Browsing Tag

New York Dolls

The Miki Doras soundtracked the soul of NYC with their debut release, Uptown, Downtown…

Posted on 19 October 2024

As a band who lives, breathes, and riffs right through the grit of the NYC rock n roll underground, The Miki Doras, who have been cutting their teeth in dive bars across the city, on rooftops in Brooklyn, warehouses in Williamsburg and house parties in Bushwick, have finally unleashed their debut single, Uptown, Downtown…

The debut may have been 15 years in the making, but the hit just goes to show how syntheses of proto-punk, garage rock and power-pop will always be timeless. The filthy-with-distortion guitars cross the borderlands from unholy into pornographic terrain while the percussive pulse of the track feeds frenetic (teenage) kicks into the stellar slice of songwriting which affirms New York City has a new hit-making powerhouse in its underbelly.

If it’s been a while since you got caught up in the raucous euphoria of a rock chorus; hit play and see how high you can get with Uptown, Downtown… The chameleonic vocals never allow you to feel comfortable in the release; between the unchained snarls and the Blue Oyster Cult-esque harmonies, you’ll be thrown all across the emotional spectrum.

Uptown, Downtown… was officially released as the title single from The Miki Doras’ debut EP on August 28th, and there’s plenty more brashy rock n roll glamour in store with the band’s debut LP, …On a New York Night, in the pipeline. Stream the debut single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergas

Zack Kirkorian Held No Prisoners in His Riff-in-Cheek Rhythmic Revolt Against Self-Obsessed Drama in ‘Tell Somebody’

Posted on 9 June 2024

One of the fieriest renegades in alt-rock, Zack Kirkorian, has ignited the airwaves once again with his latest single, Tell Somebody. The riff-in-cheek riptide of amplified contempt holds no prisoners as it launches a scathing attack on the kind of people who plague lives through their incessant self-obsession that is paraded as self-pity. We all know them, now we all have the perfect ammunition to launch at them or simply find catharsis in.

The exhilarant tour de force captures Zack Kirkorian at his most uninhibited as he rolls with the rhythmic punches in the same vein as the New York Dolls and proto-punk pioneers. You can’t help getting caught up in the frenetic fever of classic rock being filtered through a Zappa-esque lens.

There are few artists who can truly emulate the verve of the Sunset Strip. After blazing down it and touring in iconic bands, Zack Kirkorian is one of the rare rebels who can revive the golden era of rock with swathes of infectious authenticity. Notably, he was placed on the official ballot for the Grammy Awards for a reason.

Tell Somebody was officially released on May 28; stream the single on all major streaming platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

James Sebastian electrified rock n roll reverence in ‘Looking for a Sign’

Posted on 10 May 2024
James Sebastian

James Sebastian’s latest single, Looking for a Sign, erupts with the fervour of rock’s golden age, packing an electrifying punch that makes it clear he’s owning the proverbial stage. As a prodigal son of rock ‘n’ roll, Sebastian channels the spirit of iconic acts from The New York Dolls to The Strokes to The Beach Boys, yet his sound remains unapologetically rebellious and tantalisingly original.

Looking for a Sign insists you get swept up in its compelling hooks and Sebastian’s natural frontman charisma, reminiscent of a cult leader’s magnetism. This track roars through speakers with an energy so raw and a production so slick, that it’s akin to witnessing the exhilarating James Sebastian live experience.

Rather than attempting to reinvent the rock ‘n’ roll wheel, Sebastian tunes into a deep reverence for the genre, projecting it through a release that radiates defiance to its core. The track exemplifies liberation, embracing the craziest facets of one’s character and running wild with them. It’s a celebration of individuality, crafted with a keen awareness of rock’s historical context but driven by a modern, fierce pulse.

Looking for a Sign captures the essence of Sebastian’s growth as an artist—confident and poised to deliver high-energy performances that resonate across generations. His journey from vibrant live shows across the UK, including iconic venues like The Cavern and The Macbeth, to a burgeoning streaming presence, underscores a trajectory filled with promise and rock ‘n’ roll heart.

Looking for a Sign will be available to stream on all major platforms from May 10th via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

70s Punk was Hooked by Power Pop in Twilight Avenue’s Seminal Release, Road Rage

Posted on 15 March 2024

Twilight Avenue, a band that embodies the spirit of unity and the thrill of discovery, has unleashed a potent force in their eponymous debut EP. At its heart lies ‘Road Rage‘, a track that bridges the gaps between proto-punk and power-pop and serves as a timeless anthem for the disenchanted.

This Southport-based quartet, comprising Myles Thompson, Alex Ormand, Kyle Chadwick, and George Fitton, has crafted a riotous production that echoes the punk ethos, breathing life into the rolling rhythms that are as fierce as the title suggests. For those yearning for a new punk-rock earworm, ‘Road Rage’ is a revelation.

With an endlessly energetic edge, Twilight Avenue pays homage to the 70s punk scene while infusing it with fresh fervour. The hard riffs, groovy beats, and alternating vox create a dynamic that is as infectious as it is efficacious. Hit play and get your fill of exhilaration.

Stream the debut EP from Twilight Avenue in full via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Call To The Void rampaged the UK rock scene with their eclectically experimental debut single, Uncontrollable

Posted on 25 June 2023

For their scuzzy garage rock debut, Uncontrollable, the Southeast, UK-hailing prodigal sons, Call To The Void, pierced protestive proto-punk energy with a gothy 80s atmosphere that will beguile any fans of Bauhaus.

Doused in Nirvana’s Bleach with a touch of the New York Dolls’ rancorous attitude and fleeting Pantera-esque guttural vocals, the eclecticism of Uncontrollable is an achievement in itself. With each member bringing their own sonic penchants to the table to blend into the same soundscape, their heavy, raw, and haunting alchemy was always an inevitability.

After operating as a duo under the moniker, DENY ALL, the brother duo enlisted the boundless dynamic vocal prowess of the frontman, Jack Osborne. His ability to switch between post-punk crooning in the same vein as Echo and the Bunnymen, PIL-reminiscent snarls and Kurt Cobain on a vehement day is a gift that will undoubtedly see Call To The Void go far.

Uncontrollable is now available to stream on Spotify.

Follow Call to the Void on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The acrimony bells ring in Continental Lovers’ subversively sweet punk-rock ‘Wedding Song’

Posted on 23 February 2023

The UK’s trashiest punk-rock purveyors, Continental Lovers, dialled back on the scuzz in their latest subversively archetypal single, Wedding Song.

The change in direction has lost none of the impassioned volition that Continental Lovers have become renowned for since their relatively recent debut that has sent ricochets of raucous hype through the rock scene. Heartbreak never sounded so viscerally adoring. Nor has the recoil from love-hate whiplash resonated with such realism. Tom Petty would be proud.

The accordant ring of the guitars, contributed by Graham Jones (Haircut 100, Boys Wonder, Glen Matlock, is sweeter than any coil of silver or gold that can decorate your finger. Which is probably a good thing given the playfully machiavellian lyrical admission of theft of said symbolic token.

With producer Phil Booth (Sleaford Mods, Desperate Journalists, Hip Priests), elevating the single from the brashy punk-rock panache that Continental Lovers fans have been clamouring over since the fourpiece outfit started their ascent from the underground with euphonic organ tones, Wedding Song is the breakup song you never knew you needed.

Joe Maddox Said:

“Wedding Song is about quickly falling out of love with somebody and resenting their existence but still feeling that sense of loss and grief when a relationship ends. I guess we’ve all been there; it’s a cathartic process! I rarely write songs about real life, and this is no exception. I just wanted to write a bitter breakup song.”

Stream Wedding Song on Bandcamp & Spotify.

Follow Continental Lovers on Facebook & Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Proto-punk bites back in Underdog’s seminal punch-drunk alt-rock track, Over and Over

Posted on 10 January 2022

Over and Over (Northern Lights) is the seminal proto-punk track from Boston’s most boisterous alt-rock powerhouse, Underdog. It may be harder for new artists to register as obsession-worthy from the first hit, but the college radio rock vibes mixed with the lo-fi scuzz and energy that stems from the frustration that resounds around monotony makes a riotously magnetic track out of Over and Over.

Thankfully, the band that has been charting as the top alternative band in Boston since establishing in 2013 didn’t allow their creativity to buckle during the quarantine. Their album, Trans Global Amnesia, is due for release in the Spring of 2022. Any fans of the New York Dolls, The Heartbreakers and the Ramones will want Underdog on their radars – it is only a matter of time before their moniker becomes unfitting.

Over and Over is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast