Music
Press
Irish News, Oct 2008, “The Engine sounds…” Album review
“…new album The Engine Sounds finds the Newcastle, Co Down rockers adopting a slightly harder sound than on their debut Look Kids It’s Big Ben, often recalling roadblasting Californian stoner kings like Fu Manchu and Nebula.
However, while their riffs are beefier and the drums harder hitting than ever before, there’s still plenty of infectious hooks and melodies on offer – indeed opening rocker Snakeharmer, and the peppy mid album track Jeb’s Bro (a wee bit of politics there) are two of the best things they’ve ever done.
Elsewhere, Whiskey As A Friend takes a leaf out of the Dave Grohl songbook to fine effect, while the acoustic guitar and electric strings tinged Burned My Day offers a more overtly introspective slice of melodic rocking which gradually builds up a decent head of steam.
Well worth a listen, the album is currently available from www.myspace.com/inchhigh ”
DAVID ROY
- Irish News
Kerrang Magazine! 29th Nov 2008
Album Review “The Engine sounds…”
IRISH HARD ROCKERS BURN BRIGHT WITH PROMISE
KKKK
Having quietly beavered away in Belfast for five years, mainstream rockers INCH HIGH have gone the DIY route and done themselves proud. Not all of the album sparkles, but there is enough gritty radio rock here to suggest that for this seasoned quartet, good songwriting comes naturally. The tongue in cheek “Jeb’s Bro” comes with a sassy hook and its not alone – “Little man” and “Light me up” also take root in the memory without delay. The centerpiece is the moving “Burned my day”, an evocative semi-ballad redolent of Alter Bridge. A few songs bustle past without saying hello, but given the garage days nature of this production, INCH HIGH have done a fine job.
STEVE BEEBEE
- Kerrang!
Kerrang! Magazine, April 1st 2006
The Bunker, Belfast 12/03/06 Live Review KKK
“…Songs as big and hearty as standouts ‘Death of me’ and ‘Hidden tracks’ don’t belong on a cold and miserable night in a dingy dive bar in Belfast. Their searing, crunchy pop, classic chords and blue-collar stories inherit a more mythical realm. These are drinking and driving songs (not at the same time, kids) about the no-good dames who have done them wrong, hewn from the ever-rich seam of the US underground (think a streamlined, ‘Let it be’-era Replacements with a bluesy, Black Crowes-style groove)…”
DAVID McLAUGHLIN
- Kerrang!
Irish News Friday 8th July 2005,album review
"...Stand-outs from the 11 tracks on offer are the mini-epic Shattered which takes the Coldplay route to U2 via a quick detour through Cult territory, the itchy riffing of Hidden Tracks, the melancholy Bitter Taste, the bluesy Woodstick Rain and the Therapy? meets Sugar closer Aviary. The spacey Smashing Pumpkins style instrumental hidden away at the end ain't half bad either..."
DAVID ROY
- Irish News
Kerrang! Magazine, 2nd July 2005, Album Review
INCH HIGH
LOOK KIDS, IT’S BIG BEN
(THUMB RECORDINGS)
KKKK (out of 5)
Northern Ireland’s sharpest young band debut in style.
WHEN DID the notion of rock music containing irresistible melodies and fat, air-shifting riffs become passé? The right haircut, the right jeans, the right piercings: truly great rock has never give a fuck about such things and in an age when new acts increasingly place more importance on nail polish and hair straighteners than riffs and
choruses, Inch High are a revelation. The Co. Down quartet deal in wonderfully direct, searing rock songs which nod toward the classic songwriting of Husker Du or Therapy? at their most succinct, and, available from www.inchhigh.co.uk for £8, this is a timely reminder that just focusing on being a great rock band is still a worthy aspiration.
PAUL BRANNIGAN
DOWNlOAD: ‘Hidden Tracks’
FOR FANS OF: Husker Du, Therapy?.
- Kerrang!
Discography
2005 LP "Look Kids, it's Big Ben" available at www.myspace.com/inchhigh
2008 LP "The engine sounds..." available at www.myspace.com/inchhigh
2010 single "Whiskey as a friend" available on itunes and other download sites
Photos
Bio
Co. Down four piece Inch High have established themselves as one of the premier rock acts in N.Ireland, razor sharp guitars and sing along choruses are their speciality.
Their 2005 debut album “Look kids, its Big Ben” received widespread critical acclaim including a 4K review in rock/metal bible Kerrang! Magazine. Showcase gigs in London and a top 5 inclusion in the “Best unsigned band” category of the 2005 Kerrang! Reader’s poll finished off an already amazing year.
2006 saw the band developing their fan base with an already renowned live reputation landing them numerous headline appearances at rock nights throughout Ireland. They also got a coveted slot on the Belfast leg of the 2006 IMRO showcase tour in June, a slot at the Celtic Fusion festival in August, and the support slot on the Irish tour of UK rock legends The Quireboys. In November the band were included in the 10th anniversary line-up of the belFEST showcase event.
In 2007,Classic Rock magazine contributor Jeff Collins described the band as “…having more hooks than a convention of one-armed pirates…hard-hitting, a real joy to listen to…Inch High in name, potential rock giants in the making…”
Spring 2008 saw the band supporting NWOBHM legends, Tygers of Pan Tang, on the Irish leg of their UK tour as well as finishing recording sessions for their second album “The engine sounds…”.
The album was released in Nov 2008 and Kerrang again praised the band, saying of the album,”…Irish hard rockers burn bright with promise…good songwriting comes naturally…INCH HIGH have done a fine job…”
The year finished with a bang as the band secured support slots with rising Irish hopefuls, The Answer and US rockers Black Stone Cherry.
In May 2009 the band shot their first video for the live favourite, “Little man”.The band continuedto develop their fan base locally and in November they supported Scottish rockers Gun on their Irish dates. The year ended with The Quireboys again asking the band to support them at their Belfast show.
April 2010 saw the band release their first official single "Whiskey as a friend" which received extensive local airplay and prompted BBC Radio Ulster's Ralph McLean to describe the band as "...Irish Rock genius..."
The band are currently writing new material and gigging locally to cement their incendiary live reputation...
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