Dublin artist Watchy has released his debut solo EP ‘Double Retired’. This four track surge of blustery alternative rock ignites with title track ‘Double Retired’. Doused in gritty coarse bass lines pulverising drums and gravelly vocals this brisk frenzied track announces the EP with punk/rock stained tones and aggressive instrumentation. The track builds to its frenetic crescendo with kick ass rock swaggered guitar and meaty foundation. The triumphant ‘Queening Death’ follows. Here Watchy takes Queens’ ‘I Want to Break Free’ throws it into a mincer of rock mania before peppering it with metal hues and aggression to create a milk curdling assault on the senses. Watchy screams the lyrics over a bruising backdrop of shredding epic guitars and pounding drums taking this classic and spinning it into a more ominous heavy exclamation of desperation. With a frantic crescendo featuring shouted “die die” lyrics it’s ready for the blood thirsty mosh pit. Debut single ‘Shelved’ cools the tone of the EP as we see Watchy venture into his electronic aesthetic. This instrumental track builds and ferments carefully, showcasing his ability to richly layer and brood his tracks into ballsy refined tunes. Beginning as a synth jam the track progresses into an all out manic alternative number as the bass flourishes becoming more aggressive and powerful while the drums go berserk. ‘Temporary Satisfaction (I Can’t Get No)’ brings the album to a powerful end with 80’s rock flavoured guitar and buoyant rhythms. The gritty bass lines saturate the track in panache while Watchy wails and screams over the blistering backdrop.
‘Double Retired’ isn’t for the faint-hearted. It’s a raw EP filled with heavy crashing instrumentation, sharp bass and floor-moving drums. Watchy has developed and fleshed out his rough and tumble alternative rock and I dare say its pretty impressive.
About the EP Watchy said :” I wanted to see if I could do something on my own, playing and hanging with my friend Dara from Chancer (who I convinced to drum on these tracks) really inspired me to write on my own and work on songs from the ground up, I treated it like a job and went in on my own to rehearse ideas, come up with melodies take a lunch break then go back to them and finish at a reasonable time then come back to them a day later. The results have been so amazing and I’m really proud of what I came up with.”
Bio: Perth four-piece The Limbs formed in 2013, The Limbs became a popular fixture on the WA live scene, quickly locking in shows alongside the likes of Tired Lion and Pat Chow, as the release of their debut EP Beginner put the band further on the radars of many.The band’s sophomore release, Dive In, made an impact all its own, setting the foundation for The Limbs’ sound in 2019. The charging sounds of single ‘Caught Me At A Bad Time’ signaled a new chapter for the band, bolstered by the introduction of new band member Clayton Brown (guitar) and successful shows supporting Jebediah and Abbe May
Track: Here
Why We Like It: It’s a blistering grunge dipped track laced in the sweet ethereal sting on guitars as they wail, stride and flood the track with aerial tones and a piercing raw texture. The punchy rhythm maintains a meaty and buoyant foundation for the guitars to ricochet off. Melty melodies speed gracefully into the ears as the smooth reverb vocals caress it with tenderness. It’s a sublime adrenaline inducing track filled with exhilarating musicianship and fantastic production. With its hazy dreamy tones and intricate polished guitar melodies The Limbs have created a wholly satisfying track to get excited about.
Bio: Still are a Los Angeles-based act comprised of Daniel McDonough, Adrian Johnson and Julian Johnson. The band have released their first single ‘Divinity’ off their upcoming debut EP.
Track: ‘Divinity’
Why We Like It: It’s a hazy cloud of shoegaze delight wrapped in twinkling indie elements and wonderful melodies. The ethereal guitar sweetly drifts about the track in a daydream of bliss while the soft innocent vocals coo over the candyfloss wistful melody. The track has a mopey and melancholic hue lying in the undercurrents of this floaty number. With a punchy drum beat keeping all the wispy components in place Still have created a mesmerising track that seeps into your very core. A sublime debut.
Bio: Hailing from Ballymahon in Co. Longford, Irish singer-songwriter KTG – aka Katie Gallagher has steadily become a rising star to acknowledge over the last 3 years.
Track: Don’t Tell My Mother
Why We Like It: It’s a passionate warm track with an exquisite guitar melody deeply weaving and wiggling underneath KTG’s mature and moving vocals. With lush baking vocals, rich rhythm and beautiful melodies this track is a tender and moving ditty filled with sublime musicianship, poignant song writing and infectious melodies. There is oodles of passion seeping from every note and folky hue while KTG presents her sound with grace, elegance and an edgy quality that is admirable.
Bio: After playing in numerous bands, Dublin artist Watchy has decided to go solo. He has released his debut solo EP ‘Double Retired’. On drums is Dara Walsh. Mick Richards at Trackmix Recording Studio recorded, mixed and mastered while artwork was done by Caitlín Gallagher.
Track: ‘Double Retired’
Why We Like It: It’s a feisty number bursting from the seams with fierce alternative rock. A gritty frenzied bass line pummels through the track bouncing energetically off the thunderous drums. This track throttles through at full neck snapping speed. Its catchy, blood thirsty and filled with shredding instrumentation – that instrumental break alone is of epic proportion as the shrilling guitar lacerates through the robust wall of sound with slick precision. With epic triumphant moments glimmering throughout and rough shouty vocals this mammoth blaster is one thrilling slap in the face of raw shredding alternative rock that is sure to send a live audience into a chaotic frenzy.
Bio: Vulpynes are a two piece band that create a fusion of heavy and melodic hooks, snarling vocals and a visceral rhythm section. ‘Bitches are like Waves’ is the first single from Vulpynes forthcoming EP ‘Dye Me Red’, which is out on limited multi coloured 10” vinyl from FOAD Records/Advance Records on the 28th of September
Track: ‘Bitches are like Waves’
Why We Like It: It’s a gritty razor sharp gash of frenzied alternative rock with slick riffs pounding drums and feisty attitude. This track batters and bruises with its feisty persona and blasting instrumentation. The melody seeps with a sultry moodiness into your ears with ease while the abrasive guitar and pulverising drums storm in to ruffle some feathers and kick your ass. It’s another exhilarating number from the duo.
Dublin artist Watchy has released his debut single ‘Shelved’. After playing in numerous bands, Watchy has decided to go solo and this groove-rooted glimmering instrumental number is the thrilling result. The track broods and festers to start creating a dreamy haze as the sparkling synths interplay with the droning bass and punchy drums. The synths and bass create a soft dialogue to start as the drums maintain that all important meaty foundation which holds your subconscious through the meandering hypnotic melodies and lush synths. It’s a new wave fluttering spell of delight that blends beautifully. The track builds gradually, finally surging with adrenaline it becomes more heavy. The bass slips into its grittier more powerful persona breaking away from the dazed,dreamy, synth-jam into punk rock ferocity. Watchy howls over this powerful display of raw sharpness as the percussion and drums flesh out and become more harsh and expressive. ‘Shelved’ is a perfectly crafted and finely brewed explosive debut from Watchy.
About the track Watchy said : “I wrote this song completely myself from scratch and it was the first time I’d done so and was actually happy with it, my friend Dara from Chancer plays drums on it and we got the whole thing done in one day despite it being Dara’s first time hearing it in the studio,,,, This is my debut single and I’ve got more coming in the future”
Stream ‘Shelved’ below
Indie: (n) an obscure form of rock which you only learn about from someone slightly more hip than yourself.
