From the shipyard town of Barrow in Furness, Jamie has become one of the area’s prominent singer / songwriters. He has performed on BBC Introducing and has had support slots with ocean Colour Scene and The Wedding Present. His influences include the likes of Tom Petty, James, The Beatles, and Aimee Mann.

Life Will Do is his latest single and was released on 31/03/2023.

Hs website states that he falls “neatly into the indie folk genre,” but I think this track is more indie rock, with hints of other genres showing up here and there too.

The track kicks off in quite a punky way, with riffs and drums hitting the ears straight away. The guitar work is very bouncy and will certainly getting you bopping along to it. To me, there is a slight twang to the solo, but this really works in the context of the song. The drumming is energetic, and the basslines are strong and keeps the track tight. There is also a slight funkiness to the basslines, and this give the track a certain groove to it.

Jamie’s vocals are quirky, and again, have a hint of punk to them, but they are strong and command the song well.

Overall, the track has a 90’s alternative rock feel to it and this Jamie does very well.

A great track that will certainly become an ear worm once you have heard it once or twice. I look forward to hearing more from this musician in the near future.

Excellent job!

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Shockpowder is a shoegaze project with metal influences founded by Joshua Scurfield in 2015, and having already reviewed a few singles by Shockpowder, I jumped at the chance to review this one too. Europa is the latest single from this great project and was released on 047/04/2023.

The one thing I love about Shockpowder’s music is the unpredictability of it. One minute you are listening to soothing shoegaze sounds and the next you are thrown into heavy metal riffs, and you are never quite aware when this is going to happen.

With soothing guitar sounds and vocals to kick off the track, the listener could be fooled into thinking they are listening to a easy-listening track that will transport you off into another dimension as the vocals and music blur and merge into one another (the main element of shoe-gaze music) Of course, the song can quite easily do that but while you have been whisked off somewhere relaxing and peaceful, heavy metal, bordering on black metal, riffs are thrown into the mix.

Pounding, fast drums are then included into the music and, although this changes the whole ethos of the music of the track, the vocals remain constantly soft and gentle, with that soothing effect. This creates a sound quite unlike I have ever heard before (apart from other Shockpowder tracks!) sand this is what sets this project apart from others.

Metal music makes up the majority of my listening base, but the way Shockpowder combines it with something that is at completely the other end of the scale, and still make it sound awesomely good, is just fantastic. Mixing genres is never easy but Joshua seems to have nailed it with Shockpowder, showing he is an incredibly talented musician, and one that should be applauded more for what he is doing for music.

Another great track, Shockpowder! Keep up the magnificent work!

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Abz Winter is a musician from the UK and has set her own standards when it comes to her music. Not one to follow the crowd, she has a pop / rock sound which is fresh and exciting. She has been nominated for many awards, including ‘Best New Female’ for Radio Wigwam, the NMG Music Awards and ‘Best Pop Act’ for the Birmingham Music Awards and has won many more, including ‘Best New Artist In Coventry.’ Performing on some great stages, including ITV’s Walk The Line, BBC Music Introducing, Ricoh Arena, Resorts World Unsigned she also played the Coventry City Christmas light switch on to an audience of nine thousand people, and her festivals Include Godiva – on the NEXT Stage, Heal Festival, Shoot Festival, Solihull Summerfest. So, all in all, a great career so far!

Red Flags is her latest single and was released on 07/04/2023.

Kicking off into an eruption of pop / rock almost from the outset, this is a great anthem that manages to combine the two genres as well as including influences from many others.

Pop rock in essence, this track is very reminiscent of the likes of Avril Lavigne and Kelly Clarkson and I, for one, think it is a fantastic track.

Musically, the track has elements of alternative rock, with guitar riffs that are melodic and catchy, but also pop elements that will certainly make you get up and dance round the living room. The drumbeats are catchy and the whole song has an upbeat vibe to it.

Vocally, the track is extremely good. Abz’s vocals are strong and powerful and full of attitude and really make the song. She has an extremely good range and manages to switch from one end of the scale to the other with ease.

This is a fantastic track and Abz is an artist we will certainly be keeping an ear open for in the near future!

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Stutterboy are a band from Brooklyn, New York and False Dam is their latest single, released on 04/04/2023. False Dam is the third single from their upcoming album which is due for release at the end of May 2023.

False Dam is a very 80’s inspired anthem of a track that kicks off with full on guitars and drumming right from the off. The track has its roots in the alternative rock genre of music, but there are influences from many other genres too.

With rocking guitars that will make you either tap your foot or bang your head, the riffs have a groove to them that really makes them stand out. The drumming is solid and energetic, with lots if crashing cymbals and the basslines keep everything together while also adding a hint of funkiness to the track.

Synths also add that touch of 80’s nostalgia too and there is also a bit of experimentation here too, giving a psychedelic feel to certain parts of the song.

The vocals are quirky yet gritty, really bringing the song together as a whole and the leads are accompanied by layered backups which really gives the track depth and dynamism.

This is a really great track, and I would love to hear more from them in the very near future!

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9 O’Clock Nasty are a Leicester-based alternative band with punk influences, and consists of Sydd Spudd on beats, Pete Brock on guitar and vocals and Ted Pepper on bass and vocals. This being the fourth single I have now reviewed for the band; they are quickly becoming a favourite of The Metal Asylum.

Previous singles by this band have been heavily influenced by the punk element of rock but this one takes a completely different turn for the band. Featuring more synths than previous offerings, this track is more melodic and has a distinct synthwave influence.

Once again, funky basslines are a prevalent feature of the track and are what kick of the song from the start, giving the track a certain groove that wasn’t in the previous tracks. The synthwave influence really takes on a trip back to the 80’s, while still maintaining a modern-day vibe.

The vocal style on this track is completely different too. While previous tracks had punky shouty vocals, this song is more melodic and with layered back up vocals, appears to have much more depth. The vocals are very reminiscent of the 80’s too, while still being quite quirky, and this makes for a great sound.

I really liked this track and while synthrock is not at the top of my list of preferences, 9 O’clock Nasty have done this one really well.

Another impressive track from an awesome band!

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Baby Schillaci are a Swansea-based band who play “post-punk noise.” So Bad is their second single after their debut Radical was released earlier in the year and had a release date of 07/04/2023.

Where to place this band on the genre spectrum is nigh on impossible, as there are influences from a multitude of genres, while the sound created not sounding like any of them in particular, rather than a cleverly crafted unique track that belongs to these guys, and these guys alone.

Distortion plays a heavy part in this track, with the guitars and, especially the vocals, being distorted almost beyond recognition, giving the track a dark energy.

The track kicks off with some funky basslines and these remain prevalent throughout the rest of the track. The vocals that start off the track are gritty and edgy and really make the track stand out before the distortion kicks in for the chorus and this is applied to both the lead and the backup vocals. Shouty vocals provide a slight punk feel to the track too.

Heavy guitar riffs feature throughout the song, and along with pounding, energetic drums, these really ramp up the tempo of the track. The energy that emits from this track is immense and I can imagine this being a track that would really get the crowd going in a live setting.

For a sophomore track this is an awesome one and one that I think more people should hear. Check pout baby Schillaci and see what you think!

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Finding out about the band He Didn’t proved a lot harder than I had at first anticipated, and the most I could come up with that they are from Oxford in the UK and that they describe themselves as “analogue anxiety converted into digital noise.”

Loop Ritual is a three track EP and was released on 07/04/2023.

The first thing that I noticed about this EP was the droning sound that is prevalent all the way through, which gives the EP a dark and gloomy vibe to it.

The first track on the EP, Heavy Elevation is an instrumental that seems to be all about the drone and nothing else. This kicks off the EP in such a way that the listener is not left in any doubt as to what this band is about.

Taking influences from the atmospheres of slow metal, 80’s post-punk and industrial metal, this is the band’s third release after King, released in 2021 and Detour, Earth released in 2022. The EP is quite experimental as it investigates loops and repetition, interspersed with heavy guitar riffs and melodies, creating a sound quite unlike anything I have ever heard before.

Lyrics feature on the EP, but not to any great extent and is it the music that is the main focus here. Electronic synths create an atmosphere that borders on black metal, although this would be immensely slowed down black metal, and the guitar riffs are taken directly from classic heavy metal. The bass lines are heavy and all this combined really makes for a great industrial sound.

I wasn’t sure what to think of this when the first track kicked in, and if you feel the same on the first listen, please stick with it as it really opens up into a great EP. And with the EP questioning “the depressing trend of people in powerful positions rarely being held accountable for their actions,” I am sure that this will appeal to a wide range of listeners, from fans of doom metal to black metal, to heavy metal and everything in between.

A really great EP, and one that has made me look for He Didn’t on various streaming services to see what else they have produced.

If you want the depths of your soul to be shaked, pounded and shattered by the heaviness and doominess that this EP brings, then please check it out! You will NIOT be disappointed!

Track Listing:

1) Heavy Elevation

2) Loop Ritual

3) Open Dust Loop

Photo Credits: he didnt 2023

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Ye Angst is a Melbourne based music project and has quite a comprehensive collection of singles and EPs under their belt. Having previously reviewed the track Sundown, I was eager to hear what else this Australian band had to offer. Play is their latest single and was released on 01/04/2023.

Softer than the previous track, which had its roots firmly in the classic rock genre, this one is more on the soft rock, alternative rock/pop side of things.

With laid-back drumming and an almost country-like twang to the guitar playing, this track does, once again, draw influences from a range of genres, while not limiting itself to just one.

Kicking off with some guitar work that is very reminiscent of the 70’s and 80’s, this track takes the listener on a journey through time as it has a very nostalgic vibe to it while also maintaining a freshness to it that keeps it up to date, while keyboards also feature throughout track, adding to the nostalgia.

The vocals on this track are more easy-going than on the previous, but they are just as strong and are more prominent on this one. They are a lovely mix of pop and prog-rock, and this gives the track a quirkiness to it that really makes it stand out.

This is another great track from this talented musician, and I hope to hear more from Ye Angst in the future!

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Good God Father describe themselves as “freak gospel pop emanating from the dark woods of Oregon,” and Prince Of The Air is their latest single, released on 28/03/2023.

With a sound not like anything I have heard before, there are elements of a multitude of genres, from alternative rock to thrash metal to punk, showing through on this track.

Heavy, fast guitars that are strongly distorted are prevalent throughout most of the track and the drumming is raw and energetic. Musically, there is so much going on in this song that it could be described as chaotic, but this means there is always something new for the listener to hear.

The vocals range from punk shouting to emo screaming to almost the spoken word and this contrast between the styles is great to hear, meaning the song has diversity and depth.

The change of pace of the track, from full on thrash/death metal riffs and drumming, to chanting vocals and more polished guitar work, halfway through the song provides a stark contrast between styles, but don’t stay complacent for too long as you are soon launched headfirst back into the throes of the track!

The song is fuzzy, almost psychedelic in places, it’s fast and its heavy! What more could you ask for? Please check these guys out and see what you think for yourselves.

Awesome track guys, and we look forward to hearing more from you in the near future!

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Thorn is the brainchild of 23-year-old Charlie Thorne, a multi-instrumentalist who comes from London who performs and produces most, if not all, of his own work.

Thorn regard himself as “glam meets goth meets Manson meets Cirque du Soleil,” and he wants to reach out and bridge the gap between classic metalheads and the modern pop-punk / post-goth culture.

We Are Happy (Of The Pale Criminal) is his latest single and it was released on 31/03/2023.

The track is a beautiful blend of a multitude of genres, ranging from gothic rock to emo rock and grunge, with its foundations not being firmly in any one genre.

The vocals are a focal point of the track, distortion playing a major part in the sound they are creating. Ranging from the almost spoken word to chanting to singing, the track has a gothic industrial feel, that also borders on the psychedelic.

The constant drone in the background of the music is also a key feature of the song. this is prominent all the way through the track, and it is this that will get stuck in your head for the rest of the day! The rest of the music accompanying the vocals is very industrial based, with heavy drumbeats and electronic sounds also add to the atmospheric vibe of the song.

Overall, the track is very raw, with catchy melodies and thought-provoking song writing. It is exceedingly experimental, but it is safe to say that the experimentation really does work.

This is a great track, and I would really like to hear more from this obviously incredibly talented young man! So, if experimentational psychedelic music is your thing, then please go and check out Thorn! You won’t be disappointed.

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