Tag Archives: alternative rock

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

Valhalla ‘Big Men, They Fall’ EP

Dublin alternative rock trio Valhalla have released their debut EP ‘Big Men, They Fall’. The band comprised of Mark Boyle (Vocals & Guitar), Barry Monahan (Bass) and Luke Alford (Drums) have been hard at work with multiple live headline shows across the Dublin scene in such venues as The Workmans Club, Sin E, The Sound House, The Underground and Fibber Magees. 2018 saw the band play a sold-out show in Whelan’s for the single launch of “Hear Me Calling” which has been well received with airplay on Radio Nova & RTE 2XFM.

‘Big Men,They Fall’ foreshadows a promising future for Valhalla. This intoxicating EP is full of wonderful engaging guitar lines, infectious grooves, stomping rhythms and sublime melodies. It’s not just the jagged rawness and subtle hue of rock slapped aggression in ‘Don’t Leave Her Down’ that engages and lures your ears into their music. It’s also the sweet melodies and meaty riffs and how they bring a sleek, emotional quality into their powerful tracks. This perfect blend of edgy rock, moody indie and soft delicate moments is what makes this EP a mature and refined experience.With ethereal, almost celestial tones on guitar glimmering through the dark smoky ‘Don’t Leave Her Down’ Valhalla showcase the bands proficient ability to meticulously craft and build their tracks beautifully. The powerful vocals from Mark Boyle surge each track with emotion and warm tones. ‘Hear Me Calling’ brings a funky flex to the EP as the rooted bass weaves a hip moving groove through the sultry guitar while the punchy drums keep the foundation lean and mean. With a clap along feature, enticing melody and perfect blend of gritty/silken textures- this trio find the sweet spot between dark rawness and strut worthy sleekness, solidifying their hold on your ears. ‘The Revenant’ slows the tone as Boyle pines over an emotional melody and gripping instrumentation. This is one for the teary power punch in the air as we see a tender side to the bands musicianship all while packing in beautiful guitar work and engaging rhythms leading us perfectly to the final track ‘Cryptic’. A tender, icy number that exposes raw emotion through a bittersweet melody and compelling instrumentation.


‘Big Men,They Fall’ is a four track EP that boasts the intricately cultivated and tight musicianship of Valhalla. The band have a full, rich sound and maturity that stands composed, passionate and impressive. They are ones to keep an eye on.

Stream ‘Big Men,They Fall’ below


Alt Rock, indie rock, New Music

Branch to Root ‘Home’

Alternative, Post Rock collective, Branch to Root have released their new single, ‘Home’.Since the beginning, the band have toured around the UK as a four piece band, spurring on an online fan-base of dedicated listeners.

‘Home’ is an emotional raw track that sways beautifully through ethereal instrumentation and Branch to Root’s powerful expressive musicianship. The biting guitars mournfully twinkle through the icy verses while the raspy vocals coo the tender melody. The instrumentation floats delicately through the verses with an emotional fragility before building into a powerful chorus. The guitars crash off the punchy drum thuds creating the most hair raising and compelling atmosphere as the chorus explodes into an anthemic expression. The lyrics convey that holding onto negative emotions does nothing but impede growth and the band display this perfectly through building the turmoil inflicted instrumentation. Branch to Root create a subtle push and pull effect between the verses and chorus that builds tension beautiful and pours immense passion and emotion into this sublime track.

About the track the band said :  “Despite the heartache, we reluctantly wish that those who leave us will get where they need to, mentally and emotionally making it “home”.

You can catch Branch to Root live at :
– Kingsfest, Sunday 26th May, Llanidloes Rugby Club, Llanidloes, Wales.

– Chester Pride Festival, Saturday 10th August, Music Is Now Stage, Castle Square, Chester, England.

Stream ‘Home’ below


Alt Rock, Grunge, Indie, indie rock, New Music, Rock, Worth A Listen

Worth A Listen

Photo Credit : Derek Bremner

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Fangclub

Fangclub have released their new track ‘Hesitations’. The three-piece who are currently working on their second album present a tasty savage appetizer. With dark soundscapes creeping like a misty fog on a eerie cold night this intense number confirms Fangclubs firm grasp on our ears. It’s catchy and explosive with their trademark anthemic chorus that erupts with crashing guitars, pulverising drums and inflamed bass. The verses simmer as the guitars smoulder and curdle beneath the rumbling bass while the drum relentlessly pounds throughout. Steven King’s vocals haunt and whisper building the intensity before becoming more dynamic for the raging chorus. With the sublime addition of a hypnotic chant by the Rush Youth Choir contrasting the blood curdling wall of sound, Fangclub have beautifully fermented and crafted this track to create their most thrilling and exhilarating material yet. If  ‘Hesitations’ is anything to go by there is exciting things to come from this trio.

Watch the video for ‘Hesitations’ below


Alt Rock, Indie, indie rock, New Music

Grant Kilpatrick ‘Tension’

Grant Kilpatrick has released his debut single ‘Tension’ which was recorded with Bruce Rintoul (Twin Atlantic/Vukovi/Fatherson) . Based just outside of Edinburgh Scotland, Grant Kilpatrick is a songwriter with an edge. With introspective lyrics draped over a backdrop of raw angular guitar music, Kilpatrick displays his wide range of influences through his tunes.

‘Tension’ is an edgy indie rock track that swarms in with sharp guitars, pulverising drums and a hefty wall of sound. This mammoth blasts with adrenaline pumping energy as Kilpatrick’s smooth vocals dynamically sing over the blistering backdrop. The acute guitars sting, pierce and shrill with attitude and relentless stamina adding sweltering swagger and passion while the buoyant fierce rhythm keeps the track travelling at an exhilarating speed. This song storms in with a whirlpool of boisterous indie rock at its best. Driving with vigor and kinetic electricity ‘Tension’ is an invigorating debut from Grant Kilpatrick.

Stream ‘Tension’ below


Alt Rock, Cinamatic, Hypnotic, Indie, New Music, Worth A Listen

Worth A Listen

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From Bayonets

Bayonets has released his new single ‘Farewell To Me’. Bayonets is a solo project created by Kerry musician and songwriter Vinnie Flynn. His distinctive style is a mix of alternative rock, indie, blues and folk.In addition to writing and performing live, Flynn also works with several publishing companies based in the US who pitch his compositions to prime time TV shows and movies. Flynn has a string of gigs and festivals in the pipeline for 2019, including Vantastival and some overseas appearances.His singles have received regular radio play on RTE’s 2fm and have even hit airwaves as far as Brooklyn, United States.

Another deeply haunting number ‘Farewell To Me’ creeps and stealthily slinks into your mind with its thrilling inky stain of delight. Devilishly tempting the track lures with a hypnotic guitar refrain that lingers in your mind for days. With an air of chilling mystery wrapped in an opaque shroud of ominous soundscapes this track is sublimely crafted to fill you with enchanting horror. Flynn’s vocals take a Marilyn Mansion quality as he whispers and deeply entices beneath the steady beat and guitar strums as if slowly luring you to your demise with a deceiving sense of security. The verses prowl with a charming intrigue while the chorus entraps you in Flynn’s sound and dark eerie tale. The cinematic aspect of this track will give you goosebumps as ‘Farewell To Me’ takes you to the point of no return.

Watch the video for ‘Farewell To Me’ below


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

Thumper ‘In My Room’

Dublin’s Thumper have released their new single ‘In My Room’. With major radio support across Ireland and the UK and stretching as far as Brazil, these guys are currently riding high on Spotify’s Hot New Bands playlist.

‘In My Room’ is an erosive blast of psych pop that corrodes with blistering guitars and pummeling drums creating an exhilarating wall of sound while the pop smacked melody coats the track in sugary fizz. This frenzied track froths with shrilling distortion and abrasive instrumentation as the rumbling elastic bass slaps and grooves infectiously behind the crashing majestic guitar-burns while the smooth vocals bounce along the bubblegum melody. The track builds into a sonic blast of pounding rhythms and mania for the thrilling crescendo as this adrenaline-inducing song shows Thumper at their most intoxicating. It’s one hell of a tune made for playing as loud as possible.

Watch the video for ‘In My Room’ below


Alt Rock, Indie, indie rock, New Music

Distant Blue ‘Lucid Liar (Novocaine)’

Nottingham alternative rock band Distant Blue have released their new single ‘Lucid Liar (Novocaine)’. With its hefty gritty persona ‘Lucid Liar (Novocaine)’ storms in boasting the scorching, swagger-dripping sound of Distant Blue.Raspy vocals prance through the infectious melody while the brawny drums and burly bass provide the pulverising, body pounding foundation. This track is impressively crafted as the band blend their mighty, powerful alternative rock with a smooth luring melody. The track builds fantastically into an intense beastly crescendo as the vocals scream through the furious instrumentation. The refined guitars slice through some beefy riffs as well as showcasing the bands finesse with slinky licks and shrilling whines. ‘Lucid Liar (Novocaine)’ is a lean mean,  powerful number from Distant Blue.

Stream ‘Lucid Liar (Novocaine)’ below


Alt Rock, Indie, indie rock, New Music

Pompadour ‘Oh Honey’

Three-piece rock band Pompadour have released their second single, ‘Oh, Honey!’ which was recorded and mixed at J&J Studios in Bristol. Pompadour co-produced the single with Nathan Long. It was mastered by Tom Cory, who has also worked on tracks for Adidas, and his own band; Novatines. Pompadour was founded in January 2018 after college friends and bandmates, Tamsin Sayers (vocals, bass) and Kearney Day (guitar) left their previous band and created their own project with their best friend from college. After a lineup change in early 2019, Rob Beresford joined Pompadour on drums, adding a whole new dynamic to the band.

‘Oh Honey’ is a dynamic surge of indie rock as Pompadour blend their smooth melodies with blistering instrumentation. Sharp guitar bursts jangle between a snappy beat while Tamsin Sayers’ powerful vocals ooze expression and warm tones. The track has an ethereal atmosphere as the easy on the ears melody melts upon a stormy backdrop. The song builds into a fiery chorus as the guitars crash and rebound off the buoyant beat while the gritty bass slices through this gripping wall of sound.Filled with adrenaline and oodles of energy ‘Oh Honey’ is another exhilarating track from Pompadour.

About the track Tamsin Sayers said: “Oh, Honey is written as a love song of sorts, in whichever capacity that may be, It’s about how the right person can have a big effect on your disposition. In this case, they bring out the fun, kind of crazy side of them. On the flipside, it could be a love song to themself, and how they love the carefree, energetic part of themselves. They can’t quite summon the energy inside them to be like that all of the time.”

Stream ‘Oh Honey’ below


Alt Rock, Indie, indie rock, New Music

The Amazons ‘Doubt It’

The Amazons have announced their new album ‘Future Dust’ will be released on 24th May on Fiction Records, alongside revealing their new single ‘Doubt It’. The Amazons were the most hotly tipped band of 2017 and followed through with their debut album reaching #8 in the official chart. The band received  BBC Radio 1 and 6 music A lists as well as a sold out tour including London’s Kentish Town Forum.

‘Doubt It’ is a gritty rugged slice of The Amazons’ swaggering sound. With jagged riffs carving through the pounding drums and groove infested bass this darkly smothering track is one exhilarating anthem. These guys drench the track in blistering instrumentation with sweltering guitars and a hip moving foundation to create a menacing blast of absorbing indie rock. With its luring intense verses building magnificently into the powerful chorus this fiery anthem is arena ready and absolutely thrilling. Lush backing vocals coo behind Matthew Thomson’s main passionate vocal delivery while sizzling guitar injections penetrate the punchy rhythmic section – its a thrilling new belter from The Amazons.

Lead singer Matthew Thomson says, “Doubt It is about being on the edge of making a potentially stupid decision due to lust-induced blindness. It addresses the lingering doubts, the residue of morals and succumbing to the temptations.”

Stream ‘Doubt It’ below


Alt Rock, Indie, indie rock, New Music

BLVFF ‘Shame’

BLVFF have released their new single ‘Shame’. BLVFF, pronounced bluff, are a dark, indie, pop collective, hailing from the Midlands. With 30,000 Spotify streams, plays from BBC Intro Midlands and Amazing Radio the band have now signed to much loved new indie label These Bloody Thieves Records along with False Heads & Moses.

‘Shame’ is a blustery compact number sizzling and scorching with intense instrumentation and powerful musicianship. Sharp guitars relentlessly pierce through the track with scorching raw adrenaline while a rooted bass groove and punchy drums create a thrilling body pounding backdrop. The track flurries and fiercely batters with refined precision as the catchy smooth melody glides over this stormy instrumentation. With a powerful vocal delivery, scorching crescendo, thrilling musicianship and slick swagger-drenched guitar display, BLVFF are ones to watch.

Stream ‘Shame’ below