Curated by Monk
Well, we’re supposedly heading into the heart of summer, but while the sun may not quite be making itself felt quite yet things are definitely hot, at least as far as our latest playlist of the top tunes that have been tickling our fancy over the past couple of weeks. So, without further ado, let’s get the deathdecks pumping, the volume turned up just loud enough to make sure the neighbours enjoy our selections (even if they don’t want to, eh?) and get those sounds a blastin’, shall we?
Attic Theory ‘Dare To Dream’ (ThunderGun Records)
The Liverpool alt-groove heavyweights take us on a very personal journey of perseverance with this powerful and emotionally charged track from their recent ‘What We Fear The Most‘ album also serves as a rallying cry for hope and resilience:
Shane Smith & The Saints ‘Wheels’ (Thirty Tigers/Geronimo West Records)
This ode to life on the road and the struggles endured from countless hours of touring is the latest extract from the Texan blue collar roots rockers’ first album in five years:
Madrai ‘Leaving On My Own’ (Self-Released)
This debut release from this Irish indie rock duo brings with it something of an emotional blood-letting with another deeply personal journey into the inner turmoil of the human heart and condition:
Mine Road ‘American Dream’ (Self-Released)
These Irish rockers evoke the spirit of the late Tom Petty as the Dublin combo celebrate their musical reconnection by welcoming us into their house, only to rip the doors off and burn the place down with their stories of love, loss, triumph and heartbreak told via a soundtrack that is far more Schwarzenegger than film noir.
Lowen ‘The Seed That Dreamed Of Its Own Creation’ (Church Road Records)
These Iranian emigres, now based in London, evoke their heritage by writing and singing in their native Farsi, with this retelling of the tale of Azhi Dahāka, a serpent tyrant overthrown after a violent reign of chaos, drought and instability. The track is taken from their epically titled new album, ‘Do Not Go To War With The Demons Of Mazandaran‘, due out in October.
Gelatin Skelatin ‘VHS’ (SRS/MVD Entertainment)
These Canadian glamsters are evoking the heyday of Eighties hard rock radio and outrageously OTT stage shows, and no doubt will be stirring up some #BigTrouble when their debut album hits the shelves next month:
Bywater Call ‘Everybody Knows’ (Self-Released)
Canada seems to be producing some very tasty roots rock acts at the, with both The Commoners and Madison Galloway having just released new albums and heading our way for some exciting shows. You can add this seven-piece soul infused group o swaggering strutters to that growing canon, as they more than ably prove with this latest culling from their upcoming new album:
L.A. Edwards ‘El Camino’ (Bitchin’ Music Group)
Another dose of rootsy blues-rock, this time with an Americana vibe, as these guys evoke the spirit of driving along, with the windows open, the wind flowing through your hair and the music blasting – all, of course, in the classic car from which this latest track takes its name:
Cober Mouth ‘Beneath The Hydrogen’ (Self-Released)
These rising Bristolians are about to become #Untethered with the release of their new EP in September, and this is a prime example of what to expect from their impressive brand of nu-metal meets metalcore:
Rundown Kreeps ‘FC’ (Wiretap Records/My Grito Industries)
This LA ska-punk/psychobilly trio have a singular mission statement, and that is to bring the classic sound of the SoCal underground kicking and screaming back to life. On the evidence of this latest stand-alone offering, they’re certainly succeeding – and it helps they have some heavyweight support in their corner as the track was engineered by Jonathan Mireles, who previously has worked with Travis Barker and Machine Gun Kelly, and mastered by Less Than Jake’s own Roger Lima:
King Thief ‘Gymposter Syndrome’ (Thousand Islands Records)
This Canadian punk supergroup is made up of past and present members of Teenage Bottlerocket, This is a Standoff, Choke and The Fullblast, among others, and, after five years together, have just released this first single from their debut album, which is due to follow in the Autumn:
Falcon Trails ‘Caught’ (Metalville Records)
This Finnish/British collaboration add a funk edge to their love of classic Seventies acts such as Purple and Trapeze, taken from an album that has taken six years to bring to life:
A Forest Mighty Black ‘Birdman’ (Go Down Records)
These stoners will be taking us deep into the world of ‘The Hedonist‘ when they release their new album at the beginning of September. This first single tells the tale of a man whose desire to fly sees him surgically transformed into an angel:
Lucid Fly ‘Fjord’ (Self-Released)
These progressive metallers also possess a positive alt-rock vibe which evokes the dynamic heaviness of Karnivool, the emotive depth of A Perfect Circle and the haunting gothic melodies of the likes of Evanescence as they take us an atmospheric trip during their return to action after a brief hiatus:
Socks And Ballerinas ‘Outsidein’ (Self-Released)
The Bristol instrumental alt-rock duo make a second successive appearance at the Club with this latest taster of their new album, ‘A Bit Jumpy’, scheduled for release in September:
Illuminati Hotties ‘Power’ (Hopeless Records)
This latest offering from GRAMMY winning producer and engineer Sarah Tudzin is the title track from her new album, due for release next month:
The Vendettas ‘Head On Collision’ (Golden Robot Records)
As loud and chaotic as a day at a monster truck demolition derby, these Aussies channel the spirit of Melbourne tradition of producing delivering hard-hitting, high-energy no-nonsense rock ‘n’f’n’ roll:
The Goodwin Club ‘See All Color’ (Wiretap Records)
These guys may be regarded as veterans of the SoCal scene, but its one they’ve been away from for almost three decades, having split up back in 1995, with the various members going on to be in such bands as The Aquabats, The Hippos, The Scholars, Teen Heroes and Reel Big Fish. Well, now they’re back, with a new album which will see us gladly accepting their invitation to join their club when it comes our way later in the year:
Maitreya ‘The Traveler’ (Self-Released)
This combo from the Canadian namesake of the ÜK’s goth capital, Whitby, blend elements of jazz, funk and fusion into their porgressive metal sensibilities, with this taster of their upcoming new opus, due in October:
The Jellybricks ‘That Way’ (Wicked Cool Records)
The fact that these Pennsylvania power pop veterans are backed and endorsed by that legendary master of Über (wicked) coolness, Stevie Van Zandt (never mind the fact they’ve previously featured as one of our Daily Picks) should tell you all you need to know and be more than enough to have you clicking that little “play me now mofo” arrow:
The Slugz ‘Anthem’ (Self-Released)
We sign off with the second single to be taken from the upcoming new EP by the French pop punks who returned to action last year after an extended hiatus:
So, there you have it, another eclectic selection of the hottest sounds around at the moment, at least in our humble but highly educated opinion and a playlist that hits the eardrums with more accuracy than a Pennsylvanian sniper. Until next time, keep ‘er lit, keep ‘er between the hedges and keep on Über Rockin’ in the free world…