Browsing Tag

pop punk

Fall Town has released their punchy alt-punk-rock anthem, Freedom without End.

Posted on 17 May 2021

The evolution of punk gained a brand-new trajectory with Fall Town’s latest single, ‘Freedom without End’. The Scottish powerhouse put accordant tones up against caustic walls of noise that power-pop, pop-punk, and alt-rock fans alike will want to hear.

Freedom without End is from Fall Town’s forthcoming debut album; the endlessly pioneering track that seamlessly switches up instrumental style is transfixing from the first unpredictable progression to the last. It’s so much more than a random smorgasbord of assimilative increments; Fall Town made every texture their own.

The screeching guitars get forcibly shunted into overdrive after melodic reverb-soaked winding chords, while the vocals prove to be just as versatile as the instrumentals. Discernibly, Fall Town have perfected the art of punchy power-pop choruses; it’s the kind of track you hear for the first time and know you have to see it live. We can’t wait to hear what the rest of the album holds.

You can check out the official music video for Freedom with End via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ethan Yates will be here for the ‘Rest Of Our Lives’

Posted on 7 May 2021

Ethan Yates is a Christian singer/songwriter from East Texas, USA; don’t let that tempt you into making assumptions about his music, though – this is no confessional, congregational piece, rather a beautiful, gentle acoustic-focussed track with a definite Americana-meets-indie, college-radio vibe.

There’s a real Paul Westerberg/Replacements feel to Yates’ vocal, some delicate slide guitar, and an almost Kings Of Leon feel to the rockier parts. Little bits of alt-rock like Paramore and mellower Bring Me The Horizon, Taking Back Sunday, or Dashboard Confessional meld with choice Americana like Counting Crows and the Jayhawks, with some beautiful harmonies and a perfect understanding of melody and composition, ‘Rest Of Our Lives’ really is as good as it comes.

You can check out ‘Rest Of Our Lives’ on Spotify; Follow Ethan Yates on Instagram and Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

 

Young Fatigue attack aesthetic obsession with their single Am I Pretty Now?

Posted on 6 May 2021

After forming in 2019, London-based three-piece powerhouse Young Fatigue is gaining all the right attention and are on track to take the Alt-Rock scene by storm in 2021, especially with the release of their latest single, Am I Pretty Now?

With crystal clear nods to Daniel Kessler’s lead work in the intro giving way to the grungey carnage in the first verse combined with throbbingly ominous post-punk basslines, Am I Pretty Now? hooks you in, right from the start. As the single continues to evolve, pop-punk biting energy transgresses into post-hardcore-style-furore, delivering an angsty scuzz that you are unlikely to forget.

Tune into the lyrics, and you will find that Young Fatigue attack aesthetic obsession with the same poignancy as Richey Edwards. If Richey was around to witness the Instagram generation, I do not doubt that his lyrics would be reminiscent of Young Fatigue’s.

You can hear Young Fatigue via their Website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Lost Dolls revives the radio star with their 70s punk track, ‘RadioGirl’.

Posted on 1 May 2021

Video may have killed the radio star, but she’s been revived in feminine form in the latest single, ‘RadioGirl’, from the Denver, Colorado-based alt-rock artist, The Lost Dolls. The smitten feat of sugar-coated sleaze is made infinitely sweeter with the virtuosic guitars that will win over even the most hard-to-please fans of ‘70s punk rock.

The modernity in the track comes via the nuanced 90s grunge infusion and the pop-punk edge that brings RadioGirl right into the 21st-century while evoking a fair amount of nostalgia with vintage melodies that are just as infectiously catchy as Video Called the Radio Star.

It comes as no surprise that the Lost Dolls are racking up the streams and taking America by storm with their affectionately raunchy sound since making their debut in 2020. They’re definitely ones to watch.

You can check out RadioGirl for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Last Second Save takes us back to the golden era of pop-punk with ‘I Remember’.

Posted on 17 April 2021

‘I Remember’ is the latest single to be released by The Last Second Save; an alt-pop artist that wears his pop-punk influences on his sleeve while marrying elements of hip hop and alt-rock.

After I Remember hit the airwaves, staying in the 21st-century became optional. Hit play, and you’ll be thrown back to the golden era of pop-punk; when Blink-182 were king and life seemed infinitely simpler.

The track may join a host of other urban singles which paint with the darker and colder end of the tonal spectrum; but with I Remember, the Maryland-based solo artist allowed his multifaceted personality to shine through, making it practically impossible not to become enamoured by his optimism – in spite of existentialism.

I Remember is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Robot’s Guide to Living – Prizefighter: pop-punk that lives and breathes radical energy

Posted on 6 April 2021
Mayday by The Robot's Guide to Living

Last year, Utah’s most lyrically poignant pop-punk outfit, The Robot’s Guide to Living, hit the airwaves with their life-affirming single, ‘Prizefighter’, which opened up with the line; “What’s the point in being scared? My bloodline contains more than disappointment.” If that doesn’t seismically shift your perspective on everything we have endured over the last 12 months, I’m not sure anything will.

With “You’ll find me asleep, in better company” as one of the choral hook lines, you’ll be adrenalized by the relatability in the lyricism as much as the furore that emits from their nuanced take on old school pop-punk.

Prizefighter comes free from snotty self-apathy; it’s a record that lives and breathes radical energy, like many of The Robot’s Guide to Living’s fans, we’re here for it. Existentialism is easy; overcoming adversity and doing it with finesse isn’t – and that’s exactly what you’ll get to experience here.

Prizefighter is now available to stream and download via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bag Ratty Bro share their automated aspirations with their pop-punk single, ‘ROBOT HOOVER’

Posted on 1 April 2021
Bag Ratty Bro

While I never thought I would hear a punk track with lyrics that aspire towards acquiring a Roomba, I’m ridiculously glad that I did. Bang Ratty Bro’s debut single ‘ROBOT HOOVER’  may not be the 70s anti-capitalist punk we came to love and build our morality around, but it’s a punk playlist staple all the same. This mostly comes as a courtesy of the guitarist exhibiting some serious prowess outside of the usual ‘you know 3 chords you can start a band’ punk form.

Bag Ratty Bro’s ROBOT HOOVER is easily up there with Candyskins’ release Mrs Hoover as an anthemically-charged hoover-inspired feat of dopamine-boosting indie punk.

You can hear Bag Ratty Bro via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Wine & Warpaint have released their exhuming alt-rock hit ‘Half to Life’

Posted on 27 March 2021
Wine & Warpaint

Richmond-based Alt-Rock artist Wine & Warpaint have teased what is to come on their next EP with the release of the title single, ‘Half to Life’. The evocatively raw radio-ready single pulls together elements of post-hardcore and 2000s pop-rock as the lyrics work with the all too relatable sentiment of feeling like you’ve died and only returned half alive.

Through soaring hooks, soul-exposing lyricism and vocals that would be animalistic if they weren’t so perfectly pitched, Half to Life is persuasive enough to permeate the deepest ennui bubbles.

At the start of the pandemic, I wondered how the collectively suffered devastation and chaos would impact our cultural landscape. Wine & Warpaint gave me the answer I was hoping for. After personally experiencing loss, Wine & Warpaint returned to the airwaves with a renewed visceral intensity. I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to hear this amount of sincerity and commitment to conveying connectable emotion.

Half to Life released on March 19th, 2021. You can hear it for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Special summer days: Ohio brothers Midge Robie light up those unforgettable memories on ‘Your Friend’s Tattoo’

Posted on 21 March 2021

Alluringly flicking their hair around whilst remembering those sweet summer moments, Midge Robie impress highly with their brand new ink-filled single called ‘Your Friend’s Tattoo‘.

Midge Robie are a film noir-lovin’ pop-rap and pop-punk brother duo from Ohio in the USA. They formulate that true-life story music about love, life and working out what they want to really be in this wild wild west kinda world.

Their voices strikingly illuminate off the dusty ground, as they subtly open the creaking door to what those exciting holidays are supposed to be about. They confidently throw in some real facts about having a joyful blaze-filled time, while never forgetting about that fascinating tattoo too, as they miss that soul who made them feel alive inside.

They posses that rare ability to capture your attention quickly through their raw style, the pop/rap/punk fusion is a tremendous listen and you gaze lustfully outside, waiting impatiently for those boiling hot days again so you can go and meet your future lover somewhere outside, away from the dull lockdown life that we are all-too familiar with.

‘Your Friend’s Tattoo‘ from the likable Ohio brothers Midge Robie, is a fun ride in the backseat of the car while summer vacation is on, hot-boxin’ with your crush, whilst thinking memorably about those fun times that you wished would never end.

See their gripping music video on YouTube and find out more about their rise up on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

JJ Enigma brought in a new era of pop punk with latest single ‘Happy Never After’

Posted on 1 March 2021

JJ Enigma may have only made their debut in 2020, but they’re already bringing in the new era of pop punk. Their latest release, Happy Never After is a euphorically bitey earworm, if any new track is strong enough to pull you from your lockdown apathy, it’s Happy Never After.

The optimistic-in-spite-of-nihilism track kicks off with crunchy riffs before the guitars adopt sonic soaring textures and bring you into the adrenalizing bridge which teases the anthemic power of the chorus.

With the same hooky infectious appeal as the chorus in Taylor Swift’s ‘Love Story’ along with the raucous punch of contemporary pop punk, it’s only a matter of time before JJ Enigma rises up from the underground.

Happy Never After is available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast