Browsing Tag

Hard Rock

Give me fuel, give me DeadFire’s latest single, Pro[Pain]

Posted on 28 April 2023

It was over a year ago when we last heard the premier sleaze rock raconteurs, DeadFire, with their on the pulse hit, Anxiety Society; they’ve worn their societal consciousness on their sleeves once more with their latest single, Pro[Pain]. As democracy dies, no one will be able to hear the cries from the disenfranchised masses over their juggernautical stormer of heavy-hitting rock.

DeadFire picked up all the slack left behind by other UK rock and metal acts that are still letting their egos write their songs. Pro[Pain] is the ultimate slice of sonically monolithic vindication for anyone left reeling by a reality that is quickly becoming defined by greed and exploitation. The next time you feel like checking out of political protest, join the riff-heavy powerhouse at the helm of rebellion by tearing up your speakers with Pro[Pain]. It is enough to make you wonder what Metallica tracks would sound like if Hetfield had an ounce of relatability about him.

Pro[Pain] will be available to stream on Spotify from April 28.

Follow DeadFire via Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Under My Skin: ChemiQueen bravely battles through the frigid rain on Into The Storm

Posted on 27 April 2023

Heavy to the core and stunning all innocent ears into a certain submission, ChemiQueen roars into life like a hungry Lion ready to fight on a stupendously fiery single to battle all wars no matter the weirdly ominous weather outside on Into The Storm.

ChemiQueen is a South Essex, UK-based indie alternative experimental metal/hard rock artist who loves to electrify audiences with a ravishing blend of ear-sizzling proportions.

”Controlled and crafted by the dark queen herself, their intoxicating influence will leave you single-minded, prepare to submit yourself to the ChemiQueen.” ~ ChemiQueen

She’s clawing her way to the peak and taking her band with her for the ride of a lifetime on this skin-peeling session. ChemiQueen means business on this 6-minute plus snack for anyone who needed a lift from the cold climates of doom. Turn this up okay?

Into The Storm from South Essex, UK-based indie alternative experimental metal/hard rock artist ChemiQueen is a raw display of growing intensity which shall wake up any sleepy cats in the neighbourhood. This is vein-popping stuff and shall improve moods for the better or scare many away. That is the point of this creation. It’s certainly not for everyone and that’s okay. This is packed with a grenade-like explosion for all of our hearts. Are you ready?

Listen up on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Tin Zelkova has unveiled their NSFW-sexy alt-rock single, Miss Mean Marcella

Posted on 22 April 2023
https://spotify.link/U7M6eTs5Oyb

Sexy enough to be NSFW, Tin Zelkova’s latest debauchedly dark alt-rock single, Miss Mean Marcella, is another radio-ready slice of organically originated rock. It is quite the departure from the soulful sonics we last heard from the three-piece when our ears were candied with the standout single, Soul Shaker, from their debut eponymous LP.

But we were far from disappointed to be drenched in the slick swagger of Miss Mean Marcella, which paints a scintillating picture of the kind of femme fatale that would leave anyone weak at the knees. If the tale of the maleficent mistress doesn’t leave your libido hot under the collar, you might want to check if it still has vital signs. With the guitar lines as loaded as Velvet Revolver’s and the vocals clawing you into the narrative with every honeyed note, Miss Mean Marcella definitively deserves to be a chart-topper.

Miss Mean Marcella was officially released on April 8. Catch it on Spotify and YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

She Burns Red delivered a solicitous paradox of euphoric ennui with their latest single, Out of Darkness

Posted on 21 February 2023
She Burns Red

When the lyrics hit harder than the hard-rock riffs and cacophonic percussive immensity, you know you have just discovered a band that cuts above the one-dimensional fray. West Lothian’s high-octane remedy to assimilated monotony, She Burns Red, stormed through the shallow puddles left behind by other acts on the scene with their latest single, Out of Darkness.

The juggernautical grungy melodicism which leaves you with bated breath until you get the sweet relief from the paradoxical choruses where euphoric ennui awaits is one thing. The intensity of the vindicating candour amplified by the solicitous reprise of “don’t you wait for me” in the lyrics that capture the hindrance of darkness and the compulsion to push others from the sidelines of despair is another entirely.

“We’ve got nothing left to say but so much goes untold, white walls filled with silent sorrow” captures the alienation of disconnected despondency to such a degree that the resonance burns red hot through this breakneck ride of riff-driven rancour.

Out of Darkness will officially release on February 24th; pre-save it here.

Follow She Burns Red on Facebook & Instagram. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Get Your Audial Adrenaline Fix from Palmar Arch’s Searingly Hot Alt-Rock Single, Sunscript

Posted on 18 February 2023

The boisterous prodigal son of alt-rock, Palmar Arch (Robert James), is on bruisingly impactful form with his single, Sunscript, due for official release on February 17th.

Previously operating under the moniker Superbloom and operating as a full band, Palmar Arch has relaunched the project as a solo endeavour and proven that he is a powerhouse of high-octane ingenuity standing alone in the process.

With hints of pop-punk biting from behind the hard-hitting rock elements that always leave room for melodic hooks between the grungy riffs through the angular melodicism, Sunscript is enough to allow you to imagine what the Foo Fighters would sound like if they kept hold of their virtuosic talent and picked up some contemporary cool.

Between the lack of obvious influence, the adrenalized production and the sheer immensity, Palmar Arch is one to beat.

Watch the official music video for Sunscript on Spotify and YouTube

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Strange Authority stretched their wounds in their hard-rock heavy-hitter, L’Appel Du Vide

Posted on 15 February 2023

Amplifying the anticipation amassing around their debut LP as much as the high gain guitars, the New Jersey powerhouse Strange Authority delivered us from hard-rock monotony with the unveiling of the third single, L’Appel Du Vide, from their upcoming album, Aftershock.

With a touch of James Hetfield to the vocals before they descend into Still Remains-Esque guttural furore and instrumentals that push their hard-rock sound far from classic territory, the exploratively volatile release embraces the future of post-hardcore while keeping familiarly heavy riffs at its core.

If it has been a while since you’ve heard lyrics as impactful as the instrumentals, strap yourselves in for the high-octane multi-faceted resonance.

L’Appel Du Vide is now available to stream on Spotify. Stay tuned for the release of the LP, Aftershock, which is in the pipeline and ready to drop in late Spring 2023.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mike Wilkins delivered riff-driven vindication in his latest hard-rock hit, STRANDED

Posted on 3 January 2023

San Diego-hailing guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Mike Wilkins is back on fervid form with his latest hard rock hit, STRANDED, inspired by the cathartic freedom of cutting toxic ties.

It is a sure-fire hit of vindication for anyone who has had to disconnect from negative bonds. For people who need a little extra convincing to step into their own light away from the shadow of insidious others, the face-melting riffs, reminiscent of the ones carved by Glenn Tipton, George Lynch, and Phil Collen, will give you a positive shove forward with the force of a juggernaut.

With hints of 80s hair metal in the riff-driven hit, the choruses are easy to get caught up within, while the monolithic breakdowns crafted by the one-man powerhouse, who has previously worked with Tim Owens (Judas Priest), bind you even more tightly into this breakneck helter-skelter ride through virtuoso-level talent and relatable emotion.

The official video for STRANDED is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

It’s the end of the world as we know it, and The Star Prairie Project refuse to let it go quietly in their classic rock lament, Visions of War

Posted on 12 December 2022

The last time we heard The Star Prairie Project, they were serenading us through their rock ballad, Queen Isabella. Today, they are here with their aptly dark classic rock forewarning of a bomb-blistered destitute future, Visions of War.

With testaments of how visions of war pierce through the subconscious veil and perturb our dreams, it is a striking account of how plagued by the weight of the world we are. No matter how much we try to cast our gaze away from the screens which burn fear into our psyches.

It almost felt sacrilegious to appreciate the sheer ingenuity on offer here. But in the same breath, it is a stunning reminder that no matter how disparate the world gets as it amps up the chaos with every turn, humans are just as capable of fucking BEAUTIFUL things. And the tragedies falling like dominoes all around us are a crying shame of potential.

Here’s what The Star Prairie Project had to say on their latest album:

“Fight or Flight trumpets the fact that the world order as we know it is teetering and crumbling before our eyes. While too many remain oblivious to this fact, there is no denying that human civilization is facing its gravest challenges since World War II. To make matters worse, these challenges are hitting us from all possible directions.

As if we weren’t busy enough dealing with the accelerating climate change, environmental degradation, flora and fauna extinction, we’re also batting political and social discord unforeseen in many western nations … until recently. As the prices of consumer goods and gas are soaring due to the war in Ukraine, the poor become poorer, and the rich become richer. It’s unintentional, but we’re creating a fertile recruiting ground for street gangs and organized crime – the riot squads have never been busier.”

Visions of War is now available to stream on Spotify. Delve in and prepare to be arrested.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sweden’s Ember Street created the ultimate anthem for the disillusioned age with ‘Searching’

Posted on 18 November 2022

Taken from their debut album, Arrival, Ember Street’s cutting-edge hard rock lead single, Searching, is an affirming anthem for our disillusioned age. With touches of Billy Talent and Highly Suspect to the vocals that spill across the crunchy guitars, anthemic drums and basslines that tightly fit into the frenetically hooky furore of Searching, Ember Street evidently have what it takes to become one of Sweden’s premier hard rock bands.

After getting their rock stripes in various projects, the four-piece utilised their money-can’t-buy synergy in the creation of their debut album, Arrival, which has been in the works for over a decade. Clearly not ones for instant gratification or half-baked hits, Ember Street is one that many rock fans will want to walk down to get their heart-in-throat hard-rock fills.

The official lyric video premiered on November 4th; watch it on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Andrew Curtis disrupted the stagnancy in the rock scene with his viseral-with-fervour alt-rock hit, Unholy Smoke

Posted on 12 November 2022

Running in a similar alt-rock vein to Highly Suspect with added Pixies Trompe le Monde era grit in the melodically brashy guitars that weave through the expertly carved hooks, Andrew Curtis’ latest single, Unholy Smoke, packs a raucous punch. Undeniably, it’s a visceral-with-fervour hard hitter that any staunch rock fan will want colliding with their eardrums.

The UK-based multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and songwriter is also revered in the cinematic world after writing and acting in three feature films. Away from the silver screen, Curtis (AKA Motel Ghost) is working on his debut LP to rectify the contemporary issue of stagnancy in the rock scene. If it contains the thematic energy of Unholy Smoke, it’s set to be a resounding success.

Unholy Smoke dropped on October 30th; check it out on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast