Gloom Girl MFG are a post-punk indie rock band from Nashville and their debut EP, Factory, was released on 08/09/2023.

Influenced by the likes of Television, Hole, and The Pretenders this is a band who are not afraid to wear their influences on their sleeves, and the result is a sonic ambush on the listeners ears that is full of attitude and, as the band themselves say, “grabs you by the collar and kicks you in the face!”

A great fusion of alternative rock and punk rock, the music side of things is heavy, in your face and totally infectious. The guitars are heavy, with riffs flying everywhere, yet can also handle the more melodic parts of the EP, the drumming has all the energy of punk rock, really driving the tracks forward and the meaty yet groovey basslines that really shine, round off the band’s unique take on this genre of rock perfectly.

This is the kind of music that will have you, the listener moving n one way or another. Whether that is tapping your foot or bounding around the room like a loon is entirely up to you, but the catchiness of the melodies and the hooks will mean you will not be able to sit still.

The vocal side of the EP is immense. The leads are strong, very powerful and full of attitude, very reminiscent of the punk-rock sound of the late 90’s and early 2000’s. With reflective and contemplative lyrics and storytelling, the leads are accompanied by some layered backups, really creating depth and dynamism to the tracks.

There is a variety of pace on the EP, some tracks being full on, in your face rock tunes while others are more melodic. This is great for the listener as they are always engaged and entertained by the EP.

This is a fantastic EP, and it is hard to believe it is actually their debut, as they have the professionalism and musicianship of a band who have been around for many years. Check them out! This is a band with a great future ahead of them!

Track Listing:

1) Litterbug

2) My Brothers Meds

3) I Hope She Knows

4) Side Stitch

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The Manimals are a New York City band and Detonate is their latest single, released on 08/09/2023. The song features Haley Bowery on lead vocals, Michael Jayne on lead guitar and vocals, Chris Sayre on guitar and vocals, Jack Breslin on bass, Trevor Walker on drums and Zoe Briskey on synths and is an introspection of one’s own worst tendencies that build into a massive release, and wanting to start all over again, and this is something I think that many people experience at one point or another in their lives.

Starting off as what seems like an alternative rock power ballad, the song soon erupts into a frenzy of alternative rock / rock pop, building its way through the first few verses with intensity and power until the listener is thrust into an explosion of attitude-filled lyrics and blasting guitars.

The music side of things, once the song gets going, is heavy and guitar riffs are thrown at the listener from all angles. The drumming is energetic and frantic and strong basslines show through, helping to create a strong, powerful second half of the song.

The first half of the track is built entirely on Haley’s voice, which is very reminiscent of the likes of Hayley Williams from Paramore and Taylor Momsen from The Pretty Reckless. She has a very strong voice and is never once overshadowed by the music behind her, always taking command of the track. She is accompanied by some awesome layered male backups, and this really creates a great depth to the song.

This is a fantastic track by this band. It is full of angst, attitude and defiance and will appeal to a wide range of listeners. Go and check out The Manimals and see what you think for yourself! But be ready to bop your socks off as their music is extremely catchy and will have you dancing around the living in no time at all!

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The Muster Point Project is the creation of multi-instrumentalist Kevin Franco, who comes from Calgary but who splits his time between Canada and Santiago in Chile. I Did What I Did is his latest single and was released on 07/09/2023.

Kevin says: “I mix many genres of music including pop, folk, metal, funk and even good ol’ rock n roll,” and this is clear to see in this track, “a humorous and self-deprecating approach to asking forgiveness for the many repeated mistakes made by someone in a relationship.”

Classic rock in nature, the song also takes influence from the likes of alternative rock, rock and roll and even some country rock twangs can be heard every now and then.

The music side of things are very retro, with some nostalgic guitar playing and the drumming and basslines are both strong, powerful and keep the song tight and on track. The music is upbeat, and it guaranteed to get the listener moving, and whether that be tapping their foot or dancing around the living room is entirely up to them.

The vocals are a bit quirky, but this only adds to the appeal of the track. The leads are strong and with enough grit to really make them stand but coupled with the layered backups in much the same vein, the song really does have a great depth to it, and there is enough going on, both musically and vocally, to keep the listener entertained and engaged.

This is a great track, and I really can’t wait to hear more from The Muster Point Project. It’s a sound to be enjoyed by fans of multiple rock genres and could even appeal to the pop rock people to! Go and check them out!

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Octavian Winters are a post-punk band from San Francisco consisting of members Stephan Salit (guitars), Randy Gzebb (drums), Jay Denton (bass) and Ria Aursjoen (vocals and keyboards). Undertow is the band’s single and was released on 02/08/2023.

The song is loosely inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen classic tale of The Little Matchgirl, who ignored by everyone, freezes to death in the snow after lighting all of her matches for warmth, and this feeling of isolation and yearning for a connection is a theme that a lot of people can resonate with!

The song kicks off with some funky yet meaty basslines that really set the tone for the song before heavy guitar riffs are introduced as an accompaniment. Keyboards then come into the mix, making the introduction a fuzzy haze of instrumentation created by the use of distortion, and is a great start to the song.

Ria’s vocals are strong and powerful, while bordering on a shoegaze style of singing. This gives the track a dreamy yet haunting atmosphere that really pulls the listener in, and the soaring vocal harmonies and backups really give the track a great depth.

Every aspect of the musicianship on this track, from the vocals to the pounding drums and thumping bass, to the electrifying guitar work, pulls out all the stops and really makes this a potent song to listen to.

This is an awesome track, and one that I think will appeal to fans of classic rock, as well as alternative rock and even grunge fans. So, check out Octavian Winters and their music and hear for yourself how great this talented band are!

Photo by Dina Marie Robinson

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darkmaterial are an up-and-coming independent rock band from Reading in the UK and consist of members Ian Larsson on vocals and rhythm guitar, Joe Murrell on lead guitar, Oscar North-Concar on bass and Sam Sutton on drums.

Lucky Charm is the band’s latest single, released on 01/09/2023, and explores the personification of a lucky charm!

Influenced by bands such as Black Sabbath, Dio, and Iron Maiden, darkmaterial are trying to create a new sound by combining the heaviness of these bands with alternative rock and post rock, and the result is a brand new, unique rock sound.

With the use of slight distortion on both the guitars and the vocals, there is an almost sludgey feel to the track, but this, in my opinion, only adds to the atmospheric nature of the song. The guitar work is heavy, full of riffs and really creates an immersive experience for the listener. The drum work is raw and energetic and really adds to the distinctive sound these guys are forging for themselves.

The vocals are melodic and strong, the perfect fit for the sound this band has created, and the hint of distortion the ideal alteration to provide the post-rock ambience the song has.

This is an awesome track that more people need to hear, and the fact is straddles many genres, will make it appeal to a wide variety of rock fans, from alternative rock to heavy metal as the influences from the bands mentioned above is clear to hear!

Go and check out darkmaterial and their music. I am, personally, looking forward to hearing much more from them! I’ll meet you in Spotify!

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Having previously reviewed lots of music by Love Ghost in the past, I am always eager to hear more from this very prolific band from Los Angeles.

Mixing hip-hop and rap with emo pop-rock and nu-metal, this is a band who have created a sound quite unique to them. With some tracks leaning more to the rock side of things, and others favouring the R&B aspect of their sound, this is a band who really can turn their hand to anything.

Snap, a dark trap song about transforming into someone or something that you wanted to be but felt like you couldn’t due to depression, is the band’s latest track, and was released on 01/09/2023.

Again, featuring lyrics in both English and Spanish, Snap is a collaboration with Mexican artist CHZTER as is a great blend of hip-hop with some hard rock undertones. The beats really get into your head, pulling you into the song, and soon become your earworm for the day, the echoes of the songs resonating in your brain long after you have finished listening to it.

Not only is the contrast between English and Spanish great to hear again, but the contrast between the clean vocals and the rapping, from both male and female singers, really does give the song a great dynamism and just one listen through is not enough to hear all that this track has to offer.

Once again, Love Ghost have come up trumps with this track. Their diversity and talent really stand out with each track they release, and I cannot wait to hear more!

Excelente! And also check out the video below!

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Barking Poets are an alternative punk rock band from Camden in London consisting of members Neil Murray on vocals and guitar, Ander Mendia on bass and vocals and Conor Heary on drums, percussion and vocals, and Southsea Sounds is their latest EP, released on 01/09/2023.

Recording the EP in Portsmouth with acclaimed produced Tim Greaves, it was released via Engineer Records and has lyrical themes of political confusion and societal frustration along with evocative lyrics of 21^st century London life and this is all done with a positive, optimistic vibe.

A great blend of alternative rock and punk rock, this EP really does reach out to many genres for influence, and this is a band who is not afraid to wear these influences on their sleeves.

With six punchy tracks, this is an EP full of upbeat riffs and beats and melodic lyrics that really do get the listener up and bouncing around.

The guitar work is heavy, with riffs flying at the listener from all angles, and the drumming is frantic and energetic. Strong, meaty basslines shine through, keeping the songs tight and on track, and musically, this EP is fantastically done.

But let’s not forget the vocals, which are strong and powerful, with a grittiness that places them in the hard rock / alternative rock genre, but also with an attitude that is most definitely influenced by the punk movement. With shouty backup vocals to accompany the leads, the EP definitely leans more towards punk rock, and this really gives the EP an anthemic vibe to it.

This is a great EP that fans of punk rock, alternative rock and classic rock will all appreciate and I, for one, am really looking forward to more music that this band produce.

Great job, well done!

Track Listing:

1) Getting Away With It

2) We Will Overcome

3) I Could Have Been A Contender

4) Punching Down

5) Part Of The Problem

6) London Town

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Robert Vendetta is an artist, a producer, and a songwriter, who loves music, and exploring different styles. He loves performing and has even performed for the Norwegian royal family! His heroes include James Brown, Elvis, and Dee Snider.

Anyways, Robert Vendetta has just released a brand new single, “Here And Now.” This is an acoustic/folk track that is incredible! It has a brilliant beat and is very contagious! The music is soft, yet very interesting and I love it!

Without a doubt, Robert’s vocals are amazing! He sings so flawlessly and is able to reach some insane notes! His voice is almost angelic, and I cannot wait to hear what else he has for us!

Be sure to check out Robert’s newest release, “Here And Now” and you will undoubtedly love it!

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Gary Pratt is a country music star from Pittsburgh, USA and his latest single, Number One Fan, a re-worked version of a song Gary wrote many years go about his mum, was released on 29/08/2023.

Offering a modern spin on a traditional country track, Number One Fan is the seventh single from his 2021 album Something Worth Remembering, an album that has had more that 400k Spotify streams.

Serving as an anthem of appreciation for anyone’s number one fan, the song is a great country rock-based track, with influences from other genres, from soft rock to alternative rock.

The guitars have the distinct twang and strumming of country rock, with guitar solos that have a classic rock feel to them, and they really do send shivers down your spine. The drumming and percussion side of things are quite laid back, leaving the guitar work and vocals to drive the song.

The vocals on this song are truly epic, country rock in essence but with a classic sound. Gary’s voice is strong and powerful and is packed full of emotion, portraying the theme of the track perfectly. With layered backup vocals as an accompaniment, there really is a great depth and dynamism to the song and the song builds in intensity as it progresses, more emotion spilling out from the lyrics and guitar playing.

If you like country rock with a modern twist then Gary Pratt is your go to guy! This is a great song, and I can see why it reached number 8 on the iTunes Country Songs chart!

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Centreshift are a four-piece rock band from Los Angeles, consisting of singer / guitarist Jason Radford from Onesidezero, Ryan Stuber (ex-Shuvel) on guitar, Ted Wenri (ex-Bemus) on bass and Stefan Storace (ex-BLüPRNT) on drums, and The Ride is the band’s latest single, released on 21/06/2023, coming on the heels of their previous single Fade Away.

An alternative rock band, Centreshift have a very nostalgic sound as they take the listener on a journey back to the 90’s, while having some influences from other rock genres seeping in, as well as keeping their sound modern and fresh.

The guitar work is heavy when it needs to be, with riffs thrown at the listener from all angles, yet there is also a melodicness to the track that really pulls the listener in, almost hypnotically. There is a slight distortion on the guitars that gives the track a slight grungey feel but this only adds to the appeal of the song.

The drumming is quite laid-back during the verses but takes it up a notch when the choruses hit, and the song really explodes. The meaty basslines that show through give the track a solid foundation and everything builds from there.

The vocals are a bit quirky, but the singer has a very powerful voice that is just at home singing the more melodic parts of the song as he is the more intense choruses, when the strength in his voice really shows through. He is accompanied by some haunting back up vocals and this gives the track a great atmosphere.

This is a great track that I have listened to more than once on repeat now and each time it just gets better and better. Be sure to check out Centreshift and their music. Available on Spotify now!

Awesome!

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