Solcura are a four-piece alternative rock band from Bournemouth in the UK and Imposter Syndrome is their latest single, released on 19/05/2023.

A blend of grunge-inspired influences with alternative rock and even some emo inspiration popping up every now and then, this is a band who, not wanting to stick to just genre, have come up with a sound that is unique to them, blurring the lines between music styles.

The track starts slowly but soon builds in intensity until the whole song erupts with all instruments kicking off at the same time. The guitars are heavy, with some very edgy riffs shining through and the drum and bass sections are energetic, with some meaty basslines and hard-hitting drum work. Slight distortion on the guitars gives the track its grungy vibe and the use of percussion instruments also gives it a slight middle eastern feel, especially at the beginning of the track.

The vocals are immense on this track, the singer switching easily from clean vocals to emo screams and accompanied by layered backups in much the same vein as the leads, there is plenty for the listener to hear.

This song is a two-finger salute to the establishment and is for anyone who wants to “express anger at the unjust, corrupt and shady arenas of 21^st Century political systems and modern economies” and I think its fair to say there will be a lot of people with that mindset.

I really enjoyed this song and am looking forward to the EP that will be coming out this year!

Excellent track!

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The Midnight Vortex are a five-piece grungey, bluesy, alternative rock band from London and Addicted To You is their latest single released on 19/05/2023.

Starting of quite serenely with just some female vocals and gentle guitar and drum playing, the song erupts just before the two-minute mark with all instruments bursting into life at the same time into a frenzy of alternative rock loveliness.

The guitar work is heavy and slight distortion really amps up the grunge vibe to the song, with strong riffs and cleaner, more intricate solos. The drumming, which features lots of crashing cymbals, is energetic and frenetic and the basslines are meaty and create a strong pulse keeping the song on track.

The female vocals, very much reminiscent of Ann Wilson from Heart singing their earlier music, are strong and the singer copes just as easily with the full-on power lyrics towards the end of the track as she does with the slower-paced singing at the beginning, showing just how talented and versatile she is.

The track is raw and heartfelt, and this comes from a mutual love of grunge and blues-rock from all five members.

I listened to this track numerous times and not once did I tire of it, as there is always something new to hear, and I really hope to hear more from this amazing band in the very near future!

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Chasing Shadows are a four-piece rock band from North Wales and Chester, consisting of members Sam Roberts (lead vocals, lead guitar), Ben Etchells-Rimmer (guitar, backing vocals), Russ Pearson (bassist, backing vocals) and Chris Leonard (drums).

Lost is their latest single and was released on 19/05/2023. Having been recorded back in late 2021, this is the third single from their upcoming EP, Horizons.

This is an upbeat track, and certainly one that will get stuck in your head as the choruses are extremely catchy.

Blending a mix of indie rock and classic rock, this is a guitar driven track, with melodic riffs and harmonious hooks that really pull the listener in, yet they are heavy enough to really make the track rock. The drumming is energetic and, together with meaty basslines, really holds the track together.

The vocals on this track really stand out. Typically indie in style, the lead vocals have an edginess to them and accompanied by layered backups the song has a great depth and there is always something new to hear.

A slight change in pace two thirds of the way through the song gives the listener a slight breather but building drums and guitars launch you right back into the thick of things once more. and this is definitely a track that will get you bouncing around to it.

Chasing Shadows are definitely a band that I will keep on my radar for anything new they release as I loved the track from start to finish and had to listen to it four or five times in a row.

Awesome track!

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Train in Vain, another new single from “new” artist, guitarist / vocalist Craig Douglas Miller, someone who, at the age of fifty is reviving a music career he thought was previously written off by releasing his debut album, is the second track by this artist I am reviewing today.

Having previously reviewed two quite rocky tracks, this one is quite different in style. Slower paced, it almost borders on a ballad and is packed full of emotion.

The guitar work is much more mellow on this track than previous ones, but that does not take away from the fact this is an incredibly talented guitarist. With the twang of a country rock guitar appearing at times throughout the track, the band have headed in a different direction with this track, and this shows just how diverse they are.

The drumming and basslines are more laid back on this track and although a lot gentler than previous songs, the track does build with intensity and reaches a crescendo as the song hears its end.

Craig really shows his talents as a singer on this track too, proving that he can take on the slower paced songs, that show a vulnerable side to the singer, as well as the rockier songs with ease.

This is a fantastic track and one that I am so glad I had the pleasure to hear and review. Blueburst is a band that needs to be heard so please head on over to their social media outlets and check them out!

