A&R Factory

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

Posted on 18 April 2022

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

Mar Palafox lead the vanguard in his latest spacey hard rock single, Battle.

Posted on 14 July 2021

After a string of successful singles, the alt-rock solo artist Mar Palafox has released his debut self-titled album; expect an adrenalizing ensemble of power metal, prog rock and spacey hard rock.

Any fans of Dir En Grey, InMe and Porcupine Tree will be easily absorbed by the atmospheric textures in the soundscapes that coincide with frenetic solos as they blaze through the complex time signatures. Each single on the album is a feat of ingenuity, but none more so than the standout single, Battle. The slightly lo-fi feel to the single gives Battle a punky garage rock edge that is cutting, to say the least.

You can check out Mar’s debut album for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast