Browsing Tag

pop punk

At Face Value – Lotr: Scathingly Sticky-Sweet Alt Pop Punk

Posted on 25 October 2020

If At Face Value has evaded your radar so far, it’s our pleasure to introduce you to the US artist’s rapturously colossal sound. The perfect introduction to their distinctive brand of Alt-Rock is their standout track ‘Lotr’.

Whatever else is going on in your life, hit play and your consciousness will be consumed by the gorgeously evocative pull of the soundscape which pays ode to the 00s Pop Punk sound while drawing on their own signature sonic flair. Stylistically, Lotr is familiar while the sincerity and potency of the emotion are on another level.

More than anything, what I admire is At Face Value’s admission that their songs deal with common trials and tribulations. They don’t make their suffering the essence of their tracks. Instead, they use the recognition that listeners will find resonance in the tracks which are laced with punchy catchy melodies which are orchestrated to instil optimism.

It is bands like At Face Value which remind me how important music actually is. Not just as a part of our culture or personality or as a way to entertain ourselves. But for the beautiful fact that some artists are trying to make our lives which are often full of chaos and heartbreak a little easier.

You can check out Lotr along with the rest of At Face Value’s tracks by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

New England band Another One Down! rock our socks off with ‘Stuck In The Wake’ (Official Lyric Video)

Posted on 11 September 2020

Another One Down! rock in with the fantastic ‘Stuck In The Wake‘ (Official Lyric Video) and this is an impressive song and the video is playfully made with style.

Since their inception in 2014, Rhode Island based pop-punk band Another One Down! has continually proven themselves to be a driving force within the New England scene. Having two EPs under their belt, the band has played alongside notable acts such as Four Year Strong, Metro Station, Belmont, and opened the final Vans Warped Tour. With their debut full length set to be released later this year, AOD! plans to expand their pop-punk roots by leaning more into their alternative and emo influences.

This is a powerfully sung punk rock track that is perfect for those weekend days with friends. It fires you up and I love how in mesh the band are. This puts me in a good but reflective and mood and the whole band sync perfectly. New England band Another One Down! fly in on ‘Stuck In The Wake‘ and this is all about being stuck and looking out for others that are too. This is a rad song that shows how epic this band is.

Click here for the YouTube lyric video.

Head through to the Facebook page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Dom Shaq – All I Am: Defiantly Visceral Alt Rock

Posted on 30 August 2020

Alt-Rock solo artist Dom Shaq is set to release their bruisingly evocative single All I Am, the intimate yet intense passion projected into the soundscape definitely didn’t fail to resonate. The sheer determination, resilience and unapologetic candidness of All I Am make the vocals as colossal as the sonically tight instrumentals grinding their way through the distortion in the sweet mix of cold gritty Rock & Pop Punk.

For me, like many others, the mark of an unforgettable track is one which allows your breath to quicken in synergy with the progressions and leaves you with visceral emotion swelling beneath your rib cage. All I Am does all of that and more. I’m not crying, you are.

You can check out Dom Shaq’s single All I Am for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud from the date of release on September 4th. In the meantime, you can check out their equally as enrapturing singles.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ruby Drive put a Horror Punk Twist on Pop Punk with “Fruit Punch and Arsenic”

Posted on 24 August 2020
https://rubydrive.bandcamp.com/track/fruit-punch-and-arsenic

US Alt Pop-Punk trailblazers Ruby Drive dropped their latest scathingly rhythmic single “Fruit Punch and Arsenic” on May 6th. If you missed it, you missed out on a timely record which offers scuzz, angst and importantly an outlet for the anger we’ve been feeling throughout 2020.

Any fans of the Misfits are definitely going to want to hear their Horror Punk twist on Pop-Punk which can be found in the discordantly ominous instrumental tone and lyrics.

Lyrically, Fruit Punch and Arsenic is somewhere in between the tale of Sid and Nancy and the far more romantic saga between Romeo and Juliette. A striking narrative of two lost souls attempting to shield each other from inescapable misery, ending with an arsenic cocktail. Who said romance was dead?

You can listen to Fruit Punch and Arsenic for yourselves by heading over to Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Texan Alt Rock newcomers Tough on Fridays tease the release of their sophomore album “Ways to Kill Time”

Posted on 21 August 2020

Tough on Fridays are set to release their sophomore album on September 4th. Ahead of the highly-anticipated release, we’ve been given a sneak peek of the infectiously catchy single “Pleased to Meet You”.

The Georgetown, TX artist’s Grungy Pop Punk sound may just restore any faith which you’ve lost in this generation’s up and coming artists. With the sharp melodic hooks, euphoric choruses and scathingly visceral vocals it’s safe to say that Pleased to Meet You comes with a fairly vicious Pop Punk bite. No review of Pleased to Meet You would be complete mentioning the captivating nuances of Post Punk which helps draw the dynamic track to a close. The cutting angular solo work even gives Daniel Kessler (Interpol) a run for his money.

Any fans of Dream Wife, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the Airborne Toxic Event and The Regrettes won’t want to miss out on the release of what promises to be one of the hottest album drops of 2020.

A Fantastic Way to Kill Time will be available via all major streaming platforms from September 4th. In the meantime, you can check out their earlier releases via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

UK Indie Rock artist Jamie Blackburn has dropped their anthemically-charged hit “Just Like Lennon Said”

Posted on 22 July 2020

Up and coming Indie Rock virtuoso Jamie Blackburn has recently dropped their anthemically-charged hit Just Like Lennon Said.

As soon as the massive chorus took hold, I was flooded with the nostalgia of being a teenager and discovering Sum41, the Offspring, Green Day for the first time.

Just Like Lennon Said carries the same energy of Iconic Pop Punk artists while offering plenty of the Isle of Man-based artist’s own ingenuity which comes from mixing elements of Blues, Rock, and British Old School Punk.

Behind the sonic aural euphoria, you’ll find the intricately absorbing guitar lead work which earned Jamie Blackburn his virtuoso stripes. You didn’t think it was just hyperbole, did you?

You can check out Jamie Blackburn’s single Just Like Lennon Said for yourselves by heading over to Spotify where you’ll also catch their earlier releases.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tough on Fridays have returned with their resonantly visceral modernistic take on Alt 90s with the release of “Simplicity III”

Posted on 14 July 2020

Georgetown, TX Alt-Rock powerhouse Tough on Fridays blew us away when they appeared on our radar with their 2-track release “Simplicity II”.

On July 3rd they dropped “Simplicity III” in the style of 7” release with A side and B side singles. Yet, you’ll find that both tracks are equally as evocative and artfully intense. Tough on Fridays brought Alt 90s nuances right into the 21st century with their melodically resolving, lyrically lacerating style.

Track 1, “Lonely Eyes/Pines” may be a piercingly emotional aural experience, but you can’t hold it against Tough on Fridays for hitting you with undiluted apathetic resonance. Seeing as the whole globe has gone through extensive isolation prior to the release, I can only imagine how many people will find themselves in the candidly connectable track.

Track 2, “Out of the Blue (The Deep End)” perfectly follows on from Lonely/Eyes with a slightly amplified sound and an even more visceral angsty bite. There aren’t many tracks which could simultaneously appease fans of L7 and contemporary ennui-laden Pop Punk, but Tough on Fridays discernably succeeded.

You can check out Simplicity III for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Keep up to date with Tough on Fridays’ latest releases via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Danger of Drowning – Heart to Break: An Infectiously Amorous Convergence of Indie Pop Rock and RnB

Posted on 14 July 2020

Indie Pop Rock and smooth RnB infectiously converge in Danger of Drowning’s latest single Heart to Break which dropped on April 30th.

As soon as you hit play, it hits you that Danger of Drowning has reached a new frontier with their intriguingly distinctive yet immediately resolving sound. Whichever music genre you usually find yourself delving into to enjoy sticky sweet sentimental love songs, Heart to Break is sure to hit the amorous aural spot.

By fusing the piercing emotion of Pop Punk combined with the arrestive melodic hooks and grooves of contemporary RnB, Danger of Drowning ensured that Heart to Break will stick to your synapses like superglue. Especially if you spent a fair amount of your youth listening to Panic! at the Disco.

You can check out Danger of Drowning’s Indie earworm for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Petty Cassettes have cooked up a potent hit of angsty aural catharsis with their Indie Punk single “Lately”.

Posted on 4 July 2020

If it’s been a while since you found an Alt-Indie artist worth getting excited about, prepare to be elevated by Petty Cassettes’ feverishly exuberant fourth single “Lately”.

Lately kicks off with a humble Indie prelude before the soundscape takes a tremulous turn and evolves into a raucous feat of Punk. Admittedly, you won’t hear many other Punk tracks with solos as sweet as the ones you’ll find in this consistently exhilarating hit. That’s where the nuanced infusion of Rock worms its way into the anthemically-charged track and starts to dominate the soundscape.

What more could you possibly ask for from an Indie hit? As far as we’re considered, Petty Cassettes have offered it all with Lately. It’s the kind of track you hear once and make it a firm fixture on your playlists so you can get a repeat hit of the volatile aural catharsis and the captivating instrumental talent. I’m pretty sure I’ll never forget those Slash-style solos or the easily connectable jaded lyricism.

You can check out Petty Cassettes’ single Lately for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Pop Punk and Post Punk Converge in Jack Kendrick’s Latest Single “This Is A Call”

Posted on 26 June 2020

As soon as the vocals in Jack Kendrick’s Indie Alt Rock single “This Is A Call” kicked in, my soul immediately knew about it. This Is A Call may be the only track on the airwaves with the ability to simultaneously appease Post Punk aficionados and Pop Punk kids alike.

If Papa Roach and Interpol collaborated, I can imagine it would sound a lot like This Is A Call.

The evocative vocal approach along with the intensely stylistic instrumentals prove to be an incredibly alchemic pairing. As the track progresses, your mind becomes caught between the intricate nuances in the soundscape and the sheer amount of soul, passion and pain which was projected into the awakening single.

You can check out Jack Kendrick’s single This Is A Call along with their earlier releases for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Keep up to date with new releases via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast