Browsing Tag

Hardcore

San Diego-based Metal shredder Mike Wilkins knows that no one can stop this brain-crushing journey with, ‘Merchants of Death’ (feat. Tim ”Ripper” Owens)

Posted on 21 February 2022

As they slash the tires and look on in glee as the carnage takes over the streets and spills into the homes of those who least expect it, Mike Wilkins brings the pain on the high-tempo new single that you will either love with all your heart or make you hide away from it all together with, ‘Merchants of Death‘ (feat. Tim ”Ripper” Owens).

Mike Wilkins is a San Diego, California-based indie-Rock/Metal artist and brings in Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens (formally of Judas Priest) on this full-throated effort with intention.

Signifying that they mean business and not sugar coating anything for innocent ears, Mike Wilkins rattles our emotions like a plundering earth-mover and sends us into another stratosphere completely here. This is as raw as it can possibly get with glass-shattering vocals and a guitar sound that is reminiscent of those true greats that are ultimately immortal in the eyes of millions.

‘Merchants of Death‘ (feat. Tim ”Ripper” Owens) from the Californian solo hardcore Rock/Metal artist Mike Wilkins, is a guitar-smashing doom-filled experience from two heavy musicians who have joined forces to devasting effect. They slice the streets down with expert aplomb and send shivers down the spines of us all, with a treacherously explosive presentation that will have parents scared and the youth enthused. Just the way it was intended.

Listen in to this new single on Spotify and see more news on his IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Purge yourselves via District 13’s post-hardcore stormer, Step into the Fire

Posted on 5 February 2022

There was little chance of forgetting the mesmeric furore of District 13, which we were introduced to via their 2019 single, Soma. The Exeter-hailing virtuosic sons have driven even more frenetic finesse into their sound over lockdown if their latest single, Step into the Fire, is anything to go by.

Between the old-school Black Sabbath vibes and the hints of post-hardcore, their own darkly maniacal alt-metal signature sound had plenty of room to breathe. For 5 and a half minutes, District 13 prove the dynamism in their influence and talent as you are shunted through the unpredictably gratifying progressions. From hooky choruses to theatrical interludes to thrash metal breakdowns, Step into the Fire offers it all. We highly recommend any alt-metal fan with an open mind instead of a petulant fixation on the past purges themselves within Step into the Fire.

The official video for District 13’s single, Step Into the Fire, is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Different To The Rest: Wesco sets his own trends with ‘Rare Blend’

Posted on 20 December 2021

Following on from his first release called ‘World of Optimism‘ from late 2020, Wesco is back with a new single about showing us that he is rather distinct to the trend-following copycats out there who cry over spilt milk with the swag-packed ‘Rare Blend‘.

David Wesco aka Wesco is an underground rapper who has opted to keep his location hidden for the time being.

We find an introspective soul in full voice here who makes a raw blend of hip-hop – that is loaded with vividly told stories about making it – in this harshly populated dog-eat-dog world and lets us know that he is for real.

As glances around the corner with his clean shades on tight, Wesco makes his move and isn’t too concerned about what anyone else thinks. There is much smoothness in his voice and he sounds so calm, with that collected mentality that has kept him away from any needless issues that can pop off at any moment if you surround yourself with the wrong people. This is the vital message of independence that is marked by a consistent beat, which appears to suit this assured message completely.

‘Rare Blend‘ from the raw indie rapper Wesco, is that mixture of hardcore flows that slices through the naked speakers and catches your attention quickly. This is a statement track from a trend-supplied artist who shows us what his purpose is. Looking for greatness and avoiding the traps that so many get their souls clenched into, is the only mission that he is interested in. Sometimes in life, you need to be so focused – that you refuse to fit it anywhere else – as you conquer those lofty goals that you are so convinced you can obtain.

Stream this fiery new single on Soundcloud and see more via the IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Talk Is Cheap: Louisville hard rock band Wyld Ryde run the streets on powered-up new single ‘Gasoline Alley’

Posted on 30 November 2021

As they let us know that you need to be vigilant in this part of town as one erroneous move could have you in difficulty, Wyld Ryde light up our imagination and keep on emitting out high-velocity vocals and devastating guitar riffs that shall certainly wake you up on ‘Gasoline Alley‘.

Wyld Ryde is an explosive 4-piece Louisville, Kentucky-based indie hard rock/heavy metal band that seems to make the speakers bleed with their hardcore music creations.

”Members Chief-Lead Vocals & Guitar, Tommy Blitz-Lead Guitar & vocals, Mick Watkins-Bass Guitar & Vocals and Kidd Vicious-Drums are on a mission to dominate modern Rock music.” ~ Wyld Ryde

Wyld Ryde is absolutely breathtaking from start to finish as the ominous start of this video projects, as they swarm our ears with a thunderously-charged performance that reminds you of the greats from yesteryear.

‘Gasoline Alley‘ from the Louisville, Kentucky-based indie hard rock/heavy metal act Wyld Ryde, is the type of track that might send shivers running down your unprotected spine. They prove why they are one of the most respected outfits around at the moment and are on top form here – with an exceedingly-energetic track – ll about making sure that you know where your place is on these mean streets.

See this roaring new music video on YouTube and get a sense of what they are all about on their IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Seven Days Rest put a dark and doomy spin on hardcore with their single, ‘Traitor’.

Posted on 28 June 2021

‘Traitor’ is the latest confrontationally fierce alt-rock single released by New Mexico-based luminaries, Seven Days Rest. Their darker take on hardcore allows you to relive the glory days when Job for a Cowboy and the Black Dahlia Murder reigned supreme in the hardcore scene.

Yet, with the progressive nature of the doomy tuned-down guitars, Traitor offers everything you could hope for in an alternative track. The soaring instrumental hooks, frenetic glitchy breakdowns and catchy choruses with arresting female vocals complemented with guttural screams pull together to make an adrenalizingly cathartic track out of Traitor.

Given that most people are by default terrible, I’m sure that plenty of people will find resonance in the track that launches a straight-up attack on backstabbers.

Traitor is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Bangkok’s most enticing alt-rock outfit Stay Awake welcome us to the ‘Brave New Normal’

Posted on 3 June 2021

Fans of Alexisonfire, Rise Against, and Bad Religion will want to make the same amount of time for the Bangkok-based alt-rock powerhouse, Stay Awake, after the release of their sophomore EP, ‘Portraits’.

Track 1, Brave New Normal, is the perfect introduction to Stay Awake’s hardcore sound and even harder-hitting lyrics. After forming in 2018, they’ve garnered plenty of international acclaim and sharpened their sound to a piercing precision.

With catchy choruses that could easily captivate main stage festival crowds and simple yet efficaciously clever lyrics, “we face each day behind a mask, 2020 vision is useless”, Brave New Normal is a nuanced matured take on hardcore that will undoubtedly take Stay Awake to even greater heights.

Check out the latest EP from Stay Awake on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Owl Rose have unleashed their frenetically cathartic post-hardcore EP ‘PTERODACTYLS’

Posted on 17 March 2021
OWL ROSE

If any up and coming alt-rock act is going to make hardcore fans miss sticky floors and colliding with sweat-soaked strangers, it’s Owl Rose. The Norfolk, UK-based alt-rock powerhouse’s EP, ‘PTERODACTYLS’, shares the same genre-blending propensities as Enter Shikari, Bring Me the Horizon and Architects, but this frenetic 6-track release is anything but assimilative.

In the standout single, Sigourney, along with the aggression you’d expect to find in any thrashy post-hardcore release, you’ll also be confronted by abrasive punk attitude. But when the chorus hits, the soaring vocals hook you even deeper into the sonic catharsis offered by Owl Rose’s mindful approach to metal.

Short of sticking a fork in a plug socket, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more electrifying experience than hitting play on Sigourney.

The PTERODACTYLS EP was officially released on February 25th. You’ll be able to check it out via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Homecoming has released their punchiest Indie Pop Punk single to date with the release of “Prime”

Posted on 21 May 2020

Pop Punk, Post Hardcore and Indie Rock all entwine in the explosively adrenalizing recently released single “Prime” from breaking San Antonio-based artist Homecoming.

They’ve gone right back to the roots of Emo and Pop-Punk with the bouncing anthemic choruses which stand as a testament to the production standard of Prime. Yet Homecoming played a bit of Machiavellian trick as they allowed the harmonically magnetic vocals to be interrupted by the raw screamo lyrics. The seismic shift in energy definitely wasn’t expected. Yet, it made the sticky-sweet choruses which followed even more absorbing.

No review of Prime would be complete without mentioning the guitar which borrows Indie Rock nuances to ensure that the track isn’t just a heavy-hitter. There’s also a smorgasbord of deftly intricate distinction within their playing style to gorge upon.

You can check out Homecoming’s single Prime for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Common Choir – Dive Bar Knight Life Pt 2: Colossally Caustic Metalcore

Posted on 17 March 2020

If you’re always on the lookout for the freshest Metalcore talent, you won’t have to look much further than Common Choir.

The standout single “Dive Bar Knight Life Pt 2” from their self-released EP is a cathartically volatile hit which is driven by pure unfaltering tensile momentum and soul slicing raw emotion.

You only need to listen to the tight synergy in to affirm that Common Choir is a powerhouse. From Dive Bar Knight Life Pt 2 you can expect consuming choruses and instrumental breakdowns which will leave any discerning metal fan with goosebumps. There’s no chance of missing the virtuosity of the bassist. The thunderous growls are enough to make you suspicious that he’s of relation to Thor.

And no review of Common Choir would be complete without mentioning the captivatingly dynamic vocals which consistently evolve in perfect synergy with the instrumentals. From throat-rippingly raw screams, to soaring vocal melodies, this monster of a track proves that the Minnesota band can offer it all.

You can check out the official video to Dive Bar Knight Life Pt 2 which was released on January 5th via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

EVRI – CONGRATULATIONS: Throat-Punchingly-Riotous Garage Rock    

Posted on 21 February 2020

If you were born in the 90s, chances are, you’ll find plenty of nostalgia in the scorching Pop Punk/Post Rock guitar riffs which introduce up and coming artist EVRI’s latest single “CONGRATULATIONS”.

The viscerally charged single may boast a Lo-Fi production. But the gritty Garage Rock feel to the track amplified the angsty cutting catharsis which will definitely be shared as the explosive track progresses.

For me, the trademark for any good track is found in the level of emotion projected into it. And there’s a smorgasbord of undiluted, throat punching riotous energy found in CONGRATULATIONS. It may not be neatly packaged and sugar-coated, but in my not so humble opinion, the best tracks never are.

You can check out EVRI’s single CONGRATULATIONS which was released on December 31st 2019 for yourselves via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast