An intense, focused sort of rap, Charlie Star is able to break free of the issues that present themselves when artists have such a laser-like focus on their success. The crisp production and shifts in tempo are precisely what is needed to keep listeners focused in to Payroll, Charlie Star’s latest single.
Melbourne, Australia’s Nostalgia does an erogenous, sexy R&B track that deftly takes up hints of EDM and ambient to create something building off of the blueprint laid down by The Weeknd and Frank Ocean. Hints of 808s & Heartbreak-era Kanye can be heard threaded through the production. Nostalgia’s Freak is a track that could easily make it onto R&B or pop rotation; the starkly brilliant production that represents the framework…
Sensual is a laid-back rap track that will impress through intricate wordplay and a stellar dynamic between the vocal and instrumental sides. Where the outward sound of Sensual feels pretty light and airy, there is considerable depth that bubbles just below the surface. Hints of R&B, reggae, and even classical guitar can be discerned here.
Sumerian Records are one of my favorite modern metal record labels and its founder Ash Avildsen has a keen eye for up and coming artists. Veritable modern metal juggernauts like Periphery, Animals as Leaders, Veil of Maya, Born of Osiris, etc. have been pushed into the limelight by Sumerian Records and they have instantly become crowd favorites in the metal scene. So when Sumerian signed Dræmings, I was admittedly confused.…
Madame Mayhem’s Monster is a powerful hard rock / metal track that utilizes hints of goth and industrial to create something richly emotive. The track deftly blends the bright voice of Madame Mayhem with intricate guitar lines, a thick and ropy bass line, and drum fills for days.
Belgium, home to arguably the best waffles, arguably the best beer, and certainly, the best deathgrind band in the world, Aborted. It seems that the Lords of Gore decided to turn the crazy dial to maximum insanity on the 12 track, 43-minute carnivorous abomination that is their newest record, Retrogore.
KORR-A’s Cali Love is an eclectic sort of pop track, with KORR-A building off the framework of Lil Mama, Fergie, and Gwen Stefani. A robust set of horns and thick EDM/dubstep beats keep things interesting from beginning to end. KORR-A’s vocals rise and fall, cutting like a knife and caressing listeners’ ears within the space of a few seconds.
Blue Helix creates a tremendously emotive rock track with Aliens, blending together vocals that are inspiring with splashy drums and sizzling guitars. The extended instrumental interlude at the three-minute mark keeps the energy high and listeners on the edges of their seats, giving fans some idea of the power of Blue Helix.
Time to Run is a powerful cross-over track that touches upon R&B, dubstep, indie-rock, and industrial genres. The supersonic vocals laid down here by SONIA stand out, ensuring that the track can stand up to high rotation on radio. The titular effort on the Lucky Stars EP tells a tremendous story, further bolstered by bold synths and picture-perfect percussion. Hints of Morcheeba, Massive Attack, AWOLNATION, and Christina Aguilera; the distinct sides…
You cannot talk about German melodic death metal and metalcore and not mention the two giants, Caliban and Heaven Shall Burn. We are lucky to see stellar new releases from both bands. Gravity by Caliban is already on my lists of must-listen albums, and HSB’s new banger Wanderer proves to be another favorite for a long time to come.
Oh boy, this one yanked me straight back to my high school days. I grew up as a melodic death metal and metalcore fanboy, and the German dudes in Caliban were always a staple on my playlist. To tell you the truth, in my earnest effort to be a trve metalhead, Caliban were one of the unfortunate bands to fall through the cracks, but when I was asked to…
Ed Sterling Stone’s Treat Her Like A Lady is an effort that brings together jazz, R&B, and even a hint of soul and funk into a cohesive entity. This instrumental track showcases a wife array of emotions through Ed’s passionate guitar work.
Hotel Carcass is the first track on Who’s Listening to Van Gogh’s Ear, the debut album from Jack of None. The track has the dark emotion of The Cure, hints of twee-pop, and bits and bobs of electronic, ambient, and jazz stylings. The sheer depth of this initial composition ensures that listeners will be on the edges of their seats, having no idea where Jack of None will ultimately take them.
of Montreal create a track that looks back to Emotional Rescue-era Rolling Stones, linking the sound with hints of Franz Ferdinand and Momus. The twinkling instrumentation, shuffling beat, and echo is used to great impact.
Jonah Cruzz creates a street-smart, intricate style of rap that builds off of the work of Big K.R.I.T., Kendrick Lamar and Lil’ Wayne. The blend of haunting strings and speedy delivery make this into a perfect smoking song.
DownTown Mystic released their latest release Rock’n’Roll Romantic in late July of 2016. The album begins with Dead End Space, a mid-tempo rock track that builds off of the framework of Warren Zevon while incorporating hints of the Black Crowes, The Eagles, and Foo Fighters. A sizzling guitar line ensures that listeners will eagerly anticipate the rest of the album. Turn Around and Go has a bluesier, more bayou-ified sound that…
S.S.P.M’s Sunshine is a powerful track that showcases a major issue with life today. When there are so many incidents leading to deaths of innocents, things need to change. S.S.P.M is able to make a plea to put down the guns and find different ways to deal with conflict. The track itself is a hard-hitting rap track with a production that is styled on the Atlanta and Memphis scenes of the…
Hollow is the first track on New York City-native Maddy Ruff’s latest release, Over It. A down and dirty funk groove and vibrant set of vocals inspires listeners to focus on It’s Alright With Me. The shuffling, instrument-heavy opening to It’s Alright With Me provides proper highlighting of Ruff’s vocals. The effort spins out to a mid-1970s Motown meets modern jazz sound. The smoky production of the track allows these wide-reaching…
Sidelines immediately draws listeners in with a powerful two-part harmony. This smooth sound is further fleshed out with a robust instrumentation, making for an introductory effort that will immediately draw listeners in. Back To You is a slower effort that showcases a different side to The Ormewoods; this more tender track allows for The Ormewoods to build something emotionally effecting. Linking together modern country music with hints of pop and rock…
The titular track on the Vomit EP showcases a sharp-tongued, intense rap style that takes an equal amount of early Eminem, Brotha Lynch Hung, and Tech N9ne. Using a sort of Spartan production for this introductory track, what Whorrifick does is force listeners to mull over and chew upon each bar. The focus on lyrical content is a bold move – it means that each line has to be flawless –…