when you consider the prominence of politics within their lyrics. The band closes with The Inequality Of Now and continue to display the high energy antics that have been the icing on the cake of their live performance.

When watching the band you cannot help but notice the similarities between them and Muse and to a certain degree the Sex Pistols. The band are at home performing and this is obvious to those watching. Has the three month absence of Fahrenheit451 made the heart grow fonder? I think it's safe to say it has.
Kat Howchen



Beat Motel
Issue 5
Fahrenheit451 - The Catastrophe EP
CD, EP, Self-released

In general when I get sent a CD by a political band I tend to let out a sad sigh and put the CD in the player and listen to what is almost always a sub-par Crass rip-off with sixth form politics crow-barred in. Fahrenheit451 are a fantastic exception to that rule. they get their message across in a similar way to Anti-Flag without resorting to their lazy trick of breaking down to a single bass note while a lecture is read over the top. Fahrenheit451's sound isn't as hard as Anti-Flag, indeed this band wouldn't sound out of place on a Radio1 daytime playlist. The duelling vocals are both excellent, both with a really strong individual character that is a perfect snug and complimenting counterpart to its opposite number. If the two singers aren't brothers then this is further proof that the cosmos has conspired to bring this band together for the greater good and entertainment of mankind. This is going straight on my i-pod, I'm signing up for the mailing list and will wait with baited breath for an album. Incidentally, when I first picked up this CD I read it as "The Catastroprophet EP" which would have been just too perfect as a title! This release just shits coolness and urgency."

Andrew Culture



Fahrenheit451: The Catastrophe EP (3 track CD)

Political punks F451 make a welcome return with their second EP. Clearly showing a marked improvement on last year's release, the band manage to fuse some great melodies with snotty Johnny Rotten-style vocals on tracks like the brilliant "The Inequality Of Now" and "The Start Of The End Of The World". Immediate tunes with catchier riffs create an overall more cohesive sound that finally does justice to the political lyrical content - F451 are onto a winner this time around!




FAHRENHEIT451
THE CATASTROPHE EP

Rousing politically charged anthemic punk rock energy that tastes of semi-fine things like The Clash or New Model Army, maybe a bit of a John Lydon fronting Midnight Oil vibe. They have a military-rock feel - whatever the hell that means? Ah hell , you know what it means, Combat Rock – come on, you know! What are you gonna do when your beds are burning anyway? And whatever happened to that band Icehouse, I loved that Great Southern Land song, hey look, I’ve got all distracted again now – are this band from down under? They sound like it. They’re a three piece, from Fahrenheit 451 (where the fun had just begun), I don’t know where they’re from, I’ve lost the press release now, Nurse Bella, make more coffee – Passionate, urgent, bit of a Manics Muse edge (not one of those dreadful Manic wannabe second hand sloganeering bands that the Manics fans clutch on to now that their beloved ones have gone to seed). I need coffee, I think I like this demo, got a little distracted, didn’t fully hold my attention, didn’t have me raving and drooling and running in to the street to hoist up another burning flag of told you so defiance, but hey, I kind of liked it... Coffee now please!




Fahrenheit451 - The Catastrophe EP
Fahrenheit451 have already impressed HeathenAngel with their last demo CD ‘The New Empire’ so I am delighted to report that their latest effort ‘The Catastrophe E.P.’ is right up there alongside its predecessor. The dynamic and energetic punk rock with heavy classic punk and Manic Street Preachers influences still grabs you by the shoulders and shakes you like a maniac. Rather than following simple song structures, the band mixes up the arrangements with varying tempos and cleverly employing changing dynamics from restrained quiet to raging loud riffery.

Lyrically Fahrenehit451 have turned more political with obvious commentary on American foreign policy (“I don’t want to live in a world that starts and ends in America” and “Don’t forget now that sometimes people die”) but there are also socio-economic observations (“The money’s disappearing upwards/And you are disappearing downward”). However, unlike many punk rockers, this is not rammed down the listener’s throat. Granted, the band play with passion but they seem to be laying out facts which you can take or leave at your own choice.
Another collection of intelligent, hard hitting and hard rocking tunes which will surely widen F451’s exposure further. Superb."

Review by Scott
Rating: 8/10


Fruit Stand Music, Slovakia
FAHRENHEIT 451 - THE NEW EMPIRE / THE CATASTROPHE EP

"Nice little double pack EP … If there is one demo that you hear this year then make it this … tip top full of great guitar indie guitar lines backed up with soaring powerful vocals and a lesson in hooks to catch the ear … imagine the best parts of a rocking radiohead fused with muse like guitar riffs and manics style aggression … this is the band that we would all dream of being in … simply said … it pisses on everything from a great height … amazingly poignant lyrical references … “the poor are so photogenic” … they stop at nothing to fill these 3 track EPs with tanker loads of explosive energy … well produced to allow the ideas to stand in the music … wherever they go they can be proud that they have got so far … it is a natural sing along to our own apathy record … it will catch you out … listen to it very carefully … and then listen to it again … it will be a long time before you hear something as good in this style."

Venue Mag, Bristol & Bath
Live review
The Fleece, Bristol, Thursday 2nd March

"The bassist and lead guitarist/singer of F451 leap to and fro like tennis-racket wielding, pose-striking pre-teens in a bedroom. A good thing, of course, and the main man has two more things on his side: he can clearly play that thing to grade Shit Hot, doubtless knock out a quick "Flight of the Bumble Bee" if the occasion demanded it, and spits out lines in a manner half-rendolent of Jello Biafra. "Everything You Know Is Wrong" he sings, which isn't strictly true - the aged hack knows an aspirant Green Day when he sees one. No ground broken, for sure, but conviction carries a charm of its own."
Julian Owen



"Heavens. Having in my jaded, cynical soul put this record from Bristol punks Fahrenheit451 on the stereo expecting bog-standard politically dubious punk-pop-rock, I was pleasantly surprised to find something which is actually different from the usual Greenday-wannabe toss. More than different: it’s by far superior. Added to the usual punk rock formula are tuneful, sneery vocals, dark spiralling guitars and samples which actually fit well with the music. Still nothing earth shattering, but F451 do at least do the usual thing in a better-than-usual way and seem to actually know their politics rather than just rant because they feel they should. I’m not sure that I’ll actually listen to this again, but I’m nonetheless heartened and pleasantly surprised."


Collective Management, Manchester

"Loads of promise, good vocal hooks, cool lyrics and loads of energy ... certainly much better than most stuff I've heard over the last year"
Eddie Sims, Collective


Beat Motel
Issue 4
Fahrenheit451 - The New Empire
'It's hard to believe that this is a debut EP and the guys are still in university. Of the moment indie-rock/punk in style yet something different about them too, all tracks could be singles with their catchy choruses (particularly 'Science Is Everything'), distinctive vocals and admirable musical talent. So good I pressed play again after the initial pre-review listen. It's only a matter of time before they get snapped up. 10/10 - MTV2, The Amp and the likes...here we come. Standout tracks: All, but as far as favourites, it has to be 'Science Is Everything'. New EP out Jan 2006."
Jess



"21st century punk sounds about as similar to 1970’s punk as Beethoven does to Black Sabbath so fans of the original punk sound will rejoice when they hear Fahrenheit451 are trying to keep the old fires alive. Well, with their instrumentation anyway. While The Sex Pistols sang about anarchy in the UK and The Damned about their punk girlfriend, Fahrenheit451 sing about science being - erm - everything. In these modern days where the chavs are king, I suppose being intelligent is the new revolution and instead of trying to wrestle control away from the government, Fahrenheit451 want to wrestle society away from the clutches of the chavs. It’s a theory. Or perhaps I missed the irony!

All joking aside, the track ‘Science Is Everything’ barrels along like its 1976 again with the stripped down sound of a guitar, bass and drums while lead vocalist, Jez, sounds uncannily like Johnny Rotten (maybe a little too like Rotten for some). ‘Everything You Know Is Wrong’ at least retains more clearly more of the bands forefathers’ warnings about the controlling masses, in this case TV stations: "everything you know is wrong/there’s control in the airwaves/Throw your TV on the floor." More Sex Pistols style riffs and vocals over a distinct verse-bridge-chorus structure.

Final track, ‘The New Empire (and how to undermine it)' lacks the instant catchy punch of the preceding two tracks and runs longer too but does at least show that the band are trying to mould something different from the usual punk rock structures and for the most part it is successful. Lyrically, there is a warning about that without a change society could be doomed.

This is a worthy addition to the annuls of punk history and while it may lack the monarchy and government baiting of bands from 30 years ago it still retains the original punk spirit as well as being 3 rollickingly good tracks. Oh, and the band will be turning up the heat on tour this summer so keep an eye out for them near you.

Rating: 8/10"



"Potential. Fahrenheit451 possess a lot of potential. Currently lurking underneath a sometime lacklustre surface there are elements to the band, which could see them break out. Listening to the E.P, I sometimes felt a sense of disappointment that the band, in some places, don’t appear to have stretched themselves.

The lyrics are reasonable, but not as emotive as I would like. The alienation of the lyrics would have been much better illustrated if a bit of human emotion had managed to weave its way into them. But occasionally as in the breakdown of Everything You Know Is Wrong the band get it completely right. The musicianship of the breakdown proves that the band have it in them, to be a bit different and separate themselves from the glut of punk bands currently around.

Science Is Everything is the lead track on the E.P and lyrically and musically the most straight forward. The Tracks Buzzcocksian undertones mixed with Manic Street Preachers philosophy make strange bedfellows at first but by the second chorus everything seems pretty straightforward. This is on the better side, of average but only just.

Everything You Know Is Wrong is definitely the superior track of the E.P with its aforementioned breakdown that hints at depths not fully mined. Lyrically it is slightly better than the other two tracks although as in all the lyrics in the E.P they are very impersonal. They are Passionate yes, but sometimes impersonal.

The last track The New Empire (and how to undermine it) is the least inspired track on the E.P, lacking the immediacy of the other tracks, after a promising start the song descends into a sub Manics rant that is only slightly redeemed by the chorus. Definitely not the strongest track on the E.P.

Fahrenheit 451 have the potential to be something special and out of the ordinary: but on this evidence they are only half way there. The Dynamics of the music as well as Lyrics need to be honed to lift themselves ahead of the competition.

In conclusion - not a bad EP, Fahrenheit 451 have definite potential."



"Ballsy punk rock with a message. While the music itself instantly conjures up mental images of frantic mosh-pitting, F451 are possibly a bit preachy... 'the first step is letting go/ and realising that we are ignorant/ don't be so arrogant/ shut up' but if you appreciate a message with your punk then this is the band for you. All in all a powerful demo, with great production and arrangement."



"The lyrics are a let down - the scansion just doesn't flow - which is a shame as this is otherwise superb, full of gutsy guitar riffs and devillish drum fills. Bravely political, aiming for the anthemic and on top track "Everything You Know Is Wrong" very nearly there."




F451
The Battleground Is Everywhere

F451 have steadily acquired a strong fanbase and have amassed an impressive array of complementary reviews whilst riffing their way to the top of the Essex unsigned scene. The Battleground is Everywhere is their third EP and mixes crunchy riffs with politically charged snarls and rousing choruses to memorable effect.

The first thing that hits you is how well produced the sound is with the guitars managing to stay choppy when placed next to the broad bass and triple pronged vocal assault. We Are Youth showcases the brutal potential of the band with the quick pace and catchy hooks beating you from the first drum fill. Bass And Bombs is undoubtedly the highlight of the EP with its cunning interplay of jazzier guitar chords and whilst EP closer This Could Be Anywhere attempts to showcase diversity in songwriting the track lacks the bite of the previous couplet, steering the song into somewhat forgettable territory.

Battleground proves that there are unsigned bands out there who are much more accomplished in terms of songwriting ability than a lot of mainstream artists and with a sprinkling more anger they could live up to their claim and successfully bring the honesty back to rock music.

Oli Marlow




F451
The Battleground Is Everywhere

Hearts on their sleeves politico-pop punk defiance from the Chelmsford three-piece. This E.P kicks off with the breakneck speed power pop of 'We Are Youth', punctuated by the sneering but unaffected lead vocal, dripping with pent up Essex frustration and venom, this is no three chord Ramones rip off. Layered, energetic and heartfelt, a call to arms for disaffected youth in a way that the countless Emo fashionistas can never pull off. Kids stop listening to Fall Out Boy, grab yourself a snooker ball in a sock, a placard and F451 on your Ipod and start making a difference.

Second track 'Bass And Bombs' is closer in feel to the Human League than it is to Green Day, which shows a depth rarely explored by the genre. Three tracks are only enough to whet your appetite, and I expect to hear a lot more this bunch of noisy upstarts very soon. Recommended.

Johnny Chromosome




F451
The Battleground Is Everywhere

After listening to the whole EP, this is easily F451’s best EP yet. It works as a nice taster for the upcoming album. The recording on all three tracks is flawless, the vocals especially , as they are less overbearing than in previous recordings. There are nice harmonies and this EP represents a new sound, a more mainstream sound.

The first track is We Are Youth, a melodic, catchy opener for the CD. The chorus is one of the strongest by the band yet and with a nice key change thrown into the works, it’s simply brilliant. Although it still has sounds of classic F451, this has a more experienced feel to it. Bass And Bombs is a great punk / funk song with nice question and answer vocals from Jez and Matt. I can’t wait to hear this live with a good crowd, should be interesting. This Could Be Anywhere is a slower song than the other two, with a solemn feel to it. You’ll be almost certainly singing along as soon as you get to the chorus. It’s a really well written track.

A outstanding effort from the guys. I am really impressed with this EP, I honestly cannot wait for the album. It will be interesting to hear a wider number of songs at once rather than just three.

It’s dark, distraught yet somehow divine.
Overall: 4.5/5

Rob Castillo




The Battleground Is Everywhere
EP Review

Indie Punk band F451 delve into the remnants of what is missing from today's punk scene. Full of angst, fury and telling it like it is, the band take a stand on everything from people to politics.

Their latest EP, The Battleground Is Everywhere kicks off with the 100mph anthem We Are Youth. The influence of Green Day is apparent in the songs catchy chorus, but throughout the rest of the song, the foot has not been taken off the throttle and it beams of the early energy from The Manic Street Preachers.

Bass And Bombs isn't really slower in speed but it's different in direction. With it's echoing vocals and its bass riff song breaks, any form of pigeon holeing has been ripped apart. To back this up the final track, This Could Be Anywhere bleeds melodic indie and "heart on your sleeve" emotion. More hamonies prevail along with frontman Jez showcasing his spot by producing some great guitar work.

This may be only a taster of F451's talents, but be well aware there is plenty more to come from these guys.




Live review
Tues 28th November, Hope & Anchor, Islington

Forgive me if this sounds like a string of soundbites (haha typical Dukester) but its only to show how much fun they were. A remarkably polished (ironically a dirty word here?) and professional punk band that's old school like Sex Pistols meets PiL if they truly were among the world's greats. The singer alone exudes more energy from the neck up than other entire bands, not to discriminate against the rest of his body or his comrades as the chords slash and the rhythm rapes you. Pure punk in their tirades against everything from politics to haircut metal, the stage wasn't big enough for the singer who leaps and swung his guitar like a baseball bat & taking himself with it and never losing balance, composure nor timing. Pretty damn relentless with very occasional soft spots or build-ups recalling Muse. They tick all the right clichés: punk ain't dead ; you may as well hang up your guitar ; a power trio with no fat, just lean energy. This is what touring makes you: underground stars.




Live review
Sat 8th July, Chinnery's, Southend

Visitor play excellent 90s style alt rock, great vocals and solid songs. It's not over exciting, but it's really, really good and keeps me smiling. Mullinski are a welcome surprise, female-fronted indie rock, an altogether gentle break before the excitement of our headliners. Right now Fahrenheit451 are one of the most important bands around. They are loud, they are political and vitally, they are damn good. Injecting a much-needed dose of 'give a fuck' into an often apathetic scene these guys have something to say and they articulate it well. The combination of political lyrics and killer tunes is a heady mix that many crave but very few bands actually achieve - F451 have the potential to politicise their listeners with infectious riffs and a fervent live show, ensuring the capture of the hearts and heads of young music fans far beyond their current (mostly local) fanbase. One of the best line-ups I've had the privilege to see in a long time.




F451 - The Catastrophe EP

This is a hard one to review. Firstly lets say, that these guys have good taste. Their Myspace influences are none too shabby, 'Classic Indie Punk' they state, such as the Manics, Idlewild and Mansun, oh and their 'recent listening' is The Holy Bible. Probably my favourite album ever. In fact the Manics, namely early Manics, are perhaps the main influence running through this political punk three track EP 'The Catastrophe EP'. No bad thing.

Opener 'Don't Change The Calendar' takes the taut acerbic riffing of bible era manics and has a soaring classic manics esque pre-chorus with thumping chugging chord changes. The vocals consist of a very British sounding, almost John Lyndon, wobble, and soar in all the right places. In fact it reminds me of another vocalist, and it has been driving me mad who it is....shit yeah, the guy from Terrovision. Just came to me. Anyway, they are very strong on this track, and one of my favourite things about these guys. The main singer has a real identity to his voice. I say 'main' singer, because the geezer who does the backing vocals, attempts to take a large slice of the action. It's just a real shame his 'call and response' backing occasionally lends a corny generic 'emo-American punk' sound to proceedings, which I think brings the feel of the track down in select places.

The second track, 'The Inequality Of Now' is also a chiming and powerful slab of indie punk reminiscent of former political punk contenders Kinesis or Miss Black America. Starting with a lovely chiming 80s riff it builds itself into a fury and is a raw and powerful statement of intent. It's really really good too. Backing vox are better than on the first track, more atmospheric, better judged, and more English....... erm, yeah, I know what I mean by that. In fact they are bloody brilliantly soaring towards the end.

So whats wrong here? Well lets start by saying that the third track is utter bloated, stodgy, boring, Green Day B side whining shite, and also represents what is wrong with this band (to a lesser extent) throughout the other tracks. Firstly the backing vocals. They were short of overkill on the first two tracks, but they are terribly terribly over used here, making the track sound cluttered and difficult to listen to. It's as if two lead vocalists are vying for attention at times. And the 'call and response' bits start to grate as they have already been done a fair bit on the first track, and bring back memories of that slightly faux corny American emo feel mentioned before. The lyrics, are also pretty weak. The great skill of the early Manics, was having a political edge to the themes but cleverly mixing it up without making it obvious that these were like 'anti war/establishment maaaan' songs. The Manics fused the political with the personal, and featured exceptional wordplay. So this stuff doesn't pass muster:
'I don't know what you think You don't know how I feel So let's be honest before this war's real'
'If we can't trust each other now (it's the end of the world)'

To be fair the lyrics on the other tracks are better overall, but lines such as the following do rear their ugly heads:
'especially you and your fake democracy'
'And I don't want to live in a world that starts and ends in America Where the cash flows back to America'

Both those lines from 'Don't Change The Calendar' verge on the parody of what a political band should be saying. I do prefer the statement (in the same song) 'Cos they're dropping the levels of literacy, to cover the urgency. And with their private armies and daddy's profits, they're gonna make us know. They're gonna make us know that god is good' which is a little less obvious, and pertains to a bit more cleverness.

So a bit of a mixed feeling here. If I had not heard the third track, based on the first two stormers these guys would be well on there way to scraping the underside of a four star review. But for now they will have to make do with a solid three. I do think they have real potential if they play to their strengths.

Mark L
3/5


cambridgebands.com
Live review
The Man On The Moon, Cambridge, Thursday 20th July

I felt a bit sorry for these guys, bringing them all the way from Essex, to play a gig with an innapropriate band, but still, they played and played well. Tight, energetic Rock with a pop-punk tinge, the most striking thing about F451 is their use of vocals. I'm a big fan of plenty of vocal variation in bands, and these guys delivered it. It would be better if they distinguished between co-vocals and backing vocals, so they could sing quieter or louder as appropriate, and save us soundmen jumping out of our skin when strange things happen. A hard working, professional band with great personalities, I would put them on again, (with a more appropriate line-up).

Steve www.warmedupcold.org.uk



FAHRENHEIT451
THE NEW EMPIRE EP

Politically-fuelled uni-student, angst-ridden punk-rock ... doesn’t always work, but the lads from Fahrenheit451 do it, and do it bloody well. Firing up with crisp layered guitars Science Is Everything, with its pumping bass line and thrashy noise, The New Empire is clearly going to be loud; and determined to make its mark.

The moment the lead vocals start spitting out at you, laden with socio-political ideas and ideals, you can hear the intelligent combination of social commentary and catchy riffs that set the tone for the rest of the CD. Heading through to Everything You Know Is Wrong, that same use of hooks, lulling you into a false sense of security, continues with a song that cannot be lost from your subconscious with ease. The hard, crashing drums drag you along with the uniquely harmonious vocal style of the lead singer, blending Pistols’ Rotten with Muse’s Bellamy, leaving you pondering the point as much as enjoying the music.

They continue in this vain with the title song, The New Empire (and how to undermine it). Despite not being as catchy or memorable as the previous two tracks, the lyrics ooze the same solid beliefs and anarchic pace. Even though it’s the first two pieces that will stay with you for weeks, the whole feeling of the CD lingers for much longer and will make you come back for more, over and over again.

All in all, a powerful piece of work full of poison for the powerful and brimming with the social and political views of modern youth culture, without ever being overbearing or losing sight of how to write a good song.

Andy




FAHRENHEIT451
THE CATASTROPHE EP

I've debated giving this 3 or 3.5 and ended up picking the latter, although only just. F451 are a frustrating beast because they have all the hallmarks of being a very good band, but they miss the final ingredient - great songs. The trio here are merely good, leaving you with the feeling their Living End-esque pop-punk sound could, and probably should, be so much better. Everything about this EP is solid - 'Don't Change The Calendar' is good without being great, while 'The Inequality Of Now' reminds me of a punk Franz Ferdinand, which isn't really a good thing but I guess there's enough about the song to stand out. 'The Start Of The End Of The World' is the best song here, but as I said in the band's last review there's an x-factor missing and I feel that's precluding the band from kicking on and really making a name for themselves. The talent is there, and this is good don't get me wrong, but I still sense the best is yet to come.

3.5 / 5
Paul



FAHRENHEIT451
THE CATASTROPHE EP

Fahrenheit 451's demo is energetic and heartfelt political protest music. 'Don't Change The Calendar,' a straightforward anti-war protest, misses the punk mark that the listener might be semi-consciously listening for by being quite long (4:30 mins) for an up-tempo song with a vocal performance that strongly references PIL-era Lydon – the singing is good, but the song detracts from it a bit. More than the length, the general tendency towards major-chord, pop-type transitions and changes translates to whiffs of Green Day and similar chart 'pop punk' acts rather than no-wave. To the right audience, this is probably a terrific thing – for me, the protest song sounds sophomoric and twee where it might have had a shot at getting me off my feet for a moment. 'The Inequality Of Now' follows thematic suit. It's dense with guitars and effects, again a bit like Green Day with metal ambitions, lots of epic harmony vocals and waltz signature sweeping into 'The Start Of The End Of The World'. This final track would seem to be a plea for personal understanding and tolerance, but is also marked by chanting of 'We won't let you destroy everything' with a lot of passion but little regard for how awkward it might or might not be in the song… If you like Green Day and are feeling like a little bit of serious anti-war sentiment might alleviate some of your general misery with life under current world powers, you should probably try to go see Fahrenheit 451 . I think this band will be loved by fans and dismissed by critics like me, who like PIL and can't stand Green Day, and aren't interested in blatant lyrics about the war and the evil government(s) who started it. On the other hand, if they have ambitions to 'make it big' in any way, I expect their main goal is to make people think and take action, which is a genuinely good thing.

Beryl Fiever




FAHRENHEIT451 - The Catastrophe EP

"If the political record is defined as something which is all mouth and no action, then Fahrenheit451 are halfway there. To clarify, for proclaimed punks, they went on a bit for me, being just a teeny bit repetitive- (some people call this "anthemic" but it never really appealed). Though I must admit that this is great for something apparently amateur. Blatantly influenced in places by the early Manics catalogue and Muse, not least for the wide vocal range explored throughout, needless to say that here is a band who are going to very much appeal to the angry yoof these songs were written for anyway. Though they often sound to me not unlike The Levellers, except without The Fiddles or Didgeridoos. Which is still alright. Yet, in summary, what really stands out from this CD is that, with tracks like "Don't Change The Calendar" expressing the passion and urgency so lacking in so many new bands, I really want to stress that, with experience, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And so my best advice would be that, if you like your music slightly more thought-provoking, spy on the link below.
This band have a lot of gigs coming up. I expect they will be rocking a town near you soon."


"The Catastrophe EP"
Punk
Self released demo

"Bursting out the speakers is this very loud demo indeed, the second from brainy punks Fahrenheit 451. Proving that punk doesn't revolve around lack of talent made up for with bile and force, instead using talent alongside those latter points, this sounds just like Johnny Rotten's Public Image Ltd in the 21st century reacting to the woes of the modern world. Showing everyone else that if you're gonna play radio-friendly indie rock of sweet sounding guitars (but with fierce powerchords), the least you can do is having something to say while people are listening, and stop singing about flipping how much you hate your girlfriend or that the rent is due and you can't afford a new haircut. Oh, and write some decent riffs with a real kick instead of using a good production to trick people into thinking you're a good band when all you did is throw some notes together. This is the problem with rock in 2006, and these guys are a solution. They know what they're doing. Sometimes slightly vicious, sometimes quiet & sad but never losing conviction, maturity has moved this band forward."

Fahrenheit451 are Jez, Matt and John, three school friends setting the South of England ablaze with their incendiary indie rock.

The band cites influences such as early Manics, Muse and Green Day, and has, inevitably, been likened to such groups. Whilst lead track Science Is Everything is certainly an incisive, driven anthem, the message seems to lack the Romanticism of, for example, early Manic Street Preachers – surely the ‘political’ tag they’ve been given demands more idealism and ambition than advocating science as the be all and end all?

Everything You Know Is Wrong, a punk attack on media censorship, is still the band’s favourite track. Their condemnation of propaganda on television (“you can't save a nation, with it - or from it”) is laced with spiky riffs and makes great strides towards the anthemic sound of their influences.

The political venom continues into The New Empire (and how to undermine it). Again, the layering of guitar lines and the assorted vocals provide a complex punk track to round off the record. “We need to change or we will never survive...”, the band threaten – but something suggests Fahrenheit451 have a blazing career ahead of them.
For more information you can visit:
http://www.f451.org.uk
Review by: Emma Collins


ROCKUS Australian webzine

It’s not often a CD gets sent to me, opened and played on the same day, let alone played time after time, after time, after time... get the picture?
Fahrenheit451 crank into this three-track EP with ‘Science Is Everything’, a fast-paced anthemic punk rock commentary on the belief that science will see us right through these troubled times, and the brutal fact that it hasn’t done so and probably won’t ‘cause we are all too stupid to see that this is not the answer. This is what Fahrenheit451 are about - even though it seems a little too much of a political science/sociology student wishing to share the knowledge of last semester’s lectures with you, it still doesn’t stop what is being said to be true. The whole three-track EP blasts along a with fervent intensity that is only encountered when approached by a new Green Peace member trying to gain his ‘rainbow badge’, stopping you on the street and letting you know that there are fifteen million species of blowfly on the endangered species list due for colonisation of the Africas in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth centuries, except I have the suspicion that Fahrenheit451 know what they are talking about. 'Everything You Know Is Wrong' and title track ‘The New Empire (and how to undermine it)’ bring to mind Green Day, if they were as politically aware (or at least prepared) to say it from the start, with a similar repetitive snare pattern coupled with sneering confronting lyrics, and strong grinding guitar, all utilised without losing a strong sense of melody.
8 / 10
Review by Marc English



"Fahrenheit451 are quite possibly the only Essex band to have a reading list on their website, and for them, lyrics are key. More interested in politics than pop, unfortunately these 3 songs lack the charisma of The Pistols or the radio-friendliness of The Manics. That said, opener "Science Is Everything" is far superior to the indie-drivel currently hitting the charts, and I'd rather these lads lectured me on world affairs than Bono or Chris Martin any day. Well worth checking out, you just might learn something. The demo can be downloaded free from www.F451.org.uk or purchased from the band for £1 at gigs."


