Curated by Monk
Welcome to the latest edition of the Über Rock Singles Club. We have managed to keep the Club up-and-running despite the numerous Covidications which we all have had to endure over the past 24 months, in order to bring you the hottest new sounds around. And once again we have another hitlist of superb sonic experiences to tickle your sonic senses, with a selection of my favourite tunes to have found their way on to the ÜRHQ deathdecks over the past couple of weeks… Bearing in mind that, despite the new rock ‘n’ roll year still being slightly less than a month old, we received more than 400 submissions, it was not an easy task to whittle them down to this all-too-short playlist of just a handful musical gems…
We’re starting off in the ladies’ toilets, as we’re raiding handbags for cans of hairspray. Yes, we’re in full-on glam/sleaze mode to kick proceedings into high gear, and there are few glammer or sleazier than the Scandinavians. And among their finest exports in this regard are Stockholm’s finest stage strutters, Crashdïet, who are proving that they, and we, are ‘Together Whatever’ as they prepare for the release of their new album at the end of this very month:
Another ‘Force Majeure’ on the Scandi-rock scene undoubtedly are H.E.A.T, who have re-united with original singer Kenny Leckremo for their own new album, from which the opening track and lead single sees them taking us ‘Back To The Rhythm’, which they do with all the electrifying energy we have come to expect from them:
A change of mood for our next trio of selections, and we’re feeling a pop punk vibe. First up we have Über Kingdom newcomers Ninebanks, who are crossing our palms with a ‘Little Silver’, as the Sunderland quartet evoke the sound of the early Noughties with a bouncy, catchy sound that echoes the likes of All Time Low, Blink 182, Sum 41 et al:
Coming at us from ÜR’s former homeland of south Wales we have four young lads who collectively go by the name of Jaws Of Life, who have taken advantage of this weekend’s full moon to engage in a spot of ‘Stargazing’, with this catchier-than-a-cold second single from their forthcoming debut EP:
Currently tearing up stages all across the ÜK with their good buddies Bowling For Soup, The Dollyrots are Singles Club regulars and have taken time out of their touring schedule to pop in for a quick libation and prove that they are ‘Just Like All The Rest’ of us with their latest slice of bubblegum power pop:
ÜS prog giants Dream Theater hit these shores later this week for a trio of arena dates in Belfast, Newcastle and London. In between touring commitments and winning a Grammy, singer James LaBrie also has been preparing for the release of his latest solo album, ‘Beautiful Shade Of Grey’, from which has just released the gorgeous ‘Give & Take’. Unfortunately for our female readers, Jamie Dornan does not appear in the accompanying video:
Talking of frontmen flying solo, former Finnish love god Ville Valo may have left his days with HIM in the grave but he has by no means given up the musical ghost, instead undergoing a dose of ‘Loveletting’ under the banner of VV (very clever that!). It’s the first taster from his debut solo album, ‘Neon Noir’, which is due for release early next year. To be honest, it doesn’t really veer too far away from his former band’s gothic rock sound, so will definitely appeal to long-term fans of the chain-smoking frontman:
Our third solo frontman is the one and only Ginger Wildheart, who is no stranger to ploughing his own furrow outside of the band that bears his name. His latest solo album, ‘The Pessimist’s Companion’ has been dusted down and given a quick polish, ready for release at the end of this week via Stevie Van Zandt’s excellent Wicked Cool Records, and Ginge sets out on a seven date promotional tour, starting this very evening in his native Newcastle:
Another frontman not so flying solo as turning back the clock to a previous life is Benji Webb, who has breathed new life into his pre-Skindred project, Dub War. He turns the clock back even further with this cover of the Max Romeo And The Upsetters classic ‘War Inna Babylon’, the second track to be lifted from the band’s first album in more than 25 years. The song’s special nature is further enhanced by the fact that it features the last ever recorded vocal by Ranking Roger:
Another change in mood and tempo now, and regular readers will know that I am a fan of big riffs… no, make that BIG RIFFS. Well, couple those with HUGE harmonies, MASSIVE melodies, a COLOSSAL chorus and gang vocals that will have you banging your head and singing along in equal measure, and you have a winner every time as far as I am concerned… And that’s exactly what Melbourne power trio Fight The Sun have, as they storm onto the gold medal winning podium with their stonking new earworm, ‘Friends Are Enemies’:
Another massive earworm comes from London newcomers Ghost Arcadia, who blend metalcore, nu-metal and even EDM into an hypnotic brand of alt-rock that draws upon the likes of Biffy Clyro as it does Enter Shikari and proves that they will ‘Never Break’ in their bid to take their careers to the next level:
We’re certainly not on our own with our next offering, which comes from one of the hardest-hitting young bands to have exploded out of Ireland in recent years, the hugely emphatic and impactful Words That Burn, who defiantly show that they definitely mean business with this, the second taster of their forthcoming new album (details of which they’re keeping very close to their chests):
We’re heading into the home straight of today’s grand prix of rock ‘n’ roll, and leading the field as we head towards the final bend are Venezualan emigres BlackBeer, who are enjoying the ‘Sweet Life’ with this affectionate homage to the glory days of MTV-fuelled stadium rock, which is also the lead single from their debut album:
We sign off today with the feeling of being ‘Torn’: we don’t really want to silence the death decks and pull down the shutters on the bar, but it’s come to that time, and so we’re saying “get the fuck out” with this powerful offering from Swiss melodic metallers Rizon:
Well, that’s your fill for another session. Once again, you’ve drunk the pumps and the optics dry and exhausted our playlist… We’ll be back in two weeks’ time, fully reloaded and restocked and ready to once again bring you the best rawk ‘n’f’n roll in the Überverse. So, in the meantime all that remains for me to say is keep ‘er lit, keep ‘er between the hedges and keep on rockin’ with your favourite website \m/
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