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Electronic Rock

Mustard Mountain Moving Company lament societal idiosyncracy in their Avant-Garde debut, Make it Stop?

For anyone that can relate to the sentiment ‘stop the world I want to get off’, the debut single, Make it Stop? from Mustard Mountain Moving Company should be considered unmissable.

Far from another lockdown lament, the track has been 18-years in the making from the Pittsburgh scene veterans, proving that ennui-blackened frustration has been viable for almost two decades. Yet, notably, it was a devilishly timely release from the lo-fi Avant-Garde artist, who will enamour fans of Elliott Smith and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds alike.

While the lyrics put the idiosyncrasies of our modern existence in the spotlight, the playful synths ensure that the light of day isn’t all too harsh. You couldn’t ask for sweeter sugar for the pill of reality. Do yourselves a favour, affix them to your radar.

You can hear Mustard Mountain Moving Company’s debut single for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The UK’s most promising electronic post-rock pioneers, Bear Witness, have released their temperamentally visceral stormer, Thorn in My Side

Bear Witness

If you ever found yourself with a soft spot for Celldweller, Highly Suspect or InMe, the Brighton-based Electronic Alt-Rock duo, Bear Witness have exactly what it takes to rekindle your affinity for viscerally raw turbulent tracks. Their latest single, Thorn in My Side, is practically post-rock pornography.

Around the overdriven scuzzy guitar riffs, there’s enough of a melody to leave you hooked in the temperamental rhythms, and perceptibly, Bear Witness know just how to use spatial effect and build tension throughout their sonic stormer.

Unsurprisingly, we aren’t the only ones hooked on Bear Witness’ refreshing candour and blisteringly off-kilter signature sound. They’ve already been lauded by the BBC, played to crowds at The Camden Assembly, and are currently semi-finalists in the Isle of Wight Festival’s New Blood competition.

Thorn in My Side will officially release on April 15th. You can check it out for yourselves by heading over to Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Marked Since Day 1 has unleashed his dirty electro-rock earworm, Dirty Little Lips

‘Dirty Little Lips’ is the latest sultry industrial electro pop-rock track from the renowned multimedia artist and model, Marked Since Day 1. By matching the galvanising sex appeal in She Want Revenge, Mindless Self Indulgence and Alec Empire tracks, apathy isn’t an option once the fiery track builds to full momentum.

If Taylor Swift is the lyrical angel that sits on your shoulder, the Chicago hailing alternative artist, Marked Since Day 1 (David Gabriel) is the devil that sits on the other. The macabrely meta lyrics allude to the nefariousness that comes to the surface in modern dating etiquette while never letting the realism slip. The devilishly twisted single hits the spot in every conceivable way.

Dirty Little Lips is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Acrid Key has ‘Nothing to Lose’ in their Lynchian synth-pop meets electronic rock single.

“Nothing to Lose” is the latest Lynchian feat of soothing alt synth-pop from the up and coming experimental luminary Acrid Key. Once the Twin Peaks vibes in the intro are out of the way, the wavy distorted guitar tones continue to hammer and shine through in the downtempo instrumental mix in an indulgently hypnotic fashion.

The US-based artist and producer released Nothing to Lose as an entrancing showcase of his alt-indie inclination. Instead of following fads and making attempts at assimilation, Acrid Key follows his own vibe and lays them out in trippy synth-laced grooves. With that in mind, the hazy discordantly-tinted soundscape becomes all the more efficacious in aiding aural escapism.

Nothing to Lose is now available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Gangster of the Galaxy feat Ariana Rodriguez beguile with their stormer of an electronic alt-rock track, Take Me.

Ariana Rodriguez is on a mission to bring emotion back to music; in her collaboration with Gangster of the Galaxy, the Floridian singer discernibly succeeded; the dark undertones in Take Me create the perfect contrast against the innocence in her light, evocative vocal timbre.

While Ariana Rodriguez’ vocals rest between Portishead and Evanescence, Gangster of the Galaxy brings urban alchemy into the mix over the progressive dark beats which start with bass-dripping discord before twisting into a feat of alt-rock, not all too far from Linkin Park’s sonic palette.

For any dark trip-hop fans, Take Me will feel like home from the first hit.

The radio edit of Take Me is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mask Anatomica has released her ensnaring electronic pop-rock mash-up, Rising.

After honing in on their skills as a session vocalist and rock frontwoman, the Reno-based artist, Mask Anatomica, made their ensnaring solo debut in 2019.

Their stylish edge has seen them performing at the Berlin Underground Film Festival, the Florence Film Festival and the Mysticon Film Festival. Seemingly, a global pandemic did little to harken their bid for aural domination.

Their latest release, the title track from the 2021 EP RISING, is the perfect introduction to the artist’s gnarly rock-tinged EDM pop alchemy. By infusing soul around the harsh electronic beats and allowing motifs of heavy rock to break up the dystopic dark textures, Mask Anatomica created an endlessly enlivening single which reinforces the importance of autonomy.

Until I heard Rising, I’d been disappointed by the lack of art that demands an uprise. Mask Anatomica more than made up for the shortfall. If there is an artist that you’d do well to follow through the apocalypse, it is Mask Anatomica.

The official video for Mask Anatomica’s latest single, Rising, premiered on November 5th. You can check it out for yourselves via YouTube.

Connect with Mask Anatomica on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Alien Al and the Juperoids welcome you to the future of dystopic pop with their standout single, Alice.

After a successful debut with their single, Probe, the electronic space rock outfit Alien Al and the Juperoids, fronted by actor and singer Alyx Nazir, have released their ground-breaking self-titled debut album.

The perfect introduction to their conceptual, expressionist style is the pop track, Alice, which starts with the same arresting atmosphere of existential sci-fi films that welcome you into cold dystopic futures. Through the eerie progressions, the single picks up some more archetypal pop tendencies along the way before a frenetic rock outro. In the strangest and most beautiful way, Alien Al and the Juperoids prove the value and warmth of music in our embittered world through Alice.

The debut album from Alien Al is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

8udDha bl0od – 8888: Avant-Garde Glitch Wave Psych Rock

Glitchy electronica meets psych-rock in Brighton-based artist 8udDha bl0od’s latest instrumental single 8888; the avant-garde production allows the static electronic effect to bite into the old school rock n roll guitars which drive you through the indulgent chaos of the soundscape.

As 8888 gears toward the outro, tribal energy starts to tear its way into the release before a sharp and sudden close affirms just how immersive the single was, once your rhythmic pulses are at a loss with the silence.

Even with the artist’s ever-evolving sound, you can appreciate the signature style of 8udDha bl0od that ensures each of his releases come with a psychedelic kick and dirty rock tones that bring familiarity to his otherwise eclectically obscure releases.

Listen to 8888 for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sean Grinsell rocks psych and blues into his intense symphonic single, Rogue.

Sean Grinsell

Up and coming artist Sean Grinsell rocked psych and blues into his upcoming experimental single, Rogue. The doomy, scuzzy track carries the intense symphonic feel of FalKKonE along with licks of frenetic rock n roll that make the Black Keys sound as tame as Maroon 5.

The dramatic and edgy instrumental score is absorbing from start to finish; midway through the extended single, there’s a switch to chiptune style electronica before Grinsell shows his 50s rock n roll stripes once more. Any true fan of artful aural experimentalism will want to experience Rogue for themselves.

Rogue is the first song of five to be released from the EP, R is for Redemption, due for release on all major platforms from August 20th, 2021.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

TUNNL19 deliver grungy industrial rock in their debut single, ‘Voices’.

TUNNL19 has been making major waves in the alt-rock scene in Puerto Rico since 2013. Originally, they performed in cover bands, their latest single, ‘Voices’, proves they have just as much talent as the artists they were covering.

It’s a bitter pill that many artists have to swallow that ‘good’ instrumentalists don’t necessarily make great songwriters; the hooks and fervent energy in Voices affirm that was never going to be an issue for TUNNL19.

After a fuzzy synthesised intro, the electronic alt-grunge track starts to unfold with scuzzy, Rob Zombie-reminiscent-guitars, high-energy grunge vocals and industrial beats that come with an alt-90’s-style-psychedelic kick. They even managed to find room for some post-punk sensibilities in the low reverberant basslines that won’t fail to pull you into the heart of this fiery feat of refreshing alt-rock.

Voices officially released on July 2nd; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast