1. Sobs - Air Guitar (Singapore)
Genre: Indie/Rock/Pop/Shoegaze Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2gj35CRyiuvuJ5VzjkX52i?si=zjE052DjRg60we5zQz1-6A
Dedicated to the power of pop music, Sobs are Singapore’s premier indiepop propagandists. After releasing a breakout bedroom pop EP Catflap and a dream-jangle LP Telltale Signs that brought international embrace, Sobs now assemble a front-to-back indiepop behemoth – Air Guitar – after a much anticipated three-year wait. A thirty-minute trip for the post-Internet consumer, Ait Guitar calibrates inventive pop hooks for the indie rock lover, instantly accessible yet intricately arranged. The album draws a line through the history of pop stylistics from 80s new wave [Last Resort] and 90s power-pop [Burn Book] to 00s sk8er punk and radio pop [Air Guitar]. Further informed by the cosmopolitan, culturally astute ethos of PC Music – Sobs connects the uptempo of Shibuya’s Advantage Lucy [Lucked Out], heart-on-sleeve indie rock of Bettie Serveert and [World Implode], with the eclecticism of New York’s Darla Records [Friday Night] to define the pulse of indiepop then and now. Sobs is Celine Autumn, Jared Lim and Raphael Ong.
2. Darkthrone - Astral Fortress (Akershus, Norway)
Genre: Black Metal Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7kWnE981vITXDnAD2cZmCV?si=6iNqn8d_TXiPZisDp64RSw
From their formation back in 1986, to becoming one of Norways’s finest musical exports (with a number of highly revered black metal masterpieces released in the early 90’s helping to solidify their legacy), Darkthrone has continued to evolve and challenge in equal measure, throughout their illustrious recording career spanning over three decades. And now, the ever-productive duo of Nocturno and Fenriz continue their own metallic saga with a new selection of fine, vintage sounding headbanging classics in the making.Carried on the brisk wind of eager rock, with foundations in black, thrash, doom and heavy metal, ‘Astral Fortress’ is the latest album of stellar, eclectic old metal in the Darkthrone odyssey. With a seemingly endless dungeon full of heavy metal influences channelled through Darkthrone’s dynamic riff-machine, plus also with many increasing inspirations taken from their own past catalogue, Darkthrone has truly become its own beast within the metal world. Even though sprinkled with atmospheric touches such as synthesizers and mellotron on ‘Astral Fortress’ to great effect, the Darkthrone sound remains stripped down to the core; always primitive and organic.‘Astral Fortress’ was recorded at Chaka Khan Studios in Oslo, the same location used for the ‘Eternal Hails’ album, with Ole Øvstedal and Silje Høgevold.
3. Yung Gravy - Marvelous (Rochester, Minnesota)
Genre: Hip-Hop Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2YOYua8FpudSEiB9s88IgQ?si=fX_lusrXQVGlT0BYWkawGA
Yung Gravy, a 26 year old rapper from Minnesota; makes music for your mother, your sister, and even your father.
4. Polyphia - Remember That You Will Die (Plano, Texas)
Genre: Instrumental/ Progressive Metal Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vGrte8FDu062Ntj0RsPiZ?si=myVN0nbYRUC-0B9xSHxOww
Blending technical, weaving instrumentations with hip-hop, jazz and R&B influenced grooves, Polyphia has created a massively impressive sound that is all their own.
5. Tigers Jaw - Old Clothes (Scranton, Pennsylvania)
Genre: Indie/Rock Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0tLaqkKW7K6tc3QF9SM0M8?si=w88sqRwtRd-LHqhIuP0J-w
A real cool band. Tigers Jaw was formed in 2005 by Ben Walsh and Adam McIlwee. Characterized by unconventionally catchy songs, weaving harmonies, and timelessly relatable lyricism, the band has been organically increasing its fanbase over a decade-plus of touring and releasing music. The latest effort, I Won't Care How You Remember Me, showcases a band who is confident and adventurous, forging trust in friendship alongside musicianship over years of steady touring. The lineup of Walsh, Brianna Collins, Teddy Roberts, and Colin Gorman have managed to craft a timeless and dynamic album that is both a confident step forward and an essential release in an already celebrated catalogue of music. Aptly described as the middle ground between Fleetwood Mac and Saves the Day, Tigers Jaw have managed to progress and evolve while preserving the spirit of their modest origins in the scrappy DIY Scranton punk scene. Tigers Jaw Forever.
6. Fit For A King - The Hell We Create (Tyler, Texas)
Genre: Metalcore Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0OgdRTPItr9dw4XYp4JJUx?si=FE6--fxZTFe3JUoRhmXrgA
Trauma and tragedy transfer from one generation to the next. As difficult as it may be, we still possess the power to break the cycle and start anew. Fit For A King ponder the pain of these cycles and the possibility to end them on their seventh full-length offering, The Hell We Create [Solid State]. The Texas quintet—Ryan Kirby [vocals], Bobby Lynge [guitar], Daniel Gailey [guitar], Ryan “Tuck” O’Leary [bass], and Trey Celaya [drums]—explore this ebb and flow with a deft, yet delicate balance of sharp metallic intensity and soaring melodic energy. “The album is a reflection of the events that happened throughout the pandemic,” recalls Ryan. “In short, my wife and I adopted children and had to homeschool them. She almost died from a stroke. The Hell We Create is by far the deepest and most personal record we’ve ever written.” In 2011, Fit For A King emerged out of Texas with a searing signature style rooted in metal and hardcore and uplifted by hypnotic hooks. Following the breakout LP Creation/Destruction [2013], they earned four consecutive Top 5 debuts on both the Billboard Top Christian Albums Chart and the Top Hard Rock Albums Chart with Slave to Nothing [2014], Deathgrip [2016], Dark Skies [2018], and The Path [2020]. The latter marked their first #1 on the Top Christian Albums Chart and Top 10 on the Billboard Top Album Sales Chart. Plus, the band collaborated with fellow heavy-hitters such as August Burns Red and We Came As Romans.
7. Demon Hunter - Exile (Seattle, Washington)
Genre: Metalcore Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6f3a43i1MJZwdjEpV1M0oH?si=y_PwYlaITzCj-6-R2fP-tg
Demon Hunter is an American metal institution. The band embraces brazenly transcendent melodies, without apology, while maintaining a defiant heaviness reminiscent of the most timeless of metal music. For two decades, Demon Hunter has weathered the changing tides of rock subculture, proving ever resistant to trends, and ever resilient, making music as determined and resolute as the men within the band.Demon Hunter’s body of work is born from unwavering commitment, uncompromising creative determination, and stark recognition of the reality of an often-cold world, tempered in defiant hope. It’s made up of smartly constructed, confessional lyrics; heady and catchy melody; monster riffs; bottom heavy grooves; the collision of meticulous production and urgent raw power; bold imagery and bolder themes.The band's eleventh studio album, EXILE, is now available.
8. Martha - Please Don't Take Me Back (County Durham, England)
Genre: Indie Rock Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/13pUNMhUQ52yyV50VbuhtK?si=L42YhrlHQM6WJozbpwDYCw
Martha are a rock band from Pity Me, a village in County Durham in the North East of England. After singles on their own Discount Horse label and Odd Box Records, their debut album Courting Strong, was released on Fortuna Pop! and Salinas Records in 2014. As of 2019 they have released three full-length albums on cult UK and US based independent record labels.
They have described themselves as queer, straight edge, vegan and anarchist. They have no designated front person and all contribute vocals. Two members of Martha previously founded (and still play in) the band ONSIND, and another leads the band No Ditching.
They have variously cited The Housemartins, Motown, Billy Bragg, The Thermals, Ted Leo, power pop, The Replacements, Heart, The Marked Men, Big Star, Masshysteri, and The Exploding Hearts as influences.
9. The Hunna - S/T (Hertfordshire, England)
Genre: Punk Rock Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7jZycSvTyx0W9poD4PjEIG?si=FkCSJW1bRWSuPN8-CVNb2Q
No one ever said international rock stardom was easy, but The Hunna have often made it look that way.Their rise to global success has been meteoric: formed in 2015, their 2016 debut album, ‘100’, went gold and shot into the UK Top 20. The 2018 follow-up, ‘Dare’, climbed even higher, as The Hunna built a golden reputation for crafting instant rock anthems.Live, they’ve always been one of the most exciting bands on the circuit, with an insanely devoted fanbase guaranteed to turn every gig and festival appearance into an unmissable event. 2022 helped The Hunna deliver their greatest and most ambitious album yet. An album that bristles with the pent-up emotions that lingered through that long lockdown. Produced by the legendary Gil Norton, it’s an album to sit comfortably alongside some of the classic records he’s worked on, from Pixies’ ‘Doolittle’ to the Foo Fighters’ ‘The Colour And The Shape’ and Jimmy Eat World’s ‘Futures’.“We’re a real band, we always have been,” Ryan (Vox) stresses. “We write our own songs, from the heart. We’re three best friends who’ve always lived 10 minutes away from each other. We just want to make music, say the things we want to say, have fun and be unapologetically us. If that’s not cool to some people, fair enough, but it’s cool to us.”
10. Despised Icon - DÉTERRÉ (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
Genre: Deathcore Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3MjNMjqBpaQ0P8ebfbZjYn?si=r2O_fiMCSA24Y4lmovNFlg
Montreal deathcore OG’s, Despised Icon ,are celebrating their 20-year anniversary via a special rarities EP, entitled Déterré.
Déterré means ‘Unearthed" in French. This is exactly what the latest release from Despised Icon is. The EP consists of five old-school songs dating back to 2004. It seemed fitting to remaster and re-release these early recordings to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the band, which took form in 2002.
11. Psychonaut - Violate Consensus Reality (Mechelen, Belgium)
Genre: psychedelic post-metal Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/604HhRLmc5DXNS221XKm3a?si=TiIkt1lhSVuKaPlHBe-BMA
PSYCHONAUT is a psychedelic post-metal collective from Mechelen, Belgium. Their signature sound is heavily influenced by 70’s bands like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, but also draws inspiration from more modern sources like Tool and Amenra.
12. Arm's Length - Never Before Seen, Never Again Found (Quinte West, Ontario, Canada)
Genre: Indie Rock Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1KXSj6uiC8Wtl2wCckVmAD?si=5F2GyS5pTqO3phebhCl5Vg
blue beyond belief
13. Dr. Acula - S/T (Long Island, New York)
Genre: Deathcore Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/27H1vwD2AiNOHp5W7iP282?si=8NdkhNcmT8-3SSqvuWq67Q
The recently reunited Dr. Acula is a comeback of epic proportions – a radical reboot that sees this comedic outfit reborn as a dark, focused, beast of a modern metal band.Founded in 2005 in Long Island, New York, Dr. Acula was named after a Mitch Hedberg stand-up bit: "I went to the doctor. All he did was suck blood from my neck. Do not go see Dr. Acula." Fueled by sophomoric humor and a gleeful compulsion to mash genres, the young bucks released four full length albums and two EPs via labels such as Victory and Uprising.Now, ten years since the last album, Dr. Acula's founding members have reclaimed their band.
14. Girlpuppy - When I'm Alone (Atlanta, Georgia)
Genre: Indie Rock Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2dV0D4uKMB4c8VhYHzt360?si=gjZAbstbSUaS7RtH6B4U2A
The Atlanta-based singer and songwriter Becca Harvey's lyrics are filled with an undisguised sentimentality and witty self-effacement, a mix that's garnered quick acclaim for her project, girlpuppy. Since girlpuppy's debut in 2020, Harvey has applied her emotional and vocal versatility to whatever genre she sees most fit to explore. First came the lo-fi guitar pop of introductory single “For You”; next, the self-described “sad girl” indie of 2021’s Swan EP, a collaboration with producer Marshall Vore (Phoebe Bridgers, Ada Lea) that drew praise from the likes of NPR and Nylon; in 2022 “I Miss When I Smelled Like You,” girlpuppy’s foray into ‘70s-indebted arena pop, saw her team up with Doug Schadt (Maggie Rogers, Claud) on a breezily yearning break up jam. Striving for self-betterment is at the core of her 2022 full length debut, When I’m Alone, a record which centers Harvey’s dreamy vocals in intricate soundscapes, all while confronting the introspective thoughts she’s experienced in isolation. Recorded with Alex G guitarist Sam Acchione (who's production work Harvey admired on Tomberlin’s Projections EP), engineered and mixed by Henry Stoehr of the Chicago band Slow Pulp, and combining influences as diverse as My Bloody Valentine, Caroline Polacheck, and the Twilight: New Moon soundtrack, When I'm Alone is her biggest, deepest, most complete project to date.
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