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Topdown – I Feel Everything: An Intense Alt-Rock Odyssey Through Empathetic Angst

Posted on 17 November 2024

Topdown’s eponymous debut LP is a hit-after-hit tour de rancorously evocative force, starting with the scathed opening salvo, I Feel Everything, which will make a bruisingly vindicating impact on anyone who knows how much of a curse empathy can be.

With frenetic frustration coursing through every hook-decorated progression of volition, I Feel Everything is a candid outpour of the desperation to chemically numb yourself to the weight of the world that bears down on the psyche as it conflates with introspective scars.

It’s impossible not to draw thematic comparisons to Dinosaur Jr’s ‘Feel the Pain’, but there is no refuting that Topdown are blazing their own trail through their eagerly anticipated LP which fuses the ferocity of post-hardcore, the emotive intensity of pop-punk and the aesthetics of 00s rock anthems.

I Feel Everything is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Heidi Vincent – Criminal: A Ruggedly Western Vignette of Vengeance

Posted on 17 November 2024

Vancouver’s Heidi Vincent fuelled her latest single, Criminal, with Femme Fatale fire-branded soul. Within the pistols at dawn ruggedly Western vignette of vengeance, the country-pop-rock siren reclaims her power after a sour romantic encounter while giving April March a run for her twangy rockabilly money.

As the ultimate soundtrack for the recently lothario-scorned, Criminal delivers enough vindication to devour your spite whole as you lose yourself within the stylised earworm which is a thematic continuation from her previous denial and betrayal-encompassing single, What Love Can Do.

While cinema may fail to write female redemption stories which don’t resonate as exploitative, that’s exactly where the independent singer-songwriter succeeded with Criminal, there’s catharsis by the smorgasbord in the invitation for every listener to find their power through the narratively electrifying sonic blockbuster.

Criminal hit all major platforms on November 1st; stream it on Spotify and connect with Heidi Vincent on Instagram and Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dr. Void and the Skinjob’s latest darkwave horror punk anthem, Rave to the Grave, transmits the ethereal echoes of midnight ecstasy

Posted on 16 November 2024

Step away from sonic mundanity and into the pulse of ‘Rave to the Grave’ by Dr. Void & the Skinjob’s, a track that redefines darkwave electronica with its fusion of horror punk and darkwave industrial synthpop.

The Glasgow-based Synth, Bass & Drum trio have amassed reverence through their seductively sinister discography, now home to their new EP, ‘Sexy, Scary, Doomed & Dangerous‘. With synths that drip arcane textures and beats that pulse with a life of their own, the standout single, ‘Rave to the Grave’ is a Lovecraftian incantation wrapped within a floor-filler of an earworm.

The hedonic anthem vibrates with kinetic energy and phasers capable of transfixing you to the track, allowing you to imagine Sisters of Mercy stripped of their pretence under the influence of Misfits. After just one hit, John Carpenter’s scores will never sound the same.

The manifesto from the maestros of the macabre is an invitation to lose yourself in the depths of electronic ecstasy. If you dare to descend, be prepared: this is a full-on collision with the spectral heartbeat of dark synthwave.

Rave to the Grave dropped on Halloween; experience the euphoria for yourselves via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Slanderus’ Cover of ‘Dream Warriors’ is A Melodic Maelstrom that Hits with No Mercy

Posted on 15 November 2024

With their latest single, Dream Warriors, the powerhouse Slanderus delivered an unrelenting tour de force that ensnares from the first post-punk-infused note. Channelling Echo and the Bunnymen atmospherics in the opening salvo, the Inland Empire quartet takes listeners down a dark path before unleashing a firestorm of overdriven guitars that shred with a no-mercy vigour. Each beat hits harder than the last, with rock harmonies tempering the relentless instrumental frenzy, dropping a melodic anchor amid the chaos.

With a clear reverence for 80s rock aesthetics, Slanderus nods to nostalgia in the DOKKEN cover of the single which featured on the Nightmare on Elm St 3 soundtrack while injecting contemporary volition into the classic riffs that rock fans have adored across the decades; the modernistic metal edge goes straight for the jugular.

With Jason J. Kennedy’s guitar solos capable of making your heart forget to beat, the electricity within Dream Warriors is enough to run a power grid. The synergy within the band is unstoppable, with JJ Gawrich on drums delivering melodic yet earth-shattering rhythms and bassist Mike Basquez bringing a heavy groove while Allen Alamillo’s lead vocals inject soul into a soaring pitch.

The award-winning outfit which has previously opened for Fear Factory is clearly only getting started in its bid to hold dominion over the alt-metal scene. Get behind them or get out of their way.

Dream Warriors was officially released on October 31st. Stream it on all major platforms via this link now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Cutting Through Nostalgia: No Edits Ignite Modern Angst in ‘Faulty Intuition’

Posted on 14 November 2024
We All End Up The Same by No Edits

In their latest single, Faulty Intuition, the powerhouse, No Edits, pushes past the boundaries of Seattle’s alt-rock legacy to deliver a visceral post-hardcore anthem, sharp enough to pierce right through the psyche.

With angular riffs that feel more like sonic daggers, this track forges a path unburdened by any homage to the city’s signature sound. Instead, Faulty Intuition lands like a volatile fusion of influences, crafted with an almost calculated abandon that lets it flirt with post-hardcore dissonance while staying grounded in an alt-indie aesthetic.

As a freshly rechristened trio, No Edits—formerly known as Fixtures—make it clear they’re uninterested in nostalgia. They nod to a lineage of greats like Burning Airlines and These Arms Are Snakes, but the group’s energy leans into the future rather than mining the past. The jagged guitar lines and shifting time signatures evoke the genius of Porcupine Tree and the raw force of Alexisonfire, without feeling tethered to any one genre. This sonic experiment channels the modernistic intensity of Royal Blood, creating an angst-driven that straddles chaos and control.

Taken from their debut LP, We All End Up The Same, the track’s dynamic riffing, emotive vocals and blistering rhythm section are primed to resonate with fans who crave immediacy in alt-rock. Faulty Intuition slices through convention, capturing a modern, digitally distorted existential angst that’s less about reviving the past and more about reimagining rock’s present.

Faulty Intuition is now available to stream and purchase on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Joshua Wales – Don’t Worry: Sublimely Seraphic Indie Folk

Posted on 13 November 2024

If The National veered into acoustic indie folk territory and took a few leaves from Cigarettes After Sex’s intimately expansive book, the result would echo the same affectingly tender alchemy which drifts through Joshua Wales’ latest single, Don’t Worry.

The indie folk singer-songwriter’s sombrely honeyed, low-timbered vocal register subdues you into the melodious sentimentality of the acoustic guitar-driven single, which sees quiescent swells of orchestral strings brush past the plaintively warm guitar notes.

With “Don’t worry, we’ve got all the time in the world” reprising throughout the sublimely seraphic release, listeners are reminded that pace is the trick as Joshua Wales issues a reminder to his frenetically minded younger self.

The reflectively sonorous score features in Joshua Wales’ discography as a standalone entity and as the opening title single to his debut EP which you will need little convincing to devour in full after bearing witness to the introspective magnetism in the opening salvo.

Stream Joshua Wales’ latest single, Don’t Worry, on all major platforms, including Spotify, now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Girl Annual sparked a flicker of folky melancholic serenity with their dream pop debut, Ember

Posted on 11 November 2024

With the single Ember, the enigmatic independent artist Girl Annual steps into the indie scene by setting an exquisitely reflective tone, merging folk-esque lyrical storytelling with the ethereal aesthetics of dream pop. The debut single is a seraphically melancholic invitation to lose yourself in the bitter-sweet chasm of reverie and let Girl Annual’s mournfully sublime vocal lines spellbind as they wash over you and pour raw vulnerability into the sonic atmosphere.

The diaphanous instrumental elements amplify the sense of introspection that flows from the poetic candour within the vocals, building the perfect soundtrack for an intimate autumnal scene. With a commercial appeal reminiscent of First Aid Kit, Girl Annual holds the potential to cut through the static of the oversaturated alt-indie dream pop sphere.

It’s an aural experience of oceanic depth, inviting listeners to drift within the serene textures that cascade and intertwine. This release doesn’t just play out – it envelops, and with each ebb and flow, it gently pulls you further in. All industry eyes should be on Girl Annual, anticipating their next move.

Ember was officially released on September 27; stream it on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

SEER SEEKER worked alchemic urban magic into his juggernaut of an alt-hip-hop LP, SPELLS AND SECRETS

Posted on 11 November 2024

With his standout track FRACTALS, the independent rap luminary SEER SEEKER found fresh urban intersections to trailblaze across. A hypnotic pulse weaves through the dark, moody, bass-heavy anthem, delivering an unapologetic sonic experience that hip-hop fans won’t want to shake off.

The track fuses the ornate melancholy of neo-classic piano keys with boom-bap nuances, the kinetic momentum of EDM and dark trap’s weighted edges, amplifying the artist’s ability to channel fearlessness into every beat.

FRACTALS isn’t just another offering from SEER SEEKER’s sophomore LP, SPELLS AND SECRETS; it’s a testament to his refusal to be confined by genre norms. Channelling visceral energy with ferocious resilience, the track infectiously demands to slam through your speakers time after time as the young prodigy proves that being a rockstar is more of an attitude than a genre.

It’s the kind of single that hits with unapologetic power, refusing to merely float in the background. Instead, it digs deep, etching its sonic signature through layers of electrifying sound and raw intent.

Though only a fraction of the ingenuity threaded through SPELLS AND SECRETS, FRACTALS serves as a potent introduction to SEER SEEKER’s intense, unflinching style.

SPELLS AND SECRETS dropped on Halloween, stream it in full on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Organic Art Folk Serenity Unravels through Matt John Henderson’s ‘Gethsemane’

Posted on 9 November 2024

With his latest single, Gethsemane, the Ambient Avant-Gardist Matt John Henderson nestled into the niche of sonic expressionists with the ability to render catharsis into your rhythmic pulses while intellectually stimulating your mind.

The cinematically quiescent piece uses organic textures and tones to imbue the production in folksy seraphic warmth; his equally as honeyed and honed hushed vocal tones effortlessly complement the minimalist yet intricately eloquent instrumental stylings which pair jazz nuances with artfully delicate motifs that wouldn’t be out of place in Thom Yorke’s remit.

As a precursor to the critically acclaimed artist’s eagerly anticipated album, Lapse in Stillness, Gethsemane is an introspectively entrancing teaser of the serenity which is set to soon follow. The artist’s ability to invite his audience to lose themselves and live between the layers of his sound is second to none; it’s only a matter of time before his name becomes a staple on every editorial ambient playlist on Spotify.

Gethsemane was officially released on November 1st; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Flying Hearts reached the epitome of affecting with their acoustic punk outpour of grief, Bury Me in England

Posted on 9 November 2024
Flying Hearts

The UK duo Flying Hearts reached the epitome of affecting with their acoustic punk single, Bury Me in England, which puts Frank Turner to shame when it comes to rendering visceralism into an acoustically accompanied narrative.

The tenderness of the indie-tinged melodies juxtaposes the urgency within the vocal delivery, which mourns the loss of singer-songwriter Joe Wenman’s best friend. There are few greater tragedies than a life lost too soon, and that rings deafeningly true through this fitting tribute to the connection shared. The elucidation of the pain that’s left behind will resonate with everyone who knows how it feels to be left with everything-wrenching emotion and find themselves at a loss with how to contend with it.

With lyricism which pierces the psyche with an exposition on the fragility of life and everything we can so easily take for granted and Flying Hearts acting as a beacon for the disenfranchised, the duo will undoubtedly break major ground with this release given the disillusionment-imparting times we are all enduring in our own way.

Bury Me in England was officially released on November 8th and is now available to stream on all major platforms. Find your preferred way to listen via Flying Hearts’ official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast