Browsing Tag

UK Rock

IN Peril deliver high-calibre catharsis in their thrashy garage rock track, ‘Your Decision’

Posted on 13 April 2021

UK-based hard rock outfit IN Peril made their debut in 2020 with their stormer of a single, ‘Your Decision’, with their visceral mix of garage rock and punk, they made it impossible not to pay attention.

While many people potentially won’t like the reminder that every life problem bemoaned about is a consequence of their decisions, there’s plenty of high-calibre catharsis within the punchy, thrashy hit that is screaming to be played live.

IN Peril may carry newcomer status presently, but the synergy within this sniping earworm wouldn’t allow you to believe it. Now that ‘normal’ life is threatening to make a return, they’re definitely one for the radar.

Your Decision is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tyron Freeman’s raucous, indie-tinged rock – ‘Keep It Hid, Locked Away’

Posted on 10 April 2021

Like so many musicians during the last year or so, Tyron Freeman – a veteran of bands as a professional musician in the North West UK – found that the world shifted and skewed sideways at the beginning of the pandemic. Suddenly stranded, jobless and isolated in a studio flat in Germany, what does a creative musician do but call in his mates and put together a killer rock n’ roll track?

‘Keep It Hid, Locked Away’ is raucous, indie-tinged rock – think Goo Goo Dolls, Bush, a little of Royal Blood, and some Beatles-y sing-song sections. There’s influences of Fontaines and Tame Impala, the White Stripes, and Oasis, too, along with old-school rock in Zeppelin, Bowie, and the Stooges. Recorded at Liverpool’s Parr Studios, Chris Taylor’s production brings elements of the Lightning Seeds, Blossoms, and The Coral into the mix, giving the overall single a perfect mix of classic rock groove and North-East England indie-pop catchiness. This might be early days for Tyron Freeman’s solo career, but on the basis of ‘Keep It Hid, Locked Away’ he really, really needs to avoid his own advice; this needs to be shouted from the rooftops instead.

‘Keep It Hid, Locked Away’ is out now; check out Tyron Freeman on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Das Ghoul bring a flash of spectacular pomp and ceremony to horror punk with ‘Twisted’

Posted on 19 March 2021
Trip the Light Phantasmic by das Ghoul

Take a healthy dose of old-school ‘Damned’-style gothic punk, a large helping of horror-tinged shock-rock, add a spattering of ‘Phantom of the Opera’ eerie piano, a decent dash of proper punk-edged rock n’ roll, and some sprinklings of ghostly psychedelia, and you’ve got a pretty good recipe for something special. That’s firmly where Oxford-based Das Ghoul sit; there’s touches of the aforementioned Damned, bits of Nick Marsh guitar and Flesh For Lulu atmosphere, even little mixes of opera, ska, and moody Interpol-style alt-rock at times in between the more obvious rushing punk guitar and shock-rock lyrics.

Das Ghoul bring a flash of spectacular pomp and ceremony to goth-horror-punk (is that a thing? It’s a thing), the evil looking masks and pseudonyms adding to a solid musical background. ‘Twisted’ is taken from their new, six-track EP ‘Trip The Light Phantasmic’, the addition of keyboard-player Octavia Von Wakeman filling a coffin-shaped hole and adding the ghastly final piece to the already impressive (presumably red-velvet) backdrop of previous album ‘Noise Das Noire’ and their debut ‘Video Nasty’ EP.

‘Trip The Light Phantasmic’ is … well, fantastic; sinister, punky, and filled with edgy, Edgar Allen Poe-esque gothic horror references and dark, tongue-in-cheek humour. ‘Twisted’ is a perfect introduction to the ghost train.

Check out ‘Twisted’, and the rest of ‘Trip The Light Phantasmic, on BandCamp; Follow Das Ghoul on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

London’s high-flying Post-Rock act National Service are in superlative form on ‘Caving’

Posted on 17 November 2020

‘Caving‘ is another masterful effort from the fast-rising UK act National Service who are signed to the legendary Indie label Fierce Panda.

National Service are a London based Indie-Post Rock band who have an energetic style and posses a real flair in their sound. With a strong and spectacular style, they drive in speeding hot with supremely style and vivid vocals that really impress. The superlative groove sticks in your head and melody will be stuck in your head for ages.

This is all about not being too hard on yourself in 2020. You are tired and a bit sick of everything. Your sleep patterns are not what they should be and you are not feeling normal. We all need to cut ourselves some slack and realize that it’s one day at a time at the moment.

With a vocal delivery that is so honest and each word means something, no effort is wasted here. The driving guitar riffs gets you in the mood to dance in your lounge. This is top quality track and you can see why this is a much-heralded outfit.

National Service are the type of band that you tell your friends about and wish you could see them in your local music bar. They transform powerfully like Optimus Prime as their new track unfolds before your eyes and ears, and you suddenly start to feel better and realize that things will be okay.

‘Caving‘ from North East London band National Service is an atmospheric single that seeps into your heart and doesn’t let go. They have a gift of sounding better and better as the song goes on, which is a true sign of a quality band. This is an important message of being kind to yourself despite what the world looks like right and a warning to not overthink anything too much. With a captivating sound that brings you close like a magnet on metal, you are locked into a sound that is so pleasurable for your sensitive soul, that needs a big lift. Luckily National Service are the elevator and we just need to walk through the door in order to hear this absolute gem of a new single.

Click here to stream this rocking track.

Hear more on Soundcloud.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Allan Dawson gives us a roadmap back to our sanity with the humbling Rock release ‘Bubble’

Posted on 16 November 2020

While many are despairing about the state that 2020 has left the industry in, artists such as Allan Dawson have been orchestrating maps back to our sanity by offering unifying releases such as the lead single “Bubble” from their latest album “Reflections of Your Face”.

The Colwyn Bay, North Wales-based artist, producer and engineer independently wrote, recorded and mastered Reflections of Your Face during lockdown. It poignantly encompasses our shared yearning for better times, all the while, Allan Dawson utilises the ability to spin a kaleidoscopic colour wheel which paints the human psyche and the multifaceted struggles which will all need to endure while we’re still breathing. While some songwriters are able to exhibit a candid and raw feel with their lyrics, Allan Dawson uses intricate emotional detail to create soundscapes which are simultaneously inspiring and humbling.

Everything from the tone of Allan Dawson’s reflective vocals to the steady pace of the masterfully orchestrated Rock n Roll licks allows you to sink into the production with ease and allow the sonorous feel of the single to convince you that you’re not alone with your lockdown frustration. Even if you want to stick a butter knife in your lockdown companion’s ear, you’ll get the consolation that your embittered mood is one shared globally.

If you could imagine what Nick Cave would sound like if they adopted a more Classic Rock approach and found a resounding amount of compassion, you’ll get an idea of what is in store when you press play on this cathartically comforting release.

You can check out Allan Dawson’s single Bubble along with the rest of their lockdown-born album Reflections of Your Face via Spotify, SoundCloud and Bandcamp.

 

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Shining Tongues – Make Us Eat: Experimentally Phantasmal Alt Rock

Posted on 30 September 2020

London-based newcomers The Shining Tongues cooked up a darkly entrancing progressive Alt-Rock hit with their latest single “Make Us Eat”.

It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is an indulgent shot of absinthe for any Peter Murphy fans. The reminiscences may be there, but there is no disputing that The Shining Tongues cooked up their own authentic gothic aural alchemy with Make Us Eat.

Make Us Eat kicks off with doom-laden melodicism before seamlessly meandering into an Avant-Garde feat of psychedelically beguiling Alt Rock.

After a cathartically serpentine start, choral tones start to creep in, allowing Make Us Eat to boast light and optimism-grappling allure before the soundscape descends into phantasmal experimentalism.

You can check out Make Us Eat which was released on September 24th for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bath Rockers Baby Shoes rip up the dance floor with ”Kamikaze”

Posted on 8 June 2020
Everyone That Could've Been by BabyShoes

Ah yes, this is the kind of rocking music we all need in our ears. I love it when bands aren’t conventional and really change it up. Bath’s Baby Shoes have just released their latest single so let’s turn this up loud and jump around in our lounges, waving at the neighbors at the same time. Who’s in?

”Kamikaze” takes a little while to warm up and they tease the audience at the beginning. I imagine the drummer doing some stretches and getting himself in the zone first. You must always wait for the drummer right? This powerful single soon warms up, distortion over for now and it steps into 5th gear and smashes through the vulnerable speakers.

Taken off ”Everyone That Could’ve Been”, which is set for release on the 1st of June, this is an awesome single full of dripping sweat and head nodding, that is bound to cause a few unsuspecting neck injuries.

Bath’s Baby Shoes have released a passionate song here and ”Kamikaze” is all about just going for it, what do you have to lose anyway. The world is messed up, let’s just enjoy life and dance until we smell like an old man’s toes.

Stream more on the bands Bandcamp channel and rock your socks off to this excellent UK band.

Review by Llewelyn Screen

Post Punk Meets Americana in Rob Howe’s Latest Single “Promised Glory”

Posted on 6 May 2020

If you could imagine an amalgamation of the atmospheric edge of the Chameleons and the anthemic appeal of Springsteen, you’d get a good idea of what is in store if you hit play on Rob Howe’s soulfully riff-driven Rock single “Promised Glory”.

The UK singer-songwriter and artist found the perfect balance between romanticism and high-octane Americana Rock energy in Promised Glory. Better yet, the distinction in the frill-free soundscape comes with no hindrance to the accessibility of the radio-ready track.

It’s safe to say you won’t hear a more infectiously rhythmic track produced this side of the 21st century if you turn on the radio today. We instantly warmed to Rob Howe, and we have no doubt that any fans of Americana Folk Rock will feel the same.

You can check out the lyric video to Promised Glory for yourselves by heading over to Vimeo.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Alt 90s Britpop & Folk Rock Converge in 8udDha bl0od’s Latest Single “Wasn’t Enough”

Posted on 5 May 2020
8udDha bl0od

Wasn’t Enough is just one of the singles which feature on Brighton-based artist 8udDha bl0od’s latest EP which will appease fans of Folk-Rock and Alt 90s Brit Pop alike.

Wasn’t Enough may be one of the more stripped-back tracks on the EP, yet, despite the slower pace, the track possesses the same intensity that you’d find in one of 8udDha bl0od’s more experimental Alt Rock tracks.

As Wasn’t Enough progresses, the tone moves away from organic absorbing warmth as the acoustic instrumentals are replaced by distorted guitars and plenty of sonic aural curveballs are thrown in for good measure.

No matter what kind of guise 8udDha bl0od’s creativity falls under, it’s always a pleasure to lose yourself within it.

You’ll be able to check out Wasn’t Enough along with the rest of 8udDha bl0od’s Folk-Rock EP from May 3rd via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

AutoPilot – Effervescently Energetic Electronica-Infused Indie Pop Rock

Posted on 23 February 2020

Indie Pop Rock artist AutoPilot’s latest single “Brain Cell” is an animated package of shimmering energy, striking expressive soul, and sticky-sweet melodies which effervesce with earworm potential.

While many artists have fallen into the trap of assimilating the 1975, the West Midlands, UK-based three-piece fronted by Andy Hopkins (ex-The Enemy) ensured that Brain Cell resonated with plenty of biting distinction. Expect euphoric synth hooks to seamlessly gel against melodic guitar progressions and vocals which were made to reverberate around stadium walls.

The rapture is infectious in Brain Cell, and those Gretsch-carved blistering riffs are the cherry on the cake in this flawless anthemic production.

You can check out the official video to Brain Cell which premiered on February 22nd for yourselves via YouTube.

Keep up to date with new releases from AutoPilot via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast