Often people refer to punk as “it’s not dead” but in reality it’s grunge that is not dead and the down under Australian alternative/grunge bands are here to remind you of that.
Back in 2020, mid Covid year, I discovered by accident on YouTube their hit single “The Devil You Know”. It automatically felt like the reincarnation of Alice In Chains, STP and Bush blended together. Lead singer Brad Andrew and I also had an IG Live discussion on their music, Australian rock, how rock should pivot during Covid and more.
For their latest single ‘Through The Fire’, it automatically brings me back to those grunge hot flashes. Drop tuning riffs & breakdowns, slow eeriness of 90’s grunge, thought provoking and maybe concept based lyrics and a nice touch of subtle solos, makes this a contender for your playlist.
Fathom Unleashes New Single, 'Bitter'
Almost a year ago I’m stumbled across a band from the Southern Ohio area, that represented everything death metal stands for. That band is Fathom.
Over the course of 2020, they released various singles and their debut E.P. “ Imprisoned”. I had the ultimate metal pleasure to interview these fine gentlemen in their recording dungeon and showcase who they are.
For their latest single, Fathom continues their march from 2020 with haunting breakdowns, disgustingly evil guttural vocals, and tantric like drums to prepare you for the gate of metal they are about to unleash upon you.
Be ready for Fathom.
Interview with Theodora
Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Theodora! We had such a great time chatting about her musical influences and her three stellar singles: Close For Comfort, Ghost and her most recent The High. Stream Theodora's music on all platforms!
The Breakdown Episode 3: Women Who Rock
For International Women’s Day, we did a special episode decided to the female musicians who inspired us and still kick ass today!
Women in Music That Shaped Our Love For Music
Today, we celebrate International Women’s Day and remember that EVERY day women deserve equal rights and the same amount of support their male counterparts receive. The BANDED staff shares personal stories on how 6 ICONIC female artists shaped their love for music. At the end, enjoy our Women Rock playlist featuring 18 hours showcasing female artists.
Florence Welch
by Angel Evans
I’ll never forget the day I discovered Florence Welch. I was waking up one morning, and her music video for Dogs Days Are Over began to play. I was supposed to start getting ready for school, but I stayed in my room utterly captivated. Her angelic voice, her swift movements, her artistry, and her lyrics made me feel something I had never felt before. From that moment on, I wanted to know everything about Florence and I desperately needed her music in my life.
You know when you come across someone and you can just sense that they’ve “been here before”? That’s exactly how I feel about Florence. I’m fully convinced that she has lived a million lifetimes. She’s a lyrical mastermind and a natural-born storyteller. I’ve had moments where she’s made me audibly gasp and I've had to catch my breath.
There’s another reason why her music is near and dear to my heart. Florence Welch’s music instilled hope in me during my darkest moments. “It’s always darkest before the dawn” is a line that carries great significance in my life. It’ll always be a reminder to me to keep on persevering. I’ve danced around my room to Shake It Out about one million times. It’s a song that’s nourishing to the soul. It pains me to say that I haven’t had the opportunity to see her live yet. However, I'm more than ready to witness her ethereal presence in person. Just from watching videos online, I can tangibly feel her vibrations through the screen. I daydream about the momentous day where I'm jumping around along with her, hearing her voice and feeling it shake my bones.
The one word that keeps coming to mind when I think of her is “euphoria.” I believe that’s what she feels every time she’s on stage. The atmosphere at all of her shows must feel euphoric. Her shining spirit bursts through her body and her love for music cascades into the crowd. She gives of herself and the crowd sends their undying passion back to her. The crowd feels at home and she looks like she's having the time of her life.
It was written in the cosmos that Florence Welch was meant to be a musician.
She’s one of my heroes.
HEART
by Rebecca Potzner
Channelling their passions for the guitar and singing early on in their childhood, it was clear that sisters, Ann and Nancy Wilson, would make their mark in the world of music. In 1974, they formally became HEART intertwining the sounds of rock, heavy metal, and folk.
Over the years, the band has sold over 35 million records, landed ten Top 10 albums, received 4 GRAMMY® Award nominations, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame®, and has “the longest span of top-10 albums on the Billboard charts be a female-led band.” Pretty bad ass, if you ask me.
While I grew up around a lot of great music, it’s hard to pin point which female artist first made an impact on me but the songs of Heart certainly live in my memory. I remember playing Guitar Hero, trying to nail hit songs, ‘Barracuda’ and ‘Crazy on You’. I picked those songs not only because of their driving force but because they were “girls like me”. It was a moment where I realized I could be in a band if I wanted to. I could play the guitar if I wanted. And quite frankly, it made me feel like I could conquer the world listening to those songs knowing two women were behind them.
As I’ve grown up, I’ve learned more about Heart and grown appreciation for much of their discography, their style, and their incredible performance abilities. An incredible example of the power of music and Heart’s incendiary talents, is their performance of Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven. A performance I truly cannot shake but in the best way.
Larkin Poe
by Sara Brown
I discovered Larkin Poe completely by chance while listening to Steve Ferrone’s show on Tom Petty Radio, The New Guy Show. The track was “Freedom,” and the obsession was immediate. I couldn’t get over the combination of the modern electric drum beats and the banjo, and those vocals – Rebecca’s lead is mind-blowing and when Megan’s harmonies join the mix, you’ll get chills. I was hooked instantly and have been ever since that day in my car that I found myself tuned in to the right place at just the right time.
Some of music’s biggest stars get it. In addition to the killer studio records they’ve released as a group, they’ve also found the time to share their talents with some of music’s biggest names as touring musicians, touring with Elvis Costello and Keith Urban, just to name a few. They’ve also shared their talents in the studio, working with Steven Tyler and The New Basement Tapes, again, just to name a few. Are you getting how talented they are yet?
They rock just as hard as the boys in their class, and I’d venture to say they do it even better. Blending old blues, soul, and folk sounds with modern flavors, they create a unique sound that’ll perk your ears up and draw you in just like it did me. My highlights from Larkin Poe are ‘She’s a Self Made Man,’ ‘Freedom,’ and ‘Blue Ridge Mountains,’ but my favorites change daily and every song is worth cranking up loud. If they aren’t already on one of your playlists, get them there, and you can thank me later.
Stevie Nicks
by Chloe Walden
Anyone who has spent more than fifteen minutes in a room with me would be able to tell you that I absolutely adore Stevie Nicks. She’s a music icon, and the immediate name associated with those that are unapologetic, free spirited, and a little witchy.
From her impeccable fashion taste, to her stick-to-it can-do attitude, Stevie Nicks is easily one of the most influential women in rock n roll.
Stevie Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac at the age of 27 in 1975, bringing along then boyfriend Lindsay Buckingham. In the midst a dysfunctional romance that would become infamous, (my friends and I still call becoming romantically involved with a band mate ‘Buckingham-Nicksing it) Rumours was born.
Rumours was one of the most influential albums of my life, and considering only a handful of records have ever sold more copies than Rumours, I’m willing to bet I’m not alone in that sentiment.
I remember the first Fleetwood Mac lyrics that ever really resonated with me.
Oh, thunder, only happens when it's raining
Players, only love you when they're playing
They say women, they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean, you'll know
You'll know
I was probably 14 the first time I heard “Dreams”, and despite being into a phase marked with heavy listening to grunge giants like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, those lyrics rattled me down into my core. They were ethereal, they were romantic, they were Renaissance, they were real. I started scribbling them in the margins of my notebooks. I bought a black lace dress. I was fully enveloped by the dark mystique of Fleetwood Mac.
In fact, those lyrics are partly what inspired me to start trying to put my own feelings to words, and writing my own poetry, a practice I maintain to this day.
Maybe it was how vulnerable they were while still feeling so powerful. I was always a kid who listened to a ton of music, but I couldn’t remember hearing something that was so raw and yet so beautiful at the same time. It was heartbreaking but resilient. Stevie’s lyrics were romantic and kind of spooky, without being vampiric and over the top. With her mystifying dancing, bold, heady lyrics and her penchant for wearing lace, capes, and intricate scarves, Stevie Nicks was everything I wanted to be.
Nicks also enjoyed success as a solo artist, with her first solo record Bella Donna reaching number one on The Billboard 200 within two months of it’s release, and being certified platinum the following month.
Nicks collaborated and performed with a number of influential musicians during her career, some of the most notable being Tom Petty, Don Henley, Dave Grohl, Harry Styles, and most recently, Miley Cyrus. Her willingness to cross genre boundaries and seek and perform with genuine talent always leads to a terrific, earth shattering performance.
Stevie Nicks continues to enjoy success in all aspects of her work, including her acting career (check her out in American Horror story), and she continues to be a champion for young women who dance through life with her same free spirited power, choosing to go their own way.
The Runaways
by Baylee Avery
The Runaways. Where do I even begin? For one thing, I can say that they’re the reason why I fell in love with rock ‘n’ roll.
In 2010, I was twelve going on thirteen when I saw my first ever R rated movie. That movie being the biopic about The Runaways. I originally went to see that movie because of Kristen Stewart being in the movie, but I didn’t know what to expect from it at all. I had only ever heard of Joan Jett and knew I Love Rock ‘N Roll. I had never heard of The Runaways or any of the other members.
I left that movie theater feeling so in love with rock ‘n’ roll and The Runaways. I had already bought the soundtrack so for a week, I basically listened to almost nothing but it until I bought a Best of The Runaways CD at a Borders bookstore. Man, is that an old fashioned sentence or what?
This band opened doors for other all female hard rock bands. Without them, we wouldn’t have the amazing all female hard rock bands that came after them. It’s easy to see the influence that The Runaways has had on women. Their music makes you feel like a badass and makes you want to rock.
Some of my favorite songs from them include Born To Be Bad, Hollywood, Neon Angels On The Road To Ruin, and Take It or Leave It.
Taylor Swift
by Ashley Longo
As someone whose life heavily revolves around rock n’ roll, my existence is almost completely based around men. There are very few women in this world who I look up to, and one of them is Taylor Swift. I got into Taylor Swift in an unusual way but long story short, it wasn’t until I found myself renting a small movie theatre with a group of Swifties from all over Massachusetts watching Taylor’s new Netflix documentary, Miss Americana, that I realized that I too, was a Swiftie.
Taylor Swift has been a cultural icon since she released her self-titled debut album in 2006 when she was just 16 years old. Since then she has released nine studio albums, broken records previously held by artists like The Beatles and Whitney Houston, sold out shows around the world, and is currently working on re-recording her first six studio albums. She has already accomplished so much in her career, but this is just the beginning. I know the future holds great things for this woman and cannot wait to see them unfold.
The main reason why so many people are drawn to Taylor Swift is because her songs and lyrics are so relatable. No matter what you are experiencing in life, Taylor has gone through the same thing, and has written a song or two about it. I have loved Taylor ever since her “Red” era, but it wasn’t her “Reputation” album when I started to relate to her music. My love for her has only gotten stronger since.
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Dirty Honey is BACK with "California Dreamin'" + an Album Debut On The Horizon
The day has finally come, a day I’ve been waiting for for about two years now... Dirty Honey has released a new song AND announced the news of their debut album, out April 23rd.
While I could go on and on about my excitement over the announcement of their self-titled debut album, I’m going to stop myself now before this turns into a very long article. So, let’s delve into my thoughts on their new song, “California Dreamin’.”
This new song is filled completely with stellar guitar riffs (and one fantastic solo) from the band’s guitarist, John Notto. Not only that, Marc’s vocals in this song are absolutely remarkable. And while those two things stand out in this song, there’s one other thing that stands out to me: the lyrics.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Marc said that he knew that there was already a song called “California Dreamin’ “ (by The Mamas & The Papas) but he wanted to take a different approach to it. The lyrics chronicle a much more darker theme about following the California dream, which is definitely a completely different version of the “California Dreamin’” song that we are used to, but honestly, I think taking that approach was a great move for this song.
Overall, “California Dreamin’’ is a strong first single for Dirty Honey’s upcoming album. Listening to this only makes you feel more ecstatic for what is to come. This album already sounds very promising and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for their fans.
Listen to “California Dreamin’” on our Rock My Soul playlist below and pre-order the album here.
Review: Away - The Debut Single From New Angeles
New Angeles dropped their first single just over a week ago and you will not be able to stop jamming to it.
“Away” is pure rock through and through and it’ll get you up on your feet and dancing before the first chorus hits. The drums hit hard, the guitar is blasting, and the harmonies are tight – the perfect recipe for a rock ‘n’ roll party you won’t ever want to end!
The energy in this track is electric and the confidence these guys exude would have you convinced that they’ve been releasing music for years. “Away” mixes sounds from classic rock with a modern vibe to create a song that is simply irresistible. This track has already made its way onto my On Repeat playlist on Spotify, and once you give it a listen, I’m sure it will for you too!
If their next releases are even half as good as this one then these guys are going to be ones to watch, and I for one can’t wait to see what this group does next! Until their next release, turn “Away” up loud and get to dancin’!
Keep up with them on Instagram at @newangelesmusic! Be on the lookout for an official music video for “Away” coming soon!
Album Review: Sergio Michel's Tropical Depression
Literally years in the making, songwriter and shredder, Sergio Michel, releases upon the world his latest creation: Tropical Depression. With eight years passing since his last album, “Marry Me, Cindy”, Sergio Michel returns as if he has never been gone.
Last month, I had the honor to chat life with Sergio on Instagram Live to discuss his newest release, the time gap between albums, writing process for it and also what would be is favorite all time tract from the new album, that would be ‘Captain Save A Hoe’.
The album kicks off with a classic kick in the face, punk of rock vibe with ‘Abysmal’ and even slows it beautifully with a classic Alice Cooper vibe with ‘ Too Cool for School’
This album is a hefty piece of art, with 19 tracts for you to indulge in. A nice fun fact about this album as well is that Sergio completely wrote this album himself minus drums, which he almost did as well. Veteran dummer, Rob Tucker, lays down the sticks for this album.
If you’re a fan of kick-ass upstate punk and some hard rock’n’roll, “Tropical Depression” is your streaming jam.
Review: Ruen Brothers New Weekly Streams, ‘Ruen Your Live’ & ‘After Hours’
Ruen Brothers kicked off their new weekly live web series, Ruen Your Live, this past Sunday night on YouTube, and it was one hell of a good night!
Ruen Brothers are Henry and Rupert Stansall, two brothers from Scunthorpe, England currently living in New York City making music that blends the retro and the modern perfectly. Their 50s harmonies, retro style, and modern flair are sure to capture your ears and lure you in!
‘Ruen Your Live,’ though not a musical live stream at the moment, was just like hanging out with your friends over drinks, but even better, because said “friends” were one of my favorite bands! They chatted and poked a little fun at each other and took questions from fans. The banter was hilarious – I saw a side to Henry and Rupert that I hadn’t seen before. Topics of conversation included trousers, OnlyFans, guitars, Café Tecvba, and underpants. What I’m trying to say is, at no point was I ever bored and without a smile on my face.
The fun didn’t stop there – Patreon subscribers were able to join the duo for their ‘After Hours’ special that followed the same format, general conversation, banter, and interactions with fans. During this hour of fun, Rupert shared his love of vintage and brought out some 100-year-old books, Henry shared a rash-and-cat-related horror story that had me in stitches, but the thing I keep going back and re-watching is when the duo blessed us with a quick cover of Black Hills of Dakota, a harmony-filled tune from the musical film, Calamity Jane. When I say this duo has retro style, I mean it!
There are few things I as a music lover wish for more than the opportunity to hang out with my favorite bands, and tonight was exactly what I was looking for. I’m already excited for next Sunday to get to hear more banter and get to know these two incredibly talented brothers even better!
Check Ruen Brothers out on your favorite streaming service, and if you like what you hear, you can subscribe to their Patreon for all kinds of fun, exclusive content (unreleased tunes are dropped pretty regularly!).
If you want to check out future episodes of ‘Ruen Your Live,’ tune in to their YouTube channel every Sunday night at 7PM EST to get to know these guys a little better! Follow them on Instagram at @ruenbrothers and stay tuned for announcements of new tunes!
They're dropping a new song and video this Friday called "Cookies and Cream" - check it out!
The Breakdown Episode 2: Generation Stream
Welcome to the second episode of The Breakdown!!
Streaming is the new way of listening to music, Justin & Rebecca deep drive and discuss the main platforms available, pricing, features, artist payout and Apple Vs Spotify ( who is better ).
Album Review: Detroit Stories by Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper returns to his roots and takes us to Motor City with his new studio album, Detroit Stories. There is no doubt that this is an aggressive, piston-pumping, motor rock album, but it also features a wide range of styles. From Motown to the blues, Alice covers it all yet still maintains his signature metal sound.
The album opens with a Velvet Underground cover, ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll’, a song that was first released in the early 70s and is based on New York City. Alice “puts a V8 engine in it”, brings in Joe Bonamassa on guitar, and gives the song a whole new life. This was the perfect way to set the Detroit rock scene for the rest of the album.
A few songs in, we quickly transition from the fast paced, speed racer rock song, ‘Go Man Go’, to something completely different. Next is more of a “bubblegum” style song called, ‘Our Love Will Change the World’, but of course, it has an Alice Cooper twist to it. It’s almost like a group of Detroit villagers singing about how they don’t have respect for anything, they have no future, but their love for their strange little city will change the world. It’s ironic and it’s perfect.
Detroit is also the birthplace of Motown music, and Alice pays tribute to that with ‘$1000 High Heel Shoes’. The background “shoo doowops”, the trumpet, trombone, and organ all contribute to that classic Motown sound.
The real tribute on the album though, is ‘Detroit City 2021’ which touches upon everything Detroit has to offer. Motown, hockey town, down town, freak town, it’s all in there. The song flat out mentions Detroit artists like Iggy Pop, MC5, and Bob Seger, but then says, “The kid was in his crib, Shady wore a bib” referring to Kid Rock and Slim Shady, aka Eminem. If you don’t know anything about Detroit, you sure will after listening to this song.
Towards the end of the album is a song that is worth mentioning, and that song is ‘Hanging on by a Thread (Don’t Give up)’. Alice takes a moment and steps out of Detroit to unify the entire world by addressing how all seven billion of us are struggling through this pandemic. We are not alone because we are all struggling through it together, and we will get through it, together. He takes this a step further with the music video by having fans take pictures of themselves holding a sign with one of the lyrics on it. At the very end of the song, Alice delivers a very powerful message, and includes the suicide prevetion hotline number. Thank you, Alice.
I think my favorite part of the album is the aggression of ‘I Hate You’ and ‘Shut Up and Rock’. You can’t get much more aggressive than those two phrases. My favorite song though, would have to be ‘Independence Dave’, it’s just such a fun, upbeat song.
Overall, Alice Cooper can do no wrong in my eyes, and this is just another flawless album start to finish. Alice is a storyteller, and what is so great about this album is that it’s not just a bunch of songs thrown together, each song has its own unique story and they all coexist together in this world that he created. This might not be his best album, but it certainly is a perfect tribute to his hometown, Detroit.
Click here to stream Detroit Stories or listen below.
Album Review: For Those That Wish To Exist by Architects
Two months into the new year, and U.K. metal group, Architects, looks to establish their candidacy for album of the year.
In October of last year, they dropped their first single for this album ‘Animals’ and I will admit upon first hearing, I was suspect of what direction this new album was going to take. It was not the heaviness I was anticipating. Their following single ‘Black Lungs’ provided the counter balance to that sound I was longing for, and had me saying, “ this …… is Architects”
They proceeded to release two more singles ‘Dead Butterflies’ and ‘Meteor’, that kind of threw a red flag to me. A lot of times when an artist releases too many singles, they fear fans are already going to dislike the album. So like a clingy boyfriend or girlfriend, they smother you with gifts, hoping you will love it.
This was not the case.
For Those That Wish To Exist is the sequel to Holy Hell, but also marks a new beginning for Architects. Songs such as ‘Giving Blood’ and ‘Little Wonder’ showcase the power of lyric writing that his band has. “We all say that we wanna be saved, but it's easier to follow” and “I never said that I was giving blood for the unbelievers, bleeding out like a devil in disguise” leave an imprint on your mind the more you listen, leading you more into the journey of this album.
And for the fans who are craving breakdowns and riffs, ‘Impermanence’ and ‘Goliath’ caters to your needs, and also include guest features from Winston McCall of Parkway Drive and Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro.
This is Architects breakout album. But fans do not be afraid! Like other artists who have before, this is not so much a change in music but an evolution of who they are. Architects continue to set a standard in lyricism, riff/music writing, and this is probably the most well mixed album to date.
You will want to exist for this album.
2 Perspectives: Hayley Williams unveils the depths of her soul in Flowers For Vases / Descansos
by Angel Evans
In Flowers For Vases / Descansos, Hayley Williams unveils the depths of her soul and fearlessly takes steps toward inner healing. This 14-track album shattered my heart and somehow magically put it back together again. I found myself playing it on rotation because listening to it once wasn’t enough. With tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat, I sat in silence as I dove into the mind of Ms. Williams. Closing my eyes, I visualized the entire album and allowed Hayley to tell me the story of her life. Every minute of Flowers For Vases / Descansos left me in an everlasting trance. The sound of her voice sent endless shockwaves throughout my body and her raw honesty made my soul weep endless tears.
This album comes from such a vulnerable place. One thing about Hayley, she’s never been shy about expressing herself through her music. However, this album just feels unbelievably different. Flowers For Vases / Descansos was recorded within the four walls of her home. In the midst of quarantine and the prolonged solitude away from civilization, she allowed herself to take a deep look within and shed layers of immense grief, loss, and heartache.
SOME OF MY FAVORITES
First Thing To Go: Letting go of someone you’ve loved feels like a dagger to the heart. When the connection is strong, it feels like you've lost a piece of yourself. With letting go, you have to come to terms with them not being around anymore. As time goes by, little things begin to escape your memory. In First Thing To Go, Hayley mentions how the sound of her ex’s voice was the first thing to vanish.
“And I'm scared to lose
What's left of you
And I should forget
But I love what's left”
We tend to hold onto memories and dwell on the past. Once in a while, we fall for an ‘illusion’ due to being blinded by love. The grieving period of any relationship can make time standstill. Especially when you’re left with fading memories and the ache of it all slipping through your fingers. Beginning with First Thing To Go set the tone for the entirety of the album.
Inordinary: In this nostalgic track, Hayley reflects on the moments that changed her life. The memories and defining events that led her to become the woman she is today.
Life began in seventh grade
When me and mama got away
Came home from school one afternoon
She was waiting in the car for me
She said, "Don't worry"
Starting over in Tennessee changed the whole trajectory of their lives. Hayley and her mother were given a second chance to be free. While getting comfortable and making Tennessee their new home, the universe guided her to some brand new friends. Fate led them to form a band millions cherish and adore, Paramore. Personally, I don’t know where I’d be today if it wasn’t for Paramore [They’ve been a part of my life since I was in the 4th grade]. After remembering days of the past, Hayley expressed how you can find happiness in the little things. Inordinary is such a meaningful song, and it has caused me to reflect on my own life journey.
HYD: I can’t get over how much I adore the beginning of the song. You hear a raw recording of Hayley singing the first verse. Suddenly, a plane begins to fly over her home, and it briefly stalls the recording process. Hearing Hayley express her distaste by saying “Are you fucking kidding me?” while lightly chuckling made me smile. HYD is a bittersweet acoustic ballad that perfectly describes what it’s like to wonder how your former love is going. When two people go their separate ways, it’s normal to ponder on where life has taken them. If they’ve beaten addictions or even if they’re happy.
Descansos: Oh…. oh, descansos. This track in particular did a number on me. It’s a song that possesses no words, yet it speaks volumes. The song begins with a somber guitar riff and it flows seamlessly as Hayley William's fingers begin to dance along with the piano keys. As the song progresses, you begin to hear the sound of a young child. This part broke me and opened the floodgates. I could feel the “inner child” inside of me awakening and I began to reminisce on my childhood. This song caused my life to flash before my eyes, and I felt emotions that I didn’t even know were suppressed. In the end, I began to feel a weight lift off of my shoulders. I felt the shift of one door closing, and another one opening. A rebirth.
Just A Lover: Just A Lover is the final track on Flowers For Vases / Descansos. The waterworks continued to flow as Descansos transitioned into Just A Lover. The majority of this album consisted mainly of guitar, vocals, and piano. However, Hayley surprised us all with some thunderous drum beats. I cannot stress this enough, this was the perfect way to conclude such a flawless record. Every single minute of this song is divine. One night, I decided to sit in my car and listen to this song on repeat. I wanted to fully grasp what this song had to offer. To this day, I don’t regret it whatsoever. I sang along with Hayley and felt an overwhelming emotion rush in like a tidal wave.
“Space and time, waking hours before I open my eyes
In the morning, I feel my heart crack open, one last chorus
Space and time, waking hours before I open my eyes
In the morning, I feel my heart crack open, one last chorus
I'll be singing into empty glasses
No more music for the masses
One more hour, one more ugly, stillborn cry
I know exactly what this is
Or whatever it was, or whatever it was.”
I'll never get over how transparent Hayley William's lyrics are. Hayley articulates her feelings in such a profound way. She never fails to authentically express how she's feeling deep down inside. The power in her voice sends me to my knees and makes me tremble. There’s no doubt that Hayley has been through hell and back. However, she arises from every trial and tribulation stronger than ever before. Flowers For Vases / Descansos is further proof of that.
Keep doing your thing, Hayley. We love you.
by Isabel
After 'Pedals of Armour' (which was considerably underrepresented on all of our AOTY lists of 2020), Hayley Williams released Flowers for Vases/Descansos with little to no warning. Williams has written and recorded the whole album at home in lockdown.
Sometimes you just have to listen to the first song of an album and know with certainty that this album is going to have a very special place in your heart. Listening to 'First Thing To Go' definitely did that for me. On this record, Williams lets us in on working through a past relationship, cutting off and don't want to cut something off, and ultimately the growing pains. The sounds on this album mirror the intimate lyrics with guitar, piano, and changing soundscapes.
Flowers for Vases/Descansos is an album that looks inward and manages to turn isolation and unique pain into a communal feeling. As other albums did at the beginning of 2020, Hayley Williams gives us something to cling to and grant emotional relief in 2021.
Real, Genuine, and Organic: Drumrz Releases 'Sea of Fire'
Drumrz makes rock music for people with big feelings, and their latest offering “Sea of Fire” is no exception to that rule.
“Sea of Fire” has all the percussive riffs and powerful rhythm you would expect from a group composed entirely of drummers, however, it's the unexpected charm that really makes this single stand out. There’s a certain sweetness and vulnerability that immediately endears the listener. It’s emotionally and lyrically dense, while still being upbeat and easily absorbed. This, juxtaposed with the dynamic riffiness of the chorus, makes for a really exceptional tune. The energetic authenticity in this song can not be overstated. “Sea of Fire” works itself into your mind and sticks in there. It's real, it's genuine, and it’s organic, in a time where there is a huge vacancy in the industry for that type of sound. There's a familiarity to it that makes you nearly feel a part of the music, a quality that I intentionally seek out in the music and art I consume. “Sea of Fire” will bring out the drummer in you too; I promise you’ll be tapping this one out on your steering wheel.
“Sea of Fire” follows the most recent single “I Hope She Don’t Read Minds” as the fourth release from the nascent Nashville based rockers, all released over the last several months, beginning in late 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continuing to create and release music during this time has posed unique challenges to artists, and yet despite being unable to tour or play shows during the duration of the pandemic, Drumrz has continued to deliver music that makes us feel good, in a time when that kind of music has never been in higher demand.
“Sea of Fire” is out today and available for streaming everywhere. The music video is available to watch now on Youtube!
The Dev: It's A Shame You Haven't Listened Yet
Shows may still be at a halt in 2021, but that’s not stopping Orlando based hard rock group, The Dev.
I had the pleasure to interview them on IG Live last year and also fly out to see their special Halloween show they put on for a home town crowd. In the last decade female rockers have taken the mic and shown how kick ass they can be. Front woman, Nikollaj, is one them.
To start the new year fresh on momentum, The Dev release their newest single ‘Shameless Life’. Nikollaj’s powerful voice commands your attention while her band lays down the riffs for some head banging action. To add on to an amazing single release they put out an equally stunning music video to capture the soul of this song.
Hit the follow, like, and save button for The Dev as they are about to take the podium away from The Pretty Reckless.