The Imperial Stout style is provided considerable variation through the inclusion of adjuncts ranging from chocolate to bacon, to coffee and even mint. However, one of the earliest inclusions into the style had to be coffee and one of those first companies to go forth and craft something that blends together the bitterness and roastiness of a cappuccino with the thick mouth feel and the malty notes of a stout…
Brand It On Me is a R&B infused effort that has Diamond tattoo his vocal melodies deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. Hints of Ne*yo and Akon can be heard here, but the backing instrumentation is the most surprising effort here. 80s synths, smart sequencing, and a bit of an edge makes this into an effort that would do well in dance clubs and raunchy rap bars alike.
A Beach And You is a sunny testament to true love. The distinct elements of the tracks combine to create something utterly special; Apfel intersperses his vocals with intricately-sequenced keys. By ensconcing considerable depth in a poppy introduction, Apfel is able to go into further complexity in subsequent songs. Comin Home To You builds upon the same wistful remembrance of A Beach And You; the dual duty done by Apfel…
Ottawa’s Dead Air Republic creates a heavy, hard, and sludgy form of metal that will assault listeners from the beginning until the ending of their new release, With Extreme Prejudice Just Another Bullet is the first cut off of their latest, taking up the standards of Corrosion of Conformity, Arrested Sevenfold, and ratchets it up to ten. Taking turns in the spotlight, the constituent members of Dead Air Republic create…
New York’s Pontus starts off his latest release, the IV EP, in a very challenging way. He has front-loaded Ten, a ten-minute composition, requiring listeners to immediately strap in and experience his unique form of progressive metal. The song weaves intricate arrangements that will keep listeners on the edges of their seats; challenging popular conceptions about time signatures or complex arrays of instrumental interaction, IV’s beginning tells a tremendous story…
Whiskey is the first track off of the For Mama EP by Oklahoma’s Small Town Sound, providing fans with an intricate and soulful style that blends together equal amounts alternative, singer-songwriter, and even country styles. The act’s vibrancy kicks into high gear shortly after the track begins; Small Town Sound is able to showcase the allure of alcohol with the somber (sober) beginning and the eclectic, energy-filled second section (after…
Till Dawn is a sultry, emotive, and intense single from Aiym, which immediately strikes listeners with nods to Kelly Clarkson, Pink, and Lady Gaga. Aiym’s vocals do more than tell a story as they join with the instrumentation to push each side to an entirely higher plateau. The tempestuous instrumentation shines in the background of Till Dawn, while listeners will be impressed with the sheer range of notes that Aiym…
What’s That is a smart bit of rap that showcases a deep and detailed flow from London’s SinForCalais. The track benefits from an inventive sort of instrumentation that will tattoo itself deep into the minds and hearts of listeners. There is a timeless sound to this flow that will please fans of late nineties, oughts, and current forms of rap music. The melodies that are achieved with this ornate vocal…
Leave the Light On is a slow and deliberate track, providing listeners with a sound that will stick with them long after this introductory effort has ceased to spin. The track represents the perfect slow dance effort, building up into a place where the sheer range of Kohr’s vocal abilities can be discerned. This backing instrumentation creates something special, providing the right amount of pizzazz for this song.
Creeper is a high-energy track that has each of the constituent elements of Bad Mary creating a charismatic and musically dense effort that will stick with fans long after the track has ceased to play. Marz Attaqx is an effort that builds off of the work of late-1990s Lookout acts while having a crispness to the composition speaks to the current state of rock music. Multi-part harmonies are used to…
