RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://electrichigh.bandcamp.com/album/colorful-white-lies Apollon Records were kind enough to hand me a copy of this raw and raunchy debut offering by the Bergen-based hard rockers known as Electric High, and I am eternally grateful to them for that as this groove-laden, catchy, and energetic record ticks a lot of the boxes for me…
RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://klogr.net/ The good people over at Stampede Press were kind enough to mail me a promo copy of the eagerly anticipated new album by the Italian alt. rock/modern melodic metal group known as Klogr, which turned out to be a pleasingly impassioned affair containing several thrilling and darkly sensuous moments. These…
RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://helsinkihorizon.bandcamp.com/ Helsinki Horinzon’s second release ’Sirens’ is a cross-genre conceptual album, and a different kind of heavy: the more quiet, lurking sort that ambushes you when you least expect it. ’Sirens’ develops into a sphere of gravitational force, where units and subdivisions converge to make an expertly paced rotation. The more…
RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://linktr.ee/editthetide The upcoming EP titled Reflections in Sound by the British alt. rockers Edit the Tide is a real treat to the ears and a stately piece of work with its five tracks sounding absolutely immense and as pristine and powerful as possible. I recall listening to their first couple of…
RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/wolfenreloaded/ This is my first encounter with the German rockers known as Wolfen Reloaded and I must say that I find this sophomore effort of theirs titled The Ghost From Within an engaging and delightful listen. Containing bucketloads of muscular riffs, magnificent vocal hooks, and interesting arrangements, the LP immediately stands…
RELEASE YEAR: 2024BAND URL: https://www.thesurvivalcode.co.uk/ Hailing from the glorious city of London and specializing in potent and emotionally charged rock that leans slightly towards Foo Fighters and Feeder, The Survival Code is simply a great band and an utterly enjoyable listening experience with longevity to it. Packed to the rafters with good riffs, infectious melodies,…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: https://www.helmetmusic.com/ Noise rock pioneers Helmet surely need no introduction as their impact on fans, critics, and other artists has been (and is) rather significant, and their influence on genres such as nu metal and alternative rock is undeniable. It is as simple as that, really. Page Hamilton (vocals, guitars) may be…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: http://www.edgeofparadiseband.co/ Also American and not that far removed in vein from A Dark Halo (whose 2nd full length I’ve just reviewed giving it a 5/6) the Californian alternative rock and metal quintet Edge Of Paradise released their 5th album Halo²⁰²³ on Frontiers Records on July 14th to follow Immortal Waltz²⁰¹⁵,…
Not that long ago a friend of mine pointed me in the direction of two deftly executed tracks on YouTube by an alternative rock outfit from South Wales named Edit the Tide. Now, the term alternative rock will only get you halfway there as there are hard rock flourishes and progressive elements to be found…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023BAND URL: https://ljungblut.bandcamp.com/album/sauda An intimate and introspective little treat by the talented Kim Ljung featuring only acoustic guitar and emotive vocals is what we have here, and this is quite the moving listening experience. Released digitally and on a great-looking tape via Karisma Records, there is a lot to savor about Sauda and…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023 BAND URL: https://thegroundshaker.com/ Swiss rockers The Ground Shaker are about to unleash this explosive and energetic offering of theirs in May via Fastball Music, and if alternative rock with punchy choruses and crunchy riffs is your cup of tea then you need to check this uplifting opus out. I have yet to listen…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/people/Dirty-Velvet-Rock/100076167258796/ The Swiss alternative rock act Dirty Velvet was formed roughly four years ago and have been gigging quite a bit on their home turf since then, but their debut offering will soon see the light of day via Fastball Music, so let us take a closer look at that output,…
RELEASE YEAR: 2023BAND URL: https://dobbeltgjenger.bandcamp.com/ Nobody out there writes eclectic, exciting, and irresistible rock songs quite like Dobbeltgjenger do. Explorative and quirky, adventurous and groovy, charming and perfectly funky, these Norwegian gentlemen do not disappoint on their third album, and the way in which their compositions weave so many different threads together is impressive and…
RELEASE YEAR: 2022 BAND URL: https://www.facebook.com/aprilartband/ The German outfit named April Art recently released this independent offering titled POKERFACE, and the quartet essentially dabbles in something akin to a mixture of alternative rock/metal and nu metal, which means that what we have here sounds rather modern and contemporary in many ways. There is a good flow…
