Latest Posts

Dotsun Moon – “Save Us”

June 13, 2025

Dotsun Moon flex their new wave muscles on latest single, “Save Us.” The long-term Buffalo staple was highly influenced by M83 and New Order on this new cut, evidenced by the synth-forward instrumental and bolstered by DM’s dreamy guitar work. Project mastermind and multi-instrumentalist Richard Flierl made a big leap on this release, opting to front these songs himself – the result is a moody and gothy conglomeration of post-punk, new wave, and shoegaze that feels fresh and new while nodding toward each influential genre’s forefathers.   “Save Us” is a part of Dotsun Moon’s upcoming LP, Tiger, that comes out on June 27th (and is available for pre-order). Until then, get down to the Blade Runner noir vibes of the music video for “Save Us” below.  

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[...]

Gatto Black – “You Can’t Make Me Dance”

June 6, 2025

By now you probably know that Gatto Black doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to their highly emotive songwriting – project mastermind Sal Mastrocola confronts the realities of growing up queer AND Catholic on his latest single, “You Can’t Make Me Dance.” Insanely fast drumming, urgent chord progressions, and gritty vocals power this one forward with unmatched energy – perfect for skateboarding or just the simple act of feeling not-so-alone in your self-loathing. Aside from the skate punk, emo, and post-hardcore glory we’ve come to know and love from GB, “You Can’t Make Me Dance” takes aim at the formative traumas that pop up while you’re reconciling your burgeoning identity in an otherwise inhospitable environment. Mastrocola puts it better than we ever could below:   “When I was 14, my religion teacher told me I was going to hell for being bisexual… Years later it came out that he[...]

Far Caspian – “An Outstretched Hand / Rain From Here To Kerry”

June 3, 2025

Far Caspian has become a buffaBLOG regular (see here, and here, and here, and here). By now, you know we appreciate the Irish musician for his expansive take on the genre of indie rock. “An Outstretched Hand / Rain From Here To Kerry” is his latest, and a wonderful addition to his oeuvre – a 5+ minute offering led by a spindly guitar riff that’s both chiming and gripping in nature. Inspired by both a long-night drive and the feeling of wanting to spend all your time consumed with a fresh, new love, “AOH/RFHTK” encapsulates those heartstring-pulling feelings with simmering energies and blood-churning crescendos.   Follow the forbidden YouTube embed (below) to see the video for “An Outstretched Hand / Rain From Here To Kerry,” or, swing by Spotify.  

Cartman – Waves

May 30, 2025

One listen to the new album from Denver-based artist Cartman and you’ll wonder if he’s telling the truth about recording it in a walk-in closet in a guest bedroom. Residing at the vertex between hip hop, indie rock, and pop music, Waves is a collection of breezy, summer-sounding songs that rest heavily on excellent production, acoustic-guitar twinkles, squiggly synths, and Cartman’s past as a hip-hop artist. Expect plenty of earworms, perfect for putting on for your next poolside gathering.   The mysterious and nebulous “Gold” opens this fantastic album – at just about a minute in length, this one is fleeting, but hits hard. Cartman’s flow is smooth and unbothered, gliding over a 3:4 time signature like some sort of modern day waltz. Just when you think it’s about to explode into something beautiful, he launches into song two, “Tonight.” “Tonight” is an archetypal Cartman song – catchy hip-hop-inspired rhythms, twinkly[...]

Glitter Etiquette – CERULEAN, DEEP BLUE

May 29, 2025

Glitter Etiquette (GE) dives deep into synth-forward indietronica bliss on their latest release, CERULEAN, DEEP BLUE. Highly conceptual, the album dives deep into highbrow ideas about socioeconomic and cultural archetypes… And while we’re usually pretty good at parsing out the meaning behind lyrics, in these instances, it’s usually better to hear a snippet from the band’s own words – see below:   “The album contrasts the tranquil, expansive hue of blue (cerulean) with the ominous force of darkness thru the metaphoric red army, portraying a cosmic battle between clarity, empathy, and depth versus aggression, ego, and decay. These colors become metaphors for clashing worldviews: blue as the fading ideal of unity and imagination, with the antithesis showing the toxic acceleration of greed, polarization, and control. Through its swirling textures and lyrical critiques, Cerulean warns of the rise of socioeconomic and cultural archetypes—techno-feudal overlords and their machine counterparts, influencer-worship, manufactured identity—that[...]

Stephen Babcock – “Drunk”

May 28, 2025

Have you ever had a few too many Labatt Blues and not-so-accidentally told your friend off? Yeah, us too, and so has Stephen Babcock & co. It comes with being Buffalo-born.   “Drunk” is his latest offering, a natural continuation of his acoustic-driven indie folk that’s been building up buzz around town this spring. Gentle piano plinks in the background while a tasteful drumbeat taps out a perfectly-driven rhythm. Overtop it all is Babcock’s warm and inviting vocals – even if they are singing about being berated by a drunk bud. The chorus of “Why do you have to get drunk to say what’s wrong? Why can’t you just shoot straight for once?” hits like a Jägerbomb after a day at the Bills game – always remember folks, the truth will set you free.   Check out “Drunk” via the YouTube embed below, or, add it to your Spotify playlist.[...]

Slow Joy – “Te Amo”

May 23, 2025

Fresh off a hot gig in Buffalo last month, Slow Joy say “I love you” with latest single, “Te Amo.” With trademark grungy guitars and emotive vocals, “Te Amo” continues Slow Joy’s trend of emo-flavored singles that have melody, sincerity, and energy in spades. Fans of Citizen, Balance and Composure, and the like will love the heavy-hitting vibes found here.   Check out the video for “Te Amo” below, or, add it to your emo-adjacent Spotify playlists.  

Rob Finlay – Sunset | Darkness | Sunrise

May 21, 2025

Whatever happened to the humble singer/songwriter?! Rob Finlay is here to prove that the artform isn’t dead with his latest EP, Sunset | Darkness | Sunrise (SDS). As with any good, acoustic-driven music, SDS is a well-orchestrated and emotional affair, finding Finlay wearing his heart on his sleeve more often than not. With a bevy of pro musicians in tow (including session musicians from Feeder, Rag’n’Bone Man, Beyoncé, and Keane), this collection of songs is dripping with emotion and a longing-but-hopeful disposition. Led by Finlay’s ever-pleasant voice, this EP was meant for those that grew up in the 90s, particularly the late ’90s, when Matchbox 20, Edwin McCain, and your favorite one-hit-wonder bands were ruling 1998-era pop radio.   For those looking for a quick one-two punch, we’d recommend starting with lead single “Afterglow.” An archetypal Finlay jam, “Afterglow” jangles along with a deep and touching emotion, letting his poetry[...]

Fear Of Sleep – “Quirks”

May 19, 2025

Fear Of Sleep combine the flashiness of math rock with a penchant for punk rock energy on their first two singles – “Quirks” and “Crimes.” Fans of previous Buffalo-born stalwarts Feverbox may recognize a few members, and while those super-tight and familiar aspects return with Fear Of Sleep, the group is forging new ground with blistering fretwork, super-sweet melodies, and a fun guitar-driven energy. “Quirks,” with it’s sub-two-minute run time, is packed with nimble riffs, packaged up neatly in a pop rock package, complete with big choruses and overall anthemic vibes. “Crimes” leans more into their punk rock energies, leaning more into riff-rock territory, without sacrificing any of the tasty riffs that make “Quirks” so fun.   Check out “Quirks” via the YouTube embed below – you can find both available songs on Spotify if that’s more your speed.  

Don’t Worry – “Unbelievable”

May 18, 2025

Don’t Worry are about to jangle their way into your hearts with their new song, “Unbelievable.” It’s hard to believe we’re still talking about COVID-era songs in 2025, but that’s when it was conceived – after months of feeling uninspired, DW broke the spell with this lovely gem. It’s a guitar-forward indie rocker, certainly inspired by the ’90s greats like Oasis, Pavement, and the like, warm with both crunchy and acoustic guitar strumming.   “Unbelievable” is available to stream via Soundcloud (below). There’s always the trusty streaming services too – Apple Music and Spotify.   specialistsubject · Unbelievable

Romanie – “Uh Oh”

May 18, 2025

Romanie, aka Belgian-born Melbourne-based Romanie Assez, knows how to write a barnburner. We last checked in with her on 2023’s “Anthony,” and we’re happy to report she’s still putting out the emotionally-charged indie rock we liked upon our first listen. “I was going through a rough patch in life with some health scares and homesickness,” Romanie says, and that pain comes through in the gritty guitar work and driving drums. This one is grungy while still maintaining a certain beauty and we’re here for it.   “Uh Oh”  

Them Damn Dogs – “Weirdo”

May 18, 2025

Them Damn Dogs are back with a new single, their first in over four years. “Weirdo” is a triumphant return, a big blast of fun energy that falls somewhere on the spectrum between pop punk and whatever genre Weezer is these days. Fun guitar riffs are laden heavy with crunchy goodness, powering the wry, vocal-forward melodies. Oh, and stick around for the well-placed guitar solo.   You can find “Weirdo” on bandcamp (below), or, Spotify if that’s more your thing.   Weirdo by Them Damn Dogs

Charmer – “Night”

May 16, 2025

Kinda-Rochester-at-one-point-or-another-based act Charmer is gearing up for their first full-length in five years. They’ve shared their latest single with us, a tune called “Night,” which is certainly an evolution in the sound for the formerly triumphantly scrappy emo act. Channeling Alkaline Trio, Turnover, and The Cure with it’s dark and brooding vibes; swimmy guitars; and memorable choruses, you’ll be singing along with “cross my heart and hope to die” after your very first listen.   Downpour, Charmer’s upcoming release, will be out on Counter Intuitive Records on May 23rd, 2025. Get acquainted with it via YouTube or the bandcamp embed below.   Downpour by Charmer