Dublin band Wild Youth comprised of members David Whelan (vocals/guitar) Conor O’Donohoe (keyboard/vocals) Ed Porter (guitar/vocals) and Callum McAdam (drums) have released a video for their upcoming new single ‘Lose Control’, which is set for release this Friday 8th September. ‘Lose Control’ is an instantly catchy radio ready surge of indie pop. Sweet vocals caress a smooth feathery light melody. The rich clap along finger clicking rhythm makes this track danceable and breezy. Twinkling guitars and soft shimmers on keys create a floaty blissful melty atmosphere and rush of youthful adrenaline while the steady beat pulses throughout. This dreamy ear worm will have you dancing and grooving in no time. It’s a sophisticated, intricately layered, sublime track that is sure to be a hit.
Sydney locals, Pepperhead have released their new single, ‘Unresolved’. Available on all major digital stores, ‘Unresolved’ is the second track-release from their debut EP, ‘The Housefox Sessions’. Forming in 2015, Pepperhead (Kieron, Louisa, Mark, Dan) made their live debut rocking the notorious Annandale Hotel. Listing acts such as The Pixies, The Strokes and Radio Birdman as the band’s influences, Pepperhead opened last year’s inaugural Northern Beaches’ punk rock line up at ‘Housefox Fest’.
‘Unresolved’ is raw ruckus causing rock. Punchy and sharp with pounding drums belting against a distorted wall of crashing guitars. It’s a rapid assault to the senses of brawl ready roughness teamed with a catchy chorus and attitude driven vocals. While still pulverising your skull with their heavy sound Pepperhead manage to add a sensual skin crawling quality to the mix keeping their massively energetic sound multi-dimensional and slick. It’s a booming fiery aggressive track that will have a live audience in a manic frenzy.
The Rah’s are a five piece indie rock band from Prestonpans, a small seaside town on the outskirts of Edinburgh. The band was formed in 2011 by four friends Jack, Jordan, Neale and Andrew and produced 2 EPs ‘Give Me Life’ in 2012 and ‘Living The Dream’ in 2013.They have toured both EPs across their native Scotland to rave reviews supporting the likes of The Fratellis and The View along the way. In January 2016, local lad and friend Chris joined the band on keys and backing vocals.Now a five piece, the band took a fresh approach to new sounds and song structure, leading to the band’s single ‘Sweet Talker’ recorded with producer Roni Szpakowski at Peak Studio’s, Bradford in early 2017. The single was released late March via the bands new independent label, EH32RECORDS and was well received by the music press across the UK and Ireland gaining a wave of excitement. Off the back of the single release the band embarked on a mini UK tour over a 6 week period with a sell-out homecoming gig in their native Edinburgh as their last show on the tour.They are now back with their new single ‘The Time Is Now’, which was recorded in Maybank studios in Glasgow by Dublin based producer James Darkin and was mastered by Pete Maher.
‘The Time Is Now’ blisters, bubbles and boils with indie rock. Soaked in attitude it hooks and lures you into the dark depths of its core with a thrilling razor-sharp riff surrounded by punchy drums and swirling keys. With a dizzying frenzy soundscape, gritty elastic bassline and searing swagger soaked vocals this track is a serious force of nature. Blustery and powerful with infectious anthemic chorus and lush backing vocals it’s Kasabian- esque yet original and mighty. ‘The Time Is Now’ is a fiery brutal bash of The Rah’s indie rock and its brilliant and destined to be epic live.
Rock dare devils Queens of the Stone Age have released their new much anticipated album ‘Villains’. Eager fans have awaited the album nervously. Finger nails have been chewed to a measly stump as they hoped the Mark Ronson produced album wouldn’t disappoint. Mixing the funky pop production we know Ronson for, with the gritty heavy rock that we are used to from Homme &Co, it could have gone either way. But these guys pulled it out of the bag. They shame us for our doubt with the slickest tightest most thrilling album, arguably their best to date
‘Feet Don’t Fail Me’ keeps the suspense with nearly two minutes of a moody dark eerie intro before blasting into a vivid riff that bounces, rebounding off the swagger soaked hair raising sound these guys do so well. It’s slick well-oiled with razor sharp guitar and a tight rhythm that snaps with instant vibrancy and elastic effect. It’s just too cool. Shredding guitar solo blisters leaving burn marks behind. Homme’s vocals coo and wail with sizzling vigour. It’s the perfect start to the album. The strutting hip shaking danceable ‘The Way You Used to Do’ follows. Finger clicking and soaked in a slick bluesy guitar riff it’s insanely catchy and shimmy worthy. This track alone will have you dancing embarrassingly around the room with its ear worm melody and infectious foot tapping beat. ‘Domesticated Animals’ is a punchy dark throbbing track with a nice little clap feature. Its sultry guitar licks and pulsing rhythm create an eerie gliding dramatic atmosphere. With Bowie hints in places and spooky dark tones all wrapped in a cinematic striking soundscape, it’s a scorching dazzler.‘Fortress’ slows the pace becoming sombre and shadowy while still packing QOTSA’s gritty shaded punch.The rock and roll flamboyant swagger stained track ‘Head Like a Haunted House’ follows with a rush of gyrating hip causing grooves. With 60’s surf-like guitar glides punchy drums and Elvis-like vocals this track makes a delightful shift in the album. That running bass is just sublime. The spacey wails give a unique twist while whistles add a cheeky chappy charm to the song. Still remaining heavy, it’s fantastically obscure and diverse. ‘Un-Reborn Again’ follows the rock and roll laced style however with elegant string feature and sharp guitar stings. The track glides with feminine grace while still maintaining a razor-sharp edge. ‘Hideaway’ slinks in, sultry and stealthily with a hush hush manner. It’s scorching guitar blisters with steamy humidity while Homme’s vocals smoothly and enigmatically caress the lyrics. ‘The Evil Has Landed’ is a spray of bluesy groovy rock. It’s a flexing of their rock, psychedelic muscles between crunchy riffs and pulsing beats. Sinister with hints of sweetness Homme stays mostly in his falsetto range as the track builds to an electrifying crescendo. It shifts becoming heavier and mightier and mosh frantic. ‘Villains of Circumstance’ brings us to the end of our journey with the ‘Villains’ album. Delicate and gentle with sweet guitar jingles and breezy soundscapes the song starts tender yet eerie. Building into an almost anthemic bright chorus, they manage to pack so much into this track. With echo brooding passion-filled vocals its moving yet positive. The chorus is very hopeful and vibrant with sonic twinkles throughout and dramatic instrumentation it definitely leaves you wanting more.
Sweet luscious melodies instant danceable grooves and enough heaviness to make a room shake and shimmy at the same time ‘Villains’ hasn’t let us down. Queens of the Stone Age have been shifting slightly since the ‘Rated R’ days but not negatively. ‘Villains’ is sophisticated refined and fun while still packing some gritty punches.
Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Adventures in the Underground
Adventures in the Underground is a new band from LA made up of collaborators Kevin Hinman and Luke Richmond. They have released their new single ‘Streetlight’ which was produced by Mario Borgatta and Steve Pagano from the band thanks.’Streetlight’ is a sleek stretchy delight that fuses honey drizzled pop melodies with classic rock punches. The first thing that hits you with this track is its instant likability and sweet toned catchy hook melody. The sticky beat slaps while a funky groovy rhythm adds a strut quality and swagger soaked confidence to the track. Powerful vocals with raspy hints give a swanky rock infused prance while guitar strides and ear worm chorus add that fist pump classic rock anthem vibe. Slick and cool it flows with glossy grandeur and polished smoothness. Seamlessly layered and oozing oodles of panache mixed with explosive passion, this is a tune that makes you feel something. With sweet subtle shifts that create nostalgic tender moments to mighty dynamic bursts these guys know what they are doing. It’s smooth with just enough flamboyance to make you groove while packing some indie rock punches and edgy splinters along the way.
Bio: Brighton trio Jack Valero (lead vocals, guitar) Callum James (drums and backing vocals) and Miguel Cosme (bass,backing vocals) have only been together a few years and they have made short work of grabbing people’s attention. Making waves on Huw Stephen’s BBC Introducing and John Kennedy’s Shock of the New on Radio X, tipped by 6 Music taste-makers Steve Lamacq and Tom Robinson, taking up invitations to Glastonbury Festival two years in a row, plus scoring ‘track of the day’ features in the likes of Clash, Giglutz, Record Of The Day and more.
Track: ‘Things I Forgot To Do’
Why We Like It: It’s a bubbling can of catchy hook driven indie pop. With an infectious bass groove, a relentless finger clicking beat that bounces back with snappy vitality teamed with strut quality guitar strides. it’s an effortless cool smooth track that flows in on a wave of good times and peppy attitude. This trio have created a slick warm tune polished, sweet and sunkissed.
Watch the video for ‘Things I Forgot To Do’ below
Glass Hour
Genre: Piano Pop-Rock
Bio: Glass Hour is a pop-rock band from Montreal comprised of members Caleb Smith (Bass), Joey Reda (Guitar), Will Bennett (Drums) and Keegan Boulineau (Vocals, Piano, Guitar). With a generous incorporation of piano combined with a signature guitar sound, their music ranges from massive arena rockers to intimate, soul-warming songs. Their debut album entitled ‘Minute Hand’ is set for release today August 18th, 2017.
Track: Burn
Why We Like It: It’s a sweet elegant blend of soaring electronic soundscapes and delicate piano twinkles. Lush vocals and heavenly harmonies create a graceful passionate and highly emotional track that lifts to new heights as the song progresses. With thumping clap along bridge and anthemic arena ready chorus, it’s a sparkling firework erupting into the sky with majestic magnificent beauty.
Stream ‘Burn’ below
Vertebrae
Genre: Alternative/Grit Pop
Bio: Vertebrae is London based trio Daire Mulvihill, Josh Clark and Jonny Rogers. They have previously been involved with numerous festivals around the U.K including Tramlines in Sheffield, Great Escape in Brighton as well as Camden Rocks in London. They have also been busy building up a loyal following by working with some of the UK’s top promoters and playing some of it’s best venues including O2 Academy Islington, The Old Blue Last, Birthdays, Seabright Arms and The Black Heart among others. Vertebrae have just released their exciting new single ‘Half The Time’ (which is already receiving much attention including radio airplay and numerous features in respected music publications, webzines and blogs) and was produced by the renowned Neil D Kennedy who has worked with many up and coming bands on the U.K Alternative scene including Creeper, Milk Teeth, Trash Boat and Bad Sign to name just a few
Track: ‘Half The Time’
Why We Like It: It’s a thrilling gritty kick ass rock track complete with raspy vocals punchy drums and slick guitar. Passionate and emotional with a Nickelback-esque nostalgia with guitar melodies and bass rumble reminiscent of Kings of Leon this hard-rock anthem is a throbbing head nodder. Building as the track progresses becoming a little heavier and mosh ready Vertebrae know when to hold a tender gentle tone and when to overwhelm with raw heavy moving melodic longing.
Watch the video for ‘Half The Time’ below
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Leeds rock five-piece Neon Dolls have announced the release of their new ‘Black’ EP with the release of the new single ‘Creep Inside’ set for release Friday 8th September. Since forming three years ago, Neon Dolls have been busy perfecting their hybrid of muscular Alt-Rock whilst blowing away audiences on the buzzing UK music scene. Formed from the ashes of defunct bands on the scene, the boys quickly developed a sonic formula influenced by guitar greats Oasis, Foo Fighters, Green Day and Led Zeppelin, as well as more recent grunge and rock bands from the USA. With a growing fanbase affectionately dubbed the Neon Army behind them, tracks from their debut album Imperial (released 2015) and 2nd Album When It Strikes (released 2016) were playlisted on BBC Introducing and their sold out live shows led to Fred Perry Subculture hailing them as one of the best new bands in the country.
‘Black’ is an EP brimming with raw ruckus causing rough and tumble rock and roll. The guys slap up a plate of frantic gritty no nonsense rock to sink our teeth in to, and boy it is good. The shrilling oh so thrilling new single ‘Creep Inside’ kicks off the EP. Slick razor sharp riffs pierce throughout while elastic bass bounces against punchy drums creating a hair raising coarse wall of sound. Sneering raspy coated vocals add an aggressive compelling swagger while irresistible seizure inducing guitar licks cause a rush of blood to the head. It’s a bitter bite but satisfying start to the EP. ‘Invincible’ follows just as raw and bloody but perhaps with a little more sweat and leather. Gravelly vocals scream while slick steamy guitars crash and stride throughout the track leaving burn marks behind. It’s a punchy aggressive beast, rugged and fuzzed but exuding fire and brimstone strut quality and swagger. ‘Nasty Habits’ brings us to a groovy end to the EP. With Kasabian hints and anthemic chorus, this one is sure to go down well at a live show. It’s jagged and bristly soaked in attitude and brawn with nimble silky slick guitar and infectious groove, its sensual, punchy and a little pouty.
Neon Dolls ‘Black’ EP is a rough rugged blow of sharp bruising rock and roll. They know what they are doing and these tunes are staggeringly electrifying.
Neon Dolls will embark on a UK tour this Autumn – for more dates and info head to http://www.neondolls.co.uk/
Alternative rock band Cloakroom Q have released their debut two singles ‘Don’t Come Home’ and ‘Wankman2000’. Hailing from Newry, Daniel Havern (Drumer), Conall Coulter (Guitarist), Dan Monaghan (Bassist), Ryan Elmore (Vocals) and Sean Hickey (Synth) formed after two of the members (Conall and Sean) saw LCD Soundsystem during their live set at Electric Picnic 2016. This influenced them to start a band which had many musical similarities to LCD. Of course, with the advent of Cloakroom Q they followed less of these musical influences as the sound developed with the additions of Dan, Ryan and Danny. Influences of the band “Slint” are present with both tracks due to the spoken word vocals featured. However, the influence of LCD soundsystem is still ever present with these tracks due to the synth arrangements.
‘Don’t Come Home’ is an intense spine chilling ominously dark trip. Twinkling creepy sinister synths create an almost horror movie like start. The steady pulsing beat creates a menacing foundation for the track while ghoulish haunting falsetto “ooh”, between anguished shaky vocals. It’s chilling and obscure smothered in simplicity as the feathery light melody on synths glisten, interweaving playfully and eerily against the harsh striking emotional lyrics. The track builds in intensity as drums pound and guitars crash becoming heavy and mosh ready, ending with the piercing shrill of distortion. This track is weighty both instrumentally and emotionally. It’s agonising, harrowing and brilliantly crafted. These guys build to a fury bursting crescendo while still holding back on some of the emotion. Its like a controlled explosion that is held taut so the intensity and torment remains throughout the fierce blow up.
‘Wankman2000’ is a pulsing psychedelic trip swirling in hypnotic soundscapes and flickering synths. A strong beat once again acts as a constant as the track wobbles and warps around it. Becoming heavy the track builds into fury infested headbang rock smothered in psychedelic delusions. Spoken vocals become aggressive and shouty. Dripping in acid-like illusions with dark eerie tones and pounding rhythms it’s another dense staggering track from this five piece.
Cloakroom Q have presented two chilling throbbing heavy hitting tracks with arrangements that take you on a roller-coaster ride of lurching and rolling with raw anguish and intensity. These two tracks whack these guys into the ones to watch list.
Stream singles ‘Don’t Come Home’ and ‘Wankman2000’ below
Birmingham rock band Blank Parody are set to release their debut EP ‘A Tension’ on the 18th August. The band comprised of members Joby Fitzgerald (Vocals), Liam Howard (Guitar), Connor Hodgkiss (Drums), and Freddie Shaw (Bass) are making a name for themselves with their monstrous guitars, heavy drums, gritty vocals and distorted poetry.
‘A Tension’ is a blistering fierce six track EP seamlessly blending gritty grunge with heavy rock and anthemic pop sprinkled melodies. The rip-roaring track ‘Dark Pretenders’ which we have previously featured on Indie Buddie kicks off the EP, thunderous and fiery this explosive track blasts straight into the no nonsense sound of Blank Parody. It’s a ballsy guitar shredding adrenaline pumping force to be reckoned with. Slick riffs and elastic bass slap against thrilling distortion and punchy drums while vocals growl with gritty hair-raising creepiness.It’s a blood pumping start to the EP. ’Still Stuck Here’ and ‘Thickened Pulse’ maintains this accelerated intense pace. Drenched in gritty sweaty mosh ready rhythms, passionate vocals, well-oiled slick guitar licks and shredding solos, they stomp through with a neck snapping ferocity. ‘Marching Through the Smoke’ follows. It’s an agitated bruising track featuring a sublime emotion filled instrumental that builds to an echoed abrupt sweet vocal end. Dramatic and spirited it’s a flaming raw track with jagged razor-sharp guitar cutting throughout, backed by an animated rhythm. ‘Underachiever’ relieves the tension of the EP a little. The track is much lighter and melodic, softer vocals ethereal guitars and rumbling bass add buoyancy and a lift to the song. However the instrumental break still packs a punch as guitars screech and sting with a rugged scratching shrill. The all-powerful ‘Snakes’ brings a rowdy, growly, bloodcurdling end to the EP. Aggressive, eerie and smothered in dark tones this savage track is a raging body pounding mammoth. With vicious strident guitars pulverizing drums and a mighty throbbing bass it packs a bruising frantic punch.
‘A Tension’ is an EP that showcases the relentless stamina Blank Parody have. Oozing chilling enraged energy with slick proficient musicianship they deliver a fantastic debut EP with raw catchy anthemic tracks that leave you imagining and anticipating a thrilling live show and wanting to hear more. Each track sets itself up to be epic live. Keep an eye out for these guys.
Wicklow band Before The After have released their new single ‘What If That’s It?’ taken off their debut self titled E.P. The five piece consisting of members Skye Norton (vocals), Josh O’Reilly (Guitar),
James O’Connor (Bass), Peter Kavanagh (Drums) and Éanna Malone (Guitar) have been jamming and crafting heavy punchy rock music for nearly three years. Drawing inspiration from many 90’s and early 00’s bands such as ‘At The Drive’, ‘TOOL’, ‘Alice in Chains’ and ‘Queens of the Stone Age’.
‘What If That’s It?’ is a raw heavy belter with gritty slick instrumentation smothered in dark tones and a glossy polished finish.Mighty expressive vocals are the powerhouse to this track while razor sharp guitar riffs, punchy drums and elastic bass add a spine tingling sensual almost luring quality. It is mosh worthy with a richly textured rhythm adding a rumbling almost churning effect, this five piece have crafted this track well. Its slick swagger filled guitar licks slide against an intense lusty soundscape creating a biting strong layered track that is thrilling.
Stream ‘What If That’s It?’ below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
