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Punk

Folk meets prog-punk in Whate’s orchestrally cinematic composition By Torchietto

Posted on 18 November 2024

Where fire meets finesse, whate’s composition ‘By Torchietto’ ignites a fervent blaze that’s set to endure. At its core, the UK-based progressive alt-punk outfit harnesses a storm of eclectic influences, melding the raw energy of punk with the intricate layers of orchestral folk and progressive music. From the stings of violins reminiscent of classical giants like Hans Zimmer and Ennio Morricone to riotous chords, the band’s standout single, ‘By Torchietto’, is an incendiary declaration.

Founded in Italy by Dave Dreamer—lead singer, guitarist, composer, and violinist—whate crafts sound-transcending spectacles. With each member’s diverse background, ranging from blues to prog rock, the band forges a style baptised as “progressive punk”. This sophisticated, new sound is a cocktail of revolutionary ideas, blending Dreamer’s love for classical with punk’s unapologetic rebellion.

‘By Torchietto’ itself is a profound alchemy, balancing tender orchestration against striking, fiery energy, pulling listeners into a cinematic sweep of emotion and rhythm. Much like the rest of the artist’s discography, the single embodies the band’s unflinchingly urgent cry for societal transformation and personal awakening, all while demonstrating their ability to channel their inner tumult into a coherent call to action.

whate’s trajectory, from their debut ‘Can’t Breathe Anymore’ to their current partnership with Rexius Records, signifies a band soaring on their own terms. With ‘By Torchietto’, whate stands poised on a pedestal of their own crafting, unlikely to ever cascade from the pinnacle they’ve reached.

By Torchietto was officially released on November 8th and is now available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Flying Hearts reached the epitome of affecting with their acoustic punk outpour of grief, Bury Me in England

Posted on 9 November 2024
Flying Hearts

The UK duo Flying Hearts reached the epitome of affecting with their acoustic punk single, Bury Me in England, which puts Frank Turner to shame when it comes to rendering visceralism into an acoustically accompanied narrative.

The tenderness of the indie-tinged melodies juxtaposes the urgency within the vocal delivery, which mourns the loss of singer-songwriter Joe Wenman’s best friend. There are few greater tragedies than a life lost too soon, and that rings deafeningly true through this fitting tribute to the connection shared. The elucidation of the pain that’s left behind will resonate with everyone who knows how it feels to be left with everything-wrenching emotion and find themselves at a loss with how to contend with it.

With lyricism which pierces the psyche with an exposition on the fragility of life and everything we can so easily take for granted and Flying Hearts acting as a beacon for the disenfranchised, the duo will undoubtedly break major ground with this release given the disillusionment-imparting times we are all enduring in our own way.

Bury Me in England was officially released on November 8th and is now available to stream on all major platforms. Find your preferred way to listen via Flying Hearts’ official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Feel the fevered pulse of The Sonic Redemption in their hedonistic riot of a hit, I Got a Fever (and I think I like it)

Posted on 6 November 2024

The Sonic Redemption stormed back onto the rock scene with their latest single, ‘I Got a Fever (and I think I like It)’. The track is a riot of rock-reverent chaos, with the band taking a few tempo cues from Motorhead and channelling hook-driven euphoria reminiscent of Rancid’s …And Out Come the Wolves LP.

The anthem burns a blazing trail of aural adrenaline, leaving your speakers hyped as the whiskey-soaked vocals snarl over the dynamic tight as a straitjacket instrumentals.

Fronted by the iconic Dominique De Vos, previously of Southern Voodoo and Motorcity Angels, and joined by Jelle De Vos on guitar and Bram Decrock on drums, The Sonic Redemption continues to deliver unbridled power and unpolished rock ‘n’ roll.

Dominique De Vos describes the new single as embodying the band’s core identity: “unrestrained, fast, and uncompromising.” It’s a song about the exhilarating freedom and energy that floods through you when you’re completely caught up in the music—a fever that’s genuinely infectious.

The Sonic Redemption doesn’t just revisit the glamour and depravity of the Sunset Strip in the 80s; they reimagine it, spreading it with authenticity and intensity across the globe. The track is an unfiltered tribute to the soul of rock ‘n’ roll, showcasing a band that not only pays homage to this timeless genre but also defines it for a new era. Prepare yourself before you roll with the juggernautical punches of this hit.

I Got a Fever (and I think I like it) dropped on October 26th; stream the single on Spotify now.

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

Punk Fury and Bruised Egos: Itz Namo Lets Loose in ‘SCREAMING’

Posted on 26 October 2024

At just 20, Itz Namo from Grand Rapids, Michigan, has already carved his niche in the pop-punk rock scene by blending garagey grit with earworm-worthy hooks. What started as a musical joke during his high school years has now catapulted him into the alt-pop-punk spotlight with his latest single, ‘SCREAMING’.

Echoing the antagonised energy of Fidlar, Itz Namo exhibits a deft hand in weaving augmented instrumentals around razor-sharp hooks in the visceral confession of the humiliation that comes when you shoot your shot with someone way out of your league, only to be knocked back to reality. The track is a cathartic middle finger to rejection, and with any luck, it’ll be the anthem to blast in the ears of incels who sulk in frustration and lash out with contempt when it turns out feelings aren’t mutual.

Namo’s high-octane energy and raw delivery make the track an infectiously bouncy amalgamation of alt-pop punk chaos. Beneath the brash riffs and brimming aggression, there’s a deeper emotional core for anyone who has ever found themselves on the receiving end of romantic disappointment.

With ‘SCREAMING’, Itz Namo proves that his knack for blending personal confessions with high-energy punk is a goldmine for the genre. It’s only a matter of time before more people start tuning into the infectious chaos he’s bringing to the scene.

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

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Knottie Boys are on unhallowed ground with their horror punk hit, Monster Man

Posted on 21 October 2024

The Knottie Boys came through just in time for Halloween with their horror punk LP, The Weeping of Los Alamos, featuring the ferocious sonic juggernaut, Monster Man.

With The Creepshow-esque vocals, odes to The Misfits’ iconically infectious sonic signature and ska-reminiscent brass for good measure, Knottie Boys haunted the middle ground between psychobilly and horror punk with a tumultuous anthem that sweeps you up in its adrenalised riptide of frenetic energy.

As the third album from the Long Island-hailing alt-punk powerhouse who borrow influences from all across the punk spectrum, The Weeping of Los Alamos is set to skyrocket The Knottie Boys to even greater heights. Their ability to ensure their influences never outshine their ingenuity is on full display in the 15-part installation of cultivated chaos.

The Stream Knottie Boys’ LP, The Weeping of Los Alamos in full via Spotify.

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

Kuwaisiana – Gentrification: A Sonic Molotov Aimed at Cultural Erosion

Posted on 27 September 2024
https://soundcloud.com/kuwaisiana/gentrification-aug-mix/s-GGnNrQ0jOK2?in=kuwaisiana/sets/mishriff-ep//s-hQHummCrWZD

Seattle-based trio Kuwaisiana aren’t pulling any punches with their latest release, ‘Gentrification’. From the opening Arabic howl of angst, the band tears into the cold, clinical destruction of cultural roots with brutal fury. As the track shifts gears into English, it doesn’t lose an ounce of its venom. Instead, it hammers home the visceral reality of gentrification – not as a polite reshuffling, but a full-scale assault on heritage and identity.

The track’s aggressive blend of grunge, hardcore, and post-punk catapults Kuwaisiana to the frontlines of protest music. Forget the half-hearted rage of your typical punk track; this is pure, unadulterated chaos. With riffs that cut like jagged glass and rhythms that hit like a riot, ‘Gentrification’ feels like a sonic Molotov hurled at the forces that reduce communities to dust. The gnarled vocals alone could level cities, calling back to the uncompromising energy of Bad Brains and Dead Kennedys.

The lyrical narrative is equally ferocious, painting a vivid picture of the hollowed-out ruins left by gentrification. The reference to ‘Disneyland nose jobs’ alludes to how Kuwaisiana aren’t just on the money, they’re holding the monopoly in the punk scene.

The haunting opening image sets the tone for a journey through displacement, exclusivity, and transience. +Aziz’s Kuwaiti-American identity bleeds through every note, making the track a gut punch for anyone who’s watched their cultural landscape get obliterated by the greed of the powerful.

Gentrification will reclaim the airwaves when it officially releases on September 27; stream the single on SoundCloud first.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Fuar became the airwaves’ new favourite folk-punk raconteur with ‘Ladies Night’

Posted on 25 September 2024

In his latest single, Ladies Night, Belfast’s Fuar arrived with the swagger of a seasoned raconteur and the fervour of a folk-punk revolution, stirring the still airwaves into a riotous frenzy. Here is a single that marries the cheeky charm of Irish folk with the electric buzz of college radio rock, a sound nostalgically nodding to R.E.M.’s sticky-sweet hooks yet boldly staking its own claim in the folk domain.

Fuar melded the quintessential tones of traditional acoustic folk instrumentation with punk’s refusal to harmonise with convention, creating an atmosphere thick with euphoria. The charismatically magnetic vocals turn every syllable in the lyricism into a call to arms for those weary of the beige and the mundane in the folk scene.

The singer-songwriter may have only started to write his legacy with his recorded material, but if Ladies Night is anything to go by, his saga will be etched into the annals of folk before long. Having leapt into the recording scene in 2024, he’s quickly amassed a following enchanted by his panorama-painting lyricism and his earmilk-pouring progressions. With over 100 spins spanning from Amazing Radio to Radio New York, and echoes of acclaim reverberating through the blogosphere, Fuar has ensured his journey isn’t just one to watch—it’s one to be part of.

Ladies Night was officially released on September 10th and is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sticker – Making Mistakes: A Garage Grunge Anthem for the Fatally Fallible

Posted on 22 September 2024

Sticker’s debut single ‘Making Mistakes’ erupts as an explosive anthem for the perpetually remorseful and as a vindicating release for anyone haunted by the spectre of past missteps.

With its garage-grunge aesthetic sharply intersected by the electrifying surges of pop punk, the track from their debut EP, ‘Hello! My Name is Sticker’, cements the Nevada-based powerhouse as unreckonable evocateurs of caustic catharsis.

Formed in Las Vegas in 2019, Sticker, led by vocalist and guitarist Dennis Fija, alongside drummer Carlos Daniel Herrera and bassist Jacob Anthony Hennagir, the trio rapidly distinguished themselves in the Las Vegas circuit with a raw, fuzzy punk sound steeped in a plethora of influences. ‘Making Mistakes’ marries the nostalgic grit of Nirvana during their ‘Bleach’ era with the melodic poise of Smashing Pumpkins, layered with the contemporary edge of bands like Fidlar.

The track’s relentless energy and piercing lyrics provide a mirror to the soul, reflecting the tumult of self-criticism and the liberation found in acknowledging fallibility. It’s more than just music; it’s a frenzied, sonic purge of pent-up emotions, driven by dissonant chords, catchy melodies, and harsh vocals that challenge social norms and delve into the theme of unreciprocated emotions.

As the centrepiece of their EP, ‘Making Mistakes’ is the perfect introduction to Sticker’s gritty domain of rhythmic rebellion, proving that sometimes, the most profound reflections are found in the echoes of our errors.

Making Mistakes was officially released on September 8th; stream the single on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast