Browsing Tag

post hardcore

Purge yourselves via District 13’s post-hardcore stormer, Step into the Fire

Posted on 5 February 2022

There was little chance of forgetting the mesmeric furore of District 13, which we were introduced to via their 2019 single, Soma. The Exeter-hailing virtuosic sons have driven even more frenetic finesse into their sound over lockdown if their latest single, Step into the Fire, is anything to go by.

Between the old-school Black Sabbath vibes and the hints of post-hardcore, their own darkly maniacal alt-metal signature sound had plenty of room to breathe. For 5 and a half minutes, District 13 prove the dynamism in their influence and talent as you are shunted through the unpredictably gratifying progressions. From hooky choruses to theatrical interludes to thrash metal breakdowns, Step into the Fire offers it all. We highly recommend any alt-metal fan with an open mind instead of a petulant fixation on the past purges themselves within Step into the Fire.

The official video for District 13’s single, Step Into the Fire, is now available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Gunpoint Alibi deliver the evolution that alt-rock fans have been waiting for with their latest single, Bury Me

Posted on 23 January 2022

‘Bury Me’ is the latest fierce slice of alt-rock from the Denver, Colorado-based powerhouse Gunpoint Alibi. What started as a garage-punk cover band in 2019 evolved into a gnarly post-hardcore outfit complete with ensnaring high-octane instrumental hooks and harsh pop-punk vocals that fall away from the Hayley Williams mould (thank God!) into raucous new territory.

Morgan Elizabeth’s vocal confidence runs in parallel to the levels of conviction and dynamism; she could smash through a screamo track just as well as a Taylor Swift hit. And if that wasn’t enough, there’s also the infectious sense of playfulness she uses as she attacks the lyrics with her versatile vocal timbre. We can’t wait to hear how they follow on from this monster of an alt-rock evolution.

Bury Me is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Embark on an aural space odyssey with Sunset Afire’s doomy cinematic track, Red Sails

Posted on 21 December 2021
Singularity by Sunset Afire

Doomy, groovy, cinematic tonal palettes feel more fitting than ever, and that’s just what the Brooklyn, New York-hailing post-hardcore outfit, Sunset Afire, delivered with their album, Singularity.

The standout single, Red Sails, is an atmospheric introduction to the nihilistically fuelled minds behind the vicious yet sublimely composed furore in the seminal album.

Rather than going full pedal to the metal, Sunset Afire knew exactly where to throw the fire into the single with the gorgeously layered male and female vocals and where to strip it back to build the tension. Red Sails doesn’t go full-on space odyssey rock opera; instead, it keeps grungy nuances at the heart of the progressively electrifying track that we can’t wait to hear more of. They’ve definitely made an ever-lasting impression with their elevated experimentalism.

Red Sails is now available to stream and download via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Hopes Avenue has released their viscerally raw post-hardcore sophomore track, Escape/Reality.

Posted on 6 October 2021

Hopes Avenue became one of Scotland’s most promising alt-rock outfits with the release of their viscerally raw post-hardcore sophomore single, Escape/Reality.

Given that we’re practically living in the world Charlie Brooker imagined for Black Mirror, the chillingly cold production of the familiar rock elements in Escape/Reality is oddly consoling. Their intrinsically melodic hardcore progressions carry the same evocative weight as Days to Remember, Rise Against, and Alkaline Trio as the sombrely high-octane vocals make sure that Escape/Reality hits as hard emotionally as it does sonically.

The insanely talented 4-piece powerhouse is one to watch; especially for fans of Bring Me the Horizon and Enter Shikari.

Escape/Reality is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Post-Hardcore and Power Pop Collide: Picture the Scene. The Hang-Up

Posted on 27 September 2021

After a line-up change that saw a female vocalist fronting the South East, UK outfit Picture the Scene. with their freshly refined sound, the heavy pop-punk powerhouse has come in with all guns blazing with their latest single, The Hang-Up.

The galvanizing power-pop choral hooks are broken up with heavy rock motifs and growled vocals that any fans of Job for a Cowboy or any other post-hardcore outfit will be familiar with. I can only imagine how intense the playful ferocity in the sticky sweet hit would be live. Picture the Scene. is for every metalhead who finds themselves with a guilty penchant for Taylor Swift. With The Hang-Up, Picture the Scene. established themselves as on par with BABYMETAL for the boundaries they broke with their sonic furore. Do I even need to tell you to save space on your radar?

The Hang-Up is now available to stream on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Artie Ziff have released the ultimate indie post-hardcore anthem, Masquerade

Posted on 24 September 2021

The Scottish alt-indie outfit, Artie Ziff, is the kind of artist that leaves you instantly perplexed at how they fly under so many people’s radars with their ability to organically weave a myriad of genres into their captivatingly high-octane sound. Their latest single, Masquerade, proves that they have exactly what it takes to reach the same heights as Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes, Bring Me the Horizon or Yungblud as alt-rock pioneers.

The proceedings kick off with a post-punk-style prelude before post-hardcore stylings start to work their way into the anthemically unpredictable hit. If you think The National’s guitars when they kick into sonic overdrive are something, you might want to strap yourselves in for Masquerade that brings just as much to the table vocally. Anyone that never completely grew out of their emo phase should definitely consider Masquerade a playlist staple.

The official video for Masquerade premiered on September 16th; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Middle Fingers Up: Motivated Idaho metal band Artificial Aliens urge us to make it count this time with ‘Start Again’

Posted on 24 July 2021

With a powerfully rugged sound that has your ears ringing like a telephone in delight, Artificial Aliens angrily smash the locked door down to the floor as they search for that all-important purpose which will set them free on ‘Start Again‘.

Artificial Aliens is a thunderous Rupert, Idaho-based indie post-hardcore/metal five-piece band. They make that stimulating-your-senses-quickly type of speaker-shaking vibe, which has you feeling so invigorated after a long enforced slumber.

”From a town with few concerts or publicity, Artificial Aliens have traveled and toured to gain exposure for their unique and aggressive sound.” ~ Artificial Aliens

You feel their electric energy transforming into something special right before your eyes, as you turn up the volume to the max, as your whole body has that rare feeling of euphoria. The powerful vocals lift you up into the smoke-filled air so quickly as the band are on top form the whole time.

Their sensationally hard soundscape has your head nodding furiously as you imagine watching them live in concert, and moshing intensely the whole way through the gig.

‘Start Again‘ from the high octane Rupert, Idaho-based indie metal/post hardcore act Artificial Aliens, shows us a motivated band on a real mission to grab that opportunity by sweeping the past away, as they take charge of what comes next. They remind us that its vitally important to never let the past dictate your future, as starting fresh sometimes is the only way to truly succeed.

Their lesson is simple. Middle fingers up to anyone who tries to bring you down in life.

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

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Start Over: Underground Orlando trio NOT just want to replenish their energy with much-needed sleep on ‘The Worst Twelve Hours Of My Life’

Posted on 24 July 2021

With a highly ambitious and speaker-grabbing style which has your head bouncing around like a beach ball in summer, NOT recall that time when nothing seemed to go right on ‘The Worst Twelve Hours Of My Life‘.

NOT is a pleasurable Orlando, Florida-based indie alternative pop-punk/post-hardcore trio band. They ravage the unsuspecting airwaves with a succulent blend of drum-bashing entertainment that is stacked full of speaker-breaking vocals, and rampaging guitar riffs.

Their door-breaking noise slams all of the pesky wind back into the sun-lit sky – as they seem to fly into our lives like unsung superheros – to satisfyingly bringing back a sound which disappeared like Batman into the night a few years ago. This is a foot-stomping and sweat-flowing song which will have your ears alive, alert, awake and feeling blimmin’ fantastic.

‘The Worst Twelve Hours Of My Life‘ from the fiery Orlando indie post-hardcore/pop-punk three-piece chargers NOT, shows us a story which so many have felt recently. You feel that things could be way better as the day hasn’t gone anywhere according to plan, as you try and fall asleep but your eyes just stay open like a 24 hour convenience store.

This is a terrific track which quickly pushes the blood back into your head and lights your attention up quickly, to remind you that this genre isn’t dead, instead its gone back to the underground to reinvent itself again. Starting over sometimes is the only way to truly evolve after all.

Stream this new single on Spotify and see more on their revved up IG channel.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Seven Days Rest put a dark and doomy spin on hardcore with their single, ‘Traitor’.

Posted on 28 June 2021

‘Traitor’ is the latest confrontationally fierce alt-rock single released by New Mexico-based luminaries, Seven Days Rest. Their darker take on hardcore allows you to relive the glory days when Job for a Cowboy and the Black Dahlia Murder reigned supreme in the hardcore scene.

Yet, with the progressive nature of the doomy tuned-down guitars, Traitor offers everything you could hope for in an alternative track. The soaring instrumental hooks, frenetic glitchy breakdowns and catchy choruses with arresting female vocals complemented with guttural screams pull together to make an adrenalizingly cathartic track out of Traitor.

Given that most people are by default terrible, I’m sure that plenty of people will find resonance in the track that launches a straight-up attack on backstabbers.

Traitor is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Young Fatigue attack aesthetic obsession with their single Am I Pretty Now?

Posted on 6 May 2021

After forming in 2019, London-based three-piece powerhouse Young Fatigue is gaining all the right attention and are on track to take the Alt-Rock scene by storm in 2021, especially with the release of their latest single, Am I Pretty Now?

With crystal clear nods to Daniel Kessler’s lead work in the intro giving way to the grungey carnage in the first verse combined with throbbingly ominous post-punk basslines, Am I Pretty Now? hooks you in, right from the start. As the single continues to evolve, pop-punk biting energy transgresses into post-hardcore-style-furore, delivering an angsty scuzz that you are unlikely to forget.

Tune into the lyrics, and you will find that Young Fatigue attack aesthetic obsession with the same poignancy as Richey Edwards. If Richey was around to witness the Instagram generation, I do not doubt that his lyrics would be reminiscent of Young Fatigue’s.

You can hear Young Fatigue via their Website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast