I spent a good while looking through social media and the internet to find some information on Ye Angst and the phrase that popped up time and time again was the following, “Ye Angst is an artist’s vision interpreted through the looking glass of the days of youthful angst.”

Ye Angst is a Melbourne based music project and has quite a comprehensive collection of singles and EPs under their belt. Sundown is their latest single and was released on 01/03/2023.

With its roots firmly in the classic rock genre of music, this track still reaches out and grabs influences from a whole host of other genres too.

The track kicks off with some funky guitar work that continues throughout the whole song with riffs and melodies that will definitely stick in your head. Musically, this song steals traits from funk, progressive rock, art rock, classic rock, and hard rock and incorporates sounds from the late seventies, eighties, and nineties funk and rock music.

Although strong classic rock vocals are featured on this track, this is essentially an instrumental track as the music stands out far more than the lyrics. At times it really feels like the instruments are the ones that are singing and the actual vocals blend in with this element of the track. Please do not take this as a bad thing, as the track, musically and vocally, really does work.

The track is funky, its rocky and it is technically excellent. This is the perfect treat for your ears as there is always something to listen to because the song has so much to offer.

An excellent track and I can’t wait to hear more from this obviously very talented musician.

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Canning are a three-piece US based rock band who use drums, bass and guitar as the fundamental building blocks on which they base their sound. Featuring Ricky canning on guitar and vocals, Fritz Armstrong on bass and vocals and Tom Miller on drums, the band have an extensive list of influences ranging from The Beatles to Aphex Twin to technical death metal and Eric Clapton.

Shortline was released in May of last year and is a lovely blend of classic rock, alternative rock with a touch of blues thrown in for good measure.

The guitars are very rocky in this track with some heavy riffs, but also a great deal of blues in the solos and the drum and bass section of the band is energetic and funky. I can hear the Beatles influence very clearly in the guitars (almost reminding me of Day Tripper in style) and slight distortion on the guitar solos gives a hint of Jimi Hendrix too.

The vocals are quirky but very upbeat. With a classic rock base, the vocals would also fit right at home in an alternative rock or indie rock sound too. Layered backups accompany the leads and this gives the track a great depth and dynamism.

Extremely catchy, this is a track that will stay in your head for the rest of the day as it takes you on a nostalgic trip back to the alternative sound of the 90’s while also remaining quite up to date.

This is a great track that is rocky and bouncy and will certainly be one that would wake you up in the morning!

Loved it.

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This is not the first time I have reviewed music by The One Tonic. Having previously reviewed singles The Richest man Alive and We Can’t Fail, I jumped at the chance to review Broken, his latest single, released on 28/02/2023.

The One Tonic is the brainchild of Salt Lake City based artist Matt Soren and having had his fair share of turmoil throughout his life, he now donates a proportion of all net proceeds from ticket, product and merchandise sales to support organizations that strengthen families and lift individuals out of addiction, mental illness and other curve balls.

The track starts in quite a subdued way with lots of ambient bass drums and guitars, some funky basslines and soft vocals before the whole thing really kicks in with drums, heavy electric guitars and a strong powerful voice.

Once again, there is quite an industrial feel to the track and this is provided by heavy electronic beats that are prevalent throughout the whole track and this mixed with the electric guitar sound really is a feast for the ears.

The vocals are simply fantastic on this track. Somewhat quirky, Matt has a strong voice and he uses this to totally command the song, never once being overshadowed by the music that is accompanying him. He can swap from low, understated vocals to full-on rock and he does this seamlessly and with ease.

Previous tracks by this band have had an 80’s feel to them but this one remains completely in the here and now, with a touch of futurism thrown in too.

The track has peaks and troughs in strength, power and pace, and this really takes the listener on a musical journey, never allowing them to get disinterested in the song. This song really has a lot to offer and just one listen through is not enough to hear it all.

The One Tonic is fast becoming one of my favourites at the moment and I really cannot wait for an album. Each song has got progressively better and if the singles are anything to go by then an album with be an absolute gem to listen to.

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The Facebook page of Lords Of Dust describes them as “A new heavy caravan of Metal, Blues, Psych, and Punk outta the fire and sand of Southern California” and I think this is actually a really good way to describe them! Forming in 2017, the band members all knew each other before from playing in several bands together and consists of Dan Pernambuco, Tim Booras, Mike Blackwell and Josh Darling. They grew up listening to a lot of hardcore punk, heavy metal and rock n roll and the music they make now is a combination of all three.

Kickin Dust Up is their latest EP and was released on 16/11/2022. The EP kicks off with the high-energy track Let’s Rip and they certainly do. If just the first track does not have you up and jumping about then do you even like music?

This EP really does have it all. The guitar riffs are heavy and really do hit you right in the stomach, and that is always a good (no great!) thing in my book. The solos are straight out classic rock with a bit of blues and stoner rock thrown in to give it more sludgey vibe and distortion gives the whole sound a fuzzy feel. There is even a doomy feeling about the EP in track five; Blood On The Skulls, that sent shivers up my spine (again, a good thing!)

The drumming is not only energetic, it is totally off the scale, and the bass lines are funky to add that little bit of groove.

Now, what of the vocals? I absolutely love this guys voice on this EP. The vocals are strong, powerful and typically classic rock with a grittiness to them to add to the sludgey/stoner rock vibe the EP has going on. He can swap from screams to punk rock style vocals to classic at the drop of a hat and does so with ease and great ability.

I absolutely loved this EP and have listened to it more than once! How many times exactly I cannot say as it repeated itself numerous times and I lost count but there was never a time I grew bored or disinterested. There is always so much going on that just one listen through isn’t enough to hear all this EP has to offer.

I am now waiting for the album and I am sure it will be just as friggin’ good as this EP is!

Track Listing:

1) Let’s Rip

2) Three On The Tree

3) Mr Stranger

4) Swing The Hammer / Union Song

5) Blood On The Skulls

6) Protest Song

Photo Credit: Lords Of Dust

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum

Single By Sunday are a punk rock boy band from the UK and got together because they “all share a similar sense of humour and play instruments.”

Severed Ties is the band’s latest single and was released on 17/02/2023.

Inspired by a lot of the punk pop / rock bands of the early 2000’s, this is a band that is certainly full of energy. Combining the vigour of punk and the dynamism of pop / rock, these guys really know how to rock.

The guitars and bass are heavy yet melodic and bouncy, the drumming is energetic and the vocals are a great mix of emo, pop/punk and alternative rock. The backup vocals are a perfect accompaniment to the leads and the production on this track is excellent.

The song, itself, is about finally pulling the plug on a relationship after endless turmoil and this is a theme a lot of people can relate to, making the appeal of the track that much wider.

This is a high-energy, post-punk gem of a track that will have you jumping around the living room like a loon almost as soon as it starts. It is full-on from start to finish and I can imagine this being a fan’s favourite in a love setting.

So, all you punk, post-punk, pop/punk fans out there! Get yourselves to Spotify and check this band from Scotland out. You will not be disappointed!

Photo Credit: Nicole Eakins

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Having previously reviewed The Loud Bang’s EP Salvation Memorial Hospital, I was eager to hear more from this band from Los Angeles.

A four-piece rock group consisting of Alice Street, Daisy Gutierrez, Hannah Remley, and Marcus Nemuro, and play music that is influenced by shoegaze, ’90s alternative and German club music. And with six eps and numerous singles under their belt for 2022, this is certainly a hardworking band.

Stray Honey is their latest EP and was released on 14/02/2023.

The Loud Bangs music is certainly captivating, even hypnotising at times, and this has earned them the nickname “The Pink Floyd of Shoegaze”.

Lyrics feature more on this EP than they did on the last one but even now, it’s the music that the band uses to draw people in, mesmerising them with their unique blend of shoegaze (a style of rock music characterized by a sound in which the distinctions between separate instruments and vocals are blurred), psychedelia and alternative rock/pop.

Guitars, both acoustic and electric, are used in conjunction with ambient synths and electronic beats to create a nostalgic trip back to the 80’s and 90’s, while also maintaining a fresh and up to date sound.

The vocals that are used on this EP are haunting and mysterious and create a very atmospheric vibe to the EP that will transport you away to another dimension. The EP is easy to listen to and the sheer power of the music will leave you feeling refreshed and relaxed.

The track This Is A Japanese Robot has a more upbeat feel to it but we are taken back down again with the final track Bell Gardens.

This is a great EP that fans of any of the genres mentioned in this review will love. But please, go and check out The Loud bangs for yourself and see what you think.

Track Listing:

1) Electroprize

2) Sex Complex

3) We All Want To Be All Right

4) This Is A Japanese Robot

5) Bell Gardens

Photo Credits: Kim Withers

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5th Projekt is a female-fronted cinematic art-rock band from Toronto featuring Tara Rice on vocals and guitar and Sködt McNalty on guitar, although both are multi-instrumentalists. On stage they are joined by Peter Broadley on bass and Jeremy Oram on drums.

The Wolf is the first in a trilogy of EPs, with The Owl coming in 2024 and, finally, The Bee, for which a release date has yet to be confirmed and was released on 07/03/2023.

The Wolf was inspired by Tara Rice and Sködt McNalty’s forty-day journey under The Milky Way following ley lines on the Camino Santiago de Compostela, and is a second over nineteen minutes of experimental and psychedelic music that will mesmerise the listener.

Tara’s haunting vocals are a very prominent feature of the EP and her vocal ability and range is just phenomenal, her voice almost hypnotic in nature. The musical composition that accompanies her is both magical and obviously comes from some very talented musicians. There is a slight distortion on the instruments that gives the EP its psychedelic yet grungey feel, but the vocals and music fit together perfectly.

This EP does not and can not fit into any one particular genre, the lines between them blurred out of existence. With influences ranging from alternative rock, to shoegaze to art pop this is not a band who are afraid to experiment with their music, and they do it to great effect.

This is a great EP that takes the listener on a journey through mystical, ancient lands with clever use of genre-bending and psychedelic sounds that really pulls the listener in. Put this on your headphones, turn it up and loud and you will be transported away from the real world. THAT is the power of this EP.

Fantastic!

Track Listing:

1) Autopilot Disengage

2) Vagabond

3) The Wrong Way

4) The Pace

Photo Credits: 5th PROJEKT

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I have already reviewed Strike Back by Koburg and I super excited to be able to review this one too. Once again, the lass from Winchester, has pulled it from the hat and produced an absolutely stormer of a track.

Koburg is a one-woman band who writes, performs, and records all her own music and she has already released two albums, The Enchantress and Position Of Power, to rave reviews and extensive radio play.

Undertaking all vocal duties as well playing all the instruments on her tracks, Koburg also taught herself to play the cello and violin during lockdown to add more orchestral components! Now THAT’S is dedication! And with appearances on BBC Introducing, Kerrang! Radio, and Planet Rock, Koburg really is becoming a force to be reckoned with.

With a choral introduction it doesn’t take long for this song to kick off in a frenzy of symphonic metal that really is a musical treat for the ears. With crashing drums and thunderous guitar riffs, this song really takes it to the next level. The listener is taken ion a tumultuous journey with peaks, troughs and all out crescendos that really do send shivers down your spine.

The guitar work is heavy with riffs flying at you left, right and centre and musically this track has literally everything, all turned up to 11! There really is no fault with this track and to think it is all done by just one person is just absolutely phenomenal. (Right now, as I am writing this, the awesome guitar solo has made me go cold! Just outstanding!)

Once again, Koburg’s vocals are simply awesome. Strong and powerful, she sings with such emotion and feeling and her captivating voice really does pull you into the song. She takes total command of the song with her voice and her talents with the rest of the instruments really does set the bar high for others!

I fell in love with Strike Back when I first heard it and I have done much the same with this track. I have had it on repeat for a while now and have actually lost count of the amount of times I have heard it. This is not a track that the listener will ever lose interest in and I will never lose interest in Koburg’s music.

Amazing song from an amazingly talented lady. If there is one artist you check out today, please let it be Koburg. Simply amazing (I am fast running out of superlatives here!!)

Awesome!

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I have previously reviewed a track by Harry Kappen and was interested to hear what else he had come up with. But before, I tell you about this track The Freedom Inside which is his latest single, released on 02/03/2023, let me tell you about the man himself.

Harry Kappen is a Dutch musician and music therapist. He is a multi-instrumentalist and composes his songs in his home studio in the Netherlands. Known for making bold statements with his music, The Freedom Inside is a song about the way the human race is destroying the earth and how the only way this can change is when we realise from within the devastation that is being caused.

While the lyrics themselves are quite deep and thought-provoking, the message is delivered in quite an up-beat way. Combining elements of multiple genres, the track is catchy and will make people stop and think about the issues it is dealing with.

With a funky, groovy beat, the song has a bounciness to it that will stay in people’s heads after one or two listen throughs. It has melodies and harmonies that will be your ear worms for the day and the track is very easy to listen to, meaning the message of the song will not get lost in musical that is too technical.

This song has an almost country rock vibe to it, with the twang of country guitars and the swagger of the vocals, but the classic rock fundamentals are also clear to hear.

Once again, this track has a great video to accompany it and one that will help get the message of the song to listeners easier. Please check out Harry and his music. If we can’t get these issues across to the general public in the usual way, then music is the next best way to go! Another great track Harry, job well done!

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Filip Dahl is a composer and multi-instrumentalist from Trondheim in Norway and Can You See The World is his latest single, released on 03/03/2023.

I had previously reviewed Filip’s track Walking Into Eternity and was eager to hear more from the very talented musician. I was not disappointed.

Kicking off with some phenomenal blues guitar work, this is a beautiful track, that once again captivates the listener. With a classic rock base, this track nods to various genres, including AOR and progressive rock, and this is something that it does exceptionally well.

The musical arrangement behind Filip’s virtuoso guitar playing is spot on, giving the track an 80’s vibe and the electronic synths really add a contrast to the bluesy guitars.

The previous track was an instrumental, which expressed the emotion of the song through just the music, but this one uses vocals to do this too as Filip’s voice is strong and powerful and is a perfect match for the guitar and synth work.

This is a song that will have you totally mesmerised and is one that the listener could easily lose themselves in. It really is a beautifully constructed and executed piece of music and Filip should be very proud of the result. Its sombre yet has an inspiring feel to it and one that really does show off Filip’s natural talents.

I loved this track and if you are a fan of bluesy guitar based classic frock then I have a strong feeling that you are going to love it too.

Absolutely stunning track!

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum