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…
Kicking off proceedings this week, we have one of the true legends of pop-punk: indeed, a band who it could be argued were one of the founding fathers of the genre – The Undertones. The Stroke City legends are celebrating their 45th anniversary in 2022 with the release of a remastered compilation of the best tracks from the two albums they have recorded since reforming with “new” singer Paul McLoone in 1999. And they are thoroughly thrilling us with the lead single:
From the old wave of pop-punk to the New Wave of Classic Rock with our next batch of selections, which come from some of the prime proponents of the genre. First up we have Stone Broken, who have exploded out of the Covidications of the past two years with their heaviest and most experimental album to date, from which they have us staring into the abyss of a ‘Black Sunrise’ with the second single:
Next up, Revival Black want to take us out, and it’s an invitation we have found impossible to resist with this latest taster from their own new album, which is due to land at the beginning of May:
We’re packing the hairspray and heading to the city of angels to relive the sleazy heyday of the legendary Rainbow Bar & Grill – and we can think of now better company in which to do that our old friends The Cruel Intentions, who turn everything up to 11 with this celebration of ‘Sunrise Over Sunset’:
We keep the emphasis on the sleazy side of life as one of our favourite NWoSR bands, Wildstreet, revisit their past with this new interpretation of a song from deep in their alternative discography, when they were temporarily known as Rave La Kill… although if the bais think we believe that they’ve only got ‘One Tattoo’, then they are definitely trying to pull the wool over our eyes:
From the strip to the garage next, as ÜR faves The Courettes pay yet another visit to the Club, this time to share with us their misadventures in the company of ‘Misfits & Freaks’ – an experience which we’ll now doubt get to relive in the flesh when they return to the Über Kingdom for a run of dates in June
One of the hottest acts to have emerged in the PC (that’s post-Covid) era undoubtedly are London grime punk duo Bob Vylan, who first came to our attention late last year when they opened for The Offspring in impressive, and impressionable, style. Today, they are giving us sage advice on diet and lifestyle as they remind us that ‘Health Is Wealth’ on the latest taster (sic) from their forthcoming new album:
Some serious metalcore action now as Breathe Atlantis ‘Break The Silence’ with the latest earworm explosion to be lifted from their forthcoming new album, ‘Overdrive’, which is shaping to move the genre into that and set a flag-waving standard for their counterparts with one of the most exciting and anticipated releases of the year so far:
We’re now taking a trip to the Edge Of Paradise, where we are led to ‘Believe’ in the power of cinematic balladry thanks to this excellent example of electronica-infused symphonic Gothicism:
Sorry folks, I need to take a quick piss break, so the big man by the name of Bona is temporarily stepping up to the decks and in the process introducing us to Doncaster newcomers Blood Stained Reputation. The quartet have just released their debut single, of which Bona says: “On first listening it comes across as an up-tempo punk track with hard rock elements, particularly from Baz’s lead guitar section. They are a band that keep it straight forward but punchy, in the true style of punk. I’m guessing that they had limited studio time as some elements like the intro are a bit sloppy and it possibly could have done with a bit longer in post-production, the vocals in particular could have done with a bit more sparkle, this is a mastering issue though. Having said that they are a young band, and from what I have heard so far, a young band with lots of potential. As they gain more experience, I predict that they will get bigger and better.”
A short hop down the motorway takes us to Leeds, where we enter into the company of rising new metalcore trio 12 Pavilion, who are proving that we can’t kill their spirit with their declarative and forceful debut, which contains strong echoes of Bring Me The Horizon and fellow Yorkshire groovers While She Sleeps, delivered with emphasis and passion:
Across the Pennines to Manchester now, where grunge punks Supera Morza are not afraid to mix unflinching socio-political commentary with hard-hitting riffage on this uncompromising two-and-a-half minutes of sonic anarchy:
We’re off to Denmark next, where we’re entering the company of some Sainted Sinners, who are sharing ‘The Essence Of R’n’R’ with this excellent latest sample from their recent ‘Taste It’ album… and a delicious little morsel it is too…
Time to get a bit filthy now, and enter the ‘Vermin’ infested world of Colorado crushers Allegaeon, whose third single was described by my brother as “one of the more straightforward tracks” on their just-released new album:
For our final selection, Texan pop punks Bowling For Soup need no introduction to Club regulars, as they grace our playlists on a regular basis… This time around, they are telling us how much they want to be like a particular Hollywood superstar, and as usual Jaret Reddick has his tongue planted so firmly planted in his cheek that it’s a miracle he can actually sing the words…
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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