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Glam Rock

Eco-Rock Resurgence: The Lürxx’s ‘We Are the Weeds’ Unleashes a Green Rebellion

Posted on 20 April 2024

We Are the Weeds by the Lürxx doesn’t give you a love them or loathe them option; no rock fan could be impervious to the thunderous punch that melds the raucous energy of sleaze rock with a sharp environmental edge.

With their roots firmly planted in the Hollywood glam punk scene, this duo not only revitalises the rock and roll ethos by championing the protection of the natural world in addition to smashing the system. Their music bridges the raw vibe of the 1980s Sunset Strip, reminiscent of legends like Twisted Sister and Guns N’ Roses, with acoustic nuances that echo the Quireboys and Dogs D’Amour all the while being amplified by an energy that’s uniquely their own.

The intoxicating and impactfully dynamic nature warrior punk rock opera is evidence of the duo’s ability to stir the soul and do so without resorting to shaming the listener into action, the installations of zany punk vocals around the classic 80s rock tones ensures the vocal performance perfectly aligns with the spirit of the track which explores the relentless resilience of nature, symbolised by weeds—the unacknowledged heroes of the ecosystem. It’s a powerful metaphor for persistence and survival in a world quick to dismiss the underdog.

Stream the official music video for We Are the Weeds on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Rich Kid Express became the voice of volition in their symphonic with sleaze hard rock hit, U Never….

Posted on 7 September 2023
Under The Purple Lights by Rich Kid Express

The Carolina-hailing hard rock prodigal son, Rich Kid Express, glammed up symphonic synth rock in his slick with Sunset Strip sleaze EP, Under the Purple Lights, featuring the volition-driven single, U Never….

With whammy-laden guitars that sound like they’ve been torn from a Slayer hit punctuating the harbingeringly dark synth lines and an edge of antagonism that continues to slice through the KISS-esque atmosphere with every verse, hard rock scarcely hits harder.

There’s nothing quite like pouring all your contempt into a creative work in terms of catharsis but for hard rock fans who need iconic outfits to be their voice of vindication, there’s plenty of resolve in U Never…. which uses its razor-sharp teeth to tear through the deception and manipulation of the kind of exes we always come to regret getting in bed with.

Stream and purchase the EP in full via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Herringbone speak to the sinners in their classic rock revivalist debut single, Soloman’s Song

Posted on 14 October 2022

Herringbone’s debut single, Soloman’s Song, is a classic rock to the core exploration of shame, secrecy, and repentance that will throw you right back to the most iconic era of sunset strip glam rock.

The upbeat track raucously unravels through the momentum its overdriven lead guitars that amplify the cheeky swagger in the lead vocals, which are joined by choral female backing vocals. The feminine energy and shimmering organ keys take this renegade rock revival to a spiritually enrapturing level.

When they talk about music being the best medicine, they must be alluding to the enlivening aural elixir that runs through this stellar rock track which is enough to make you pious to the prowess of Herringbone. Now that a decent live show is beyond Axl Rose, it’s time to embrace Herringbone.

Soloman’s Song is available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Glam rock goes indie pop in Dvrk Romantics’ siren of a single, Trouble Won’t Wait

Posted on 7 October 2022

With the dark romanticism of the lyrics that will stir the soul of any Wordsworth, and Lord Bryon fans, Dvrk Romantics stayed true to their moniker while sonically blowing the competition with their cinematic blockbuster of an X-Rated single, Trouble Won’t Wait.

Rachel Di Biaso’s glam rock meets pop femme fatale pop energy across the raunchy guitar licks and snapping beats that drive the anthemic seduction right through the riot of siren-esque hit is a potent blend that will undoubtedly see Dvrk Romantics lauded as the best breakthrough act of 2022.

Seemingly, everything that Micky Waters turns to aural gold; after moving into this alchemic duo from being the bassist in The Answer, who supported Rolling Stones and ACDC, he’s going to manoeuvre those driving basslines right into the hearts of every glam rock, pop and indie lover alike. If you’ve always wanted to back a band before they become the next big thing, the time is NOW.

Trouble Won’t Wait was officially released on September 30th. Hear it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

MOVIE MOVIE shine on in their glamorously cinematic single, Bright Lights

Posted on 11 September 2022
NOW PLAYING by MOVIE MOVIE

Psychedelic Furs fans will want to clamour around the latest glamorously cinematic rock n roll meets power pop single, Bright Lights, from NYC’s new-found finest, MOVIE MOVIE.

With the psychedelically upbeat melodies that come with a swoon-some bite and Beach Boys backing harmonies, objectivity quickly falls to the wayside while Bright Lights is tonally shimmering into your synapses. While the lyrics set up the narrative of a lonesome wannabe starlet, the synths transport you away from this intrepid era and plant you into one where James Dean and Hepburn reigned supreme.

Bright Lights was officially released on July 22nd. Check it out for yourselves on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Jo-Jo & The Teeth gave us the couture of glam rock n roll with their blisteringly hot pop-rock anthem, Don’t Get Too Heavy

Posted on 18 May 2022

‘Don’t Get Too Heavy’ from the London-based outfit, Jo-Jo & The Teeth is the only riff-slicked pop-hooked rock n’ roll debut you need to hear in 2022. A rebellious streak runs right through the glam rock earworm, but like every good hit, it does plenty more than just show its teeth.

If you amped up the visceral attitude in Stevie Nicks’ vocals to 11, they’d still pale in comparison to the hooky veracity of Jo-Jo O’Donoghue’s blisteringly hot pop-rock vocal lines. That’s probably blasphemy, but I’ll prepare to repent for it to do Jo-Jo & The Teeth justice. It’s the least I could do given that she has given rock n roll an Americana iteration of Peaches.

Don’t Get Too Heavy is the lead track from the forthcoming self-produced debut album, No More Good News; I already want it on my turntable.

The official music video for Don’t Get Too Heavy premiered on May 6th; watch it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

In The Darkness: SAINTES urge us to hold our souls as some devilish characters are ‘Out To Get It All’

Posted on 21 August 2021

As they intertwine their different interests and stimulating skill sets onto one spicy team to represent the true underdogs, SAINTES bite hungrily into our shocked earbuds and deliver a real plug-and-play winner with ‘Out To Get It All‘.

SAINTES is a fiery three-piece Yorkshire, UK-based indie glam-rock band who certainly have that extra intriguing edge. They are a highly motivated outfit, with something to prove as they belt out tracks strewn with real life stories, and that forthright attitude that is so often lacking in this illusion-filled world.

”SAINTES were born over the Covid lockdowns and have only recently started gigging but hit the scene hard with 5 gigs over the Tramlines Fringe festival in Sheffield and have secured support slots for the likes of God Damn, Cam Cole and Tempestt.” ~ SAINTES

For a fairly new band you have to be mightily impressed with their devastatingly explosive sound to the rafters – which is textured with supremely confident vocals – that has you riveted with a thunderbolt to the heart, which is a real gem to savor after a dark year. This is the type of underground track that has your tantalizing body so intrigued, as they bring us a breathtaking single to swim deeply into to.

‘Out To Get It All‘ from the stylishly-dressed with that gritty Yorkshire glam-rocker sound called SAINTES, is that truthful message that we all need to know about. So many evil souls are out there to grab all the treasure for themselves even if they don’t need it. Keeping your mind alive to that fact is vitally important – as you stay innocent and marvelously excited for the small things which matter – that actually set you free in the long run.

Hear this new single on Spotify and see more on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Louden Swain – climbing out of the ‘Basement Of No Hope’

Posted on 4 April 2021
Louden Swain

2020 has been hard for performers the world over, but bands have arguably suffered more than solo singer-songwriters purely through the added constraints of isolation and lockdown preventing even rehearsals, recording, or shared-room writing. Couple that with cancelled gigs and missed tour dates, and Covid 19 sounded the death-knell for a number of less adaptable collectives.

Not so LA-Based Louden Swain, though, who simply parcelled up the new music they’d been working on, switched – like many bands – to Zoom collaborations and emails, and began the mammoth task of trying to piece together a new album by proxy. In January this year they set themselves the challenge of releasing a new single every month for as long as it took to get back out on the road in support of that album.

The first – title-track – single is this: ‘Basement Of No Hope’, and what a single it is, too. Reminiscent of The Struts, Neon Animal, or White Reaper – that mix of seventies and eighties glam stylings combined with modern rock sensibilities, with perhaps some Huey Lewis and the News-style mainstream radio rock groove in there for good measure. There’s a punkiness underlying some of the guitar work, melodic and thumping in equal parts, tuneful and with a genuine ear for songwriting.

Whilst no-one wants lockdown to continue for a second longer than necessary, there’s a part of us that are – on the basis of ‘Basement Of No Hope’ – intrigued to hear what else Louden Swain might come out with before the world returns to normal.

You can listen to ‘Basement Of No Hope’ via Louden Swain’s website, or follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

OCEANS OF TEARS told the ultimate redemption story with ‘IF LOOKS COULD KILL’

Posted on 2 April 2021

It certainly isn’t every day that you get to enjoy an empowering redemption story through rock n roll, but thanks to OCEANS OF TEARS’ rock musical ‘DROWNED IN A SEA OF TEARS’, you’ll get to enjoy theatrical intensity alongside glam rock riffs and supercharged synths. Especially in the standout single ‘IF LOOKS COULD KILL’.

With dirty rhythms coalescing with dancey beats that wouldn’t be out of place on a 90s dance workout tape, IF LOOKS COULD KILL is a sonic trip down the sunset strip with a side serving of adrenalizing lyricism which acts as a reminder that you’re stronger than you know.

The official video to IF LOOKS COULD KILL is now available to stream via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Suicide Notes – The Pleasures of Despair: Deviously Trashy Rock n Roll

Posted on 4 April 2020
The Suicide Notes

Rock n’ Roll swagger is hardly uncommon. Yet, all too infrequently is it as bona fide as what The Suicide Notes effortlessly exude with their deviously trashy take on Sleaze Rock.

Each of the four tracks on their debut EP The Pleasures of Despair offer an instantaneous hit of catharsis for the nefarious. Or, just anyone who appreciates their music as filthy as Post Malone’s bathwater.

If you thought that New York Dolls’ tracks were scuzzy, wait until you hit play on Black Dog Howlin. It’s a frenzied feat of unadulterated virtuosic insanity. The blazing solos and rhythmic wrath are quite literally palpitatingly intense.

Track two, Smoke It Like A Cigarette may dial down the momentum slightly. But you’ll still be caught up in the dynamically anthemic energy in the suspense-filled nostalgically arrestive track.

If you weren’t already in awe of Billy Tee’s saw-edged larynx, you will be when you get to track three On The Rocks. The vitriolic feral howls almost allow the Trashy Rock n Roll raconteurs to share reminiscences with Pantera while the tight instrumentals take you right back to the golden era of Sleaze.

The roguishly romantic concluding track Ragdoll is a perfect testament to The Suicide Notes’ experimentalism and talent. With basslines which would get Mr Bungle’s approval and a myriad of progressions for your consciousness to be consumed by, it’s by far the most captivating track on the record for anyone who appreciates genre-defying improv instrumental breakdowns.

To Supplement the release The Pleasures of Despair- Electric which is due for release on June 1st, The Suicide Notes also released The Pleasures of Despair – The Acoustic Demos (Volume 1) on March 16th 2020.

It’s easy to feel like The Suicide Notes played a pretty Machiavellian trick by releasing the acoustic EP first before dropping the super-charged over-driven monster Electric EP.

Instead of fevered high-octane Rock, the acoustic four-track EP allows the accordantly warm instrumentals soak up the jagged angst projected through the pensively weighted lyrics and Billy Tee’s vocals which may be gruff, but they’re far from abrasive.

Pleasures of Despair – Electric is now available for pre-order via this link, where you’ll also be able to order the acoustic EP.

Keep up to date with new releases, announcements, and general raucously endearing antics from The Suicide Notes via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast