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UK Rock

Folk Rock Introspection: WLDFLWRS Celebrate the Comfort of Isolation with their Debut, BEST COMPANY

Posted on 16 December 2024

WLDFLWRS’ Americana-inspired debut single ‘BEST COMPANY’ holds a quiet candle to the sanctuary of introversion. The Warwickshire folk rock ensemble crafted a panorama of gentle acknowledgement of how loneliness can sometimes feel like the safest shelter. There’s no forced buoyancy in these southern rock-rooted chords; instead, the guitars and percussion carry a patient hush that intricately resounds everything that needs to be said.

Hints of honkytonk traditions keep the track grounded, while an expressive balance between Bob Dylan’s gravitas and the glimmering cool of The Stones offers a familiar frame. Yet WLDFLWRS colour it with their own hue of raw truth, their vocals authentically aching as they pull listeners into the quiet corners of their world. The resulting sound is a dioramic blend of vintage rock tones that refuses to pander or wilt.

The band’s knack for honest arrangement and subtle swagger allows each note to fall perfectly into place, forming a soundscape which extends connection without stomping on the boundaries between personal reflection and universal resonance.

The official music video for BEST COMPANY premiered on December 6^th; stream the video on YouTube now.

Follow WLDFLWRS on Instagram to stay up to date with all the latest releases and tour news.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ralph Bishop’s ‘Photographs’ is a snapshot of rock theatre

Posted on 12 December 2024

With Photographs, the standout single from Ralph Bishop’s debut LP, The Path, the 18-year-old artist from Dorset threads theatrical intensity with classic rock sophistication. Far from settling into well-trodden territory, Bishop carved a distinct niche by pairing his histrionic harmonies with an unapologetically dramatic arrangement that would be equally at home on the airwaves or the Broadway stage.

The track’s emotional depth is as vast as Bishop’s awe-inspiring octave range, which soars alongside the cabaret piano, chamber strings, and searing guitar solos that nod to the golden age of 80s rock. Rather than overpowering the melody, the instrumentation leaves space for Bishop’s theatric vocals to command attention, balancing subtlety with unrelenting intensity.

Lyrically, Photographs transcends rock’s usual fare by delving into the poignant fragility of our relationship with mementoes, inviting listeners to reflect on how memories can simultaneously comfort and haunt. Bishop’s piercing poetry only amplifies the visceral weight of his performance, proving his talent isn’t just in the notes he hits but in the stories he tells.

Having cut his teeth in front of crowds as young as 11 and sharpened his musicianship at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Bishop brings a maturity beyond his years to his solo career.

Stream The Path in Full on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

You Dirty Blue revived vintage blues rock with their renegade of a hit, Humming

Posted on 5 November 2024

‘Humming’ by You Dirty Blue thrashed into the blues rock scene with a rare ferocity that barrels through the annals of music history. This single reverberates with the raw, unrefined essence of 70s rock, encapsulated by fuzzy guitar riffs and raucous vocals that snarl with renegade charm. It’s a rhythmically infectious track that knocks polished modern rock productions off their pedestals and replaces them with something that resonates with the spirit of old-school rock.

You Dirty Blue, a powerhouse duo from Tamworth, have been igniting venues across the UK with their explosive live shows. Their music is steeped in the DIY ethos of grunge and blues, infused with a punchy punk twist that makes each performance unforgettable. Humming is a new chapter in the duo’s legacy with its heady rush of rock’s golden era aesthetics and modern ferocity. If you’ve been pining for the days of raw, unapologetic rock music, get your kicks that are guaranteed to leave a lasting mark.

Humming was officially released on November 1^st; stream the single on SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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

Posted on 4 October 2024

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 4^th. 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

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

The Whiskey Knights called ‘Time’ in Their Rhythmically Rendered Rock Hit

Posted on 19 July 2024

The Whiskey Knights struck all the right nerves with their latest single, Time. The Surrey-hailing hard rock revenant outfit deconstructed the concept of time with their latest tour de force by exploring its relentless grip on our mortal coil, its power to strip away memories, and its refusal to guarantee change or healing.

From the solid rhythm section and baying guitars to the electrifying vocal performance, Time showcases The Whiskey Knights as a formidable triple threat. The track’s grungy undertones amplify the intensity of the universally relatable emotions, creating an immersive experience that is as visceral as it is compelling. There’s no room for nostalgia here; The Whiskey Knights are reviving the reasons we fell in love with rock – its ability to translate the rawest facets of the human experience into pulsating furore.

Having formed in 2013 and hailing from Camberley, Surrey, The Whiskey Knights have built a diverse discography, including two studio albums, one EP, a live album, and a demo. Their sound, a mixture of hard rock, punk rock, indie rock, and pop rock, continues to evolve, with Time testifying to their chameleonic songwriting chops.

If Time hits this hard on the airwaves, brace yourself for the colossal impact when you see The Whiskey Knights perform the single that solidifies their place in the hard rock pantheon.

Time will officially drop on July 19; stream the single on Spotify and Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Don’t Light Rock’s Funeral Pyre Yet, Everafter Instigated the Ultimate Resurrection in ‘Born to Rock’

Posted on 17 July 2024

Everafter, stalwarts on the UK rock scene since their formation in East London in 2010, have consistently evolved and sharpened their sonic arsenal. The band, initiated by the Daperis brothers, Alexis and Stefan, alongside Tim Wiltshire, rose from the remnants of a previous endeavour to forge a premier hell-bent-for-distortion outfit which has blazed across many of London’s iconic stages.

Their Born to Rock EP, recorded at Soundlab Studios with Matt Williams, is the ultimate attestation to their dedication to standing at the vanguard of the hard rock revolution. The title single is a monumental anthem that celebrates the intensity of rock through explosive energy, intricate guitar riffs, and relentless rhythms that demonstrate the technical talent and passion of Everafter. Unlike Tenacious D, there are no tributes here, anyone born to rock can gaze into a sonic mirror when they hit play.

With razor-sharp melodic hooks implanted in the high-octane currents of the single, the only way this track wouldn’t go down well live is if the entire crowd was lobotomised.

Stream the official lyric video for Born to Rock on YouTube now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Surrey’s Tribal Jury seared sophistication into hard rock with ‘Beat You Down’

Posted on 12 July 2024

In their relentless mission to swathe the hard rock scene in sophistication, the UK’s suavest band of prodigal sons, Tribal Jury, has unleashed their latest installation of swaggering rhythmic seduction, Beat You Down.

As the self-professed Gentlemen of Rock, the Surrey-hailing fourpiece finds a diaphanous balance between the down ‘n’ dirty rock ‘n’ roll debauchery delivered in the instrumentals and the clean-cut urbaneness within the vocals that aren’t too gentrified to wrap themselves around razor-sharp hooks and to bring you right into the core of their fiercely slick sound which resounds with augmented exhilaration.

With hints of Vedder pulling through in the harmonies and Slash’s soundprint searing through the guitar solos, no self-respecting rock fan will tune into Beat You Down and fail to recognise how Tribal Jury brought down the hammer to carve a fresh niche in the rock pantheon.

Beat You Down is the ultimate invitation to unleash your anger into a rendered-with-resolve hit that suffers no tyrannical fools. Hit play and find infinite vindication in the anthem.

Beat You Down was officially released on June 29^th; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

James Sebastian electrified rock n roll reverence in ‘Looking for a Sign’

Posted on 10 May 2024

James Sebastian’s latest single, Looking for a Sign, erupts with the fervour of rock’s golden age, packing an electrifying punch that makes it clear he’s owning the proverbial stage. As a prodigal son of rock ‘n’ roll, Sebastian channels the spirit of iconic acts from The New York Dolls to The Strokes to The Beach Boys, yet his sound remains unapologetically rebellious and tantalisingly original.

Looking for a Sign insists you get swept up in its compelling hooks and Sebastian’s natural frontman charisma, reminiscent of a cult leader’s magnetism. This track roars through speakers with an energy so raw and a production so slick, that it’s akin to witnessing the exhilarating James Sebastian live experience.

Rather than attempting to reinvent the rock ‘n’ roll wheel, Sebastian tunes into a deep reverence for the genre, projecting it through a release that radiates defiance to its core. The track exemplifies liberation, embracing the craziest facets of one’s character and running wild with them. It’s a celebration of individuality, crafted with a keen awareness of rock’s historical context but driven by a modern, fierce pulse.

Looking for a Sign captures the essence of Sebastian’s growth as an artist—confident and poised to deliver high-energy performances that resonate across generations. His journey from vibrant live shows across the UK, including iconic venues like The Cavern and The Macbeth, to a burgeoning streaming presence, underscores a trajectory filled with promise and rock ‘n’ roll heart.

Looking for a Sign will be available to stream on all major platforms from May 10^th via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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