Browsing Tag

Dir En Grey

Mar Palafox lead the vanguard in his latest spacey hard rock single, Battle.

Posted on 14 July 2021

After a string of successful singles, the alt-rock solo artist Mar Palafox has released his debut self-titled album; expect an adrenalizing ensemble of power metal, prog rock and spacey hard rock.

Any fans of Dir En Grey, InMe and Porcupine Tree will be easily absorbed by the atmospheric textures in the soundscapes that coincide with frenetic solos as they blaze through the complex time signatures. Each single on the album is a feat of ingenuity, but none more so than the standout single, Battle. The slightly lo-fi feel to the single gives Battle a punky garage rock edge that is cutting, to say the least.

You can check out Mar’s debut album for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

12 Below – Jetsam: Austere art-rock

Posted on 21 May 2021

South Florida’s most avant-garde art-rock artist 12 Below is back with his sophomore single, Jetsam, which pulls together as a dark and discordant mash of industrial, darkwave synth-pop and post-punk.

With an intro that shares reminiscence to Manchester post-punk outfit The Chameleons before the soundscape switches into a phantasmal feat of electro-rock that any fans of Dir En Grey or Celldweller will be familiar with, you’ll be hooked from the first haunted note to the last.

The ethereally ambient soundscape was constructed with effect-loaded guitars and glassy keys in downtempo progressions, for the visceral kick, 12 Below loaded caustic drums and a heavy serving of bass. I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to hear an artist similar to NIN, who also makes the dark electro sound their own.

Jetsam is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

IGGYC shares their introspection in the darkly theatrical post rock hit ‘Thoughts’

Posted on 2 February 2021

Moscow-hailing Bay-Area-residing artist, IGGYC, has recently released their latest darkly theatrical progressive post-rock single ‘Thoughts’ which allows sonic symphonic rock to meld with 00s emo and cataclysmic increments of hard rock.

Starting with a piano-led prelude, Thoughts gently eases you into the raw embittered soundscape which quickly amasses momentum until you’re in the midst of a fervent whirlwind that carries frenetic reminiscences to the likes of Dir En Grey. IGGYC delivered so much more than a senselessly momentous release, expect your heartstrings to get caught in the wrenching choruses which carry the same weight as the entirety of MCR’s Black Parade album – all in the space of 4:29-minutes.

Thoughts is available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast