Artist and rapper DarcyOwla is someone with a clear sense of original identity and purpose in modern music. The EP Destruction is uniquely distinct, both in its atmospheric, industrial production, and the varied flow and vulnerability of the voice. It’s a hazy mix, with cinematic nuance subtly adding dynamic throughout, and the lo-fi set-up and trap-variant rhythms all meet well with these often piercingly dark lyrical reflections.
USA
Brilliantly smooth production lights up an organic soul set-up and song. Rok Major introduces his 2025 album Never Too Late, with the old-school fluidity, charm, and smart bars of Love.
Creatively uninhibited, an artist with a clear sense of freedom at the helm, but whose intentions are deeply rooted in Faith. Jared Franco carves out a slick original lane in modern Christian hip hop and alternative pop, with the tribal rhythms, deep bass and soulful tones of Grace.
Gaming and music pioneers Play’n GO join forces with singer-songwriter Niamh Ni Mheara, for an ethereal to euphoric journey through delicacy and vastness.
Former artillery soldier SamWaise explosively carves out a fresh new lane in modern EDM and production. His evocative and intoxicating fusion of metal and fiercely fast-paced dance makes for an impassioned and powerful introduction to the album Tragedies and Truths.
The crisp clarity of a finely-recorded acoustic guitar strum. A softly rising bassline, and beautifully vulnerable, honest vocals. Ferny G blends folk and pop with subtle nuance, for the deeply heartbroken I thought you were different.
Standing tall on a great sense of groove, carefully blending a strong acoustic riff, organic musicianship and funky rhythms – a spacious and soulful, catchy mix, with a clear sense of evocative depth at its core. Exit12 highlight the wonder and beauty of their uniquely genre-fusing and immensely impressive album Condition: Human, with the perfectly distinct, engaging and frankly euphoric Known.
Forged In Shadow (Bound by Fire) is the boldly cinematic heavy metal introduction, an electrified and poetic hard-rock arrangement and delivery, built around the iconic Lord of the Rings story, and showcasing both the intricate craftwork and essential contrast of composer and performer Mythrend through its cascading layers.
Whiskey In The Jar is the band’s latest single, a creatively fresh take on the classic Irish hit from Thin Lizzy, with equally retro visual effects to further reinforce that old-school escapism. The video employs yesteryear effects and colours, as well as clips of the array of bands who’ve previously covered the iconic song in both the studio and on stage.
Colourful riffs and quirky pop rhythms elevate catchy hooks and poetic lyrics from the vault – pepo. explores self-reflective sentiments and vivid metaphorical images, with the strong melodies and vocal stylings of tunnel vision.
Sublime vocal power and fluidity guides an impassioned and skilful group of musicians, through fascinating stories and songs both complex and satisfying, for fans of anything from power metal to pop rock and cinematic, orchestral music. These arrangements and performances are stacked high with genuine talent and an unrelenting sense of shared spirit, and with work ethic and ability seamlessly combined, Alterium are well on their way to carving out an unmissable new pathway in modern power metal.
Award-winning songwriter and musician Sean Martin fronts the brilliantly unique genre-fusing indie rock act The Quarantined, delivering this summer an incredibly original story and set-up, for the passionate and powerful Skeleton Chair.