Browsing Tag

Hard Rock

In Your Mind: Leeds hard rock act ALL I LIVE FOR knows that the eyes needed to be opened on ‘Awaken’

Posted on 28 November 2021

Featuring a riveting sound that cuts through all of those dusty chains that have been holding back a soul that needs to be free from the past, ALL I LIVE FOR confidently urge us to get that saw ready and get rid of anything in the way with their passionate new single ‘Awaken‘.

ALL I LIVE FOR is a Leeds, UK-based 4-piece indie hard-rock/alt-metal band is a well-constructed team that loves a powerful solo, as they make meaningful music that has been made to help others in pain.

”Despite the heavy breakdowns, the band are not shy about exposing their heartfelt side. Their unique sound is focused around powerful guitars, empowering lyrics and a choral section saturated with emotive vocal harmonies.” ~ ALL I LIVE FOR

ALL I LIVE FOR bring us a real mood-booster that is all about stretching for the sky and never giving in, with the reasoning that keeps you so intrigued from the first second to the last. The UK rockers certainly turn up the volume and let loose, with an inspiring message that we all need to take note of quickly before it’s too late.

‘Awaken‘ from the Leeds, UK-based indie hard-rock/alt-metal outfit ALL I LIVE FOR, sends us a message that is so true in this constricted world that wants you to fail. With their trademark heavy sound that is mixed with potent vocals that just seems to get the ambience just right, this is a booming effort that is rather pain-alleviating and an exceedingly quality listen.

Hear this deep new single via Spotify and see more news via their IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

TBelly – I Never Want to See Me Again featuring Dennis Dunaway: The Non-sensically slick rock track of the year.

Posted on 21 October 2021

‘I Never Want to See Me Again’ is the intentionally non-sensical slick rock track from the down and dirty luminary act, TBelly, which has already scored a rave review from Alice Cooper. Who are we to disagree with the God of shock rock?

With Russell Keefe’s gnarled whiskey-soaked vocals against Dennis Dunaway’s equally gruff basslines and the symphonic keys, the enticingly euphoric hit hits the sweet spot; repeatedly.

If you can imagine what it sounds like from the gutter of the sunset strip, you’ll get an idea of what is on offer here. The best part? I Never Want to See Me Again evades every rock n roll cliché with the playful humility shown, but don’t worry, there are enough virtuosic short and sweet riffs to sate your rock n roll appetite.

You can stream the official music video for I Never Want to See Me Again for yourselves on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

SCARSUN pull punches in their latest hard rock hit, MAKE ME ACHE.

Posted on 20 October 2021

MAKE ME ACHE is the latest storming alt-rock single from SCARSUN. With Letha’s Brody Dalle-Esque vocals cutting through the instrumentals, her magnetism captivates from the first soaring vocal note. It is a hard and fast ride through the menacingly confrontational single, one that you will probably want to strap yourselves in for and play loud. For any metal fan, MAKE ME ACHE will be instantly accessible through the barbarous riffs, thrashing percussion and technical basslines, but the UK-based outfit left plenty of room for distinction.

SCARSUN has been on the scene since 2014, their tendency to keep an open mind to the sonic elements in their sound always ensures that each new release delivers unpredictability and high energy authenticity.

The official music video for MAKE ME ACHE is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mainline introduce us to ‘The Unholy Idol’ through the barbarous furore in their debut album.

Posted on 1 October 2021

On October 1st, 2021, the New York-hailing four-piece Mainline delivered the psyched up classic rock revival album of the year, The Unholy Idol. Right from the first single, Sanctum, the vintage tones pull you into the grip of their unassimilated anthemic rock prowess.

You will soon see how they came about their moniker with their ability to make you feel like you’ve just mainlined adrenaline through track two, Out of the Shadows. The 10-track album is almost wall to wall with anthems, but they still found space to exhibit their dynamism as alt-rock alchemists. Standout singles include the grunge influenced title-single, The Unholy Idol, and the bitter-sweet serenade, A Distant Memory. The concluding single, No Warnings, No Signs, is where Mainline prove that they can rip through solos just as well as any of the accoladed guitar heroes and seal a place in your memory.

Any fans of Metallica, Iron Maiden, White Snake and Black Sabbath won’t want to sleep on this release. Classic rock revivals are in no short supply on either side of the pond, but when we say that Mainline are reminiscent of Metallica, that extends beyond sonic appeal and runs through to their ability to leave you enlivened. With Mainline, you get the sense that creating energising anthems that can easily become party rock hits comes naturally.

The Unholy Idol is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Post-Hardcore and Power Pop Collide: Picture the Scene. The Hang-Up

Posted on 27 September 2021

After a line-up change that saw a female vocalist fronting the South East, UK outfit Picture the Scene. with their freshly refined sound, the heavy pop-punk powerhouse has come in with all guns blazing with their latest single, The Hang-Up.

The galvanizing power-pop choral hooks are broken up with heavy rock motifs and growled vocals that any fans of Job for a Cowboy or any other post-hardcore outfit will be familiar with. I can only imagine how intense the playful ferocity in the sticky sweet hit would be live. Picture the Scene. is for every metalhead who finds themselves with a guilty penchant for Taylor Swift. With The Hang-Up, Picture the Scene. established themselves as on par with BABYMETAL for the boundaries they broke with their sonic furore. Do I even need to tell you to save space on your radar?

The Hang-Up is now available to stream on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The silence is deafening in Shadow Box’s alt-90s hard rock hit, Without a Word.

Posted on 11 August 2021

Alt-rock outfit, Shadow Box, made its debut in 2021 with their album, Flat Moon. The lead single, Without a Word, will quickly become a playlist staple for fans of Faith No More, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains. (I don’t make Mike Patton comparisons easily.) If someone told me that Without a Word was a lost relic from the alt-90s, I’d believe them; the panoramic anthem pulls you in with the intensity of the emotion poured over tight melodic instrumentals.

Shadow Box formed when Mike Roman (guitars, vocals, keyboards) and Mike Rajinone (guitars and vocals) fused their respective hard rock and folk-rock styles. Any difference between them quickly became aural chemistry. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

Check out the debut album on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Familiar Scent: German band Sombrerobeach remember those childhood days which have been destroyed on ‘Mortar, Bricks and Memories’ (feat. Serouj Guidanian)

Posted on 7 August 2021

After having lots of fun with the ‘Grapefruit Song‘ from February 2021, Sombrerobeach move into a more serious topic about how your family home and town can get destroyed so quickly, and leave behind only distant memories with ‘Mortar, Bricks and Memories‘ (feat. Serouj Guidanian).

Sombrerobeach is an evolving German indie pop-rock band who have smoothly moved into hard-rock for this new single, as they are joined on vocals by established Beirut, Lebanon-based rock-metal artist from Vahakn, Serouj Guidanian.

This is the story about recalling those innocent times and you miss those friends who have since moved on to different areas, as you think deeply about those days and shed a small tear. You realize that things had to change – but it still makes you upset –  as you wanted some memories today, to feel better about this rather weird world.

Performed with a hard edge that has you turning the volume up, you feel uplifted by this effort as you think back to your own childhood and wonder what is left of it. The vocals are performed with real class, and backed up by a full-paced soundscape, that has your heart beating so much quicker than before.

‘Mortar, Bricks and Memories‘ (feat. Serouj Guidanian) from the German indie pop-rock/hard rock act Sombrerobeach, is a ravaging track with gritty vocals that lifts the gloom off the floor, as this is the story that strikes home hard. You recall those fun days of your youth but deep down know that things needs to move on, as you eat some sushi where the old playground used to be.

Hear this new high voltage single on Spotify and check out their IG for more news.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

K4LEE delivers full-frontal aggression in her seminal hard rock hit, LIES

Posted on 3 August 2021

Under the influence of Joan Jett, Taylor Momsen and Pat Benatar, Texas-hailing artist K4LEE found the inspiration to create her own hook-laden alt-rock tracks and represent the LGBTQ+ community in the rock scene. Her latest single, LIES, is a doomy, scathing track that captures the frustration of naivety when people succeed with their deception.

Any fans of In This Moment appreciate K4LEE’s ability to vocally dominate a soundscape, regardless of how intense and tumultuous. At 19-years-old, she is proving that she’s got what it takes to sink her teeth into the industry and leave an ever-lasting mark.

LIES is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Destroy the Planet have unleashed their punk-tinged hard-rock debut single, Control.

Posted on 22 July 2021

Minnesota-hailing hard rock trio Destroy the Planet have unleashed their stormer of a debut single, Control, that precedes the release of their debut album, Episode 1: Hungry for the Science.

Refreshingly, instead of pandering to rock n roll cliches, Destroy the Planet takes their inspiration from Sci-Fi and horror, which is as fitting as it is cathartic in our dystopic times. Along with hard rock and metal visceral stylings, you’ll find elements of angst-charged punk within the snarled vocals which lead you to wonder why there’s been a discernible lack of RATM-style punk; given that the best music is born during the hardest of times.

The unpretentiously playful vibe paired with practically pornographic solos ensure that Destroy the Planet leave an ever-lasting impression from the first hit.

The official music video for Control premiered on July 7th; check it out for yourselves on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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