This is the kind of project you play on repeat, mastering every element in your mind before perhaps attempting to replicate some of them as your inner musician pushes for freedom. A quality release and a further testament to the unwavering skill and energy of Mike LePond’s Silent Assassins.
Rock
It’s hard to put a flavor label on exactly what EverIgnite’s particular strain of rock is, but if I had to describe it – it’s everything rock has been in the last thirty years, aged to perfection & served smooth.
You’re likely to appreciate Alden as the artist rather than simply the musician. In the way that alternative bands from a decade or two ago would take the time to build something expressive & meaningful, whatever the topic or cause, Alden has gone in for this same level of creativity.
The best thing about the world’s best bands is that they belong to a genre that never really dies. Tougher Than You Thought have released a solid, pounding, polished EP that points to the future of music worth actually listening to.
Swedish indie-pop duo I Am Nova made waves throughout the past year with their explosive live shows, and now – with the release of Good Enough – they rise even higher, showcasing some brilliantly infectious & energetic pop songwriting.
The whole thing builds up from the offset and works hard to surround and embrace its audience. At the final hurdle, The Blackmail Seduction remind you that a real-time gig is the place to be – these songs will undoubtedly explode into new realms of life during a live set. Brilliant songwriting and a pleasure to have fill the room.
The riffs and the set-up – the structure, the development, the communication between elements, the leading voice – everything just is, and that’s kind of exactly what many of us want to hear right now.
Stylishly merging distorted guitar riffs and delicate, captivating vocals, Alexa Villa bursts onto the scene with character and power. Never Have I Ever is not only creatively refreshing and musically hard-hitting, it’s been written in a fascinating and skillful manner.
Wildnite break things down to the raw & acoustic for Days Of No Trust. Their heavier side still shines brightly, there’s a depth to this – think back to the days of MTV unplugged, Alice in Chains & the likes, this alternative, progressive hard-rock sound when stripped of its distortion & weight.
Bringing through the classic energy & angst of punk rock, alongside of something a little more creative & structurally organic, Built is a huge single – impossible to ignore from the offset, and one that connects a little more intensely with each revisit.
The structure & the long-form melody of the verses connects intensely. The lyrics are great, the song has a concept & an idea that it sticks to throughout. As the music builds, the entire band work hard to reach this united height of passion & power.
Monkey Mind are a band who showcase a creative fusion of classic, progressive rock & something a little more nu-metal-inspired. Their self-titled EP drives with impressive musicianship & cleverly contrasted performances that hold tight to your interest & allow heavy hook sections to hit with impact.