Browsing Tag

90s Rock

Siggy are harbingers of future in their proto-punk comeback album, 25th Century

Posted on 2 November 2022

Featuring a cover of Echo and the Bunnymen’s Lips Like Sugar which contains all of the salacious murky atmosphere of the original, it is safe to say that Siggy’s comeback album, 25th Century, arrived with a proto-punk bang.

After making their debut in 1999 with the album, Harlow’s Girl, which carried a Crampsy sense of killer off-kilter volition, 25th Century had a lot to live up to, but the rhythmic pulse is strong across the 10 singles which traverse the themes of hope, fury, and the rank psychic pathology of the 21st century.

The gothy Echo and the Bunnymen vibes carry across more than just the cover, along with hints of Television and bites of Splitter-Esque punk. But for me, the highlight had to be the title single, which truly embraces the stifled with strange nature of the 21st century while throwing back to the time when guitarists knew how to lick right into your soul. “If there’s going to be a 25th century there has to be 21st century morality” is a lyric I will never forget.

25th Century is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast
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Stacey Dycus tackles proclivity towards deception in his alt-rock hit, Lie to Me

Posted on 18 October 2022

No alt-rock fan will be impervious to the efficaciously ensnaring hooks in Stacey Dycus’ seminal single, Lie to Me, which finds an atmospheric balance between the contrasts of grunge, mid-90s rock and progressive metal.

If rock fans still put their lighters in the air instead of pulling out their phones, there would be a sea of flame for this fervidly gripping anthem that contends with the human proclivity towards deception. It is as evocative as an Alice in Chains hit, as enticing in the chorus as Bon Jovi’s earworms and Faith No More-esque in the verses. Clearly, he has a talent for melody, which is impossible to disguise.

Lie to Me is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

ACISS have released their scuzz-slicked rock EP, Wild Ride

Posted on 17 March 2022

New York’s prodigal sons in the making, ACISS, laid the scuzz on thick with their driving rock and roll debut EP, Wild Ride. The promising debut is a whisky and gasoline swathed anthem that carries similar hooks to what you will find in AC/DC, Guns N Roses and White Snake classics.

Yet, with ACCIS’ tendency to pull its roots from the 70s to the 90s, you’ve never come across sonic pallets akin to the overdriven tones that tease classic rock nostalgia before subverting the raucously electric anthems into brand-new territory. The title single is the perfect introduction to ACISS’ devil-may-care demeanour and instrumentals that can sonically take you down the Sunset Strip at 100mph.

ACISS’ debut EP is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Columbia harnesses the dystopic 2021 ennui in their latest indie-rock hit, Glory People.

Posted on 5 December 2021
https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/hi39HJ1YjrvsKica7

Cardiff’s most visceral powerhouse, Columbia, created the ultimate embrace-the-chaos indie rock track with their latest single, Glory People. As sonically powerful as the high-octane psych-tinged rock hit is, that scarcely comes close to the stadium-filling energy that transpires through Columbia’s advocation of making the best of what we have.

So often, people get stuck in lament because their imagination can create better lives than the one reality puts before them; Columbia broke that negative feedback loop by serving the anthemic reminder that adversity isn’t the end of the world; it is a given. Just as the Stone Roses were a sign of the times, as are Columbia with their indie rock sound that aspires to unify through dystopic 2021 ennui.

Glory People was officially released on December 3rd, 2021. You can check it out for yourselves via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Clouds Above: 8udDha bl0od calls out above the noise on ‘Angels and Daemons’

Posted on 12 October 2021

On an eye-opening Psychedelic-filled experience like no other, 8udDha bl0od is at his experimental best on a translucently-beautiful track that you need to close your eyes with to fully examine the insides of your sensitive soul on ‘Angels and Daemons‘.

8udDha bl0od is a Brighton, UK-based multi-talented music wizard who varies from genre to genre, all dependent on his mood on any given day. He makes the type of rare experience that dazzles your curious mind, beyond the realm of possibility.

From drone electronica to alt indie 90s rock to 70s psych, there is much to love from a truly extraordinary musician in his prime. This time, he manages to have your whole mystified body floating majestically inside the sky above, as you carefully search to find that true purpose. The instrumental skills brought to the fore are quite scrumptiously delivered to perfection, as your only thought is to heal magnificently with this wondrous new track.

‘Angels and Daemons‘ from the unparalleled Brighton-based indie alt-everything-your-mind-can-comprehend 8udDha bl0od, is another true gem from a rather remarkable artist. With no vocals needed, he portrays the whole experience in a six minute waterfall of sounds that causes shivers in your spine and scintillating wind to flow into your arms for extra strength. A truly excellent single awaits.

Hear this sizzling new single on his Soundcloud.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Get high with Monday Feeling’s ska-punk track, Dope.

Posted on 27 August 2021

Monday Feeling has been sending ripples through the Korean rock scene for the last eight years; based on their latest single, Dope, they deserve to go internationally viral.

Their old school Rancid rhythms paired with honkytonk hints of Americana and playful garage rock vibes arrange themselves to ensure euphoria floods right through this authentically absorbing release which runs you through all the reasons the relatable lyrical protagonist sells dope.

In contrast to Western punk, hitting play on Dope almost feels like listening to Ska Punk in a parallel universe, it’s familiar but there’s something that tells you that Monday Feeling is on a different frequency to the assimilators and the unauthentic. Frankly, we’re obsessed.

Dope is now available to stream via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Wohn delivers a sonic blast of alt-90s nostalgia in his scorching hot alt-rock single, Junjito.

Posted on 28 July 2021

Up and coming alternative artist, Wohn has released his relatable EP, Waiting for Life to Happen; the lead track, Junjito, is an arresting amalgamation of shoegaze, post-punk and garagey psych-rock that any fans of the alt-90s will want in their ears.

After a shoegazy prelude, the mostly instrumental release starts to centre around the artist’s ability to lay down riffs at blistering speed and his ability to make a soundscape fraught with tumultuous tension with his over-driven angular lead work.

After an ebb in the veracious momentum, the pensive vocals make an eerily captivating appearance before Wohn lays down a scorching-hot, seemingly endless solo that is leagues apart from other contemporary alternative artists. We truly can’t rate Wohn highly enough. He not only evokes angsty grungy 90s nostalgia, but he also puts a visceral signature spin on it. We can’t wait to hear more of in the future.

Junjito is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

The 90s indie rock icons Airbus return with their third studio album, ‘You’.

Posted on 13 July 2021
Airbus

If you paid attention to the UK rock scene in the 90s, you might already be acquainted with Airbus who are set to release their psychedelically sweet third studio album, You, via Spira Records.

The album unleashes singles penned and recorded back in the 1990s; the band lifted the audio from master tapes using a 24-track 2-inch tape machine to keep the warm analogue glow of the original recordings. Short of hopping in a TARDIS and pushing your way to the front of the crowd when Mazzy Star performed at the Shoreline Amphitheatre, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better way to transport yourself back to the 90s.

If you can imagine what an aural cocktail of The Zombies, Elliott Smith and the Beatles would sound like, you’ll get an idea of the dreamy, colourful accordance that is weaved in the standout single ‘I’. Reminiscences aside, the band’s masterfully melodic presence on the airwaves once more is a breath of fresh kaleidoscopic air. The lead track carries that dreamy feel of wholesome wild abandon that most have forgotten how to offer in the 21st century.

Airbus’ upcoming album is due for release in September 2021. You can check out the band on Spotify, Facebook and YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

You Make Me Sad: Jets to Badlands move on from her sneaky ways with ‘Chameleon’

Posted on 1 July 2021

With a catchy style and a true story which so many will find totally relatable, Jets to Badlands grow tired of their partners shady games and start fresh again to find a happier medium of living with ‘Chameleon‘.

Jets to Badlands is an party indie alt-rock duo inspired my 90’s and future-rock. They are from unknown lands far away from this rather weird earth, as they believe they are controlled by external forces from space who can’t be explained.

This is the story about a harsh breakup, that happened so quickly and you really didn’t see it coming. Things are over now and emotions have swelled up like an upset sea – as the tides flow unexpectedly – and barrel right over your whole fragile body, to leave you breathlessly searching for air.

‘Chameleon‘ from the unique alien two-piece rock band Jets to Badlands, shows us a relationship that was so strong but has now has faded from view, as the silly games and untruths became way too much for your conscious. Made with a wildly enthusiastic video that captures the picture perfectly, this is a catchy single that will entertain you with its thrilling ride, all the way to the top of the Ferris wheel.

See this new music video on YouTube and check out the IG page for more info.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Wandering Lies blew the cobwebs off Washington D.C.’s Hard Rock scene with their latest single “Break Me”

Posted on 17 June 2020
https://wanderinglies.bandcamp.com/track/break-me

Washington D.C. Alt Rock 5-piece powerhouse Wandering Lies dropped their captivatingly authentic album The Last Goodbye” featuring the standout single “Break Me” on May 29th. If you want a reason to get excited about Rock again, hitting play will ensure that you’re suitably exhilarated by the blistering licks, Angie Pepa’s raucously fierce vocals and the adrenalizing energy poured into the progressive hit.

With subtle hints of Psych Rock and nuances of the Alt 90s sound wrapped around effects-laden Hard Rock instrumentals, it’s safe to say that Wandering Lies have found their signature sound and if you aren’t moved by the resounding aural storm, it’s quite likely that you’re dead inside.

You can stream and download Wandering Lies’ single Break Me along with the rest of their 2020 album via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast