Browsing Tag

progressive rock

Robbie Vonn urges those to forgive who can on ‘La La Life’

Posted on 11 April 2022

Reminding us that love and understanding are actually the way forward to healing from anything which is breaking down your soul, Robbie Vonn shows us where we should be headed on the new single, ‘La La Life‘.

Robbie Vonn is a USA-based progressive rock/electro-pop/bossa nova indie music project that has loveable energy that shall set you free from any previous worries.

”Merging the purity of analog instruments with a variety of electronic sounds, Robbie Vonn’s music is an exploration of art, sound, and evocative lyricism.” ~ Robbie Vonn

Gliding fantastically with a beautiful single that shall have you sensing that life can indeed be better, Robbie Vonn brings the world a truly lovely single that is calming and natural that will bring you some much-needed comfort.

”Robbie released his well-received debut EP Hopeless Memories in October 2021, a collaborative project that brought together artists from eight countries to create an evocative and cinematic production.” ~ Robbie Vonn

‘La La Life‘ from the USA-based progressive rock/electro-pop/bossa nova music project Robbie Vonn, is a stunning song that guides us all through anything that is holding us back in our lives. Forgiveness is key to everything really, as it leads us into a happier place that isn’t loaded with bad energies that can suffocate all your good vibes that needs to be free. Soaring like a bird looking for a comfortable resting place is the key to everything that helps us be content in our souls.

Hear this new single on Spotify and see more news on the IG page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Sandro Cuzzetto – Sign of the Times: Inimitably eccentric progressive psych-rock

Posted on 11 December 2021
Sandro Cuzzetto

Ahead of the release of his 2022 EP, Canadian songwriter and experimentalist, Sandro Cuzzetto, released the boundary-breaking title single, Sign of the Times. I’m rarely left stuck for words, but this consistently evolving melting pot of contrasting texture and tone that lets traditional time signatures fall by the wayside left me speechless.

With the dirty disco grooves, polyphonic scores, indie psych melodies, uplifting Enya vibes, effect-laden vocals and general obscurity, Sign of the Times walks a thin line between insanity and ingenuity but we’re here for it. This bop-worthy track succeeds where so many fail when it comes to offering inimitably vibrant soul.

Check out Sandro Cuzzetto for yourselves via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Abandon the Fall – Exhale: A Phenomenal Resurgence of Alt Rock

Posted on 29 November 2021

With all the atmosphere of Porcupine Tree’s Fear of a Blank Planet album and the glitchy post-rock progressions, Abandon the Fall’s stormer of a single, Exhale, featuring Dayshell, is a phenomenal resurgence of the alt-rock ingenuity that faded away after the turn of the century.

The white-hot wailing guitars, emotionally-charged vocals and stormy transitions right the way through the tumultuous emo-tinged track all pull together to create a soundscape that leaves you more adrenalized with each deftly contorted evolution of sonic finesse. Exhale has become Abandon the Fall’s most popular track to date shortly after the release; the power trio will be unstoppable from here on out.

Exhale is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Vulpine break new ground with their experimental post-rock EP, Ventures.

Posted on 19 October 2021

Scotland’s most melodic alt-rock outfit, Vulpine, has released their genre-spanning debut EP, Ventures, which brings a rare sense of accessibility to math rock and plenty of solemnity and poise to emo pop-rock.

The best introduction to their atmospheric, progressively gripping songwriting style is the title track, which carries the evocative weight of Frightened Rabbit combined with the instrumental furore of Mogwai.

From an ambient prelude, an intricately immense storm kicks up in the instrumentals, taking you through gripping breakdowns and even sweeter crescendos that hit the climactic spot every time. As the consistently in-flux sonic palette switches up through the progressions, vocalist, Pete Fox, demonstrates the provoking range of his vocal power.

The Ventures EP released on October 1st. It is now available to stream and purchase on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Progressive pioneer, Junkhouse Bones, has released his latest single, Only a Name.

Posted on 17 September 2021
Junkhouse Bones

Elements of prog rock, Midwest emo, indie, garage rock, and pop all feed into the latest single from the genre-melding self-taught solo artist Junkhouse Bones (Dominic Orteza). After starting with a trashy garage rock prelude, Only a Name loses its discordant textures as the melodies get sweeter and the vocals provide even more nectar to make sure that the earworm sticks to your synapses like superglue.

With riffs that allow Orteza to show his rock and roll stripes and the cleverly formulated instrumental breakdowns, it’s impossible not to be hooked by the release that consistently piques your interest with clever motifs and aural curveballs.

Only a Name will be released on September 17th; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mar Palafox lead the vanguard in his latest spacey hard rock single, Battle.

Posted on 14 July 2021

After a string of successful singles, the alt-rock solo artist Mar Palafox has released his debut self-titled album; expect an adrenalizing ensemble of power metal, prog rock and spacey hard rock.

Any fans of Dir En Grey, InMe and Porcupine Tree will be easily absorbed by the atmospheric textures in the soundscapes that coincide with frenetic solos as they blaze through the complex time signatures. Each single on the album is a feat of ingenuity, but none more so than the standout single, Battle. The slightly lo-fi feel to the single gives Battle a punky garage rock edge that is cutting, to say the least.

You can check out Mar’s debut album for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Darling Overdrive sprinkle some magical songwriting ‘Stardust’ with new EP ‘Cosmic Autumn’

Posted on 23 March 2021

Denver’s Darling Overdrive describe themselves as ‘rekindling the fire of late 20th Century Rock & Roll’. ‘Stardust’ initially has a little bit of a Goo Goo Dolls feel to it, opening up with some gently picked clean guitar over closed hi-hat sixteenths, before building, holding a little suspense before rocking out on the chorus with some nice staccato guitar chords and drum fills.

It’s reminiscent of The Calling, Hoobastank, or Lifehouse, that subtle blend of rock that’s an absolute shoo-in for acres of epic radio play right through the summer. That’s no criticism, either – it takes a very special kind of songwriting skill to maintain rock & roll credibility whilst generating mass-appeal, and to hit that perfect niche without falling into overblown Guns n’ Roses balladeering pomposity or Nickleback cheese takes some doing. Darling Overdrive seem to have done that effortlessly with ‘Stardust’, and the second track on the ‘Cosmic Autumn’ single ‘Surf’; top notch stuff.

Hear ‘Cosmic Autumn’ on Spotify; check out Darling Overdrive on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

JKR – Disaster: A Relentlessly Progressive Feat of Alt Rock Aural Dynamism

Posted on 22 December 2020

Anthemic American Rock, Darkwave Electronica, Indie and Rap all collide in JKR’s phenomenal single ‘Disaster’. If it has been a while since you’ve felt any discernible emotion, hit play and feel the evocative weight of this relentlessly progressive feat of aural dynamism.

Disaster is just one of the singles to feature on the Seattle-born, China-residing artist’s 2020 genre-obliterating album ‘Star Crossed’. The soaring vocal hooks combined with the sonically cutting reverb-laden guitars ensure that listening to this track half-heartedly isn’t an option.

JKR’s ability to orchestrate tracks which carry as much appeal to fans Soul Asylum to fans of Linkin Park will undoubtedly stand him in good stead. He’s undoubtedly one to watch.

You can check out Disaster for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Dimitri Toonen – Not Home Today: Cinematically Haunting Prog Rock

Posted on 14 December 2020

Lifelong musician, Dimitri Toonen released their debut Alt Rock album ‘Leave My Mind Sometimes’ on November 20th, discernibly, sharing their soulfully captivating sound with the world was criminally overdue,

Leave My Mind Sometimes could easily rival Porcupine Tree’s album Fear of a Blank Planet in terms of emotivity. Yet, this progressively passionate release sets itself apart with the cavernous, gentle complexity.

The standout single Not Home Today bears none of the hallmarks of a self-produced single. It’s a deftly orchestrated pool of escapism twined with lyricism which compels you to delve deeper into the consciousness-consuming release.

You can check out Not Home Today for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Chris Mike – Limerence: Theatrically Virtuosic Rock

Posted on 30 September 2020

It’s theatrical, it’s virtuosic, it’s ingeniously intense. It’s Chris Mike’s latest guitar-led instrumental track “Limerence”.

Rock aficionados will be enraptured before the first solo has time to make your jaw drop. But Limerence isn’t solely about Chris Mike’s fretboard wizardry. With symphonic elements amplifying the energy of the electrifying mix, you’re in for a raucously euphoric treat.

We might not be able to go to gigs right now, but even if I found myself front-row for my favourite artist, I’m not entirely sure I could be as blown away as I was when listening to Limerence for the first time.

There’s no amount of acclaim that Limerence is unworthy of. Not only is Chris Mike one of the most talented instrumentalists I’ve heard in 2020, there’s also plenty of distinctive flair around his rhythmically masterful shredding. I think I’ve found a new guitar hero.

Limerence is just one of the tracks which will be featured on the artist’s forthcoming album Socialholic which is due to drop on October 16th. You can pre-save the album via this link.

You can check out the official video to Chris Mike’s single Limerence for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast