Tag Archives: alternative rock

Album Review, Alt Rock, Blues Rock, Garage Rock, indie rock, New Music, Rock

Bite the Buffalo ‘Bad Habits’ Album

Rock duo Bite the Buffalo have released their 3rd studio album ‘Bad Habits’. A band of brothers hailing originally from Scotland Bite the Buffalo are a garage rock band with an edge that derives from their rich cultural background. In their career thus far, they have held the support slot for many major bands Fat White Family, Happy Mondays, The Growlers and Skindred to name a few. They have also graced the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury 2013 which in turn drew the attention from Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant who invited the band to join him at a sold out Manchester Apollo gig.The BBC support  has continued into 2019 with their latest release ‘Get Back Up’ receiving radio play. The band have also secured a number of media partnerships already, including the likes of Channel 4 Motorsports, Go Pro Highlight Reel, Formula 1 Highlights and Tattoo Fixers.

‘Bad Habits’ is a swagger dripping, brawny yet slick collection of garage rock that frazzles through steam scorched riffs and pummeling rhythms. These guys slap on some bluesy soaked suaveness through the short intro ‘The Man’ as a dragged beat thuds through a vaporous guitar refrain. The tracks that follow this  introduction are brimming with anthemic beefy rawness in a The Black Keys- esque style with a Bite the Buffalo’s stomp. ‘Get Back Up’, ‘Dee Zeez’ and ‘Game On’ keep the energy of the album at a maximum while they flesh out their abrasive garage rock sound. While ‘Deja Voodoo’ dissolves in a haze of dreamy psychedelic bliss, cooling the tone of the album as acoustic guitars strum through a steady beat while the warm vocals coo through the sweet melody. Here this duo prove not only can they whack out cracking heavy tunes they can chill and mellow things out, refining and cooling their sound into a dazed sway-able groove. The fuzz-filled gritty ‘Shoot Shoot’ has an air of Royal Blood wafting through the edgy guitar riff. The track sizzles with a funk hue, shuffling rhythm and catchy as hell chorus. Bite the Buffalo simmer things down with the slick ‘Reverend Revolver’ and its sensual groove, vaporous guitar lines and infectious backing vocals (which remind me of The Good The Bad and The Ugly theme tune). Their vigorous sharp edged musicianship continues with ‘I Wanna CU Again’ and  ‘Recent Times’. However ‘All Them Guns’ brings a freeing 60/70’s hippie vibe to the album with twanging guitars, soft vocals and lush harmonies. It feels like this duo transport you back in time with their psychedelic tinged soundscapes and smooth instrumentation behind quite striking lyrics. Bonus tracks ‘Lucky Roller’ and ‘Fire Dance’ are contrasting pieces of finesse. The former, features shredding guitars crashing and weaving nimbly between punchy drums and Mark Bolan- esque vocals while the latter jingles along with a mysterious eerie tone, elegant piano feature and a graceful tempo that gives us a glimpse of the grander side to Bite the Buffalo.

Bite the Buffalo showcase some varied tunes throughout their ‘Bad Habits’ album. Garage, stoner rock, punk and some psychedelic flavours are drizzled throughout but all this hangs together beautifully with the sleek musculature and acrobatic riffs weaving a firm thread through the album – its impressively crafted.

Stream ‘Bad Habits’ below


Alt Rock, Garage Rock, indie rock, New Music, Post Punk

Stupid Son ‘Bread’

Dublin based noisy introverts, Stupid Son have released the video for their new single ‘Bread’. Fresh out of college the band self-produced their video with a budget of €15.

‘Bread’ is a raw anguish stricken blast or organic home grown garage rock as a legion of distorted guitars pierce, shrill and crash through pummeling drums and distressed mournful vocals. This explosive track whines and blasts through a moody melody and mopey atmosphere while the rooted bass and shredding guitars add a dash of spice and razor sharp vigor. The guitars thrash and batter through the track rebounding and ricocheting off the brawny drums and infectious buoyant rhythm showing a refined quality to the mayhem of Stupid Son’s musicianship. It’s a thrilling, barbed debut.

Watch the video for ‘Bread’ below


Alt Rock, Atmospheric Music, Experimental Rock, Hypnotic, Indie, indie rock, New Music

Runway Lights ‘Broad Strokes’

Dublin experimental, alternative rock band Runway Lights have released their new single  ‘Broad Strokes’. In their short time together they have already graced the stages of a number of prestigious Dublin venues including The Workman’s Club, Whelan’s and The Button Factory, earning a reputation for their ferocious live sound. The band’s debut single ‘Crash’ was released in July and was marked by an appearance at the Whelan’s ‘Summer Watch’ festival.Their new single ‘Broad Strokes’ tells a dark tale of an unwanted encounter. It’s release was followed by an appearance at Whelan’s Ones To Watch festival and is the first track to be taken from their debut EP, due for release in early 2019.

With it’s soothing purr of delicacy and ominous mystery ‘Broad Strokes’ is a sweet daydream that has a chilling undertone. Twinkling guitars gently pepper the lulling verses while swirling soundscapes wisp about, luring behind the cooing vocals. The track builds becoming more sinister and compelling as sharp guitars whine and distort over the hypnotic rhythm and icy soundscape. The melody flutters and innocently dances between the biting entrapment of the instruments. With beautiful and compelling guitar lines meandering through the biting soundscapes Runway Lights create a unique and compelling track that immerses you in their mesmerising sound.

Stream ‘Broad Strokes’ below


Alt Rock, indie rock, New Music, Shoegaze

Jake Regan ‘Over It’

Dublin singer songwriter Jake Regan has released his debut single ‘Over It’. Regan who was previously in the band Segrasso has now gone out on his own and is recording his debut album where he plays all the instruments on the recording.

‘Over It’ is the first taste of Regan’s solo work. With nonchalant vocals breezing over a crashing backdrop of grungy shoegaze this track is a charming biter. He blends the laid back hazy vibes of the verses perfectly with the shredding chorus. Blistering guitars lacerate through the punchy drums with knife edged precision while Regan sweetly broods over this raw backdrop. There are some refined moments as the track takes a unique sweet turn half way through. The guitars spiral into a luscious melodic motif that features sublime guitar work from Regan as he meanders through a tight piece of musicianship filled with honeyed tones and gritty elements. This is meticulously blended to create a mind melting listening experience. This track frizzles and distorts while soothing with its sweetly melodic moments and moody tones. It’s quite the roller coaster.

Stream ‘Over It’ below


Alt Rock, indie rock, New Music, Rock, Rock and Roll

Scally ‘Filthy Animal’


Photo credit : Nicholas O’Donnell Photography
Design: Stuart Hayes Photography

Mullingar rock n’ roll artist Scally has released his intense video for his new single ‘Filthy Animal’. The video which was directed by Karl O’Reilly of Bunsen Media stars Sorcha Herlihy, Dmitry Vinokurov and Ethan Scally himself. The visual tells the frenzied story of lust, jealousy and rage.

The track itself is another riveting rock n ‘roll number from Scally. With a hypnotic bass groove creeping in behind the thumping drum beats and sultry guitars, this track travels on an exhilarating frisson of hysteria. It’s another in your face, swagger dripping track doused in the exceptional instrumentation we have come to expect from this band. These guys blend the sweltering enticing vibes with all out anarchy meticulously to create a mosh ready blood curdling number that will have you hanging on the edge of your seat craving and frothing for more. With panache plunged vocals and an invigorating wall of sound driving that body moving beat and vaporous sizzle this is one well crafted track. A shredding guitar solo blisters through the punchy slick backdrop – Scally has created another searing number that seeps shrewdly under your skin itching right to your bones.

Watch the video for  ‘Filthy Animal’ below


Alt Rock, Blues Rock, indie rock, New Music, Rock

Broozer ‘Son of Man

Wolverhampton based duo Broozer have released their new single ‘Son of Man’. This blistering track stomps about with meaty drums pounding through hefty riffs and attitude soaked vocals. Its swagger drenched persona struts in while the pulverizing wall of sound shatters through your ear drums with relentless energy and mighty stamina. Filled with gusto and rowdy power, the drums assault and throttle through the slinky blues-flavoured sharp guitars with a no nonsense attitude and charisma. With screaming vocals and rough rawness in tow- it’s a lean mean machine from Broozer.

Watch the video for  ‘Son of Man’ below


Alt Rock, indie rock, New Music, Rock

Distant Blue ‘Tongue Tied’

Nottingham alternative rock band Distant Blue are set to release their new single ‘Tongue Tied’. The track is taken from their EP which is going to be out later this year. ‘Tongue Tied’ is a boisterous wallop to the jugular of exhilarating alternative rock. Luring darkly hued verses smoulder through an intense backdrop of angular guitars and buoyant, punchy drums as Distant Blue whack out a slick, swagger soaked number. With muscular riffs, riot-inducing breakdowns, and a ferocious chorus these guys clock you around the head with their brawny slick sound. Raspy vocals growl through the catchy sing along ready chorus while a crashing wall of sound and sublime bass line pummels its vigorous sound into your brain. It’s thrilling material that will evoke carnage in a live setting and sounds pretty impressive blasting through your ears. Keep an eye out for these guys.

‘Tongue Tied’ is set for release on the 25th February make sure to have a listen when its released – its a cracker.

You can follow Distant Blue on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/OfficialDistantBlue/



Alt Rock, Indie, New Music, Rock and Roll

OverLockers ‘Time to Time’

Dublin based band OverLockers have released their new single ‘Time to Time’.Comprised of Jeremy Burke on guitar and vocals, David O’Grady on Guitar and Vocals, Eoin Madden on bass and Eoghan Barrett on drums the band display their first release of 2019 in true rock n’ roll manner.

Gritty, razor sharp and full of gusto ‘Time to Time’ is a ferocious number from OverLockers. With guitar lines dripping swagger which slide and sizzle off a punchy drum and bass combo this riff driven beast is a force to be reckoned with. The drums pummel through the track with relentless stamina while the nimble bass wanders around the flighty guitars. It’s a moody, “angsty” track with Burke’s animated vocals exclaiming over the boisterous backdrop. For me those wailing, blistering guitar injections are the glorious highlight, they douse the track in red hot fiery panache and provide a blustering rock n’ roll persona.‘Time to Time’ is one blazing inferno from OverLockers.

Stream ‘Time to Time’ below


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

Worth A Listen

Our Worth A Listen Track This Week Comes From The Pretty Visitors

Portsmouth indie rock band The Pretty Visitors have released their new single ‘It’s Not Easy’. Originally forming in 2012, the band played many shows in Southampton, Portsmouth and London, supporting artists such as Circa Waves, Jaws, Billy Lunn (The Subways), The Family Rain and more recently, Sisteray. Making a Victorious Festival debut in 2014, the band made a decision to pursue other avenues for the coming years. Reforming in Autumn of 2018, The Pretty Visitors are back, with bigger sounds and ambitions. They kicked off the year in style with a headline gig at Wedgewood Rooms, after selling out the smaller sister venue within a week of announcement.

‘It’s Not Easy’ is a crisp biting display from The Pretty Visitors. Swallowed up in an energetic wall of sound this blistering punchy number is raucous old school indie rock at its most potent. Raw guitars wail and shriek while crashing off snappy, pounding drums. A rooted elastic bass creates a fluctuant foundation and dance-able quality to the track. Hyperactive and filled with mosh ready madness this burly assault storms in ready to get a live audience in a frenzy. With a scorching guitar solo between a heavy rhythmic backdrop and attitude soaked vocals The Pretty Visitors showcase their swaggering raw sound with subtle flickers of finesse glimmering through the thrilling mayhem. It’s a catchy, exhilarating adrenaline shot of indie rock.


Watch the video for ‘It’s Not Easy’ below


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

Y!KES ‘Uncanny Valley’

Alternative four-piece, Y!KES have released their debut single ‘Uncanny Valley’. The band is comprised of TJ Weston (Drums), Liam Howard (Guitar, backing vocal), Joby Fitzgerald (Lead vocal, rhythm guitar), Matt Ford (Bass) and this new single is the first of five singles scheduled for this year.

‘Uncanny Valley’ is an intoxicating blast of Y!KES’ catchy demolishing alternative rock. It’s snappy rhythm is consumed with relentless energy as punchy drums batter through a groove riddled bass line while shredding exhilarating guitars majestically soar, wail and screech over this mammoth whack of turmoil. It’s a meaty burly tune glossed with an infectious melody and raspy vocal delivery. Ready for the sticky mosh pit Y!KES announce themselves with one attention demanding anthem. ‘Uncanny Valley’ is fiery, full of gusto and one hell of a tune.

The accompanying video is a grotesquely humorous representation of the songs intense themes of isolation and stigmatisation, as well as a showcase for their extreme energy and theatricality. This is a band who are primed and ready to break down the doors of the UK rock scene this year.

Watch the video for ‘Uncanny Valley’ below