Tag Archives: alternative rock

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

Ned Dylan ‘Life’s a Rave’

17-year-old original artist and songwriter, Ned Dylan has released his first single ‘Life’s a Rave’ from his debut album. The track is produced by Gordon Raphael (the Strokes’ first three albums/Regina Spektor’s ‘Soviet Kitsch’/Hinds), Wizard (M.IA./Chemical Brothers/Chase & Status/Wiley) and Freear (Slamboree).In the past Dylan has played festivals such as Glastonbury, Bestival, Secret Garden Party and Beautiful Days among others, leaving lasting impressions with his high-energy performances.He has also received coverage, airplay and praise from the likes of BBC Radio 2, Sir Tim Rice, American Songwriter, Amazing Radio and BBC News among others.

‘Life’s a Rave’ showcases Dylan’s sublime musicianship that encapsulates its theme perfectly through darkly coated soundscapes and catchy melodies. This cinematic number wavers between indie pop and symphonic rock to create a wholly enchanting goosebump inducing listen. Driving rhythms and sticky beats slap between an ominous piano feature while sinister strings elegantly lament in the chilling background. His vocals are filled with anguish and a sense of hurried danger and drama while lush backing vocals add a dash of soul into this adrenaline inducing banger. It’s intense, utterly mesmerising and well crafted with tight production teamed with the perfect and diverse use of instrumentation to slither and glide between genres seamlessly. Dylan oozes effortless swagger yet his delivery of the track seeps a sense of mystery and confusion through the vivid instrumentation.

About the track Dylan said “Life’s a Rave, is about ‘social media, isolation, escapism and how we connect with each other”

Watch the video for ‘Life’s A Rave’ below


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

Lead Coloured River ‘Uncensored’ EP

Lead Coloured River have released their new EP ‘Uncensored’. Lead Coloured River are an indie rock quartet hailing from the valleys of South Wales. Forming in February of 2017, they have been hard at work establishing a name for themselves in the Welsh music scene.

‘Uncensored’ is an impressive and compact collection of tracks that showcase Lead Coloured River’s blistering brand of indie rock. From the first track ‘Uncensored Heartache’ with its swagger soaked rock n’ roll flair, we see how this four piece take guitar rock and flesh it out with some wonderful embellishments. Slick shredding riffs pierce through the punchy drum smacks and thrilling rooted bass grooves. Lead Coloured River can whack out a catchy chorus with ease, building the atmosphere, smearing it in darkly coated hues and mysterious tones while creating a “mosh pit frenzy” ready foundation and wrapping it in a danceable blanket. The quartet wear their influences on their sleeves with ‘Deception’ and ‘Set It Out’ oozing an early Arctic Monkeys residue. Each track flows fluidly and swiftly into the next with refined ease. Gritty guitars parade slick licks while the rooted rhythm marches everything at a powerful brisk pace. ‘Set It Out’ displays just how proficient this four piece are at melody progression. The infectious chorus is sure to spark massive live sing alongs while that sublime explosive crescendo and rumble drum progression sets the track apart from its predecessors. It’s meaty, well oiled and crafted beautifully. This I need to see live. ‘Everything’s Changed’ closes the EP ensuring we fully comprehend the brisk vibrant sound of Lead Coloured River. It’s a snappy, hyper number that flails wailing guitar shards about a hefty backdrop while dynamic vocals spit the brisk melody through agile bass lines. The perfect closer to keep you wanting more.

Lead Coloured River have presented us with a slick, vivacious four track EP that tantalizes the senses and promises this four piece are ones to keep an eye on. They are finding their sound and at the moment that sound glides on swagger steeped melodies, high-octane riffs, distorted bass and hefty drums.

Stream ‘Uncensored’ below


Alt Rock, electro - rock, Electronic, indie rock, New Music

Lupa ‘Until The Day’

Electronic Rock quartet Lupa have released their new single ‘Until The Day’ today. Drawing on the influences of Knife Party and Paramore, Lupa deliver a composite and dynamic listening experience with their newest single.With a multitude of live performances under their belts, collaborations with some of the best producers and filmmakers within the industry and continued growth across a number of their social media accounts, Lupa are continuing to gain momentum and make an impact with the right demographic.

‘Until The Day’ rushes through on an intoxicating buzz of electronic weaved rock. Flickering synths dazzle with seizure inducing flashes through rapid tightly knit drum beats and exhilarating guitar strides. This track travels at an intense adrenaline rushing speed as the compact rich backdrop thunders forward relentlessly building its sound becoming more heavy for the chorus. The meaty whack of the drum and bass lifts this track into a mosh pit ready banger while frontwoman Livvy M’s powerful vocals command and drive the catchy sweet melody. There is a lot going on in this song with intricate guitar melodies entwining a blazing rhythmic and electronic foundation yet Lupa blend these component parts seamlessly creating a dramatic, elated listening experience.


Stream ‘Until The Day’ below

Watch the video for ‘Until The Day’ below


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, Alt- Pop, Indie, Indie Pop, indie rock, New Music, Pop Punk, Pop Rock

Enemy II Lines ‘What She Said’

Alternative/indie rock four piece, Enemy II Lines, have released their new single ‘What She Said’. The band who are from Navan, County Meath, Ireland, formed in 2016. They are a young band, whose members are Dylan Hickey, Jordan Patton and brothers JohnPaul and Matthew Melady. ‘What She Said’ is an anthemic adrenaline rush of indie rock swirled and carefully rolled in pop punk with some garage residue sprinkled on top. Driven by catchy guitar hooks and punchy drums this infectious number soars and glides upon heart gripping youthful exuberance while maintaining a powerful meaty foundation of hefty riffs and a bulky rhythmic backdrop. The husky warm vocals and pop smeared glorious melody make this track an instant radio ready gem that is impossible to prise from you head. These guys showcase some swagger throughout the track with sublime guitar whines and intricate layering. It’s sing along ready and perfect for the kinetic live setting. Keep an eye out for these guys.

Stream  ‘What She Said’ below

 


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

Bloody English ‘Conflict Resolution’

Bloody English have just released their new single ‘Conflict Resolution’. The band are primarily a family affair with brothers Peter and Andrew Gomez joining their cousin, Chris Reynolds and his friend Sean O’Hanlon to form a covers band for a friend’s memorial gig. When Laurence Burden was recruited as vocalist they began writing original material.The London based band made national headlines following a charity gig for Momentum, when Daily Mail pictured them with Jeremy Corbyn with the caption ‘Corbyn with members of the band Bloody English’. Day to day, hobnobbing with the political class gives way to working with musical collectives, DJing at underground parties and promoting club nights in East London.

‘Conflict Resolution’ is a wild thrilling  number that batters and smashes your eardrums into tiny unrecognisable pieces. Travelling at an unruly hyperactive pace this track thunders in on a snappy punching groove of pulverizing relentless drums and elastic bass while crashing guitars dizzy and distort their way around the frantic backdrop. It’s loud, raucous and angry as Burden howls, exclaims and screams spitting the rapid lyrics into your brain while the intense rambunctious instrumentation bruises and shatters.It’s one for the frenzy of the mosh pit each blistering briery note evokes the smell of sweat, blood and the glorious sight of frantic pushing and jumping. This impassioned number summons the mosh pit frenzy into your room – in all its brutal glory.

Stream ‘Conflict Resolution’ below


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

BERRIES ‘Discreetly’

London alternative rock band BERRIES have released their latest single ‘Discreetly’. BERRIES are a three piece rock band who blend big breakdowns with instrumental hooks and catchy choruses to create their own twist on riff-driven rock. Following regular regional dates and notable festival slots including Liverpool Sound City, Dot to Dot and Alt Great Escape they recently sold out their biggest headline show to date at The Camden Assembly in London. They have attracted the attention of major radios and taste makers such as Record Collector, Time Out, Louder Than War, BBC 6 Music & Radio X and their previous single ‘Faults’ was featured for seven consecutive weeks on Jim Gellatly’s Amazing Radio Show. At the beginning of the year they were invited to perform at a Radio X live showcase by John Kennedy and are championed by Fred Perry Subculture and Fender (including being listed as one of their top ten favourite new bands for a feature in Richer Unsigned).

‘Discreetly’ is a weighty alternative rock track brimming with gritty riffs slicing through distorted abrasive bass lines and punchy drums. These guys build the track meticulously as the verses feature eerie tones and  light twinkling guitar injections through attitude soaked vocals and a buoyant rhythmic section as the song creeps and progresses into a more harsh and heavy chorus with crashing guitars and boisterous instrumentation. Blending a healthy dose of garage rock into the mix BERRIES’ biting sound creates a gripping mosh ready track filled with the perfect brew of subtle haunting moments and epic robust outbursts.

Stream ‘Discreetly’ below

https://soundcloud.com/berriesband/discreetly/s-saAtB

 


Alt Rock, Alt- Pop, electro - rock, electro- pop, Electronic, EP Review, Hypnotic, Indie, Indie Pop, Indie Psychedelic, indie rock, New Music, Psych-Pop, psychedelic, Rock, Synth Rock

Mini Mansions ‘Works Every Time’ EP

Mini Mansions have released their highly anticipated EP ‘Works Every Time’. Singer/guitarist Michael Shuman, singer/keyboardist Tyler Parkford, and bassist Zach Dawes are the glorious trinity of Mini Mansions, a band who push boundaries and overwhelm our minds with psychedelic encryption and delicious tunes. The band have played in some of the world’s biggest rock bands, Queens of The Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys and The Last Shadow Puppets these guys have been flourishing right at the roots of the rock genre readying themselves and fermenting their sound.This new release arrives three years after their second record, ‘The Great Pretenders’, which received critical praise and featured guest appearances from Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner and The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson and ‘Flashbacks’ a collection  of B-side tracks which was released in 2016. Mini Mansions sound is unique and stirring all at once and places them firmly on par if not above their comrades in intricate obscurity and just plain genius. ‘Works Every Time’ is only a glimpse of what these guys are capable of.

‘Works Every Time’ is a concise, flavoursome collection of juicy tracks to re-introduce us to the mouth watering home cooking of Mini Mansions. Title track ‘Works Every Time’ reels us in with a soft beat bouncing off a swoon worthy melody and glistening keys.Filled with wistful tones Parkford takes the vocals on this track, his sweet falsetto cooing over the breathtaking soundscapes as this song floats around a dreamy ethereal atmosphere while the zesty sting on guitars give a lamenting bite and sharpness to the track. ‘Midnight in Tokyo’ rumbles through with Dawes’ elastic bass line teamed with the sticky slapping beats setting the groove infested foundation as the track spirals into a sleazy swagger smacked number. With Prince like Bowie -esque hued verses and a triumphant catchy chorus this track struts in, slicked back, funk fueled and glossy. Shuman’s vocals take the lime light here drenched in panache and gritty rough flamboyance as flashing disco hued electronics dazzle the background while Parkford provides lush tight harmonies. The rich meaty sound is filled gloriously with zingy guitars weaving their way, flickering little bursts of spice throughout. Parkford takes vocals once again on ’This Bullet’ a psychedelic whirl of utter mind melting mania. He ventures to his ominous lower range while Dawes’ throbbing bass and meandering soundscapes rush you with a sinister sense of danger. This track has a residue of Mister Goodnite’s ‘One Against Five’ with a little more darkness and obscurity smeared on top as alien- esque electronics wail about eerie tones and snappy driving beats. There is something magnetic and hypnotic about this track as Mini Mansions distort and dissolve your entire grip of reality with one catchy dizzying tune. It’s dark and creepy especially when Parkford orders “take off your vest“ however it’s difficult to prise yourself away from its chilling charm. Of course the band offer up another stirring cover for us to devour. Having previously embellished our ears with Blondie’s ‘Heart of Glass’ and Sparks ‘Sherlock Holmes’ Mini Mansions dissect and dismember a thrillingly dark rendition of Edwyn Collins‘ ‘A Girl Like You’, dousing it in the gritty sleazy and intoxicating tones we love from this trio. It’s dark as Shuman howls, screams and deeply haunts over whining guitars and flashing electronics. Filled with infectious shimmy grooves this track will make your skin crawl and tantalize all your senses while creeping into your mind where it will firmly reside for days. They did a cover the only way Mini Mansions can … better than the original.

The talent of this band is immense. Each track was meticulously cultivated – simmering and ripening slowly in Mini Mansions pressure cooker until the band were ready to delight and shatter our ears all at once. It’s exciting to see what each release will bring. They never compromise their sound yet push boundaries and provide an enthralling full bodied sound with every release. There is no one else like Mini Mansions out there at the moment. We need this trio to keep music fresh.

Stream ‘Works Every Time’ below

 


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

The Empire Police ‘Modern Obsession’ EP

Preston four piece The Empire Police have released their new EP ‘Modern Obsession’, the follow up to last years self titled EP. The indie rock quartet formed in 2015 and quickly became an accomplished “live” act with a growing, energetic fan base across northern cities including Preston, Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield. Having had several of their songs played on BBC Introducing and BBC 6 Music the band continues to develop their live shows and their own unique sound.

‘Modern Obsession’ is a power-rock pumping station ready to burst with huge choruses and shredding instrumentation. The arena sing along ready title track ‘Modern Obsession’ introduces the EP with a fine sense of subtle grandeur. The catchy chorus, twinkling guitars and punchy drum stomp create a gripping atmosphere for the song. This Imagine dragons -esque ditty, swoons and soars over heartfelt melodies and crowd friendly motifs while steamy guitar solos inject a healthy dose of classic rock grit into this anthemic number.‘Fine Lines’ and ‘Am I To Know’ thrusts some punk fire into the mix. These guys prove they can whack some gritty mosh ready heaviness into their sound seamlessly while also flickering into some funky guitar bridges and infectious smooth melodies between the crashing mania. Slick riffage is another glorious feature running riot throughout this EP, it is at its most thrilling display in ‘Vibrant Hideaway’. Gritty jagged and razor sharp, the guitar riffs slice and dice their way through this track. The Empire Police continue their blistering rock intensity with ’By The Scenes’ and closing track ‘Any Greater Wisdom’ as they glide a delicious melody over the vigorous instrumental. There is a residue of The Killers ‘Sams Town’ era floating about ‘By The Scenes’ as it pulses through on a gripping lamenting melody with an anthemic soaring backing of scorching guitars and pummeling drums. However The Empire Police create their own cinematic enthralling display throughout this tune.

The Empire Police have created a hook filled collection of tracks to get the heart racing and fill the soul with that adrenaline fueled sense of urgency only a solid anthemic indie rock EP can induce.

Stream below ‘Modern Obsession’ below