"CROWDS SING THE RIFFS BACK AT US. IT'S ADAN GREAT FEELING!"
Total Guitar|February 2024
How to write a pop punk anthem - and how to make a solo sing. For Neck Deep guitarists Sam Bowden and Matt West, it's all about finding that one great hook...
"CROWDS SING THE RIFFS BACK AT US. IT'S ADAN GREAT FEELING!"

Before a certain two American millionaires came along to revive the local football team, pop punk protagonists Neck Deep were the biggest thing to happen in Wrexham in a long time.

From 2017's The Peace And The Panic peaking at number four in the US Billboard top 200, to touring with Blink-182, headlining Slam Dunk 2022 and boasting 3.6m monthly listeners on Spotify, the band's adrenalised anthems have proven a great success on both sides of the channel.

Then, with 2020's All Distortions Are Intentional, they threw caution to the wind, and with it, all their influences into their sonic melting pot. While this album proved a hit with fans, the band have returned to their roots with their new, self-titled release. A record stripped of its predecessor's leftfield adventures, what it serves up is a no-nonsense collection of three-minute songs which confidently showcase what the band does best.

Guitarists Sam Bowden and Matt West discuss why they shrugged off big-name producers to record DIY, how they personalize the tried-and-tested pop-punk formula, and provide top tips for writing killer pop-punk guitar solos.

You're back with a new album, which was self-recorded at your warehouse space. What inspired that decision?

Denne historien er fra February 2024-utgaven av Total Guitar.

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Denne historien er fra February 2024-utgaven av Total Guitar.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

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"You Can Imagine a Song in a Completely Different Genre" - The mysterious Lord Phobos, guitarist for TWRP, has covered everything from disco to Def Leppard in his collaborations with tongue-in-cheek duo Ninja Sex Party.
Total Guitar

"You Can Imagine a Song in a Completely Different Genre" - The mysterious Lord Phobos, guitarist for TWRP, has covered everything from disco to Def Leppard in his collaborations with tongue-in-cheek duo Ninja Sex Party.

The mysterious Lord Phobos, guitarist for TWRP, has covered everything from disco to Def Leppard in his collaborations with tongue-in-cheek duo Ninja Sex Party. He explains what makes a great cover version - and reveals the one guitar and the one pedal he couldn't live without...

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9 mins  |
August 2024
Some Things You Want to Tweak and Make Your Own- How the Foos' Chris Shiflett reworked two rock classics on his recent solo EP
Total Guitar

Some Things You Want to Tweak and Make Your Own- How the Foos' Chris Shiflett reworked two rock classics on his recent solo EP

Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett is also a solo artist in his own right, and his latest EP Starry Nights & Campfire includes Lights covers of two great old rock tracks - Thin Lizzy's Cowboy Song and the ballad Don't You Ever Leave Me by Hanoi Rocks, the Finnish band that did so much to inspire Guns N' Roses.

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5 mins  |
August 2024
"It Gives Me Physical Satisfaction To Play Funk Riffs!" - Into the groove with Giacomo Turra, the Italian guitarist who made his name covering classics by Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars and more...
Total Guitar

"It Gives Me Physical Satisfaction To Play Funk Riffs!" - Into the groove with Giacomo Turra, the Italian guitarist who made his name covering classics by Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars and more...

Into the groove with Giacomo Turra, the Italian guitarist who made his name covering classics by Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars and more... Born in Milan, his funk guitar sensibility can be traced back to the dance studio where his mother taught, and the tunes he heard blasting out of her boombox. "I like to experiment with a lot of genres, but the really interesting thing for me is I really grew up on funk, and a little bit of jazz and fusion music," he says.

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6 mins  |
August 2024
- Try out these creative tips and make your cover versions stand out
Total Guitar

- Try out these creative tips and make your cover versions stand out

Try out these creative tips and make your cover versions stand out

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2 mins  |
August 2024
BEAUX GRIS GRIS & THE APOCALYPSE
Total Guitar

BEAUX GRIS GRIS & THE APOCALYPSE

Heavily requested on rock radio stations thanks to their unique twist on bluesy Americana, Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse are the kind of band that thrive in front of large crowds on hot summer days just as much as more intimate performances inside sweaty underground basements.

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2 mins  |
August 2024
BOSS KATANA-50 GEN 3
Total Guitar

BOSS KATANA-50 GEN 3

The Japanese giant cuts through the noise with its new practice amp

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2 mins  |
August 2024
SOLOKING MS-1 CUSTOM 22 HH
Total Guitar

SOLOKING MS-1 CUSTOM 22 HH

A great value guitar looking to clash headstocks with the big boys

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2 mins  |
August 2024
IK MULTIMEDIA TONEX ONE
Total Guitar

IK MULTIMEDIA TONEX ONE

The most powerful amp modeller for its size, bar none

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2 mins  |
August 2024
YAMAHA PACIFICA STANDARD PLUS PACS+12M
Total Guitar

YAMAHA PACIFICA STANDARD PLUS PACS+12M

Yamaha's long-running doublecut finally gets a makeover

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3 mins  |
August 2024
NO MORE MR.BRIGHTSIDE!
Total Guitar

NO MORE MR.BRIGHTSIDE!

The 10 songs you should never cover. Or at least think twice before trying...

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3 mins  |
August 2024