aaamusic | On 22, Feb 2011

‘an impressive debut’ – Rhythm
‘The new princes of rock are here.’ – Big Cheese
‘Queens Of The Stone Age ferocity and stirring Depeche Mode electro-melancholy.’ – The Fly
‘Wide-reaching rock, hooky guitar lines and melodic choruses replete with dark undertones.’ – Rock Sound
‘A pounding statement of intent, full of shimmering, driving guitars, but pinned together with dark, ominous undertones.’ – Music Week
‘a collection of songs that deliver a harder rock kick than his former outfit, albeit one tempered with bright melodies and a sinuous, Queens Of The Stone Age-style groove.’ – Kerrang!

Single ‘Alone’ released on 28th February
Label: Ancient B Records / Universal

video:

audio:

Love Amongst Ruin – Alone by Top Button Digital

losers remix:

Losers V’s Love Amongst Ruin – Alone by Top Button Digital

Love Amongst Ruin made their official debut live outing at The Scala on 9th June 2010 to an eager crowd, crackling with suspense as they waited for the unveiling of former drummer, co-songwriter and rock’n’roll lifeblood of Placebo; Steve Hewitt’s new band.

After a storming set consisting of tracks from their debut album the expectant crowd demanded more, which prompted an overwhelmed Hewitt to confess that they’d already played all their songs so would, “have to play something again.” They launched into another rendition of ‘So Sad’, which became their first single in August.

Summer 2010 saw Love Amongst Ruin hit the road for a string of festival dates and a European tour that culminated with Kerrang! Magazine awarding them a 4 star live review.

Steve’s resurgence was inevitable: having served time at the stool of such diverse acts as The Boo Radleys, grit-rockers Breed, baggy chart stars K-Klass and a ten year stint in Placebo – with whom he tasted huge global success, sharing the journey from post-Britpop indie hype band to multi-million selling international superstars – the recording studio is Hewitt’s natural habitat.

Love Amongst Ruin is a multi-faceted hard rock outfit with the crunch of a stone age queen, the crossover appeal of a parkful of linkins and the melodicism of the hardiest fighter of foos. Drop in twists of New Order/Depeche Mode electro-twangle, Can/Kasabian motorika, Cure atmospherics and hardcore Metallica riffage and you’ve got a bounce-back of potentially Gary Barlow proportions on your hands.

The eponymous debut album, which was released in September, is a succinct yet wide-reaching beast. ‘Love Song’ finds counterpoint in the distorted vocals and brutal rock pummel of ‘Running’ or ‘Blood & Earth’ and the cinematic Robert Smith shimmerscapes of ‘Away From Me’ and ‘Heaven & Hell’. Elsewhere ‘Truth’ sounds like Nine Inch Nails covering Sigur Ros, the funk-punk of second single ‘Home’ could’ve dropped, snarling and snivelling, off Kasabian’s ‘West Ryder Pauper Asylum’ and the debut single ‘So Sad (Fade)’ and forthcoming single ‘Alone’ are worthy of QOTSA and New Order respectively. As rock’n’roll all-rounders go, this is a veritable Flintoff of an album. A special bonus edition is due for release early 2011.