Browsing Tag

UK Alt Rock

Loudness Wars unleashed heavy scuzz rock artillery with ‘Withered Flower’

Posted on 23 October 2024

Loudness Wars made no apologies for turning up the decibels with their latest single, “Withered Flower.” The seasoned and striped alt-rock outfit plunges listeners into a sludged-up vortex where the textured growl of Deftones meets the cerebral drama of Muse, with a hint of Smashing Pumpkins’ melancholy woven through.

The innovative declaration in the guise of an alt-rock anthem sees Jerome, the Sri Lankan-born lead on guitars and vocals, crafting a soundscape where each strum feels like a pulse of raw emotional electricity. His voice, an artful contortion, sinks into the distortion that bleeds from the angular, cutting guitars. The anthemic hooks that ensue are nothing short of adrenaline for the soul, crafting a track that’s as unnerving as it is entrancing.

Rich, a guitarist turned bassist, brings a grounded ferocity to the mix. His transition from guitar to bass underpins the track with a depth that only a rhythmic savant could provide. Completing this trio, Ian, a lifelong drummer whose rhythmic instincts are as inherent as breathing, injects Withered Flower with a relentless beat that binds the track’s explosive components. His chemistry with Rich, rooted in their shared upbringing in Chesham, fuels the rhythmic backbone of this record with precision and wild abandon.

Together, they transform “Withered Flower”—a poignant meditation on decay—into a pulse-throbbing hit. The charismatically maniacal presence of Jerome’s vocals incites a riotous revival of alt-rock, proving that the outfit has heavy artillery to attack the senses and leave them cathartically affected.

Stream Withered Flower on Bandcamp now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

SugarFüt – Mirrors: Where UK Alt-Rock Hits Its Peak Power

Posted on 10 September 2024

In their sophomore release, Mirrors, the UK’s most promising emerging powerhouse, SugarFüt, reasserted dominance on the alt-rock scene with a kinetic anthem of sheer visceral innovation.

If you’re still mourning the loss of She Burns Red after they disbanded, this Hull-based four-piece is here to fill the void with a sound that is veritably their own. With scuzzy alt-rock riffs and chameleonic progressions, which splices the frenetic with the melodic Mirrors defies predictability. Just as you start to recognise pop-punk echoes, SugarFüt storms into fresh territory with each progression, pushing boundaries with every bar, leaving heads in a subverted spin.

Vocally, the track oscillates between imploring vulnerability in the verses and soaring dynamism in the chorus, seamlessly transitioning to illuminate the emotive depth of the timbre and the dualistic pull of Jack Moxon’s vocals. When paired with the interstellar peaks of their guitar-driven crescendos, Mirrors is enough to leave your heart in your throat. SugarFüt’s ability to riff with the same fevered energy as Thee Oh Sees while capturing the immersive melodicism of Jimmy Eat World’s Futures era creates an addictive earworm which demands repeat attention.

Formed in Kingston-Upon-Hull in 2023, SugarFüt brings together frontman Jack Moxon, drummer Calvin Casey (formerly of Kira Mac), bassist Rory Myers, and guitarist Dave Measom. Their collective history in the Hull music scene and shared love for rock, pop, and punk culminates in an auditory assault that blends raw, emotionally charged vocals with gritty riffs, pulsating basslines, and thunderous drums.

By the time their debut album drops, they’ll be one of the hottest acts on the UK rock circuit. Keep them on your radar.

Mirrors was officially released on August 16 and is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ditch the Demon is out for blood in their sonic screening of garage goth glamour, Fright Night

Posted on 16 August 2024

Fans of Zombina and the Skeletones, Lesbian Bed Death and the Creepshow won’t want to miss the installation of horror and garage goth glamour, Fright Night, prised from the crypt of Ditch the Demon’s LP, Ain’t Dead Yet.

With the percussive pulse of punk and the phantasmic reanimations of new wave indie conjured by the guitars filtered through a psychedelic prog rock lens and the livewire energy rippling through the production as a courtesy of Amanda Brooks-Byron’s histrionically haunted vocals, Fright Night hits with an exhilarating horror punk intensity.

After forming in 2018, the Hastings-hailing powerhouse has made chilling waves with their scintillatingly dark sonic signature; the launch of their debut album in 2023 marked the zenith of the band’s career so far but with their infamous live shows, Ditch the Demon isn’t a band to underestimate.

Stream the official music video for Fright Night on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Elegant Chasers explored the trappings and torment of addiction with their maniacal alt-rock hit, The Hungry Ghost

Posted on 15 March 2024

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Mike Patton had formed a new side project after being exposed to the vocal dynamism and tightly controlled instrumental chaos in the latest single, The Hungry Ghost, from the London-based alt-rock originators, The Elegant Chasers.

The franticly alchemic production which echoes 90s Britpop and grunge entices you in through the urgency as the James Dean Bradfield-esque guitars shimmer and act as an anchor in the tumultuous storm brewed by the rhythm section. The lack of restraint is a conceptual sonic visualisation of the nefariousness of addiction, which the volatile lyrics explore influenced by the work of Gabor Mate.

There was no forgetting The Elegant Chasers after getting acquainted through their previous release, Running Around the Sun, but The Hungry Ghost is a million maniacal miles away from the mash-up of indie, Britpop and Psych Rock. It’s safe to say The Elegant Chasers can stop running because they’ve arrived at exactly where they need to be with The Hungry Ghost.

The Hungry Ghost will be officially released on March 15; stream and purchase the single on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

LJ Pheonix & The Renegades – In Time: Seductively Entropic Synth-Rock

Posted on 9 April 2023

With dark and sinister synths that are as harbingering as the ones in the Slumber Party Massacre soundtrack, the intro to the latest gothy synth-rock single, In Time, from LJ Pheonix & The Renegades, reeled us in hook, line, and spacey sinker.

The 80s-reminiscent post-punk croons crawl into the mix as a scintillatingly soulful rapture as they boast all the atmosphere of Echo and the Bunnymen and the Psychedelic Furs. As the single progresses, interstellar psychedelia starts to amass amongst the dark tones constructed by the wailing guitars and stabbing synth lines to absorbingly disconcerting aphrodisiacal effect.

If the rest of the debut LP, Atlantis, is as warped in entropic sex appeal as In Time, the new up-and-coming UK powerhouse will easily seal their infamous fate.

In Time will release on all major platforms on April 9. Check it out via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Alt-rock thespian Lucifers Beard worked his histrionic magic in the conceptual sequel single, Lady Loser

Posted on 18 December 2022

After we rolled with the punches in Lucifers Beard’s single, The Guy with a Black Eye, we’re stoked to sink our teeth into the conceptual follow-up, Lady Loser, which takes place years after the antihero’s skirmish, where the arrogance has subsided to themes of loss, regret, forgiveness, and hope.

Until the outro, the brashy tumultuousness has been dialled back to give way to the crooned vocals that envelop you over the theatrically psychedelic rock opera-Esque score that still emits electrifying energy, but there’s a remorsefulness spilling from the thespian rock arrangement, mastered by Ed Ripley (NOFX, Frank Turner, Goat Girl).

As the song concludes, after the swan song-ish ensemble, we hear Lucifers Beard’s maniacal charisma get a last burst of juggernautical creativity. It is enough to make you desperate for the story to become a trilogy.

Lady Loser will officially release on December 15th. Hear it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lucifers Beard roll with the surf-rock punches in their latest punk-rock single, The Guy With A Black Eye

Posted on 7 October 2022

Frenetic alt-rock cavorts with the waves of surf-rock and rolls with the punches of punk rock in Lucifers Beard’s twisted spaghetti western single, The Guy with a Black Eye.

After hearing it, I’m not so sad about the disbanding of Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster. The dynamically tumultuous track was mastered by the deft touch of Ed Ripley, who has previously worked with NOFX, Frank Turner, and Goat Girl. If there is any justice left in the industry, Lucifers Beard will receive the same amount of acclaim as all of the aforementioned.

Short of sticking a fork in the toaster, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more electrifying sensory experience than this animated feat of ingenuity.

The Guy with A Black Eye is due for release on October 7th. Hear it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sabres bare their teeth in their sophomore release ‘Tell Me Where It Hurts’

Posted on 29 August 2022

Here to prove that pigeonholes are for the banal is the Portsmouth alternative duo, Sabres, with their genre-evading sophomore single, Tell Me Where It Hurts.

The titularly compassionate, sonically scuzzed up single comprises just the drums and bass guitar. But the unholy rhythm section is far more than the sum of its dualistic parts, thanks to the heady synergy that grungily grinds through the collaborative chemistry between Sam Cutbush and Dominic Taylor.

Given the times that we are living in, there has been a discernible lack of aural angst, but Sabres are tackling our collective new crises, fears and perversions head-on with their unapologetic reflections on anger.

Sabres may be fresh from its late 2021 inception but in their respective earlier careers, they have supported the likes of Catfish and the Bottlemen, British Sea Power, New Candys, Phobophobes and Melt-Banana. This is far from the first time that Dominic Taylor has left me transfixed by his monstrous percussive energy; I was lucky enough to witness the launch of his former band, Burning House’s debut album, Anthropocene. I’m stoked to hear him on top form once again.

Tell Me Where It Hurts is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Photo credit @oldskoolpaul

Lucifers Beard is flawlessly frenetic in his alt-rock hit, Shake on the Floor

Posted on 4 April 2022

Shake on the Floor is the latest scuzzed up and writhing alt-rock hit from the UK based artist, Lucifers Beard, AKA Christopher Barnes.

With its filthier than Eagles of Death Metal feel and energy that makes you want to throw away every façade you’ve ever known, there’s no denying that Shake on the Floor is an addictive earworm from the first hit.

I always find a deep sense of irony in how the true power of autonomy is quashed by culture and its oppressive associations – even amongst alt scenes; there’s always an element of conformity. Shake on the Floor refreshingly proved that I’m not alone in this social dissection. So much of our modern anxieties stem from fear of judgement. How much saner would society be if we refused to subjugate to the banality of normativity?

Shake on the Floor will officially release on April 4th. You can check it out for yourselves via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

UK Alt Rock Trailblazers Settlem3nt are Set to Unleash Their Colossal New Hit “CHAMPAGNE”

Posted on 5 August 2020

Anyone with a penchant for scuzzy biting Alt-Rock won’t want to hang around on jumping on the latest release “CHAMPAGNE” from UK powerhouse Settlem3nt.

After a promising debut, the band had plenty of hype to live up to with CHAMPAGNE. They definitely succeeded with their viscerally charged infusion of Punk, Post-Rock and Metal. With the colossal sound, alchemic riffs and transfixing instrumental breakdowns, Settlem3nt easily set themselves apart from any other emerging artist.

Their high-octane sound would have reminiscences to Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes if Frank Carter went heavier with their sound, and dare I say threw in the same level of ingenuity?

You can check out Settlem3nt’s single CHAMPAGNE for yourselves from August 31^st by heading over to Spotify. In the meantime, you can check out their equally as masterfully volatile debut single Visions.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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