Browsing Tag

rock

Rooftop Screamers & Randy McStine – Souvenirs: A Mesmeric Prog-Pop-Rock Keepsake of Nostalgia and Emotion

Posted on 20 October 2024

In Souvenirs, Rooftop Screamers, the passion project of Mike Collins, pulled from his well of diverse musical influences and delivered a sonic experience that echoes through the past and present. With Randy McStine (Porcupine Tree) and Mark Plati (David Bowie) lending their talents, the track captures the bitter-sweetness of nostalgic reflection to transmit an affecting ode to the beauty of mementoes and the sorrow of losing touch with people who have shaped your soul.

The choral pop-rock energy of the song, tinged with prog-rock guitar motifs, rises and falls like waves of memories rushing through the psyche. Shimmering 80s chords lift the track into an almost celestial realm, while the melancholic lyrics drag you back to Earth with a gravity that’s hard to shake. You’ll find yourself torn between the elation of the instrumentals and the heaviness of the message which we can all relate to. We’ve all been there as protagonists in the universally resonant vignette after loving in losing, whether that person is no longer with us, or we’ve just shifted with different tides.

Every Rooftop Screamers release reveals a new avenue of Collins’ ingenuity, and Souvenirs is no different. Much like every other triumph in his discography, you’re still led to the same emotionally scintillating destination with the single that hits just as hard as the Christmas song that always knows which evocative triggers to pull. There really is no overstating the impact of this stellar slice of proggy 80s pop rock.

Souvenirs was officially released on October 11; stream the single on Spotify now.

Keep up to date with all the latest Rooftop Screamers singles via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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

Maverick Smith walked with garage rock giants in ‘Holding On’

Posted on 17 October 2024

Maverick Smith’s seminal single ‘Holding On’ homages an epoch when rock ruled with a raucous yet refined hand while moving far beyond pastiche. Featured on the collaborative album ‘With Friends & Imperfections’, born between the synergy of 22 rock legends in their own right, the single synthesises elements of power pop and proto-punk, steeped in the nostalgic vibes of the 60s and 70s.

The keys dance with an uplifting tempo reminiscent of the 70s pop-rock scene, while the gritty guitar chords transport you to the nascent proto-punk streets of New York City as surf-pop harmonies swell in the background, bringing a taste of the Beach Boys with a sprinkle of Cheap Trick’s feel-good panache.

Emerging from a decade-long pause, Maverick Smith, steered by the renowned Sean Boynes, reinvented their approach to music creation. The album, recorded live in the Ohio Valley, harnesses an organic sound that modern digital productions can seldom mirror. This collection of tracks, brought to life by a cadre of Grammy laureates and indie rock veterans, is less about technical perfection and more about the palpable, unrefined energy of friends feeding off each other’s fervour. You couldn’t ask for a more potent rock-licked serotonin fix.

With Friends and Imperfections was officially released on October 1st. Stream the collaborative LP in full on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Rearview Romantics delivered a new testament of rock n roll with ‘The Preacher’

Posted on 16 October 2024

Out of Philadelphia, the raw force known as Rearview Romantics slashed through the rock scene with their stormer of a single, ‘The Preacher’.

The unapologetic throwback to the 60s – 80s rock epochs erupts with crunchy, overdriven guitar riffs that could summon spirits from rock’s golden age. The vocals carve a niche between Metallica’s gritty resonance, the anthemics of New York Dolls and The Cramps’ punk eccentric ferocity, creating an uncompromising voice for the band. The production crackles with an electric fervour, each note and beat engineered to grip your soul and shake it awake.

The manifesto of rebellion dictates a relentless pace that dares listeners to keep up. As a rock anthem, the track ticks all the boxes, bridging the gap between classic sensibilities and potently explosive energy.

With their larger-than-life live shows marked by magnetic stage presence, Rearview Romantics are quickly becoming the act to watch. Coupled with a consistent stream of videos and tracks, the rock n roll reverent renegades are proving they’re destined for bigger stages.

The Preacher was officially released on September 26th; stream the single on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Melia delivered a rock-licked anthem of vindication with ‘The Horse You Rode in On’

Posted on 14 October 2024

The prodigal daughter of rock, Melia, has returned with her sophomore LP, ‘FERAL‘, delivering an indomitable hit of empowerment with the standout single, ‘Horse You Rode in On‘.

With the overdriven guitars, the fiery manifesto for anyone who has endured the arrogance of the misguided resurrects retro rock aesthetics as Melia’s powerful, crystalline vocals slice through the mix with mesmeric clarity. As the percussion injects adrenaline into the track like fuel to a flame, Melia asserts herself as a rare diamond in the mundanity of modern rock. Knowing exactly how to pay homage without assimilating, her future is as promising as her sound is powerful.

The single is highlighted by one of the year’s most electrifying guitar solos, redefining what it means to command the six strings. It’s a potent reminder of why Melia continues to collect accolades, including multiple Indie Music Channel Awards.

Recorded at Dreamland Recording Studio with the esteemed Kevin Killen, ‘FERAL’ echoes the defiant spirit of Melia’s musical journey. From her early days, ignited by a Green Day concert, to sharing stages with icons like Steve Vai and Judas Priestess, Melia’s path has been anything but ordinary.

