Looking forward to the year ahead, Big Cheese brings you a run down on some exciting new UK bands who prove that homegrown punk, rock and metal is in safe hands in '09. Hear a track from each of them on the free covermount CD with issue 107 of Big Cheese (out December 19th)

COLT.44
Having only formed last year, this London/South East based band have developed from a “generic modern metal” act to become a mighty hard rocking three-piece. Drawing on influences such as Seether and Killswitch Engage, their debut album ‘One Horse Town’ is out now on Casket.
www.myspace.com/colt442

MIDDLE FINGER SALUTE
These Blackburn teenagers channel their love of old school punk with an ability that betrays their age. Having already played tours and festivals across Europe, as well as releasing their debut album ‘Guts For Glory’, MFS are unstoppable. Their ‘What We Live For’ EP is out now on Bomber Music.
www.myspace.com/middlefingersaluteband

BANGBANGBANG!
These female-fronted, punk-infused London/Brighton garage rockers have fired out a Punktastic Record download-only EP and, more recently, an energetic and scuzzy 7” single through New Slang that is sure to hook in plenty of new fans. Fans of Be Your Own Pet and The Stooges take note.
www.myspace.com/bangbangbangtheband

SERF COMBAT
This Southern England four-piece (members of Heroic Doses, Up The Anti etc.) is all about fun, mid-paced punk anthems. Influenced by the likes of The Replacements and Samiam, their distinctive melodic yet raw tunes will appear on a split 7” with Chicago’s Shot Baker on Underground Communique/ Home of the Brave.
www.myspace.com/serfcombat

THE MONO EFFECT
Bursting with four-part harmonies and hooks that would make a butcher jealous, this indie-infused melodic rock track shows why 2009 is sure to be a big year for the Cambridge quartet. Having formed three years ago they’ve spent time honing their craft. Their debut album ‘Giants’ is out now on Lockjaw.
www.themonoeffect.com
DISTANCE TO FAULT
Forming in 2006, this Hampshire melodic metal/rock five-piece meld classic riffs and soaring vocals on their debut album ‘The Fate Of Momentum’, out now on Casket. Fans of Audioslave, Stone Temple Pilots and Stone Sour will love their powerful melodies.
www.myspace.com/distancetofaultofficial
ATOM GANG
Formerly known as The Misnomer, this Southern angular indie rock band become reinvigorated with line-up changes and a name change. They’ve spent most of the year working on their debut album ‘I See, Said The Blind Man’, released through the labels Royal Black, 100% Music and Skullcow. Atom Gang could well go off like a bomb next year.
www.myspace.com/atomgang
TO CATCH A THIEF
Scottish quartet To Catch A Thief may only have been a band for a little over 18 months but with last year’s self-titled EP and rigorous touring all over the UK, they have begun to make their mark. Their energetic and intricate new second EP ‘Your Eyes Will Burn’ will appeal to fans of Coheed And Cambria and Funeral For A Friend.
www.myspace.com/tocatchathiefband
OVERTHROW
Formed two and a half years ago, Guildford’s alt-rock/reggae band Overthrow have spent the last five months laying down the music for their new six-track EP ‘So Much Power, So Little Time’. Fans of RX Bandits and Failsafe will love them. You can buy the EP from the band's MySpace page and from their gigs for only £3. It will also be available to buy on i-Tunes in December.
www.myspace.com/overthrowrock

PUSH THE GHOST
Influenced by the likes of New Found Glory and H2O, this Grimsby quintet have been ripping it up since last year. With a message of friendship and fun times, this is the perfect way to see out one year and welcome in another. Their new EP encompasses this positive approach and will have you leaping off speaker stacks in no time.
www.myspace.com/pushtheghostuk
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