"They want "your ears, your brain and to shake you out of this everyday s***". Laudable aims, and with a less histrionic singer they could manage it. While Jez is a good punk guitarist in the Kinesis vein, his vocals resemble a speeded-up Manics, disguising the incisiveness of the political lyrics. Fast and furious punk ranting, albeit muddied by the shrill voice."
3/5



"This demo by Bristol based punks Fahrenheit 451 comes on like that know-it-all friend you sometimes invite to the pub. The friend who talks at great length and depth about any and every subject, who inflicts their opinion on all those in earshot, while you sit listening feeling that you should question them, before ultimately realising that it's probably not worth the effort.

Take the first track 'Science Is Everything' for example. The lyrics are as geeky as you'd expect from the title, as singer Jez proclaims that "the world is more complicated than it seems, a series of noughts and ones", and that strangely "you don't know a thing about sociology". The whole science theme is cemented by a sample from Darren Aronofsky's Pi film about how the world can be plotted through maths. The fact that the opening line to the next song is "Everything You Know Is Wrong" doesn't help the slightly sarcastic attitude that this band excerpt. The track warns of how the whole world's media airwaves are controlled by 'the man' but also depressingly states that "you can't save the nation". So is there really no hope, F451? Judging by its title, the last song The New Empire (and how to undermine it) should offer us a solution to this mess, but instead it climaxes by repeating the line "you've got to find out where your money goes". Mine goes on CDs and extortionate bills, but realising that doesn't make me feel much better about the world.

Musically F451 offer a strange mixture of fast, foot-on-the-monitor eighties riffs with machine gun drumming and sneery, Johnny Rotten-esque vocals. It's not particularly cohesive but it works in a speed-driven guttersnipe punk kind of way, meaning that even if their cynical, brainy words annoy you as much as they do me, there is still some fun to be had here. Damn know-it-alls."

Review by Ian Viggars



"Fahrenheit451 have evolved from what they describe as writing songs "about philosophy, Culture and how 'hard' it was being a teenager" to a more focused, political, tuneful and most importantly angry. Not since Pete Best was told to sling his hook has a more astute move been made (that may be a slight exaggeration). Science Is Everything opens with a Slash-esque guitar solo that turns into a screaming anthem in the same vein as the Futureheads, Green Day and the once great, now defunct, Kinesis. It's political, but still has the trappings of a 3 minute pop song. F451 push their political agenda further on 2nd track Everything You Know Is Wrong, with an opening line of "Everything you know is wrong, there's control in the airwaves?Your forever lies, wanna perpetuate everything." After a while it becomes a bit tiresome as lead vocalist Jez begins to ape Billie Joe Armstrong. While F451 wear their influences on their sleeve there is still enough evidence here to suggest they might be worth a second look.
David Macnamara."



"If the Sex Pistols had brains, this'd be how they would sound. Cynical to the point of holier-than-thou, slamming down your ignorant perspective and thrusting their's down your throat while playing a tune that makes it easy to swallow, this is a classic 80's sound somehow made today, also influenced by the Manics' slant on things and the atmosphere & cleanliness of Muse, with Johnny Rotten's snarl. Aggressive, hard strumming fuzzy chords dominate the mix with guitar licks over the top as the rest compromises but stands tall with triple vocals, epic choruses and nonstop hard graft. Fresh-faced but with the youthful "young dumb & full of cum" attitude ripped right out of their souls but still in their playing, this is a good display of classic British punk rock. You'd never have thought you'd ever hear this like again."