Latest Posts

Vicious Clay – Bleecker Street Revisited

November 14, 2025

There’s something visceral about the music that comes from Vinny Silva – colloquially known as Vicious Clay. The multi-instrumentalist plays all the instruments on the album: drums, bass, guitars, vocals, and percussion, and it’s palpable – the music here is raw and emotional… Truly an artist’s singular vision. Over the course of 10 songs, Silva explores sneering rock ‘n roll sounds, dipping into garage tones; retro rock swagger; and bluesy emotions.   “Dark” is a fitting way to start the album – reminiscent of Stone Temple Pilot’s “Vasoline,” the song begins with a cacophony of swelling sounds before Silva rips a crushing line – “Feels so hopeless in the dark.” The groovy, guitar riffing here feels spindly and spidery, whipping and winding around your eardrums with nimble virtuosity, pairing raw chords with strong, start/stop rhythmic play. “Dark” is a fitting way to start the album, but it is certainly the[...]

Gabriel Royce – Traveler

November 1, 2025

Gabriel Royce wrote an album that means something to him.   Inspired by his oldest daughter, Emery (and even featuring the voice of his father), Traveler is the culmination of a decade-long dream. There’s something to be said about a self-produced album like Traveler and the 2am nights that were spent to put out something of this magnitude. Across 12 songs, Royce builds a literal world – or rather a galaxy, parlaying space travel concepts into metaphorical lessons about life. This is truly a love letter to his daughter; an album that comes from a place like that is special.   Album opener “Blastoff” is more of a mantra than a song, but fittingly, starts with the voice of his father and ends with the voice of Emery. It sets the “space” scene perfectly, leading into song two, “Light Up The Sky.” Royce pulls no punches here – an ultra-polished song[...]

Crows Will Cry – Maelstrom

October 24, 2025

With electrifying instrumentals and haunting vocals, Crows Will Cry truly lives up to its name. The Buffalo-based act is known for its post-rock, ambient, and cinematic elements and genres, spinning trance-inducing webs of sound woven into powerful melodies. Their latest LP, Maelstrom, is a ten song offering that features a broad selection of both instrumental tracks and songs with hauntingly stunning vocals, showcasing the band’s interesting dichotomy – captivating rhythms and beats versus vocal-driven melodies.   The tracks that do have lyrics are amazingly written. Songs like “You,” “Solace,” and “Fire” provide the audience with deep and emotional lyrics about feeling alone, betrayed, and abandoned. The raw energy that is exhibited throughout Maelstrom shows the band’s immaculate ability to display both intense and emotional feelings through music.   A standout track is definitely “Chemical,” with dynamic and fun beats and harmonic, almost robotic vocals. The track is emotionally charged and builds as[...]

CERULEAN SAPPHIRE – soft attention

October 21, 2025

CERULEAN SAPPHIRE (CS) appear out of a blue-hued aether with their latest, self-produced album, soft attention. Based around a self-proclaimed concept they’re calling “Mediterranean Melancholy,” CS was created by a Finn who grew up in south Spain, surrounded by a suite of different cultures. Like its creator, soft attention lives in the spaces in between – a liminal, escapist, and dreamlike offering that harkens back to the ’90s in a Pure Moods type of way while keeping its finger on the pulse of modern day synthpop.   Songs like “orientate in paris” are archetypal CS. The music here is some holy mixture of synthpop, ambiance, and shoegaze – equal parts Cocteau Twins, Everything But The Girl, and Slowdive. Ghostly, otherworldly vocals float heavenly above Casio-tone keyboard tones – buzzing, bubbling basslines; machine-like percussion; and gauzy synth pads create a sleepy haze. This is music to meditate to – or at[...]

Kitty Coen – Conversations with the Moon

October 19, 2025

When you think of country music, images of gothic, alt-country songstresses don’t typically conjure up… But that’s Kitty Coen. Landing somewhere “between a saloon and a séance,” Kitty’s take on country doesn’t fully eschew the “dirt road, big truck, cold beer” aesthetic… But expect to hear some glassy-eyed songs about cocaine and dancing on graves too. The result is the stunning, 12 song offering, Conversations with the Moon, an eclectic, but ultimately super-listenable record that has enough country appeal to vibe with regular listeners; an equal amount of old-school country badassery to impress your parents; and enough angst to get indie rockers like me to pay attention. Like Stevie before her, Kitty fancies herself sorta witchy – check out a little bit more about what this album means to her below:   “This record came from those nights when you feel like the only thing listening back is the moon… It’s[...]

WaterPenny – Buttons For People

October 15, 2025

WaterPenny defy classification… But if we had to quantify, we’d peg them as Western-tinged, blues-influenced rock n roll. Lane (lead guitar & vocals), Wes (guitar & vocals), Cihan (bass), and Sean (drums) are the quartet of musicians that comprise this enigmatic and unique act from Washington, whose latest album, the nine-song Buttons For People bridges the gap between classic rock fervor; sweaty, emotional blues; and modern day indie rock   The album kicks off with “Not Yours or Mine” that highlights exactly what this group succeeds at. Swampy slide guitar moans and groans in a mid-tempo meditation before the group explodes into a jammy outro, melting faces with a stanky rhythm and blistering lead guitar. Elsewhere, they channel Led Zeppelin (or maybe Cage the Elephant) on “Iteration” and album closer “Undone,” sounding like a perfect mix of the aformentioned bands. The band has no problem spreading their wings either – lead[...]

CAR287 – Looking Through the Lens

September 17, 2025

On their latest album, Looking Through the Lens, the Canadian rock band CAR287 takes us on an wild journey. Feelings of both hopefulness and hopelessness, anger, and heartbreak bubble up – examined from multiple lenses, both within the self and others. Here’s a little more from frontman Jay Yarmey about how the album came to be:   “This album is about perspective – how we see ourselves, our families, our city, and the memories that shape us... It’s rooted in Winnipeg and in the experiences we’ve lived, but the themes are universal – everyone can find a piece of themselves in it.”   “Opening Song” is, self explanatorily, the first track on the record. It intrigues the audience with the anticipative hook, “dreaming of pulling away from here.” The passion within the track could inspire just about anyone to make a positive change in their life. In fact, while you[...]

Freidrich$ – Wish

August 29, 2025

Who is Freidrich$? What is Freidrich$? Is it even possible to know Freidrich$? We’re not exactly sure either, but the enigmatic individual known as Freidrich$ (F) is hot off the release of their latest offering, Wish. Clad in smeared and streaked face paint, Freidrich$’s existence may seem like it lies somewhere between Slipknot, ICP, and/or Ghost, but the 10 tracks on Wish are actually a lot more grounded in heartfelt emotions, blending elements of trap, bedroom pop, and dreamy atmospherics to create something all his own.   “The Moviegoer” is our introduction to Freidrich$’s unique style. A crushing Red Hot Chili Peppers (!) sample forms the backbone of this song; Freidrich$ goes as far as to call them out by name mid-track, a fun and interesting way to reference where his sample came from. Moreover, we start to vibe on F’s vocal style – haunting, self-referential, and incredibly personal lyrics, delivered[...]

Tabloid Nation – They Never Told Us Why

July 30, 2025

NYC based alt rockers Tabloid Nation (TN) have a foundation built “pre-9/11.” Whether that’s a testament to their politically-charged leanings, or an unshakeable bond 20+ years in the making, it certainly informs the energy found on their latest offering, the 11-song They Never Told Us Why. Channeling a muscle car abandon (their words, not ours, but apt words nonetheless), these songs certainly sound muscular – expect rip-roaring guitars, honeyed melodies, and an accessible rock ‘n roll sound that sounds equal parts Alkaline Trio and Rise Against, with a not-so-subtle nod toward the foundational 1990’s sound where they laid their first bricks.   The band slams into your consciousness with opener “I’ll Make It Up To You.” There’s a Matt Skiba-esque drawl found here, soaring overtop their aforementioned rock ‘n roll backbone… And while the band is certainly rooted in a pleasantly accessible alt rock formatting, there are hints of other[...]

Eli Lev – Past Lives

July 20, 2025

Eli Lev included the voices of his actual ancestors on his upcoming release – the tellingly-named Past Lives… And when we say that his relatives are “included,” we don’t just mean as an iPhone voice memo clip, or some random interlude. Eli actually works their essence into this five-song collection of folk-coded indie pop in a way that feels poignant and reverent. You can call it a concept album, but Past Lives is more than that – it’s a celebration of Eli’s foundation as a person. Here’s a little more about what their inclusion means to him:   “This album honors my ancestors… Their voices and stories are the foundation of who I am. I wanted to bring them forward – not just in memory, but in sound, in rhythm, in life.”   The album opens with “Echo,” in this case, an introduction to both Eli and his family. Eli’s music[...]

Zach Tabori – Attack of the Clout Chasers

June 17, 2025

For once, we may have found ourself at a loss for words… But we’re still going to pump out about 400 of them regarding Zach Tabori’s latest offering, Attack of the Clout Chasers. This album is a wild ride – a kaleidoscopic, genre-defying, Zappa-esque grind that’s equal parts progressive experimentalism, sci-fi dystopia, and political satire. Tabori throws listeners head first into this ten-track, 40 minute concept that whirrs with chaotic energies – a meticulously-crafted opus that has a hawk-eyed glare (and eagle-taloned grasp) on today’s modern dystopic existence… And while you think Tabori might be all-Zappa-all-the-time (and we wouldn’t be surprised, seeing as how he’s a member of Dweezil Zappa’s band), he’s got an impressive pedigree, having written for pop luminaires like Téo and Jaden Smith. Are you as bamboozled as we are? It’s ok – Tabori is probably reveling in your wide-eyed stupor.   In what I can only[...]

Post Death Soundtrack – IN ALL MY NIGHTMARES I AM ALONE

June 8, 2025

What does it mean to release a 90 minute album in 2025? Post Death Soundtrack (PDS) explores that approach on their fifth full-length album, IN ALL MY NIGHTMARES I AM ALONE (IAMNIAA). A true exploration of heavy sounds, experimental vibes, and everything and everything in between, IAMNIAA is a wild collection of songs. An amalgamation of a forgotten album from the late aughts and 15ish new offerings, project mastermind Stephen Moore deconstructed what it means to make music in our modern landscape. Throwing caution to the wind and doing what feels right takes a certain amount of chutzpah – here’s a bit about the process from Moore himself:   “This album is in some ways a complete breakdown in audio format. I find it beautiful and powerful to express what often is not acknowledged or communicated. I learned that from Kurt Cobain and I’m very proud of this work.”   It’s not[...]

Ded En – The Gala

June 8, 2025

Ded En has made their doom-filled debut with the five-song EP The Gala. A showcase of brutal guitar atmospherics, this solo act pushes limits of genre by incorporating elements of shoegaze, slowcore, and doom metal into a melancholy meditation. Expect walls of blown-out guitar rhythms, gloopy guitar leads that drip like thick molasses, and through-an-old-phone vocals that chant with a brooding monotone affect. If you’re wondering what it feels like to die (in a good way, if that’s possible), The Gala might be a good place to start.   The album kicks off with an instrumental, “March.” Immediately, we’re introduced to the recurring motifs of Ded En’s sound. Fuzzy bass plunking, triple-Big-Muff (TM) guitar tones, and surprisingly tender drumming… And while the brutality of the guitar tones is the album’s real calling card, the quiet drumming keeps these songs grounded, rooted just as equally in slowcore as doom metal. It’s a[...]