Category Archives: Grunge Pop

Alt- Pop, Grunge, Grunge Pop, Indie, indie rock, New Music, Worth A Listen

Worth A Listen – Honey Lung

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Honey Lung

Honey Lung have released their new single ‘Be My Friend’. Newly-signed to the cult indie label Big Scary Monsters (American Football, Martha, Orchards), ‘Be My Friend’ marks the first offering from the band this year as their plans begin to take shape, with a London headliner and several festival appearances already lined up over the coming months.The shoegazers have spent the last two years mastering the live circuit, combining JAWS and Basement tour supports with notable festival slots at the likes of SXSW, Reading & Leeds, Latitude and The Great Escape.

With guitars whirring through a scuzzy grunge backdrop ‘Be My Friend’ announces Honey Lung’s return with raw refined beauty. A sun kissed daydream melody melts effortlessly upon the effervescent backdrop with a shoegaze tonality while the sweet coos and deep gravel on vocals provide character and charm. The glistening melody on guitar weaves and coils zealously between the pummeling drums to create a clamorous fuzz-filled indie-rock foundation that is utterly thrilling. The band presents a tight and sun speckled track overflowing with rich, vibrant, blistering instrumentation. With the perfect bitter sweet ratio ‘Be My Friend’ is a triumphant return. 

Discussing the ideas behind their new single, Batten explained: “Lyrically Be My Friend makes a joke of trying to impress someone you admire. We wanted it to be an ironic song that pokes fun at awkward social situations and the funny ways we act just to be liked or feel accepted”.

Stream ‘Be My Friend’ below 

https://soundcloud.com/honeylung/be-my-friend


Author : Danu

Brit Punk, Grunge, Grunge Pop, Indie, Indie Psychedelic, Indie Punk, indie rock, New Music, psychedelic, Shoegaze

Jake Regan ‘Unfair’ and ‘Stay’

Photo Credit : Liam Farrell.

Dublin multi-instrumentalist Jake Regan has released a new double single ‘Unfair’ and ‘Stay’. Jake Regan used to be the frontman of the band Segrasso. Early last year he decided to end the band and start making music on his own. Regan has been playing gigs with a band under the name Jake Regan and the Loverboys, but when he records music, he plays all the instruments himself.

‘Unfair’ is a sulky whack of abrasive alternative punk as Jake Regan fleshes out his unique songwriting in a pop smacked yet raw track. The wailing, stinging guitar cuts into the pulverising drums and grit smudged wall of sound. Moaning, gloomy vocals murmur through the verses while a stomping beat reinforces the anguish and fury however the depressed tantrum-soaked chorus is superbly contrasted with a breezy infectious melody and lighter tone. With its 70’s-esque Brit punk hues and shredding musicianship Regan displays his frustration at the “sell out “ copycat bands with a hint of comical irony.

‘Stay’ dollops on some shoegaze into Regan’s sound. Hazy and wrapped in a bitter sweet hue of nostalgia this lo-fi ditty broods in a wistful melody as Regan’s reverb lace vocals pine and coo in a blanket of sorrow. Doused in psychedelic tones the guitar-stings pierce throughout while the punchy drums batter in the background. This raw, heart-bleeding track grooves with a grunge backdrop against mopey pop elements. The soft melody wisps about the track melting into the downcast atmosphere.The warm biting guitar jingles and glimmers – lighting the chorus with its spark of luminosity through the mist. Utterly mesmerising and compelling this track hits you in the chest with passion and longing while also packing in some sublime and refined instrumentation.

Both ‘Unfair’ and ‘Stay’ showcase how mature, passionate and exquisite Jake Regan is as an artist. He blends genres beautifully creating tracks that majestically blossom into a fine body of work.

Stream ‘Unfair’ and ‘Stay’ below 


Author : Danu

Alt Rock, Grunge, Grunge Pop, Indie, indie rock, New Music

HAVVK ‘If I Don’t Tell You’

HAVVK return with their latest brooding cut, ‘If I Don’t Tell You’ via Veta Records. This single is the third release from their upcoming debut album, Cause & Effect, out on 22nd November 2019. HAVVK originally formed in London in 2015, and have since split their time between London, Dublin and Berlin. They have collaborated with Belfast based producer Rocky O’Reilly (And So I Watch You From Afar, Touts, Brand New Friend) for the last two years to help develop their unique sound. In addition to their musical endeavours,  Front woman Julie Hawk has also co-founded SelfMade – a platform to explore DIY music in Ireland through performance, discussion, and art, and last year launched Female Fronted Drawn Together – a project through which she has created a playlist of admirable female bands musicians and created an illustration to accompany each song. HAVVK have been praised by the likes of BBC 6Music’s Lauren Laverne, Tom Robinson and Chris Hawkins, as well BBC Radio London and Radio X. Their previous single ”Always the Same” also featured on Spotify’s official Alternative Generation and Feelgood Indie playlists.

‘If I Don’t Tell You’ is a powerful luring track brimming with a polished rawness that is masterful. Julie Hawk’s vocals venture from sweetly lulling to searing while the chiming backdrop creates a prismatic glimmering soundscape. The sweet melody melts upon the edgy backdrop cooling and smoothing the biting instrumentation with a honeyed ear-worm deliciousness and a dark mysterious tone while the ethereal guitars lace the track in a stinging airy vibe. The punchy drums create a buoyant foundation as this trio weave luscious textures through their grunge infused sound seamlessly creating a rich wholly-invigorating listening experience. A little harsh and thrilling – this compelling number will sparkle and pierce its way into your brain demanding repeat plays.

The single tackles the very real and current issue of social media and how we can become lost between a genuine version of ourselves and the one that we feel pressured to present online. Julie elaborates, “If I Don’t Tell You” deals with our experience of trying to engage on a social and political level, in a space that often seems so preoccupied with extremes that there appears to be little room for genuine discussion and a lot of voices and lived experiences get lost in the noise.”

Stream ‘If I Don’t Tell You’ below


Alt Rock, EP Review, Grunge, Grunge Pop, Indie, indie rock, New Music

LIERS ‘Elixir’ EP

Photo Credit Glen Bollard Photography

Dublin’s powerhouse alternative rock band LIERS have released their new EP ‘Elixir’. LIERS are a four-piece female fronted grungy 90’s inspired alternative rock band made up of Liz Seaver, Ed Scanlan, Ronan O’Hanlon and Stephen Farrell. The band have played festivals such as Castlepalooza and venues such as the INEC, Whelans and The Sugar Club.The new EP features previous hit singles ‘Host’ and ‘Universal Female’, which gained much acclaim and helped secure a slot at last year’s sold-out Electric Picnic.

‘Elixir’ fleshes out, blends and refines LIERS powerful sound. With all its rawness and glory intact, LIERS sweeten and merge this wonderful grungy display with luscious melodies and crisp musicianship. The EP is a relentless onslaught of potent tunes that pack one heck of a punch.  The dark smothering intoxication of title track ‘Elixir’ kick starts the EP. A rooted bass groove slithers and creeps beneath the track lurking below the massive crashing guitars and striking vocals. LIERS tease and entice through the darkened verses with eerie guitar twinkles and luring vocals before exploding into the mammoth chorus. Liz Seaver’s vocals are utterly bewitching as she sultry entraps and seduces before shattering out the bellowing chorus. These tracks have a mesmerising, cinematic quality that chills the spine and rushes through your veins with intense red hot adrenaline. ‘Universal Female’ and ‘Host’ are doused in infectious honeyed melodies while packing one gutsy full bodied backdrop. LIERS grab edgy unruly grunge rock, wrestle it down and pepper it with their fine branded sultry alternative rock. The emotionally charged ‘Can’t Go Back’ sits snuggled and comfortable between the mayhem with tender tones passionate vocals and splintering instrumentation. There are some sublime guitar moments throughout this EP. There is nothing like a passionate guitar melody twinkling around a track with warm tones, delicate melancholic melodies, vibrant solos or menacing injections and this EP is brimming with these compelling guitar moments, adding rich depths and multi textures throughout. ‘Realise’ is one wild angsty tune. Full of meaty grooves and punching drums with a dynamic old school power backing which is balanced perfectly by soft emotion exclaimed through passionate expressive vocals. The band’s ability to stabilize and distill their sound is masterful. They don’t just whack out loud blasting tunes, time has been spent here, purifying each part to create a tightly woven collection of tracks that have fermented into a biting, fizzing treasure.

‘Elixir’ lays out a rich flavoursome platter for us to devour. Filled with fiery intensity, raw power and slick instrumentation these robust anthems are brimming with passion and vigor marking LIERS a band to keep an eye on.

Stream ‘Elixir’ EP here


Alt Rock, EP Review, Grunge, Grunge Pop, Indie, indie rock, New Music

DARMA ‘Gloom’ EP

The Manchester-based trio DARMA, have released their new EP ‘Gloom’. The band comprised of Harry Corbett (vocals), Lloyd Whitehead (bass), and Issac Whitehead (drums), give a new meaning to the term garage rock. The band themselves have coined the phrase “loudquietheavypop” to more accurately describe their sonic sound. Singled out by Louder Than War as one of the most energetic young bands around, DARMA have supported the likes of Primal Scream, Dinosaur Pile Up, and fellow Mancunians The 1975 and Ist Ist, DARMA have had a busy 2018, playing shows at Sound City (Liverpool), Tramlines (Sheffield) and the Manchester Apollo for Radio X. 

‘Gloom’ is a searing torpedo ready to demolish your ears in feisty dark grunge, glorious melodies and alternative rock mania. The rich blend of tracks is first rate as they slither between blissfully melodic and frenzy effortlessly to pack in something for everyone. From the first gritty strike in ‘Miasma’ something clicks. A thrilling notion that this band have something special sparks a fire in your belly as crashing guitars throttle through punchy drum whacks and raspy attitude driven vocals. Dark melodies melt with a bubbling texture into your ears as this trio surge kinetic adrenaline into each and every track.The bombarding assault of  ‘Procrasturbator’ follows. These tracks are perfect for that mosh pit frenzy as Corbett screams over a hyperactive backdrop filled with lacerating sharp guitars, rumbling bass and bombarding drums. This is one heck of a track. ‘Hey, You’ cools the tone of the EP with a melancholic sweet melody which glides mournfully over a hypnotic drum and bass rhythm while raw guitar-strikes thud throughout. Anthemic choruses are what this trio do well and this track in particular was designed for the mass sing-along live show display. Their muscular rock keeps the tracks from becoming soppy and maintains a stomp and edge to their melodic swoon. Its all blistering frenzy until ‘Interlude’ brings a chilled dreamy “breather” to the EP as twinkling guitars accompany soft vocal coos. Even during this little rest DARMA entwine some distortion at the end to keep us all alert for the ground shaking final track ‘You’re Always Right’. The moody melody lures you into the dark menacing abyss of the track until you are hooked craving for one more listen. Catchy, creepy and enticing the final track on the EP ripples with grit as guitars crunch and smash their way through a mosh ready rhythm while the endearing vocals soar and escalate as the track progresses.

Each track within ‘Gloom’ burrow’s deep into your veins with a satisfying thrilling sense of ecstasy that leaves you frothing at the mouth for more. These guys are just so good, what a debut EP. I need to see them live.

You can catch DARMA live at:

30-Nov-2018 – Jacaranda Records Phase One w/ Rival Bones + Vulture Cult

Stream ‘Gloom’ below

 


Alt Rock, EP Review, Grunge, Grunge Pop, Indie, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music, psychedelic, Rock

Cloakroom Q ‘Going For A Walk and I’m Not Coming Back’ EP

Northern Ireland art rock/neo psychedelic five piece Cloakroom Q are set to release their new EP ‘Going For A Walk and I’m Not Coming Back’ this Halloween. The band started in late 2016 and have since released a few singles and low fi compilations. These compilations were in the form of “official bootleg” recorded during the band’s earlier stages which include the single “Don’t Come Home” and their other more recent complication “Seven Stories Up”, partly recorded in Toulouse France and features versions of tracks off their debut EP ‘Going for a walk and I’m not coming back’.

‘Going For A Walk and I’m Not Coming Back’ is a spine tingling collection of tracks that weave and flourish with sublime obscurity through abrasive instrumentation while a healthy dose of psychedelic is churned through magnificent art rock elements and intense atmospheres.‘South of Sane’ kicks the mayhem off with the perfect tension building beat and spoken vocals. Soft guitars strum as the thrilling track builds and slowly creeps adding a warm trumpet into its swirling dark soundscape. Musically these guys create refined hair raising masterpieces with western-esque melodies mourning through rich rhythms and pining guitars. Through this EP  they showcase their ability to create stripped back wispy, mind melting acid soaked tunes shown brilliantly with ‘d0nkroom’. All these elements are twisted and entwined in euphoric dizzying bliss. ‘People With Energy’ rushes through on a heightened vibe of snappy beats, funky bass lines, jagged guitars and haunting synths. It’s danceable, groovy and filled with energy yet drenched in ominous vibes. Each track is crafted with the finest components to make it luscious, manic and thoroughly enjoyable. Their sound is unique to them and it is this band’s attention to detail and meticulous musicianship that makes these tracks so impressive. The grunge hued ‘Feeding The Stranger’ smears on that dark atmosphere thick. Rugged guitars crash and batter into the punchy drum assault while the vocals exclaim over this frenzied backdrop narrating about coughing blood, alcohol and vomiting.’Unearth’ closes the EP disguised, to start as a soft delicate number with a gentle beat and slow jam groovy bass line. The track builds becoming the mosh ready banger Cloakroom Q are pros at. Their braided rhythms keep a fluctuant foundation for everything to explode off. Cloakroom Q really give it their all for this beast of a track, constructing the verses perfectly to increase and tease the intensity of the fierce dynamite choruses. It’s a lengthy track, clocking in at 07:09 minutes but each and every minute is worth it. These guys blend the soothing and gentle tones seamlessly with the skull bashing heavy tones to lure you into a false sense of safe psychedelia before whacking you out of your dreamy daze with meaty gritty rock injections. It’s a magnificent end to the EP.

Cloakroom Q have created a wholly unique frenzied EP that grooves, whacks and soothes all at once rendering the listener captivated and craving for more.

‘Going For A Walk and I’m Not Coming Back’ is released on 31st October-  for more information

you can follow  Cloakroom Q on Facebook here  https://www.facebook.com/disappearlikethis/

 


Alt Rock, Grunge, Grunge Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music, Psych-Pop, psychedelic, Summer Grunge

THUMPER ‘Down’

Noise­-pop quintet THUMPER have released their new single ‘Down’, produced by Dan Fox of Girl Band.2018 has seen THUMPER top several Ones To Watch lists in Ireland and tour relentlessly headlining Hard Working Class Heroes, joining Fangclub on tour, and playing festivals all summer long such as Sea Sessions, Body & Soul, and Electric Picnic.

‘Down’ is a pungent, biting number swirling with mouth watering pop hooks lavishly placed on a grunge backdrop. Whirring guitars fizz and spin about with infectious razor sharp riffs and vibrant laid back jingles  while a glorious sun kissed melody glissades along the buoyant beat. This track is affluent with rich swirling soundscapes as it meanders into a psychedelic dizzying trip of distortion. THUMPER blends the bitter/sweet effortlessly- filling their tracks with exuberant dreamy tones laced with daisies and sweetness which lead you down the delirious rabbit hole into frenzied chaos. With a lo- fi production easing you into its floppy 90s-soaked noise-rock- this track reins in the pure elements of rock, grunge and pop to create the perfect frazzling blend of bliss. There is something for everyone here, these guys slowly and delicately build the song adding a new layer and dimension each time until it’s an all out mouth frothing whack of psychedelic scuzzy rock. Its frenzied boppy euphoria displays THUMPER’S tight undeniably slick sound and impressive musicianship.

Stream ‘Down’ below  

Watch the video for ‘Down’ below 

 


Alt Rock, Alt- Pop, Garage Rock, Grunge Pop, Indie, indie rock, New Music, Pop Punk, psychedelic

Pin Ups ‘Do You Hate Yourself Yet?

London based three piece Pin Ups have released their new single ‘Do You Hate Yourself Yet?.’After a chance phone call with a friend of a friend, drummer Jesse (hailing from Norwich) and singer/guitarist Josh (from East London) came together in another project Pastel Colours. After stripping down from a 5-piece to a 3-piece and recruiting Jesse’s brother Louis on bass, Pin Ups was born. Their latest release ‘Do You Hate Yourself Yet?’ was recorded in the wee hours of a Sunday morning with producer/engineer Scott Docherty. The song deals with the feelings after waking up from a particularly heavy night out, those of confusion, doubt and self-loathing, as you question why you do it to yourself, and who’s that person over there?

‘Do You Hate Yourself Yet?’  is a combustible track brooding and smouldering in a gloomy grunge atmosphere as stinging guitars jingle their way playfully between punchy drums and a pop drizzled melody. Raspy hushed vocals whisper the verses as the track slowly brews and bubbles. Its moody and vibrant all at once as the song builds into a dynamic chorus sprinkled with 70’s /80’s post punk attitude. It’s catchy with a darker undercurrent that takes over as the track progresses into a blistering instrumental with shrilling guitars whining and screeching over pulverising rhythms, mighty drum whacks and aggressive vocals. This summer soaked scorcher burns its groovy infectious way into your ears with dizzying psychedelic hues among its grunge hostility. ‘Do You Hate Yourself Yet?’ is a tight well crafted Pixies -esque track that makes this trio one to keep and eye on.

Watch the video for  ‘Do You Hate Yourself Yet?’ below

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Alt Rock, EP Review, Grunge, Grunge Pop, Indie, indie rock, New Music, Rock, Summer Grunge

Fangclub ‘True Love’ EP

Fresh from their first UK headline tour, Irish rock band Fangclub have released their highly personal new EP titled ‘True Love’.  Last year the trio Steven King, Kevin Keane and Dara Coleman released their self titled debut album to mass critical acclaim and also toured the UK and Ireland with their own headline dates as well as playing shows with Biffy Clyro, Muse, Pixies, and SWMRS. Fangclub have gathered major attention from the press (Kerrang!, Rock Sound, Upset) and specialist DJ’s at BBC Radio 1 (Annie Mac, Huw Stephens, Daniel P.Carter, Phil Taggart), and Kerrang! Radio with their monstrous tracks ‘Bullet Head’, ‘Loner’, ‘Dreamcatcher’ and ‘Bad Words’.

‘True Love’ marks massive growth in the bands sound. The swirling and churning dark tones lurk underneath even the most peppy sounding of the tracks. There is something more sophisticated and painful in this EP. The meaty brain crush blast we are used to once again feature on True Love however they have honed in and sharpened everything from meatier ground shaking basslines and immense pounding drum grooves to slick acute guitar lacerations placed perfectly for maximum impact. Fangclub have us firmly in their grips and they are not letting go. Recent single ‘Knife’ sets the thrilling mayhem in motion with gritty basslines grumbling under slashing guitars and demanding drums. The chilled vocals cool the scorching instrumental backdrop for the verse teasing the explosive chorus we have come to love from Fangclub. Slick basslines have become a staple on this EP as they fluidly flow throughout each track with a sublime rooted groove adding a lusty darkness to each track, like a shadowy thread holding each song together. ‘Heart Is A Landmine’ is where their shadowy eerie tones take over. A moody melody bleeds over a punchy backdrop of slithering guitars whining between a mighty rhythmic bounce. It’s a cinematic tune that could feature in a Batman movie especially with its stirring melody and sublime griping guitar feature. It’s pretty dark and dramatic yet magnificently catchy and climatic all at once. ‘Smother’ brightens the tone of the EP. The guitars become lighter as they zealously inject juicy zest between punchy punk flavoured rock. Its sun kissed melody melts upon the gritty soundscapes like butter as a slick guitar solo and sing along ready chorus slaps on a glossy finish. The “buzz kill” ‘Sweater Forever’ follows. This is my kind of tune. It’s a moody sunny day wallowing blast of grunge that is just magnificent. The drums trudge through a gloopy sweet melody while the piercing sting on guitars lament and soar over this sullen tune. It’s both vibrant and sulky all at once as their vivid use of instrumentation and shaky percussion creates gripping heart wrenching turmoil for us to immerse in. Those twinkling keys add a light innocence through the heavy monotony. The scale of emotion presented through music in this track is masterful and exactly how I hoped these guys would progress. The sheer musical depth containing perfectly timed multi facets glimmering through emotional honest lyrics make for a completely absorbing listening experience. ‘High’ closes the EP bringing everything full circle. It’s upbeat, powerful, catchy and filled with scorching guitar lines. The vocals lure you into the relentless onslaught of crashing drums, brawny bass lines and mouth watering guitar work.

‘True Love’ is a flavourful and tantalizing EP from the trio and proves Fangclub have a lot to offer – they are just coming into their prime.

Stream ‘True Love’ below


Alt- Pop, Grunge Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music, Worth A Listen

Worth A Listen

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From The Magic Lotus

The Magic Lotus is a garage rock band based in London whose 60s influenced pop melodicism comes with a minimalist grunge attack.The origins of the band, much like the origins of Western Civilization, are in Athens, Greece, where the guys started many moons ago.Moving to London in 2015, The Magic Lotus wasted no time hitting the capital’s club circuit. The Unsigned Guide picked up on the band, championing them in their mail outs. Local radio and arty blogs alike reacted to their psychedelic punk singalongs.The band have released their debut single ‘Feel Your Love’ by the independent label The Animal Farm records.

‘Feel Your Love’ is a sweeping surge of shredding rock and roll that smacks you in the face and wrestles you to the ground in the most slick, swagger drenched manner. The shredding guitar riff scorches through the track with red hot intensity while the dynamic rhythm punches with a hefty potency. It’s a highly energetic blistering track that rushes through your veins with that get up and go adrenaline. Sing along ready with its catchy chorus and attitude swagger riddled vocals, this track is a mighty infectious, sizzling mammoth that will be running riot in your mind all day.

Stream ‘Feel Your Love’ below