Latest Posts

Split From the Mind – Split From the Mind

March 23, 2025

Whatever happened to music that comes from a place of sincerity? That’s the question Buffalonian act Split From the Mind (SFTM) aims to answer on their debut, self-titled EP. Sometimes it’s best to hear from the artist themselves when it comes to the mission and mantra of their music – check out what project mastermind Stephen Wright (vocals, guitar) has to say:   “I haven’t quite been grabbed by an act in recent memory that gave me the feeling I was listening to something timeless… [I[ just wanted to make a piece of music that I felt explored a time and place in history. I have longed for music like this, and I genuinely believe this EP meets a moment. Not because it has the best vocals, guitar play or production, but because it has the flaws of a human heart and spirit.”   Needless to say, a listen through[...]

Goat Farm – “Down the Spine”

March 21, 2025

We recently stumbled upon Rochester-based quartet Goat Farm in our inbox and couldn’t believe they hadn’t been on our radar until now. The “alternative metal” act sure makes a ton of noise with their guitar-forward, shoegaze-adjacent sound. They are hot off releasing their debut, three-song offering, Nature Takes Its Course – but our first introduction to this unit was actually the b-side to said EP, “Down the Spine.”   After a trippy, phaser-laden intro, bassist/vocalist Mimi Snyder launches in with a vocal presence that ranges from lilting, to pained, to ferocious (see the screaming around the 4:30 mark). Guitarists Sage Alice and Molly Mink conjure a maelstrom of guitar noise, often layered thick with swirling effects or heady fuzz – while drummer Stephen Coleman keeps the song pounding with hammering intensities. Shoegazers will love the quiet/loud dynamics found throughout this six+ minute journey, while metalheads and/or punks will appreciate the[...]

Blueburst – Kick My Tires Single/EP

March 17, 2025

Atlanta, Georgia act Blueburst just released an intriguing new EP, Kick My Tires Single/EP. Frontman and creative force of Blueburst, Craig Douglas Miller, has taken a fan favorite song, “Kick My Tires,” and split it into four unique, ear-catching takes. The result is the absolute spectrum of what it means to dive deeply into a song – the original; a powerful new mix; an instrumental; and a stripped-down take.   The original “Kick My Tires” is song two on the EP – acting as the album’s sonic foothold and rooting fans’ ears in Miller’s classic sound. Track one, however, is a new take on the mix by Ben Etter, placing a bigger emphasis on drummer Michael Jerome’s work and bringing out parts of the mix that were previously blending in. The instrumental take on “Kick My Tires” is a great listen as well, highlighting the wild, wall-of-sound instrumentals and angsty guitar[...]

Silver Proof – Polarity / Sixth Sense

March 14, 2025

Newly-minted trio Silver Proof released a split single today – Polarity / Sixth Sense encapsulates the group’s penchant for big sugary melodies and emo-punk energies. Guitarist/singer Bryan Williams; bassist Evan Tol; and frequent buffaBLOG protagonist, drummer Rafi Bloomberg specialize in honest and heartfelt songwriting, sure to catch the ears of fans of The Story So Far, Teenage Wrist, or Knuckle Puck.   “Polarity” takes aim at the inevitability of chronic illness. The band’s frustration is evident – pairing thick and angry guitar layers with Williams’ throat-shredding screams and rock-solid root notes from Tol. “Sixth Sense” is more of an introspective jam, highlighting Bloomberg’s nimble drumming with an impeccable snare roll-heavy beat. The chorus on “Sixth Sense” is one of the best moments on this split EP – bringing to mind Boxcar Racer-era Tom Delonge (but maybe if Mark Hoppus was still involved)… The band still finds a way to explode with energy[...]

CHAFT – 95

March 12, 2025

Music has healing properties. All clichés and platitudes aside, CHAFT‘s latest EP, the five-song 95, is evidence of this hypothesis – written and recorded during a life-changing medical diagnosis and subsequent surgery, songwriter Derek Miller channeled his raw anxiety into this powerful collection of songs. With themes of mortality, appreciation, and panic weaving their way across the music found here, CHAFT captures a vulnerable moment in time through a jangly, indie rock lens, sure to appeal to fans of Pavement, Pixies, and every jangly thing in-between.   Opener and title-track “95” is an excellent distillation of Miller’s sound – the wry delivery a la The Dismemberment Plan’s Travis Morrison; the punchy basslines of Kim Deal; and the lightly-psychedelic sound of late 90s pop rock make their way into this song. There’s a unique juxtaposition here between the generally upbeat-sounding music and the fact that these songs were conceived during a time[...]

Burnadine – “Tension”

March 9, 2025

Gotta love when we catch a band debuting with a song like “Tension,” and that’s exactly what we stumbled upon with this buzzing Texas trio. “Tension” feels spring-loaded – whether its the ultra-tight drumming, chock-full of fills; the ready-to-burst guitar angularity; or the superpowered vocal performance, there’s so much energy here from a band that seems so ready to hit the ground running. Be sure to stick around for the phaser-laden guitar solo tucked neatly into the bridge before the band’s final explosion of energy.   Check out “Tension” via YouTube (below), or, add it to your Apple Music or Spotify collections.  

Swansun – “Loving Vincent”

March 9, 2025

Swansun really, really love Vincent – and we think we do too because they inspired this great new song, aptly titled “Loving Vincent.” “Everything’s been so different since I’ve been loving Vincent” is as excellent of a rally cry as we’ve ever heard, bostered by ebullient, garage-y indie rock set off by a squiggling background synth. What’s more, while we’re usually more into doom-and-gloom, this outright expression of love seems ultra-sincere without ever heading into cheese territory – a rarity when penning a love song. You can sense the excitement of a fresh and healthy love simmering inside this South Jersey act’s music – fans of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! or if The Strokes and The Shins started a side project will be super stoked on this.   Check out “Loving Vincent” via YouTube below, or, add it to your most twee Spotify playlist.  

Snoozer – “That’s All I Know”

March 9, 2025

This isn’t our first run in with the Kelly bros (aka, PA-based Mike and Tom Kelly) and their project Snoozer. We’re delighted to share their next offering, the trippy lo-fi alt pop of “That’s All I Know.” With bonkers, warped vocals; interesting and captivating production choices; and the recurring motif of “that’s all I know” hammering into your ears, this one could have fit perfectly into that weird Fatboy Slim/Primitive Radio Gods era of ’90s eccentricity – but it also sounds fresh, fun, and ready to take over 2025. Plus – my day job is at General Mills here in Buffalo and they mentioned putting their milk in their Cheerios, so this was an auto-include in our blogosphere. Cereal-related jokes aside, this is a one-of-a-kind offering from a really interesting band, and we think you’re going to agree.   Follow the link below to peep this Snoozer song on YouTube,[...]

De Moi – Drifting Intervals

March 5, 2025

De Moi, colloquially known as Czech musician and sound artist Vojtech Vesely, comes to us all the way from Prague with his latest offering, the twelve-song Drifting Intervals (DI). Less of an “album” (at least in the traditional sense) and more of an “experience,” DI is based around an innovative technique that Vesely developed himself – a constantly evolving and gradual fusing of several musical intervals into one, seamless, ambient texture. The result is something hypnotic, soothing, and pristine – and despite being technically a digitized work of art, feels like a welcome way to help you unplug from the world. Falling somewhere on the spectrum between ambient noise, new age, and drone music, Drifting Intervals feels like music that might heal the soul… Or at the very least, provide a lovely soundscape for which to fall asleep to.   De Moi’s approach to creating DI is fascinating to say the least. Vesely is[...]

Starbender – Social Engineering

March 5, 2025

Starbender is a Chicago-based rock band whose Social Engineering just came out – a ten-song collection of britrock and alternative songs that serve conceptually as a calling-to-arms to all. Starbender wants the common folks to work together to fight the corrupt system we’re all existing in. Sure, sometimes it feels like we’re all shouting into an empty void – but this quartet has funneled that rage into a surprisingly fun (and at times beautiful) LP that’s as powerfully-delivered as it is catchy.   Starbender start things off strong with song one and lead single, “Social Engineering.” Right from the get-go, it’s evident that a powerful ’90s alternative rock vein runs through their music – expect jangly, guitar-powered songs full of tasty riffs, chunky distortion, and super-high vocal harmonies. Falling somewhere on the spectrum between Oasis, Spacehog, and early Radiohead, “Social Engineering” makes use of all the hallmarks of that storied ’90s sound.[...]

Animal Scream – Otherworldly Pictures

March 3, 2025

Pittsburgh-based act Animal Scream are purveyors of the genre of “doom pop” – their music is curated with a nod toward sound design best described as “noir,” with hints of psychedelia and synth-pop sneaking through. The founding duo of Chad Monticue and Josh Sickels teamed up with multi-instrumentalist Caleb Pogyor for their latest offering, the six-song Otherworldly Pictures, an EP that is probably better described as an experience than a casual listen.   The EP kicks off with a steady heartbeat before exploding into synth bombast on “It’s Gonna Be Cruel.” Post-punkish bass pounds a steady rhythm before distorted vocals come in to set the scene. As the song evolves, more and more synth textures get layered in – think flute-like tones and some sparkly twinkles. Before long, the band launches into a super-melodic chorus – a welcome development for a crew who take their sound design so seriously. Fans of[...]

Dumb 100 – All of the Money (Just Like You) / Patience

March 3, 2025

Do we ever stop covering Jacob Smolinski’s musical endeavors (see here, here, and even here)?! The answer is no, because he’s back with another adventure, this time with collaborator Alex Behrens (who we’ve ALSO covered – here), for a project they have dubbed Dumb 100. This two-song mini EP is stuffed with intriguing sounds, beautiful harmonies, and impressive production work, rooted down by a jangly guitar-based backbone.   “All of the Money (Just Like You)” is a stunning intro – a waltz that mashes squiggly synths into electric and acoustic guitar work. Despite the song’s genuine beauty, Behrens and Smolinski don’t shy away from unique sounds – the hum of electric guitar feedback peeks through during the slow acoustic-guitar bridge, while borderline-discordant plunks of guitars smash through the mix like a gigantic 8-bit, bitcrushed bell. Puffs of electronic drums power the acoustic jangle of follow-up song, “Patience,” a song that[...]

nullsign – Sensory

March 2, 2025

We love when bands let their music do the talking for them – such is the case for Toledo-based shoegaze duo nullsign. Their latest EP is called Sensory – this loosely conceptual offering is a masterclass in sludgy guitar work, far-off vocal haze, and chest-thumping drum work. Every song here is based around the experience of losing one of your senses – it’s not too far of a stretch to imagine this, as their gauzy brand of guitar-forward musicianship already feels like an assault on your perception of the world. Fans of sunn O))), Ride, and Deftones will love the aggressive guitar work and should find lots of tasty chugging here to sink their fangs into.   nullsign start the album with the powerful, sun-scorched pummel of “Sublight.” A swirling, panned maelstrom starts the song before diving head-first into a whirlpool of guitar noise. Twangy leads scream through an onslaught of[...]

Love Ghost – Memento Mori

March 2, 2025

Last time we checked in with LA-based act Love Ghost, we were emotionally crushed by the dark and heavy alt rock found on his collaborative album, Love Ghost x Skold. A mere four months later, the prolific Love Ghost, aka Finnegan Seeker Bell, is back with another batch of songs that really make you ponder the meaning of existence. Memento Mori is his new seven-song collection, a hard and harsh look at love, loss, and existential reckoning through a unique blend of influences, namely alt rock, emo trap, and Latin urban. Once again, he’s teamed up with a veritable dream team of collaborators – Deer, Plata, Verumicito, Young Aleexx, Katsu Energy, Ardis, and xKori and producers Berdu, Otho, Comisarios and Erving River. The laundry list reads long, but the result is unique and powerful – a blend of Spanish/English lyrics that cross the lines of both genre and culture with appeal from[...]

Marcus: the Apex Predator! – Newborn Fossil

February 26, 2025

Detroit-based Marcus: the Apex Predator! (MTAP) return from a seven-year gap with their latest offering, the five-song Newborn Fossil.   Newborn Fossil kicks itself off with a telling title track, highlighting their penchant for gritty, guitar-forward sounds – jaunty rhythms conjure hints of Death From Above 1979, while gravely-voiced singing from frontman/songwriter Kevin Watts instantly recalls the rawness of ’90s legends Archers of Loaf. Bandmates Nick Marko (drums) and Sean Bondareff (bass) form a rock-solid rhythm section that anchor Watts’ oddly melodic guitar playing. Lyrically, the band explores unique imagery – in this case, literally a “newborn fossil,” with Watts proclaiming that said fossil is his doppelgänger. If this is a roundabout way of coming to terms with the aging process, Watts & co. have found a thought-provoking way to portray it. Track two, “Lo-Fi” continues the Archers of Loaf vibe, with big, lightly-discordant guitar theatrics that tickle the eardrums with[...]