We sat down to have a spontaneous chat with Claire Miskimmin and Lyndsey McDougall from Belfast band New Pagans before their set supporting Palaye Royale at The Button Factory Dublin. We talked about the band’s sound, their influences and their new single ‘Admire’.
Watch the interview below
Author : Danu
Four piece The Rezner have released their new single ‘Wouldn’t You Like To Know’ which has already received radio support from the mighty Rodney Bingenheimer at Sirius XM. He joins the likes of Alan McGee (Creation Records),This Feeling and BBC Introducing to give the band a thumbs up.
‘Wouldn’t You Like To Know’ is a fiery ballsy alternative rock number brimming with mighty punk hype and oodles of adrenaline. With shredding guitars crashing and wiggling through a grooving shimmy bass and punchy drums the track explodes with kinetic vigor. It’s a speedball ablaze with sleek mighty musicianship. With snappy vocals spitting and bellowing over the rock smudged soundscape – ‘Wouldn’t You Like To Know’ is a catchy, powerful anthem and a musical slap in the face of what The Renzer do superbly.
Stream ‘Wouldn’t You Like To Know’ below
Author : Danu
Portsmouth band The Pretty Visitors have released their new single ‘Mystery Woman’. 2019 saw the release of four demos, features on BBC Introducing, and huge headline shows at The Wedgewood Rooms (Portsmouth), The Joiners (Southampton) and Heartbreakers (Southampton).The band kick off 2020 with a live performance on BBC Radio Kent, showcasing six tracks on air, alongside a headline slot at Ice Breaker Festival (Portsmouth), a headline show at Heartbreakers for Independent Venue Week, and shows in London and Manchester.
With delicate guitar work entwining intricate bass lines ‘Mystery Woman’ continues The Pretty Visitors run of rich, mature and compact musicianship. The tense verses chill with a sense of mystery as the band surge the track with moody, luring qualities while the catchy chorus erupts against a vibrant indie soundscape. With punchy drums creating a foot tapping tempo the track coils and twists with a rumbling dark undertone. The band top all this fine musicianship off with a steamy guitar solo soaring above a wonderful meandering bass line before the crescendo. ‘Mystery Woman’ is a sublime, well crafted track from The Pretty Visitors.
Stream ‘Mystery Woman’ below
Author : Danu
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
East Manchester indie band Palava are set to release their new EP ‘Singles’. The new singles EP will be available on Spotify and Apple Music on February 21st followed by a huge show with RGM Live at The Castle, Manchester.
‘Singles’ is a blistering collection of Palava’s energetic alternative rock. With ‘Blow Us Away’ taking a strong lead into the EP the band waste no time providing raw guitar strides and punchy drum progressions to create a crashing wall of sound sure to be superb live. Peppering their slick soundscapes with striking bass lines and shredding solos the band build each track meticulously to create blazing crescendos and fist pump power throughout. The sweeter more brooding side to Palava comes in the form of the lamentful ‘Believe’ as the band coat tender lyrics in chiming guitars that twinkle through a sulken backdrop while ‘Next Room’ glimmers with dark undertones and nostalgia.‘Under The Waves’ is a sparkling gem within this EP. The vibrant guitar sparkles through a subtle punchy backdrop as the track flows with a majestic and beautiful arrangement that is charming and well presented.
Palava provide a tight EP laced in spirited musicianship with dynamic melodies and soundscapes. With wonderful guitar work and emotive moments between the crashing instrumentation its a well rounded EP. Palava are creating and developing their sound beautifully.
‘Singles’ is released on February 21st for more you can follow Palava on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/palavauk/
Author : Danu
King Kartel have released their new single ‘Be Mine’.The band have sold out shows across Manchester and Northern Ireland, as well as securing slots at the likes of Isle of Wight, Truck and Y Not Festivals. They have received support from Radio X, BBC Introducing, BBC Radio 1’s Phil Taggart to name a few, and had tracks featured across TV shows including Hollyoaks, Come Dine With Me and World’s Strongest Man,
‘Be Mine’ trades King Kartel’s riotous indie rock for a swaying sugar sweet doo wop ditty, swooned in 50’s charm. With a bluesy swinging rhythm and soft jaunty guitars the band create a hook laden number that builds sublimely. Oh so catchy and sweet the melody is caressed by tender delicate vocals while the buoyant beat keeps that foot tapping tempo.The band maintain their dynamic punch by progressing into a scorching solo and steamy crescendo as the track broods into a vaporous outburst. It’s extremely sweet with a thrilling backdrop that holds the heavier aspects of King Kartel’s sound without becoming overpowering. A magnificent addition to King Kartel’s catalogue marking them as a diverse and well rounded band to watch out for.
You can catch King Kartel live at :
6th March – Club Academy, Manchester
11th April – KU 2, Stockton Calling
12th April – Indiependance, Wigan
3rd May – Stag & Dagger, Glasgow
29th May – Spirit Store, Dundalk
30th May – Whelan’s, Dublin
Stream ‘Be Mine’ below
Author : Danu
Under Starling are back with their new single ‘Quasar (3C 273)’ Under Starling are an alternative rock band from Waterford formed by brothers Danny and Tommy Dunford, Stephen Keating and Colin Drummey.They released their debut single, Far Be It From Me, in August 2018 which was followed by an independent Irish tour hitting the core Irish music scene and rallying fans across the college demographic.The band have been gigging and releasing music for 5 years under a former title of Cider Wasps – this was changed to Under Starling during summer 2018 as the band entered a new chapter in their lives.The previous project saw 2 EP releases both titled ‘Here’ and ‘Ethereal’ which included singles such as ‘Lunasa’ and ‘Hummingbird’ which were picked up by national radio stations. Their live shows are known to have a popular chaotic energy as they invoke a range of emotions from their fans.
‘Quasar (3C 273)’ is a beautifully crafted emotive display from Under Starling. With grand production and heart gripping tension that builds superbly with every note and expressive progression.The heartfelt vocals are equally powerful and tender. With a chorus destined for arena sing alongs, massive crescendo and utterly gripping space-rock elements Under Starling has created one hair raising rock gem.The swirling ethereal soundscapes rush and flicker between a pulsing beat as the band cultivate this track beautifully with lush harmonies and twinkling guitars.The erupting chorus bursts into a million fragments of scintillation as the rich rhythm, swirling sonics and mesmerising textures create a magical quality that is vibrant, kinetic and so moving you could cry, laugh, sing and dance all at once with this majestic beautiful track.
Stream ‘Quasar (3C 273)’ below
Author : Danu
Outfielder have released their new EP ‘In Play’. Outfielder is an Ottawa based indie rock band with a ’90s flair, featuring members of Galapagos, John Creeden & The Flying Hellfish and Jonathan Becker & The Northfields.
Doused in heartfelt melodies, warm tinges of 90’s alternative rock with a dash of blues and pop peppering ‘In Play’ is a satisfying listen from Outfielder. These guys have a knack for warm honeyed melodies and slick musicianship. The warm twang of ‘Tracks’ and sweet slow burner ‘Saint John’ show the bands emotional tenderness and ability to create passion through sublime guitar work.Sandwiched between these ballad – esque tones and brooding numbers is the blistering 60’s melancholic swagger of ‘Like A Man’ and the jangly nostalgic ‘Past’ – these tracks display scorching guitar lines dripping in sunshine in the former, sweet lamenting guitar in the latter against a pop-filled buoyant beat and vibrant alternative moodiness.
Outfielder has created a lush well crafted melodious EP that hits the spot with refined instrumentation and wonderful songwriting. However for me it’s those sweet golden guitar moments that make each track refreshing and special.
Stream ‘In Play’ below
Author : Danu
Freak Control Live At Whelans Midnight Hour
Friday 21st February At 11.30pm
Freak Control are a fresh Dublin based dance rock duo consisting of Paulus Maximus on Bass VI / Vocals / Synth Pedals & Dietrich Blitzer on Drums.Influenced by the likes of The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, 70’s Funk & 60’s Psychedelia, Freak Control have their own original style and flavour which they add to the mix as only they can do.
This band has a raw, gritty sound that invades your brain and runs rampant like a crazed maniac until you succumb to the frenzy. Robust and whiplash-inducing – their acid soaked sound is pretty infectious and not for the faint-hearted but is sure to guarantee one heck of a live show.
Freak Control have just released their new video for upcoming single ‘Alien Fear’ check it out below
Author : Danu
