Browsing Tag

pop punk

Cxldface – Better Off Alone: The infectiously anthemic pop punk soundtrack to your solidarity

Posted on 18 February 2021

‘Better Off Alone’ is the latest feat of pop punk from Las Vegas artist, Cxldface, which will throw you right back to the 00s era of alt-rock while implanting a viscerally modernistic perennial earworm which ensures that there’s little chance of forgetting the infectiously hyped melodies.

Considering we’re all spending a little more time alone than usual, it’s easy to see how Better Off Alone could be a sanity-saving playlist staple for many. With reminders that there’s plenty of worse things than solidarity, euphorically sonic synth lines and the punchy hook-laden guitars, Better Off Alone practically spoon feeds serotonin.

At just 18 years old, Cxldface, is able to boast a maturity to his sound and a potent enough amount of distinction through his tendency to meld elements of electronica, hip hop and indie into his empoweringly scathing anthems. Get him on your radar.

Better Off Alone is now available to stream via Spotify

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Antalai has dropped their riotously dynamic Alt-Rock debut ‘Spilling My Guts’

Posted on 30 January 2021

If alt-rock fans take a chance on any debut single in 2021, they should make it Antalai’s euphorically-charged unapologetically feisty track ‘Spilling My Guts’.

There is a real sense that there was no pretence for Antalai to hide behind in her debut. Her authentic voice resounds as her visceral poetic rage rips through high-octane hit which will leave you rhythmically arrested by the end of the first verse.

Through the addition of the punchy pop-rock chorus which puts a modernist twist on 00s Pop Punk, Spilling My Guts became a riotously anthemic hit which you would be lucky to hear if you wandered to the front of a crowd at a festival.

You can check out Antalai’s single for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Unleash the misery with Five Hundred Bucks’ frenetic feat of Punk Rock ‘Spinal’

Posted on 27 January 2021
This Welcome Mat is a Landmine EP by Five Hundred Bucks

Any fans of Social Distortion will want to turn their attention to the frenetic feat of Punk Rock ‘Spinal’ from Five Hundred Bucks’ aptly explosively titled latest release ‘This Welcome Mat is a Landmine EP’.

The turbulently high-octane hit delivers a relatable sense of indignation both lyrically and vocally, affirming with the listener that yes, it is okay for the fuzzy feels to be flowing when the massive chorus hits; it is possible to feel some semblance of euphoria while the world falls apart around us.

Philadelphia’s tenacious sons and their realism-soaked punky pop rock earworms are exactly what the airwaves in 2021. As they have plenty in the pipeline, you’ll want them on your radar, sooner rather than later.

You can check out Spinal for yourselves by heading over to Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Alt 90s Meets 00s Pop Punk in Stopnowstartagain’s fuzzed up single ‘Liplock’

Posted on 19 January 2021
stopnowstartagain

Blending 90’s/00’s alt-pop/punk with some tidy guitar work and pushing, urgent drums comes ‘Liplock’, the debut single from Stopnowstartagain; swamped in overdriven, distorted guitar, the track takes its cues from the guitar-led indie of Dinosaur Jr., Husker Du, and Bob Mould’s follow-up project Sugar, all vocal harmonies and catchy pop sensibilities over Superfuzz pedals and Tube Screamers delivered into the front end of cooking amps.

It works, too – catchy pop-rock vocals, chiming picked single-note guitar lines, and those layered swathes of distortion; it’s one of those sounds you didn’t realise how much you missed until you heard it all over again; I’m gonna go and dig out ‘Bug’, ‘Green Mind’, ‘Copper Blue’, or ‘Beaster’ now, too. Cracking stuff.

Check out Stopnowstartagain on Facebook and Instagram now.

Review by Alex Holmes

 

Ristlynn takes us with him in his funk pop hit ‘I’m Going Down’.

Posted on 9 January 2021

Anchorage, Alaska-hailing artist, Ristlynn, dropped their debut single, ‘I’m Going Down’, on November 20th. The party pop-rock anthem has already received an exponential amount of attention; it is almost like we are all simultaneously experiencing the most confusing period of our lifetimes and need an aural pick-me-up.

Timeliness aside, I’m Going Down is a riotously enamouring single, while the instrumentals adrenalize, the lyrics raise an eyebrow and ask “really?” at self-destructive behaviour patterns which have previously been mindlessly glamorised by alt-rock artists. The single was penned during a transitional phase where the artist was starting to acknowledge the pitfalls of hedonism-aided avoidance, I’m Going Down is a subversively-titled reflection of that turning point which led to the commitment of making positive change.

Through pulsating bass, funk-riddled riffs, snappy rhythmic temper and Ristlynn’s sardonically charismatic vocals, you will be pulled into the infectious piece of hyperpop rock from a plethora of angles. Ristlynn’s talent is exhibited throughout the release, but it is in the chorus where he proves that he deserves a spot on your radar with their soul-filling sound. Especially, as there will be plenty more to come in 2021 and beyond.

Any fans of Panic! at the Disco, Prince, Maroon 5, Fallout Boy and Maroon 5 will undoubtedly find the same appeal in the artist’s funk-pop earworms.

You can check out the official video to Ristlynn’s single, I’m Going Down, via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

From college mates to making music during lockdown: Gardner Leonard drop new single that speaks out about sexual assault on ‘Mine’

Posted on 8 January 2021
https://youtu.be/q-GD0DQ3Dms

West Midlands based alt-rock duo Gardner Leonard tell it how it is on the emo rock ripper ‘Mine‘.

Daryl Gardner & Rhiannon Leonard combine to form a team that makes incredible music and has been inspired due to this horrible pandemic. After knowing each other from college days, Daryl approached Rhiannon and from there, the chemistry fused to a level that Walter White would be proud of. Taken off the upcoming ‘Milquetoast‘ album that is out on the 15th January, this is an emo roller coaster ride that shakes your skin off your bones.

They synergy is electric here like a Duracell battery as the power starts up and clicks your brain into action. The disappointment is so clear on the ears as she was once with him but it ended and he wanted her one more time even though she said no. This must of been a shocking feeling and is completely wrong and not what anyone in the world deserves. The feeling of being used like a piece of trash must be hard to bear and this is a guy who will have karma strike him down hard, the sooner the better.

Her voice is so honest and brave as the story unfolds and you feel her pain. The edgy guitar energy streams in as your heart drops a lot, wishing that no one ever has to deal with this ever again.

‘Mine‘ from West Midlands band Gardner Leonard is a true story that is brilliantly described and performed from a duo that mesh so perfectly together, their friendship and respect for each other is clear to see. Speaking up about about wrong things that shouldn’t ever happen might make you unpopular with some, but as long as you keep it real in life, real friends will always have your back.

Stream this hot new track right now on youtube and see more on FB and IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

All Who Wander – Daylight: A Rip-Roaring Fest of Alt Rock Culture

Posted on 30 December 2020

Indie, Post Hardcore, Synth Rock, Pop Punk and Classic Anthemic Rock all resound in the debut EP ‘Daylight’ from New Hampshire, US-based freshly formed powerhouse All Who Wander. As you can imagine, the EP is a rip-roaring fest of Alternative culture.

Not many bands can establish themselves as the perfect festival band with their debut, but All Who Wander discernibly succeeded with their infectious choruses, vocals which viscerally fight against pessimism, inventive breakdowns and absorbingly virtuosic guitar riffs.

If you could imagine what it would sound like if Enter Shikari, the 1975, Slash and At the Drive In collaborated, you’ll get an idea of what is waiting for you when you hit play.

You can check out All Who Wander’s EP for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Church on Sunday – Destiny: Boisterously Eclectic Contemporary Punk

Posted on 29 December 2020
https://churchonsunday.bandcamp.com/track/destiny-2

With an opening riff reminiscent to ACDC’s ‘Thunderstruck’, Church on Sunday’s feisty new single ‘Destiny’ kicks off before evolving into a high-octane feat of boisterously eclectic contemporary punk rock.

The Toronto-based artist found the perfect balance between connectable angsty energy and raucously playful charisma with Destiny. With a massive chorus, a plethora of rhythmically-binding hooks and the sheer relentless talent exhibited, it isn’t hard to see why Church on Sunday have shared stages with the likes of Cancer Bats.

With elements of hard rock, pop punk and skate punk all influencing the insurgent matured track, it’s distinctive enough to grip you by its authenticity alone. The volatile euphoria and optimism which Destiny instils is the cherry on the cake. You can assume the cake has been left in the gutter in this instance.

You can check out Destiny on all major streaming platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

‘Just Dance’ with Action Doll Joe

Posted on 20 December 2020

Hailing from ‘the dusty deserts of California’, Action Doll Joe – AKA Elijah Barrera – has just dropped his debut EP, ‘Hello!’, from which ‘Just Dance’ is taken. It’s a bouncy, frivolous, affair, all good fun and light-hearted, story-telling lyrics, with heavily fuzzed-up guitars and keyboards and punky, cracking drums. It’s a great playful-sounding record, and ‘Just Dance’ is a perfect leader from it, a great introduction to the four songs on offer – a storytelling piece, led by whispered and charmingly spoken vocals, a sing-along chorus, and a bass-line that simply won’t go away once the track’s ended.

It’s quirky, it’s silly, it’s reminiscent of early Green Day or Blink 182, and it’s simply jolly good fun.

Check out ‘Just Dance’ on Spotify. Follow Action Doll Joe on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Asking for forgiveness: ‘Rose Colored Home’ by Nashville’s Streetlight Curfew is the story of redemption

Posted on 23 November 2020

Taken off their brand new full release called ‘Better Luck Next Year‘, this is a band that starts us off by teasing their electric guitar style that simmers like a hot cuppa coffee, and percolates so nicely into your ears. You get the feeling that this is going to be a top track, and this intuition is justified rather quickly. The passionate vocals are soon lifted high in the sky and we sit back, and enjoy the 5 Piece Nashville Punk-Rockers honesty as Streetlight Curfew swarm the airwaves, like hungry bees on ‘Rose Colored Home‘.

His vocals lift the mood and we are soon introduced to the second singer, they add a vibrant energy and you can’t help but like this Punk sound that reminds you of bands back in the 2000’s. They mesh together like a bunch of friends who love being together, they make music for the love, not the glamour and fame.

The sad regret is there in the song and the feeling of letting down someone close is firmly entrenched into the lyrics laid out before us. The band are humble, they show self-awareness and add a gritty edge to the track and you sway your body back and forth, remembering when you bought your first Blink 182 CD.

The Tennessee Punk Rockers Streetlight Curfew are in inspired form on ‘Rose Colored Home‘, this is their biggest track yet as fans are hungry for a return to more music like this, tired of the watered down Rap and cheesy Pop that dominates so many minds and ears.

The band are likable and they have shared a song about letting someone close to them down when they needed you most. After all, showing humility and asking for a second chance, is the step in the right direction to gain forgiveness.

See the band play this new track live via YouTube and see their journey here on Facebook.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen