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Grunge

The Unbranded’s ‘Drainage’ Bleeds the Malaise of Modernity Dry

Posted on 11 February 2025

The Unbranded are for the disillusioned, the disconnected, and anyone who needs a reminder that questioning the world is the only way to stay sane. ‘Drainage’, the seminal single from the No Angels HereLP, channels carnage from inside the mind into scuzzed-up grungy, distorted furore, locking into antagonised hooks that meditate on our tendencies to hit the self-destruct button and let the days slip by as we rot behind screens.

Singer and guitarist Kyle Pivarnik started The Unbranded as a solo project, uncertain of where he fit within the rock landscape beyond wanting to create something raw and unfiltered. After teaming up with Marty Landers (drums) and Michael Rose (bass) in Oregon, The Unbranded took shape as a full band, keeping their ethos intact: giving a voice to those alienated by modern existence, just as punk once did for Pivarnik.

Drainage taps into the lo-fi soul of grungy garage punk as a blast from the 90s, a reminder that the malaise remains 30 years on and isn’t likely to be abstracted from the atmosphere any time soon.

If humanity started being honest with itself, what it means to be human is reflected within the existentialism of Drainage, proving that what we perceive as vices are more like crutches, carrying us through the unrelenting agony of modernity.

Every time I need to quash some angst, I know I will return to No Angels Here and it’s vindicating catharsis.

Drainage is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Six Eight’s ‘Emperors of Pain’: A Razor-Wire Soundtrack for a Fractured World

Posted on 27 January 2025

Six Eight’s title track from their freshly launched Emperors of Pain EP is an unforgiving fuzz-drenched inferno that scorches with unrelenting distortion and snarling, sardonic vocal venom. This alternative rock trio—formed in 2023 and straddling Sweden and the UK stepped into the no-wave arena and ground it underfoot, blending garage rock tones with grunge-soaked abrasion.

Darren Lynch (bass, vocals), Cormac Stokes (drums, vocals), and Pete Uglow (guitar, piano, vocals) are no strangers to capturing visceral chaos. Their first album, World Isn’t Ending, recorded at Brighton’s Third Circle Recordings, was an eclectic storm of reflective piano-driven darkness, Clash-inspired rawness, and Dinosaur Jr-style crunch. On Emperors of Pain, the trio amplifies their sonic ferocity while tethering their sound to personal and political undercurrents.

Rarely content to tread softly, Six Eight revels in jagged hooks and a guttural energy that thrives on dynamism. The five tracks on the EP carve through themes of corruption, lies, and digital despair, tempered only by glimpses of hope rooted in friendship and commitment. On the title track, the band’s feral intensity collides with moments of careful, almost sinister, restraint, proving their ability to twist chaos into something magnetic.

The new revolution in alt-rock begins here. Dive in on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Boy by As Rome Burns: A Defiant Punk-Laden Anthem Against Patriarchal Poison

Posted on 22 January 2025

While punk, as a concept, is becoming increasingly harder to define, there’s no denying that it runs thick in the veins of the debut single, Boy, from the London-based sharp-witted antagonists, As Rome Burns.

With an unmistakable cerebral echo of The Fall drifting around the crunched chords that pulsate feverish energy into the anthemic melting pot of punk, grunge and indie, the protestive exposition of patriarchal violence and how it poisons the well of modernity knows exactly what trigger points to press and hits them hard enough to bruise.

If you could imagine what the Offspring would sound like if Mark E Smith, Rage Against the Machine and IDLES had some creative input, you’ll come close to getting an idea of what As Rome Burns delivered with their explosively authentic first foray onto the airwaves.

Boy is so much more than a mash of influence and contrasting genres; the inaugural release became a conduit of the artist’s ethos to throw progressive punches and stand against the threat of societal regression while allowing their raw originated sound to ramp up the visceralism of the socially conscious messaging.

Stream the debut single from As Rome Burns on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Find resolve through the rhythm and lyrical reflections in Flame’s seminal alt-indie release, ‘Heat’

Posted on 21 January 2025

The standout single ‘Heat’ from Flame’s alt-rock EP, Pride of the Lamb, which paints in colours from all across the alternative spectrum, ensues with a barrage of folkish rhythmic intensity before establishing a melody in the arcanely beguiling atmosphere.

The seraphic on the senses release transcends sound and moves into the remit of transformative meditation through the ethereal timbre of the lead vocals which refuse to bleed into the instrumentals in true shoegaze fashion as they relay mantric messages, guiding the listener towards transformation.

Flame lights fires through the trailblazing authenticity within their sonic signature, which pairs the textural motifs of grunge with the cathartic consolation of melodic rock as they build insurmountable walls of sound, brick by brick, note by note, while sharing a singular vision of leading the listener away from their ego.

Hit play and feel something primal within you wake in the presence of the Edinburgh-based alt-rock powerhouse who have exactly what it takes to stand at the vanguard of the post-shoegaze revolution in sound.

With one of the most distinct voices on the indie rock circuit, Flame is perceptibly in the minority of artists who favour their expression over commercial appeal, but there’s nothing within their debut EP that says they can’t have both; it’s pure evocative perfection.

Stream Heat as part of the 5-track EP on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Hover pierced the post-grunge veil with the visceralism nestled within ‘In My Head’

Posted on 28 December 2024
In My Head by Hover

The Cali fourpiece powerhouse, Hover, unchained the gates to the post-grunge pantheon with their seminal single, In My Head. The grungy indie anthem opens introspective floodgates over crunchy overdriven guitar chords; when the reprise of ‘in my head’ pours over the instrumentals, you can’t help but be reminded of the visceralism of Zombie by The Cranberries, yet Hover makes the mantric confession their own through the raw emotive power of the vocal delivery.

With hints of everything from grunge to indie rock to college radio rock to pop punk, and every element riling up the last, In My Head unravels as an anthem of catharsis for anyone who knows how much hostility can be bred within the confines of the mind. In My Head proves that Hover doesn’t just have the technical chops to ensure their recorded material carries immense emotional weight, they also have the ability to take weight from the listener as the burden of rumination is lifted.

The Coachella Valley hailing outfit is easily distinguished from the rest with their attitude-spiked melodic rock. Rather than merely layering fuzz-laden riffs, Hover let raw reflection spill from every sonic seam, adding a welcome blast of authenticity to alt-rock’s current landscape.

In My Head is now available to stream and purchase via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Master Splinter is ‘Unbound’ in the chaotic liberation of their latest alt-rock crusade

Posted on 25 December 2024

The shackles fall away in Master Splinter’s latest single, Unbound, a track that affirms their status as Portland’s ultimate emissaries of mind, body, and soul-melting sludgy stoner-rock chaos.

As a departure from their previous releases, Unbound is a lyrically abstract release which lets their signature blend of monolithic guitar riffs, dynamic basslines, and intricate percussion carry the spellbinding conversation while the lyrics breathe into the tempestuous mix as thematic abstractions.

It’s as unpredictable as it is entrancing—a visceral concoction that melds East-inspired mysticism with the raw intensity of Midwest grunge. Opening with opium-scented, hypnotic tones, Unbound evolves into an intricate vortex of progressive rock textures, ascending around grungy, Eddie Vedder-esque croons that carry enough smoky potency to leave you reeling.

The climactic moments are tightly controlled chaos, like a ship steered by an expert hand through a riot, reinforcing Master Splinter’s fearless approach to orchestrating dramatic vignettes.

Master Splinter’s unorthodox approach to hard rock strips away monocultural boundaries, crafting a sound that is equal parts primal and sophisticated. As the track crescendos, the constrictive tethers of typical genre constraints are shattered, leaving listeners adrift in an aural maelstrom, allowing Master Splinter to round out the year of faultless releases on a monumental note.

Unbound was unleashed on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, on December 13.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Shadows and Light: Sarah Shafey’s Grunge Resurgence in ‘Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark’

Posted on 22 November 2024

In her standout single, ‘Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark,’ the award-winning Canadian-Egyptian artist Sarah Shafey conjured a maelstrom of emotion and sound, marking a bold new chapter in the legacy alt-rock.

Infused with a hypnotic etherealism seamlessly married to the raw, sludgy aesthetics of grunge, Shafey’s latest single finished what Wolf Alice started. Her singular sonic footprint blazes a trail for a stylised resurgence, one that sinks swathes of substance into style and is layered with sonic transitions from the ferocious growl of grunge to the futuristic shimmer of synth-driven indie rock.

Her latest album ‘The Paper Bag Princess’, from which Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark was taken, draws from the empowering narrative of Robert Munsch’s children’s book, infusing her music with a feminist ethos that puts her in Kathleen Hanna’s lyrical league while vocally allowing her harmonies to drip Shirley Manson-esque seduction.

Shafey’s approach to this album—an eight-song manifesto melding personal revelation with a ’90s grunge backdrop—signals a defiant overturning of outdated norms. As she navigates through a soundscape crafted with chugging guitars and ethereal synths, Shafey not only redefines her musical identity but also challenges the listener to embrace a narrative of strength and self-discovery.

Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark was officially released on November 15th; stream the single on SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Elegant Chasers is set to deliver a kaleidoscope of hope with their politically-charged Britpop-Grunge mash-up sophomore LP, To Live in Colour

Posted on 22 November 2024
The Elegant Chasers

The title track of To Live in Colour, the sophomore LP from The Elegant Chasers, is a vestige of sanctuary for those still searching for hope and resilience amid chaos.

As we sink ever deeper into a textbook definition of dystopia, the visceral fusion of grunge and Britpop, which rages with hook-rife rancour, is a livewire lifeline from an artist who has always sought solace in sound. With the hypersonically grungy hooks injecting adrenalised vindication into the mix, the one-man powerhouse beckons listeners into a tumult of nostalgia. Not to morosely reminisce on what is missed but to dare to fight against the backdrop of a disillusioned world after being reminded of the volition and connection we historically sourced from sonic redemption and calls to action.

Influenced by his own struggles, the track wrestles with darkness but refuses to succumb. The juxtaposition of anguish and upbeat, infectious melodies mirror the internal battle Maz faced growing up—bullying, trauma, and later, the hangover of rock ‘n’ roll’s recklessness.

With backing vocals from his daughters Penny and Phoebe and drums from the ever-present Lloyd “Keith Moon” Pritchard, the track taps into familial warmth and raw, gritty sound. Maz’s gift is to prove that while the world may be descending into madness, we can still choose to live in colour. The firestorm of sound that is To Live in Colour demands your attention and ensures you’ll never feel isolated in your apathy again.

The To Live in Colour LP will be available to stream on all major platforms, including Bandcamp, from December 6th. Connect with The Elegant Chasers on Instagram to stay up to date with news of the release.

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 1st; stream the single on SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

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

Posted on 23 October 2024
Withered Flower by Loudness Wars

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