Fearlessly heartfelt and inspired by the very location where the songwriter’s own father’s ashes were laid to rest – Stag on the Cliff is an empowering and immersive instrumental composition, with a multitude of distinct moments of evolution and shifting dynamic that consistently hold tight to your attention.
Hard Rock
Armed with a bold collection of albums and singles from multiple creative corners of metal, hardcore and hard rock – Guitarist, guitar-tech, producer and composer Osi Pavez kindly took part in an interview.
Great songwriting, a hint of Papa Roach nostalgia, catchy and immensely alternative all at once. A Million Little Fires consistently bring originality and realness to the scene, alongside that essential talent and unity as a band. Absolutely an act worth tuning in for this year.
Psychedelic hard-rock with an authenticity and weight that’s quick to take you back through the portal of music history. Iron King Stag carve out a classic four-track collection, with their explosive and raw, self-titled EP.
Think blues rock, Americana, rock and roll, all carefully intertwined throughout a live-sounding album of nine original tracks. What’s more, Thunder Bridge is the dynamic duo’s debut – an impressively established playlist of energising gems, and a timeless style reignited amidst a series of modern reflections.
Superb guitar, bass and drum unity at a high-octane pace storms into view – nostalgic and original melody and vocal dynamic quickly capturing attention from afar. Captain Graveyard delivers a boldly unique yet perfectly structured and satisfying ode to timeless hard-rock, with the precise complexity and weight of Tragedy of a blood romance.
Australian duo My Inner Hyde keep things simple but striking, with the old-school distortion and anthemic, evocative writing of Eliminate.
Supremely unique alternative metal, a Gospel-like opening choir vocal and contrasting distortion promising a quickly catchy metal groove and set-up – Hope Seed capture a clear sense of personality and original flair, with the depth and intention of Non Believer.
Fiercely beautiful, cinematic and empowering modern metal, with a clear sense of emotional purpose – Amerakin Overdose crack the code with this release, immersing listeners in the rightful depth and detail of The Gray.
Aptly we roll towards a huge crescendo of a chorus – more poetry, more personal longing, an explosion of weight and power but with a satisfying melodic resolve; and a defiant level of motivational drive at its core.
This is genuinely one of the most likable, engaging and rather addictive alternative rock EPs to hit the scene in recent years. Smokedown master the space within which the music exists, not just playing for themselves, nor simply for you, but creating something that feels both comforting in its groove and persistence, and completely unexpected in both topic and tenacity.
Cincinnati alternative rock project Bio Borg intertwines the pace and riff-strong embrace of progressive metal, with raspy punk vocals and echoing sentiments, throughout a chaotic and cinematic yet compelling arrangement.