Belfast noise rock/post-punk band Enola Gay have released their debut single ‘The Birth Of A Nation’.The band is comprised of Fionn Reilly on vocals, Joe McVeigh on guitar, Adam Cooper on Bass and Stevie Curtis on Drums.
‘The Birth of a Nation’ is a raw, rampaging debut from Enola Gay. The band lacerate sharp guitar lines through a rumbling bass to create a thrilling and unnerving intense sound. The verses revolve around the rooted bassline while wailing on guitar occasionally pines throughout. The song erupts with electric shocks as it progresses with elements reminiscent of The Prodigy while the lyrics address systematic oppressions and how racism still spreads in the streets of Belfast. Fionn Reilly spits the rapid lyrics with disdain and angst while the blistering and unsettling guitars jolt and shrill with a haunting quality. ‘The Birth of a Nation’ is an uncompromising dose of unadulterated post punk and a fantastic musical display from Enola Gay.
The video for the track features shots of the many instances of police brutality within the height of recent Black Lives Matter protests in America and worldwide.
Dublin- based singer/songwriter Kevin Casey has released his new single ‘It’s Alright’.Long standing regular in the Irish music scene, Kevin Casey has released several singles, two EPs, and a full length album since 2014. He has done two European tours and gigged extensively across the country as well as in Germany, the U.K and the USA, including two consecutive years at Electric Picnic. He is known for his raw vocals, versatile songwriting, and for keeping Irish rock and roll alive and well.
‘It’s Alright’ is a steady rock anthem. Kevin Casey slowly seeps emotion into the track as he creates space within for the instrumentation and tones to flourish and blossom. It’s a guitar driven song that chugs into motion with raw guitar melodies, and a foot tapping beat. The rhythmic pulse is the heartbeat of the track as the bass and drums simmer though the verses before pounding into the chorus. With soaring string flurries and lush orchestral samples the song builds becoming more grand yet maintains the relaxed pacing throughout. The rasped vocals and lush vocal harmonies teamed with zesty guitar wails and richly layered production create tension and brief gasps of relief throughout the song making it an enjoyable number to listen to. There are elements of Oasis with tones of The Beatles and even some Bryan Adams peppering which makes the song quite easy on the ears. Casey took the best part of these artists and blended them with his own style to create a moving power anthem for the crazy times we live in now. With an 80’s rock hue, scorching guitar solo and dynamic wall of sound ‘It’s Alright’ is quite the impressive mature number.
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From The Clockworks
Photo Credit: Oscar Ryan
The Clockworks are set to release their new single ‘The Future Is Not What It Was’ via the Creation 23 label tomorrow Friday 12th June.Written by The Clockworks, ‘The Future Is Not What It Was’ was produced by Michael Rendall and The Clockworks in Willesden, London.
The track has already grabbed the attention of BBC Radio 1’s Annie Mac on her “New Names” showcase, as well as legendary Rodney Bingenheimer show in the states on Sirius XM, and even received day time radio play on RTÉ 2FM.
The Clockworks are a four-piece comprising James McGregor on Vocals/Guitar, Sean Connelly on Guitar, Damian Greaney on Drums and Tom Freeman on bass. Relocating to London in 2019, the quartet signed to Alan McGee’s new record label ‘Creation23’ almost overnight. They have since impressed audiences across Europe with live performances at festivals including Eurosonic and Electric Picnic, performing to a huge crowd at Sefton Park in Liverpool in support of Kings of Leon, as well as a head-turning televised appearance on Sky 1’s Soccer AM.
‘The Future Is Not What It Was’ is an accelerated slap of The Clockworks intense post punk in all its exhilarating glory. The band create a hyper sound that pivots around chiming guitar lines and blood pumping drums while a raw gritty bassline rumbles through the foundation. The track has a hypnotic metronomic rhythm that buries into the brain while the sweet guitar laments with a soothing quality. The rapid lyrics are delivered with a relentless stamina as James McGregor sings the catchy chorus and spits the verses with fiery angst. Blurring timelines past, present and yet to be, ‘The Future Is Not What It Was’, sees the band comparing the once optimistic visions of ‘the future’ of generations past, with the bleak reality that we currently live in. The band portray this through a palpitating tune that rushes through to its blistering almost asphyxiating crescendo.The instrumental glitches and itchy texture of the song create quiet the unsettled and almost frantic wall of sound as The Clockworks continue their real, honest and punchy musicianship with another absolutely fantastic tune.
About the track James McGregor explains: “This song is about trying to bring together two main ideas: The feeling that everywhere you look things are going wrong, to the point of cynicism, and the way that the idea of the future is better that its reality. Art and articles in the past would talk about 2020 and expect us to be driving flying cars in houses that clean themselves where nobody has to work. In reality we’re driving third hand Fiat Punto’s to 9-5’s that barely pay the rent. I guess the point is that the lifestyle may change but a lot of the problems are the same.”
‘The Future Is Not What It Was’ will be available digitally on 12 June 2020, via the Creation 23 label.
Watch the video for ‘The Future Is Not What It Was’ below
ALRIGHT brother has released his latest Post Punk Album ‘REDEEMER’.ALRIGHT brother is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and visual artist living in LA. His music comes with short hand drawn animated promos that ALRIGHT brother creates himself. Receiving recognition for a lofi cover of a Kendrick Lamar track, ALRIGHT brother has been steadily building up his portfolio of music, taking inspiration from punk, hardcore and grunge.
Mangled between raw post punk and alternative rock ‘REDEEMER’ displaysALRIGHT brother’s coarse unadulterated musicianship in a unique collection of tracks. ALRIGHT brother smudges pop melodies through a harsh, bombarding backdrop in ‘The Last of the Famous International Dirtbags’ and ‘Redeemer’ to create a full bodied striking sound. This full bodied sound is carried throughout the album with ‘Lounge Act’ taking a more grunge-like stance.
There is a lot going on in each song with entwining key refrains mangled beneath bombarding punk, crashing guitars and drums. These moments provide wonderful embellishments throughout the album. However ALRIGHT brother provides some release from the frenzied onslaughts with the melancholic cool tones of ‘Cold Falls’.
The tracks are well layered as the fuzzed backdrops are embroidered with frenzied and sometimes ethereal synths. ‘REDEEMER’ exposes the paranoia and frustration of the modern condition and ALRIGHT brother conveys this superbly with intense synths and bass moments coiling beneath rowdy explosions.The vocals throughout are very distracting they sort of contrast the sweeter moments with a clamorous outburst while a sublime guitar flourishes beneath. From the sprightly jog of ‘Last Watch’ and sweet lament of ‘The Daily Star Mirror’ there are nimble and glorious guitar elements sprinkled throughout while ‘Random Access Misery’ brings an angsty rap quality to the album with a thrilling rumbling bass line.
‘REDEEMER’ is a tight album and a whirlwind journey through onslaughts of emotion and soundscapes. For me it’s the instrumental arrangements where ALRIGHT brother excels. He ferments harsh post punk with bittersweet grunge stained pop elements and huge, sometimes epic moments of rock to create a striking album which tells short stories with a different perspective on life.
Limerick Alt/Electronic/Indie duo Pity of the Sea have released their new single ‘A Swarming’ which was taken from the forthcoming debut album.Pity Of the Sea are comprised of Ger Cremins (Vox/Bass Synth) and Tony Monahan (Producer, Guitars, Synths, Bass and drum programming). The track follows the band’s last release ‘Headscarf’ which received plays on both national and local radio and was very well received.
Fizzing and swirling through dizzying synths and a crashing wall of sound ‘A Swarming’ is an energetic punk slapped track from Pity of the Sea. The duo consume your ears with an onslaught of shrilling guitars that churn through a groove-filled rumble on bass. The band use acid soaked psychedelia to create a track brimming with organised chaos while a punchy drum machine loop surrounds the backdrop. The band blend a raw post punk soundscape with sharp alternative rock to create an invigorating listening experience. The shimmering ethereal synths rush with adrenaline while the dynamic spoken vocals pound out the catchy chorus of respetitive lyrics. ‘A Swarming’ is a fantastic assault on the senses.
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Bullet Girl
Photo Credit: Nicholas O’Donnell.
North Dublin post-punk band Bullet Girl have released their new single ‘Hatred’. A song about online trolls, it is particularly fitting right now. Bullet Girl are on an upwards trajectory. A seriously energetic live band, they blew the crowd away at TiLT in The Button Factory, run by 98fm’s John Barker (Totally Irish). On the back of this, Aiken Promotions asked them to support The Mystrines at Eastbound Dublin. This show has been postponed due to pandemic restrictions but is rescheduled to go ahead on Thursday, 24th September at The Workman’s Club, all things going well.
‘Hatred‘ is a potent punch of the hard hitting musicianship Bullet Girl do so well. These guys present a sound that oozes powerful, post punk battering with majestic flair. The wonderful intricacies within the track shows how refined Bullet Girl’s sound is. A relentless bass writhes its way through the songs dark underbelly while the pulverising drum throttles with vigor and adrenaline creating the perfect, beefy, floor shaking foundation. On top of this the slick flourishes on guitar soar and crash with a fierce uncompromising display of power and finesse. It’s a pure and raw number that explodes with the bands energetic soundscape. The frenetic vocals howl and rasp over the erupting instrumentation as the track builds to its dynamic and thrilling crescendo. This band’s ability to communicate their message through ruthless and mesmerising musicianship is impressive. ‘Hatred’ is a well crafted, invigorating call to arms against the online hatred inflicted by trolls. Once again Bullet Girl knock it out of the park.
Songwriter and lead guitarist Dylan Keenan says: “The song is a rally cry against the hatred that the internet age has conjured up; the ability of people to participate in hate speech under the cover of anonymity. Angry little soldiers with ideologies built on insecurity. When you see far-right political leaders gain support across the western world and hateful attacks against minorities and racial groups at both a local and global level becoming the norm, sometimes it does make you worry if the schoolyard bullies have won? This is not happening a million miles away, it’s happening right outside our door.”
Cabbage return with their new single ‘You’ve Made An Art Form (From Falling To Pieces)’.Since forming in 2014, Cabbage have occupied provocative territory by promoting progressive politics and supporting charitable causes through their live shows, leading them to be featured the BBC Radio Four documentary ‘The Art of Now: Band Politics’. At the same time as headlining sell-out UK tours, the band played Edgeley Park with Blossoms in 2019 and launched their debut album with a one-off, specially-curated exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery.
‘You’ve Made An Art Form (From Falling To Pieces)’ fizzes with a sweet sugary splash as Cabbage splurge melodic indie pop over an edged post punk canvas. The band create one nectarous irresistible gem as they swirl sharp buzzing guitars over a punchy acute wall of sound while the lush honeyed melody and soft backing vocals sweeten the blistering backdrop with a hazy shoegaze tonality. The band melt a hefty dose of psychedelia over the track creating a multi layered song that bubbles and broods within a prismatic sunny glow of delight while an acidic sting ferments beneath this rosy hue. The lyrics discuss the theme of mental health and suicide as Cabbage use gripping, woozy and blazing musicianship to create a truly invigorating track.
About the track the band’s co-frontman and songwriter, Joe Martin says its a “brutally honest exploration of mental health and suicide within young men and the survivalist, Victoria Wood-esque juxtaposition of salvaging a smile through dreariness and despair. After much deliberation, we feel that the time is right to share this. The chorus line actually originated in a ‘Coronation Street’ script in 1988, with Deirdre remarking to Ken: ‘I wonder what advanced state of dither we’ll find you in today, Ken, you make an art form from falling to pieces.’ We don’t mind sharing our complete love and adoration for those old, hilariously crafted dialogues.”
Watch the video for ‘You’ve Made An Art Form (From Falling To Pieces)’ below
Galway four piece band Slyrydes are set to release their new single ‘I Claim To Be Intelligent’ on March 26th. In 2019 Slyrydes released their first four singles from March to October (Mental Health, Point of view, Out Patience & Dangerous Animals) The singles collected much critical acclaim nationwide and in the UK. Paul McLoone (Today fm/ The Undertones) has championed the band since the first single “Mental Health”. They have worked with Daniel Doherty in Darklands studio Dublin city (Fontaines DC/ Vulpynes/ Damien Dempsey) on every single so far. Slyrydes are currently working on their debut album while playing select shows around Ireland.
‘I claim to be intelligent’ is one snappy chilling live wire as Slyrydes take their engaging sound to a thrilling new level. The deep ominous vocals mutter through the verses while the punchy drums and dynamic bass maintain the bands elastic rumbling foundation. I for one have come to love this bands bass and drum interaction. They tightly entwine them together to add a rooted, brawny yet steamy and ominous quality through the tracks. The song jogs to its frantic crescendo, building tension and angst, ready for its mosh pit frenzied end. There is a sweet lamenting guitar refrain that holds a sense of vulnerability throughout the verses before the crashing chorus erupts.
‘I claim to be intelligent’ walks a fine line between masterfully sophisticated musicianship and unruly anarchy with ease – it’s an impressive and thrilling listen.
‘I claim to be intelligent’ is set for release on March 26th for more you can follow the band on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/slyrydes/
Multi-genre Irish Five Piece Radio Mafia recently released their debut EP ‘Don’t Think About It’. Radio Mafia are in the process of putting the finishing touches on what is to become their debut album, titled ‘Can Anybody Hear Me’ which the band is aiming to release this summer.
‘Don’t Think About It’ is a tight collection of tracks as Radio Mafia meld alternative gusto with some slinky funk and blues elements to create a satisfying debut EP. With infectious grooves, sleek guitar lines and a buoyant beat, title track ‘Don’t Think About It’ sets the EP in motion.
The band allow each track its own identity within the EP without compromising on the overall flow and smooth transition from track to track. ‘B.R.S’ and ‘Fit to Die’ provide the brawn and alternative rock on the EP with gritty guitar lines, meaty drums, soul creeping rumble on bass and an overall harsh mosh rock attitude while ‘Glass Soldier’ brings a dash of swing into the mix. The finger clicking, foot tapping beat teamed with chic guitars and jazzy keys create a delightful break between the more alternative tracks and showcases the band’s ability to create a sound that is more classy and vibrant while still maintaining the bands bite and rawness. The smooth vocals, lush harmonies and pop sprinkled melodies hold all these tracks together and provide the component parts that puts Radio Mafia’s stamp and style on them.
Whether its a polished swing number or a rowdy alternative rock or punk influence Radio Mafia manage to create diverse and engaging tunes that have an instant likability and buoyancy. ‘Don’t Think About It’ is a solid debut EP.
Alternative four piece band Bullet Girl have released their new single ‘Whacked’ produced and mixed by Daniel Fox. Late 2019 saw Bullet Girl refine their live sound with gigs such as co-headlining the first ever TILT at the Button Factory in October, hosted by John Barker of Totally Irish 98fm. They’ve also seen success in supporting bands such as FEET at the Sound House in November. On February 16th they played The Workman’s Club in aid of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. ‘Whacked’ is the first of four songs recorded with Daniel Fox of Girl Band, all of which centre around modern Dublin culture.
‘Whacked’ is a berserker of mania slapped into a fury of punk as Bullet Girl flesh out their raw unadulterated musicianship in all its blood thirsty glory. Sharp guitars lacerate and swivel through the track in a swarm of turmoil as they shrill and soar through the crashing soundscapes. The bruising drum pummels and batters with relentless stamina while the majestic bass rumbles throughout. There is a masterful balance between utter anarchy and tense suspense as Bullet Girl bubble and simmer for the verses before erupting into the battering assault that is the sublime chorus.
Like burning acid the track fizzes and seethes behind the bristled vocal yelps and exclaims. ‘Whacked’ is a well crafted, precise yet messy conundrum ready to blast from the speakers. This track is going to be epic live.
Stream ‘Whacked’ below
Author : Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
