The Über Rock Singles Club – November’s Newbies

Curated by DJ Monk

The latest edition of the Singles Club is now open for business, with the bar fully stocked and the jukebox loaded with a baker’s dozen of the finest tracks to have crossed our death decks over the past couple of weeks. Once again, it’s a diverse bunch, touching a range of styles, so let’s jump straight in and hit “play” shall we? Oh, OK, seeing as you insist…

First up, we have the latest offering from The Dark Element, the new symphonic/power metal project featuring former Nightwish singer Anette Olsen and Insomnium guitarist Jani Liimatainen, who tell us that they are ‘Not Your Monster’ with the latest single to be taken from their second album, ‘Songs The Night Sings’, which is out now via the specialist Frontiers Music label:

Now, pay attention, because we’re going to be switching moods and genres quicker than, well, a ‘Riptide’ – which is exactly what we’re doing with this track of the same name, a wonderfully bouncy and exuberant slice of old school pop punk from North Carolina’s The Second After:

Things take a slighter darker twist now, as LA goth shockers Raven Black tell us that ‘He Is The One’, with a new single released to mark them heading back out on the road again on the ‘Wisconsin Death Trip’ 20^th anniversary package alongside Static-X, Mushroomhead, Drowning Pool, Dope and Wednesday 13:

Next, we’re returning to ÜR’s back yard and although Halloween may be over that hasn’t stopped rising Belfast rockers Delusional Silence regaling us with the tale of ‘Jekyll And Hyde’. The quintet have been making quite a name for themselves on the Northern Ireland scene over the past year or so, and 2020 is looking like its going to see them take things to the next level… this certainly is a clear statement of intent in that regard…

We’re keeping the horror theme going for a moment, with garage riff rockers The Bloody Hell, who are sending ‘Out Of Our Minds’ as they transport us back to the days when the likes of The Misfits, Nirvana and the mighty Motörhead ruled the airwaves, and rightly so, with this delightfully fun romp that will have you smiling and dancing at the same time:

We’re getting slightly melancholy now, with this beautiful new offering from Denver songstress Sharone who is wishing she could ‘Turn Back Time’ to happier places and times with this majestic slice of dark gothicisim:

Another female singer is up next, in the shape of The Kut, who is looking straight through us with her ‘X-Ray Eyes’, which is something like the ninth single from her most recent album, ‘Valley Of Thorns’. It’s a neat slice of alt-rock referencing everyone from Hole and Lunachicks to Incubus and Placebo – while the lady also sports one of the most impressive mohawks you’ll see this year:

Time for a wee bit of old-fashioned hard rock, Australian style, as Ablaze – who have just completed a short run of shows here in the Über Kingdom – ask ‘Where’s My Drink?’ with this fun slice of no-nonsense, no-brainer rock ‘n’ roll action. Ask for the answer to their question: well, DQ drank it!

A double dose of sleaze for y’all now, with Kickin’ Valentina who present us with ‘Sweat’, the lead cut from their forthcoming new EP, ‘Chaos In Copenhagen’, which is due for release on 6 December. Definitely one for fans of Motley Crue, Ratt, Hardcore Superstar and Backyard Babies – and ‘80s sleaze rock in all its nefarious fans:

We keep the sleaze factor turned up to 11 with ‘Rise’, the second single from the forthcoming new album by Swedish melodic rock heroes H.E.A.T, which is due to drop before the end of the year. The accompanying video picks up the animated theme employed in the first single, ‘One By One’, which was included in one of the Singles Club’s playlists at the end of September:

Another mood swing now, with a touch of ska punk, courtesy of [SPUNGE] and their latest release, ‘No One Said It Was Easy’ which the band describe as “a tale of choosing to do what you love rather than what is the status quo and the fact that the route that makes you happiest in the long run isn’t always the easiest, but ultimately, when you look back it’s better to have done the things you believed in, no matter how tough that may be at the time.”

We’re heading towards last orders, so it’s time for our penultimate choice, which this time around comes to you, and us, courtesy of The Last Internationale, with the title track from their brand new album, ‘Soul on Fire’, which was released just this past Friday. The New York duo recently toured the Über Kingdom with The Cult and, more recently, Rival Sons, and have confirmed a series of headline shows for the end of next March:

Our final offering for this week sees us signing off in joyously rambunctious style, thanks for Belgian pop punk combo For I Am and their insanely catchy new release, ‘Die Hard’, taken from their new album, ‘Late Bloomers’, which hits the shelves (in digital format at least) tomorrow…

So, there you have it. Our pick of the crop of the 200+ singles which have come our way over the last fortnight. Hopefully we have included something for most tastes, and also pointed some new bands your way from you’ll be looking to hear more. DJ Astrocreep will be back behind the wheels of steel next time around, so until then keep ‘er lit, keep ‘er between the hedges and, most importantly, KEEP ON ROCKIN’…