Mad About Rock

  Danish teenage trio Ashes Of Billy delivers a sound beyond their years with the new EP 'Obscene', which will be released on March 7th through Prime Collective. The feel-good opener, 'Down The Hill,' is immediately upbeat and nostalgic, and it's a great way to kick things off. 'Feel You Around' is an angsty and edgy offering with impressive vocals, slick guitarwork, and an awesome solo. The whole track oozes swagger. 'Something about your smile' is another catchy track and may be the most anthemic featured. The EP closes with the title track 'Obscene,' which is infectiously melodic and ends on an exhilarating note, leaving you eager to hear more from the talented trio. The 'Obscene' EP is a diverse, lively, and delightful rock grunge-infused listen. It offers nostalgic hints of 90s grunge while sounding fresh and powerful. Given how young the band is, they are certainly ones to watch, and it will be exciting to see what the future ho...

  Thrash metal quintet Mur.Doc 104 from Malta was formed in 2015 and is heavily influenced by the Bay area Thrash metal such as Exodus and Death Angel, giving them an old-school thrash sound. Their debut EP offering, "The Undying", asserts this sound and comprises four main songs and an extra bonus song if you get the physical CD. To kick things off, the punchy title track roars into action with heavy and crushing riffs and pounding drums and shows Luke Debono's distinct and varied vocals, adding more attitude and power to the weighty backdrop. The second track is named after the band's name and is more sinister, featuring winding, ominous melodic riffs and more powerful group chants, making it a standout track.  The dynamic "Ignorant Masses" is mighty and memorable, keeping the thrash metal force ablaze.  The final blow, "Thrashing The Boat", is a thunderous and extensive way to end, being the longest and most diverse track to leave a lasting impr...

  North Yorkshire Fuzz Rock quartet Scruffy Bear boasts a strong, diverse, and exciting sound, which their new EP ‘Face The Rain’ asserts. The opening bluesy rock ‘Stories Of Strange Women’ is uplifting and empowering. Vocalist Georgy Eaton delivers commanding and powerful, loud vocals about listening to your spirit and not driving yourself mad. A great gripping, groovy and melodic track to reel you in. ‘Magic At Our Fingertips’ is more mellow and laid back but hits hard with heavy riffs and a thunderous chorus. Georgy’s vocal style and delivery are varied, and the whole track keeps you on your toes. This song about climate change also features a very slick and soulful instrumental section and an impressive fuzzy solo. The striking ‘Blackmoss’ is an immediate high impact track with great bass, swagger and style brimming throughout, and Georgy gives it all as expected on vocals. This is a tremendous free-spirited, energetic rock track. The final song, ‘Solace’ has a 70s blues-rock v...

  Swamp Thief are a heavy rock duo from Swansea, South Wales, consisting of Simon Bevan (Vocal/Guitars/Bass) and Marc Lockwood on Drums. They have unleashed their debut EP titled 'I' made up of four tracks. First track ‘Mary’ gets things off to an explosive start with hard heavy-hitting drums and insane guitar tones which is melodic throughout. They make a lot of sound for a duo, and this first offering is well-blended and gets you hooked. ‘Whip Hand’ shows more gritty colossal guitars with heavy distortion with clean and powerful vocals, making for a great combination. They display their talent wonderfully, and the track ends on tremendous down beat sludginess. ‘Maelstrom Queen‘ takes a different more subtle progressive approach before unleashing its full force, with full-on crunchy groovy riffs in the longest offering. It features massive all surrounding vocals which all tracks do and is very well executed and produced to aid their huge sound. It is the most diverse and chall...

Elimination  are a 3 piece thrash metal act hailing from Suffolk UK who formed back in 2007. They released their debut album two years later “Destroyed By Creation” which opened up many doors for the band and led to a quick release of their sophomore album "The Blood Of Titans' which was supported by a UK tour with Evile as well as festival appearances at the likes of Hammerfest. The band had a hiatus back in 2012 and returned in 2018 with a new line-up and now in 2020 they are ready to wreak havoc once again with their upcoming EP 'Of Gods & Beasts'... Opening track 'In The Name Of Violence' is blistering and insane throughout with effective and powerful group chants and soaring guitars, a great demanding and powerful start to the EP. 'The Return' showcases immediate crushing guitars and a sense of urgency but has a more optimistic and hopeful sound than the opener and a highly skilled solo to top it off, another boastful thrash meta...

Solarcyles are a folk metal band from the Netherlands who incorporate Celtic and Scandinavian influences giving them a very alluring and interesting sound. The band describes their music 'an esoteric journey propelled by forces unable to behold'. They formed around five years ago and released their debut EP 'Ethereal Storms' in 2017, I didn't have the pleasure of hearing the EP back when first released but I'm very glad they were bought to my attention now... Intro and opening song 'Hold On To The Sun' is short but impactful being atmospheric and setting the scene for what lies ahead and transitions wonderfully into 'Setting Sun' which blazes to life with fast guitar licks reminiscent of Nightwish instrumentally. We are graced with alluring vocals from Sascha Van Der Meer to accompany the lively folk instruments that are skilful and enchanting as the vocals throughout, this is a very enjoyable and ambient experience. 'Seven Spheres...

Blame The Sacred, a 5-piece rock band from Doncaster, South Yorkshire are set to release their new EP 'The Path' on March 27th 2020 which follows their 2018 debut EP 'Life Or Death'. ‘I Walk Alone’ has catchy driving riffs to open it with swaggering vocals and instruments to accompany. Vocalist Danny Porter has very authoritative vocals that add extra power to this hard-hitting opener, making for a brilliant start. Changing direction ‘Hollow Ground’ is largely stripped back with melodic guitars with softer emotive vocals. Although it is slower-paced it is equally as strong especially through its passion and execution adding more depth. ‘Home’ picks up the pace again with crunchy guitars and seriously melodic riffs and beats, delivering a heavy slab of fine rock that will get you moving with its great grooves. There is no shortage of energy and enthusiasm from the whole band which translates wonderfully in their music and all members get their moment to sh...

The Self Titled are a heavy rock/metal quartet from Kent, UK. They released their latest EP 'Bear and Bulls' last year in 2019 which encompasses many rock elements. Opener and title track ‘Bears and Bulls’ has a nice variety of vocals ranging from spoken rap to strong clean melodic ones and the instruments are equally as unpredictable and exciting. This exudes swagger and features great tones and distortion throughout adding to this massive sound. This is an intriguing start that leaves you eager to hear more and manages to pack a lot in before it ends. ‘Breathe Mix’ follows with assertive riffs and drums before soaring guitars really kick things off. It is faster-paced than the opener and makes for a fun motivating mosh rock track that will make you want to move especially with its Rage Against The Machine vibes present again. 'Disintegration' offers up a heavier darker metal inspired track with some nice distorted riffs and a different vocal style once mo...

Molly Karloff is a hard rock/metal groove trio from Oxford/London who have just unleashed their latest offering in the form of their 'Supernaturalation' EP. First up is the title track, 'Supernaturalation' which is hard-hitting with driving riffs to open and continues throughout. It is packed with attitude and angst, making it an infectious straight-up hard rock anthem featuring a swaggering slick solo to top it off, this is a  s trong and memorable start to the EP. Latest single ‘She said’ again pulls you in immediately with its crushing riffs. This is slower paced than the opener but equally as powerful as it is soaring and well-constructed with another stylish solo highlighting the band's capabilities. ‘Do You Wanna?’ is a no-nonsense fast pace energetic track with passionate lively vocals and will make you want to headbang and singalong. ‘Do It Again’ follows and is packed with melody, catchy hooks and fiery vocals in what is their darkest musically a...

Spiricom is a instrumental act comprised of duo Steven K. Smith (percussion,keyboards and synths) and Marc Cody (Guitarist) from Ohio. This new EP consists of three companion pieces which evoke how men wielded pain, fire, and unyielding conviction in the pursuit of holy purification. So join them on their enlightening discover... The opening song 'Strappado' which translates as a form of torture is tense with hush voices and alarming synth noises which seems fitting but it quickly progresses into something more calming and ethereal yet keeps an underlying sense of sorrow. It features more layers and tunefulness as it goes on and the ending cleverly picks up where the beginning started and ends with some eerie spoken words making for a captivating start. 'The Burn' is the shortest offering and is ambient, hopeful and depthful, making for a great and pleasant track and one to let wash over you and reflect upon life. The final song 'The Witch Hammer' has a mor...

Experimental industrial groove metal act Haema from Northamptonshire UK formed in 2016 and now they are set to release their debut EP via Sliptrick Records on the 31st October 2017. First track ‘Eden’ is a scene setter and has a futuristic space feel with a sombre tone, before it all kicks off and is a great introduction to the band’s abrasive electronic groove sound, as it is hard hitting and leaves you wanting more… ‘Free Man’ aptly feels very free spirited in attitude but with a dark atmosphere and is heavier than the opener and a good one to let loose to. They manage to incorporate many influences and sounds into this and the end result is a very strong melodic unique track. The title track ‘Insurrection’ kicks off in an alarming and dysfunctional fashion and goes on to feature electronic synth groove laden melodies and a striking chorus. This is very rebellious as you would expect from the title and the lyrics featured, such as “they tell us which way to walk, this life is...

This Italian metal five piece formed in 2012 and released their debut self titled EP late last year, on 31st October 2015. See what they have to offer in their Angerdome ... Opening song, Escape This Reality maintains a dark groove with hard hitting riffs and drums, along with fierce impressive screams from vocalist, Cento, all executed in a very melodic unit; it will have you head-banging in no time! It also possesses nice tones, aided by the production and mastering which asserts itself throughout the EP... After a memorable introduction, the band fully greet us with, Welcome To Angerdome , which keeps things fast and vicious. Again we are treated to some seriously catchy bouncy melodies, with flawless belligerent vocals, and shows what the band do best where their in their 'zone'. Direct Result starts with a crashing drum intro with an elongated scream to kick it off, then goes on to feature crushing riffs, and a mental fast chorus, all in all, the 'result' is o...

Rome Will Burn are still newcomers, but this electronic alternative pop duo from Arizona, consisting of Alyssa Suede and Manifesto are certainly making an impression with their recently released self titled EP.. First song and latest single, 'Chameleon' radiantly opens with complementary electronic and synth sounds to match the repetitive yet effective vocals. It has brilliant rhythms and melody, and the use of strong language, gives it a slightly harder pop edge. This will easily hide in your mind and is adaptable for listeners, as they achieve what they set out too, with their electronic pop with a difference! 'These Three Words' has a more fragile air to it, with stand out emotive vocals that resonant wonderfully, with sweet sappy lyrics to fit the context, showing they can diversify more-so, and with charming results. 'Waging Romance' has a dramatic more serious feel to, but is very strong and infectiously catchy, making it a must hear, and featu...

I don't know about you, but sometimes the music just needs to speak for itself, and it doesn't even matter if you don't understand the lyrics..as much as I would like to understand Italian, unfortunately I don't, but that doesn't mean you can't admire and appreciate the debut EP from Milan alt rock act Mataleon!... Opening song and first single, 'Atari' has very impressive guitar throughout, and demanding energetic vocals, all moulded together wonderfully to make a very catchy and head bang worthy track! This was a wise choice for a single, as its a stand out one that embodies their sound perfectly! 'Ozymandias' is equally enjoyable, being very melodic and pleasing on the ears, with brilliant calming and changing vocals, paired with striking instruments, which take many twists and turns in the right direction..making for a intelligible offering. 'Il Foglio Bianco' is a beautiful powerhouse rock balladesque number, highlighting t...

Singer-songwriter, Matthew Heller from Oregon captures his many talents and influences wonderfully on new EP, ‘Tragedy Town, which considering it only consists of four songs is quite impressive... Opener, ‘Ray Gun’ hits quickly and hard with its catchy old school sound tinged with elements of indie rock, with gritty angsty vocals and rebellious instruments, all presented and arranged in an effective and memorable flash! Title song, ‘Tragedy Town’ opens on muddy guitars with a bleak feel, aided by the slow and clean vocals presented using interesting rhythms, melodies and chord structures - ‘tragedy’ will stick with you even with its short presence! ‘No Army’ has a brilliant country acoustic intro and shows off the most diversity with folk inspired instruments mixing acoustic and electric guitars to create a wonderful fast paced folk concoction, with its use of string instruments adding more depth and layers to the many explorations of Matthew’s sounds! He may not have ...

Adam Havick from New York is a singer/songwriter who has been performing for almost a decade, inspired by the likes of Tom Petty, Elvis Costello and Billy Joel. This is Adam's fourth EP and along his musical endeavours found his band mates and musicans to work and help him to shape his unique and defining sound. The EP is boasting brilliant and witty artwork, that contains a warning of 'catchy tunes' and explains 'may have difficulty putting down' which only adds to the intrigue and charm before you have even listened.. Opening song, 'Let Me Let You' has an old bluesy feel with a modern edge and is charming and easy on the ears with smooth fun vocals. Although the arrangement is fairly simple its executed wonderfully. To add to the blues vibes it features a super slick impressive guitar solo by Douglas Charles Showalter which gives it more power as well as some great screamed vocals really embracing the genre and mood! 'Halfhearted Attempt...

Here is a preview of my review of Misty Miller's EP, to view the full piece go to this link on Sound And Motion Magazine:  http://soundandmotionmag.com/2013/02/25/ep-review-misty-miller-girlfriend/ Carina

Here is a preview of my review of The Fulfillment written for Sound And Motion Magazine, to view the whole review visit this link:  http://soundandmotionmag.com/2013/03/08/ep-review-the-fulfillment-origin/ Cheers, Carina