Having grown up in New York, Mark Newman’s musical journey has taken him around the world several times, both as a sideman and as a singer / songwriter and he has shared the stage with some of the greats, including Sam Moore (Sam & Dave), John Oates (Hall and Oates), Jim McCarty (Yardbirds, Renaissance), the late Willy DeVille (Mink DeVille), Bobby Whitlock (Derek and the Dominos) and Sam The Sham.

At The Border is his latest track and was released on 02/12/2022. It started out being about when people were fleeing Ukraine, but it’s also about people around the world trying to escape oppression and hunger.

It’s a soft, melodic song, despite the themes, and I think this is what makes it such a powerful track.

The gentle snare drums that keep everything together are perfect against the strumming on the electric guitars, and the solos are sublimely carried out.

What really makes this song though is the vocal arrangements. Mark’s voice, on its own, is powerful enough to carry the message across to the listeners, but mixed with the choral backing vocals, the song really does pack a punch.

Music is always a fantastic way to spread a message and when it’s done as well as this, it should be done more often.

Great track!

I look forward to hearing more from this incredibly talented musician.

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What Strange Beasts are a Seattle based quartet and Cat’s Paw is their latest track, released on 18/11/2022.

These guys really do straddle multiple genres, making them very hard to categorise, which in my book is always a good thing. Who wants to be pigeon-holed anyway?

Merging classic rock riffs with the twang of 90’s indie rock, this song also has the singalongability of Britpop and the time changes of progressive rock.

The lead singer’s voice is phenomenal, switching from melodic harmonies to grittier rock vocals with ease, and combined with the dulcet backing vocals, it really does make for a great vocal arrangement.

The track has great pace, which is kept on time and in tune by the superbly talented drummer and the basslines showing through are funky.

This song is very catchy with a big chorus that will work its way into your head and stay there for the rest of the day and will certainly get you bopping away to it.

Not to everyone’s liking, but I think this band has a certain hint of Biffy Clyro to them. They have quite a symphonic sound, enhance by the use of synths part way through the track.

This really is an amazing track and one I am so glad I have had the pleasure to hear. I have listened to it about six times on repeat now and, if I didn’t have other reviews to do, I would listen to it a further six times.

Absolutely epic track!

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Having previously reviewed Howl by Lord Sonny The Unifier, when the opportunity came up to review this one, I was interested to see what they produced next. I wasn’t disappointed.

Again, the Brooklyn based band have mixed alternative rock with just about everything else to keep up the sound they have created.

The vocals are quirky, ranging from melodic harmonies to almost punk-like shouts and accompanied by layered backing vocals, they really add depth to the song.

The guitars are, once again, fuzzy, and dirty, giving the track a grungy vibe and the clean guitar solos are a superb contrast.

The drum and bass section of the band is solid and keeps the track moving along nicely. The use of synths and electronic sounds are an added bonus to the song, giving it a funky sound that is both nostalgic yet futuristic, which is something I also said about the previous single.

The chorus is catchy and anthemic and will have you humming it for the rest of the day. This is certainly a track that will have you moving in one way or another, whether it be tapping your foot or banging your head, which is why I also think it will appeal to a wide range of people.

I can’t wait to hear an album from these guys as I really feel they have something unique to give to the music world.

But don’t take my word for it, please go and check it out for your self and see what you think!

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Alternative and indie music, as we all know, was huge around the late 90’s and early 2000’s, and despite many of us thinking the genre had died a death, bands like Kestrel Palace show that the genre is very much alive.

Kestrel Palace is a singer / songwriter from Manchester and Swan Song is his latest single, released on 25/11/2022.

A fusion of alternative and indie rock with grunge and punk has given this artist a very distinctive sound. Distortion on the vocals gives the track an edgy vibe, one that was so prevalent “back in the day,” and dirty guitars makes the whole track grungy and fuzzy.

The track has a big chorus that is the main focus of the song, and each verse builds up before the catchiness of the lyrics and bounciness of the music of the chorus erupts in alternative goodiness.

The musicianship on this track is fantastic and the guy is obviously very talented. The pace of the track is done to perfection and at just over two and a half minutes in length, there is not enough time to ever get bored with or stop dancing to the track.

Well done Kestrel Palace and I look forward to hearing more from you in the very near future!

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I Panic is the brainchild of Dutch singer and multi-instrumentalist, Marcel van Tetering. He started I Panic way back in 1987 with two lifelong friends but they only played together for about a year. He retained the name and set up as a solo artist.

A self-taught composer and performer, he was influenced by many diverse genres as he grew up in his grandmother’s record shop sand this makes him exceedingly difficult to pigeonhole now.

Combining classic rock with alternative and indie rock, this track, Can’t Imagine which was released on 10/11/2022, has a very anthemic feel to it.

His vocals are powerful, and the listener can hear the emotion literally pouring from them. The piano sounds that kick off the track are perfect and this mixed with the explosivity of the guitars and drums when they do erupt makes for a very poignant ballad.

With big choruses and a crashing crescendo to finish with, this is a power ballad that is emotive, strong, and intense. The track has an enormous sound and this all coming from one guy is just incredible.

Please check out the song and I Panic on all social media sites. I’m off to Spotify now to see what else I can find from this incredibly talented musician. I’m sure I won’t be disappointed!

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The Qwarks are a three-piece band from Brighton and Nice While It Lasted is their latest single, released on 09/12/2022.

A fusion of stoner rock, psychedelia and alternative rock, this band have perfected a sound that is uniquely theirs.

The band consists of Phil Johnstone on vocals, who effortlessly switches from a “narrative” style of singing to full on melodic harmonies, a sound that is reminiscent of the 60’s and 70’s, Simon Young on the bass, the funky basslines and tones being the underlying driving force behind the track, and Nick Flowers, whose energy on the drums is hard to miss.

Together they have produced a song that is upbeat, despite the lyrical content, and oh so very catchy as it burrows its way into your brain and remains there for the rest of the day.

This song has a very sentimental vibe to it, a nod back to music of a bygone age, but the band have their own twist on it which keeps it quite contemporary and modern.

The track has a quirkiness to it that sets it apart from anything else I have listened to and I would be interested to hear what the rest of their music is like.

Spotify, here I come.

A great track that will get you moving in one way or another. Whether you’re bopping your head or tapping your feet, you will certainly be grooving to this one!

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

Pagan Lust are a four-piece rock band and Societal Plague is their latest recording, released on 31/10/2021. Comprising of Hardkore (lead guitar, piano and songwriter), Burn Moor (vocals and lyricist), Rick Brough (bass, upright bass, harmonica and vocals) and Byron Church (drums, flute and vocals), they say their music is a “call to return to that which is most primal within us…to delve into the darkness and extract our deepest longings!”

Fusing hard rock, indie rock, blues, punk and funk it is hard to place these guys into any one genre as influences from all of the aforementioned come to the surface at some point or another during the album.

The vocals are deep, powerful, and strong and are never overshadowed by the musical content at any time during the album. There is an eccentricity to them that make them stand out from other singers and this only adds to the intrigue and mystery of the band. These vocals are also complimented by excellently worked back up vocals which, again, have a diversity about them and can range from layered melodic vocalism to punky shouts and screams.

Musically, I can’t fault this album. The dirty, fuzzy guitars, which play anything from classic rock riffs to bluesy melodies, also add a hint of psychedelia to certain tracks as well as having a grungy effect.

The crashing drums are energetic and keep everything tight and in time and funky bass lines shine through from time to time.

This is a really great album which will appeal to a wide range of listeners, from punk fans to blues fans to classic rock fans. There is a hint of nostalgia too with some of the riffs and guitar solos reminiscent of the sound of 70’s classic rock but the band have also put their own mark on the music too, keeping it up to date and contemporary.

There is a broad range of tracks on the album, and this means there is something that will appeal to everyone, and the listener will always be engaged,

Please check out this band’s social media pages and give them a like. Find them on Spotify and see what you think about this album. You may not agree with me but hey, that’s the beauty of music!

TRACK LISTING:

1) Yellow Serpent

2) Eyes Not Wheeze

3) Lucifer

4) Grease Truck

5) ODD

6) Warpath

7) Unwanted Man

8) Mine

9) ROI

10) Woke

11) Everything You Took

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David White is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from New Jersey who writes and records all of his own music. Being a musician his whole li9fe, he taught himself to play the piano at the age of three and has toured the world as part of The American Boychoir.

Pioneer is his latest album released on 01/10/2022 and shows just what a diverse musician he really is.

Combining Americana and classic rock with hard rock and just about anything else he wanted to throw into the mix, he really has created a sound that is unique to him.

His vocals are distinctive and strong, with a range that means he can hit the high notes while also maintaining the low effortlessly and seamlessly. He has a typical 80’s rock voice that would not be out of place in any of the rock bands at the time but at the same time having a contemporary feel to it.

The mix of acoustic and electric guitars throughout the album keeps the listener engaged at all times, and the drum and bass section is solid, with funky basslines showing through at times.

The album has both vintage and modern influences together, taking us on a nostalgic trip back in time and keeping us in the present at the same time.

The songs are well-placed on the album, each leading nicely on the other and the pacing and tempo of the tracks, and the album as a whole, is done exceptionally well.

With fifteen tracks to listen to, the album is just over 55 minutes long, and is a great collection of songs, ranging from classic rock tracks to ballads and everything in between.

While David does his music as a hobby, he does it with a competence and professionalism and this should be celebrated.

Find him on Spotify and see for yourself.

TRACK LISTING:

1) Backwards Town

2) Rainier

3) Nothing Compares To You

4) Lullaby For Molly

5) Letters From Nowhere

6) Monday

7) Okay In Love

8) Intermission

9) General

10) Beyond The Delaware

11) Y

12) Pioneer

13) Dead Language

14) Land Of Sea And Sun

15) Wake Me When I’m Home

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

The One Tonic is the brainchild of Salt Lake City based artist Matt Soren and The Richest Man Alive is his latest song, released on 22/11/2022.

Mixing synth indie rock, dark wave, alternative rock plus a whole host of other genres, this band really does have a sound unique to them.

The artist says of the song title, “Years ago, we lost almost everything when my wife had cancer. Even though it was brutal, it made me appreciate how rich I actually was. I had my family.”

Matt had his fair of torment throughout his life, from depression, to abuse and addiction but it was finding his wife and having his family that gave him a life, so being rich doesn’t always mean having lots of money and that is the message this song is sending out.

With quirky vocals, delivered with such passion, enthusiasm, and energy that you could really believe that he is singing about himself, bouncing basslines and electronic drumming, this is anthemic, electro pop / punk at its best.

Electronic sounds are dropped into the background throughout the song, giving the song depth and the synths used give the track a retro 80’s yet modern vibe.

This track is infectious, upbeat, extremely catchy with a big chorus that will have you bopping away in no time! I was, and I was trying to write the review at the time!

Excellent track and an excellent message! Please go and check them out!

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Hailing from Annville in Pennsylvania, Kevin Whitaker released his new track, Crown, on 09/12/2022 and my what a stomper of a track it is!

Opening with electronic synths, it lets you know from the off what the song is all about.

Mixing hard rock and electronica, the song also has a very industrial feel to it, which I personally think is great!

Kevin’s vocals are amazing, switching from melodic singing to energetic screams seamlessly and with ease. His voice has a grittiness to it that wouldn’t be out of place in an industrial metal band, it is powerful and full of emotion and conviction. He really needs to get a message across to his listeners and his voice is commanding enough to do just that.

Heavy riffs splatter the song as well as crashing drums and electronic synths that really give the track a sound unlike anything I have heard before.

The track is extremely catchy and with lines like “Put your crown back on and fight,” it is also very motivational. I can only guess that some personal issues were used to write this song as the passion that is emitted from the music, the lyrics, the vocals is just phenomenal.

The only “bad” thing I can say about this song is that, at about two and a half minutes in length, it’s just not long enough, although the punchiness of it does have a certain impact that perhaps a longer song wouldn’t have had!

What an absolutely fantastic track!

“Fight! Fight! Fight!”

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