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Birmingham’s Cage Park navigate life through those comforting cartoons on ‘Hand Me Downs’

Posted on 9 April 2022

Blessing us with the lead track from their brand new EP which dropped on the 8th of April, Cage Park knows that they need to move into adulthood but aren’t quite ready just yet on their epic new single, ‘Hand Me Downs‘.

Formally known to the world as FLARES, Cage Park is a fantastically raw Birmingham, UK post-punk 4-piece band who met while at school and their friendship has only gotten stronger since.

With a new name due to a pesky copyright dispute, Cage Park roar like hungry Lions and show us that they are here to stay. ‘Hand Me Downs‘ is a simply excellent single that will have you dusting off your guitar, to get into the mood as you are inspired by these young artists who seem to have that extra edge that is so easy to hear. They pulsate to perfect effect here, as you close your eyes and imagine them on the biggest stages of them all.

‘Hand Me Downs‘ from Birmingham, UK post-punk 4-piece band Cage Park is one of the best underground tracks you might hear today. They have such a gritty style that is properly likeable – with two vocalists who combine superbly together – as we hear a gripping style delightfully mixing into our awaiting ears. They might not be ready for some things in life (which are dull anyway) but are certainly ready for the big time.

UK’s next huge band could be right here amongst us already if they want it enough.

Listen up to a band you won’t be able to forget on Spotify and see more on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

No genre was safe in The Vista’s poppy alt-indie-rock fusion single, Truth Be Told

Posted on 13 March 2022

We may have been in a post-truth reality for a few years now, but here to burst that dystopic bubble is the indie rock outfit, The Vista, and the instantly iconic single, Truth Be Told, which melds classic rock with garagey proto-punk and smoother than smooth alt-indie rock.

With vocals that sit between country-blues crooning and bitey pop-punk vocal lines, they exude just as much exuberance as the anthemic vintage guitar tones that surge around the crunchy basslines and atmosphere-building percussion.

We can’t wait to hear what the Birmingham-based outfit have in the pipeline. They may have only appeared to shake up the indie scene in 2021, but their shockwaves are already cataclysmically strong.

Truth Be Told was officially released on March 11th. It is now available to stream on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Clean Up: Birmingham garage rockers First Frontier drop superb debut single ‘Break Away’

Posted on 21 December 2021

Taken off their highly-anticipated first EP ‘Just Matter‘, First Frontier show us their world-famous Brummie banter and Northern grit with their explosive debut single all about moving on from the undesirable bad vibes on ‘Break Away‘.

First Frontier is an electric Birmingham, UK-based indie garage-rock duo who assemble that rip-roaring type of music that has you turning the volume all the way up and telling your mate about them.

”They’ve unleashed the frenzy of their energetic rhythms and soul-searching, upbeat lyrics on audiences since 2020 in a manner that has mostly been appreciated.” ~ First Frontier

With spectacular exuberance that has your ears bursting with excitement, First Frontier thrust themselves into our lives with a quite stupendous debut that is approvingly memorable due to their radiant energy that is such a brilliant listen.

‘Break Away‘ from the high-tempo Birmingham-based garage-rock duo First Frontier, is a terrific release from a band that tells us the relevant story about how they are gleefully washing away anything that isn’t genuine. With so many fake vibes going around – and some foolish people only interested in what they can gain from you – this is a heartfelt reminder that it’s okay to cleanse away any negativity that is holding you back. Performed with a hungry edge that shows us that they are only getting started, this is a top debut single that will have your speakers booming with delight.

Hear this excellent new single on Spotify and see more on their IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

There Won’t Be A Next Time: Energetic Birmingham band By Devices return with the dynamic new track ‘Sink so Low’

Posted on 16 December 2021

Bringing us their spirited story that propels you to plunge your teeth powerfully into, By Devices are at their loudest with their new single all about wondering how someone could ‘Sink so Low‘.

By Devices is a venom-filled Birmingham, UK-based 5-piece rock band. They are highly skilled at hammering our speakers to maximum impact and undoubtedly catch your engagement with their barraging style.

Transmitting their well-constructed story through their heart-stopping energy that is compellingly unrelenting the whole way through, By Devices expertly switch our moods from a frown into a reflective ponder. They bring us a high-energy performance that has you imagining them on the biggest festival stages in full flight.

‘Sink so Low‘ from experienced Birmingham, UK-based 5-piece rock act By Devices, is an intense effort from a band who have seen it all. This is the story about being disappointed and expressing that emotion, as a path moved into a different place than you previously expected by seeing something transpire that was thought unfathomable before. Sung with breathless stamina and executed with bone-rattling energy, this is a song to put on when you feel like venting out your feelings to clear your head.

Hear this pulsating new single on Spotify and see their stories on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Keeping It Cooking: High-flying West Midlands rapper PR1NCEMUSIC has got another book ready on ‘Careful Now’

Posted on 21 November 2021

With his profoundly-awaited EP set for release on the 26th November 2021, PR1NCEMUSIC sounds like he is vigorously fed up with hearing local artists keeping on spewing the same stale nonsense via his intent-filled new single called ‘Careful Now‘.

PR1NCEMUSIC is a youthfully exciting 21-year-old West Midlands, UK-based indie hip-hop artist and self-produced bedroom mixer with an excellent invention running through his veins that is steeped deeply in his ravishing flows.

”After seeing radio and streaming success on his hit song “Young Kings Don’t Prosper” back in 2020, he looks to surpass his previous records with this boomy trap banger.” ~ PR1NCEMUSIC

PR1NCEMUSIC shows us why his name has been mentioned so much lately as a real UK artist to watch closely on ‘Careful Now‘. He displays some higher echelon techniques that shall easily shade most, with a fiery energy that dazzles the mic and grabs hold of the moment he cherishes in the limelight.

‘Careful Now‘ from the West Midlands, UK-based indie hip-hop solo artist PR1NCEMUSIC, is a thunderously portrayed movie soundtrack about keeping things alive in your valuable brain while others stay on the numb lane which is so out of tune. The crafty beat keeps you highly involved throughout and the smartly-pencilled flows certainly sharpen quickly, as he shows us where his head is at. The previous games are now officially over, as this is an artist who is ready to lead from the front.

Fill your hungry ears with so much goodness on Spotify and see more via the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Feelings Taking Over: Birmingham’s Olly Powell knows that they have potential for lots of French kisses in ‘Paris’

Posted on 20 November 2021

Featuring a song so funky you might need to dust off those sunglasses to slide them on your beaming face real slow, Olly Powell is at his stunning best with a new track all about wondering if she will join him for the weekend in ‘Paris‘.

Olly Powell is a Birmingham, UK-based indie music producer, multi-instrumentalist and RnB/soul and hip-hop artist who loves to always be evolving into the best version of himself possible each day.

”Learning to play the guitar from an early age, he grew up on Rock and Blues giants Santana, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix which lead to Stevie Ray Vaughan and John Mayer. In his early twenties, his musical direction changed when he was introduced to D’Angelo and Erykah Badu.” ~ Olly Powell

Olly Powell displays his colossal capabilities yet again on the groovy love track ‘Paris‘, as he electroplates the speakers and lets us know that he is ready for a real commitment, as he wants her to know that he is for real. Showcasing his thunderous vocal ability with a bass bin-busting background – this is such a pleasurable listen that takes you away from the dull world – and into a kiss-filled one instead.

‘Paris‘ from Birmingham, UK-based indie music producer, multi-instrumentalist and RnB/soul and hip-hop solo artist Olly Powell, is such a vibrant track that is made with a cheeky grin on his face. He wants his future lover to be with him in this romantic city, so that they may see the sights and perhaps hold hands whilst trying out some French kissing too. What is more romantic than that anyway?

Hear this lovely new single on Spotify and see more of his travels via IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

You Can Do Anything: Inspiring UK rapper Sugarae urges us to live out these dreams on ‘Alive’

Posted on 15 November 2021

As he thoughtfully bestows his memoirs about grappling through life until he realized that he needed a mentality shift, Sugarae shows us that it is unquestionably conceivable to bust through any restrictions on ‘Alive‘.

Sugarae is a fast-rising West Midlands, UK-based indie hip-hop artist and music producer who raps with an evenly tinted flow that is destined for greatness.

”Brought up in a musical household where he found himself surrounded by a multitude of influences, Sugarae started out on the piano but quickly found himself obsessing over music production. Teaching himself to use FL Studio and Logic Pro with Youtube Tutorials, it wasn’t long before Sugarae was making professional beats for Grime Radio sets.” ~ Sugarae

There is a welcoming air of optimism from a self-confident man who has had to claw his way up the tree of life like a hungry kitty cat, who refuses to use up any more of those all-important nine lives. He raps with such a certain conviction and a must-hear attitude, that takes your alert mind into a positive place full of dreams that are attainable.

‘Alive‘ from the West Midlands, UK-based indie hip-hop solo artist and music producer Sugarae, shows us into a creative mind that has decided that anything is actually possible if you are focused enough. He leads us into a world that is filled with so much opportunity – if it is taken quickly and not wasted – with childish games that don’t lead you anywhere in life.

Hear this fine new track on Soundcloud and see more via the IG music page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Heart Is Aching: Irish family band Us4 drop debut single ‘Tears Of A Clown’

Posted on 14 November 2021

Reflecting a luminescent light onto our unhappy and frightened faces, Us4 have us grasping for the tissues nearby on their much-awaited première single called ‘Tears Of A Clown‘.

Us4 is a DIY Irish pop-rock band that was created by four siblings who are from busy Birmingham, UK. They are a tight-knit group that bring us striking harmonies, to truly gaze right into as we hunt for that new path of self-worth.

”Emanating from a rich musical background, Us4 is the triumphant culmination of a childhood of exposure to a vast and eclectic blend of music. A strong Irish heritage is evident in their unique and vibrant sound, as they seamlessly marry the driving rhythms of stadium rock acts with the beautiful melodic spirit of traditional Irish folk music.” ~ Us4

There is a mysterious edge about such well-sung vocals that has your rain-trodden frame shaking with intrigue, on a background soundtrack that takes you to a new place in your gushing capillaries. The ambience is crammed with a contemplative stream of wonder, as you take yourself away from what has been bringing you down in the past.

‘Tears Of A Clown‘ from the talented and self-produced four-piece Irish family band Us4, is a scintillating single from a truly distinct act who are only getting started. This is the narrative about feeling so downcast and needing to find the energy after an emotional moment to lift yourself up, so that you may return with that vitality that made you extraordinary before.

Finding your glowing light in this harsh world filled with evil potholes – which are ready to easily take you under if you don’t have your thick skin ready for action – is the only way to really be that person who you want to be in life.

Check out this stunning new effort on Spotify and see more via IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

That Peaceful Place: Martin Packwood is rather special with Jazz-inspired debut single ‘Daydreamer’

Posted on 17 October 2021

With his highly anticipated full album set for release in 2022, Martin Packwood soothes all our worries away with one of the most peaceful instrumental-only songs you will hear all year with ‘Daydreamer‘.

Martin Packwood is a solo recording Jazz guitarist and a retired software engineer, who was most active while playing extensively back in the 70’s and 80’s in Birmingham, UK.

You feel like he is playing above the clouds as he is floating around with a massive grin on his face, jamming his trusty guitar because he loves it. There is so much to respect about an artist who has made a comeback after working on his business, who plays with a sterling blend of excellence which is such a blessing to witness.

‘Daydreamer‘ from the skilled software engineer and Jazz guitarist Martin Packwood, is a lovely piece of music from a highly experienced musician. After reconnecting the much-missed love for his true passion again recently, you feel this raw emotion inside his experienced fingers which absolutely transforms this wonderful single. There is much to hold onto here, as this ravishing riff is just so perfectly constructed with much love attached.

Sometimes you just need to lather in peaceful ambiance, to break away from all of the distracting noise of this pollution-filled world.

Hear this delightful debut on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Tune into Wave of Sheep’s punch-drunk-hardcore-punk single, TV Static

Posted on 9 August 2021

If your playlists are falling short of angsty punch-drunk-hardcore-punk, tune into TV Static, the latest single released by the Birmingham-based fourpiece, Wave of Sheep.

Their scuzzy track is 2:11-minutes of full-frontal aggression that channels the same anger that has eaten us away at us in isolation, but when it is spiralling out of frenetic tracks like TV Static, it’s a unifying cathartic experience that affirms that your anger is a sign of sanity rather than the flipside.

With nods to 70s punk in the production and hints of snarling post-punk to the vocals, you can’t help getting swept up in the track that attacks modern problems with vintage style.

TV Static is now available to stream along with the rest of Wave of Sheep’s EP, Lights Gone Out, via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast