Para Lia is an alterative rock / post-punk duo from Cottbus in Germany and consists of multi-instrumentalist René Methner and vocalist Cindy Methner. In Clash With The Zeitgeist is their new album and was released on 04/09/2023.

Creating music that can in no way be considered mainstream, this pair have a knack of combining a multitude of genres to create a sound that is almost unique to them. They both have a love of late 80’s / early 90’s indie rock and they have combined this with psychedelic rock, garage rock and early prog rock as well as mixing in some 60’s influences too.

The album is an 11-track offering, released via the Berlin label, About Us Records, and mastered by Thommy Hein at Tonstudios, Berlin.

With its foundations in the alternative rock genre (which is quite a broad one in my opinion) this album leans more towards the psychedelic and experimental side of things and is done so with great musicianship and professionalism.

The music is quite laid back, with gentle drumming and guitar work, although all instruments can be, and are, taken up a notch or two when they need to be, creating different timing and pacing throughout the album. These changes in time and pace are really what gives the music is progressive edge and there is always something for the listener to engage with.

The tracks where the tempo is a bit more upbeat have a fuzzy, almost grungey feel to them and this is provided by the use of distortion on the guitar work, and the drum and bass work is more energetic and frenetic.

The guitar solos throughout the album are classic in style and complete each track with a stoner rock vibe too.

Vocally, this is a great album too, and the vocals make the perfect accompaniment for the music behind them. The combination of the quite deep, almost baritone male voice and the more high-pitched female vocals creates a depth to the songs and each compliments the other seamlessly.

To be able to include influences from so many genres in one album, and to do it well, is not an easy thing to do but these guys have managed to do just that! This is a great album that has quite a nostalgic yet modern feel and will appeal to fans of a wide range of music types.

Check them out!

Track Listing:

1 Like Always

2 Sunchild

3 All That It Takes

4 What We Always Wanted

5 C’est La Vie

6 Will You Find Me

7 Yellow Rose

8 Already Came To Know

9 Mr Perry

10 Nagual

11 Sunchild (reprise)

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum

Little League Rebellion is the brainchild of Scotsman Ruaraidh Wishart, who in his youth learnt classical musical before going on to playing and writing in alternative and prog metal bands. Little League Rebellion is a vehicle he uses to further explore music by combining genres and themes in unique and unusual ways.

Unsent Letters is his latest album, released on 01/09/2023 and explores how the past can affect our behaviour and mental health in the present. Unsent Letters represents the memories and emotions we rarely share with anyone else, a theme that many people will be able to resonate with.

With eight tracks in total, this is an album that is dark and atmospheric, and this is reflected in the dark electro style of the music.

With electronic synths providing much of the music, the progressiveness really shining through, there are also hints of alternative rock influences. This gives the music a very gothic and industrial feel that switches from heavy one minute to more melodic and harmonious the next. This makes the album very versatile, appealing to a whole range of different listeners from many genres.

The vocals on this album are simply sublime, soft, and gentle but able to be taken up a notch or two when needed, the different vocal styles really creating diversity and bringing the theme of the album to the forefront with passion and, at times, angst.

Time and pace changes from song to song really creates a great atmosphere for the listener, who is always unsure as to what direction the album is going in next. This keeps the listener engaged and entertained, with always something to listen to, and more than one run through of this album is needed to really appreciate all that is has to offer!

What a simply stunning album this is, one that I will definitely have on my playlist for a while to come yet. I am now heading off to find more music from this talented musician, in the hope that, like this, they can transport me away from the real world for a little while.

Check out Little League Rebellion! Experimentation at its finest!

Track Listing:

1) The Collection

2) The Centre Of It All

3) Communion

4) Prayer

5) After The Fall

6) Not Anymore

7) The Answer

8) The Promise

Check out the album on Bandcamp now. Click on the link below:

https://littleleaguerebellion.bandcamp.com/album/unsent-letters

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum

CS Hellman is a Nashville based songwriter and guitarist who has been inspired by the greats of alt rock, guitar god wizardry from the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, David Gilmour, and Stevie ray Vaughan.

A track that tells the story of a past, unrequited love, this is an emotionally charged, dark one with some poignant words and lyrics.

With a foundation in the classic / alternative rock genre, this is a song that has blended influences from a multitude of genres to create a sound almost unique to him.

I have reviewed music by CS Hellman before and I must say that this track has a slightly different feel than previous ones, which had a distinct country vibe to them. This one is more nostalgic with a slight nod back to the 80’s rock sound with the inclusion of electronic sounds and synths. The guitar work still has a bluesy feel to it, and this shows the sheer talent this guy has. The drumming and bass lines are strong and keep the song on track.

Once again, the vocals are strong and powerful but with a subtlety to them that is full of emotion, enabling the listener to experience the feelings of the song openly and fully. Although with a melancholic theme running through the track, it is actually quite upbeat at different points with the guitar riffs really being thrown at the listener.

This has to be my favourite track so far from this immensely talented musician, and I urge everyone to check him and his music out!

Fantastic track.

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum