Having kicked off his career as a touring drummer during the COVID years, DAN FROM DOWNINGTON has grown uniquely as a respected independent musician and songwriter. EN-TRO-PY adds another stunning concept album to his ever-expanding and unflinchingly authentic repertoire of powerful alternative rock music.
Alt Rock
Something like tribal electro-funk meets Gospel at first, a catchy groove with a fiercely powerful vocal lead, and a rather intoxicating balance of delicacy and sheer intensity alongside – all later evolving spectacularly through heavy rock rhythms, riffs, and vocal refrains. Sinistra captures a whole new vibe and style, with the brilliantly genre-fusing depth and snappy world-music appeal of Symbol.
A scornful take on the people who project their insecurities on those around them, the garage punk essence of Projector is met perfectly by the unrelenting and largely therapeutic process of performing and, in turn, listening to this track at volume. It’s a bold introduction, and the band are clearly holding down the fort for this style right now – the album is must hear for the months ahead.
From an extensive repertoire of over 150 original songs, Hear My Prayer is a euphoric crescendo of passion and production, noting layers of dramatic alternative rock and pop beneath a low-toned, sultry and expressive leading voice.
Original songs with creative chemistry and a gripping dynamic appear few and far between these days – something well-written, snappy and accessible but also interesting, alternative, and edgy enough to feel purposeful. In this case, CHELLYX collaborates with the mighty PRAX, for an unexpectedly performative and unmistakable alternative gem, as CRAWLING BACK sinks straight into your subconscious.
It’s come to my attention that there may well be something in the way we view or listen to music, the applied perspective, that heavily changes the way it affects us. Something about pretending this is an old band from the 90s, and you’re just getting into the history of the genre, gifts it a whole new power.
These recordings feel like single takes, moments captured that can never quite be recreated with the same level of uncertainty and longing. Make It Make Sense is a particularly striking example, but the project in full consistently draws you back to this quality, and as such, it’s addictively understanding, comforting, and heart-breaking, to lose yourself here with Sam.
Alternative rock performer, storyteller and multi-instrumentalist Primordial Alien reaches the pinnacle of his creative output this year, delivering an album of conceptual weight, musical diversity, skill, playfulness, genre-fusion and cool but cutting narratives, as we dive into the brilliantly eclectic pop-punk and progressive rock vibrancy and shadows of Casus Belli.
Massive indie riffs and charming, nearly spoken indie vocals build a quirky and captivating alt-rock sound that’s instantly nostalgic. The Orange Blossoms bring unique lyrical musings together with a distinct performative identity and classic rock guitar sounds, for the brilliantly inspiring album Green Light.
An alluring guitar rock trio from Turkey light up a sensational thread of songwriting and organic, honest performance, as their single Bana Bi’ Yalan Söyle promises an old-school anthemic charm and emotional escape that’s addictive; and beautiful to lose yourself within.
Fiercely delivering a slice of iconic indie hard rock, with a twist of alternative grunge and something evocatively soulful, New Zealand four-piece Powder Chutes achieve a near-orchestral fullness with their heavy riffs, guitar solos, and faultless structural unity.
Dark alternative vibes in strong supply but a beating heart of effective, engaging songwriting always provided as the centrepiece – pMad excel themselves with this album, and NineFortyFive is the fascinating and rather addictive new single that’s easily one of the most interesting, ambient and enjoyable post-rock tracks to hit the scene this year.