Browsing Tag

Classic Rock

Washington Rock powerhouse Birch Riley address the fragile state of your existence with ‘One Life to Live’

Posted on 16 November 2020
https://birchriley.bandcamp.com/track/one-life-to-live

Birch Riley gave us a taste of their highly-anticipated album with the monster of an Alt Rock hit “One Life to Live”. If you need frequent reminders that the sands of time are always slipping, this sonically electrifying hit from the Washington-based powerhouse will gladly hammer home the temporary state of your existence.

Despite the ferocity, there’s plenty of soul to be found in this viscerally enticing hit which was made for radio. With the vocals soaring as high as the guitar solos in the chorus, you can expect to be as adrenalized as the soundscape when you hit play.

There may be some Classic Rock touches to the single, but indisputably, there’s enough distinction and nuance in the deftly crafted track to assure you that Birch Riley are as authentic as Rock acts get in 2020.

You can check out Birch Riley’s single One Live to Live along with the rest of their interstellar album Fragments of Space and Time via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Simon Husbands pulls punches with their single ‘Fighting The Man’

Posted on 16 November 2020
Simon Husbands

‘Fighting The Man’ is the first track from Simon Husbands’ new debut album ‘POP’ – after “45 years of working with other artists”. As a taster for what’s to come it’s really rather good.

A classic ‘three-and-a-half minute’ pop song, all classic indie-rock in a supercharged 90’s Britpop/punk kind of way – Ash, maybe, Cast, or the Bluetones – with some classic rock flourishes to Husband’s Les Paul-swathed guitar playing, but there’s a definite Nick Cope of the much-missed Candyskins (and now the excellent CBeebies Nick Cope Popcast) to the vocals here, too.

‘POP’ the album is released on December 4th, but you can hear ‘Fighting The Man’ on Simon Husband’s website – and it’s a perfect taster for what’s to come.

Review by Alex Holmes

Amenazar smash through Rock archetypes with their dynamically provocative single “Lie to Me”

Posted on 27 October 2020

US Rock artist Amenazar saw their inception almost three decades ago but judging by the magnetism found in their latest single “Lie to Me” they’re just as valuable to the airwaves as they were when they made their debut.

The mark of any good artist is their ability to make you feel instead of listen. And my God, if any Rock artist had the capacity to tear my soul in two with the provocativeness of their sound, it’s Amenazar.

With Lie to Me, they found the perfect balance of sticky-sweet romantic sincerity and rock n roll intensity. But where they truly set themselves apart is through their ability to smash through classic rock archetypes. As great as Guns n Roses and Aerosmith are, we don’t need another act assimilating them. There was definitely no danger of Lie to Me resonating as assimilative with Amenazar’s tendency to pull influence from a wide array of influences, from Alt 90s, to Industrial Grunge to Classic Southern Rock, it’s all in there.

You can check out Lie to Me for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sunset-Strip-Sleaze and Sticky-Sweet Soul Collide in The Impersonators’ Latest Single “Rodeo”

Posted on 13 October 2020

If your playlists are crying out for a hit of funky, sexy Alt-Rock, you can consider the latest single from The Impersonators a playlist staple.

While it’s got all the efficaciously sleazy allure that you’d expect from any accoladed Sunset Strip act, there’s also an extra juicy element of amorously playful sentimentality which means that Rodeo will give your soul a prod to see if it is still alive as you get snared by the seriously lacerating melodic hooks.

The Impersonators may be a new name for the airwaves, but the talented duo behind the moniker definitely aren’t fresh from their inception. Tom Tikka and Antti Autio were formerly two important components of one of Finland’s hottest Rock acts, Carmen Gray. The same talent is exhibited, but a far more organic sense of soul is on offer. You just can’t help getting pulled into the dreamy Pop-laden melodies crafted by The Impersonators.

You can check out The Impersonators’ single Rodeo by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Skender Beck is set to release his atmospherically swathed single ‘Stop’

Posted on 5 October 2020
Slender Beck

Skender Beck is a Kosovan-born singer-songwriter now living and working in the US; ‘Stop’, from his debut album ‘Stars Aligned’, is a proper, old-school slice of stadium-style AOR in the vein of U2 or the Kings of Leon.

Beck was a childhood musical theatre and television star In his native Kosovo, studying theatre before moving to New York to continue his education at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, and that education stands him in good stead here; dealing with loss and leaving, inspired by Beck’s own journey from troubled Kosovo, conflict, and longing, ‘Stop’ is a deep, theatrical ballad, swathed in atmospheric reverb, in a retro, well-produced, Simple Minds kind of way. Fans of grown-up, adult-oriented rock music won’t go far wrong with Skender Beck.

‘Stars Aligned’ is out in October; in the meantime, you can catch up with Skender Beck here.

Review by Alex Holmes

Geno Samuel puts a new spin on the old line “It’s Not You, It’s Me” with their latest single

Posted on 30 September 2020
Geno Samuel

Hearing the words “it’s not you, it’s me” is generally a soul-destroying experience, aside from when you’re soaking in the evocative lyrics in up and coming Irish singer-songwriter Geno Samuel’s latest single.

The acoustic rock track unashamedly spills plenty of old school romantic soul which wraps around the roots of rock n roll to create an ardour-soaked intense aural experience. With timeless tones which will appeal to any fans of Springsteen and Bryan Adams paired with Geno Samuel’s stylistically compelling Rock vocals, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more accessible Rock track which oozes contemporary appeal.

You’ll have to wait a little longer before you can check out the single for yourselves. In the meantime, you can head over to SoundCloud and check out their former releases.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

UK Pop-Rock artist Conrad Ashton brings out his best form on ”Like No One Else Do”

Posted on 25 July 2020

Conrad Ashton is an entertaining singer-songwriter from Spennymoor, County Durham in the United Kingdom. He is a popular artist in the UK and returns with a new song called ”Like No One Else Do”.

This artist likes to evolve his sound and shares his modern rock creations that are firmly rooted in the classic pop sound. After being inspired at the tender 9 years old when he witnessed Pete Townshend’s exhilarating stage presence at Live 8, this changed Conrad’s life forever. He knew he wanted to make music and soon after picked up a guitar. This is the power of music and how it can change your perception and inspire.

”Like No One Else Do” from Conrad Ashton is all about loving someone like no one else does. You know your value deep inside and believe that this is right person for you. Conrad sings with such passion and drive on this one and his voice seems to be improving all the time. This is a fine track and one of his best songs.

Stream this track right here on the Soundcloud music page for this artist.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Zach Bair – Rutherford Drive: Soul-Steeped Americana Rock

Posted on 8 May 2020

Zach Bair’s standout single Rutherford Drive is a perfect example of what kind of alchemic energy can spill from the timeless combination of Rock and Soul.

The rhythmically accessible track doesn’t venture all too far from the realms of traditional Americana Rock. Yet, there’s plenty of authenticity to be found in the magnetic soundscape which any fans of Bruce Springsteen, Slash, Sting and Bon Jovi will definitely appreciate. And yes, the guitar solos are just as arrestive as what you’d expect from the aforementioned artists.

Zach Bair and his band possess the rare anthemic atmospheric edge which you’d definitely want to witness live if you got the chance. They’re definitely one to watch.

You can check out the official video to Zach Bair’s standout single for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Winter Drifter – Outlaw Story: A Super-Charged Modern Take on Old School Rock n Roll

Posted on 16 April 2020

Alberta, Canada Rock n Roll raconteurs Winter Drifter released their latest single Outlaw Story on April 4th. If there’s any new Rock track which will get you in the mood for hedonism and deviance, it’s this gasoline-soaked feat of authentic Rock.

The super-charged raunchy Rock riffs come with a slight vitriolic nuanced pinch of Punk Rock and a side serving of sleaze while keeping the track timelessly raucous. Instead of trying to incorporate novel frills, Winter Drifter went full-throttle with the high-octane relentlessly rhythmic thrills.

Their talent is one thing, the dynamic energy and Vedder-style vocals are quite another. I can only imagine how electrifying a live set from the fourpiece would be.

You can check out Outlaw Story for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Happy Freuds – Break: It’s full of energy and major throwbacks

Posted on 29 March 2020

If you want something that’s going to throw you right back to the old school Classic Rock days then this is the one for you. Happy Freuds have this contagious energy, manic instrumentation and insane vocals, that real rock feel that throws you right back.

‘’Break’’ is a track that you can’t help but love, it’s energetic, chaotic and has so much personality that shines through, as a listener you can hear how much energy goes into the music and how well it comes out.

They have this talent that definitely shouldn’t go unnoticed, the guitar riffs are so precise and electrifying, the light taps on the drums and not to mention the killer vocals that just completely top everything off, it all combines so well together.

Happy Freuds have clearly shown the Rock world what they have to offer in this track, just by showing how good old school Classic Rock can really sound. A band with huge potential to make it massive and one we can’t wait to see do so.

Be sure to check out Break for yourselves by heading to SoundCloud now.

Review by Karley Myall