Browsing Tag

Scottish Rock

Culann animated the Scottish alt-rock scene with their standout single, City Eternal

Posted on 3 October 2023

After picking up the Best Rock/Alternative Artist accolade at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards, the Scottish-and-proud-enough-to-mainline-their-heritage-into-their-high-octane-hits powerhouse, Culann, have unleashed their inexorable EP, The Songs of Saints & Reivers.

The standout single, City Eternal, may be best enjoyed with a beer in hand in an atmosphere as lively as the anthemics of the unpredictably progressive fervour, but the cocktail of heart-in-throat immersion, tightly wound rhythmic chaos and swaggering hooks is just as sweet listening solo and in stereo.

Listen closely, and you’ll hear the rules of traditional songwriting being torn up and scattered like confetti in the exhilarant alt-rock arrangement, which isn’t afraid to show its histrionic side, pull punches with tumultuous math rock guitars, or cut itself with an edge of Glaswegian indie.

The Songs of Saints & Reivers EP was officially released on September 15; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

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

Vulpine break new ground with their experimental post-rock EP, Ventures.

Posted on 19 October 2021

Scotland’s most melodic alt-rock outfit, Vulpine, has released their genre-spanning debut EP, Ventures, which brings a rare sense of accessibility to math rock and plenty of solemnity and poise to emo pop-rock.

The best introduction to their atmospheric, progressively gripping songwriting style is the title track, which carries the evocative weight of Frightened Rabbit combined with the instrumental furore of Mogwai.

From an ambient prelude, an intricately immense storm kicks up in the instrumentals, taking you through gripping breakdowns and even sweeter crescendos that hit the climactic spot every time. As the consistently in-flux sonic palette switches up through the progressions, vocalist, Pete Fox, demonstrates the provoking range of his vocal power.

The Ventures EP released on October 1st. It is now available to stream and purchase on all major platforms via this link.

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