Stream the Feral LP in full by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tariq.B entered the melodic rock pantheon with his single, You Keep My World Alight

Posted on 12 October 2024

Tariq.B joined Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell in the pantheon of rock evocateurs with his latest melodic rock emotional awakening, You Keep My World Alight, which will unearth feelings you didn’t know lingered in the sediment of your soul.

The song’s title cleverly underplays the vivid romanticism and raw pop-rock melodies that pulse at the heart of this panorama of raw, vulnerable passion which once and for all proves that romance isn’t dead in our era proliferated by strands of superficial connection.

You Keep My World Alight is an undeniable attestation to how the Pakistan-born, Southwest London-residing artist has mastered the art of acoustic sensitivity; every guitar chord hits a raw nerve as the progressions flow with cinematic sepia-tinged imagery and the warm glow of alt-90s tones.

Famed for his live performances across the UK, international airplay and plaudits from BBC Introducing, Tariq.B is well on his way to filling stadiums as wholly as he fuels souls with his sound. He’s a rare artist who instantly makes you feel at home in his honeyed and honed vocal timbre.

You Keep My World Alight is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Kickstart your rhythmic pulses with Scott Cook’s alt-rock kaleidoscope of poetic innovation, The Author

Posted on 7 October 2024

With ‘The Author’, Montreal’s Scott Cook served an electrifying synthesis of gritty guitar riffs reminiscent of the Manic Street Preachers and the ethereal synth overlays akin to Suicide’s ‘Dream Baby Dream’. In the cacophony of the saturated with banality modern music scene, the single is a rare slice of accordance.

Cook’s voice, an instrument in its own right, weaves through the tight instrumental arrangement, anchoring and elevating the melodies with his poetic lyricality which is just as sharp as his guitar hooks in the track which filters the colour of psych pop-rock harmonics into the alchemic cocktail which invites you to lose yourself in its euphonic bliss.

The arrangement’s dynamism is palpable, with ebbs and flows that create eager anticipation for the next burst of momentum and the catharsis it bestows.

Scott Cook proves with ‘The Author’ that his musical evolution is not just ongoing but accelerating. Drawing on an eclectic palette that spans genres and eras, he reflects on contemporary life with a candour that Morrissey would struggle to match. If he released this hit in the 90s, he’d be at the top of the charts.

The Author was officially released on September 23rd, stream the single on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Simpletone is back with vengeance in their darkly kinetic alt-rock anthem, Circles

Posted on 4 October 2024
The Simpletone

After amassing renown for the intensity of their live performances following their 2010 inception, releasing three critically acclaimed LPs, gaining a cult following, winning the Cambridge Band Competition, joining New Model Army on tour and being revered by Classic Rock Magazine, The Simpletone broke their fair share of hearts when they split in 2017.

After a six-year hiatus, The Simpletone sound is sharper than ever; their comeback track, Circles, which teases what’s to come in their upcoming fourth LP, The Eternal Now, dares you to imagine the veins of blues rock running through a sonic love child conceived between Sisters of Mercy and Queens of the Stone Age.

The shadowy rock licks bring the arcane atmosphere as the rhythm section intravenously injects kinetic energy into the anthem, which proves that The Simpletone weren’t down and out in 2017; they were priming for one of the most scintillating artistic reinventions the UK alt-rock scene has seen in the past decade.

Circles will be available to stream on all major platforms from October 4th. Hear the single on YouTube and follow The Simpletone on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with all future releases.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Worry People stripped bare with their visceral alt-indie anthem, Naked

Posted on 2 October 2024

The anxiously anthemic alt-indie duo, The Worry People, sharpened their hooks for their latest single and music video, Naked, while redefining what it means to wear your heart on your sleeve.

Sam Stewart and Ryan Dodd have made light work of trailblazing through the indie rock scene with their viscerally raw vulnerability since their debut release. This time, the cinematic production heightens the emotion to the nth degree, while the angular guitars slice through the moody, iridescent soundscape creating a sonic palette that only The Worry People could paint.

The track hammers home its message with each punch of percussion, pulling you into the thematic underpinnings which paint a vignette of the masochism love drives us to. As the duo lays bare the intricacies of intimacy, you’re left to confront the emotional bruises that come with leaving your soul exposed.

With their forte in crafting memorable memories infused with introspective depth, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more affecting up-and-coming indie artist in the UK scene in 2024.

Having recently graced the stage at the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival and preparing for an upcoming BBC Radio Kent session, The Worry People are carving out a space that’s not only distinct but vital. With Naked, they’ve not just added to their repertoire—they’ve electrified it.

The official music video for Naked premiered on September 20; stream it on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Reckless brought ‘Sexy Back’ in their unadulterated and augmented cover

Posted on 1 October 2024

It used to be that few could rival Justin Timberlake when it came to sex appeal, but The Reckless hit it out of the aphrodisiacal park with their seductively frenetic cover of “SexyBack” that will leave the airwaves hot under its proverbial collar. If you thought “Closer” by NIN was hot, you’ll meet your match with this rendition.

With the unpredictably wild furore of Rage Against the Machine, crooning rock vocals that make Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell sound atonal, and climaxes of guitar solos which are straight-up pornography, this cover is so much more than a tribute—it’s an unholy, X-rated, fuzzed up revolution in sound.

I’m surprised orgies don’t happen on the spot when The Reckless play Sexy Back live.

Sexy Back is available to stream on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast