By DJ Astrocreep

It’s DJ Astrocreep back behind the wheels of steel for the latest iteration of our Singles Club, and it’s a bumper edition this time, with some 22 tracks for you aural (and visual) delectation! So, with no further ado, let’s get straight into the music, shall we?

First up are Dutch psych-rockers No Man’s Valley, with new single ‘Into The Blue’. A dark melancholic soundscape shapes a quiet well written and personal track, with an almost blues tinge to proceedings at times.

A bit more upbeat for our second track, as we go down under to see Vacant Image‘s ‘Granny Panties and Peanut Butter’, the first single taken from their upcoming album ‘Sister Anxiety’. A lyrically dark song set to a heavy alt-rock backing is at a juxtaposition with what is quite a fun and amusing video!

A hop back to the Northern hemisphere now, as Sweden’s Roulette, renowned in the ’90s for their AOR abilities, are back with ‘Soldiers of Love’ from their recently released new album. Great riffs, sweet solos and catchy chourses abound in what is a strong return to form from the Swedes.

Billybio, of Biohazard/Powerflo fame, has another single out and it’s another in your face, thrash/hardcore crossover effort, as we have come to expect from Billy over the years. Political in nature, this song is about a political enemy and the two sides to this show Billy has certainly lost none of his fire with this latest track fitting well alongside early Biohazrd releases.

Italian metal act SinHeresy have their latest opus out in a couple of months, with this track, ‘Out Of Connection’, a good sign of things to come. A modern metal sensability, with synths adding extra emphasis to the music, with more than able vocals soaring over the top.

Back across to Florida now, as Wake Up Hate have just released the video for the title track of their debut EP, ‘Deep Sleep’. An alt-rock track, that seems to owe as much influence to nu-metal masters Linkin Park as some of their more rock brethren, it’s a catchy track which alternates between ambient and heavy with aplomb.

Now, when a band like Possessed reform and have a new release, you just HAVE to sit up and take notice, especially so when the new release is such a doozy! The death metal godfathers are right back on form with ‘Graven’, their latest single, symptomatic of what is to be a very strong release.

Time to ease slightly off the metal pedal, as Aussie proggers Teramaze are up next, with new track ‘Fight or Flight’. It’s the song that probably best bridges the gap between the previous release and current, with huge choruses, crashing guitars and the intricate time changes you would expect from this talented crue.

Time for some upbeat post-punk now, with German act Tics, from Cologne, and ‘Get Rich’. There is an almost new wave crossover, with a bit extra thrown in for good measure. Fans of Gang of Four, Talking Heads or Captain Beefheart will probably find a lot to like in this quirky, bass driven little number.

Another alt-rock tune now, as Powder for Pigeons have just released the video for new track ‘Shit Storm City’, a single that conveys their social criticism in a humerous way. There’s a bit of crossover with some punk at times, which sit well alongside the alt-rock abilities of the act, fusing them to create a rather likeable effort.

Norway’s Underwing are up to it again with their latest single, ‘We Lie Awake’. From the off, there are clear influences of Black Sabbath, Tool and Alice In Chains, which combine very well to create a rather stunning second single from their forthcoming sophomore EP.

Irish act Bitch Falcon are my next choice, with new track ‘Panther’, a blend of post-rock and a few other dark orientated musical aspects combining to create a rather distinctive and engaging track.

Dizzy Mystics time now and a band whose debut album I covered a couple of weeks ago, the Winnipeg psych-proggers have a highly engaging style that draws you in, willingly or otherwise, with new track ‘Letter’. Plenty of guitar wankery, for those so inclined, with lots of melody available for those not ss influenced.

Be The Wolf have been around for a few years now, with their modern hard rock leanings speaking a lot of days gone past, of ’80s rock and metal and even a bit of AOR influence at times too, with new track ‘Thousand Years’ a prime example of this strong form. This track in particular would not feel out of place alongside The Scorpions and such luminaries.

DC punk act Gauche have their debut album out in a few weeks time, with second single ‘Pay Day’ being their latest promo for the new album. There is a heavy feel of Bikini Kill, Le Tigre, The Chats and similar acts in this rather likeable punk release, which harkens back to the older school of punk rock.

Scouse emo newcomers Decay are my next selection, with the video for new track ‘Slow Decline’ from forthcoming debut EP ‘Modern Conversation’. It has the hallmarks of the classic emo acts that grew to prominence in the ’90s and early 2000s.

Time for something a touch different now, as Paul Gilbert, the renowned guitar hero, unveils the video for new track ‘Herd of Turtles’. Relentless riffs, quirky sounds and spoken word lyrics combine for something a little more extraordinary than our standard tracks.

Moving a touch more experimental in nature, electronic hardcore act Famous Last Words have a new track by the name of ‘Scream’, which fuses elements of several other genres to create a rather different sound than the rest on today’s feature, in a rather engaging manner.

Modern metalcore act Our Hollow, Our Home have been ripping things apart for the last couple of years and continue that strong form with the release of track ‘Disconnect’, from their acclaimed sophommore release ‘In Moment // In Memory’. UK’s new breed of metalcore at its finest.

After the last few frenetic tracks, a couple of minutes to calm back down, with Finnish folk rock legend HC Slim and his latest single ‘Sojourner’. A favourable comparison to the recorded Bob Dylan works would be a safe way of explaining H.C.’s melodic and enjoyable song!

A step back up now, with Crestfallen Queen, the German progressive blackened rock act. ‘Queen Of Swords’ shows an abundance of talent, sitting heavily in the doom bracket with this particular track, though with more than a hint of psych and melody added into the mix!

Our final track of this mammoth edition of the Singles Club is Walking Papers, with single ‘I Belong To You’ getting a video to coincide with the release of a new single and their forthcoming support slots with Stone Temple Pilots at Glasgow’s O2 Academy on 12 June and London’s  Kentish Town Forum on 13 June. Downbeat rock with a psych touch is a superlative way to close out this feature and Walking Papers do a damn good job with it, too.

So, plenty of choice and variety there for you, once again, and hopefully something to tickle both your aural tastebuds and your wallet. ÜR boss Monk will be back with the next instalment of the Singles Club in two weeks’ time, so until then keep ‘er lit, keep ‘er between the hedges and keep on rockin’.

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