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.

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Dream Of A Man In A Top Hat is an alternative / neo-psychedelic / post-punk duo, consisting of Lee Leffler on guitar and vocals and Michael Frackleton on drums and vocals, who were two thirds of Boston 80’s post-punk band Native Tongue, and Worry is their latest single, released on 15/09/2023.

An experimental mix of alternative rock with post-punk and art rock, these two guys from the US have really made a unique sound for themselves.

With distortion used on the guitar work, the track has a very psychedelic feel to it, and this is added to by the inclusion of synths and electronic bites and sounds throughout the song. The track has quite an off-beat structure, which quite often leaves the listener wondering what direction it is going in next, but this only adds to the charm of the song.

The vocals are somewhat shoegaze in style, quite often blending in with the music behind them, and with a quirky nature to them that is a bit off the wall, the song, as with previous tracks that I have reviewed by this pair, has an eccentricity about it that would really appeal to a lot of people.

These guys are not afraid to experiment with their music and, with a partnership that spans decades, this really show in the music they make.

A great track that has the ability to transport you to another time and dimension, leaving the humdrum of real life behind for just under three and a half minutes!!

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Repeat are a newly formed alternative / stoner rock band from Sweden consisting of members Torbjörn Hallberg on guitars and vocals, Johan Holmberg on drums and Matthias Belin on bass, and Repeat is the band’s debut single, released on 08/09/2023.

And what a debut this is!

Kicking off with some distorted feedback, the track soon erupts into a frenzy of stoner, sludge, and grunge rock!

The guitars are heavy, with riffs coming at the listener from all angles, and distortion really gives the track its fuzzy vibe. The drumming is energetic and frantic and the meaty basslines that come through really hold the song together. Musically, this track is a masterpiece. With melodies and hooks that really pull the listener in, this is a really catchy tune, and the listener will be humming this for the rest of the day once hearing it.

Distortion is used once again on the vocals, creating a great atmosphere to the song that is raw and full of angst. With backups vocals in much the same vein there really is a great depth to this track and the energy that is emitted by all the members involved is immense. Repetitive lyrics add to the catchiness of the song and the only gripe I had with the song is that it just wasn’t long enough!

This is a fantastic track that will appeal to a wide range of listeners, from punk rock to alternative rock, stoner rock and hard rock. Be sure to check out the band Repeat and see what you think for yourself!

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Dirty Mitts are a multinational band hailing from the UK, Poland and Egypt and were brought together in 2018 by a love of loud, old school Rock’n’roll, and Women is their latest single, released on 08/09/2023.

A broad appreciation for women, the track has intermingled modern day sensibilities into their music to not only make an awesome, classic sound but also one that really sends out a modern, up to date message.

The music side of things in this track is very nostalgic, taking the listener on a journey back to classic rock times, while also maintaining a very fresh and contemporary feel. The guitars are heavy, the riffs thrown out by the guitarist come thick and fast and the solos are perfectly executed. There is a bluesy groove throughout the track that really hooks the listener in, and the high energy of the song keeps them there.

The vocals are classic rock in style, strong, powerful but with an added grittiness that really makes them stand out. This guy has a fantastic voice and can hit all the notes, from the low to the high, and the track really highlights the band’s talent and passion for the music they play.

If you only check out one band today, please make it be Dirty Mitts, you really will not be disappointed! Looking forward to the release of the Hands Off EP in November of this year, so keep your ears peeled for that too!!

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Movment are a post-punk alternative indie rock band from Mulinger in Ireland, featuring four musicians, Martin Kelly (vocals, drums, words), Kevin Kelly (guitars, bass, keyboards, synths, programming, words), Mark Kelly (bass guitar) and Isabella Rowden Kelly (guitar) and I Believe In Noise is their latest singles, released on 15/09/2023.

Combining elements from all the genres listed above, this band have really created a sound that is all their own.

The music side of things is heavy, riffs thrown at the listener from all angles, and the drumming and meaty basslines really hold the song together. Although the rock foundations are essentially what this track is built on, there is also an electronic synth quality that really adds to the track, giving it depth and dimension.

The vocals are quite quirky, but this adds to the charm of the song. Once again, having previously reviewed music by Movment, there is angsty vibe to the song, not only with the vocals and lyrics, but also with the distortion on the guitar work which gives the song an angry and aggressive feel.

This is another great track from these guys from Ireland, one that is about the effect of sound, music and noise has on our moods, and one that I urge you all to check out!

Great stuff!

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Playground Circus are a high energy pop-punk / skate-punk band based in London and Walking On Sunshine is their own unique on the 1983 Katrina And The Waves hit, released on 16/06/2023.

Forming in Greece in 2014, the band take their influences from the likes of New Found Glory, A Day To remember, Sum 41, NOFX, Green Day, Bowling For Soup, Good Charlotte, and Blink 182 among others, and have shared the stage with a whole host of names.

Blending the attitude of punk with the energy of hard rock, this is a fantastic rendition of the song, a classic known to millions.

There are some heavy riffs thrown in with some more melodic, yet raw guitar work and the frantic drumming really manages to keep the pace of the song going from start to finish. The original version is upbeat enough as it is, but these guys have managed to give it an even bigger lift, propelling it to fresh, exhilarating heights.

The vocals are raw, powerful, and energetic and with backups in much the same vein this is a track that is certain to get you bounding round the living room!

What an absolutely fantastic track! Its raw, its energetic and it certainly packs a punch! Loved it!

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Sunmachine are a new band, formed in the early part of 2023 and their latest single Spine, is only their second release and is setting the tone for the band’s debut album, The Nova Effect, which is set for release at the end of September 2023.

The track is essentially about questioning all the things you believe and having an identity crisis because of it, and this is a theme that many people will be able to resonate with. The song has quite profound lyrics but what better way to get this across to listeners than music?!

A heavy rock band in essence, the band have also included elements of punk and progressive rock to create themselves quite a unique sound.

With heavy riffs coming from the guitars, that, with a hint of distortion, generate an almost grungey vibe, they are accompanied by some energetic drum work and some very meaty yet funky basslines, which are prevalent all the way through the song. With all these musical elements combined, the band have come up with a sound that is almost impossible to define.

The vocals, while powerful, strong, and gritty, use distortion to help with the grunge feel to the track and really are one of the main driving points about the song. The singer has a wide range and with backups in much the same vein there really is depth to the track.

For a sophomore song, this one is truly awesome. While I haven’t heard their debut single, I am very much looking forward to the album coming out in just ten days’ time!

Phenomenal track!

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My Life Story started in 1984 in Southend and over the years lead singer Jake Shillingford grew the band into a flamboyant eleven-piece outfit with a string and brass section. By 2001 the band had stopped all touring and recording but by 2016, Jake wanted to tour more and streamlined the band, retiring the orchestral sections, to the alternative rock band it is today.

I’m A God, a track that highlights how the media lazily awards everyone and everything divine status, is the band’s latest single and was released on 30/08/2023.

Kicking off with some electronic synths it is not long before the song erupts into a nostalgic alternative pop/rock track.

Straddling many genres, this track does not fall into any one type of music and being able to appeal to a wide range of listeners is a great strength the song has. Musically the song lies somewhere between pop rock, indie and the synth genres, with the sound of the 80’s mixing profusely with sound of the 90’s, but all with a modern twist that keeps the song fresh and up to date.

The vocals on this track help take the listener on a nostalgic trip back in time, fitting right in with the 80’s electronic / rock sound. Jake’s voice is soft and gentle, but he really can take it up a notch or two when he needs to, and the emotion in his voice is clear to hear.

This is a fantastic track that is edgy, catchy, and really quite infectious. Listen to this once and you will be humming the lyrics and melodies for the rest of the day!

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nasmore is a Canadian songwriter and producer and When It Feels So Fake is his latest single, released on 08/09/2023. Having previously reviewed music by nasmore, I was eager to hear more from him and I was not disappointed! Once again featuring Neil Taylor (he played on Tears For Fears album Songs From The Big Chair and is a long-term collaborator with the likes of Tina Turner, Chris De Burgh, Natalie Imbruglia, Metallica, Phil Collins, Kylie Minogue, and more) on guitar, the song also features nasmore’s vocalist friends, Gabriel and Waz.

Drawing on influences from Imagine Dragons and Nickelback, the song is a great fusion of alternative rock, electronic bites, and pop-rock, and “encapsulates that moment when everything around you feels superficial, and you’re yearning for something genuine,” a feeling I am sure many people have felt and do still feel.

With some heavy guitar riffs, the track also has a groovy bassline and some energetic drumming, and combining this with electronic bites and sounds and synths throughout the song, there really is quite a unique sound being made.

Not quite pop, but not quite rock, the song has the ability to straddle a multitude of genres and does so with ease, and this is only enhanced by the powerful vocals that accompany the music. With a very distinctive pop sound, there is also a grittiness there that also drops the track in the rock genres too. And with backups in much the same vein and synchronised vocals, there really is a great depth to the song!

This is an awesome track, and I look forward to much more from this very talented individual.

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Good Time Locomotive are a London based new wave pop rock band and, as they have recently made the transition form a five-piece band to a duo, their aptly named new single, A New Beginning was released on 09/09/2023.

Forming on zoom during the pandemic, the band always had one aim in mind, and that was to write music and lyrics with an emotional punch and a positive message, and that is exactly what they have done with this song.

With a foundation firmly in the alternative rock genre, elements of pop and indie rock really shine through, making this a very catchy and memorable track.

There are funky basslines throughout the song that keep it on track and tight, and the awesome guitar work and drumming round off the music side of things perfectly. This is a track that will soon have you bopping around the living room as the inclusion of electronic bites and sounds mean their mission of helping people get back to having a good time in life, is certainly well on course.

The vocals are somewhat quirky but fit well with the music they are accompanying and a slight distortion every now and then really creates a grungey yet nostalgic feel.

This is a great track and the band have a really created a big sound for themselves with just two members! I am really looking forward to anything else that comes from the Good Time Locomotive camp in the very near future!

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