Hailing from Finland, five-piece band ARCTIS makes a strong first impression with their debut self-titled album (Napalm Records). The band combines triumphant Rock with upbeat Pop melodies and Metal undertones, giving an edge to their overall family-friendly sound. The album is dramatic and moving, with a collective musicianship that shows a promising future for the group.Continue reading
Tag Archives: Pop Music
ALBUM REVIEW: Unleash The Archers – Phantoma
Unleash the Archers is a band that reliably produces songs that are unconventional and wildly exciting. This Canadian Power Metal act has broken barriers in the genre by their dauntless divergences, hearty songwriting, and overall efficacious passion. The quintet is preparing to release their sixth full-length album, Phantoma (Napalm Records), which elevates their innovative skills and strengths to new heights.
ALBUM REVIEW: Blind Channel – Exit Emotions
Taking over the charts in their home country, Finnish nu-metal outfit Blind Channel are on the road to spreading that stardom internationally with their fifth album Exit Emotions (Century Media Records). The album expands on their shameless blend of Metalcore, Rock, Hip-Hop, Electronic and Pop for a sound that is familiar, yet distinct and accessible to a wide range of audiences. Upbeat melodies are accompanied by bouncing and booming riffs, while breakdowns are emphasized with gleaming synth effects. Continue reading
EP REVIEW: Erase Theory – The Good Kind
Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Jeff Sahyoun (ex-guitarist of post-hardcore band letlive.) continues to prove his wide-ranged virtuosity with his new project Erase Theory. Following the self-titled debut EP released in early 2023, the band consolidates their innovative charm with their second EP The Good Kind (Icons Creating Evil Art).
ALBUM REVIEW: Gunship – Unicorn
What is it about our aching nostalgia for the eighties that finds us being drawn back to this magical decade? Perhaps video did not actually kill the radio star until the end of this era?
ALBUM REVIEW: Pvris – Evergreen
Evergreen (Hopeless Records) is a very ambitious album and frankly by far the most thematically well-rounded and best effort from Pvris yet. Lyndsey Gerd Gunnulfsen has seamlessly planted a flag on the moon here, showing it was her that made this project special all along. Not only a queer champion, Gunnulfsen is a top-notch creator and performer who can back it up with grade-A material with startling philosophical depth amidst the beats and hooks.
ALBUM REVIEW: Mono Inc – Ravenblack
The German Rock scene is legendary for producing exceptional bands like Scorpions and Rammstein. This schnitzel-loving nation is also known for its more niche music acts. Mono Inc. has been at the helm of the Gothic Rock movement since the early 2000s and they show no sign of slowing down.
ALBUM REVIEW: Deaf Havana – The Present Is A Foreign Land
Musical progression and development has been a constant and key part of the story of Deaf Havana. From their post-hardcore beginnings, through flirtations with pop-punk, Americana and classic rock, more overt pop music, and indie, the other constant anchor has been the quality of the song-writing of James Veck-Gilodi. As time and tides have drifted by, and the bottoms of many a bottle have been pointed to the sky, Havana has become less of a “band” and more of a working name for a close duo.
ALBUM REVIEW: Mothica – Nocturnal
As the follow-up to the big debut, there is a lot on the line for any artist’s second album, but Mothica wasn’t afraid to jump the gun creatively with her concept record Nocturnal (releasing via her own imprint with Rise Records, Heavy Heart Records). While her last album Blue Hour explored the developmental period of becoming sober, Nocturnal dwells on the dark aftermath and search for a new meaning. With a whopping seventeen tracks including an introduction and three interludes, she took a risk with an unconventional album format – one that overall worked out in her favor.
ALBUM REVIEW: State Champs – Kings Of The New Age
For most styles of music, the word ‘generic’ gets used as a negative critique to discredit the artist’s creative ability and expression. However, in the last decade or so, the term ‘generic pop punk’ has become a shameless staple in a scene that values catchy hooks, relatable lyrics and sing-along choruses over all else. Now on their fourth album, Kings Of The New Age (Pure Noise), pop punk hotshots State Champs continue to freely put out the same kind of music they have always loved. Continue reading