Having previously reviewed Can’t Imagine by I Panic, I was really excited to hear what was next from the Dutch singer and multi-instrumentalist, Marcel van Tetering, the brainchild behind I Panic, a band he set up with two friends way back in 1987, although now he uses the name as a solo project.

Kicking off with a just the sound of a piano, gentle drums and plucking guitars soon join the track with soft vocals.

But please do not be fooled as the track really builds in intensity and all the instruments become more powerful and electric guitars and pounding drums become a major feature.

The vocalism of Marcel is immense, as he switches easily from soft, ballady type vocals to the more powerful vocals of classic rock and AOR. The lyrics are delivered with strength and emotion and the inclusion of a stringed section part way through the track only enhances the passion of the song.

This track, just like the previous, really does have a big sound to it, showing Marcel’s amazing talent. There are peaks and troughs all the way through the track as the music reaches crescendo only to subside to a gentler pace once more and the listener is taken on a musical journey that is a treat for the ears.

Another great track from a wonderful musician! Well done!

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

Dear Amber is an alternative rock band based in Copenhagen, Denmark and consists of members Ronni, Morten, Kenneth, and Jan. Roadkill is their latest single, released on 25/12/2022 and is the first piece of new music from them since they released their “Sparks Equal Fall” EP back in August of 2021.

With soaring alternative rock guitars and a swaggering drum and bass section, the track starts off quietly but soon builds in intensity and power.

The vocals are slightly nasally, giving the track a very grungy vibe, and they grab you right from the start, commanding the song all the way through. The lyrics are delivered with passion and emotion, and this is only enhanced by the quirkiness of the singer’s voice.

The track has a late 1990’s / early 2000’s indie/alternative vibe to it but with a modern twist to it so that it really doesn’t seem out of place in today’s music.

The track builds in intensity the whole way through until it reaches anthemic proportions, peaking with vocal and instrumental strength, before subsiding only to rebuild once more.

This is a very edgy track, catchy with melodies and lyrics that will stick in your head and one that I really enjoyed listening to. If this song is anything to go by, I’m sure the album will be quite superb.

Excellent track from some incredibly talented musicians! Be sure to check it out!

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DCxPC is a collaboration that books and releases music from live shows for multiple bands and Volume 9 presented Some Kind Of Nightmare recorded live at Lou’s.

Some Kind Of Nightmare are an American punk rock band, and they bring an energetic, raw sound that is a mixture of punk rock, old and new! Formed in 2006, the trio comes from San Diego and they “the thoughts and opinions of the rock bottom class and making a hell of a lot of noise doing it.”

Mixing both male and female vocals, this is an EP that is full of energy and bounce and will soon have you pogo’ing around no time. Both sets of vocals are raw, full of attitude and in your face. As they sing about the views of working-class people, this will have a wide reach for them. After all, aren’t the fundamental ideas of punk anarchism and anti-establishmentarianism?

The drumming is frantic and the guitars LOUD!! This is a punk band who really do sound like they should have been on stage with The Sex Pistols, albeit with a modern twist.

The energy coming from this EP is awesome, I can imagine there were a few sweaty bodies at Lou’s that night and the force and intensity of this band is immense.

Each track is short and to the point and the EP of five tracks is just about thirteen minutes in length, but, being a live album, there is always something for the listener to hear, and the production on this one is fantastic.

Punk fans, old and new, far and wide, please go and check out Some Kind of Nightmare as you will love them but also check out the releases that DCxPC have put out too as you will definitely not be disappointed!

TRACK LISTING:

1) We Take Form

2) Everything’s Ok

3) Crow Digital

4) Driven Red

5) Bombs And Jobs (Bonus Track)

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

Under Neptune is an original music project created by Daniel Monteiro based in Estevan, Sk Canada and Chapter One is their latest EP, released on 09/12/2022.

This EP is a collection of six original tracks lasting for a total of just over 27 minutes. The EP combines a classic rock sound with indie rock and alternative rock to create an easy-listening, rock pop vibe that should appeal to a wide range of listeners.

Musically, this EP is strong and solid, the guitar work is excellent, ranging from heavy riffs to clean solos and some impressive pluck work going on too. The drumming is top-notch, and combined with the solid basslines and percussion, keeps the tracks in time and flowing throughout the EP.

The singer’s voice is amazing. Its everything that a rock voice should be, strong, powerful, passionate and full of emotion. There is that hint of grittiness that gives the EP an edge to it and this is what makes this EP stand out.

The placement of the tracks on the EP is outstanding and there is a great mix of rockier, upbeat tracks as well as pure rock power ballads! Each track flows perfectly on to the next and the change is tempo and pace between tracks, and throughout each track, is spot on, keeping the listener interested at all times.

I absolutely loved this EP and have listened to it maybe three or four times on repeat now. This band have so much talent, but I also think they have so much more potential, and I can only see good things coming from Under Neptune in the future.

Well done guys! Excellent EP, I look forward to the next one!

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

Crux are an alternative rock band from Newcastle, UK and Radgie Gadgie was released on 21/10/2022.

Radgie Gadgie is Geordie slang for ‘Aggressive Man’ and the song is a grim tale of toxic masculinity and trauma and at just under three minutes in length, it certainly packs a punch.

Mixing indie rock with ska and a bit of post-punk, this is a track that overlaps many genres, and the writing, performance and production really are a masterclass in musical entertainment.

Launching straight away into the track with a funky bass line, the song is high-energy from start to finish. The basslines are awesome and really show through during the entire track, the guitars are dirty, giving the track a fuzzy vibe and the drumming is just out of this world, full of energy, frantic and totally crazy.

The vocals are full on punk and the shouty backups only add to the punkness of the track. This is an anthemic, quirky song and one that really will get stuck in your head and have you pogo’ing around the living room in no time.

Awesome track! I have another one to review from these guys too and I am really hoping it will be as great as this one!

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

Satellite Train was originally conceived as a fun side project between friends and Broken Heart is their latest track, released on 21/10/2022.

Hailing from Australia and America, Satellite Train features Michael Paynter of Icehouse, John Watson of James Reyne, John McCall of The Black Sorrows, Randy Jacobs of Paul Kelly, Shane O’Mara of Paul Kelly, Pasquale Monea of Stephen Cummings, Jamie Muhoberac of John Mayer and Chris Chaney of Jane’s Addiction!

Broken Heart is the band’s debut single and is a soaring rock tune full of warm guitar riffs, energetic drumming, funky basslines, and a vocal performance that is just outstanding.

Michael Paynter’s voice alone is strong and powerful with that little bit of grittiness to give it that rocky feel, but combined with the female voice, the vocals just go to the next level, peaking in a crescendo that sends shivers down your spine. The powerful back up vocals also add to the majesticness (is that a word?) of the whole song.

The musicianship on this track is outstanding. The guitar work is formidable, the drumming is solid, making sure the song is always kept on track and, together with a groovy bass and piano, this really is a musical masterpiece.

I am going to check out anything new these guys bring to the table as with the years of experience that the member shave between them, I am sure that it will be an amazing journey for them, and for us!

There is also an acoustic version of the track if you want to check that out too!

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

Chip & The Charge Ups is the new hard rock/power pop/pop-punk band electrifying the East Coast and beyond and Paying Back The Devil is their latest track, released on 01/12/2022.

And oh, my word, what a track this is!

Combining alternative rock with classic rock, this is a great singalong track that is super catchy and will get you banging your head in no time.

The guitars are dirty and grungy, giving it a slightly sleazy vibe and the drumming is frantic, crashing cymbals a very prominent feature of the track. The bassline is super funky and all together musically this is a great track. Heavy riffs and melodies fill the song and there is so much energy coming from these guys, its hard not to bounce with them.

The vocals are perfect for this rocky number, strong, powerful, and full of grit! And with layered backup vocals to accompany him, this track really does have a big, big sound and this is coming from just the three of them!

I absolutely loved this track. Writing the review was hard though as I just couldn’t sit still long enough!!

For some good old fashioned in your face rock, please go and check out Chip And The Charge Ups! I am certain you are going to love them as much as I do!

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

Aliens Don’t Ring Doorbells comprise Dorian Foyil (guitar, sax, backing & lead vocals), Adam King (lead, backing vocals) and Mark Boden (keyboards, backing vocals) and they got their name from a conversation between Foyil’s six-year-old son and an old man on the subway.

Hailing from all over the globe, with a travel journey that would take too long to explain here, the band now resides on the Costa Blanca in Spain after each member relocated there, and Big Old Nowhere is there latest song, released on 21/10/2022.

Starting off with the twang of bass guitar, the track kicks in straight away, with pace, beats and bundles of energy.

The bands says, “We are adult pop rock with a raw edge” and this I can totally agree with.

The guitars are bouncy, the drumming is awesome and the basslines funky. The vocals are energetic and with backup vocals adding depth to the track, this is super catchy and will certainly have you bopping right from the start.

I loved this track from the moment it started. The pace is frantic and even speeds up at certain points in the track before “slowing” back down again. This really is a musical treat for the ears. There is nothing offensive about this track and, to me, is purely rock n roll meets pop rock.

Please check these guys out because I really don’t think you will be disappointed at all.

Ps Guys, I’m still bouncing round now!!

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

Jeremy Parsons, a Texas-born singer / songwriter, grew up surrounded by the sounds of Country Music, and now that’s the only thing running through his veins. He taught himself to play the guitar early in high school, and then began performing his original songs. With a genuine personality, unique humour, and heartfelt passion for his occupation, he draws on his personal experiences to write keenly perceptive and introspective songs.

He says, “We have those moments when we sit down and look where we are. Sometimes followed by that is the thought, ‘Is this where I thought I’d be?’ or ‘Is this where I should be in my life?‘” and this is a sentiment a lot of people can relate to.

Tickin’ is his new track and was released on 28/10/2022.

A track drenched in the Americana / Alt Country sound, it starts of slowly but builds in intensity and pace as the song progresses.

Featuring the twang of country guitars and the gentle beat of a drum in the background of the verses, the choruses are louder and super catchy.

Jeremy’s voice is great ands you can tell he is a country rock boy at heart, the country swagger very evident in his vocals. He also has a certain grit in his voice that makes him stand apart from other country singers and this is a real bonus for me as I like strong, powerful, edgy vocals.

This is certainly a track that makes you sit up and think!

Excellent job!

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

Big Rick Energy is the new band and brainchild of New York City based Rick Eberle. Rick Eberle is a singer/songwriter who has an acoustic fan favourite, Tired Of Me, and this is an amped-up rehashing of that song. The new band, consists of Adam Solar, Ryan Birkbeck, and Josh Forgione and together they have given it a great alternative rock twist. This updated version of the song was released on 04/11/2022.

I, personally, haven’t heard the original version of the track as I wanted to review this one purely on what I hear today, and I must say I absolutely love it.

Opening with guitar feedback, the track kicks in straight away and is an upbeat, rocky number that will certainly get you tapping your foot or nodding your head.

The guitars are dirty and fuzzy giving the track an almost grungy vibe while still maintaining a classic rock sound. The drumming is frantic and full of energy and the bassline is solid.

The vocals on this track are absolutely amazing. I love the grittiness in the singer’s voice, and this gives the track an edgy vibe. He sings full of passion and vigour that its hard not to bounce along with him.

Everything about this track is simply perfect, there really is nothing to fault!

I will certainly be keeping my ear to ground for anything new this awesome band release in the future!

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum