Plastic Cowboys are back with their new single ‘Mundane Ecstasy’. The band used the lockdowns to release their debut EP ‘Splinter’ and their singles ‘Clichéd Ciggy Smoker’ and ‘Time is Feeling Inadequate’.The Dublin-based 4-piece get ready to build on the successes of previous releases. They have garnered over 100k streams on Spotify, placed on several editorial playlists, and are set to release their new EP in early September 2022.
‘Mundane Ecstasy’ is an indie-rock tune that boasts the tight and impressive sound of Plastic Cowboys. The track is a joy to listen to and wonderfully expressive with dark sullen verses that brood before the brighter chorus. This aspect of the song is enhanced by an immersive soundscape filled with moody guitar, sultry bass grooves and elements of indie punk. With an exquisite blend of heavy gritty moments and dreamy elements throughout, Plastic Cowboys present their mature and blossoming sound in all its glory.
Back with their very first single of 2021 ‘A Poet’s World’, Manchester-based indie-punk band Urban Theory are set to take new heights in the year ahead. Forming in 2016, this four piece guitar band has set about becoming a firm favourite on the Manchester indie-punk scene. In their short reign they have already sold out a number of notable North West venues, supported a host of big names and gained numerous plays on BBC Introducing and XS Manchester.
Gritty and seeping with energy, ‘A Poet’s World’ displays the catchy punk rock of Urban Theory. The band introduce the track with a raw guitar riff that slices through a punchy drum and resounding bass foundation. Urban Theory layer and craft the track meticulously to create maximum impact through teased instrumental explosions throughout the song.
The verses simmer in dark soundscapes as the band use the gnawing backdrop to create a tense and jogging pace before the powerful chorus erupts into an instrumental frenzy. Melding punk aggression with infectious indie and edgy rock, the band present a sound that is both intoxicating and rousing. ‘A Poets World’ is a wonderfully fierce, well-crafted indie punk track ready for the mania of live shows.
Pretty Happy have returned with their new single ‘Salami.’Pretty Happy are an Art-Punk three-piece from Cork with a growing reputation for their dynamic live performances and electric eccentricities. Made up of Abbey Blake (Guitar), Arann Blake (Vocals, Bass Guitar), and Andy Killian (Drums), the trio have established themselves as one of the most exciting acts on the Cork music scene. They use a combination of absurdist lyrics, demented emotions, and idiosyncratic melodies to create an all-consuming noise rock sound.
‘Salami’ is an abrasive whirlwind of post-punk as Pretty Happy spread raw instrumentation over psychedelic flashes to create one exhilarating frenzied smasher. Coarse jagged guitar lines gash through a rugged drum and bass foundation while exuding a hypnotic thumping tempo until the chorus announces itself with a roar of frenzy. Within the chorus crashing guitars, wailing vocals and barbed bloodthirsty bass slaps create the song’s instant spiral into chaos. However light shoegaze guitar breaks up the frenzy, as the band masterfully blends wild barbaric post-punk with dreamy moments to create a thrilling savage listening experience.
Pretty Happy have an intense and blustery sound. They know exactly how to craft their quirky madness to create a wonderfully expressive wall of sound. They meld and mangle haunting vocals, spoken quips, and screams between a harrowing onslaught of gnawing guitars and a rumbling rhythmic section to create unruly, and absolutely thrilling music.
Indie-punks TV People have released their new single ‘String’. Joining forces with Dan Doherty at Darklands Audio (Fontaines D.C., Vulpynes) and Christian Wright at Abbey Road Studios (Radiohead, Blur, LCD Soundsystem) the Dublin outfit are taking on 2020 with force; building a name for themselves as the latest in a wave of talent bursting out of Dublin. ‘String’ follows the release of singles ‘Nothing More’, ‘Kitchen Sinking’ and ‘Time Eats Up’ earlier in 2020, with ‘Nothing More’ collecting praise from Huw Stephens on BBC Radio 1, Steve Lamacq on BBC 6 Music and The Line of Best Fit to name but a few, ‘Kitchen Sinking’ earning a spot on Spotify’s ‘An Alternative Éire’ playlist, and ‘Time Eats Up’ receiving heavy promotion from the legendary Abbey Road Studios.
‘String’ is a perfect example of TV People’s personal and thought provoking musicianship. Exuding cold, sombre tones, the track pivots around precise drum beats and sharp chimes on guitar. Simmering dark undertones rumble under sweet guitar refrains and moody, lonely soundscapes as the song builds against a shadowy backdrop.
TV People craft their tracks beautifully. They expertly capture emotion through their instruments while also giving the guitars, bass and drums characters of their own within the song. It is as if the band allow the instruments to freely wander about the track engrossed within their own consciousness – a fantastic display of musical prowess. In true TV People manner the track builds becoming more harsh and expressive without losing the lonely casual pace. The drums and bass increase in intensity while the piercing on guitars embellish the track in bittersweet tones.
Penned in the cruel clarity of hindsight, the lyrics ruminate on addictions and self destructive behaviours. Evoking a sense of dissatisfaction, regret and at times anger; the lyrics give the listener a glimpse into the writers thoughts at the time ” .. as I become my own regret…”.The honest and poetic nature of the lyrics is complimented greatly in their delivery. Paul Donohoe’s vocals are nonchalant yet emotive. His deep mesmerising tones guide the listener through the track’s drifting soundscapes and brooding atmosphere.
There is something about this track that is intriguing; perhaps it is the poetic flair and artistic turn of phrase within the lyrics or perhaps it is the clever and expressive use of instruments within the songs brooding soundscape. One thing is for certain, ‘String’ highlights a moment of significant musical growth for TV People and showcases the bands lyrical depth and deft musicianship. They have honed in on their sound and established themselves as ones to watch.
Speaking about ‘String’, frontman Paul Donohoe details: “String’ is about my past experiences with addiction and using self destructive behaviour as a coping mechanism for life’s problems. In the culture we have surrounding drinking and sessioning, the line between having a good time and seriously damaging your mental health isn’t always clear. Self-destructive behaviour is normalised and even encouraged. I’ve seen a lot of people around me going through it. It’s hard to escape from even when you’re aware that it’s a problem because it’s so hidden and ingrained in the way that we socialise. The song is about the feelings of hopelessness, regret and frustration that I’ve felt in the past when I’ve been stuck in that situation and the damage that they do to your mind over time.”
Dublin four piece Bullet Girl have released their new single ‘Concrete Bed’.Bullet Girl are guitarist Dylan Keenan, singer Aaron Doyle, bassist Tony Keyes and drummer Noel Dempsey. Their recent shows, including a standout set at TiLT in the Button Factory for 98fm’s Totally Irish, have elevated their standing in the Dublin live scene and earned them an invitation from Aiken Promotions to support hotly tipped The Mystrines of Liverpool for their performance at Eastbound Dublin.
‘Concrete Bed’ is a thrilling taste of the raw post punk Bullet Girl do so well. With scraping sharp guitars shrilling over an abrasive bass the band create an intoxicating wall of sound which accelerates from ominous tension to frantic chaos. This fantastic build and progression is why Bullet Girl’s musical prowess is mesmerising. They mix coarse piercing soundscapes with lighter guitar shrills and ferment this concoction until it’s simmering with unadulterated red hot fury. The pounding drums bash the tracks foundation with bloodthirsty mania while the frantic vocals scream and shout over the explosive anarchy. It’s anger, aggression and disdain all set to exhilarating musicianship, to create a mosh worthy onslaught for the listener to indulge in. Lyrically the track paints a vivid image of drug culture, homelessness and modern despair in Dublin City and the band reinforce this with dizzying soundscapes and the honest, bruising yet beautiful sound that is Bullet Girl.
About the track the band says: “Musically we wanted to create a spiralling soundscape to emphasise this endless cycle. We purposely wanted to write a song that went out of its way to strip away the romanticism of Dublin. As a city, Dublin and Dubliners have a lot to celebrate but while sleeping bags lay parked outside government buildings, it’s hard for us not to feel anger for the current state of our city. We don’t pretend to offer the solution to these issues, we only want to shine a light on it by presenting it in the most unfiltered manner possible.”
Limerick Alt/Electronic/Indie duo Pity of the Sea have released their new single ‘A Swarming’ which was taken from the forthcoming debut album.Pity Of the Sea are comprised of Ger Cremins (Vox/Bass Synth) and Tony Monahan (Producer, Guitars, Synths, Bass and drum programming). The track follows the band’s last release ‘Headscarf’ which received plays on both national and local radio and was very well received.
Fizzing and swirling through dizzying synths and a crashing wall of sound ‘A Swarming’ is an energetic punk slapped track from Pity of the Sea. The duo consume your ears with an onslaught of shrilling guitars that churn through a groove-filled rumble on bass. The band use acid soaked psychedelia to create a track brimming with organised chaos while a punchy drum machine loop surrounds the backdrop. The band blend a raw post punk soundscape with sharp alternative rock to create an invigorating listening experience. The shimmering ethereal synths rush with adrenaline while the dynamic spoken vocals pound out the catchy chorus of respetitive lyrics. ‘A Swarming’ is a fantastic assault on the senses.
Cabbage return with their new single ‘You’ve Made An Art Form (From Falling To Pieces)’.Since forming in 2014, Cabbage have occupied provocative territory by promoting progressive politics and supporting charitable causes through their live shows, leading them to be featured the BBC Radio Four documentary ‘The Art of Now: Band Politics’. At the same time as headlining sell-out UK tours, the band played Edgeley Park with Blossoms in 2019 and launched their debut album with a one-off, specially-curated exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery.
‘You’ve Made An Art Form (From Falling To Pieces)’ fizzes with a sweet sugary splash as Cabbage splurge melodic indie pop over an edged post punk canvas. The band create one nectarous irresistible gem as they swirl sharp buzzing guitars over a punchy acute wall of sound while the lush honeyed melody and soft backing vocals sweeten the blistering backdrop with a hazy shoegaze tonality. The band melt a hefty dose of psychedelia over the track creating a multi layered song that bubbles and broods within a prismatic sunny glow of delight while an acidic sting ferments beneath this rosy hue. The lyrics discuss the theme of mental health and suicide as Cabbage use gripping, woozy and blazing musicianship to create a truly invigorating track.
About the track the band’s co-frontman and songwriter, Joe Martin says its a “brutally honest exploration of mental health and suicide within young men and the survivalist, Victoria Wood-esque juxtaposition of salvaging a smile through dreariness and despair. After much deliberation, we feel that the time is right to share this. The chorus line actually originated in a ‘Coronation Street’ script in 1988, with Deirdre remarking to Ken: ‘I wonder what advanced state of dither we’ll find you in today, Ken, you make an art form from falling to pieces.’ We don’t mind sharing our complete love and adoration for those old, hilariously crafted dialogues.”
Watch the video for ‘You’ve Made An Art Form (From Falling To Pieces)’ below
Wolverhampton based Punk Rock Duo Broozer have released their debut EP ‘Are We Dead Yet’. Since their formation they have played at iconic venues in Birmingham and the West Midlands and were picked up by Wyatt Wendall of Planet Rock and featured on his New Rock Show several times. They have been supported by Tim Senna of Switch Radio/BBC WM Introducing and have also received airtime on Brum Radio, including their EP ‘Are We Dead Yet’ which has been added to their A-List, prior to its release.
‘Are We Dead Yet’ presents Broozer’s raw untainted punk rock in four brisk bruising tracks. Surrounded in a relentless swarm of demolishing energy ‘Thank You Baby’ and ‘Give Um Hell’ sets the madness in motion as the duo batter your skull with crushing drums and harsh riffs. The band waste no time spring-boarding into their adrenaline-inducing sound while the fierce vocals howl over the shattering instrumental backdrop. However the duo are not all about rapid punk-fueled sprints. They can refine and cultivate their sound too and ‘Hero’ showcases this sublimely. It is a creeping, chilling, sexy number. Dark soundscapes smother ominous grainy guitar riffs while groove-rooted drums take on a sensual quality. With sinister vocals, sharp whines on guitar and a horror movie frenzied soundscape its quite the impressive number that shows there is substance to this band. ‘I’m Ok’ brings the EP to a delirious mind bulldozing end – it’s a pure concoction of mania. With screaming vocals clamorous instrumentation and barbed atmosphere it is not for the faint-hearted.
Broozer have created an EP laced in acid dipped guitar and pulverising drums to create a rapid assault on the senses. Exuding explosive energy and anarchy from its core – its an EP sure to ignite the mosh pit of a live show.
Galway’s Slyrydes are set to release their new single ‘Dangerous Animals’ on October 25th. The track was recorded by Daniel Doherty (Fontaines DC, Vulpynes, Galants) in Darklands audio Dublin.This is the fourth single from the band who have an album set for release in 2020. The band have been making a name for themselves with their previous tracks gaining radio support from Today fm, 2fm, RTE radio one, Radio Nova, BBC radio Foyle and Radio X in the UK as well as many regional stations.
‘Dangerous Animals’ is a relentless onslaught of bruising, battering punk rock as Slyrydes take their abrasive sound and carve it brutishly into your head with savage force. The piercing shrilling guitars lacerate and gash into the track with menacing rage as the pulverizing drums batter furiously throughout with primal vigor. With a curdling bass line rumbling relentlessly through the frenzy, this track packs one heck of a punch. The delirious swirling on guitars create a sinister, seizure-inducing mania that is both chilling and compelling while the shouted vocals spit and bellow the cutting lyrics. Slyrydes have created one turbulent blitz with their new track ‘Dangerous Animals’. It’s a dark blood thirsty belter brimming with raw unadulterated punk rock.
‘Dangerous Animals’ will be released on the 25th of October for more you can follow the band on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/slyrydes/
Belfast-based punk act Sister Ghost are set to release their new single ‘Fake Friends Run This Country’ On October 21st. Sister Ghost, aka Shannon Delores O’Neill, has a background playing in bands from the age of 12. In early 2014, she began writing and demoing – singing and playing everything herself – before enlisting a band to bring Sister Ghost to completion. She has been recognised for mentoring and encouraging other female-identified musicians to perform in the Northern Irish scene, having also set up the Girls Rock! NI chapter in 2016. Sister Ghost has garnered high profile support slots with Shellac, Pussy Riot and Le Butcherettes as well as airplay on BBC 6 Music and a Next Wave Artist slot on BBC Radio 1. As of Spring 2019, O’Neill has teamed up with producer Cahir O’Doherty (Frank Turner, Fighting With Wire, New Pagans) to work on the debut Sister Ghost album, set for release in 2020.
‘Fake Friends Run This Country’ is a brisk swarm of punk rock as Sister Ghost blast out their blistering high energy wall of sound with ease and vigor. From fiery guitar riffs and rooted rumble on bass to the pulverizing drums the band set down an infectious foundation ready to set a live audience alight. With attitude soaked vocals tight harmonies and dynamic melody this powerful onslaught is a force to be reckoned with. The track takes aim at oppressive systems both in Northern Ireland as well as those abroad as O’Neill spits and bellows the lyrics with intensity creating a hyper active atmosphere as well as making the song relatable beyond the political confines of Belfast. ‘Fake Friends Run This Country’ is a wallop in the face of infectious fierce punk rock at its raw and exhilarating best.
‘Fake Friends Run This Country’ is set for release on October 21st for more follow Sister Ghost on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/sisterghost
Author : Danu
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
