Browsing Tag

Indie Rock

Brandon Wade wants us all to ‘Dance Again’

Posted on 20 April 2021
Brandon Wade

Sometimes, the choice is between doing what’s easy, or doing what’s right. That’s the story behind Brandon Wade’s ‘Dance Again’, a gentle, uplifting acoustic ballad carried by Brandon’s sublime picked guitar parts and stunning vocal. There’s a touch of ‘The Bends’ era Radiohead about it, if Radiohead hadn’t started playing around with all the electronics, some Kevin Garrett, maybe a helping of James Bay, Michael Rosenberg/Passenger, or Hozier, too – think airy, space-filled contemporary acoustic guitar and a vocal delivery that flirts at times with falsetto, but never gives anything but exquisite delicacy.

Brandon Wade wants to write music that inspires people, and to be a ‘voice for those too afraid to speak or who think their words have little meaning’. With ‘Dance Again’, he’s produced a beautiful single about love, loss, and learning that really does have a voice all of its own.

You can check out Dance Again here.

Follow Brandon Wade on Instagram.

 

Review by Alex Holmes

Mike Stoyanov has made their unmissable indie garage rock debut with ‘Star’.

Posted on 18 April 2021

After lending his talent to various rock and blues outfits, London’s Mike Stoyanov made his solo debut on February 12th with the punchy indie garage rock track ‘Star’.

With the vocal swagger of Liam Gallagher and his fresh take on garage rock, anyone still turning to indie for their aural euphoria fixes will undoubtedly feel the dopamine flood when hitting play. It’s an unapologetic feel-good track that couldn’t have hit the airwaves at a better time. If anything can dissolve the ego, it’s enduring 12 months of pandemic times that have stifled the arts, yet, Mike Stoyanov is here with an anthemic reminder that the rock n roll persona is still as fitting as ever. He’s pretty convincing too. You’ll want him on your radar for his sophomore release.

Star is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Smashing Effort: Eaglebauer has us highly entertained with the punchy ‘What To Expect When You Least Expect It’

Posted on 16 April 2021
What To Expect When You Least Expect It by Eaglebauer

With a ferocious energy that has you locked in tight into your seat, Eaglebauer flies free to send us a ten-track album to remember called ‘What To Expect When You Least Expect It‘.

Eaglebauer is a rugged New York-based indie rock act, that smashes through the timid walls with a core-strong sound that brings you back to the old school feels of seething guitar riffs, that lights a fire bright and burns down the whole building, with sparks blazing throughout the sky.

”Just an overgrown boy that plays in an imaginary band making songs of joy, fear, death and pasta.” – Eaglebauer

There are ten quality songs here, that are all full of punchy bass lines that sends your mind into a spin, as you sift through what you have heard before and know that this is a proper album. These songs are full of vocals that brings your heartbeat to a dangerous level of delight, you jump up and down and remember head banging at your local club in total delight.

‘What To Expect When You Least Expect It‘ from the New York-based act Eaglebauer, is a terrific release that has you rocking along to music that grabs you close, gives you a beer and has you letting your hair roam around like it was 1999 again. A smashing effort that deserves our utmost attention.

Stream this rockin’ new release on Bandcamp.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Over A Decade Away: Bulletproof Messenger rifle back to where they belong after a long hiatus with ‘The Divide’

Posted on 16 April 2021

After a long time out the music game, Bulletproof Messenger have a point to prove on their new smashing single that satisfies their loyal fans palates on ‘The Divide’.

Bulletproof Messenger is a blisteringly packed-to-the-max six-piece indie Long Island, New York indie alt-rock band, that bring the world an inspirational message one song at a time, with rugged energy that has you feeling alive inside.

After previously sharing the stage with heavyweights Incubus, Seether, Fuel, Drowning Pool, Edema and Everclear, it feels like they are supremely hungry and want to claim back the massive name that they had built up before.

”The band has spent the last few years dealing with multiple military deployments, the rewarding rigors of family life and career changes all in conjunction with working towards our next release.” – Bulletproof Messenger

You feel the energy is rampant, the band mesh as one on this terrifically charged moment that they have been waiting for. The world is a crazier place and we are so divided — but through music we can always be united — even for a few minutes.

‘The Divide’ from the band on a mission to the return to their heyday Bulletproof Messenger, gives us that real pleasant punch to the gut that serves us a wake-up call, that fuels our minds after a crazy twelve months. They have a sound that is absolutely timeless and have sent out a track that was certainly worth the wait.

Stream this new single on Spotify and check out the IG for more news.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Make The Moment Last: Fresh Baltimore band Ryan And Perry wish for a special ‘Tomorrow’

Posted on 15 April 2021

With a big smile on their faces and their tinted shades on to block the sun of the day, Ryan And Perry wake up our romantic senses so we can look forward to ‘Tomorrow‘.

Ryan And Perry are a highly motivated two-piece indie rock act from rural Baltimore in the USA. They make that freshly squeezed new school rock sound that is meshed with their appreciation of the legends before them, as they forge their own original path to the top.

This is the story about being so excited to start the day by thinking of that sweet love who you can’t stop thinking about, as they have your heart and you get all giddy inside just thinking about being around them.

Their sound is so timeless and you feel like they would be appreciated in any era. They make that positive energy type of music that seems to get sadly lost sometimes under the fake bling and stories that should be impossible to believe. This is that quality music that your whole family can enjoy, their likable tone makes you warm inside and feel rejuvenated again.

‘Tomorrow‘ from Baltimore indie-rock duo Ryan And Perry, is the youthful story of looking to the future with the one that you care about and taking those lessons learnt from before, to make sure you are self-aware enough to look forward to the next day.

Their energy is infectious and feel like these two genuine love what they do, as their music is joyful and honest. Life is about looking forward and never backwards after all.

Stream this new single on their Spotify and check out the IG for more visuals.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Rebel Kicks takes the existential weight off with their indie pop-rock track, ‘Floating’.

Posted on 14 April 2021

There’s no better breeding ground for power pop than NYC, as proven by the latest release, ‘Floating’, by Rebel Kicks. With similarities to evocative pop-rock outfits such as The Calling and Lifehouse, the brother-fronted duo welcomes you into a familiar soundscape before setting themselves apart with their angular indie jangle-pop guitar notes and the sincerity in their optimism.

Rebel Kicks’ tour plans may have been crushed by the pandemic, but they still endeavoured to lead their listeners to a brighter perspective after recognising the dangers of internal reflection. In short, Floating is an invitation to cut through the noise and reserve energy for positivity. It’s an invitation that you don’t get much of an option in accepting thanks to the infectious positivity.

Floating is now available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lazy Daze asks the question we’ve all been thinking with their surfy indie rock track, ‘What is Real?’

Posted on 12 April 2021

If the last 12 months have left you questioning the nature of reality, you’ll definitely appreciate the latest single from Lazy Daze that explores that very same existential question while carrying sweet yet sonic summer tones.

The LA-based artist, songwriter and producer cooked up a lofty indie jam that bursts with jangle-pop vitality, teases elements of indie post-punk and infuses modern elements of surf rock to stay true to his LA roots.

What is Real? is a mash of everything there is to love about Supergrass, the Beach Boys and Joy Division simultaneously unfolding around a deep questioning that never gives way to melancholy. Instead, Lazy Daze seems to take the Bukowski approach to life; laughing in the face of trepidation and chaos and inviting the listener to do the same.

What is Real? is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Party That Surrounds You: Jaguar Jaguar urge us not to panic on the mesmerizing new single ‘Post-Op’

Posted on 11 April 2021

After gaining international success with their previous EP ‘Common Menace Pt.1‘, Jaguar Jaguar return with ‘Post-Op‘, which is taken off their latest five-track offering called ‘Pink Lies‘.

Jaguar Jaguar is the exciting Minneapolis, Minnesota-based dark synthpop/indie rock act with a style that is so unique you will need to listen twice, as they intertwine together such mysterious sounds which mystify your mind to unlock a new level.

This is the story about feeling like an outsider, you are in the party but you can’t seem to get into the proper zone and feel like you are in a different world. You wish that you could change and become someone else, as you think about turning into a new face that will be alive and taken notice of for once. You know not to panic however, as things will change around soon if you break away from this stale energy, that has tied you inside.

The multi-skilled sounds are so gripping and has you impressed by the different layers that are somehow spellbinding and complex – each verse changes up without notice – and twists your mood into a frenzied state of hypnotized enjoyment.

‘Post-Op‘ from Mineapolis three-piece indie rock/synthpop outfit Jaguar Jaguar, leads us into an underground world where so many get lost in, as they reside into their own deep thoughts that can lock you into a different mindset, that can be so different to breakout from. With a unique sound that has you listening so close, they are a fascinating band full of so much promise.

Listen to the new track here on Spotify and check out their IG for more visuals.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Tyron Freeman’s raucous, indie-tinged rock – ‘Keep It Hid, Locked Away’

Posted on 10 April 2021

Like so many musicians during the last year or so, Tyron Freeman – a veteran of bands as a professional musician in the North West UK – found that the world shifted and skewed sideways at the beginning of the pandemic. Suddenly stranded, jobless and isolated in a studio flat in Germany, what does a creative musician do but call in his mates and put together a killer rock n’ roll track?

‘Keep It Hid, Locked Away’ is raucous, indie-tinged rock – think Goo Goo Dolls, Bush, a little of Royal Blood, and some Beatles-y sing-song sections. There’s influences of Fontaines and Tame Impala, the White Stripes, and Oasis, too, along with old-school rock in Zeppelin, Bowie, and the Stooges. Recorded at Liverpool’s Parr Studios, Chris Taylor’s production brings elements of the Lightning Seeds, Blossoms, and The Coral into the mix, giving the overall single a perfect mix of classic rock groove and North-East England indie-pop catchiness. This might be early days for Tyron Freeman’s solo career, but on the basis of ‘Keep It Hid, Locked Away’ he really, really needs to avoid his own advice; this needs to be shouted from the rooftops instead.

‘Keep It Hid, Locked Away’ is out now; check out Tyron Freeman on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

One Night Won’t Kill Me: Virginia four-piece rock band Azure Wolf find their self-assurance with ‘Black Fur’

Posted on 9 April 2021

After recently signing to Pittsburgh label DI Records, Azure Wolf are back with their latest single that signifies their resilience as a band on ‘Black Fur’.

Azure Wolf is a female-fronted four-piece indie rock band from Winchester, Virginia. They skillfully filter out all the undesirable noise around them, to give us meaningful music that is so full of real soul and striking relevance.

“‘Black Fur’ is a deeply personal song that resonates more and more every time I sing it. For me, it’s a ballad of freedom and letting go of some of the darkness in my past. It’s a reminder to take off my mask and confront my demons. It feels good to finally release this one”.- Victoria Backle (Vocals/Guitar), Azure Wolf

This is story about staying strong no matter what, as you know that better days are ahead despite how you feel right now. We find a storyteller who has been wanting to express these emotions for a while and feels very relieved for it — with a fine band who back her up mightily — with a deeply satisfying soundscape of epic proportions.

‘Black Fur’ from the Apple Capital natives Azure Wolf, is a deliciously deep bite into a stirring song that shows us that loneliness can strike at any time — no matter who you are — as you search for that feeling of escape from those times you wish you weren’t going through.

With a stunning sound, gloriously elegant and honest lyrics with breathtaking vocals, this a quality effort that resonates so much to current times, as well as to the past that can’t define you.

Stream this new track on Spotify and see more news on their IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen