Simon Andersson is a very talented, award-winning singer/songwriter and producer from Malmö in Sweden and Try is his latest single, released on 07/07/2023.

With a very positive message, the song portrays a sense of hope and motivation, and even if things seem insurmountable, all we have to do is…. try! And I think this is a message that a lot of people need to hear at times when they feel disheartened and challenged by life.

The track starts off quite calmly, but is one that grows in intensity, power, and emotion, really getting the message of the track across.

With a rock pop foundation, this is a track that could be categorised under any number of genres, blurring the lines between them, creating its own style. Simon has managed to combine the energy of rock music with the melody of pop rock, and it is a combination that really works. With verses that are quite mellow, the choruses are a lot rockier, and this is where the music side of the track really comes into its own.

Vocally, this track is awesome. Simon’s voice has a strength and power that I think could sing any rock song like the best of them, the grittiness and energy in his voice really standing him apart, but there is also a gentleness there that really shows his range and diversity.

This is a really great track and one that, I think, will appeal to both rock and pop fans alike.

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The Lunar Keys are a relatively new four-piece rock band from Guildford, who play a mixture of “alternative rock and neurotic pop,” and consists of singer and bass player JC, drummer Dom, singer and keyboardist Lexi and singer and guitarist “The Steve.” The band were long listed for Glastonbury’s Emerging Talent 2020 and regularly feature on BBC Introducing.

I have previously reviewed music by The Lunar Keys and was eager to hear their latest single 88 Train, which was released on 07/07/2023. Once again, this track does not disappoint.

88 Train is a deeply emotive song that reflects profound insights while embarking on the thrilling journey of life and invites the listener to embrace the present and seek deeper connections with others. Powerful stuff that I am sure will resonate with a lot of people.

The track is a thunderous anthem, that starts off quite serenely but one that soon erupts with all instruments really coming into their own.

Heavy yet melodious guitar riffs are thrown at the listener, really punching you in the stomach (in a good way!) and galloping drums really pulsate through your eardrums. Meaty basslines help keep the song tight and, having reviewed music by this great band before, I can really hear the progression and growth they are undergoing.

The vocals on this track are awesome, strong, and gritty and once again contrasted with female backups, creating a great alternative / classic crossover.

This is an upbeat song that has an 80’s yet modern feel to it and one that should, if you love music, get you dancing around your living room. Please check out The Lunar Keys and see if you love them as much as we do!

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Gary Dranow is a guitar player from Park City, Utah and along with The Manic Emotions, he has really made a name for himself in the blues and rock music scenes. Drawing influence from the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and AC/DC, he obtains inspiration from life experiences to write his songs and is a source of motivation to fans and aspiring musicians alike.

The King Is Dead is one of his latest singles and was released on 24/03/2023. The title of the track is a metaphor for love, with love being the king. The song was written during a time when world love was hard to find with wars, racism and prejudice tearing everything apart.

The track is a blues-infused rock song, that is quite laid-back in style. With some meaty basslines that gives the track a bit of a swagger, the guitar work, once again, takes the listener on a nostalgic trip back to the classic rock years of the 80’s and 90’s, and with the blues element creeping in throughout the track and during the solos, this song has quite a unique sound to it.

With male lead vocals that are classic in style, but with a slight quirkiness to them, the song has an edge that keeps it modern and up to date, and with female backups, there is a great contrast in the vocals. This creates a depth to the song that pulls the listener in and manages to keep them there.

This is yet another great track from Gary Dranow and, as a musician that turned to music to help him with the aftereffects of a stroke and to cope with bipolar disorder, he really is an inspiration. Please, if you haven’t done so already, check out Gary and his music. You really will not be disappointed!

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Ari Joshua is a guitar player originally from Cape Town, South Africa but raised in America and having graduated from The New School in NYC, he has collaborated with a wide range of people from the music industry.

Eyes Of The World is one such collaboration. Composed by the legendary Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter, this is a unique take on the track while also being a lovely tribute. Joining Ari on the track is renowned drummer John Kimock, bassist Andy Hess, known for his work with Gov’t Mule, The Black Crowes among others, and keyboardist Eden Ladin.

The song is very laid-back with a fantastic bass undertone that continues throughout the whole track, giving the music a funky vibe that will certainly get the listener moving. With intricate keyboards and relaxing guitar work, the music is very enticing, really pulling the listener in. With fantastic guitar solos there is a psychedelic and hypnotic feel to the track, but this is also mingled in with a slight soul/jazz feel to, really creating a unique sound by these four musicians.

The vocals are very easy to listen to, soft and gentle, yet compelling, adding to the magnetism of the song, and with harmonic melodies as backups this song really does have a great ambient feel to it.

This is a wonderful track and will appeal to a wide range of listeners, from classic rock to soul rock and even, I think, fans of the psychedelic era. Please check it out and see what you think.

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Martyn Scott is a solo indie artist from Rotherham, South Yorkshire and although, first and foremost is a guitarist, he is an accomplished musician who plays all the parts on his recordings including all vocal harmonies and he records at his home studio. I Really Do is his latest single and was released on 30/06/2023.

Influenced by The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Oasis, The Smiths, The Stone Roses and 90’s Britpop, I Really Do is a guitar-based “pop gem” with a little bit of rock thrown in for good measure.

The guitar work on this track is simply fantastic, intricate and the driving force of the song. Quite laid-back there are no heavy riffs but the melodies that come from the guitar are wonderful to hear and the solo near the end of the song has a very 80’s Dire Straits feel to it. The rest of the music side of things are just as relaxed, and this creates a really chilled out vibe to the song.

Martyn’s vocals are soft and gentle but strong at the same time, and this is another focal point of the track. Also performing all the harmonies himself gives the track depth and a classic indie sound.

This is a really great track and I hope to hear more from Martyn in the future!

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Third Lung are a four-piece band from Reading and now, having signed to Marquee Records, they have released their debut on the label, a reimagined version of the AC/DC classic It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock n Roll). The track is in tribute to AC/DC who played it live many times at The Marquee Club during its glory days.

Third Lung are fronted by songwriter and lead vocalist Tom Farrelly who is joined by bassist Rob Jacques, guitarist, songwriter and vocalist Camilla Jurasek and drummer Sam Waugh and It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock n Roll) was released on 02/06/2023.

Completely different to the original, Third Lung really put their own mark on this classic AC/DC track. Slower in pace, and more acoustic in sound, this is a more bluesy version and the band sound more Led Zeppelin for this track than they do AC/DC, but this is in no way a bad thing as I always like to hear a band’s individual spin on cover versions and the band have very much succeeded with this one.

Bluesy guitar work that is slightly distorted gives the track a hint of a grunge feel and the band have added a bit of progressiveness to the track, which really does work. The song has a soul and feeling that is maybe missing from the original, and during the guitar solos, in particular, there is a real ambient, almost psychedelic, feel to the song.

The vocals on this version are different to those of Bon Scott’s, with more passion and feeling creeping into the lyrics, and this, once again, gives the song a whole different twist.

This is an absolute gem of a cover, one that I think many people, even die-hard fans of AC/DC, are going to love!

Awesome track!

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum