Xavier Bernazard is a latinx, nonbinary queer-punk artist born & raised in Caguas, Puerto Rico but now based in Denton, Texas, USA, and Balloons For My Funeral is their latest release.

Featuring “13 angsty tracks for your rage or cry session” this is an album that will make you sing, laugh and cry all at the same time.

Classed by fans as “theatrical queer punk rock” by fans, the band are influenced by alternative rock and punk bands such as My Chemical Romance, Paramore, The All American Rejects and Evanescence.

Exploring themes such as nostalgia, identity, angst, morality, relationships and life, this album explores many different states of mind with dep emotion and a huge sound that hits you right in the stomach. Writing and singing about such themes also means that most people can relate to the lyrics, making the album more accessible to a wider range of listeners.

The album has a very sombre start to it with the first few tracks, but the punk/rock/emo influences soon kick in and the album is actually quite rocky in places.

Each track is its own little story with its own theme and therefore each song is unique but thoroughly deserves its place on the album.

Mixing metal-like riffs, Latin-inspired percussion, crazy guitar licks and passionate vocals, it is obvious to the listener that there is some very personal content on this album.

Mainly using male lead vocals, a female voice is also used on some of the tracks, and this is a great combination. The soft yet powerful male lead has a hint of grittiness that give the tracks a raw, edgy feel, with the female vocals adding a touch of elegance.

Musically, the album is great. There is a great bass and drum section, the guitar work is impressive, and the inclusion of the keys gives more depth and dimension to the songs.

With Xavier Bernazard on lyrics and vocals, Fox Devaugn and Adam McGrath on guitars, Nathan McCord on drums, Alex Hodge on bass and Josh Keras on keys, the album was mixed by McCord, produced by McCord and McGrath, and recorded in Dallas, Texas, being the bands work in progress between March 2022 and September 2022.

To sum up, this is an anthemic album full of songs that will have a bigger, deeper impact ion you than you first thought!

TRACK LIST:

1) Enemy

2) Hello

3) Loose End

4) XOXO

5) You Left Me

6) Summer Nostalgia

7) Restart

8) De Mi

9) Push & Pull

10) Hero

11) Ponyboy

12) Don’t Run Away (Funeral Version)

13) Balloons For My Funeral

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

One question sprung to mind while I was listening to this track from Brighton based progressive rock band, Birdeatsbaby and that was why the hell had I never heard of this band before?

Mixing progressive, alternative rock with melodic and cinematic sounds, the band have produced something that crosses over many genres while still retaining their dark and brooding signature sound.

The track mixes strong, haunting vocals with heavy, chugging riffs and layers them with a multitude of guitar sounds. Intertwine these with orchestral interludes, complex rhythms and exotic instrumentation and you are left with the breath-taking, mind-blowing song that is Illuminate!

The band have also not been afraid to experiment and adding distorted vocals part way through the track during a tempo change works really well, giving the song a raw, edginess to it too. The track builds in tempo, in passion and in intensity as it progresses, and this gives it an anthemic quality that will make an enormous impact on anyone who listens to it.

The band members cite Chopin, Mozart, Debussy, Queen, Muse and Nick Cave as their influences and this diversity comes across in the music they produce, but I can also hear hints of The Cranberries and Catatonia too.

This is an incredible track and one I know I will listen to many more times even after having finished this review.

Great track by a great band!

Now, to find some more music by Birdeatsbaby!

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Steal The City are a four-piece heavy rock band from Sheffield, England and, released on 07/10/2022, Serendipity is their latest single from their upcoming EP, Revival.

A heavy rock / metal / punk blend, the track mixes modern metal with harmonious and progressive writing styles, creating an old school sound with hard rock riffs and huge, multi-layered vocals.

As the track progresses, the listener can hear traditional punk influences seeping in but also some modern-day alternative and metalcore inspiration too. This gives the track the ability to appeal to a wider audience as well as the die-hard punk or metalcore fans.

With its double kicking, galloping drums (which we all soooo love, don’t we?) its hard, heavy riffage, bouncing bassline and raw vocals this is a track that just kicks you right in the stomach and punches you square on the nose right from the start, with no let-up until the very last note.

It’s an energetic track and I can imagine the crowd bounding and jumping around to this at a live gig, where I am sure the power and energy the track has in its recording will easily be transferred to the live stage.

I loved this track, and I am already on the hunt for more from this great band, and since they formed in 2014, I am sure there will be plenty for me to find!

Awesome track, and as a starting point for a new band (to me anyway!) it’s a pretty incredible one!

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Greg Hoy and the Boys is the brainchild project of Greg Hoy – singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, recording produced, recording engineer, something of a marketing guru, jingle and sound composer and producer, a people engineer in the tech world, and art director and a label owner and is based in San Francisco, California.

But not only is Greg Hoy all of the above, he is also a vibrantly diverse musician who, through releasing over thirty albums under various monikers throughout his career, is really just a guy who plays retro rock ‘n’ roll.

Inspired by 80’s AOR / glam rock, Greg Hoy And The Boys are a typical plug in and play rock and roll band, lodged somewhere between a hair metal band and a stadium rock band, and Demons At Night is their latest four track EP, released on 07/10/2022.

Kicking off with a one minute sixteen second instrumental titled 1983, this is a major nod towards the theme of the EP, music of the 1980’s.

Title track Demons At Night was written just after Eddie Van Halen passed away and as the legendary guitarist’s death had a deep impact on the band, the EP has become somewhat of a tribute to Eddie and his music, with the single and video being directly dedicated to him.

Demons At Night is a mixture of an homage to the guitarist as well as taking a satirical look at the Van Halen style of metal and is a fitting tribute to the 80’s in general.

Infectious melodies fused with undeniable grooves, technical guitar solos from the Van Halen-esque guitarist Jon Reider and driving drums keeping the songs in shape, makes this EP one that every fan of 1980’s hair metal should listen to.

Music tends to bring back memories of forgotten ages and this album can not only do that but can actually transport you back to 1983! Just remember to take your spandex and faux leather with you, because you might not want to come back!!

I liked this EP a lot and will definitely be looking out for more stuff from Greg Hoy and The Boys!

TRACK LISTING:

1) 1983

2) Demons At Night

3) Everybody Wants To be Somebody They’re Not

4) Stripes

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

The good thing about music is that it comes in all shapes, sizes, and connotations so there is something for everyone. But occasionally, something comes along that just doesn’t fit into any particular genre or category and its these bands / songs that I find are the true gems.

This could be said of London based ninja rock due, Rival Karma. A beautiful blend of stoner rock, alternative rock, grunge, hard rock and indie rock, the band have created a sound all for themselves.

Formed back in 2018 as a four piece, two members dropped out over the years leaving vocalist and guitarist Martin Roux and drummer Piergiorgio “PJ” Ciarla, and the two decided to continue as a two piece.

Powerduism is the band’s sophomore EP, released on 28^th October 2022, consisting of four tracks of ferocious riffs and trance driving drumbeats, and it is hard to believe that the raucous sound coming from the speakers has been made by just two people.

With sauntering guitar riffs, big stomping drums and storming vocal work, this is an energetic and infectious release that will make you want to hit the repeat button almost as soon as its finished.

These are obviously two incredibly talented musicians as the mix of clean, anthemic vocals with clever twists and harmonic changes along with rumbling guitars and hip shaking grooves, show just how well the two of them work together. It is also a great showcase for their unique blend of blues infused stoner rock with just a little bit of everything else thrown in for good measure!

If you are looking for a band to compare them with think along the lines of The Black Keys meets Queens of The Stone Age and you will be almost there.

I really liked this band and I think the accessibility of the music will appeal to a wide range of listeners.

The bands album release party in on 26^th November 2022 at Signature Brew, Blackhorse Road in Walthamstow so if you like what you hear with the EP, head on down there and see the guys in person. I don’t think you would be disappointed.

Track Listing:

1) Minds of The Many

2) Jesus Is From Chico

3) Photograph

4) Honey

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

Ruby Nixxons is a three-piece band from Glasgow in Scotland and Set Me On Fire is their new single.

With a classic hard rock sound reminiscent of the 1980’s, this track starts just how it means to go on….with a bang! With its infectious riffs and compelling bass lines and drums, this is the kind of track you stick in your car, turn it up to the max and just head out to the highways!

The strong vocals are one of the driving forces behind the track, as are the layered guitars and pounding drums. This is an energetic song, one full of powerful rock grooves and one I can imagine a lot of people dancing around the living room to.

There is nothing ground-breaking about this track BUT it is solid, well produced and well played. I liked it and I think you will too.

So, If you are into AOR and the classic, anthemic rock sound then this is a track for you. Also, look out for the track Keep On Keeping On!

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

A slow burner, this track kicks off with soft drumming and strumming guitars, but soon erupts with a Pink Floyd vibe to it.

An alternative rock / classic rock 5-piece from Norway led by Lars Nielsen, One and A Half Dog are five guys whose common interest is “a great love and passion for Rock n Roll music”.

With shimmering cymbals, pulsing toms and powerful drums, the percussion section of this band really come into their own. The basslines which shine through every now and then are impressive and show this is not just a band that thrives on loud distorted guitars and emotional vocals.

The vocals, themselves, are gritty, almost grunge-esque but strong and powerful and the singer is able to expose the feeling of the track with ease, almost like the lyrics are personal to him.

The time changes in this track give it a very progressive feel and as previously mentioned, very reminiscent of Pink Floyd, even down to the tone of some of the vocals. Give this track to Pink Floyd and they would do a great job, give these guys a Pink Floyd track and I am sure they would do an immense job!

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Golden Richards is a band who formed after members Gil Golden, and Billy Richards met at a showing of Enter the Dragon and Will I Be Cool is their new single.

Not one for trying to define genres for bands, myself, the band have described themselves as “New Wave Power Pop with Big Hooks” and I must say this probably does do the sound they have justice.

With an alternative rock / pop rock feel, the male vocals are strong with that classic soft rock vibe. These are then complimented by great backing vocals that add layers to the track, although this in no way means that the main vocals are lacking and one dimensional. Far from it!

The bass and drum sections are solid, holding everything together effortlessly and the guitar work is impressive, a fantastic guitar solo pitched part way through the song that changes the tempo and pace of the track even for just a short time.

The lyrics to this track are catchy and the big chorus will leave you humming this tune for the rest of the day.

This is definitely a song that, I think, will appeal to a lot of people and one that will almost certainly get you dancing around your living room.

If you like great pop rock, then this one is for you. And if you don’t, well check it out anyway…. you might surprise yourself!

This review is the purely the property of The Metal Asylum

I know I’m supposed to tell you about the track before I give you my own personal opinion, but WOW, what a track! This is one I absolutely loved.

Opening with a distorted intro before the drums and guitars crash in, the track is full on from start to finish.

Melodic metal with a hint of industrial in there too, this is a band who really cannot be defined by any one genre (my favourite type of band). Mixing chugging guitars and pounding drums with almost goth-like vocals, this band have a sound unique to them.

Heavy, chugging riffs kick in almost straight away, letting you know just how the rest of the track will go, and I was banging my head almost instantly to the sluggish, almost death metal guitars and drums.

The drums keep everything constant throughout the whole track and the basslines are fantastic.

The vocals initially took me a bit by surprise as I was expecting a more death metal-like growl and these lean more towards the goth metal sound, but everything seems to work perfectly. There is a great use of distorted vocals part way through the song, adding dimension and keeping things interesting

As I said right at the start, I absolutely loved this track, and I could listen to it time and time and time again and never tire of it. I want to hear more of what this band has to offer and will be definitely be keeping my ear to the ground in the hope of hearing their next release!

An album would be awesome!!

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One of the reasons I love music so much is that so many musicians use music as a platform to express what they are feeling. Happiness, joy, sadness, guilt, depression, they can all be portrayed through the beauty of music. Another reason I love music is that I can discover great new bands like Subseconds!

Subseconds is the project of Finnish singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sergei, and Liminal Rain is their debut EP, released on 9^th September 2022.

At just over 20 minutes long, the EP is dedicated to anyone who is missing someone and consists of four genre-bending, deeply personal tracks that explores the notion of loss, a concept that most people would be able to relate to.

The album has a heavy rock feel, the artist existing somewhere between the lines of heavier genres of music, never allowing themselves to be labelled by any one type and is as energetic as it is heartfelt.

Kicking you right in the stomach from the very first notes, this is an album of self-discovery and growth, and one that is full of heartbreak and emotion.

The drums, of which there are some stunning drum sounds emitting from behind the vocals, bass and percussion sections are tight and keep the EP flowing together, while the guitar work is just pure awesomeness. This guy is obviously an incredibly talented musician.

His vocals are dark and gritty and every now and then they are interspersed with a female voice, which gives the songs depth and dimension. This mixture of the two gives the tracks emotion and passion, the themes of the EP portrayed to the listener perfectly.

The tempo changes during each track and between songs is spot on, no two songs sounding the same which always keeps the listener interested and the time changes give the EP an almost progressive vibe.

If you like heartfelt heavy rock, then I would seriously recommend this album to you. I loved it and am really looking forward to the next offering Subseconds has.

Also, look out for the surreal, short film-like video that is accompanying single Joists.

Track Listing:

1) Colours And You

2) Joists

3) Lock

4) Thoroughfare

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum