 European alternative rock band Halflives are back with a new EP “Resilience” that comprises five experimental tracks, showcasing the further progression of the trio since the release of their debut album “Empty Rooms” in 2017. The band’s lineup consists of Linda Battilani (vocals), Oscar Scantamburlo (bass), and Fede Bernadi (drums). The new material displays a significant change in direction compared to the group’s previous work. This transition is evident as soon as the lead single “Rockstar Everyday” begins playing, the song features a catchy chorus and mixes EDM components with an alternative pop sound. “Snake” spins a tale of karma and gives off strong Slytherin vibes as front woman Battilani, enchants with her vocal delivery and visual lyricism. “Time Bomb” stands out as an energetic pop-punk track with a guest appearance from Sleeping With Sirens vocalist, Kellin Quinn. “One Bad Day” compellingly tackles the topic of mental health with instrumentals that juxtapose its serious subject matter. The upbeat “Hard to Break” anthem closes the EP on an inspiring note. This new era exhibits the growth and boldness of a band that is still in the early stages of their music career. Every “Resilience” track takes on a life of its own, and illustrates individual perspectives of an emotional whirlwind journey. Halflives succeeds in showing off their versatility and shines brightly with vibrant, infectious compositions that blend an infusion of alternative rock, pop, and electronic elements. “Resilience” is a strong follow-up in the band’s discography, depicting the band’s absolute courage to challenge themselves, think outside the box, and explore new musical territory.
Release Date: March 13, 2020 Label: Self-Release Tracklisting: 1. Rockstar Everyday 2. Snake 3. Timebomb (featuring Kellin Quinn) 4. One Bad Day 5. Hard to Break Personal favorite tracks: One Bad Day, Timebomb, Snake You can follow Halflives on the following social platforms: Website: https://www.wehavehalflives.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wehavehalflives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wehavehalflives/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wehavehalflives Review by: Bri Rodriguez
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 Since their formation in 2016, Halflives have fought to overcome hardships and spread their message of pushing forward whenever life feels “like a half life”. The alternative rock band originated from Europe and developed a following on YouTube with artist covers before breaking out on the scene. They quickly sparked interest with the release of their debut single “Mayday” and with the support of their fans, the band was able to record their debut album, “Empty Rooms”. “Lone Wolf” is an anthemic track that sets everything off, opening with an electronic introduction and maintaining a steady rhythm throughout, molding perfectly with Linda Battilani’s captivating vocal delivery. The following track “Burn” proceeds to demonstrate the front-woman's powerful capabilities. Sonically, there are scattered traces of other female-fronted rock that is reminiscent of acts like Against The Current, Tonight Alive, and PVRIS. As the album progresses, Halflives continuously showcase their unique spirit and determination with a creative fire that burns relentlessly, showing no signs of wavering. The band’s strongest work dwells in the compositions that express the most vulnerability. Reflective urgency pours out and saturates in “The Sickness”, while “Empty Room” cries out with full sincerity from the very first note: “I’m feeling like an empty room / and everyone can see right through”. An atmospheric quality is beautifully captured within the ethereal “Collide”, which concludes the album with a resonating profoundness. This LP is filled with synthesizers and a raw, prominent vocal performance that syncs perfectly with the soaring instruments. But beyond the quality of the production, it is the heart of Halflives that radiates most strongly in their debut. “Empty Rooms” is a collection of eight tracks that strikes with fueled authenticity, emotive lyrics, and a powerhouse sound.
Release Date: April 14, 2017 Label: Self-Release Track listing: 1. Lone Wolf 2. Burn 3. Mayday 4. Echo 5. The Sickness 6. Half Alive 7. Empty Room 8. Collide Personal favorite tracks: Empty Rooms, Collide, The Sickness, Lone Wolf You can follow Halflives on the following social platforms: Website: https://www.wehavehalflives.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wehavehalflives Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wehavehalflives/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wehavehalflives Review by: Bri Rodriguez  Danish hard rock band The KillerHertz recently released their latest EP “Innocent Sinners” with NoiseGate Records on May 29th, 2020. The band has been on the music scene since their formation in 2011. Their lineup consists of Thomas Trold (vocals/guitar), Kent Killerhertz (drums), Jonas Roxx (lead guitar), and Jakob Nielsen (bass). This new material succeeds their first full length album “A Killer Anthem” in 2014, and their follow-up “A Mirror’s Portrait” in 2017. “Innocent Sinners” comprises four tracks, that includes a cover song by Danish band, Danseorkestret. Promotional methods took a different approach with these songs, this time focusing more on the distribution of music videos. The visuals strike with expressive performance footage, comedic scenes, and pure rock n’ roll. “Innocent Sinners” and “Ill Addictive Romance” are the standout tracks; which strongly illuminate the band’s dynamic compositions, catchy choruses, and infectious melodies. The members of The KillerHertz draw inspiration from classic rock artists and the heavy metal scene of the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s; citing several of their musical influences that include: Metallica, Megadeth, Motley Crue, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Mercyful Fate. Trold’s vocals and the band’s instruments shred in unison throughout the EP, with a distinct sound that is indicative of the eras that have significantly impacted the band. Release Date: 05/29/2020 Label: NoiseGate Records Tracklisting: 1.Innocent Sinners 2. Ill Addictive Romance 3. Foodchain Victim 4. Korn Tilbage Nu Personal favorite tracks: Innocent Sinners, Ill Addictive Romance You can follow The Killerhertz on Facebook for more content. Check them out here: https://www.facebook.com/thekillerhertzband/
Review by: Bri Rodriguez  Bleed From Within has taken metalcore to a new level with their 5th studio album! Fracture starts off with down-tuned chugs and smashing drums building to clean choruses with a powerful punch. As the album continues Bleed From Within keeps the energy flowing even adding a solo in Night Crossing by Matt Heafy of Trivium. With 4.6M US streams and 406K listeners on Spotify Fracture is sure to prove that metalcore is as alive as ever in 2020.
You can follow Bleed From Within on the following: Website: https://www.bleedfromwithin.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bleedfromwithinband/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bleedfromwithin/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BleedFromWithin Review By: Roland Street  Aussie grunge-rock band, Violent Soho, now signed with Pure Noise Records, released their newest album, ‘Everything is A-OK’ on April 3, 2020. This release was a big one for the band, and much anticipated as their last album had gained them a No. 1 chart debut and headlining spots on sold-out tours. ‘WACO’, their previous album created some ‘personal upheaval’ for members of the band, which inspired the four year break prior to releasing the new, ‘Everything is A-OK’, record.
‘Everything is A-OK’ calls out the shallow, brand-obsessed culture that we live in, challenging the overly-curated, content-driven normalcy of the world. The record is raw, honest, and full of lessons learned. Guitarist/vocalist Luke Boerdam says, “It’s honest. It doesn’t claim to be anything it’s not; it’s apolitical, cynical, and trying to connect with people over a shared experience in pointing out society’s failures and the personal shit that follows.” Violent Soho’s sound and style are perfectly crafted, and so naturally authentic. The sound of this specific album is inherently grunge with loud rock guitars, big ass drums, and out of this world vocals and lyricism. The heavy, cynicalistic styles of grunge are very prominent throughout the album, as they always have been with the band’s sound, but more-so in this new record. What really stood out in their newest releases was how much their sound and style has grown from ‘WACO’. The band really follows no ‘rule book’ when it comes to their style or writing, or who they are, but this album showcases the band’s strengths perfectly, it just really hits the right nerve. Violent Soho have released three singles from the new album. The single, Vacation Forever, is incredibly honest, almost shocking you a bit as you listen. Essentially, the older generation wants a “good life” that is a different idea of what the younger generations believe to be a good life and/or the “good life” is unattainable for the younger generations to achieve. People are tired and just want to live life without having to struggle so much. The lyrics are incredibly well-written and relatable. ‘Why do they see right through me all the time, Cause they all want the good life, But I just want to breathe, Cause I packed my bags, and I drained my veins and I got my reasons seen, Cause I got no car, and I got no house but I kept the garden clean, There’s a baby boomer across the street and it won't stop staring at me, Vacation life, forever in strife, I'll leave the family, I just wanna be’ Watch the Vacation Forever Official Music Video ‘Pick It Up Again’, another single off the album, is one for the live shows, for sure. This track is perfect for shows, with head bang-able rhythm, lyrics crafted for singing along, and a mosh-pit friendly energy. Get ready to rip up the pit, with this one. “And the chorus of the day, Being loose and extra frayed, And the crowds that caused a sway, Were crushed by all their weight, 'Cause I'll never be the same, I've forgotten who I am, It's gone again, Pick it up again, Pick it up” Watch the Pick It Up Again Official Music Video The final single, Lying On the Floor, is another great track of the new record. It has a really classic grunge feel to it; very 90’s-esque. The chorus, ‘Lying on the floor is all I wanna do,’ speaks to the exhaustion of trying to keep up with this branded version of yourself that is expected in the era of social media. The message of the lyrics talks about how uncomfortable it is to keep up with this constantly curated version of yourself, and how it would be nice to be able to break away from that. “I don’t wanna be fake, All these things that I say, Keep pulling my skin, Just let me out, I don’t wanna be cold, Getting older and older, Keep twisting my thoughts, Just let me out Like a cigarette break, I just need a complaint, Some trap you made, Just let me out, find my sin bin, just throw me in, Lying on the floor is all I wanna do, Lying on the floor is all I wanna do, Don't let me hit the ground” Watch the Lying on the Floor Official Music Video Through and through it’s a fantastic record that shows a relatable outlook on the current state of the world. The work put into each track shines through, as mentioned before, they’ve grown in sound and style since their last record. They did a great job at taking that last album and the success they had from it, keeping that same sound, and evolving and polishing it into something more cultured, defined, and solid. This could definitely be classified as an un-skippable record, as the message is so clear, engaging, and lyrically brilliant. As a final side note, the band just released a mini-documentary about the making of the ‘Everything is A-OK’ record, going into a bit more depth on the burn-out after the WACO album, and how they took the four years to perfect the songs for their new release, and really hone in on their sound and what they wanted this album to be. The documentary was incredibly insightful, giving an inside look at their recording processes, and gives you that personal touch to connect you even more to the band. Overall, every aspect of the record is a home run. Follow them on social media, links below. SOCIAL LINKS: Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/violentsoho/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/violentsoho4122/ T witter: https://twitter.com/violentsoho Website: https://www.violentsoho.com/ Mini Documentary about the making of Everything is A-OK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K360PzEuvHY Review By: Maddisen V  Atlanta Rapper / Producer Jonathon Eley recently dropped his third album “America 25”. An appropriate title to a project that fleshes out the experience of a twenty-five-year-old African American musician in the U.S. Despite it being a story that hip-hop listeners are all too familiar with, Jonathon makes it his own and keeps the listener excited to hear more by bringing variety and substance to a handful of well-polished tracks.
With “America 25” Jonathon shows off his ability to hit multiple genres and styles along the 11 tracks in the project. Something you only see from some of the most talented in hip hop. In fact, one of the first songs “Who Do You Think You Are?” starts the album off with a more alternative sounding track which gave definite Linkin Park feelings. This is quickly contrasted with the ever-popular dark-trap sound in the next track entitled “fear”. Don’t let that fool you into thinking it would lack substance, for it's probably one of the deeper cuts on the album. There is never a predictable moment in this album. Where songs that have some bounce like “Pardon” which make you think you’re listening to Joyner Lucas, others will be more melodic or drawn-out that reflects artists like Saba or The Weekend. The downside to this project is that it will apparently be Jonathon Eley’s final contribution to the hip hop genre. It's something you can hear being reflected in some of the tracks yet its still very unfortunate because he has so much to give. Review By: Dylan Yesenofski  Balcony Talk, originally a side project by Anthony Cafiero, has found its footing as his main project, honing his songwriting skills into what has become “Calendar Daze”. Priding himself on being authentic and honest, Cafiero has taken his solo project public. The songs are raw and the emotion Anthony puts into every song really comes through. It's not overly produced or slick. It's genuine and sincere. Only four tracks long, he really manages to put a lot of emotion into a small amount of air time.
Reviewed by: Amy Breaux  Since 2010 Hungarian punk rock hell evictees The Hellfreaks have been throwing venom-laced punk at their fans. Now they have just released a new album, “God on the Run”. I had the good fortune to check out what these wacky kids have been up to and let's just say, they've been up to no good. And that ain't bad! Shaky Sue and the boys start off with the track “Men In Grey”, a great way to start what is a continuous roller coaster ride through the metal side of punk ending with the almost Gothic “Tabby”. Sue manages to teeter between harmony and shrieking vocals that make “God on the Run” a great combination of the dark metal we have heard come out of Eastern Europe with the punk mindset that has been with us for years.
Reviewed by: Amy Breaux  Hard to believe this 4 piece band has been entertaining audiences for 20 years. The New Jersey natives, who alternate lead vocalists, have come back with another album of catchy songs full of addictive melodies and harmonies. From the opening title track to the culmination “Bright Lights”, you feel upbeat and like you can't wait to hang out with friends and enjoy a beer. Although known to play a few covers during their live shows, their original material shows that they don't need to rely on it. The song “Me and You” is a personal favorite. The band has a slight 10,000 Maniacs feel to it that makes it an easy listen. And let's face it, we need that right now.
Review By: Amy Breaux  Brazilian rock trio Stone Sea have released their single “Slice of Depth”, a song saturated with the grunge of the 90s. You can hear the Alice in Chains influence permeate throughout the entire song, which the band has decided to be mysterious about. If you are a fan of the grunge of the early 90s, which I am, this is definitely for you. This song has the melodic darkness that favored bands like Nirvana and Soundgarden. Very stripped down , the song displays the grittiness and raw emotion that seems to be a trademark for lead vocalist and guitarist Elvis Suhaolnik Bonesso, bassist Jonathan Parminter, and drummer Connor Middleton.
You can check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZI3Gnx5cb0  Sleep House are a four piece alternative pop band natives of New-Jersey. The band released their latest single ‘Stephanie’ on Valentine’s day, taking us on a journey of losing the person you love and having to accept living without them.
‘Stephanie’ is a slow song with clean vocals, upbeat instrumentals and riffs. The song feels melancholic and joyful simultaneously whilst the lyrics take us on a journey of pain, acceptance and dealing with the difficulties of being in love. ‘Stephanie” has a catchy chorus that will get stuck in your head making you want to play the song on repeat You can check out Sleep House on the following: Website: https://www.sleephouseband.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SleepHouse/?ref=bookmarks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sleephouse/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SleepHouseMusic Review By: Sarah Perry  James Lanning is a Maryland-bred solo artist tackling mental health with music. James has spent the last 10 years living in New York getting inspired by storytelling and hip-hop which influence his tracks turning him into a brilliant lyricist that captures emotion. James shares his struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts with the world to comfort those who are facing similar issues and to tackle the stigma around mental health and how it is treated. The rapper has recently released his latest single Berlin Blue.
Berlin Blue starts off with a repetitive radio sounding voice that eases you into James’s voice. The lyrics are raw, you can feel his pain and experience his feelings with him throughout the song. Berlin Blue keeps the same slow beat paired with James’s tone of voice and lyrics which gives the listener a melancholic feel. Lanning recalls, “I don’t remember writing it, though I do remember the time surrounding it; plodding around Berlin in February hoping to find any way to stop the infinite loop of the same few thoughts that would consume every second of every day for over half a year.” This single is short but will leave you feeling emotional and wanting to listen to more of James’s work to enter his mind and understand the difficulties surrounding mental health. You can follow James Lanning on the following: Website: http://jameslanning.com/ Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/jamesslanning Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesslanning/ Review By: Sarah Perry  The Weekend Run Club are a five-piece alternative / indie rock band from the Chicagoland area. They have recently released their debut album ‘ZOO' containing 12 tracks full of joyful tunes. ‘ZOO' gives you a summery and feel-good vibe while presenting you with lyrics that will make you feel. The album starts off with ‘Always', a slow song that builds up to surprise you with a burst of energy setting the scene for the next song “Beck" and the rest of the album.
Every track on the album is full of passion and energy making you want to dance and sing along. As the tracks go on they get more and more intense really giving the listener that full immersive experience. ‘Tired’ has some beautiful guitar riffs and sounds bouncing off each other that make the instrumentals of this track stand out the most. Each song is paired with clean vocals and soft tones as well as instrumental part producing beautiful riffs. ‘ZOO' finishes on a high with ‘Overwhelmed’ which is how you will feel after the first listen of this album before you start to play it on repeat. The Weekend Run Club have set the bar high for the Indie scene with their first album so we cannot wait to see what they bring to the scene next. You can follow The Weekend Run Club on the following socials: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theweekendrunclub/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/weekendrunclub Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weekendrunclub/ Review By: Sarah Perry Photo By: Alex Zarek  UK Indie rockers Insolace just dropped their third single within the last six months. Titled “Not Alright”, singer Millie Cook and the boys tackle the burden many people feel in the expectations put on them by societal norms while aching to break free of those same chains. The single is hypnotic and melodic and let's face it, incredibly timely. The hope they offer their listeners is the strangest mixture of subtle and obvious. There are some songs you can just play over and over again and not get tired of it. “Not Alright” is destined to become one of those songs.
Review by Amy Breaux  Photo by Fuel Heart Productions - Custom Jackets by Naomi Christianson @Omiexperience Rock has a new trio on the horizon. Stormstress have arrived on the scene with their debut single “Paint the Mask”. The all-female trio, fronted by identical twin sisters Tanya an Tia Mayhem, blend heavy riffs with a melodic harmony. The sisters, along with drummer Maddie May Scott, blend their voices in a way that you would think would compete for attention with the harder riffs they produce, but it doesn't. Instead, they have a sound that seems influenced by the melodic metal of such pioneers as Dio and lyrics that have an intelligence and relatability to them. This may be their first single, but it definitely won't be the last.
Review by: Amy Breaux  Jamie Cullum is an English jazz-pop singer-songwriter who recently brought his sweet vocals and his seven piece band to the Armadillo in Glasgow. The night was going to be more of a relaxed one with some smooth jazz and singing while we listened from our seats in the fourth row. They all entered the room and stood center stage for a acapela themed "Write Off Man Kind" accompanied minimally by a cello. It was a soothing start to the night and I was enjoying the mix of voices and string. He hit it off with his new single "Taller" as the beat began to pick up the pace and he played the piano faster than I could ever manage, whilst singing, what a talented man. He paused in between sets to show off his new suit that he had bought for this tour but the trousers were still stretching out, he explained, so they were super tight and uncomfortable but he was going to play on despite this. "Get it your way" and "The man were next to be played, followed by "Drink" (which I really enjoyed live) and "I Get A Kick Out Of You" which he last played in Glasgow 20 years ago which was the first time he had played in the city and it was live on air. My personal favorite was played "What A Difference A Day Makes" which is his classic song in my opinion but was glad it was played as I thought that he was going to miss it out. I enjoyed the evening and wish him all the best as he has suspended his tour currently due to unfortunate circumstances but I am sure he will continue it as soon as he is able to.
Review/Photo By: Tyler Sams  Kicking up a storm with their headlining UK and EU Tour, Kid Kapichi found their way to the Garage (Attic Bar) in Glasgow on the third night of the tour. The Hastings based rock group brought their explosive sound to our ears and their reputation of performing ferocious live shows was upheld that night. Front man Jack Wilson cam on stage sporting a black ski mask which could have been seen as intimidating but their fans were expecting as such as the room was filled with their screams of joy, not fear. Their opening song "Thug" is their number one song on Spotify currently which made it only right for it to be the opening song - which made sense of the ski mask as it features heavily in their music video and album art. They kicked up a storm that night in The Garage, their electric energy fueled the crowd as they created their own mosh pit in the center of the room and they sang other songs from their latest released EP's and albums which created an epic night. The band consists of four members: Jack Wilson and Ben Beetham (joint lead guitar/vocals), George MacDonald (drums) and Eddie Lewis (bass). These guys are going places and have already been featured on BBC 1 radio's playlist with "Glitterati" and Death Dips". Keep an eye on these guys, don't let them out of your sight!
Review/Photo By: Tyler Sams  Glasgow was in for a night of old-school garage, dance and hip hop music as music legends attended the SSE Hydro on their tour around the UK. Fans were taken back to their childhoods with songs from the 90s. The show started with some UK Garage artists who warmed up the stage for the host FatmanScoop who was incredible as he managed to keep the energy going throughout the show. At one point he disappeared only to reappear in a blue tartan kilt and proceeded to go "taps aff" in front of hundreds of fans.
Blue Cantrell was the first of the line up to grace us with her melodies as she sang "Make Me Wanna Scream" and "Breathe" which had the crowd joining in for the most part. Following this act was Mya who was sporting an all glitter play suit, stunning her fans with her shinning light, and supported by her DJ and back up dancers. There was a mystery act advertised on the poster and we were all waiting with anticipation to find out who this could possibly be. She blasted onto the stage with her reggie vibes and sang us her new song - it was EVE. Celebrating international Woman's day, Eve had a special shout out to all the women in the house (venue) and they equally gave her an even bigger shout out back. Next onto the stage were the iconic duo - Salt N Pepa. They came in charged with energy and graced us with some "Push It" and "Let's Talk About Sex" which are songs that almost everyone would have been listening to in those dance halls. Now one of my favorite acts from the night, singing songs such as "Boombastic" "Oh Carolina" and the very best "It Wasn't Me" - Shaggy. He also made a speech referencing International Woman's day along with his song "It Wasn't Me". The last act for the night was the incredible Nelly. He was accompanied by Ali and City Spud and two amazing dancers who were doing moves I wish I could perform. He belted out "Ride Wit Me" and closed his set with "Hot In Herre" and "Dilemma". The fans that had filled the Hydro wanted more, they weren't content until they had one more song from Nelly and so he came back on to cheers from the crowd to sing "Just A Dream" which seemed like a perfect end to the night. Review/Photo By: Tyler Sams  Tove Lo brought her sold-out Sunshine Kity Tour to San Francisco. Even though Tove Lo broke her foot earlier in the tour in New York, it did not stop her from finishing out her shows. It was her second to last show, and she could not have picked a better city to have it in. She talked about how San Francisco was the first major city she came to when she began performing. To start the night, she performed “Glad He’s Gone,” the first single from her latest album Sunshine Kitty. Throughout the night, she also had backup dancers, and somehow, Tone Lo was still able to keep up with the choreography. The crowd-favorite of the night was obviously “Talking Body” from her debut album.
Tove Lo talked about how she has been planning this tour since October to make sure it was perfect. During her song “Moments,” she played the keyboard even though she said not very good at it, and everyone held up their flashlights on their phones to help set the mood. Her set ended up being almost two hours, and Tove Lo was able to dance on a broken foot and not stop once for a break. If that’s not dedication and love for her fans, then I don’t know what is. Review/Photo By: Justine Willard  Noise metal pioneers, Today Is The Day, are touring in support of their new album “No Good To Anyone” with doom metal pioneers The Obsessed. If you are into the music of the 90’s noise and post-hardcore scenes then you are in for a treat. This tour took Brooklyn’s Market Hotel by storm last Friday night. It was a night of psychedelic sludge, grindy noise, and swaggering hard AF rock.
Today Is The Day is such a big band to digest. Their music is impossible to define, it’s noisy and aggressive, but has sweet melodies occasionally, sometimes grindcore, sometimes folk, always a bit misanthropic. Frontman/mastermind Steve Austin takes you on a journey through his fury live. From melancholy dirges to furious grindy metal and sweet ballads the crowd is in the palm of his hand. A lot of bands owe a lot to Today Is The Day, they are a force. They’re supported by The Obsessed, legendary doom/stoner band from Maryland. This is a pretty rare occasion to catch them, even better that the crowd seemed heavily peppered with diehard fans. Scott Weinrich still has a mean ass growly delivery that set the bar for a lot of bands that came after. They played their thick doomy rock, and everyone settled into a nice heady groove. Brooklyn locals, Somnuri opened with a set that was super sludgy and psychedelic and I was super into it. This was my first time seeing and hearing them and it hit me square in the place that loves super swampy heavy metal. This tour only has a few more US dates into April, so be on the lookout. You’ll experience catharsis. Review/Photo By: Billy Devine Aston Fenly dropped his debut single “Sunrise” on February 21st, 2020 - Here is what we have to say3/12/2020  Coming all the way from Copenhagen, Danish-born singer, rapper, and songwriter Aston Fenly dropped his debut single “Sunrise” on February 21st, 2020. At 14 years old, Aston began to attend music festivals with his friends which then led him on the path to becoming a songwriter himself. Originally, the songs Aston wrote were in his native tongue which got him on the radar of Universal Music Group Denmark. Several years later, Aston is now an english songwriter living in the heart of the music industry, Los Angeles. Now thousands of miles from home, Aston is proving himself to not be just another sheep lost within the Hollywood herd of creatives. In fact, it seems Aston could be a bit of a shepherd for those who are feeling lost. His single “Sunrise” aims to connect with those feeling lost in their personal journeys.
In his own words Aston explains his meaning behind the lyrics: “I think, as an artist, sometimes you can have this period where there is not a lot going on for you and it can be really hard … In those moments where you start doubting yourself and having these thoughts...you can really dig yourself into a hole and have these escapism thoughts… It's this thought that crushes your mind and I think a lot of people have thought that for a second.” The lyrics are accompanied by a familiar style guitar melody meshed with distant echoed vocal samples that resonate with the style of those like Juice WRLD. It's a very relatable story and sound which takes the listener along for a ride as the song builds into an uplifting conclusion. It certainly feels like just the beginning of what's more to come from Aston Fenly and I highly advise you to check out the video to accompany the song. Photo By: Maddie Deutch Review By: Dylan Yesenofski  Picture this....it’s Warped Tour circa 2009...you, and every other person in sight is wearing three year old black vans with the white stripes on the side, you know the classic O.G.s. You just chugged a monster and lit up a cigarette before catching the A Day to Remember set. Life is good.
Well, listening to Second Opinion’s newest album is essentially the same vibe. Nostalgic bliss. Second Opinion is a Belgium based punk rock band influenced by legendary names in punk, such as Sum-41, Rise Against, and State Champs. Second Opinion released their first full length album "Another Day" on February 24th. Formed back in 2014, with an EP in 2016, Second Opinion brings back the sounds we used to love back in the 2010's with a modern twist. Second Opinion started off 2020 by releasing, 'Alone', the first single from their debut album, 'Another Day'. Finding your purpose in life, uncertainty, self-doubt, and mental health are just a few of the main points of the album, topics that the band members are hoping to raise awareness about, and hold close to their hearts. They weren’t lying when they said they’re bringing back “the sounds we used to love back in the 2010’s with a modern touch.” Any early-2000s punk kid will love this album, no doubt. Truth be told, I cracked a smile after the first few seconds of the first song. The album is packed with classic upbeat, anthem-style tracks with simple, catchy, and relatable lyrics. What I loved about the album is that it really does embrace the classic punk sound that we all fell in love with, encompassing the anthem-style, catchy, tracks. But as the album progresses, you hear it evolve into the modern age sounds that we hear from our favorite bands today, with a heavier, darker, and more refined sound. The album has a great balance of both styles, and I think it’s kind of genius to weave each style into one album. There’s even a ballad thrown in there, that totally gave me, Remembering Sunday or If It Means a Lot to You vibes, and of course, a slightly humorous track referencing Harry Potter. Punk done right...nice work my friends. Overall, the album is done well. If bringing back the early 2000s punk rock vibe is what they were aiming for, they certainly achieved it, while adding their own style into the mix. Album: https://open.spotify.com/album/3IqepzMGxO7w84ten7oTcX?si=u3mc0-8XSh6GgWN_GGg9CQ Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/SecondOpinionBand/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secondopinion_band/ Review By: Maddisen V.  Jonas Blue kicks off his Blueprint Tour this week in Glasgow at the SWG3 studio warehouse. This show was greatly anticipated, with queues of dedicated fans lining all the way along the street outside the venue in the pouring rain. As soon as the doors opened the crowds eagerly rushed in and headed straight to the barriers, eager to be at the front row of the show. The support act "Good boys" arrived and appropriately pumped up the crowd with their act, so we were now ready for the main act.
It wasn't long until the lights dimmed again and one by one we could see shadows walking across the stage, then there were floodlights as Jonas Blue himself walked on stage to the screams of his fans. Everyone was ready for his dj set which was accompanied by singers from his various tracks. He mainly played songs from his album "Blueprint", which made sense since it is the "Blueprint Tour" but that didn't harsh the jam at all. The venue was bouncing from the very start until the very end but even then the crowds continued singing as they were walking out of the venue, unwilling to let go of the night even though it was a Monday night and most had to go back to reality the next day. I loved the show, the performances were unforgettable and the music was even better live (as it always is). If you haven't seen him yet and he is coming to a town near you, go see Jonas Blue, you won't regret it! Review/Photo By: Tyler Sams The New Regime released a new album, what do we have to say about that? Check below to find out!3/10/2020  ‘Heart Mind Body & Soul’ by The New Regime, IIan Rubin’s latest solo project, is being released on 6th March 2020. You will know Rubin from having drummed for Nine Inch Nails and Airwaves. He has also recorded drums on Grammy award winning albums such as Paramore’s self-titled album and Beck’s album ‘Colors’. You can also find Rubin in the Guinness Book of World records for being the youngest musician ever to play on a Woodstock Stage at just 11-years-old! During his career he has toured with bands such as The Killers, Muse, Alice In Chains, The Used, The Joy Formidable and Nine Inch Nails. Rather than dropping the new album in one go, The New Regime is releasing it in four parts. Three EP’s composed of four songs in which Rubin performed every instrument are already available for you to enjoy.
The full album ‘Heart Mind Body & Soul’ is an album you could dance to or just listen and enjoy all of the sounds put together. It’s upbeat with very clean vocals combined with the melody of every instrument played. The album is full of catchy tunes, harmonies, slower songs and some backing vocals. There are some rock music vibes throughout ‘Heart Mind Body & Soul’ but overall it has an alternative pop feel to it. The variety of instruments including the keyboard gives the songs a modern sound mixed with lyrics listeners can relate to thus giving the album diversity. You will be able to listen to the album in its entirety on 6th March. You can also catch the New Regime on their current US tour with Silversun Pickups. Review By Sarah Perry.  On Saturday Dashboard Confessional brought their 20th anniversary tour to Pittsburgh’s north shore. The show opened up with supporting act The Get Up Kids, they came on stage and brought their enthusiasm with them. They were getting the crowd up and singing, they overall had a great stage presence. After they played there was an hour-ish between sets that allowed the crowed to grab a bite to eat or grab another round of drinks. Then Dashboard Confessional was set to take the stage. The show opened with a nice acoustic song to set the mood. Immediately following the whole band came on stage and jumped right into a fast-paced song and got the whole crowd hyped to the fullest extent. The show was sold out so image the place pact person to person singing their little hearts out. That was the constant vibe the whole show. My favorite part of the whole night was seeing three younger girls jamming out from behind the barricade center stage. Its always a warm sight to see the next generation of music lovers rocking out to their favorite bands.
Review/Photo By: Cheyenne Simmons |