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Blueburst is the brainchild of guitarist / vocalist Craig Douglas Miller, a “new” artist who is releasing his debut album at the age of fifty, reviving a music career he had previously written off. But after connecting with legendary guitarist Marty Willson-Piper (The Church, Noctorum and All About Eve) Craig has found a trusted mentor and collaborator and set up Blueburst.

I have previously reviewed music by Blueburst and was eager to hear more, Amplify Me is one of the band’s latest singles and was released on 19/05/2023.

The band has a very 80’s classic rock / post punk sound with influences ranging from alternative rock, grunge and 90’s rock popping their heads up every now and then, taking the listener on a nostalgic trip back to the music of those times.

Once again, the guitar work is melodic yet heavy enough to be throwing riffs at you left, right and centre and slight distortion is used, creating a fuzzy, grunge-like feel. Clean guitar playing is also used during the track and this creates a great contrast.

The drumming is spot on, energetic and with lots of crashing cymbals (who doesn’t love crashing cymbals, eh?) and the meaty basslines and hooks really hold the track together, almost hypnotically pulling the listener into the track.

The singer has a great voice that is perfect for the style of music the band plays and he totally commands this track, his voice strong albeit with a slight quirkiness, and layered backups accompany him, giving the track a great depth.

I loved this track from the moment it started until the moment it finished and I think this track will appeal to a wide range of fans, from classic rock to alternative rock, to grunge and post punk!

Highly recommended track that you should all go and check out…now!

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Spyderhuff hail from the Detroit area and most of the members, consisting of Tom Kuhr (vocals, guitar, harmonica, sax, synth), Don Beyer (bass, synth), Jim Pauli (drums), Joey Gaydos (guitar), Tony Mitchell (congas, bongos, drums, backing vocals), and Julie Noe (backing vocals), grew up together in the late 60s and early 70s playing in bands from jazz-fusion to hard rock.

Sympathy For The Devil is their latest single, released on 19/05/2023, and is a cover of The Rolling Stones hit.

A slightly different take on the track from the original, these guys have their roots firmly in the classic rock genre, but with influences from others, blurring the lines between music styles.

This version is slightly rockier, with some blues-based guitar work shining through, the solos fantastically executed, and funky basslines add a hint of groove to the track. The drumming is energetic, and the use of other percussion instruments add a bohemian feel to the track.

The vocals are slightly quirky, and it is this quirkiness that really makes the song stand out.  The singer’s voice is strong, classic rock in style but with a slight hint of a country twang dropping in there from time to time and this gives the track is edginess. The leads are accompanied by female backups, providing a great contrast in the vocal arrangement.

This is a great cover and I look forward to hearing much more from this band in the future.

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Hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, Jane N The Jungle is an alternative / hard rock band fronted by singer Jordan White, and Wasteland is their latest single, released on 19/05/2023.

I have previously had the honour to review music by this great band and, once again, I was not disappointed with this one.

Slower paced than the previous two tracks, this one is still a heavy rock song that is full of attitude.

Starting almost as a ballad, it doesn’t take the song long to build up intensity and momentum and before long the whole band has erupted into a crescendo of heavy rock loveliness!

The guitars are heavy with riffs galore, and the drum and bass section are energetic and hold the song together fantastically. Musically, this track is spot on. It’s heavy, it’s raw and it’s totally in your face!

Vocally, the track is awesome too. Jordan’s voice is strong and powerful, and she is a great frontwoman for the band, confident and talented. The vocals, and lyrics, cut like a knife and with an edginess to them, totally take control of the song.

The song, itself, is about being stuck in a toxic relationship, with no way out and instead of leaving, things just get worse, and this is a theme that will strike a chord with a lot of people.

This is another great track from this awesome band, and I really do hope to hear much more from them in the very near future!

Fantastic job!

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Youlogy is Ari Menchaca and Chris Frank, a band from Texas who play a mix of shoegaze, stoner, grunge rock, and everything in between. Demo22 is their latest EP, released on 06/01/2023 and consists of three tracks the two have worked on together during their first year as Youlogy, showing their mental states through the music they make.

The music on this EP is heavy, with guitar riffs thrown at you left, right and centre and energetic drumming. Distortion is used to great effect, creating a fuzziness to the tracks that is comparable to the grunge sound of the 90’s, although not completely alike, as this EP still has a modern feel to it.

There is an almost psychedelic vibe to the EP, the stoner rock element being very prevalent. But not only does this band blur the lines between genres, they also blur the lines between music and vocals, the two often intermingled together so the listener has a difficult job separating them, and this creates a great atmosphere to the EP.

The vocals are haunting, really pulling the listener in, almost hypnotically and the distortion of the music keeps them there, the melancholy feel to the EP almost too strong to pull yourself away from.

With influences from the likes of The Deftones, System Of A Down and synthwave music, this is a band who is not afraid to wear their influences on their sleeves, and this would really appeal to fans of the same.

This is a great EP and I hope to hear a lot more from them in the future.

Track Listing:

1) Wasted

2) Maybe

3) Rot

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Apewards are a heavy rock / stoner rock band from Marburg in Germany and Akrasia is their latest album, released on 05/05/2023. The band formed in 2012, initially as a hobby project and an escape from the daily grind but the project quickly took on life of its own and the three members, Nico Gehle, Lukas Plümpe and Frank Eckerle, have since released numerous albums and EPS.

With nine tracks in total, the album lasts just shy of 34 and a half minutes and, not a band who wants to be confined to just one genre, really does span a multitude of styles, each track being something completely different from the last.

The album is a concept album about the longing for security in a world that is falling apart and then describes the feeling of life at the end of times, the album dividing into two distinct parts. The title, Akrasia, stands for the decisions we make despite knowing better and the distance between our will and our actions, which is quite a deep and profound theme, making the listener think about their own situation and perspective.

Recorded “straight to tape”, the album hasn’t been re-cut or touched up later and this was something the band wanted to do in order to capture their raw sound. This is something, I think, they succeeded in doing as the album has a raw energy to it that sounds natural and not overproduced in any way. I would imagine these guys would sound the exactly the same in a live setting as they do on this album.

The album takes the listener on a journey from stoner rock infused with some blues at the start right through to punk rock at the end. Distortion is used to great effect on the first half of the album creating an almost psychedelic, stoner sound but the music is cleaner towards the end of the album, although this does have the energy and rawness of punk rock.

Musically, this album is great. Heavy rock guitars give way to more melodic, intricate arrangements and the energetic and frenzied drumming is replaced by more laid-back drum work. Meaty basslines and guitar riffs are prevalent throughout the album and the three experienced musicians work extremely well together.

The vocals are very much rooted in the alternative rock genre but influences from other styles do appear, and the leads are accompanied with some melodious backups. The singer’s voice is strong and powerful, and he can turn he hand to slower ballads as well as the rockier tracks with ease.

This is a fantastic album that has a great atmosphere, and the pace and speed variance of the tracks really adds to this, as the listener has no idea what to expect next.

So, if classic rock, alternative rock, indie rock, stoner and psychedelic rock and even grunge rock are your thing then please check out Apewards and their music! I am looking forward to hearing much more from them in the future!

Track Listing:

1) Last Dance

2) Anima

3) Stories

4) Take The Lead

5) Together Silent

6) Death Cult Of Denial

7) What Holds US Together Is Decay

8) Akrasia

9) Half An Angel

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The Loud Bangs are a four-piece rock group consisting of Alice Street, Daisy Gutierrez, Hannah Remley, and Marcus Nemuro, and they play music that is influenced by shoegaze, ’90s alternative and German club music. With six eps and numerous singles under their belt for 2022, this is certainly a hardworking band and Why Things Fray is their latest EP, released on 16/05/2023.

The five-track EP, lasting at just over 20 minutes in length, is captivating, almost hypnotising and it is this that has earned them the nickname of “The Pink Floyd of Shoegaze.”

Musically, this EP is very progressive, with psychedelic hooks and melodies and it is certainly an EP that will draw you in. The guitarwork uses distortion to give an alternative, dreamy and euphoric sound. both acoustic and electric guitars are made use of, and these are used alongside electronic synths and beats to create the bands unique blend of shoegaze and psychedelia.

The guitars are heavier in some of the tracks on this EP than other music I have reviewed by this band and with meaty basslines, there is a very distinctive ambient feel to the music. With a nod back to alternative rock of the 90’s, there are also goth influences from the 80’s while also feeling quite futuristic with the way some of the lyrics are delivered. How an EP can remind you of so many time periods while also maintaining a fresh sound really is testament to the ability of the band themselves.

Although the band lets their music pull in the listener, the vocals that are used are haunting and atmospheric and all the elements mentioned combined really does make for some interesting sounding music.

As with previous releases, this EP is quite relaxing and is one that I am certain can transport the listener away to other time and dimension with just the power of the music.

This is a great band and one that deserves all the success they get. Please go and check out The Loud Bangs and their music. If you are a fan of ambient music then you will not be disappointed!

Track Listing

1) Analog Test

2) The Penelope Cannon

3) Circus Mirror

4) Unpleasantly Tense

5) Ex Doll

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