GIG REVIEW: RUINS and Fallen at Alexanders Chester - Monday 24 March 2025

Words: Richie Yates, Photos: Adrian Wharton/Richie Yates

It’s a second time seeing Fallen in the last few weeks, a young new punk band from Wirral. Its raw, and they have a stripped down sound supplemented by echoing guitar a bass and drums rhythm section that lock in with some great grooves that generally keep it sparse and direct. The vocals are delivered at a maximum swear level and with an intensity that I’d thought would be hard to keep up for a full set but they do. We get a full run through of their ‘new’/‘first’ album and its a cracker. Full of politics, passion for the underdog and great tunes.

RUINS are a different musical beast. They are a duo covering bass, guitar, keys and vocals with backing drums and sounds. They reference the 80s musically and yet go off on their own tangents to what can only be described as RUINS music. The centre piece is the falsetto main singing voice and fantastic harmonies. Each song resonates on its own emotional frequency, often dark and with plenty of space between the sound yet oddly shimmeringly perfect. Its understated, yet intense and musically excellent.