Agent Envy-No Friend
Agent Envy has the keys and means to the post-grunge rock universe. Starting off with incredible covers of her favourite songs, she has progressed to create some rattling, rocking originals. Today we look at No Friend, her snippet of the alt-rock creation that is organic yet obliterates any sense of doubt that this is a rock star in the making. Opening with an intriguing, mystery formulating bassline, her vocals come in soft, but wary. It is worth the warning she is issuing, creating a foreboding environment. This is where she capitalizes on her dynamic voice range, shifting from soft to aggressive with just a change in pitch or the modulation. As the overdrive guitars explode, you can hear the Deftones influence clear as day, the vocals taking the route of Chino’s alleyways and styles. As Agent Envy recedes into the verse, the second push is stronger, and brings more of the harmonics and layers. It is a perfect embodiment of who she identifies as a musician, forging a weapon so uniquely marked with her fingerprints-it is evident. The bridge brings the kind of build a chorus like this deserves, intensifying the emotion and range. Any classic revenge film comes to mind with this song, especially the scenes in John Wick and the Bourne series, where friend turns to enemy. Agent Envy banks on her speciality of the vocal ballet she can perform with her tantalizing and powerful voice, resonating with the lyrics she writes. Listen to her covers of Deftones and Nirvana, along with her soul shaking originals.
Mad Painter-Rock and Roll Samurai
Mad Painter has the pageantry and aplomb of a star group. Like Meatloaf, you can hear their songs to be visual and audio epics. Their sense of composition and arrangement is unparalleled for an indie project like this. Energy shifts from place to place in their songs, it is never lost. This is their latest single, Rock and Roll Samurai. I don’t know what visual might come to you when you hear that term. Welding a Gibson axe and an all leather karate gi, you can expect mayhem from this warrior. With a Deep Purple like intro, the synth immediately goes on the pedestal. Quick paced, energetic and full of drive, this song is only to be played on 5th gear. The organ support with the distorted guitar gives an Ian Gillian kind of edge to Mad Painter. You can expect nothing to take a backseat in this song. Right from the get-go, you’re treated to a 220V charged band like appeal, the zeal is electric. The chorus is unique and kick-ass, a balance very often lost due to trying too hard. Mad Painter’s way is to create an intensely catchy hook that you’d want to hum and sing when you feel like it. From Rock the Kasbah & School of Rock, this song bleeds rock and roll. It is an instant zap back to the late 70s, where this used to be airplay regularly. The attack and energy would make for some engaging scenes where rock-ery is in full form. Listen to Mad Painter’s self-titled debut and Illusion for some eye-opening rock revival. Devil Horns up and indulge!
The One Tonic-We Can't Fail
The One Tonic is creating the electro-waves others couldn’t even gauge. A Muse fan and stellar composer, his tracks bring an energy and zeal with unique lyrics like no other. Electro-rock is something artists shy away from, but this is starting to look like the epicentre. This is his latest single, We Can’t Fail. From themes of Armageddon and steampunk related soirées, nothing is a limitation for this wunderkind. Just like Muse, complicated themes are ruminated upon. This new one is a solid cracker through and through. The beats resonate with the energy necessary to overturn an 18 ton truck. As we surf through the simple verse section, the kick in the solar plexus is the chorus. The riff is one of the better ones I’ve heard through the years, and the electro kick is the voltage spike you need. Perfectly encapsulated, this song keeps building. The second time around has a larger, wave inducing impact. The harmonics are the perfect touch to the swarming verse section as well. The rock and electro lock horns to increase the kick, and do it with merciless power. This is the kind of song that is the caffeine boost after the first cup of coffee. Rewarding and ruthlessly fun. I instantly imagined scenes from Everything Everywhere All At Once, being perfectly synced with this. The action based theme around this and most songs from The One Tonic is what keeps it alive. His 2021 EP Won’t Stop is filled with bangers having the same kind of energy as this track. Follow him for more superb music!
DCxPC Live Vol. 10 Presents- RATH & The Wise Guys / The Kutoffs Live at Lou's
Pure punk rock will blow your hair back. It is rebellion in musical format, paradise for bohos and misfits. RATH & The Wise Guys and The Kutoffs give a live set at Lou’s that is one for the ages. As they bring the best of live gig energy, they were kind enough to record it. Prepare for wreckage at home. Sift through the debris while looping this album again. This is DCxPC Live Vol. 10 Presents- RATH & The Wise Guys / The Kutoffs Live at Lou's. One of my favourite rock albums remains London Calling. It isn’t the compositions, but a band enraged giving it their all. RATH & The Wise Guys kick the set off. No small talk, no banter and pander. Straight to the meat, and it's divine to taste. You can practically hear the place turn over to hell, and they are tighter than a quartz clock. The riff for Melt My Brain is classic punk, pushing the energy to another dimension. Stiffed creates an alt-rock push, something that The Ramones would sound like. It is a kick-ass track with some high voltage action. My favourite parts of these songs is that they’re short, to the point and all gold. No time is wasted in a build-up, they’re as punk as it can get. RATH close out their set with Nose Candy. To reiterate, that's drugs. Another powerful track, the bass shines as much as the guitars for this riff. Meaty and chunky, you can hear the tone as much as any other instrument, the balance is pure and powerful. The Kutoffs take the stage next, and all they need is their name to incite the devil. It is an alt-rock energy that reminds you of Sum-41 & blink. Taking Off is their opener, one of their most popular singles. A little over 3 minutes, it keeps the party going and the zealous out pour of mayhem melodies. Enjoy the Ride closes out what would have been a baller evening. It is the perfect song to close out a live performance, and it has all been highs. It is a superb live performance by two high-horsepower generators of music. Though two sides of the same paper, their principles and music make the best of their talents. Their talent being the waning art of live performances. The bouncing energy, the band on fire, the jams and chemistry leading to the worn out stage. You heard 2 bands that love playing together, and no kind of performance can show it better. This was a movie in itself, so I won’t imagine anything other than the movie I missed. Feel their raw power and follow them on every platform so that you can stay up to date. For now, embrace the chaos and rock out!
The Starkillers-Eyes Like Fire
The Starkillers truly believe in rock. Their songs have a powerful purpose, they pierce through mediocrity and place themselves on an accessible surface of sound. Bouncing with energy and stylishly unique, each of their singles till now is a cracker because of how well they’ve gone into the details. You sometimes just choose the right key in the bunch. They’ve done it the last 4 times. This is their latest single, Eyes Like Fire. With the excuse of opening boundaries of music, many bands seem to have lost their favourite sound. I define that as what got them into music. The Starkillers are fully in touch with what made them the electric project they are. This track has a cool riff, superb delivery and well arranged verses as well. You asked for a lift, you got dropped off home. Not only are they tight in their recording and structured in their composition, but they seem to truly love rock. From often ignored flourishes to solos and tone-they’ve focused on them all. This is the result of several love letters to this music and a need to deliver A grade content. Not because the world needs it, because they do. From Hellboy to 6 Underground and even Kill Bill, this screams action through and through. The romance laced lyrics give a gentle overtone to it, but that riff belongs in an action scene and you know it. Listen to their other 3 singles to watch a band on fire when they release a song. This is just the beginning, in many ways. Follow them on Spotify for more tracks like this!
Hyde-Not a Flex
Hyde gives off the energy of a rap starchitect in the making. With cool, calculated verses, there is a level of drip on this gentleman that should be illegal. If all that in the artist side isn’t impressive enough, he works as an attorney in his day job. Hip-hop haven as a moonlight project, and this good? Make sure you’re sitting down for this one. This is his single, Not a Flex. Featuring SeaJay and Mahoney $, you know that only top level verses will constitute this song. There is a meta element to this track that makes it so much more entertaining. While the title is not a flex, probably every verse has a flex element of the incredible ability of rhyme. Not only possessed by him but his partners in this particular track, you’re reeled in like it’s an IMAX show. Keep in track with the lyrics, and you’ll know what I’m talking about. The chorus is something of a diamond tip, etching itself in your glass brain for eternity, in a way. If this is how Hyde wants to immortalize himself, he should have stopped 5 songs ago. Now, he’s creating a legacy. Inspiring and energetic, everything is as natural as can be. A cool background with some classy effects, no autotune or aid exists for this kind of dynamite delivery. This could definitely work in Creed 2, where the action sequences would be magical with this kind of song tying it all together. You never needed to know Hyde was an attorney. There are bars he’s passed that authorities can’t claim. Listen to his single and follow him for great, flavourful hip-hop!
DAMIEN-Empty
DAMIEN puts the metallic strain in the indie industrial rock resurgence. There are plenty of artists who attempt it, but the sardonic lyricism, brilliant composition and retaining the original magic of the movement is brought back by this artist. A wolfish performer to watch live, his recordings bring the aggression and muscular push this kind of music needs. This is his latest single, Empty. Though I am reminded of NIN’s The Downward Spiral in many ways, this artist pushes the envelope with regard to the time he is in. Becoming more relevant, these lyrics fall like shards of glass, through a world that envelopes itself in a desensitized bubble. From the catchy, rhythmic tempo to the elevated sense of nothing that is well put out in the song, DAMIEN creates dread in a way only he can. The synth flows are the bubbling energy a song like this needs, with the tones whittled to perfection specifically for this. Even when it's just the percussions and his vocals, you can feel the honesty in the execution of the words. Any more layers, and it would have been overkill, but DAMIEN understands the dynamic of the genre better than anyone I’ve heard. I could definitely place this in Natural Born Killers, a great movie with a Trent Reznor created soundtrack. The hollow, but complete nature of the lyrics makes it a dynamic unlike any other. You can check out more of his music with Nowhere and Power, along with his unique 2021 album, Girl. Explore his music and follow him to get more of DAMIEN’s energy!
Anfang-Honey Trudge
- English (US)
Riff based rock will always return. It is the pulsating, bubbling life of live instrument based music. Anfang don’t have a massive manifesto, they’re just an important cog in a much larger machine. With ravenous rhythms and deafening riffage that would dry your clothes out in a second, they are back with their latest single. This is Honey Trudge.
Roxercat-Crime
The legacy of Roxercat will be through their fascinating music. If you haven’t heard of them, it’s a crime. You’ve never read foreshadowing like this. A trio that brings the life back to live music, we listen to their single today, called Crime. Sorry, but not sorry. Featured in their EP from earlier this year called Pearls, this is one of their hardest hitters. It is difficult to balance a groovy intro without it becoming the mainstay. However, if you have experience like Roxercat does, you’re going to live in the groove. With a bass intro leading to a swinging rock rhythm, you can feel the beat in your bones. When you thought that could be enough, a guitar solo pretty much kicks the door wide open. It’s like listening to Steve Vai, but there are incredible vocals involved. The bridge involves quite the exchange between the guitar and the vocals, and keeps the wattage of this song on max. If anything, I can guarantee you that you haven’t heard lead guitar work like that in several years from an indie band. There is a threshold of awesome that exists for a band to make a legacy. Roxercat crossed that threshold one EP ago. I can assure you this isn’t an advertisement of any sort, the proof is in the pudding. I’d have loved to have heard this one on The Italian Job, any really cool heist movie would do. I’m banking on an Ocean’s follow up just so that this band can make the soundtrack. You can listen to their EP and follow them on Spotify for more great rock and roll. For now, sign off with a calling card for crime.
Darrian Gerard-Basement Stadium
Darrian Gerard might be the next punk rocker messiah. Her songs have massive Bikini Kill and X energy, from vocals to instrumentals, everything is on high wattage. It would be a miracle to hear her live, owing to the kind of performances she gives in her recordings. Today we listen to her EP, Basement Stadium. Being a complete home studio artist is no easy task. Everything is in your hands, including how the music feels. Darrian Gerard has her basement stadium packed, if she’s executing songs this way. The distortion on the guitars and her appeal is insane, especially with her opening track Explosion. She goes for a slow opening, and for a punk rocker, that is performance haven. Her riffs push towards a catchy chorus that you’d definitely be singing along to. You might find the second title a little misleading. It is called Powerless, but it pushes the envelope for the most annihilating essence of sound. As it organically builds, I can imagine hoards of rock lovers clapping along to the beat. The vocals interact very smoothly with the guitars, and layers galore. One of the most well written tracks lyrically and arrangement wise as well. Everybody’s Mad At Me is the rebels lament. Darrian Gerard is an expert in getting a slow, solid opening that has a firework chorus section with plenty of overflow. It is a great way of bringing in pop flavours but retaining the core principle of punk rock/rock. Hear it echo As we reach Backseat Driver, you feel a whole different texture to the tone. This is a pleasant surprise, where you can’t put her love for genres in a box. The chorus comes in pretty early, making for a catchy track. It is important not to pander with over-the-top instrumentals as well. It is top quality content with no seconds on the track meter wasted. As we close this energetic EP, we approach her most popular track. Old Wounds has an emotional core, the ink spilling into the instrumentals. The virtual reflections are almost inundating, for we never know the kind of vocal route she’ll take with her songs. Darrian Gerard is not only the snippet of the modern musician, but someone who had their first love in music. I’d love to see this reprised in Smithereens, which is a movie released in 1982, but has all the energy Darrian brings to her music. Tailored to perfection in sound and production as well, she is an all-rounder music buff who will continue to make fun but meaningful music. Joan Jett has already got reincarnated, and this one resonates with the new generation of die-hard music fans. Don’t forget to follow her on Spotify for more superb music coming your way!
JShell-In My Head
JShell kept his promise. He said he’ll have a kick-ass track ready for us to vibe to, and he was right. He broke the indie music game with his cool rock track, Haunted. Now, imagine that impact times 10. This is his full length album, In My Head. Let’s see the surprises he’s packed for us in this one. Here’s something you should know about JShell. He’s a multi-instrumentalist, so what you hear might never be replicated in this style. This becomes immediately evident with his opening track, Crawl. The leading drums have a pounding rhythm that you instantly latch on to. A great rock core, the beat takes you on a journey. He likes to experiment with the time signature, changing the attack and styles. You See Me may have a Velvet Underground touch, but his cinnamon spice is retained as well. There is an easygoing air about the song, and all the instruments dance in tandem. Owing to the same synapse composing all this, there are a lot of alt-rock moments as well. Big Apple Boogie is another pocket of experimentation. It has a Deep Purple style execution, Jon Lord styled synth leads opening the track. The instrumental has all the energy coming from this throne claiming powerhouse. JShell is adamant in giving you a wholesome experience. Through this school of rock Chain of Events has a resonating soul that reverberates with new life. It changes the rock style for something within a prog-rock exhibit. The tonal competitiveness is fun to listen to, and the unpredictable turns JShell takes. We then come to his hit single, Haunted. Known for the kind of kick it has and superb funky spine. It is a perfect middle line track, something that refreshes your listening soul. You hear Peter Frampton influences, however JShell pushes for an experience that furthers that. Some transitions could have used a bit more vocal polishing, but the instrumentals steal the show either way. You Do You might be an uber Dylan styled track. It has a piano riff as the swinging core. The collaboration with Steve Hackett also allows for a uniquely carved track with its own chasing personality. Don’t Ask Why goes back to old school rock roots. The riff has an essence like UFO, but JShell never wants you to hear something you already have. There are plenty of innovations in his tone and intent of creating an album like this. Delusions is another favourite of mine. It has a Bryan Adams style execution. You can almost hear the whole stadium singing this with him. Thursday changes and rests on this kind of tone, while That’s the Key is a triumphant reggae flavour to this album. It has great layers and parts, moving in tandem like a clock. You hear the title track, and you hear the chaos and instrumental genius come together. A memorable performance by JShell As we reach a ballad like tone, you realize you might be in for a Yes styled escapade. My Last Request changes the texture to make a genuinely interesting album with a dream behind it. This artist wanted to create a first kick-ass album that had so many names and themes, you were like a kid at an amusement park. Mission accomplished sir. This one deserves its own biography on JShell’s exciting life.
Elohyek-What's the Use?
Elohyek are travellers, but through the waves of sound. Many artists say they break genres, but pick ones that have blood bond. This band is different, because they never set out to be. Choosing genres that one wouldn’t think of putting together, they create delicious cocktails of cotton candy and rust. Industrial rock marries Trip-Hop. What’s the Use? Is their latest single. In many ways, the beat reminds me of Dave Grohl’s single with Trent Reznor and Josh Homme. Reznor has the ability to mould the texture to a cinematic reprise if desired. Elohyek use an alteration of the Mantra like beat to create a dreamy verse section. Riding on the clip-clopping hooves of the drum, the vocals are spaced out, yet in psychedelic shards. It reflects vocal patches of Tame Impala, or maybe even Babe Ruth or the Psychic Ills. Drawing you in, you’re restricted to this box till the opening comes. What an opening it is. The contrast of the gentle guitars to the overdrive kicking in is the life source songs like this need. It is an empirical sense of agency to a song like this, creating a thumping audio drama that is in parts industrial, parts alt-rock. Receding into the bassline, you feel like you’ve been shown a chapter from a secret book. It is a revelatory sound that they have discovered, and they are rightfully proud of it. The Hitcher and Wanted are two movies that would have executed this in their scene with perfection. You can check out their elegance in execution with Phantom Limbs, their 2022 album. Their upcoming EP, Evergreen Motel, might tread on new paths. Listen to their immersive track and follow them for their EP release!