Tag Archives: pop rock

EP REVIEW: President – King of Terrors

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Anonymity is the new metal. Wait, or is anonymity the new nu-metal? Hold up, anonymity is aesthetic, metal is a sound that invokes a certain feeling, no matter if it is wearing corpse paint or bell-bottoms. Now that we have cleared up, we can proceed into the new album by buzz-band President, who are dropping their debut EP King of Terrors (ADA/Warner Music). The lead single, “In the Name of the Father” opens the album. It’s a great pop song that was a big hit with kids who are fans of other pop acts like Ghost, and Sleep Token. Unlike Ghost, these guys do not draw influence from ABBA or Andy Gibb, whose song “Love is Thicker Than Water” pretty much encapsulates the sound of Papa Emeritius and his band of trick-or-treaters.Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: The Beaches – No Hard Feelings

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Canadian four-piece The Beaches always know how to a) have a damn good time and b) write songs that while they may be tongue-in-cheek, are also stupidly catchy and/or memorable. And their newest work is no different.Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Skunk Anasie – The Painful Truth

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Sometimes bands create an album so creatively stellar that it leaves its mark on who they are as artists, such is the case with Skunk Anasie and their 1999 album Post Orgasmic Chill (Virgin Records) that transcended genres as well as eras of music. But Skin does not care how big they were in the past, she presses forward on their new album The Painful Truth (FLG Records), disregards being defined by anything to reinvent what the band is about. The song This is Not Your Life” proves Skin is in fine voice, even as an older wiser artist. Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: David Judson Clemmons – Everything A War

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Those who dwell in these dark territories of underground Rock and Metal, of the noisy, the abrasive, the alternative, and the avant-garde are not always so open to big anthemic hooks. Sometimes our reaction to music that dares to rouse the spirits and attempt to soar can be somewhat dismissive. But let us not entirely close our ears and our hearts to hope, because sometimes in the right hands, the results of such sincere passions can be glorious and in the case of Everything A War (7 People Records/ Village Slut)—the latest record by former Prog-Metal frontman David Judson Clemmons (previously of Damn The Machine)—glorious is exactly what they are. Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Stryper – When We Were Kings

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Stryper is one of those bands that has won world recognition for their consistent and dauntless directive. Their resolution to overtly share their beliefs through their big and boisterous sound has made them one of the most acclaimed faith-based Metal acts out there. Their ability to share a powerful and positive message while still being aggressive has been an impressive feat throughout their career. Continue reading →


ALBUM REVIEW: Fontaines D.C. – Romance

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This album is a huge leap of change since Fontaines D.C. released Skiny Fia in 2022. Romance (XL Recordings) finds the band wandering out into psychedelic Brit Pop. Drugs certainly might explain some of the changes, though Producer James Ford whose resume includes Gorillaz, HAIM, and Depeche Mode certainly explains the mix and how the sounds are presented here. When it comes to the groove of “Starbursters” it’s hard to argue with the results. This Irish band might have shelved The Clash influence that marked their more post-Punk flavor previously, but this does not feel like they are selling out. Continue reading →


EP REVIEW: Erase Theory – The Good Kind

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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).

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ALBUM REVIEW: Plain White T’s – Plain White T’s

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Whenever The Plain White T’s come up in conversation, it is seemingly impossible to get in more than a few words before their magnum opus “Hey There Delilah” is mentioned. 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Starbenders – Take Back The Night

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Life is a cabaret, old chums, with the scintillating Take Back The Night (Sumerian Records). A power-packed, credulity-stretching showcase of strong, strong pop-rock songwriting and arranging courtesy of Starbenders; this album is full of punky attitude and thrusting ambition. 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Pvris – Evergreen

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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. 

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