Juno Review
After tackling a few technical difficulties, Juno blew us away. Shaking the room with a furious bass and mad drums, I could have fallen apart then and there! Amazing. The lads treated us with throwing new songs our way. They also gave us 'Answers' to fall in love with all over again -- I couldn't resist piping up, and then pulled out the big guns and covered 'Johnny B. Goode' and 'Blitzkrieg Bop'!
‘‘ Juno blew us away. Shaking the room with a furious bass and mad drums ’’
How cool are they?! The lads also heckled me to get me stage for their Ramones rendition.. Which was hilarious. Brilliant performance all round. Really excited to hear more!
Rating: 9/10!
Beffy Parkin
Dearly Noted
JUNO ANSWERS EP
Juno are a four piece punk rock band hailing from Leeds. They formed in 2008, and since then have taken the Leeds underground scene by storm. The last couple of years has seen a few line-up changes, but nothing that could stop the Juno juggernaut. Following 2011‘s Counting Backwards Causes Explosions EP the band are set to release Answers EP this October. As soon as the play button is hit, an Alkaline Trio influence is apparent, from the dark punk sound. Something else that is immediately noticeable is the great quality of this recording. The bad have clearly put their all into this EP, and are again pushing themselves to up their game.
‘‘ The title track has one helluva epic bass riff, and gang vocals that create a sense of anger that goes well with the dark instrumentals. ’’
The whole EP feels very melancholic, with a Rise Against sound resonating on State Of Mind and We Fight, We Live. The title track has one helluva epic bass riff, and gang vocals that create a sense of anger that goes well with the dark instrumentals. Juno have yet again proved themselves to be a great asset to the Leeds punk scene, and any fans of the darker side of punk rock/ pop punk (Alkaline Trio, Rise Against, etc) would be crazy to not check this band, and indeed this EP, out.
Franx Torok
StudsAndPunks
Juno ‘Answers’ Review
Having played Juno’s EP ‘Answers’ time and time again I have come to just one conclusion – it’s not long enough! Three tracks of blistering punk rock music simply leaves you wanting more as this is proper ‘in your face’ stuff. ‘We Fight, We Live’ builds from slower verses into a full ‘scream along’ chorus. Mixed with the inevitable guitar solo after two verses/two choruses, this is a classic punk three chord anthem.
‘‘ Three tracks of blistering punk rock music simply leaves you wanting more as this is proper ‘in your face’ stuff. ’’
Similarly, ‘Answers’ moves between good and coherent punk vocals and bloody fast (and heavy) musical interludes. Finally ‘State of Mind’ sees Juno shift slightly closer to the mainstream with the most melodic track of the three. However, don’t expect to catch it on middle-of-the-road radio anytime soon. A very accomplished three track EP and expect to hear plenty more from Juno. I for one hope they have plans to follow this up with an album length release and if the energy on display here is anything to go by, the live gig must be some show too.
EP Review -- Juno - Answers
‘‘ This. This is great. ’’
This. This is great. The vocals somehow take me back to my younger years of listening to the likes of 'Zebrahead'. The whole EP is crazy energetic. (My personal favourite being 'States of Mind'). I'd definitely recommend Juno to any Punk-Rock folk knocking about -- We know you're there, you've messaged us
The EP is released on the 28th -- Sink your teeth in!
Answers By Juno
Forming as a three piece in 2008, Juno underwent a few line-up changes in order to become the band that brings you 'Answers'. Recorded in London, this four piece punk rock band could easily be mistaken as an upcoming band in America, if you didn't know they were from Leeds. These guys are completely unafraid of wearing their influences on their sleeve. The Rise Against influence stood at most for me, if you're familiar with punk rock everything this band does will be easily recognisable. From the drum beats, guitar tones and vocals, everything this band does is extremely familiar. In a live setting this might work, the high energy and sing along choruses may have you so engaged that you'll forget about their lack of originality.
‘‘ These guys are completely unafraid of wearing their influences on their sleeve. The Rise Against influence stood at most for me ’’
Speaking of sing along choruses, after a couple of listens singing along becomes mandatory. All three songs on the EP include grandiose choruses that are delivered well enough for you not to get tired of them. In fact, all that happens is the repeat button gets pushed for the whole EP.
‘‘ Speaking of sing along choruses, after a couple of listens singing along becomes mandatory. All three songs on the EP include grandiose choruses ’’
'Answers' is alright. There is not enough here to stop a listener from just going back and listening to this band's influences. However, if originality isn't a make or break deal for you, give these guys a try.
Gerard Leachman
Leeds Music Scene
JUNO // COUNTING BACKWARDS CAUSES EXPLOSIONS
Juno have created four songs that burst at the seams with a raucous energy. Pounding drums, tight rhythms, big guitar riffs and rabble-rousing choruses collide to make a glorious noise. They make music that is best heard inside a mosh pit, lathered in perspiration, while being tossed from side to side. You can almost imagine members of the crowd surfing across a zest fuelled audience.
‘‘ Pounding drums, tight rhythms, big guitar riffs and rabble-rousing choruses collide to make a glorious noise ’’
Each song, whether it be ‘Take Me Home’, ‘The Vision’ featuring Kelly Johnson, ‘The Progress’ or ‘Forgive Me’, carries a positive message to escape to a better place. The simplicity of the lyrics and the band’s taut interplay ride a wave that occasionally soars. One flaw, however, is that their sound has little variation, which could become repetitive if stretched over a full length album. That said, Counting Backwards Causes Explosions is still an impressive set of riotous and energetic anthems.
Paul Robson
No Title Magazine
Introducing Juno
Inject a bit of angst into your life. Not to be confused with the twee indie film of the decade, Juno make embittered softcore for break ups, hangovers and those days where nothing quite goes right.
‘‘ Juno make embittered softcore for break ups, hangovers and those days where nothing quite goes right. ’’
As a Leeds post-punk four piece, the act are more suited to Carpe Diem than Nation of Shopkeepers, making jumpy, gritty dynamic guitar music for the northern masses. After forming in 2008 and receiving airplay on BBC Radio Leeds, the group took a hiatus in 2010 to pursue other musical directions in the form of The Expeditions and Green Days. With a new line-up, Juno have returned and are now working on their as yet untitled third studio EP. After a successful show at the 360 Club in August, this is a group looking to make a stamp on our local music scene with their Funeral For A Friend influenced fuzz.
Will Tompsett
Music Broke My Bones
Live at The Library on Friday, 2nd September 2011
Attempting to bring the noise now were The Reign, yet another average Oasis-with-a-bit-of-punk-rock-for-good-measure 4-piece. This may be a bit of a harsh assessment but these bands really are 3-a-penny in Leeds nowadays and you've got to work properly hard to stand out if you wanna make any real waves. To their credit, they were tight and the songs were not without merit but I feel like they could be doing much more to liven up the set.
‘‘ thrashed out punk rock ... played with the conviction that you can get behind. ’’
Juno give a good example of what I'm talking about - thrashed out punk rock which adds absolutely nothing new to the table but played with the conviction that you can get behind. As if to prove my point further they even threw in a version of Blink 182's most over-covered track 'Dammit' which I like for the nostalgia while the vocals had a canny resemblance to The Offspring. Their originals, too, gave of a bit of an Offspring/Pennywise air too but the point is it was executed with passion and force. Also, the drummer looked a bit like Beavis from Beavis and Butthead but that's neither here nor there.
Tim Hearson
Leeds Music Scene
Juno – Counting Backwards Causes Explosions EP
Release Date – 26th January 2012
Label – Juno
Rating – 8/10
Back with a vengeance after their 2010 hiatus, newly-reformed punk rock band Juno bring us their third EP, Counting Backwards Causes Explosions. This brilliantly angsty release transports you back to some of your best years of teenage indulgence: black band tees, trying to sneak off to gigs, picking up an instrument for the first time – you remember. And Juno are here to remind us that all that was more than just a phase.
‘‘ I was left gobsmacked at their being a Leeds-local, unsigned band ’’
Every track gives a different nuance of those punk rock years, making it seem that you can finally find all of your old favourites in one place. Of course, this kind of project could go horribly wrong – we all remember our high school bands’ poor imitation of the ‘greats’ like Blink-182 and Green Day (before American Idiot that is). Fortunately with Juno this is not the case. In fact, it’s so much not the case that I was left gobsmacked at their being a Leeds-local, unsigned band. The quality of the production, the writing and the musicianship on this EP is close to rivalling the international superstars they cite as influences. ‘Forgive me’ is an excellent example of this – a raw, memorable track featuring excellent guitar work.
‘‘ this release shows a phenomenal amount – a great EP from a true asset to the Leeds music scene. ’’
Before I get too carried away singing this band’s praises, however, I should note that ‘Take me home’ lets the EP down somewhat – the melodies are more contrived and the track as a whole is less memorable than the others. Maybe ‘Take me home’ only falls short by a little, but on an otherwise stellar release a little can seem like a lot.
That’s absolutely no reason to shy away from Counting Backwards Causes Explosions though – the great thing about EPs is that they aren’t albums, they aren’t the be all and end all of a band but more of an insight into their potential. And overall this release shows a phenomenal amount – a great EP from a true asset to the Leeds music scene.
Rachel J
Music Broke My Bones
Juno - Counting Backwards Causes Explosions (Self release)
Back with a new line-up and this new EP, Juno are set to reclaim their status as one of the most popular punk bands on the Leeds circuit.
‘Take Me Home’ is on the heavier side of pop-punk. Rife with powerful Offspring style guitars and a dark story to the track, the bands influences stand out like a sore thumb. The almost metal drum parts add an unusual element to the song, very different to the bands previous releases.
‘‘ Back with a new line-up and this new EP, Juno are set to reclaim their status as one of the most popular punk bands on the Leeds circuit. ’’
The lightest and most anthemic on the EP, ‘The Progress’ is just so 90s. The bands Green Day influences come through in the guitars, and the catchy, easy to sing along with chorus makes it perfect for live shows. Harmonious vocals make the chorus moving, and more epic guitar riffs create the perfect basis for ‘The Vision’’s gruff, Dexter Holland style vocals to grab you and take you back to the days when it was acceptable for punk boys to wear eyeliner and nail polish.
Frankii Torok
Vibrations
360 Club @ The Library, Leeds 02.09.11
There’s a strong crowd gathered tonight in The Library, though for a duet like Jack, and Gill’s Daughter, this isn’t necessarily a good thing. With just an acoustic guitar and vocals, these are performers used to a more intimate setting. So as to raise them above the lager-swilling crowd, the sound was pushed to unnatural levels which unfortunately clashed with the gentle touch that was intended. However, every other feature of the set was spot on. Jack’s complex, rhythmic, technical style of playing never hindered the magnificent simplicity of the songwriting and the so-called ‘Gill’s Daughter’, Gemma Tilley has a subtle but expressive voice which suited their cover of ‘Glory Box’ perfectly. These are a pair who will wow you by candlelight – just perhaps not by striplights.
‘‘ A sudden refreshing change in mood came when Juno jumped out of nowhere. ’’
A sudden refreshing change in mood (a welcome kind of ‘keep-you-awake’ switch-up that the 360 Club specialises in) came when Juno jumped out of nowhere. Keeping just ahead in the race against plagiarism that so many other bands in their shoes lose, they had the right amount of variety and hooks to keep their set interesting. Unfortunately, when playing this style of teenage pop-punk, a certain derivative quality will always attach itself to the music. It went down well with an ever-growing crowd though and they’ve certainly studied their particular craft.
Jack Sibley
Bearded Magazine
JUNO – WE ARE JUNO
Sweeping aside a somewhat superfluous 17 second intro, the first real dose we get of Leeds trio Juno rolls in sounding like Phinius Gage with a big fat Offspring chorus. Essentially ‘All Your Lies’ sums up the band in one fell swoop: skater-punk at a time when it’s not that cool to play skater-punk. I’ll be having some of that then.
‘‘ It’s melodic punk-rock and it’s stirring. ’’
This E.P. is chock full of those SoCal guitar riffs that flourished in the 90's generating a scene in the truest sense of the word. Not afraid to wear its influences boldly upon its sleeve, ‘This Burning Fear’ adds a sense of Alkaline Trio to that particular inspiration, with some notable drumming leading the rest of the song by gripped throat.
Closing track ‘Save Our Souls’ pulls the shutters down on a solid nine minutes by hurling out the biggest chorus, most improved vocals and generally most rounded sound. It’s melodic punk-rock and it’s stirring. The band may have some way to go yet (the vocals could do with some suring up and a little more pace might benefit) but this demo has a quality about it that suggests there’s more to come from Juno. It also gives the impression that this is a band that will flourish in a live setting. All in all a solid debut offering.
Alex
PUNKTASTIC
